European minimum wage initiative – Consultation is underway! On 14 January, the European Commission launched First phase consultation of Social Partners on a possible action addressing the challenges related to fair minimum wages. While the ETF strongly believes that workers of Europe need a pay rise, we don’t support simplistic approaches and half-baked solutions that could endanger the autonomy of social partners around the continent. A simple prescriptive mechanism cannot solve wage stagnation – instead, we need to address the core causes of it, such as precarious work, anti-union measures, digitalisation, and austerity. Statement 15 Jan 2020
EASA Capacity Building project – final conference On 19 and 20 November 2019, an ETF civil aviation conference brought more than 100 participants from all over Europe to Dublin. Among them were numerous workers’ representatives, as well as representatives of the European Commission and EASA – European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Event 7 Jan 2020
Mobility Package: ETF Statement on the trilogue outcome The European Transport Workers’ Federation acknowledges that an agreement was reached on the Mobility Package between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament this morning, in trilogue. The agreement doesn’t include all elements the ETF has fought for but it does represent progress towards the declared goals and ambitions of the Package. Statement 12 Dec 2019
What does the future hold for low-cost air travel in Europe? We believe it’s fair aviation for all! On 3 December, the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism held a hearing on the future of low-cost travel in Europe. ETF’s acting General Secretary Livia Spera presented the everyday reality of those working for low-cost airlines. Event 9 Dec 2019
ETF to Vălean: “Transport Workers must be taken seriously!” Ursula von der Leyen has appointed Violeta Bulc’s successor and the European Commission for 2019-2024 is set to have Ms. Adina Vălean as Transport Commissioner. ETF calls on Ms. Vălean to take Transport Workers seriously. Statement 14 Nov 2019
Landing obligation has led to increased workload for fishers The EU Social Partners in Sea Fisheries ETF and Europêche adopted a joint resolution on the socio-economic impact of the EU landing obligation on the fishing industry. They agreed to call on the European Commission to revise the EU landing obligation so that it is consistent with other legal instruments adopted by the EU, in particular, Directive 2017/159 and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. News 6 Nov 2019
ETF welcomes Denmark’s decision to introduce stricter cabotage rules for buses & coaches Starting 1 November 2019, Denmark will tighten its rules for foreign buses and coaches. Foreign buses will be allowed to legally cabotage for seven consecutive days in Denmark per calendar month. News 16 Oct 2019
The European Labour Authority will be launched tomorrow and the ETF is fully on board Tomorrow, October 16, 2019, the European Labour Authority will start its activities by holding its first Management Board meeting in Brussels, in the presence of Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission President; Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President-Designate of the European Commission, and Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility. The European Transport Workers’ Federation will represent the European trade union federations on the ELA Management Board. Statement 15 Oct 2019
The Mobility Package has a future! Bus, coach and truck drivers have hope! On 24 September, the TRAN Committee of the European Parliament gave green light to their newly appointed rapporteurs to start negotiations with the Council of Transport Ministers, on the Mobility Package. News 24 Sep 2019