1. European sectoral social dialogue –
European Transport Workers’ Federation
European sectoral social dialogue –
achievements in the transport sector: the workers’ perspective
Bucharest, January 2011
Eduardo Chagas, ETF General Secretary

2. European Transport Workers’ Federation
European Social Dialogue – the framework
European Sectoral Social Dialogue in Transport
An example - ESSD in Railways
Another example – ESSD in Ports
The ETF views on ESSD and the way ahead

3. European Transport Workers’ Federation
Definition of social dialogue
“All types of negotiation, consultation or simply exchange of information between, or among, representatives of governments, employers and workers, on issues of common interest relating to economic and social policy”

4. European Transport Workers’ Federation
Legal basis
Very strong mandate for social dialogue = embedded in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) – articles 152, 154, 155
N. B. Full texts of EU legislation can be found at (all EU languages).

5. Forms of EU social dialogue
European Transport Workers’ Federation
Forms of EU social dialogue
TRIPARTITE – Governments/Commission
Workers (ETUC, Eurocadres)
Employers (BusinessEurope + CEEP
+ UAPME
BIPARTITE –
Cross industry – ETUC + BusinessEurope + CEEP
Sectoral – European Trade Union Federations +
Employers Sectoral Federations

6. European Transport Workers’ Federation
Topics
no precise definition
issues of common interest
examples:
working time & working conditions
education, (vocational) training
equal opportunities
social security
...

7. European Transport Workers’ Federation
Outcomes I (qualitative)
better understanding
consensus building
capacity building
to promote sectoral interests
to act in an autonomous way
social dialogue at company / national level

8. European Transport Workers’ Federation
Outcomes II (quantitative)
Agreements
framework agreements
autonomous agreements
Recommendations
framework of action
guidelines / codes of conduct
policy orientations
Exchange of information
joint opinions
declarations

9. European Transport Workers’ Federation
Functioning / obstacles
Difference in legal framework of industrial relations
Different structures
Different expectations (goals)
Lack of mandate (employers)
Balance of power (workers)
Amateurism / insufficient education

10. Sectoral Social Dialogue in Transport
European Transport Workers’ Federation
Sectoral Social Dialogue in Transport
Civil Aviation – since 1990
Inland Waterways – since 1999
Railways – since 1972
Road Transport – since 1965
Sea Fishing – since 1974
Maritime Transport – since 1973
Ports (2011?)

11. European Transport Workers’ Federation
Some examples of agreements reached in the framework of SSDCs:
RAILWAYS
ETF/CER Agreement on certain aspects of the working conditions of railway mobile workers assigned to interoperable cross-border services
ETF/CER Agreement on the European license for drivers carrying out a cross border interoperability services
Representation and better integration of women in the different professions of the railway sector
ROAD TRANSPORT
Joint ETF/IRU recommendations on employment and training in logistics
ETF and IRU common criteria for rest facilities
SEA FISHERIES
ETF/EUROPÊCHE/COGECA Agreement on a social clause to be included in fisheries agreements with third countries
REFOPE

12. European Transport Workers’ Federation
MARITIME TRANSPORT
ETF/ECSA agreement to work on the transposition of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 into EU law
ETF/ECSA European agreement on the organisation of working time of seafarers
ETF/ECSA Career path mapping
CIVIL AVIATION
ETF/ACI Europe Joint Statement on Quality, Safety and Training in the ground-handling sector
ETF/ ERA/IACA/AEA/ECA European agreement on the organisation of working time of mobile staff in civil aviation
ETF/CANSO Statement on the Community Air Traffic Controller Licence draft Directive
INLAND WATERWAYS
ETF/UINF Joint project on training
ETF/EBU current negotiations on working time for Inland Navigation

13. European Transport Workers’ Federation
The Social Partners in the Railway Sector
Community of European Railways and Infrastructure managers (CER)
European Infrastructure Managers (EIM) since 2005
European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF)

14. European Transport Workers’ Federation
Social dialogue in Railways: the structure

15. European Transport Workers’ Federation
ACTIVITIES
Negotiations of European agreements
Consultation be the European Commission on Commission’s initiatives with social impact
Consultation by the European Railway Agency on all proposals with a social dimension
Joint declarations (e.g. Eurovignette-Directive, mid-term review of the White Paper on European Transport Policy, for faster internalization of external costs)
Joint recommendations (e.g. better integration and representation of women in the rail sector (signed June 2007)
Joint projects (e.g. interoperability of personnel, adaptability of undertakings, employability of workers, new technologies in training, social dialogue in the new Member States, integration of women in railway professions, developments in rail freight sector and impact on personnel)

16. Towards a SSDC in ports /1
European Transport Workers’ Federation
Towards a SSDC in ports /1
The only ETF Section without a SSDC
ETF demands to employers
The struggle against PP1 and PP2: confrontation but also dialogue!
The « post PPs » consultation process: a significant step towards the formalization of dialogue, identification of common objectives and common interest for social peace in the EU port sector
One question: why such sudden interest from employers and Commission for a SSDC in the sector?

17. Towards a SSDC in ports /2
European Transport Workers’ Federation
Towards a SSDC in ports /2
Two significant events
The ETF TRUST project (April 2007):
Common interest on a sustainable port sector
ETF workshop on training and qualifications in ports (February 2009):
Initiation of a dialogue on one of the core issues for the upcoming Committee

18. ETF approach to EU sectoral social dialogue
European Transport Workers’ Federation
ETF approach to EU sectoral social dialogue
ETF values EU sectoral social dialogue: SSDCs where ETF is involved are amongst the most productive ones, also in terms of binding instruments
ESSD as a policy instrument complementary to legislation and negotiation
ESSD must contribute to and promote growth, quality jobs, social Europe and sustainable transport policy
Important to build long-lasting trust between employers and trade unions, find balanced solutions to social questions, develop social cohesion at EU and national levels

19. Improving the framework in which EU SSD takes place:
European Transport Workers’ Federation
Improving the framework in which EU SSD takes place:
ETF response to the ESSD revision carried out by the European Commission
ETF internal debate and workshop held during the ETF 2009 Congress
Debate within the various SSDCs where ETF is represented

20. ETF priorities for change
European Transport Workers’ Federation
ETF priorities for change
Low participation from new Member States: difficulties in the application of texts resulting from Social Partners’ autonomous negotiations
SSDCs not always properly involved in impact assessment studies and in dossiers having social implications
Employers’ organisations often lack the will to tackle substantial issues and/or do not have full mandate to negotiate

21. European Transport Workers’ Federation
The way forward
More focus on binding agreements
On social aspects related to transport: social dialogue first!
Promotion of sustainable transport through sectoral social dialogue
Providing capacity building to social partners in countries with young industrial relations systems
Better interconnection between dialogue and negotiations at national level (need for mature industrial relations in ALL EU countries)
Better defining the actors

22. European Transport Workers’ Federation
For more information on European Sectoral Social Dialogue texts:
ETUC
ETUI
ILO EC

23. Actions / Campaigns MULTUMESC! European Transport Workers’ Federation
Solidarity actions with affiliates in need
Budapest Airport
Dismissals in LOT
ITF Weeks of action
Port of Trieste and Turkish drivers
Transport Treaty for South East Europe
MULTUMESC!