News November 16, 2020 ETF calls on EU policy makers to ACT NOW and END driver fatigue in commercial road transport ETF is committed to making road safety a reality. That’s why we’re publishing the preliminary results of our survey of truck, bus, and coach drivers which uncovered their direct experiences, their views on the causes of fatigue, its consequences and the most effective countermeasures. Discover our teaser on driver fatigue.
News November 13, 2020 ETF becomes permanent addition to Transport Community’s Social Forum meetings Transport Community’s Social Forum adopted its rules of procedure, and the ETF is now permanently invited to their meetings. A most welcome step forward as the Social Forum is a tool for increased engagement with transport unions in the Western Balkans.
News November 11, 2020 EU must put in place effective measures to ban imports from fleets with evidence of labour abuses There is growing evidence that the fleets scoring worst in global IUU fishing are also the ones where more cases of forced labour and human rights and labour abuses are observed. To stop imports of fish products from countries that are violating environmental as well as labour standards to the EU, European Social Partners of the fisheries sector adopted a resolution, urging the Commission to take appropriate actions.
News November 10, 2020 Fishing capacity ceilings have to be reviewed to bring the sector closer to social and environmental sustainability Social partners call for a revision of the current fishing capacity rules to allow for improvements in safety and working conditions and move the industry closer to the European Green Deal goals.
News November 10, 2020 ETF calls for release of jailed Sicilian fishers in Libya While fishing for red prawns, 18 fishers from Sicily were detained by the Libyan Coast Guard on 1 September. The ETF addressed a letter to European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries today, calling on them to take action and facilitate an immediate and unconditional release of these fishers.
Statement November 9, 2020 Digitalisation & Automation: Passau Declaration on Smart Mobility excludes transport workers and just transition The Declaration promotes the benefits that automation and digitalisation can bring to European transport but leaves out those who will be directly impacted by the implementation of these new technologies: the millions of transport workers that move Europe forward. ETF has written to the Council of the EU, EFTA Secretariat, German Presidency, Permanent Representations of EU Member States to express concerns
News November 9, 2020 EU must not abandon seafarers – whatever the flag under which they sail and whatever their nationality To alert EU Commissioners to the continuing crisis onboard ships and the urgent need for member states to act, ETF addressed a letter to Commissioners Vălean, Schmit and Johansson. Flag states must ensure the repatriation of seafarers stranded at sea. It is not generosity, but an obligation under maritime law.
Statement November 9, 2020 TUI fly Germany proceeds with plans to dismiss workers after receiving state aid TUI fly Germany is implementing its restructuring plans that will leave many workers in Germany jobless, despite receiving state aid. The ETF is joining Ver.di in their call for social conditionality in state aid – companies should not be allowed to use crises to restructure, dismiss workers and worsen their working conditions.
Statement November 9, 2020 ETF welcomes US election outcome as positive win for workers This important win for America’s labour movement will certainly bring about stronger ties between trade unions in Europe and the US. They can count on us for support. We may be far apart, but our trade union values and our fight are one and the same.
News November 6, 2020 Draft guidance on social responsibility in fish value chains delayed after pushback ETF, Europeche, and LDAC addressed a letter to FAO, urging the organisation to continue with the process of creating guidance on social responsibility in fish value chains.
Union Action November 5, 2020 “We won’t let Wizz Air jeopardise Norwegian working life model!” – unions protest in Norway as Wizz Air begins its operations Wizz Air is launching domestic flights in Norway today. In response, Parat’s pilot and cabin crew unions organised awareness-raising actions, with one clear message: Wizz Air must respect Norwegian law and the workers’ right to organise.
Press Release November 5, 2020 Without fishers, there’s no fishing At a plenary meeting, the EU Social Partners in the Fisheries Sector – Europêche, Cogeca and ETF – welcomed the presentation of the parliamentary draft report “Fishers for the future: Attracting a new generation of labour to the fishing industry and generating employment in coastal communities” of the MEP Manuel Pizarro. While acknowledging the report as an important step in the right direction, social partners call on the policy-makers to recognize the key social dimension of fishing, thus improving the health and safety of fishers and attracting youth to the sector.