A special focus on rail freight forms part of a joint work plan by the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER).

Following a meeting in Brussels, the CER and ETF adopted a programme for 2018/19 designed to address ongoing trends and challenges facing the rail sector, with a specific attention to rail freight transport in the EU. This will see both organisations work together on safety, employability, digitalisation and integration of women in the sector.

Interoperability

Both bodies also had discussions with the European Commission about the ongoing revision of the Train Drivers Directive, which is based on the 2004 CER-ETF binding agreement on a ‘European license for drivers carrying out a cross border interoperability service’. The meeting saw Giorgio Tuti, President of the ETF Railway Section (workers) appointed as President of the Sectoral Social Dialogue for Railways. Matthias Rohrmann (Agv MoVe/ Deutsche Bahn, representing employers) was appointed as Vice-President.

Yves Baden, Chair of the CER Group of Human Resources Directors, said: “I am very glad that CER and ETF managed to endorse the new social dialogue work programme for the next two years. We are looking forward to continuing our good social partnership, in order to allow the sector to thrive, and develop its activities in a fast-evolving environment, while maintaining and enhancing the attractiveness of the sector as an employer.

‘Commitment’

“I wish all the best to Giorgio Tuti for his new mandate and I would like to thank Matthias Rohrmann for his commitment over the period that is coming to a close. During this period, rail social partners achieved good results, including the Rail Freight Declaration signed in 2015, the project on the attractiveness of the sector as an employer and inputs to the legislative process leading to the adoption of the Fourth Railway Package.”

Giorgio Tuti added: “For me it is very important that we adopted an ambitious work programme with the right and relevant priorities. Among others we want to improve women employment in rail also by making a step towards negotiations and we want to analyse the impact of certain human factor elements on railway safety in an open and competitive European railway market. Safety is a strength, an asset of the railway sector and as social partners we have our responsibility to contribute to maintaining this strength.”

The ETF represents more than 3.5 million transport workers from more than 230 transport unions and 41 European countries in the following sectors in railways, road transport and logistics, maritime transport, inland waterways, civil aviation, ports & docks, tourism and fisheries. The CER meanwhile brings together more than 70 railway undertakings, their national associations, infrastructure managers and vehicle leasing companies.