Saving a life is NOT a crime! We welcome the release of Captain Carola Rackete
An Italian judge has ordered the release of the captain of the Sea Watch 3, a migrant rescue ship who had been arrested for breaking an Italian naval blockade after saving the lives of 40 migrants in the Mediterranean. Her release is a victory for justice, but this humanitarian crisis cannot be tackled by NGOs or merchant ships alone. The EU and its Member States must work together to save lives and share the burden of dealing with this crisis.
A trade union future for Europe
Belgian ETF affiliate hosts a seminar about the the future of trade unionism in Europe. Our Acting General Secretary was there to explain why international solidarity is the only way for transport workers to defend themselves in an interconnected world.
Modern challenges for the port sector revealed by EU Social Partners’ joint study
This study is the first-ever attempt to look at how the technological and business choices made by shipping companies impact the main service providers that ships depend on: terminals and their employees. It is now high-time for shipping lines to open discussions with the other actors of the maritime transport chain.
Is disruption the route to better transport services?
Joining a debate at the European Liberal Forum, our Acting General Secretary argued that not all disruption in the transport sector brings a better service to users. What’s more, we cannot only think of people as consumers. If new models offload social costs of work onto the taxpayer, or force wages down to unsustainable levels, who really benefits?
Viva la solidarietà! Italian unions launch joint platform for decent work in transport
The Italian government has not been speaking to transport workers or their unions. So today they will launch a joint platform for decent work in transport and then announce a massive mobilisation across the sector, under the slogan “Let’s get the country moving again!”
ILO adopts a historic new convention against violence and harassment in the world of work
Now it’s time to ensure that governments in Europe ratify and implement the Convention. The ETF Women’s Committee urges all ETF trade unions to promote fair and violence-free workplaces for women transport workers.
Svitzer workers go on strike in The Netherlands for the 9th time!
Workers at the Dutch tug company continue their fight to get their overtime paid. Instead of working for free, they decided to do voluntary work in a different way: they got elderly people from a retirement home on board of boats and gave them a tour of the port!
ETF supports train guards in the UK in their strike action to defend jobs and safety
Our affiliate union RMT is calling on workers at the UK’s South Western Railway to begin a five-day strike today. The employer provoked this action by reneging on an earlier promise to guarantee the continued presence of on-board staff, who are vital for passengers’ safety and security.
Landmark ruling in favour of Ryanair crew
A Belgian court has ruled that Ryanair cabin crew are subject to national labour law. This decision will have wide-ranging consequences for European aviation, and marks a real victory in our campaign against social dumping in Europe’s skies.
ETF supports the women’s strike today in Switzerland!
More pay! More time! More respect! That’s the demand from hundreds of thousands of women in Switzerland, who are still denied their constitutional right to equal pay while facing higher levels of unemployment and gender-based violence.
A tug worker sends an SOS call about social dumping
A tug captain from Antwerp has issued an SOS call, asking for action against social dumping in the sector. His story highlights a specific case of unfair competition in Belgium, but it is a story that will echo with tug captains across Europe. The ETF is building a network of tug captains, and we will stand with them in their struggle to defend decent pay and conditions in this vital profession.
ETF Acting General Secretary expresses her support for an ILO Convention on violence & harassment in the world of work
Women workers face terrible violence and harrassment – and transport workers are some of the most affected. Today we asked the European Commission and the Romanian EU Presidency to push for an ILO Convention on violence and harassment in the world of work at the centenary ILO Conference next week in Geneva.