ETF calls on the EU Commission to act immediately on three non-negotiable priorities: adopting binding, cross-sector crisis and safety frameworks; guaranteeing that crises are not managed through downward pressure on jobs, wages, and working conditions; in consultation with social partners, come up with robust transport preparedness strategies that guarantee resilient EU transport systems.

Joint statement: European Shipowners and European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) reaffirm commitment to upskilling and reskilling of seafarers The European Maritime Skills Forum held its second plenary session in Brussels, reaffirming the shared commitment of European Shipowners and seafarers' unions to address the skill challenge of the green and digital transition.

As public transport budgets face mounting pressure across Europe, unions and civil society groups are fighting back. In Belgium, cuts to Flemish operator De Lijn have united workers, passengers, and environmental organisations in demanding an urgent change of course. In Germany, a broad coalition is calling for a binding right to mobility. Together, these movements reflect a growing consensus: reliable, well-funded public transport is an essential public service and the workers who run it deserve better too.

Recently published research from the Norwegian Institute of Transport Economics has provided further inputs to ETF’s campaign to protect bus and coach drivers from fatal frontal collisions. What’s more, a technical solution is now in sight. All that is needed is action by policymakers.

The European Social Partners in the Urban Public Transport sector, representing operators and workers across all EU Member States, welcome the European Commission’s commitment to modernise the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034.

Two weeks ago, ETF joined its Dutch affiliate FNV to observe a court case in the East of the Netherlands involving a truck driver who had been living in his truck for months without receiving his pay. The court has now ruled in the driver’s favour.

Yesterday, the EP adopted in plenary its first reading position on the EC Talent Pool proposal, a matching platform connecting job seekers from non-EU countries with EU based companies. Judging from the experience so far, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) believes this is a missed opportunity to do justice to those third country nationals hoping for decent jobs and living conditions in the EU.

On Thursday, ETF joined its Dutch affiliate, FNV, in the East of the Netherlands to observe a court case involving a truck driver who has been living in his truck for months without getting his agreed or legally required payments. The truck driver, Muhammad, originally from Tajikistan, was brought to the Dutch court by his Lithuanian employer.

On 4 March 2026, the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) Rail Section, along with Vida (Austria) and AK Europa, gathered key stakeholders at the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU for a high-level lunch discussion on "Improving Rail Safety". The event brought together a broad range of participants, including trade unionists, policy experts from the European Commission (DG MOVE), representatives of the European Parliament, and attachés. Our goal was to discuss a fundamental premise: rail safety is not a technical abstraction. It is directly linked to the working conditions of those who keep Europe moving.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) welcomes today’s European Commission proposals for an EU Port Strategy and an EU Industrial Maritime Strategy, insisting that workers must be placed at the heart of both initiatives. ETF stands ready to engage constructively with the European Commission, industry stakeholders and social partners to ensure that the final Strategy delivers a just, sustainable and socially responsible maritime future for Europe.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), Europêche and Copa-Cogeca warmly welcome the formal accession of Argentina to the 2012 Cape Town Agreement (CTA). This decisive step oGicially triggers the conditions for the global treaty to enter into force in February 2027, marking a historic milestone for global safety at sea.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), together with Europêche and Copa-Cogeca, has sent a formal letter to Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission warning about the alarming and structural decline of the EU fishing fleet. The full letter can be downloaded here to learn more about the concerns raised and the concrete proposals put forward by the social partners.