The past week in Tallinn was marked by a show of solidarity from dockers at various European ports toward their counterparts in Estonia.
On October 12, from 10:00 to 12:00, a delegation from
the trade union ver.di visited the EMSA office.
At 13:00, the ver.di delegation was given a tour of the HHLA
TK terminal.
From 14:00 to 15:30, a tripartite meeting took place
involving representatives from HHLA—Executive Board member Torben Seebold,
Supervisory Board members Stefan Koop and Alexander Grant, and Head of HHLA TK
Riia Sillave—as well as EMSA representatives—Chairman Jüri Lember and inspector
Jaanus Kuiv—and the delegation from ver.di.
On October 13, a meeting was held for representatives
of trade unions from HHLA METRANS subsidiaries, with the participation of
representatives from the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF). The
delegation from EMSA HHLA TK included: J. Sitko (union representative), A.
Park (former union representative), P. Sitko (a docker of the new generation),
Yu. Lember, and A. Meier. V. Tsemiseov, a representative for the employer, was
also invited to the meeting. Russian was one of the working languages used.
Workers across Europe standing together!
Yesterday, trade union representatives from Germany,
Estonia, Italy, and Ukraine are meeting in Tallinn for the ETF HHLA/METRANS
Company Network Meeting 2026.
Since 2021, the network has brought unions together to share
experiences, address common challenges and strengthen solidarity across ports,
logistics and rail transport.
From wages and working conditions to job security,
digitalisation and automation, workers across countries face challenges that
demand a collective response.
❗Decisions affecting workers must
not be made without their voices being heard. Strong trade union cooperation
across borders is essential to defend workers’ rights, and ETF is constantly
committed to ensuring effective cooperation.
Different countries, shared challenges — one collective
voice for workers!
A united voice for trade unions: ver.di Maritime
Wirtschaft, Eesti Meremeeste Sõltumatu Ametiühing, Профсоюз работников морского
транспорта Украины (ПРМТУ), Filt Cgil Nazionale, Fit-Cisl Nazionale,
Uiltrasporti Nazionale.
On October 14–15, the second two-day ETF WTMS
seminar, titled "Working Together – Much Safer!", took place. All
participants were given an assignment to conduct at least five occupational
safety inspections focusing on the lashing and unlashing of containers by
dockworkers. During the seminar, operational procedures were reviewed, and a
unified inspection framework was established for ports in the Netherlands,
Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Italy, and Estonia. The goal of the European Transport
Workers' Federation (ETF) is to reduce the number of accidents in ports and create
safe working conditions for all dockworkers across Europe.
Working Together. Much Safer!
The ETF Dockers continue this week in Tallinn, Estonia, with
the second training session of the 🇪🇺 EU-funded
project “Working Together. Much Safer”, bringing together dock workers and
trade union representatives from ports across Europe.
⚓ From vessel inspections to
real-life challenges, participants are exploring how inspections work in
practice, what tools and rules can help make workplaces safer and the
challenges workers face when safety standards are not met.
🌍 We have a plan and we
are leading the way. With our knowledge and hands-on experience, we know what
needs to change to make ports safer. Now it’s time to bring our concrete
proposals to employers and EU institutions, push for stronger cooperation and
turn words into action. Because safer ports don’t happen by chance - they
happen when we have a strong voice and we use our power to make change happen.
A big thank you to all participants for their commitment,
contributions and willingness to learn from one another. Together, we are
building the foundations for stronger safety practices and the European Network
for Safety in Ports.
Working together is much safer!
On October 16,
a meeting of the Dockers’ Section of the European Transport Workers’ Federation
(ETF) took place in Tallinn https://www.etf-europe.org/sector/dockers
⚓ ETF Dockers wrap up a busy week
in Tallinn!
Following our discussions on HHLA/METRANS and the second
training session of our EU-funded Working Together. Much Safer project,
focusing on vessel inspections and improving safety in ports, we wrapped up our
week in Tallinn with a meeting of the ETF Dockers' Section.
Trade union representatives from across Europe came together
to discuss the key challenges facing port workers and the future of Europe's
ports.
On the agenda:
🔹 The EU Ports Strategy
and its impact on dock workers
🔹 EU climate policies,
including the Emissions Trading System (ETS) in maritime transport
🔹 Rethinking EU social
dialogue in ports
🔹 Improving safety on
board vessels and taking forward the work of our Working Together. Much Safer
project
🔹 Collective bargaining,
ongoing disputes and developments across European ports
🔹 Preparations for the
ETF Congress 2027
From safe working conditions to strong collective bargaining rights, dock workers must be at the heart of Europe's port policies.
