Transport union federations ETF and ITF welcome Friday’s bittersweet breakthrough on due diligence Directive The vote by EU states in favour of the bloc’s supply chain accountability Directive will dramatically improve the lives of millions of workers in the supply chains of businesses operating in the EU – say the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

Two years ago, trade unionists across the globe reacted in outrage as P&O Ferries illegally sacked 786 UK seafarers, a move that UK unions RMT and Nautilus labelled a ‘national scandal’. These workers have yet to receive the justice they deserve, and the threat of another P&O Ferries-style jobs massacre looms large due to government inaction.

In Finland, a right-wing government has launched the most serious attack on workers' rights and social security in the history of the Finnish welfare state. The unions are fighting to defend the country's social model. On 11 March trade unions began a wave of political strike action that is currently intended to continue for two weeks. The strikes will, among other actions, close all cargo handling in Finnish ports. Photo: Jani Laukkanen.

Underhand business practices targeting seafarers will advance low-cost UK employment model. Businesses charging seafarers for accommodation on board the ships they work on undermines international law and could trigger a race to the bottom on workers’ pay, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) General Secretary Stephen Cotton told the UK Government.

On 11 March trade unions in Finland began a wave of strike action which has closed all cargo handling in Finnish ports and halted freight traffic on railways. The strike is currently intended to continue for two weeks. The strikes are in protest at the most serious attack on workers' rights and social security in the history of the Finnish welfare state which have been launched by the right-wing government. The unions are fighting to defend the country's social model.

ITF tells world’s largest shipping company AGM to protect workers and their jobs, create decent work for future Trade unions must be consulted in the process of shipping company Maersk’s expansion into shoreside logistics, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) will tell Maersk executives and shareholders today (Thursday) at the company’s AGM in Copenhagen.

After two years of negotiations, the EU has finally adopted the Platform Work Directive. The Council approved the provisional agreement on March 11, aiming to improve working conditions and clarify employment status for platform workers.

Overall, this directive will help improve the situation of platform workers by giving them easier access to their employment rights. While it does not go as far as we would have liked but it is a very valuable tool for platforms and unions to take action at national level. For the first time ever, it provides better data privacy and regulation of algorithmic management.

The European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) is pleased to announce significant progress in securing the safety of dockworkers through amendments to the EU's Maritime Accidents Investigation Directive.

C188 enters into force in Spain. A milestone for this fundamental ILO Convention.

On March 6, during the ITB in Berlin, EBU, ETF and IG RiverCruise signed a binding framework agreement to improve the working conditions on board river cruise vessels as well as to ensure a level playing field for the sector. This agreement is a first important step for the improvement of the livelihoods of thousands of workers.

New reports by the European Commission's Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) paint a concerning picture of a 40% rise in driver shortages across Europe since 2020, leaving the continent with a gap of 105,000 drivers. This crisis, fueled by an ageing workforce and competition from other sectors, threatens the smooth operation of public transport systems, which are vital for our cities' future. ETF demands action now.