On April 9 activists from “Inland waterways” section of the Federation of Transport Trade Unions of Bulgaria / FTTUB / together with volunteers distributed nearly 200 copies of the Open letter (link) from Nick Bramley, President of ETF`s and ITF`s respective section among passengers on cruise trips in Europe. The action was held within The Action Week in the cruise River Shipping in Europe under the project “River cruise” of the two federations . Прочети още
Category Archives: Inland Navigation
International Campaign for Better Jobs in the River Cruise Industry
An open letter to passengers
Dear Passenger,
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) wish you a relaxing and interesting cruise. We are sure that the entire crew will do everything for your comfort and well-being ensuring that your cruise becomes an unforgettable experience. Прочети още
International Campaign for Better Jobs in the River Cruise Industry
An open letter to passengers
Dear Passenger,
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) wish you a relaxing and interesting cruise. We are sure that the entire crew will do everything for your comfort and well-being ensuring that your cruise becomes an unforgettable experience. Прочети още
Action week of river cruise transport
On 4 April in Amsterdam started the action week of the river cruise transport in Europe. It is organized by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and its regional division – European Transport Federation (ETF). The two trade union structures are joining forces through their project “River cruise” aiming to protect workers in this sector and their working and living conditions. The specifics of work in inland navigation puts an equal sign between those two terms, as these employees practically live in their spare time on board – sometimes for months. Прочети още
Will Bulgaria ratify the ILO Work in Fishing Convention 188
On January 28, 2016 FTTUB hosted a joint meeting of the European social partners in fisheries: the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and EUROPECHE, with experts from three Bulgarian institutions – Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (MLSP), Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications (MTITC), Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF), and representatives of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and of the biggest Bulgarian fishing association BG FISH. Special guest was Brandt Wagner from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations agency dealing with labour issues.
At the meeting was presented and discussed the initiative of the European social partners (employers and employees) to accelerate the ratification of Convention 188 of the ILO on working conditions in fisheries after the EU Council’s decision. The event which was held in FTTUB headquarters in Sofia is one of several consecutive meetings in different Member States in the framework of the project “Towards a true socially sustainable EU Fishery: a contribution of the EU social partners.” The attendees were welcomed on behalf of the President of FTTUB Ekaterina Yordanova, Vice President of ETF and elected Vice President of ITF from August 2016.
ECI Fair Transport Europe – our “Yes” to social justice in transport
On December 8, at the ETF premises in Brussels was held a meeting of national representatives in the collecting signatures campaign within ECI Fair transport Europe for social justice in transport. The meeting was attended by Eduardo Chagas, ETF General Secretary. The countries’ representatives reported activities and challenges. Best practices were identified in all seven steps of the campaign. The most important seems to be the clear message: for better transport services through quality employment – in all modes of transport and for all EU citizens in all members-states. Прочети още
The program for transportation – the final stage
Just a few months before the end of the year and thus, of the Operational Program “Transport” 2007 – 2013 (+2), on 24 September 2015 an informative meeting was held in the hotel “Balkan”, Sofia. Management body and state agencies reported the results to the general public – MPs, stakeholders, guests and media. They also expressed their expectation that by the end of the year, the absorption of the available European funds will reach almost 100%.
In his address Minister Moskovski pointed out that even now, having disbursed over 75%, Bulgaria is ahead of a number of European countries. All projects will be completed, he also promised.
Again, it was reported that the period 2007 – 2013 did not start successfully; substantial progress was made after 2009. FTTUB became part of this process with the participation of President Ekaterina Yordanova as a member of the Monitoring Committee of the program.
Minister Lilyana Palova also greeted the participants of the meeting and said that although his colleague and her not always agreed, the undisputed success is common.
Eng. Galina Vasileva, deputy head of the Managing Authority presented the stage of the work on each priority axe and most importantly – the lessons learned from the difficulties so far. Evidently, the experience has been evaluated and converted into acting capacity. Everything possible has been done not to lose money and to realize the maximum of works.
The same was reported by the state agencies and companies – contractors on the projects. They appreciated the role of the program to build capacity that was unknown to Bulgaria so far – in infrastructure, as well as in global level modern technologies. “Every station project is unique,” stated St. Bratoev, CEO of the “Metropolitan”. The underground of Sofia was the most successful project in this period which also allowed not losing a lot of European funds. The role of the human factor in the success of each project was also addressed.
FTTUB congratulated all the teams for the excellent cope with the enormous challenge and for creating sustainable jobs and highly qualified specialists. “Each of these projects makes us feel proud of our people, our country and our city” – commented Ekaterina Yordanova expressing the general mood.
ECSA and ETF share a common vision on social-related issues of the Commission’s Mid-Term maritime strategy review
The European Social Partners for Maritime Transport – the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) – presented a joint position paper on the Commission’s Mid-Term Maritime Strategy Review. Прочети още
We all need to stand up for our Right to strike
On 18 February FTTUB will participate in the Global action day under the motto ‘Hands off our right to strike!’, organized by the International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC), International Transport workers’ Federation (ITF), Public Services International (PSI) and other international federations representing workers from various sectors.
ITUC has prepared an in-depth analysis of the legal grounds for the right to strike and the role of ILO, which can be read here. The right to strike has been guaranteed as every worker’s legal right ever since ILO’s Convention 87 was adopted back in 1948. Each state which has ratified an ILO convention is bound to observe its regulatioons. Regardless of this, for the last few years the employers have been questioning and undermining this key worker’s right and its legal foundations; and as of today, according to ITUC’s data, workers in 37 countries have been detained for protests or strike activities. Прочети още
Austria shares its example of decent work
From 15 to 17.12.2014g. Mila Nikolova – FTTUB expert and Martin Ivanov from the CITUB visited Austria as last phase of a Confederation’s training in decent work, part of a joint international project. There, in the rich and full of meetings program, they met trainers and participants in the same training; visited labor unions, public structures, infrastructure projects and sites related to transport, in response to the interest shown by FTTUB.
During the first day the guests were given a brief presentation of the structure and way of conducting social dialogue, in which Austria differs from the other European countries. Прочети още