logistics

ITF and Dominican Republic come together to improve labour conditions

Mark_D — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:21:00 +0000

ITF and Dominican Republic come together to improve labour conditions

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is forging a new partnership with the Dominican Republic through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Labor, aimed at promoting the protection of labour rights, reinforcing social dialogue, and improving working conditions in the country’s transport sector.

Under the agreement, the ITF and the Dominican Republic commit to work closely together to ensure nationwide compliance with labour legislation and international labour standards, particularly in sectors such as transport, logistics, and tourism — areas characterised by high labour mobility and significant relevance to the national economy.

"The signing of this MoU represents a new achievement in the region and constitutes a key instrument to advance decent work and ensure that transformations in the transport sector take place with social justice and trade union participation,” said David Massiah, ITF Tourism Chair.

The agreement establishes a cooperation framework designed to develop joint actions that strengthen social dialogue, improve occupational safety and health conditions, and promote technical and professional training for workers, trade union leaders, and institutional actors.

A central pillar of the agreement is collaboration aimed at preventing and eliminating unacceptable forms of work, such as child labour, forced labour, and human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation. The ITF will contribute studies, data, and methodologies that facilitate the detection and eradication of these practices. In addition, it will promote research initiatives to analyse emerging trends and strengthen evidence-based policymaking.

Edgar Díaz, ITF Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Secretary, said: “With this alliance, the ITF reaffirms its role as a global actor in defending the rights of transport workers. It also positions the Dominican Republic at the forefront of an international network dedicated to promoting fair, safe, and sustainable working conditions.”

In accordance with the MoU, the ITF and the Ministry of Labor will designate focal points for coordination, develop joint work plans, and establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to measure the labour and social impact of the actions implemented. The agreement, which is non-binding and has an indefinite duration, creates a stable platform for ongoing cooperation between the federation and the Dominican State.

The document was signed by the Minister of Labor, Eddy Olivares Ortega, and ITF Deputy General Secretary, Rob Johnston, with the participation of Edgar Díaz, ITF Regional Secretary, David Massiah, Chair of the ITF Tourism Section, Santiago Zamora, member of the ITF Global Tourism Committee, Ricardo de los Santos, President of FENATRADO, and Jacobo Ramos Crispín, President of the CNTD and FENATRAZONAS.

Mark_D 09 Feb 2026

health and safety

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Tourism

Latin America

DHL Logistics workers in Turkey benefit from significant agreement

Sian Manaz — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 10:46:36 +0000

DHL Logistics workers in Turkey benefit from significant agreement

Turkish union Tümtis has successfully negotiated a landmark outcome for its members with DHL Logistics Services.

The agreement achieved by the ITF affiliate will mean wage increases of between 73% and 85%, and an increase in the number of bonuses the workers get, with unionised workers now having the right to four bonuses per year for the first time in the largely unorganised logistics sector in Turkey.

The salary increase reflects the rampant inflation in Turkey which stood at nearly 65% in December 2023.

ITF’s Secretary of Inland Transport, Noel Coard offered his congratulations to Tümtis and its members at DHL Logistics Services: “Having successfully renegotiated this Collective Bargaining Agreement for the sixth time shows Tümtis’ dedication to its members and the faith and support the members have in the union’s leadership.”

“This agreement shows all workers the benefit of a unionised workplace, and how collectively we can work together to raise standards across the entire transport sector,” he added.

Other significant wins in the agreement include:

A 100% increase in social benefits, including allowance for fuel, childbirth, death, marriage, and education
An increase in holiday bonuses, with a 134% bonus for Ramadan
A 129% increase in meal allowance
An increase in weekday overtime payments of 70%
An additional day’s annual leave.

88% of Tümtis’ members backed the agreement with DHL Logistics, which was signed on 2 February 2024.

Tümtis said the union will continue to fight to protect and improve the rights and interests of transport and logistics workers, and called on all workers who work for extended periods in insecure conditions denied overtime payment to immediately organise in a union.

More information on the agreement, and what it covers can be found on the Tümtis website.

Sian Manaz 07 Feb 2024

International solidarity unlocks key agreement for South Korean workers

andy_k-g — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 09:37:57 +0000

International solidarity unlocks key agreement for South Korean workers

After nine months of organising, workers at UPS in South Korea have won their first ever collective bargaining agreement at the company.

As part of the agreement, the American logistics giant has agreed to end forced unpaid overtime and improve pay standards.

