The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) is organising the conference “We Are All Equally Different”, focused on promoting diversity and inclusivity for European transport workers. The conference will be held on Friday, 27 June 2025 from 14:00 – 19:00 and Saturday, 28 June 2025 from 12:00 – 17:00 in Paris, France.
As trade unions continue their journey of modernisation, it is critical that they mirror the diversity of the workforce and fully represent the needs of those most deprived of full employment opportunities—especially youth, women, LGBTQI+ workers, migrants, disabled people, and other vulnerable groups. In 2022, ETF adopted its resolution “We Are All Equally Different” at its congress in Budapest, emphasising the need for unions to actively support diversity and fight for equality in all aspects of the workforce.
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.
The event will address these urgent issues through a variety of sessions, including:
- Panel Discussion: International experts, trade unionists, and politicians will discuss how to achieve equality, fight discriminatory policies, and promote inclusivity in the workplace.
- Testimonial Session: Transport workers will share their personal experiences with discrimination in their workplaces.
- Presentation and Debate: Results from ETF’s questionnaire on LGBTQI+ workers will be presented, followed by a discussion on how to improve working conditions for LGBTQI+ transport workers.
- Workshops: Two parallel workshops will explore best practices in promoting equality, inclusivity, and diversity within unions. Topics will include the role of collective bargaining agreements and strategies for mobilizing around these important issues.
The conference will conclude with participation in the Pride Parade on Saturday, 28 June 2025, from 12:00 to 17:00, showing solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community and further promoting inclusivity.
The full programme is as follows:
Friday, 27 June 2025
14:00 – Opening and Welcome
14:15 –
- Keynote speech: Rokhaya Diallo, French journalist, writer and award winning filmmaker
14:45 – Panel Discussion with Keynote Speaker, Sara Tripodi (ETF Women’s Committee Chair), Celine Ruffie (ETF Youth Committee Co-Chair), and a Member of the European Parliament
16:00 – Coffee Break
16:30 – Presentation and Debate: Results of the Questionnaire on LGBTQI+ Workers
17:15 – Coffee Break
17:30 – Two Parallel Workshops on Best Practices for Promoting Equality, Inclusivity, and Diversity
18:30 – Break
18:45 – Presentation of Workshop Results and Debate on Next Steps
19:00 – End of First Day
Saturday, 28 June 2025
12:00 – Participation in Pride Parade in Paris
17:00 – End of Second Day
This event provides an invaluable opportunity to discuss how ETF and its affiliates can more effectively engage with and support marginalised communities within the transport sector. We look forward to seeing you in Paris as we work together to build a more inclusive, diverse, and equal future for all transport workers.
