Social Dialogue

2017 marked the 50^th anniversary of the IWT Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee although we must admit that dialogue was not always an option and many years were left unused.

The European Social Partners, ETF together with its employers’ counterparts EBU (European Barge Union) and ESO (European Skippers’ Organisation) are the representative spokes bodies for the European Inland Waterways sector.

ETF affiliates organising members in the Inland Waterways sector participate in the social dialogue at European level.

The 2018-2019 work programme addresses following issues:

• The development of a unique time registration format and template for individual crewmembers’ working and resting times
• The harmonisation and modernisation of professional qualifications for all functions in IWT EU wide
• Uniform rules to coordinate appliance of social security legislation
• Definition of a full time employment in passenger transport
• Development of policy guidelines in order o overcome the gender pay gap.

The full text of the IWT Social Dialogue Committee Workplan 2018-2019 can be downloaded.

Of course the European Social Partners dedicate ample time to monitoring the correct implementation of European legislation such as the Working Time Directive and the Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications, as well as other horizontal European initiatives that might impact on the workers in the sector.

In April 2018 ETF, EBU and ESO adopted a joint declaration on the elimination of violence against women and LGTBQI workers in the workplace after the 2017 ETF Study on workplace violence against women transport workers clearly revealed that women working in the sector are subject to high levels of abuse, threats, intimidation and offensive behaviour.  This study was the first in its kind and is based on survey responses from more than 1.400 women transport workers from across Europe.  The IWT Social Partners clearly expressed their solid commitment to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and LGTBQI workers in the sector.  The summary and the supplementary report can be downloaded.