News September 24, 2025 Bus and Coach Driver Unions Push for Action on Bus Collision Safety Coming together in Rome, ETF affiliates from across Europe will today share experiences from their respective countries and launch a united call addressed to governments, employers and manufacturers that every bus driver has the right to a safe working environment.
News September 22, 2025 ETF leads a new industry push to fight flight disruptions by unruly passengers Following an ETF initiative, a large group of European social partners in Civil Aviation has just issued a joint statement calling for the generalised ratification and implementation of the Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14) in Europe. This is a strong message by the representatives of aviation workers and employers that must be heard by all EU member states and EU institutions.
Statement September 18, 2025 ETF stands in total solidarity with French unions striking against brutal austerity The European Transport Workers’ Federation expresses its total solidarity with French affiliates striking today (September 18th) against the French government’s proposed austerity budget. Once again, working people are being forced to pay the price of the government’s own mismanagement. The removal of two days of public holidays, more cuts to public services, freezing of social benefits and public sector pay, among many other questionable measures, will hurt the well-being of French workers and will not lead to lower debt.
Statement September 18, 2025 ETF statement on the Brenner Base Tunnel breakthrough: workers must not be left behind For two years, unions from Austria, Italy, and Germany (under the umbrella of the ETF) have consistently called for meaningful involvement in the Brenner Corridor Platform (BCP). Despite being a recognised European social partner in the railway sector, ETF has been denied access to critical discussions, including those on rest areas, operational language and safety protocols.
News September 16, 2025 European Mobility Week 2025 – No Public Transport Without Public Transport Workers! Today marks the beginning of the European Mobility Week, the European Commission’s flagship awareness-raising campaign on the sustainable urban mobility. Over 1518 towns and cities across Europe are participating in this year’s campaign, including car-free days in cities such as Brussels and Paris.
News September 10, 2025 Dockers across Europe demand action to end violence in Gaza The Dockers’ Section of the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), representing over 75.000 dock workers across Europe, stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people, who are enduring unbearable suffering, destruction, and loss of life.
Statement September 9, 2025 ETF joins 470 organisations warning against EU deregulation campaign The ETF has joined 470 civil society organisations, trade unions, and public interest groups in sounding the alarm over the European Commission’s plans to dismantle essential protections for people and the planet. Ahead of President von der Leyen’s State of the Union address, we have made clear that our rights and protections cannot be sold for profit.
Statement September 9, 2025 ETF stands in solidarity with striking London transport workers Over 10,000 London Underground staff are on strike this week to demand better pay and safer conditions. In a separate dispute, workers operating the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and outsourced cleaners on the DLR are also on strike. The European Transport Workers’ Federation stands in solidarity with the essential transport workers that keep London moving and their union, ETF affiliate RMT.
Press Release September 5, 2025 European Commission witnesses the reality of truck drivers on a visit with ETF European Vice-President and Commissioner for Social Rights, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu witnessed first-hand the harsh realities facing Europe’s truck drivers during a landmark visit to Belgian parking areas on Thursday with ETF and other road transport stakeholders.
Statement September 4, 2025 Safety cannot be outsourced: ETF’s response to the Lisbon tram disaster This is a moment of profound grief for the families affected, for the city of Lisbon, and for all transport workers across Europe. The Elevador da Glória is not only a symbol of Lisbon’s heritage. It is a workplace. And this tragedy reminds us, in the most painful way, that safety in public transport must never be compromised.
News September 2, 2025 ETF meets with EU Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu Today, the ETF met with Roxana Mînzatu, the EU’s Vice President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness. We highlighted the growing challenges facing transport workers across Europe, and the urgent need for decisive EU action. Labour shortages continue to deepen – driven by a steady decline in job quality caused by liberalisation, lack of enforcement, and unchecked subcontracting practices. In sectors like road transport, enforcement remains alarmingly weak. The European Labour Authority (ELA) must be empowered and equipped to act to prevent cross-border exploitation and enforce fundamental labour rights.
Press Release September 2, 2025 European Railway Sector shows progress in gender equality as Social Partners present the Women in Rail Report 2025 The report, which assessed the implementation of the 2021 binding European Social Partner Agreement on Women in Rail, shows that women now represent 23% of the railway workforce, up from 21% in 2018. Among new hires, the proportion of women has reached 25%, signalling positive momentum for the future of the sector. While we celebrate the progress made, with women now representing nearly a quarter of the railway workforce, we recognise there is still work to be done to achieve full implementation of our agreement.