In early June, dockers in Europe took action by refusing to handle military cargo directed to the port of Haifa, Israel.  Such actions highlight the growing urgency to end wars and uphold peace – and must not be criminalised. Lawful protests and the refusal to transport military equipment are legitimate expressions of conscience that deserve protection. 

Public transport plays a pivotal role in making societies function, promoting social cohesion and enhancing everyone’s quality of life. It is the most sustainable form of transport, easily accessible to all. It helps reduce noise and air pollution and is the most effective way to cut greenhouse gas emissions from mobility.

On UN Public Service Day, ETF honours the vital role of public services in shaping fairer, greener societies. Few are as essential – or as misunderstood – as rail. It’s not just transport: it’s a public good, a climate solution, and a pillar of social justice. For years, the EU praised Sweden’s liberalised rail model. But a new report by Swedish think tank Katalys confirms what unions have long warned: liberalisation has failed. The promise of efficiency gave way to fragmentation and decline. It’s time to rethink rail—not as a market, but as a service for people and planet.

From the outside, aviation may still seem like a glamorous industry. But for many young workers – aircrew, ground staff, and air traffic management (ATM) personnel – the daily reality is a grind of fatigue, insecurity, and unsustainable schedules. In two recent workshops hosted by ETF, young aviation workers shared their lived experiences around the topics of work-life balance and mental health.

French union leader Béatrice Lestic calls for zero tolerance against workplace discrimination, arguing that true equality requires unions to actively create inclusive environments where LGBTQIA+ workers can be themselves without fear. Her message comes ahead of ETF’s “We are all equally different” conference in Paris on June 26-27, with registrations still open.

The recent decision by Catalonia’s Labour Inspectorate to fine Amazon for failing to disclose the algorithms used to manage its workforce is a landmark moment in the fight against algorithmic exploitation in the logistics and e-commerce sector. This is not an isolated case. Across Europe, AI technologies have become a central feature of warehousing and last-mile delivery, often at the expense of workers’ rights, dignity, and well-being.