ITF leadership, global section chairs and regional vice-presidents are meeting in London this week and have heard a report from African regional staff detailing the current challenges being faced by unions on the ground in impacted areas.
ITF president Paddy Crumlin said: “Our members are trying to get on with their normal trade union work while dealing with the restrictions related with this disease. As well as the direct threat to their health, workers in our sector face really serious economic consequences caused by the downturn in transport as a result of this epidemic.”
He continued: “Border controls are not the answer to Ebola. ITF unions are playing an important role in trying to combat this disease effectively - through education on prevention and the provision of basic hygiene materials. We will be doing everything we can to support them practically, especially in dealing with the specific impacts for aviation, maritime and inland transport workers.”
ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton added: “We recognise the courage of our unions and their many thousands of members on the ground who are continuing the trade union struggle despite these most difficult circumstances. We have also been expressing our deepest sympathies to all those union members who have lost family and friends as a result of this outbreak.”
