Statement April 17, 2025 ETF’s Reaction to EU Study on “Safe and Secure Parking Areas” A new EU-commissioned study on Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPAs), published on 11 April, puts professional drivers’ wellbeing at risk by recommending changes to the Mobility Package that would allow regular rest in vehicle cabins. Unions were not consulted at any stage of the process – a glaring omission that casts serious doubt on the credibility of the study. We reject its misleading conclusions and call on the European Commission to uphold the Mobility Package and protect drivers from a return to exploitative practices.
Press Release April 16, 2025 ETF Road Conference: Bridge the Gap Between Working Conditions and the Law The European Transport Workers’ Federation held a conference on the posting of workers and third-country nationals in road freight transport at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels. The event brought together key stakeholders, including trade unions, labour and road inspectors, representatives of ELA, the EU Commission, and employer organisations, to address critical issues in road transport.
News April 11, 2025 In Conversation with Leon: Join the Movement for Diversity and Inclusion in the Transport Industry In this interview, Leon shares his insights on the importance of trade union work in protecting the rights of queer individuals, the challenges faced by the community in the workplace, and the critical role of education and awareness in fostering a more inclusive society. This interview is part of a series of actions to prepare the upcoming ETF Conference on Diversity and Inclusivity “We Are All Equally Different”, taking place on June 27, 2025, in Paris.
News April 8, 2025 ETF Conference on Diversity and Inclusivity – Paris, June 2025 The rise of far-right ideologies has worsened institutionalised discrimination, creating toxic anti-LGBTQI+ narratives and policies that threaten the lives of marginalized groups. ETF is committed to combating these divisive, populist narratives and ensuring that trade unions play a pivotal role in supporting equality and inclusivity, especially for those who face harassment in the workplace based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and other aspects of identity.
Statement March 28, 2025 ETF Stands in Full Solidarity with Belgian Workers on General Strike On 31 March, Belgian workers will take to the streets in a nationwide General Strike to resist the devastating austerity measures imposed by the new “Arizona” government. ETF stands firmly with the Belgian Trade Union Confederations FGTB/ABVV and CSC/ACV, and all workers fighting to defend their rights, public services, their pensions and fair working conditions.
News March 27, 2025 Railways: ETF Affiliates Make Workers’ Voices Heard in Brussels Railway workers and policymakers gathered in Brussels for “From the Tracks to Brussels”, a high-level dialogue hosted by ETF. The event brought together rail workers, trade union leaders, and EU decision-makers to discuss the future of Europe’s rail sector and the need for sustainable, socially responsible policies. Speakers from the European Commission, the EU Parliament, experts and union leaders discussed the Railways sector and the current struggles of its workers across the continent.
Statement March 26, 2025 This is no longer a Road Safety Package: Council and EP give Green Light to 17-year-olds to Drive Trucks The EU institutions gave in to industry pressures to address the driver shortage by lowering the age for entry into the profession. However, this measure is unlikely to resolve the issue. With declining pay and deteriorating working conditions, the sector will continue to be unattractive to young people.
Statement March 25, 2025 Joint European Trade Union Statement on the Omnibus Proposal: A Direct Attack on Workers’ Rights and Corporate Accountability ETF joined ETUC and other Trade Union Federations in a Joint Statement on the Omnibus proposal. The European Parliament must reject this disastrous package and ensure that the core objectives of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the protections provided therein are safeguarded from this deregulation agenda.
News March 24, 2025 Resilient waterborne logistics supply chains are key to EU competitiveness 17 industry organisations published joint paper today to welcome the upcoming maritime and port strategies and emphasize the workers’ perspective. Key initiatives recently proposed include regulatory simplification, lowering market entry barriers to enhance competition, facilitating access to finance to bolster competitiveness, the attention to industrial clusters, promoting labour upskilling and quality employment, and improving policy coordination at both the EU and national levels.
News March 24, 2025 Interview: How TÜMTİS Secured a Landmark Victory for DHL Express Workers in Turkey The turkish ETF affiliate TÜMTİS secured a landmark collective bargaining agreement at DHL Express Turkey, overcoming employer resistance and setting a powerful precedent for union rights. In this interview, TÜMTİS President Kenan Ozturk shares insights on the fight for fair wages, the battle against union-busting tactics, and the union’s vision for organising in the logistics sector.
News March 21, 2025 Port Work in Transition: ETF Dockers at Connecting Ports #11 The ETF made its points clearly to the discussion during the recent Connecting Ports Session edition “Port Work in Transition – Balancing progress and change in sustainability, automation, and digitalization,” held on the 20th of March 2025 and hosted by HPC Hamburg Port Consulting. With around 100 participants from over 30 countries, the event served as a global platform to explore the evolving landscape of port work in the face of sustainability, automation, and digitalization.
News March 21, 2025 United call for a reinforced specific fund for fisheries and aquaculture in the next Multiannual Financial Framework As the European Council and the Parliament prepare to discuss the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), leading EU associations urge EU policymakers to maintain and strengthen the current fund for fisheries and aquaculture, emphasizing its critical role in food security, economic stability and environmental sustainability.