A deeply troubling case of labor rights violations is unfolding on the Danube River in Novi Sad, Serbia. Six Ukrainian crew members remain stranded aboard four inland vessels, reportedly without wages, employment contracts, or adequate living conditions for over a year. Based on information received from workers and local union representatives, each crew member is allegedly owed between €6,000 and €15,000 - with total unpaid wages estimated to exceed €100,000.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) welcomes the recent decision by the European Commission to approve a €36 million Danish state aid scheme to support the uptake of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This funding will be used to green domestic aviation operations in Denmark, significantly exceeding the minimum SAF use requirements set by the European Parliament. We support the Commission’s conclusion that state aid for decarbonising aviation is necessary, effective, and proportionate.

Every summer, Europe's air traffic management system struggles to deal with the increase of air traffic. ATM workers know that the main reason for this is the unfit ATM Performance Scheme brought by the EU on national ATM providers. While we acknowledge the need for such a EU-wide scheme, we need deep changes in the one we have! In a new position paper, we present the main shortcomings of the current scheme and innovating ideas to reform it.

As investigations into the cause of this accident continue, the ETF reaffirms our unwavering commitment to railway safety and the protection of both transport workers and passengers. Every worker has the right to return home safely at the end of their shift, and every passenger deserves safe and secure transport.

Today, ETF sent a letter to the European Commissioner for Transport, Mr Apostolos Tzitzikostas. Aviation workers in Europe are raising their voice regarding why summer flight delays and cancellations happen, and what is usually left out of the blame game we hear every summer. In this letter, we explained that through the current ATM Performance Scheme the European Commission is establishing cost-efficiency targets that effectively pressure air navigation service providers to cut costs on recruitment of staff.

Labour shortages are a significant topic in European policy discussions. Despite over 13 million people being unemployed in the EU, key sectors such as transport are facing acute labour shortages. The EU’s current focus on competitiveness—through cost reduction and deregulation - leans heavily toward corporate interests, paving the way for austerity policies that unfairly impact workers. Instead, the EU must prioritise improving job quality to meet evolving demands and safeguard working conditions.

The EU Social Partners in the fisheries sector have launched a new digital hub, a one-stop platform to boost visibility, share resources, and drive forward joint action in the sector. The platform brings together the social partners’ collaborative work on safety, working conditions, fair recruitment, training and social sustainability, offering a fresh, accessible way to engage with ongoing developments in EU-level social fisheries policy and practice.

The European Social Partners for Sea Fisheries - ETF and Europêche - have raised serious concerns with Commissioners Costas Kadis and Roxana Minzatu over the European Commission’s approach to labour standards within Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). The Commission presented a draft proposal to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) that falls short of...

European transport unions sent a powerful message of solidarity this weekend as unionists gathered at CFDT headquarters in Paris for ETF's "We Are All Equally Different" conference, culminating in a unified presence at Paris Pride. The two-day event revealed alarming new data showing widespread discrimination against LGBTQI+ transport workers, including harassment, violence, and inflexible workplace policies that fail to protect vulnerable employees.

We live in times of tremendous change and uncertainty. Established geopolitical relations, perspectives, and economic assumptions are being reassessed and reframed. In parallel, the effects of liberalisation continue to shape the aviation sector, increasing the vulnerability of the industry. Learn more about ETF priorities for the coming years in the ETF Vision for Civil Aviation here.

The report documents how complex subcontracting chains are being used across the EU to shift responsibility, reduce wages, and suppress workers’ rights - particularly affecting migrant and third-country national workers. Union representatives stressed that this is not a loophole, but a deliberate and growing business model that traps workers in precarious and unsafe conditions.

The European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) and its affiliates marked Driver Fatigue Action Day on June 21, 2025, as part of a broader series of successful coordinated actions carried out throughout the week and beyond. Trade unions across Europe organised activities to draw attention to one of the most pressing safety challenges in European road transport.