The ETF made its points clearly to the discussion during the recent Connecting Ports Session edition “Port Work in Transition – Balancing progress and change in sustainability, automation, and digitalization,” held on the 20th of March 2025 and hosted by HPC Hamburg Port Consulting. With around 100 participants from over 30 countries, the event served as a global platform to explore the evolving landscape of port work in the face of sustainability, automation, and digitalization.

As the European Council and the Parliament prepare to discuss the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), leading EU associations urge EU policymakers to maintain and strengthen the current fund for fisheries and aquaculture, emphasizing its critical role in food security, economic stability and environmental sustainability.

A positive step towards ensuring that the voices of fisheries workers are heard in shaping the future of the sector.

The ETF stands in solidarity with Vida trade union and the approximately 1,000 food delivery riders affected by the closure of the Scoober (employed courier) business of Lieferando Austria, a subsidiary of Just Eat Takeaway.com NV (JET).

Four Syrian seafarers have been killed after a Russian cruise missile hit a vessel in the Black Sea port of Odessa last Tuesday. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) condemns the killing of seafarers and reiterates its call for an immediate and sustained ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, urging a halt to all attacks on commercial ships.

The ETF, in collaboration with the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), organised a training session titled "Training on Corporate Sustainability and Due Diligence" in Brussels. The event brought together trade unionists from across Europe to discuss the growing importance of corporate accountability, sustainability, and due diligence in the transport sector and beyond.

On 17 March, railway workers from CGSP Cheminots and ACV CSC Transcom will take strike action to defend their pensions and demand dignity in retirement. ETF stands firmly in solidarity with Belgian rail workers as they fight against unjust pension reforms that threaten their futures and the future of generations to come.

Global union federation demands a transparent, impartial internationally coordinated investigation into North Sea vessel collision. In the aftermath of the tragic North Sea collision between the Madeira-flagged cargo ship, Solong , and the US-flagged tanker, Stena Immaculate , the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) calls for a fully transparent and internationally coordinated investigation.

The European Commission plans to submit a text on crew labour standards to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) which will be discussed in the next days at the IOTC meeting for 13-17 April. The European Social Partners for Sea Fisheries jointly call on the European Commission to withdraw this proposal from submission to the IOTC.

The publication by the European Commission of its Omnibus proposal revising key corporate sustainability laws sends a clear political signal: President Ursula von der Leyen is deprioritising human rights, workers’ rights and environmental protections for the sake of dangerous deregulation. ETF joined over 360 organisations in a joint statement calling out on the consequences of this package.

ITF affiliate TÜMTİS has negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with DHL Express

On 7. March the European Commission published its new regulation raising standards for ground handling operations. The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) welcomes this publication as a significant milestone for the industry. Having been actively involved in the development of the regulation, ETF has provided expertise, insights, and recommendations to help shape the final outcome.