ETF met with Commissioner Schmit to discuss key issues affecting transport workers. Livia Spera, ETF General Secretary, extended an invitation to build, together with Commissioner Schmit, a new vision for the future of transport work.

In light of Digital Transport Days taking place on 18 November, ETF Maritime team has published a paper on the future of waterborne transport. ETF’s vision of a fair and sustainable future of waterborne transport shows that there is an alternative to the current business practices in the sectors.

Over 20 associations collectively representing the entire European aviation ecosystem have issued a comprehensive collaborative analysis today, detailing ways aviation can recover sustainably and more resiliently from the COVID-19 crisis whilst supporting the European Union’s Green Deal objectives.

ETF is committed to making road safety a reality. That's why we're publishing the preliminary results of our survey of truck, bus, and coach drivers which uncovered their direct experiences, their views on the causes of fatigue, its consequences and the most effective countermeasures. Discover our teaser on driver fatigue.

Transport Community's Social Forum adopted its rules of procedure, and the ETF is now permanently invited to their meetings. A most welcome step forward as the Social Forum is a tool for increased engagement with transport unions in the Western Balkans.

There is growing evidence that the fleets scoring worst in global IUU fishing are also the ones where more cases of forced labour and human rights and labour abuses are observed. To stop imports of fish products from countries that are violating environmental as well as labour standards to the EU, European Social Partners of the fisheries sector adopted a resolution, urging the Commission to take appropriate actions.

Social partners call for a revision of the current fishing capacity rules to allow for improvements in safety and working conditions and move the industry closer to the European Green Deal goals.

While fishing for red prawns, 18 fishers from Sicily were detained by the Libyan Coast Guard on 1 September. The ETF addressed a letter to European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries today, calling on them to take action and facilitate an immediate and unconditional release of these fishers.

The Declaration promotes the benefits that automation and digitalisation can bring to European transport but leaves out those who will be directly impacted by the implementation of these new technologies: the millions of transport workers that move Europe forward. ETF has written to the Council of the EU, EFTA Secretariat, German Presidency, Permanent Representations of EU Member States to express concerns

To alert EU Commissioners to the continuing crisis onboard ships and the urgent need for member states to act, ETF addressed a letter to Commissioners Vălean, Schmit and Johansson. Flag states must ensure the repatriation of seafarers stranded at sea. It is not generosity, but an obligation under maritime law.

TUI fly Germany is implementing its restructuring plans that will leave many workers in Germany jobless, despite receiving state aid. The ETF is joining Ver.di in their call for social conditionality in state aid - companies should not be allowed to use crises to restructure, dismiss workers and worsen their working conditions.

This important win for America’s labour movement will certainly bring about stronger ties between trade unions in Europe and the US. They can count on us for support. We may be far apart, but our trade union values and our fight are one and the same.