International Transport Workers' Federation

International Transport Workers' Federation is a global union federation of transport workers' unions, founded in 1896 by Ben Tillett and other prominent trade unionists, including Tom Mann and Keir Hardie. The organization has its headquarters in London and is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation and the European Trade Union Confederation, working closely with other global union federations such as the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations and the International Federation of Journalists. The International Transport Workers' Federation has a long history of cooperation with organizations like the International Labour Organization and the European Transport Workers' Federation, and has been involved in various international campaigns, including those led by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Federation of Trade Unions.

● History

The International Transport Workers' Federation was established in 1896, with the primary goal of promoting the interests of transport workers worldwide, including those in the shipping industry, railway industry, and road transport sectors, and has since worked closely with unions such as the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. The organization has a rich history, with notable events including the Liverpool dockers' strike and the London dock strike, which involved trade unionists like James Larkin and John Burns. The International Transport Workers' Federation has also been involved in various international campaigns, including those related to maritime law and aviation law, and has worked with organizations like the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization. The federation has also collaborated with other global union federations, such as the Union Network International and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions, to promote the rights of transport workers.

● Structure

The International Transport Workers' Federation has a complex structure, with a secretary-general and a president who are elected by the organization's congress, which is composed of representatives from affiliated unions, including the Transport Workers Union of America and the Canadian Union of Transportation Employees. The organization is divided into several regions, including Europe, Asia, and Africa, and has a number of sectoral committees that focus on specific issues, such as maritime transport and road transport, and work closely with organizations like the European Commission and the International Transport Forum. The International Transport Workers' Federation also has a number of departments, including a research department and a communications department, which work with other global union federations, such as the International Federation of Workers' Education Associations and the World Federation of Democratic Youth.

● Activities

The International Transport Workers' Federation is involved in a wide range of activities, including collective bargaining, industrial action, and lobbying governments and international organizations, such as the European Union and the International Labour Organization, on issues related to transport workers, including safety and health and social security, and has worked with organizations like the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the United Steelworkers. The organization also provides training and education programs for transport workers, including those in the aviation industry and the railway industry, and has collaborated with other global union federations, such as the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees and the International Union of Food and Allied Workers. The International Transport Workers' Federation has also been involved in various international campaigns, including those related to climate change and sustainable transport, and has worked with organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health Organization.

● Membership

The International Transport Workers' Federation has a diverse membership, with affiliated unions from over 100 countries, including Australia, Canada, and South Africa, and representing workers in various transport sectors, including shipping, aviation, and road transport. The organization has a strong presence in Europe, with many affiliated unions, including the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, and has worked closely with other global union federations, such as the European Transport Workers' Federation and the International Federation of Transport Workers' Unions. The International Transport Workers' Federation also has a number of associate members, including non-governmental organizations and research institutions, such as the International Transport Forum and the World Road Association, which provide support and expertise to the organization.

● Campaigns

The International Transport Workers' Federation has been involved in various international campaigns, including those related to workers' rights, safety and health, and environmental protection, and has worked with organizations like the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. The organization has also campaigned on issues such as privatization and deregulation in the transport sector, and has worked with other global union federations, such as the International Federation of Journalists and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations. The International Transport Workers' Federation has also been involved in various solidarity campaigns, including those in support of transport workers in countries such as Turkey and Brazil, and has collaborated with organizations like the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Federation of Trade Unions.

● Affiliations

The International Transport Workers' Federation is affiliated with a number of international organizations, including the International Trade Union Confederation and the European Trade Union Confederation, and has worked closely with other global union federations, such as the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations and the International Federation of Journalists. The organization is also a member of the Global Union Federations, a group of international trade union organizations that work together to promote the rights of workers worldwide, including those in the shipping industry, railway industry, and road transport sectors, and has collaborated with organizations like the International Labour Organization and the European Commission. The International Transport Workers' Federation has also established partnerships with other organizations, including the International Transport Forum and the World Road Association, to promote the interests of transport workers and improve the transport sector, and has worked with organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health Organization on issues related to sustainable transport and climate change.

Category:Trade unions