Social Partners

CSA and the ETF are happy to announce that they have appointed ‘Image Line Communications’ as the lead agency to support them with the implementation of the priority actions identified in their joint declaration of intention on the enhanced participation of women in EU shipping.

ETF and Europêche hosted a webinar on the ILO C188, in collaboration with the ILO, the European Commission and representatives of important fishing nations such as France, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom. High-ranked panellists widely called for the ratification and implementation of the ILO C188 and its EU equivalent, EU Directive 2017/159.

Social partners call for a revision of the current fishing capacity rules to allow for improvements in safety and working conditions and move the industry closer to the European Green Deal goals.

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.

Social partners in urban public transport, ETF and UITP, virtually came together last week to discuss issues affecting urban public transport workers, the impact of the pandemic and the implementation of their joint work programme.

ETF, in cooperation with its social partner ECSA, has urged EU Commissioner for transport Adina-Ioana Vălean to step up coordination efforts to facilitate crew changes in the EU Member States.

Members of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Civil Aviation prepared a joint statement, calling for action in response to the crisis caused by COVID-19.

In response to the recent CBER prolongation, social partners sent a letter to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, expressing their disapproval of the decision pointing to the negative consequences of this action. The decision was not subject to a proper prior evaluation of effects and will likely have detrimental effects on many companies and workers of the logistics and supply chains in the EU.

Maritime transport Social Partners - ETF and ECSA - sent a letter to the Ministers of Transport ahead of the meeting of European Union Transport Ministers on the implications of COVID-19 on transport. In view of the vital importance of shipping and related services for the EU and its citizens, ECSA and ETF call on the European Commission and the Member States to take decisive and assertive action in facilitating the supply chains and seafarer travel, providing much-needed support to the industry and workforce.