Dockers in Turkey are facing an increased attack on their right to join the union of their choice by a hostile employer. Dockers at Borusan Port started to unionise in March by joining the dockers’ union Liman-İş . Their employer – Borusan Lojistik AS – responded by sacking six workers, who were later reinstated after the intervention of local politicians.

On May 20, 2024, a major inspection occurred at the Noorderlaan car park near the Port of Antwerp. Organized by the Belgian police and the Social Intelligence and Investigation Service (SIOD), the operation saw participation from the European Transport Worker’s Federation (ETF), BTB-ABVV, CSC Transcom, ACV Openbare Diensten, and the RTDD Foundation. With the support of the European Labour Authority (ELA), authorities from Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania were also present in a collaborative effort to tackle social fraud and enforce compliance in road transport.

Switzerland is currently negotiating a new framework agreement with the EU. The union of Swiss transport workers SEV is demanding that the Swiss government does not give in to pressure from the EU Commission to agree to a market opening for international rail passenger transport. The SEV is also supporting the Swiss Trade Union Federation's demand to protect wages. Switzerland's negotiations are also in the interest of the ETF, the European Transport Workers' Federation. The former SEV president Giorgio Tuti is president of the rail sector at the ETF. A discussion on current European politics.

The road transport sector in Europe plays a vital role in supporting the economy, facilitating commerce, and ensuring connectivity. However, this critical industry hides a troubling reality of exploitation, precarity, human rights abuses, and unfair competition. The latest wave of exploitation targets third-country nationals: drivers recruited from non-European countries under questionable arrangements and precarious conditions, as part of a business model where they are employed in countries where they never actually work.

Ferry CEO Peter Hebblethwaite pulls wool over MPs’ eyes by claiming to pay more than double an internationally agreed seafarer wage Disgraced P&O boss Peter Hebblethwaite appeared for another grilling in Parliament last week, before MPs on the Business and Trade Select Committee.

Never again, nowhere. Last week, the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung EU Office (FES Europa) organised an initiative called the "Train of Remembrance." This 3-day pedagogical journey aimed to educate and empower young trade unionists by reflecting on the harrowing impact of the far-right Nazi regime during the 1940s in Germany, particularly the atrocities of the Holocaust that claimed over 6 million lives.

European Trade Union Federations have issued a joint letter strongly criticizing the European employers' organizations for their opposition to the proposed revision of the European Works Council (EWC) Directive. The unions argue that the employers' stance demonstrates a lack of understanding of the EWC Directive and a lack of effort to support policy-making based on evidence. They call on the Council to ensure that EWCs are given sufficient and enforceable rights, as well as the necessary resources to exercise them.

Dockers working at the Borusan Port near Bursa in Turkey have been victimised by port owner Borusan Logistics for joining the union of their choice. Over 70% of the dock workers joined the ITF-affiliated union Liman-İş when the union started organising there in March. Borusan Port management responded by firing six dockers because they had joined the union. In response the union carried out a four-day protest at the port, closing it down.

Rallying of trade union support from Belgium, Australia and the USA crucial to new terms on ship working to install wind turbines with world’s largest offshore wind developer, Ørsted Action by dockers in Esbjerg, Denmark, has won a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) guaranteeing better pay and conditions for seafarers installing offshore wind for Germany.

On April 25th-26th, representatives from various civil aviation unions met in Helsinki for an intensive training session led by Kris Major, Chair of the Joint Aircrew Committee and representative of the UK's union Unite. The training was aimed at “bringing the crisis guide to life”, infusing it with the collective experience and insight of the attendees. This guide will eventually serve as a comprehensive collection of guidelines to equip union representatives with the essential skills and support to navigate crises adequately.

As one company steps up to do the right thing in the Netherlands, another CEO faces charges for the 2020 death of a New Zealand stevedore Fatigue is a seafarer’s constant reality. Imagine arriving in port after days on end of 10-16-hour shifts, facing harsh weather and frequent stops at ports taking away your chance to rest, not to mention the emotional and mental challenges of working in a risky environment for little pay, often thousands of miles away from beloved friends and family.

In a pivotal seminar held in Milan on April 10th 2024, more than 70 women from 15 countries assembled to confront the challenges faced by women in the transport sector amidst the backdrop of the growing far-right movement in Europe. The seminar welcomed not just union leaders but workers and workplace representatives from all over Europe, notably with a significant presence of Italian workplace delegates. In light of the upcoming European elections, the discourse focused on the indispensable role of women in leading the fight for equality and justice in the transport sector.