A sociological study carried out by the Research Centre on Social Relations of the Paris Descartes University. The study tells about the risks and physical, psychological or sexual violence experience onboard vessels of the merchant navy.

On 16 April, the European Parliament voted on the provisional agreement regarding the Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Directive. Download the joint letter from EuroCOP, EPSU, Euromil and ETF here.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) is running the Fair Transport campaign against social dumping. From 22 to 27 of March, Europe’s transport workers and their unions will take action with demos, events and protests. We are demanding that politicians and employers put an end to exploitation and unfair competition.

Discover more about our events and dates by downloading our Action Week Calendar.

European social partners for maritime transport, ETF and ECSA, are looking for an external expert who will develop proposals for new methodologies to better and more coherently collect data about maritime professionals on a European level.

ETF and ITF affiliates declare their renewed intention to engage in closer cooperation in order to tackle jointly the manifold challenges and changes affecting the sector.

ETF position paper on a human-centred and sustainable approach to digitalisation and automation in the shipping industry.

The EU co-funded ETF project TRENDS – anticipating the impact of changes in transport on employment, working conditions, professions and skills took place in the period November 2015 to April 2017. The project’s main aim was to develop a strategy to anticipate changes in the transport sector regarding economic developments & globalisation, technological change: automation & digitalisation, demographic change and climate change. These changes will all impact transport employment, working conditions, skills needs and will bring a shift in the transport professions.

The analysis of major developments related to the four and trends is published in a study you can find in English, French and German. The discussion paper TRENDS – Anticipate and Act is available in English, French, German, Romanian and Turkish. It summarises the study and develops suggestions for trade union actions.

The ETF position regarding the application of the Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions to seafarers and fishermen.

Materials from the Seafarers Matter Conference held in Brussels on 28 February 2017.

A report of the existing EU legislation on Health and & Safety which applies to maritime transport and the compilation of best practices/initiatives taken by Member States and the industry to meet and possibly go beyond regulatory requirements

A guide of the the existing EU programmes in the field of apprenticeship and training to promote maritime professions

A Social Partners Agreement transposing into EU law the amendments adopted in 2014 in the framework of the International Labour Organisation to the Maritime Labour Convention

10 proposals to make tomorrow’s maritime transport sector a generator of wealth and EU-based jobs

On Wednesday 21 October 2015, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) organises in cooperation with the S&D Group a seminar addressing the
urgent need to promote the recruitment and retention of skilled European based seafarers. The event, attended by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)
and representatives from the European Institutions, workers’ organisations and the World Maritime University, aims to draw up a social agenda to make European
shipping a sector that provides EU-based maritime employment and know-how.

Shipping Industry General Letter to EU Heads of State concerning humanitarian crisis in mediterranean sea

ETF/ITF affiliates representing workers in tug and towage operations met in London on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September 2015.  Representatives of 20 member organisations from 11 countries discussed the impact of global maritime business model shifts.

The Lloyd’s List Global Award for Seafarer of the Year, usually reserved for individual seafarers who have shown bravery and leadership in the line of duty, was this year presented to all of the world’s seafarers (and their shipping company employers) in recognition of their collective efforts to rescue thousands of migrants’ from the Mediterranean throughout a continuing crisis which shows little sign of ending.

Today 8 July 2015, the European Parliament’s (EP) Plenary session adopted the agreement reached in trialogue with the Council of the EU last May, on the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on seafarers. This adoption marks the end of a very long process, which started some eight years ago and which had opposed shipowners to trade unions for many years.

A full copy of the joint ECSA/ETF position paper can be downloaded below.

On Friday 29 May 2015, in the frame of the European Maritime Day, Europêche1, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF2) and the European Boating Industry, organised with the support of the European Commission a workshop attended by Member of European Parliament Sofia Ribeiro (Employment Committee), representatives from the European Commission and key maritime stakeholders. Discussions took place to adequately address the problems faced by the fishing and boating industries in Europe, owing to the lack of recognition of qualifications of personnel on fishing and small commercial vessels.

Executive Summary:

ETF response to the Public consultation on the Mid-term review of the EU Maritime Transport Strategy.

Please find below the annexes to the Press Release – Shipping Industry General Letter to EU Heads of State.

On 1 April, the Employment Committee of the European Parliament (EP) endorsed the report of Rapporteur Morin-Chartier (EPP, France), which puts forward
amendments to the Commission’s proposal aiming at including seafarers in the existing directives on information and consultation, European Works’ Councils,
transfer of undertakings, collective redundancies and employer insolvency.

Tug conference declaration

Following the meeting of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Maritime Transport in October 2014, the Social Partners for Maritime Transport ECSA and ETF acknowledged the need to draw shipping companies’ and seafarers’ attention to the risks from the Ebola virus. At the same time they underlined the need to provide crew members onboard ships calling at ports in affected countries with relevant guidance.

A Manifesto setting out the ETF’s vision for a socially sustainable shipping sector in Europe

ETF Position Paper_Mid-term review of the EU Maritime Transport Policy (Athens Declaration)

Shipowners and Seafarers’ representatives call for continued efforts in combating piracy in East Africa & request the EU to liaise with regional States to ensure safe navigation in West Africa.

This EU-funded project produced training materials to prevent bullying and harassment in the shipping industry: a workbook and guidelines to shipping companies.

The final report of the EU-funded project “Enhancing Recruitment and Training in the European Shipping Industry” served as a basis for adopting a related ETF policy on training and recruitment in the Maritime industry.

Final report of the EU-funded project called “Enhancing Recruitment and Training in the European Shipping Industry”.