In a letter to Heads of State and Government of EU Member States, the ETF and ECSA called on EU Member States to enable crew changes and give seafarers priority access to COVID-19 vaccines. 

The ETF calls on the UK Government, the European Commission and national governments to come up with clear guarantees for truck drivers to return from the UK, and seafarers to be able to take part in crew changes.

Ahead of the Informal Videoconference of the Ministers of Transport on 8 December 2020, ETF and ECSA urge EU Member States to make the wellbeing of seafarers a priority during the holiday period.

Union responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and a strong recovery that puts social first were at the heart of discussions when ETF affiliates came together online last week.

The ETUC and ETUFs handed over a petition for more democracy at work to the European Commissioner Nicolas Schmit and MEPs, calling for concrete and rapid actions to guarantee the effective enforcement and compliance of workers’ rights to be informed, consulted and to participate in decision-making before any decision is adopted. 

In light of Digital Transport Days taking place on 18 November, ETF Maritime team has published a paper on the future of waterborne transport. ETF’s vision of a fair and sustainable future of waterborne transport shows that there is an alternative to the current business practices in the sectors.

To alert EU Commissioners to the continuing crisis onboard ships and the urgent need for member states to act, ETF addressed a letter to Commissioners Vălean, Schmit and Johansson. Flag states must ensure the repatriation of seafarers stranded at sea. It is not generosity, but an obligation under maritime law.