International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) unions from around the world are gathering in Stockholm, Sweden for the first meeting of the federation’s new automation working group.
The unions, from every region of the world, are in the frontline of the ITF’s work to ensure a just transition for workers by shaping new ways of working, such as automation and platform working.
Rob Johnston, ITF assistant general secretary, said: “Revolutionary changes such as automation are a challenge to all workers around the world. Our unions are not a barrier to change, but they will not leave such a major transformation in the hands of corporations and governments. We will make sure there is a just transition that has at its centre the interests of workers, and considers the social costs. To achieve this we must all work together, and this working group is an example of this.”
The meeting is being hosted by the Nordic Transport Workers Federation (NTF), whose general secretary, Peter Lövkvist, said: “In this region we have already been facing up to the challenges of new ways of working, such as platform working. We want to share with the ITF family the success we’ve had getting a fair deal for workers, and we want to learn from the experiences of transport unions around the world. By learning from each other we can ensure that good jobs are at the centre of the future of work.”
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