News June 8, 2026 UNIONDRIVE holds first regional workshop on collective bargaining and minimum wages in Bucharest On 4–5 June 2026, the ETF held the first workshop in the series of its EU co-funded project Empowering Transport Workers in Central and Eastern Europe (UNIONDRIVE) in Bucharest, Romania. Bringing together transport unions from aviation, road transport and urban public transport, the workshop focused on the implementation of Directive (EU) 2022/2041 on adequate minimum wages and its implications for collective bargaining in the transport sector.
Statement June 8, 2026 Recognition of Serbian inland navigation certificates: a positive step for workers but challenges remain The recent recognition by the European Union of Serbia’s inland navigation crew certificates marks an important milestone for workers in the inland waterways sector and for the integration of the Western Balkans into the European transport area. Following a European Commission decision, certificates of qualification, service records and logbooks issued by Serbia will now be recognised across EU inland waterways, removing long-standing barriers to labour mobility.
Statement June 4, 2026 ETF Railways Section proposes 7 measures to reverse the agony of the rail freight sector in Europe Next week, on 8 June, EU Transport Ministers will gather for a Transport Council meeting and rail freight is expected to be in focus. ETF is calling on Ministers to match the commitment the sector urgently needs, and warns that any initiative falling short of a comprehensive response risks deepening a crisis that has been decades in the making.
Statement June 3, 2026 Road Transport’s simplification package must not weaken workers’ rights ETF’s message to the Commission is clear: simplification must not weaken workers’ rights, social protections or working conditions. Instead, it should deliver smarter tools that better protect workers, support labour inspectorates and strengthen the enforcement of existing road transport rules.
News May 29, 2026 ETF, ITF and IRU call for stronger safety rules to protect bus drivers in frontal collisions In a joint letter addressed to the government representatives in the UNECE Working Party on Passive Safety (GRSP), ETF, ITF and IRU highlight that bus drivers remain at serious risk in frontal crashes. The letter urges the government representatives to work on this issue, including the creation of a dedicated working group as proposed by the Norwegian government.
News May 27, 2026 Landmark report reveals labour social rights gap for sea workers in Europe On 27 May, a major new report titled “Charting the Distinct Rights of Sea Workers in European Waters: A Focus on Decent Working Time” was released by the World Maritime University (WMU) commissioned by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). The study is primarily driven by the differential treatment of sea workers compared with land-based workers, which has resulted in their exclusion from several EU directives and in working and living conditions that fall below general labour standards. The report highlights major gaps between the labour protections afforded to sea workers and those enjoyed by land-based workers across Europe.
News May 26, 2026 A sustainable Aviation Strategy starts with fair competition and quality jobs The European Commission is preparing a new Aviation Strategy for Europe at a critical moment for the sector. For ETF, this initiative cannot become another exercise focused solely on market liberalisation and competitiveness at the expense of workers. Instead, it must mark a change of course. Years of deregulation, cost-driven competition, and insufficient social safeguards have weakened the sector’s resilience, undermined fair competition, and placed increasing pressure on aviation workers. The new strategy therefore represents an opportunity to correct this trajectory and build an aviation industry that is competitive, sustainable, and socially responsible.
News May 22, 2026 European airlines on notice: unions to demand action over reports of labour abuses in Flying Food Group supply chain Aviation trade unions in Europe have committed to mobilising in support of over 1,000 Flying Food Group workers at SFO and LAX airports. At this week’s Section meeting, the ETF’s Civil Aviation Section passed a resolution after hearing from FFG workers and their union, UNITE HERE, to support their five-year struggle for a collective bargaining agreement. FFG workers provide catering services to numerous European carriers at LAX and SFO airports and are a critical part of their supply chains.
Statement May 21, 2026 ETF expresses solidarity following death of London bus driver while on duty We join Unite’s call on Transport for London, bus operators, and the relevant authorities to take immediate action to ensure the safety of all bus workers, including extending violence prevention and de-escalation training to all drivers without delay.
Statement May 21, 2026 28th Regime (EU Inc.): A Single Market Tool or a Licence to Bypass Workers’ Rights? The European Commission’s proposal for a 28th regime, also referred to as EU Inc., is being presented as a major step towards simplifying cross-border business in Europe. By offering companies a single EU-wide legal framework as an alternative to national systems, the initiative aims to reduce administrative burdens and stimulate economic activity. However, from the perspective of ETF, this narrative overlooks the very real risks for workers in highly mobile and cross-border sectors such as transport, where enforcement of labour standards is already a major challenge.
Statement May 20, 2026 The road transport sector is in a long-term crisis: Three demands for structural change The fuel crisis has brought urgency to a debate that should have happened years ago. The ETF is calling on policymakers to use this moment to act on the sector’s future.
News May 18, 2026 Evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy shows the social dimension has been neglected Press release: The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) considers the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), published by the European Commission on 30 April 2026, an important exercise to identify critical issues affecting workers in the fisheries sector. However, the report makes one reality painfully clear: prioritising environmental sustainability almost exclusively has not delivered the expected results.