health and safety

To alert EU Commissioners to the continuing crisis onboard ships and the urgent need for member states to act, ETF addressed a letter to Commissioners Vălean, Schmit and Johansson. Flag states must ensure the repatriation of seafarers stranded at sea. It is not generosity, but an obligation under maritime law.

At a plenary meeting, the EU Social Partners in the Fisheries Sector – Europêche, Cogeca and ETF - welcomed the presentation of the parliamentary draft report “Fishers for the future: Attracting a new generation of labour to the fishing industry and generating employment in coastal communities” of the MEP Manuel Pizarro. While acknowledging the report as an important step in the right direction, social partners call on the policy-makers to recognize the key social dimension of fishing, thus improving the health and safety of fishers and attracting youth to the sector.

The ETF has addressed an open letter to EU member states on behalf of trade union member organisations representing professional drivers; calling on on national authorities across Europe to keep restaurants, cafes and sanitary facilities open in parking areas. The well-being of our drivers depends on it!

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.

As EU Mobility week draws to a close, the ETF emphasises the importance of strengthening collective urban public transport.

The ETF takes part in the European Commission’s Week of Action to tackle undeclared work by shedding light on the growing issue in various transport sectors – bogus self-employment.

ETF Management Committee renewed the solidarity to the Belgian affiliates BTB-ABVV, ACV TRANSCOM and ACVLB and to the Belgian dock workers in their struggle for Belgian “Wet Major."

The ETF is saddened to learn about the terrible rail accident on 12 August near Stonehaven. With great sadness, we learned that the crash claimed lives of the driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie, and one of the passengers, Chris Stuchbury.

After 65 years of use of bleed air in aeroplanes, thousands of fume events and hundreds of studies, CEN is about to propose a standard for cabin air quality.