Our Priorities

Railways are the backbone of a sustainable transport system. For 20 years Europe’s railway sector has been undergoing constant reforms and restructuring – partly imposed by EU legislation, partly by national governments or company decisions. To ensure the rights of workers in the sector are respected throughout these changes, in 2017 the ETF Railway Section adopted a five-year work programme with the following three priorities:

1. Promoting quality railway employment – fighting liberalisation and privatisation.
2. Promoting Fair Transport – fighting social dumping in the railway sector in Europe, for labour and trade union rights and social protection in a liberalised rail sector.
3. Ensuring railway safety and security in a changing railway world.

In order to achieve these aims we work in all relevant areas:

• We develop industrial campaigns to show strength and make our voice heard.
• We participate in the European Sectoral Social Dialogue for the railway sector.
• We influence railway policy and legislation.
• We get involved in the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) which is developing technical ‘standards’ and harmonised railway safety policies very relevant for railway workers conditions.
• We follow the Shift2Rail research program that is funding projects relevant for digitalisation and automation of the railways demanding accompanying social impact research funding.