gender-equal new normal

The ETF wrote to European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen today to share growing concerns over her unfulfilled promise to introduce ‘binding pay transparency measures’ within 100 days of entering office. Further delay could have far-reaching consequences on women transport workers and women workers alike.

To mark today’s Human Rights Day, the last day of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the ETF has released a series of videos to guide trade unions through the use of our newly published Workplace Guidance to address violence and harassment against women at work.

To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the ETF is taking a stand. Not only are we continuing to call on governments to ratify the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention No. 190 and Recommendation No. 206; we are also releasing our Workplace Guidance to address violence and harassment against women at work.

Part of providing a safe and adequate work environment for women transport workers is having and providing access to decent sanitary facilities. However, when we interviewed around 3,000 women in transport, it emerged that access to toilets is a serious issue affecting their health and safety at work.

Based on a recent ETF survey of around 3,000 women transport workers from across Europe, nearly one in three think that they have fewer opportunities to advance in their current workplace than their male colleagues. The survey report points to unequal treatment between men and women as one of the main reasons for the low 22% female make-up of the sector. Enough is enough. On (Un)Equal Pay Day, ETF calls for an end to the gender pay gap.

On the heels of yesterday's report on How to Make Transport Fit for Women to Work in which revealed an alarming gender divide in the transport industry, comes a joint call by ETF and MEP Vera Tax call on Commissioner Vălean and Commissioner Dalli to mainstream a gender-responsive approach into EU transport policies. A debate on Women in Transport in the framework of the first European Gender Equality Week at the European Parliament, will take place today and tackle the underlying issues that lead to an underrepresentation of women in the transport sector.

ETF’s survey of around 3,000 women reveals a growing gender divide and marks the beginning of a campaign to ‘Make Transport Fit for Women to Work in’ targeting policymakers and social partners at both national and European level.