Globalisation has transformed trade patterns and thus the demand for transport services. This could mean more jobs in transport, but how do we ensure quality and fair working conditions?
Globalisation is one of the four megatrends examined in our TRENDS research project. Some regions and countries will surely profit from global economic integration and high growth rates. These shifts are helping some countries develop or reduce extreme poverty. On the other hand, economic globalisation has brought major challenges for many countries. This can take many forms:
Shifts in production to low-wage countries will continue to threaten workers in more developed states. This will affect not only low-qualified jobs, but increasingly also highly qualified areas such as software development and transport services. The winners in globalisation are multi-national and internationally active companies, as well as their shareholders, managers, and contractors
Globalisation, and its European counterpart the internal market, are not outright rejected by trade unions. Transport workers can benefit from growing trade. But globalisation internationally and at EU level must be fair and controlled by society, not by multinational or European corporations. These changes must not be based on deregulation but on assuring that everyone has fair and decent working conditions and the opportunity for personal development.
To assure fair globalisation and fair working conditions trade unions have to act at all levels:
The ETF Fair Transport Campaign for fair pay and quality working conditions and against social dumping in transport is a political and industrial campaign to fight negative effects of the internal market and assure fair working conditions. This must be complemented by a strong involvement in alliances with the European trade union movement and NGOs for broader political objectives: