Transport workers’ unions across Europe are launching a week of coordinated actions from 2-9 October to shine a spotlight on exploitation in the logistics sector and demand stronger regulation of subcontracting and labour intermediation.
The Logistics Action Days, coordinated by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), will see trade unions in Spain, Sweden, France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Turkey and other countries mobilising to meet workers, raise awareness, and push for legislative change at both national and European levels.
“Workers in logistics are the backbone of our economy, yet too many are denied fair pay, decent conditions, and basic rights through endless subcontracting chains,” said Livia Spera, ETF General Secretary. “These Action Days highlight a clear demand from transport workers across Europe: we need immediate action to end the abuse in subcontracting across transport supply chains. This means a 360-degree approach: protective EU legislation, such as a Directive to regulate subcontracting at the EU level, fundamental changes to business models that drive this race to the bottom, and robust collective bargaining to protect workers’ rights. Our sector faces a major workforce shortage, and the solution is clear: we need quality jobs. ETF is pushing for the changes required to make that happen, and we won’t back down until transport workers have the protections and conditions they deserve.”
Three Major Events Highlight Worker Voices and Policy Solutions
The week kicks off on 2 October with two flagship events:
In Brussels, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and ETF, with support from the S&D Group in the European Parliament, will host “No More Exploitation: Regulating Subcontracting and Labour Intermediation in Europe” (12:30-14:30, European Parliament, Room ASP 3G2). The event will feature powerful testimonies from logistics workers experiencing the reality of subcontracting abuses firsthand, alongside contributions from ETF, EFBWW, EFFAT, MEPs, and European Commission representatives.
In Rome, Italian transport unions FILT CGIL, FIT CISL, and UILTrasporti, together with ETF, are organising a conference on “Collective Bargaining and Legislation in the Context of Procurement in the Integrated Logistics Supply Chain” (14:00, Centro Congressi Cavour). The event brings together trade unions, employers’ organisations, sector associations, and government representatives, including Vice Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi, to discuss national and European approaches to tackling procurement abuses.
On 8 October in Istanbul, Turkish transport union TÜMTIS will host a workshop as part of the ETF project “Delivering Fair Transport for All in Logistics”, featuring the presentation of a new ETF study on last-mile logistics and discussions on regulating subcontracting in the sector.
Actions Across Europe Throughout the Week
Beyond the flagship events, ETF affiliates across Europe are organising workplace actions throughout the week, including meetings with logistics workers, distribution of information materials at logistics centres, workers’ assemblies, and conferences with union delegates. Unions in Spain, Sweden, Germany, Turkey, France, Denmark, and other countries are mobilising to reach workers directly and amplify their demands for fair treatment and stronger protections against subcontracting abuses.
