News February 5, 2026 Court of Auditors: EU Must Do More to Support Urban Mobility Yesterday, March 4th 2026, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) published its special report on the effectiveness of the EU’s urban mobility policy. With over 75% of the EU population living in cities and urban transport making up an eighth the EU’s total CO2 emissions, the report clearly recognises the need for a comprehensive European strategy to organise and improve mobility in urban areas. The Court of Auditors also sets out the significant costs of inaction, noting that congestion alone from private cars costs around €180 billion a year.
Statement February 5, 2026 Aviation Social Partners call for the immediate suspension of the EU–Qatar Agreement ETF, together with the European Network Airlines’ Association (ENAA) and the European Cockpit Association (ECA), has issued a joint statement calling for the immediate suspension and reassessment of the EU–Qatar Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement.
News February 3, 2026 Regulating subcontracting is key to tackling undeclared work in parcel delivery, new study finds The research reveals that major logistics companies, e-retailers, and postal operators routinely outsource delivery operations to networks of subcontractors, creating chains that obscure accountability and foster non-compliant labour practices. In some European countries, subcontracting has reached saturation: Germany outsources 50% of transport services, while in Poland the figure approaches 100%.
News February 2, 2026 European Transport Workers stand in solidarity with german Public Transport strike The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) has declared its full solidarity with ver.di (United Services Trade Union, Germany) members who are striking nationwide today across Germany’s municipal public transport companies. The action affects nearly 100,000 employees in 150 transport companies and highlights a growing crisis in the sector.
News January 26, 2026 Protecting Seafarers and Fishers to Strengthen Safety: A Core Principle for Europe’s Maritime Future On 8 December 2025, the second edition of the European Maritime Safety Report – #EMSAFE was presented in EMSA’s: ‘Safety First’ conference at the Agency’s headquarters in Lisbon. EMSAFE 2 consolidates data from all EMSA-hosted databases, offering a comprehensive overview of the state of maritime safety in the European Union. Its strong focus on the human dimension of safety makes it particularly relevant.
News January 26, 2026 ETF Sends Letter to European Commissioner on Fisheries Control Regulation The European Transport Workers’ Federation has sent a formal letter to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans raising urgent concerns about the implementation of the new Fisheries Control Regulation (EU) 2023/2842.
News January 23, 2026 Denmark sets record union coverage in road transport The Danish case demonstrates that high union coverage and fair competition can be restored through a combination of strong local organising and robust European regulation. While national contexts vary across the EU, Denmark’s success highlights the practical value of the Mobility Package when combined with strong implementation efforts to bring companies into the scope of collective bargaining.
News January 23, 2026 It’s time to get serious about cabin crew fatigue Fatigue among cabin crew is no longer a hidden issue. It is a widespread, systemic problem that is undermining safety, damaging health, and eroding the sustainability of aviation jobs. A new global survey of 114 cabin crew union representatives from 45 airlines, conducted by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), makes it clear: fatigue is a daily reality for cabin crew, and airlines are not taking it seriously enough.
Vacancies January 23, 2026 Vacancy at the ETF – Traineeship for Railways We are currently seeking to recruit a trainee for Railways. We are ready to offer a Belgian professional immersion contract and lunch vouchers of €8 per worked day. In line with our commitment to support public transport as part of our #FairTransport campaign, we also offer coverage of public transport for daily commuting depending on the travel frequency. A detailed job description is attached.
Statement January 19, 2026 “A sector in shock”: ETF demands action after tragic week for Spanish railways The European transport workers are in mourning following a devastating week for the Spanish railway sector. Within just 48 hours, two separate accidents have claimed lives and left dozens injured, raising urgent questions about infrastructure safety and the need for sustained investment. As the situation develops, the ETF is closely monitoring the investigations and remains in constant contact with our Spanish affiliates. We stand in total solidarity with the Spanish trade unions and fully support the actions they decide to take to ensure the safety and protection of railway workers and the public.
News January 13, 2026 European shipyards, maritime manufacturing and fisheries sectors call for immediate action to unlock energy transition Representatives of the European blue economy value chain met yesterday with Commissioner Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, to discuss the forthcoming Roadmap for the Energy Transition of Fisheries. The meeting brought together SEA Europe, Europêche, Copa-Cogeca, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the European Association of Fish Producers’ Organisations (EAPO), representing fishers and aquaculture producers, producers’ organisations, cooperatives, workers, shipyards and maritime equipment manufacturers.
News January 8, 2026 Italy: Lessons from organising and negotiating in supply chains Trade unionists from across Europe recently gathered in Rome for the ETF seminar “Organising and negotiating in Supply Chains: Building on the Experience of ETF Affiliates with Amazon”, supported by the European Workers’ Participation Fund (EWPF) of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). The purpose was to understand how Italian unions managed to do what many elsewhere have struggled to achieve: normalise industrial relations with Amazon and extend collective bargaining across a supply chain.