solidarity

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is deeply saddened to mark the passing of Erwin De Deyn, former President of BBTK-SETCa. Erwin was a committed internationalist who devoted his life to the labour movement. Erwin died at home in Antwerp, surrounded by his family, on 20 September 2026. He was 73. He was a defining figure for BBTK-SETCa and, through it, for the ABVV-FGTB confederation, to which he gave almost his entire working life.

The ITF and the ITF Seafarers’ Trust are in Odesa, seeing the conditions faced by the workers keeping Ukraine and the world moving forward. It is now more than four years since the deadliest war seen in Europe since World War II began – and through that time, in the face of lethal attacks, unending fear, trauma and risks to their lives, Ukraine’s maritime workers have held firm, keeping trade moving.

After several weeks of intense negotiations and global action, the Lufthansa Group answered union calls to stop using the Hilton San Francisco Union Square hotel, where workers are on strike, for layover accommodation for their crews. USA union UNITE HERE and the German union ver.di, both affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), have been working with the ITF to ask airlines to avoid struck hotels and not compel their crews to cross picket lines.

The ETF stands in solidarity with our Italian affiliates and rail workers' unions. We pledge our unwavering support to the workers of Trenitalia and Italo as they strive for fair working conditions and the protection of their rights.

Representatives ITF and ETF are attending this week’s ICAO Global Aviation Gender Summit 2023 in Madrid, Spain, to ensure the voices of women aviation workers from around the world are heard loud and clear and to press for changes that address the systemic challenges that have plagued the industry since its formation.

An ETF delegation joined its French affiliates CGT-Cheminots, CFDT- Cheminots and UNSA-Ferroviaire in Lille on Thursday, 22 June 2023, in a protest against expanding privatisation of rail in France. ETF continues to work hard to defend railways and its workers to ensure that rail transport is a public service fit for a fair and sustainable Europe.

The ETF expresses our profound sadness and distress over the tragic collision of a passenger and freight train in Greece last night, resulting so far in the loss of 36 lives and leaving many more injured.