Captain and chief mate sentenced without evidence to connect them to drugs found on vessel, after spending year in prison with crew awaiting trial. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) condemns the decision to sentence two seafarers to 30 years’ imprisonment, after drugs were found on a vessel docked in the Black Sea port of Ereğli, Turkey, in October last year.

The European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) and its Rail Steering Committee have issued messages of solidarity to its affiliates and the broader community in Central and Eastern Europe following the devastating floods caused by Storm Boris. This extreme weather event has had a severe impact across Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Italy and Romania, with extensive damage to infrastructure, homes, and transport systems.

More than 700 workers united today in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, to call upon the EU institutions to take urgent action to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains and labour intermediation. Hundreds of transport workers participated with their unions, coming from all over Europe to send a clear message to the newly appointed EU Commission.

The maritime industry, a backbone of global trade, relies on the hard work of seafarers who navigate the world's oceans, ensuring goods are delivered efficiently. However, the demanding nature of this job often results in long hours, physical strain, and extended periods away from home, leading to significant fatigue. A critical issue that has emerged in recent years is the practice of requiring seafarers to perform additional tasks, such as lashing and unlashing cargo. This practice not only exacerbates fatigue but also raises serious safety concerns.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and Europêche, as the European Social Partners in the fisheries sector, have submitted a joint position paper to the European Commission. This response is part of the Commission's ongoing evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Both organizations emphasized the need to address the CFP’s socio-economic shortcomings and its impact on workers and communities in the fishing industry.

ETF, EFBWW (European Federation of Building and Woodworkers), and EFFAT (the European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions) will join in a first-ever joint demonstration outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, 17 September 2024. The demonstration will gather more than 700 workers. We want to ensure equal treatment across subcontracting chains, regulate labour intermediation, and include the prohibition of intermediaries in posting. Enhances inspection mechanisms to protect workers' rights.

As the world reflects on the 2024 Paris Olympics, the spotlight often shines on the athletes, venues, and the grandeur of the event. Yet behind the scenes, a critical workforce ensured the smooth functioning of this global spectacle: transport workers.

With deep regret, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) mourns the passing of Alexander Mikhailovich Bodnya, Vice-President of the Seafarers Union of Russia (SUR) and President of the SUR Baltic Regional Organization, at the age of 72. Alexander's maritime career began after graduating from Leningrad Maritime School with a degree in Navigation. He served on the ships of the Baltic Shipping Company, participating in significant voyages to North America, Cuba, and the Arctic.

In a formal letter calling for close cooperation with the Chair and the whole Committee, ETF General Secretary Livia Spera outlined the analysis and demands contained in the Manifesto that the Federation adopted ahead of the EU elections. Central to these demands is the need to put workers at the core of EU transport policies, notably to reverse the severe labour shortage crisis that is currently plaguing the sector.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Pavel Krenk, a revered leader in the global trade union community and long-serving chairman of the Czech Trade Union of Seafarers, who left us on 24 June 2024 at the age of 64. His untimely departure followed a brief but courageous battle with illness. Krenk's journey in maritime began at the Nautical Academy in Kaliningrad, where he graduated before embarking on a career as a deck officer with Czechoslovak Ocean Shipping.

More than 130 migrant fishers impacted by forced labour in seafood supply chain for scampi that ends up on UK plates The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has successfully appealed against the false labour and human rights claims of the UK Nephrops (scampi) Fishery Improvement Project (FIP).

Maritime industry representatives came together at ITF House for the Ukraine Maritime Forum. Ukrainian seafarers were top of the agenda last month as representatives from across the maritime industry came together at ITF House, in London, for an event run by the Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU).