CER

ETF and CER have officially signed the Women in Rail autonomous agreement aimed at promoting employment of women in the sector, marking its entry into force.

On 7 June, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), representing railway sector employers, and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), representing employees, finalized the 3rd round of negotiations at EU level for a binding agreement aimed at promoting employment of women in the sector.

Today, the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), representing employees, and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), representing railway sector employers, resumed negotiations at EU-level for a binding agreement aimed at promoting women's employment in the sector.

European social partners in rail, ETF and CER, issued a joint declaration, expressing gratitude to railway workers who worked throughout the pandemic and recognising the key role the sector can play in a green and social future.

Railway social partners and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) gathered with ETF for the annual plenary meeting of the Rail Sectoral Social Dialogue. Social partners negotiated their joint work programme for the next two years and agreed to focus on women's employment and equal opportunities in the railway sector, ensuring railway safety in an open and competitive market, working and resting time rules, and employability in the light of digitalisation and automation.

Women account for less than 20% of the railway workforce, a figure that is alarmingly below the 46% participation rate of women in the labour market. Railway companies and trade unions are convinced that the situation needs to change in order to avoid missing out on the valuable contribution of women, to promote diversity at the workplace, and eventually harmonise the railway sector's image with the reality of the society in which rail customers live.