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Warehousing

Improving working conditions in warehouses globally.

Warehousing and logistics form critical connections in global supply chains, vital for the stability of the global economy. Post- pandemic especially, warehouse workers are driving the booming e-commerce industry. But far too often warehouse workers are forced to work in precarious and unsafe conditions. We are coming together to unionise this crucial sector, demanding that logistics companies, their clients and regulatory bodies commit to standards that protect workers and create good, union jobs.

ISSUES

Warehousing workers work in unsafe conditions, to unrealistic quotas and targets, often under excessive surveillance within a business model that deprives them of good, quality jobs. Shifts in warehousing and logistics towards just-in-time delivery models, rampant outsourcing and the growing use of an informal workforce, threaten workers’ rights and the resilience of these critical nodes in global supply chains.

The growing use of automation, algorithmic management, artificial intelligence and surveillance in the sector is exacerbating abuse and exploitation. With a warehousing and logistics footprint in airports, ports, railyards and across the road transport industry, the ITF together with our 300+ affiliated unions, is organising and campaigning for workers’ rights, accountability and sustainability in the warehousing and logistics industry.

OUR PRIORITIES

  • ACCOUNTABILITY

  • RIGHTS

  • SAFETY

  • DIGITALISATION

  • EQUALITY

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WHAT WE DO

The ITF’s Warehousing and Logistics team campaigns to secure and improve the safety, rights and labour standards of warehouse workers globally. Our strategy in warehousing and logistics is three-pronged:

  • Securing industry-leading protections through globally coordinated collective bargaining 
    Across the global footprint of warehousing and logistics companies, we are working with our affiliated unions and supporting each other to win collective bargaining agreements that secure strong and enforceable conditions that raise employment standards.
  • Holding companies accountable for working conditions in their supply chains 
    Through organising and campaigning, we are shining a spotlight on the safety, rights and conditions of workers across the supply chains of major companies. We are holding them responsible for all workers that move and distribute their goods and services.
  • Advocating to level the playing field in warehousing
    We are advocating for regulation that strengthens employers’ responsibility and accountability for the treatment of workers in their supply chains. At national and international levels we are working to secure standard-setting regulation that increases transparency and accountability in global logistics chains.
WHERE WE FOCUS

We build industrial solidarity, bringing together warehousing and logistics workers and their unions across the globe to raise standards throughout supply chains by:

  • Accountability: Holding companies accountable for establishing and enforcing decent labour standards for all workers that move and distribute their goods.
  • Rights: Enforcing workers’ rights, and working with affiliates to increase union recognition and workers access to join a union and collectively bargain.
  • Safety: Exposing the unsafe conditions and putting safety before quotas and targets.
  • Digitalisation: Ensuring that the introduction of new technologies, whether its automation, algorithmic management, artificial intelligence or surveillance, works for warehouse workers.
  • Equality: Alongside our affiliated unions, we are addressing inclusion of women, migrant workers and other exploited groups in warehousing and strengthening their access, rights and equality at work.

 

With warehouses and logistics operations at ports, airports, railyards and across road transport networks, the ITF’s is approaching our warehousing and logistics work on a global, transport industry-wide basis to win for workers at every link in global supply chains.

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OUR PEOPLE

The ITF’s Warehousing and Logistics Steering Committee brings together warehouse workers’ representatives from across all sectors from aviation, maritime, rail and road transport. As well as women and youth leaders, it includes trade-unionists in every world region representing all aspects of warehousing and logistics in global supply chains. 


 

STEERING GROUP

Peter Lövkvist

STF
,
Sweden
ITF Chair of Warehouse Terminal & Logistics Workers’ Steering Group

Matt Draper

UNITE
,
Great Britain
1st Vice Chair of Warehouse Terminal & Logistics Workers’ Steering Group

Mahendra Tujaram Gharat

NMGKS
,
India
2nd Vice Chair
AFRICA

Amadou Diallo

FESYLITEM-GUI
,
Guinea-Conakry
Regional Member

Dan Mihadi

TAWU
,
Kenya
Member committee
ARAB WORLD

Saleh Al Adhum

GFBTU
,
Bahrain
Regional Member

Karim Hadad

FNTPA-UGTA
,
Algeria
Regional Member
ASIA PACIFIC

Ajay Kumar Rai

NETWON
,
Nepal
Regional Member
EUROPE

Stefan Thyroke

ver.di
,
Germany
Regional Member

Adrian Jones

UNITE
,
Great Britain
Regional Member
LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

Fernando Parfait

FNTCOTAC
,
Argentina
Regional Member

Oscar Borda

FNTCOTAC
,
Argentina
Regional Member
SECTION REPRESENTATIVES

Ed Ferris

ILWU
,
United States of America
Dockers' Section Member

Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam

BNSF
,
Bangladesh
Inland Navigation Section Member

Raul Sengo

SINPOCAF
,
Mozambique
Railway Section Member

Carine Dierckx

BTB-ABVV
,
Belgium
Road Transport Section Member

Susana Pereira-Ventura

ver.di
,
Germany
Seafarers' Section Member
FOUNDING UNION REPRESENTATIVES

Jari Kudjoi

AKT
,
Finland
Founding Union Member

Lena Reitan

HK
,
Norway
Founding Union Member

Terje R. Fenn Samuelsen

FF
,
Norway
Founding Union Member

Magnus Larsson

STF
,
Sweden
Founding Union Member

Tommy Murphy

UNITE
,
Great Britain
Founding Union Member

Ole Christensen

3F
,
Denmark
Founding Union Member