Commenting on the continuing furore over the release of the Panama papers, ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) president Paddy Crumlin said: “Cover up, silence, secrecy, zero accountability. Those are what these leaks have exposed. For those who have campaigned against flags of convenience (FOCs) in shipping, these new facts, shocking though they are, will not come as a total surprise.

Despite massive opposition both from the United States and Europe, the US Department of Transport (DOT) issued last Friday an order that would tentatively grant Norwegian Air International (NAI) a foreign air carrier permit, unless disapproved by the President of the United States.

“The ITF family has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with them as they have fought against the belligerent and intimidatory tactics of previous management. We are hopeful that dockers there can have better standards that are consistent with those in neighbouring countries. It is no less than they deserve.”

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is joining its Polish affiliated dockers’ union Solidarność today in celebrating the signing of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Deepwater Container Terminal (DCT) Gdansk.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation – the ITF’s European arm – successfully kicked off its 2016 campaign to win better jobs in the European river cruise industry by urging passengers in Amsterdam to lend their support to crew and put pressure on employers.

ITF general secretary Steve Cotton has joined other global union leaders in protesting to Peru over its expulsion on 31 March of union adviser Orhan Akman.

Global union federation the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today described the Australian government’s plan to abolish the country’s Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) as “an attack on safety”.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is backing Australian stevedores as they continue to fight for a fair deal on pay and conditions from port operator Patrick.

Shipping giant Maersk has agreed that it will ensure that any vessel it charters has an ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) or similar agreement – which puts in place protections for crews on flag of convenience ships – covering it. The company already has collective bargaining agreements covering its directly-owned fleet.

Twenty-four XPO workers and union representatives from Europe and the United States have developed a joint strategic approach to protect standards for workers and ensure respect for labour rights, in the face of the company’s aggressive merger and acquisitions plans.

Trade unions who are part of the ITF Maersk network will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark this week to discuss the next steps in supporting transport workers employed by the maritime conglomerate.

The ITF’s Latin America leaders are supporting trade union efforts in Venezuela to build their strength to better support and represent their members in the country’s transport industry.