On 6 and 7 November 2024, the ETF Women’s Committee convened in Brussels for its plenary meeting, bringing together 35 participants from unions across Europe. Held at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the meeting featured discussions on pressing issues affecting women workers in the transport sector and beyond.
The Committee welcomed two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs): Rosa Serrano Sierra (Spain), representing the TRAN Committee, and Estelle Ceulemans (Belgium) from the EMPL Committee. Both shared insights into the early discussions of the newly elected European Parliament and addressed the challenges posed by the increasing influence of the far-right on social and gender equality policies.
Key topics included gender-based violence and the urgent need for a directive to combat violence against women and girls in the workplace. The lack of comprehensive data on violence in the labor world was also highlighted, stressing the importance of robust legislative measures.
Severine Picard presented her study on women in the transport sector, shedding light on the experiences of women workers and the representation of women in transport unions. The European project on the twin transition—addressing the digital and green transformations—was another focal point, with a particular emphasis on its implications for women workers.
Aline Brüser from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) provided updates on ETUC’s political priorities for the incoming European Commission. These included the implementation of the Pay Transparency Directive, the absence of a directive on workplace violence, the growing issue of cyber violence, and an evaluation of the new Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib.
The ETF Women’s Committee continues to advocate for a fairer, safer, and more inclusive transport sector, ensuring that women’s voices are heard and their rights are prioritized in shaping the future of Europe’s workforce.
