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A group of trade unionists sponsored by the ETF – the ITF’s European arm – submitted a formal request to the European Commission on 13 July to launch a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) called Fair Transport Europe.

A bitter, month-long dispute at Air Madagascar that grounded most of the carrier’s fleet for weeks finally ended on 17 July, following successful negotiations between the carrier and the ITF-affiliated Syndicat General Maritime de Madagascar (SYGMMA).

ITF general secretary Steve Cotton joined several Australian union leaders and over 200 union activists at a rally on 20 July to protest against the treatment of the Alexander Spirit crew by petroleum company Caltex.

Concerted action by the ITF and maritime unions on two continents in one week was successful in bringing support to seafarers working and living in sub-standard conditions, and in spreading the word about the role of trade unions in protecting seafarers and their rights under international maritime law.

ITF youth leaders meeting in in Washington DC, USA last week participated in the global action day by US cabin crew union AFA-CWA for a fair contract at United Airlines.

Tomorrow’s FC Barcelona presidential elections are likely to seal the fate of any further sponsorship deal by Qatar Airways (QR), according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). The ITF says that the gulf between the airline’s treatment of staff and the club’s strong social ethos is now so huge that it will figure in the choice of president by its 70,000 members, who will go on to vote in October on any further sponsorship.

UNI global union used Amazon’s 20th birthday on 15 July to highlight the grim reality for the company’s workers behind the commercial success story, and, along with the ver.di union, urged customers and citizens to send birthday greetings to the global retailer protesting against poor working conditions.

A strike by tramway workers in Algeria entered its sixth day today (10 July) and spread from the capital to Oran and Constantine, paralysing transport operations, while providing minimum services.