Meetings with EU Transport Commissioner and MEP´s
A delegation of ALE, together with CESI – Independent Trade Unions, met in Brussels during two days with the cabinet of the EUCommissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, DG MOVE and several Members of the European Parliament, focusing on TRAN Committee & Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.
We highlighted the main concerns of the European train drivers’ community:
👩✈️ 👨✈️ Revision of the EU train drivers’ Directive
💹 Challenges for rail transport in the EU, especially freight transport, and the EU’s commitment to the sector
🤝 Working conditions in the railway profession and challenges in the supply of labour in the sector as a result of the ageing workforce
♻️ Contribution of rail transport to climate change mitigation
🚝 EU Commission’s initiative Connecting Europe through high-speed rail
🪪 Functioning of Directive 2016/797 on the Interoperability of the rail system
These high-level meetings are aimed at enhancing the value of our profession, achieving the objectives set by Europe in terms of the single railway area, sustainability, mobility and adequate safety standards, hand in hand with the frontline workers´ perspective.
SERA roadmap can be achieved by involving all stakeholders, and the social dialogue is one of the drivers for this challenge.
Oana Gherghinescu appointed new ERA Executive Director
On 19th March we attended, as a part of the European Union Agency for Railways’ Management Board, the 68th meeting, where the new Executive Director of the Agency was elected for the next 5 years.
The dialogue with her predecessor, Josef Doppelbauer, has been of great importance for the Train Drivers in Europe, as it has facilitated the incorporation of the vision we have as frontline workers into European policies and technical and regulatory developments in the sector.
We congratulate Oana Gherghinescu, with whom we have had several conversations in the past as she has been working for 10 years within the Agency, for this new stage of great responsibility and we confirm with her the relationship with the social representation of the Train Drivers, which we trust will continue to be very fruitful for the European railway sector.
Source of the picture: ERA
Apply Now: Women in Rail Award 2024
For the 2024 edition of the Women in Rail Award, the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking together with the co-organisers, ALE, CER, the European Commission’s Women in Transport Platform , ERA and UNIFE will bring the spotlight on winning combinations, inspiring role models, and outstanding research and innovation achievements for women and by women that are bringing the railway industry forward. This year, the Women In Rail Award will focus on the following themes:
- The Women Empowerment Award recognises a European company in the railway sector that has gone the extra-mile in making gender-balance a top priority and has fully integrated it in its day-to-day decisions and DNA.
- The Leadership and Mentoring Award recognises a woman who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and mentoring through concrete actions, helping women to make a positive impact in the European railway sector.
- The Research and Innovation Award recognises a woman that has demonstrated outstanding work through research and innovation contributing to enhance the attractiveness and/or competitiveness of rail.
The call for applications is open to individuals, companies and organisations. The three winners will be invited to the milestone event InnoTrans in Berlin during which a dedicated Award Ceremony will be organised on the 25 September. Winners will be offered the opportunity to present their projects during high-level stakeholders meetings and networking events, as well as develop opportunities within the rail sector. The deadline to apply has been extended until 7 June. APPLY NOW APPLICATION GUIDELINES EUROPEAN COMMISSION DAILY NEWS ARTICLE
Workers Exchange Programme
As part of the work we are doing in Europe for the profession and the development of the railway system, in recent weeks we have had the opportunity to share knowledge and learn from Daniel Biernacik, a member of the Polish train drivers’ union #ZZM, and Danilo Strazzullo, from the Italian union FAST Ferrovie, both vice-president organizations of ALE.
Our colleagues have joined the SEMAF team for a few days, thanks to the #WorkersExchangeProgramme project, an exchange of workers representatives, promoted by CESI – Confederation of Independent Trade Unions, through the European Commission.
We continue working at EU level, hand in hand with the ALE members, to build an integrated and harmonized railway in the European Union.
In light of the serious railway accident that occurred yesterday involving trains operated by iryo and Renfe, ALE – Federation of European Train Drivers Unions wishes to publicly express its profound sorrow and solidarity with all those affected by this tragic event.
We would like to highlight and thank the swift and exemplary response of the railway staff who, from the very first moments, took part in the management of the tragedy. Likewise, emergency services for the assistance of passengers and crews from both affected trains, acting with professionalism and dedication under extremely challenging circumstances.
ALE reiterates its commitment to railway safety and will oversee that the ongoing investigation will be conducted with the utmost rigor, independence, and transparency, with the aim of fully clarifying what happened and adopting all necessary measures to prevent a tragedy of this nature from occurring again.
The Federation remains at the disposal of train drivers and all railway workers to provide any support and assistance that may be required during these difficult times.