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Unifor was an organized and vocal force at the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Global Congress, representing transport workers from across our union and Canada at this international trade union meeting.
“We continue to build solidarity, and we know things can get stronger for transport workers when we work together across the entire global transport supply chain, especially when mighty global unions like the ITF are working with us,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“It’s from this solidarity that we build worker power and create hope.”
During the conference, Payne, who was re-elected to the ITF Executive Board, presented the main Future of Work program and participated in two panels – “Supply Chain Power for Transport Workers” and “Shaping the Future of Work for Transport Workers.”
In her speech to the congress, Payne emphasized that worker rights and the right to strike are under attack in many places, including in Canada. That between war and conflict in over 50 nations around the globe and the rise of the far right, “we have never needed a fighting global union more.”
“Unifor is a respected affiliate at the ITF, and we are proud to be a strong affiliate in the face of what workers are confronting in the world,” she said.
“Unifor endorsed a work program for the next five years that included six key demands – rights, equality, safety, accountability, sustainability, and a future that works for workers which will form the basis to build a safer, fairer and more sustainable transport industry.”
This was the first time in ITF’s history that its 46th Global Congress was held in the Arab World region, bringing together thousands of transport workers and trade union leaders in Marrakech, Morocco, Oct. 13 to 19, 2024.
Unions representing 18.5 million transport workers worldwide from more than 150 countries celebrated their achievements and pledged to continue ITF’s mission to move the organization and the world forward.
Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier participated in a road transport panel on safe rates for truck drivers and couriers, reaffirming Unifor’s commitment to support the annual ITF Safe Rates campaign. Poirier was also re-elected to the Road Transport Section Committee, and as Canadian co-chair.
Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray spoke as a panelist at the Equality for Transport Workers Committee, participated in the Sustainable Transport Committee, delivered a report to the very first meeting of the Warehousing, Distribution and Logistics Committee, and was officially elected vice-chair of the Women's Committee.
Murray shared Unifor’s recent progress on initiatives to win legislation for paid domestic violence leave, to declare Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) an epidemic. She reinforced the importance of Unifor’s groundbreaking Women’s Advocate Program and the need to push for stronger enforcement of pay equity laws.
At the conference, the ITF adopted the Air Transportation Workers’ Charter of Rights as proposed by Unifor.
Unifor Local 2002 President Tammy Moore introduced Unifor's resolution on launching a campaign inspired by Unifor's own Air Transportation Workers' Charter of Rights, which received support at Congress. She was joined by Unifor Aviation Director Sandi McManus and Nick von Schoenberg, President of the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA-Unifor Local 5454) to introduce the motion. Von Schoenberg also spoke on mental health and safety for air traffic controllers.
McManus was elected for the ITF Civil Aviation Committee, while von Schoenberg was elected chair of the aviation sub-committee for Air Traffic Services.
Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi was elected as a member of the federation’s Tourism Sector Committee. Unifor Road Transportation Director Scott Bateman contributed to a panel on Decent Work and Safety and was elected as a member of the Urban Transport Committee.
Unifor National Rail Director Joel Kennedy was elected to the ITF’s Railways Section Committee. The rail affiliates are fighting to keep railways public and against the unsafe automation occurring in some countries.
Unifor understands the importance of working with transport unions around the globe in order to build better workplaces and defend rights.
“As ITF affiliates, our members move the world, and nothing moves without us. We must continue to organize transport workers and build our power for workers from the one corner of the globe to another,” said Payne.