Statement November 14, 2019 ETF to Vălean: “Transport Workers must be taken seriously!” Ursula von der Leyen has appointed Violeta Bulc’s successor and the European Commission for 2019-2024 is set to have Ms. Adina Vălean as Transport Commissioner. ETF calls on Ms. Vălean to take Transport Workers seriously.
News November 12, 2019 First CBA in the River Cruise Sector – smooth sailing ahead? ETF welcomes the CBA and acknowledges it as a first step in the right direction. Further positive changes are on their way as on November 7, the official negotiations for a European-wide agreement between IG River Cruise, European Barge Union (EBU) and ETF commenced. European Social Partners hope to reach a meaningful agreement by Autumn 2020.
News November 8, 2019 ETF & ITF talk EU rail policy developments with Norwegian workers’ delegation A delegation of public service and transport workers’ representatives from West and South of Norway, LO Stat, visited the International Transport Workers’ Federation to exchange views on the challenges transport workers face today.
News November 6, 2019 Landing obligation has led to increased workload for fishers The EU Social Partners in Sea Fisheries ETF and Europêche adopted a joint resolution on the socio-economic impact of the EU landing obligation on the fishing industry. They agreed to call on the European Commission to revise the EU landing obligation so that it is consistent with other legal instruments adopted by the EU, in particular, Directive 2017/159 and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
News November 6, 2019 Celebrating 20 Years of Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee & looking forward Railway social partners and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) gathered with ETF for the annual plenary meeting of the Rail Sectoral Social Dialogue. Social partners negotiated their joint work programme for the next two years and agreed to focus on women’s employment and equal opportunities in the railway sector, ensuring railway safety in an open and competitive market, working and resting time rules, and employability in the light of digitalisation and automation.
News October 31, 2019 A new prospect for XPO workers’ power in Europe – EWC established Massive step forward for XPO workers in Europe: Years of negotiations with XPO Logistics Europe management finally resulted in an agreement to establish a European Works Council (EWC).
News October 31, 2019 ETUC presents toolkit on implementation of the EU work-life balance directive As part of the Steering Committee of ETUC’s REBALANCE project, an ETF delegation attended the Conference: “Trade unions’ and social partners’ actions to improve reconciliation of work, family and private life for women and men” in Rome.
News October 24, 2019 Thomas Cook collapse: workers need justice! Thomas Cook may have collapsed in the UK, but it’s a European story. Companies, travel agencies, and hotels all over Europe and beyond have been affected, and around 22.000 workers are suffering from the consequences. The ETF stands in solidarity with all Thomas Cook workers and we continue to defend their interests together with our affiliates.
News October 23, 2019 Women transport workers discuss the impacts of digitalisation and automation on female employment Digitalisation and automation are affecting a multitude of transport jobs in all sectors. However, jobs carried out by women are particularly at risk due to digitalisation and automation which threaten to deepen existing gender inequalities in the workplace even further.
News October 23, 2019 Safety first! “Guards must be kept on board trains!”, declare ETF’s expert groups The Locomotive Drivers’ Advisory Group and the On-Board Personnel Advisory Group, meeting in Brussels on 21-22 October, expressed their solidarity with French railway workers following an accident that occurred on October 16 between Mohon and Poix-Terron in Eastern France which involved a driver-only operation (DOO) train. DOOs are dangerous for both the train driver and the passengers: guards must be kept on board trains!
News October 16, 2019 ETF welcomes Denmark’s decision to introduce stricter cabotage rules for buses & coaches Starting 1 November 2019, Denmark will tighten its rules for foreign buses and coaches. Foreign buses will be allowed to legally cabotage for seven consecutive days in Denmark per calendar month.
News October 16, 2019 Rail social partners start negotiations on agreement to promote women’s employment Women account for less than 20% of the railway workforce, a figure that is alarmingly below the 46% participation rate of women in the labour market. Railway companies and trade unions are convinced that the situation needs to change in order to avoid missing out on the valuable contribution of women, to promote diversity at the workplace, and eventually harmonise the railway sector’s image with the reality of the society in which rail customers live.