ETF WINTER SCHOOL: THE RISE OF THE NEW UNION GENERATION
From December 16th to 18th, over twenty-five young unionists from across Europe gathered at the “ETF Youth Winter School” in Sofia, Bulgaria. This initiative, organised by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) as part of the European Commission project “Delivering Fair Transport For All,” provided a platform for training, experience sharing, and discussing crucial challenges facing the labour movement.
Opening and Leadership Presence
The event started with an opening session led by Livia Spera, ETF General Secretary and Bulgarian representatives, including a Bulgarian Ministry of Youth representative, and Atanas Radev, President of the National Youth Forum, both delivering opening speeches.
The program addressed several critical issues, namely:
Platform Workers’ Rights
A significant focus was placed on platform work in Europe, where over 500 platforms operate. The discussion highlighted that 55% of platform workers earn below minimum wage, with the transport sector showing a particularly young workforce averaging 34 years of age. The new EU’s platform workers’ directive was celebrated as a victory, achieved through union mobilisation. The Danish Union 3F’s successful four-year campaign for a company agreement was presented as an inspiring example of effective union action.
Combating the Far Right
On the second day, participants participated in an innovative “Escape Game” in English, designed to reflect on far-right opposition strategies. Experts including Nicoletta Grieco (CGIL, Italy), Anika Taschke (RLS, Germany), and Tom Shannon (ETUC) led discussions on union strategies against far-right influence. The panel highlighted concerns about the normalisation of racist discourse, the dicotomy between it populist narrative and how it votes against workers’ rights, and referenced the 2021 attack on CGIL headquarters in Rome, which led to the creation of an anti-fascist trade union network and a manifesto.
LGBTQIA+ Rights and Inclusion
The final day focused on trade union renewal and LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion. Josef Maurer (ETF) and Florentine Iancu (UNI-SEEOC) provided practical tools for modernising union structures. Marco Rafolt (EVG, Germany) and Sara Tripodi (FILT CGIL, Italy) discussed union roles in fostering inclusion. The discussion highlighted the gap between legal rights and daily implementation in many EU member states, emphasising the importance of collective bargaining agreements in advancing diversity. A recent example was cited: the December 2024 company agreement with Telepass in Italy, securing equal parental leave benefits for both traditional and LGBTQIA+ couples.
Communications Training
Young participants engaged in various activities, including media training on writing news and opinion articles, the production of a podcast, and a video on the Winter School from the youth point of view.
Youth Leadership and Future Impact
“Young unionists are not only the future but the present” emerged as a key theme throughout the event. Céline Ruffié, Co-Chair of the ETF Youth Committee and President of the ETUC Youth Committee, emphasised how the school “allows young transport workers to connect, share experiences, and build solidarity across different sectors, identities, and challenges.”
The Winter School concluded with a feedback session where participants shared their insights and action plans for implementing discussions in their respective countries and organisations, rallying behind the slogan: “Youth in action, stronger unions for all!”
