working conditions

While some action has been taken by the European Commission to address the issues related to COVID-19, much more is required to ensure the safety and wellbeing of transport workers. ETF responds to this situation with a letter to Commissioner Vălean.

ETF condemns the Croatian government's legislative initiative which would suspend labour and social rights and expresses that it is a clear attempt on workers' rights in a letter to the Croatian government. Launching such an initiative when the whole of Europe is undergoing a health crisis, and while Croatia’s workforce is already under pressure as they cope with this epidemic is appalling. Such a crisis should never be used as an excuse to take away workers’ rights.

Ahead of tomorrow’s extraordinary meeting of the Council of Transport Ministers, the ETF is once again reiterating its previous demands to the European Commission and has sent an overview of the latest developments in the transport industry.

ETF is now once again calling upon the Commission to take concrete action to protect Europe’s transport workers as new developments arise every day. Reports received from around Europe show that some employers are not taking the pandemic seriously, and are putting workers in danger with their failure to act appropriately.

The social partners in urban public transport, ETF and UITP, the International Association of Public Transport, held the workshop "Digital transformation in customer services and its impact on work in urban public transport" last week in Vienna. Trade unionists and employers spent two days discussing the impact of digitalisation on the public transport sector. The role of trade unions is indispensable in these ongoing transformations, and we are committed and up to the challenge!

In view of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and its on impact transport workers, we sent a letter to Adina Vălean, Commissioner for Transport and Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights where we outlined our concerns, and what a plan to remedy the current situation should look like.

We stand with our French affiliates and support their national strike. May their voices be heard! Solidarity.

ETF welcomes the CBA and acknowledges it as a first step in the right direction. Further positive changes are on their way as on November 7, the official negotiations for a European-wide agreement between IG River Cruise, European Barge Union (EBU) and ETF commenced. European Social Partners hope to reach a meaningful agreement by Autumn 2020.