The workers union, the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union (KPTU), says that negotiations with UPS had stalled until unions in the UK and USA got involved.

In a statement, the KPTU said: “UPS management refused to listen to basic demands … forcing workers to engage in two strike actions at the end of 2019 leading to the cancellation of all inbound [UPS] flights to Korea.”

At this point the ITF, Unite and the Teamsters intervened with UPS. The KPTU statement continues: “This continued international pressure and the UPS branch's tenacity, including work-to-rule action, made it possible to achieve an agreement with management.”

The chair of the ITF road transport section, James P. Hoffa, congratulated the workers on their achievement: “Korean UPS workers stood up for themselves in forming a union and joining KPTU. They bravely took the risk of job actions to demand their right to a fair collective bargaining agreement. We warmly welcome UPS Korean workers into the ITF family of UPS and global delivery unions worldwide.”

ITF general secretary, Stephen Cotton, added: “This is what the ITF is all about – working people coming together across borders to tackle common problems. Many congratulations to the workers at UPS in South Korea, you are an inspiration to us all.”

andy_k-g 03 Apr 2020

XPO issues ‘unacceptable’ response to formal legal notice

andy_k-g — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 16:55:26 +0000

XPO issues ‘unacceptable’ response to formal legal notice

On 1 October 2019, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and a global alliance of national trade unions served formal notice on XPO Logistics Europe under the French Corporate Duty of Vigilance Law.

The law holds businesses to certain obligations of vigilance in relation to the human rights of their workers, local communities and others affected by their operations around the world.

The ITF had given XPO the three months under the law to fulfil its obligations and respond to the formal notice, but the company has come back with a statement that they believe they have already fulfilled their obligations with a two-page section in their 2019 annual report.

However, the ITF set out clearly in the detailed notice served on the company how this two-page section is an entirely inadequate attempt to fulfil their legal requirements and does not comply with any provisions of the Law. The few paragraphs are severely lacking, and we are disappointed at XPO’s refusal to engage and improve its plan. It is abundantly clear to us that this meagre attempt cannot begin to fulfil the requirements of the innovative French law that intends to hold businesses to account for activities along their international supply chain.

ITF legal director, Ruwan Subasinghe, commented on XPO’s failure to respond as required under the law: “The ITF has given XPO the three months permitted to produce a revised vigilance plan that is adequate according to French law.

“The network of trade unions concerned by XPO’s practices in relation to labour protections has been very reasonable in limiting its demands to what could have practicably been achieved by the company in this time, rather than immediately requiring the company to take all of the steps required to satisfy the law. It is clear that the legislation requires significantly more of the company than we have at this first stage.

“We want to see real change in the company’s transparency and engagement with the local unions, as required by law. The XPO global union family offered open communication, collaboration and assistance to the company from the outset, as set out in the letter of formal notice.

“It is unacceptable that the company would come back after three months simply to insist on its compliance, without further engagement. We are therefore seeking legal advice in France and preparing to take next steps in accordance with that advice.”

andy_k-g 07 Jan 2020

#UnionWin! Korean truck drivers get safe rates of pay

andy_k-g — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:33:47 +0000

#UnionWin! Korean truck drivers get safe rates of pay

It is more than one-month late, but Korean truck drivers finally have the guarantee of safe rates of pay that the government promised.

It is a major victory for the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union Cargo Truckers Solidarity Division (KPTU-TruckSol) that has campaigned hard for a minimum wage system for the road freight market for 18 years, to make the industry fairer for workers and the roads safer for everyone.

Victory came on 12 December, when the Korean Road Safety Freight Rates Committee passed ‘safe rates’ for road freight transport workers, well after the legal deadline of 31 October.

It means that drivers of specialised vehicles carrying export-import containers and bulk cement will receive legally guaranteed rates of pay from 1 January 2020.

Currently, outsourcing has created a ‘race to the bottom’ in the industry, with low wages forcing truck drivers to overload, speed and drive dangerous, long hours day and night.

Noel Coard, ITF inland transport section secretary, sent his congratulations: “We commend the strength and tenacity of the KPTU to achieve safe rates in South Korea. The ITF and all the unions of our road section are calling for safe rates to be a global standard. It’s very simple: safe rates saves lives!”

For the KPTU-TruckSol, this victory only begins they next battle. It is now demanding:

safe rates throughout the road freight industry; for all drivers of all vehicles and all kinds of freight
safe rates for the entire transport industry; to tackle the scourge of precarious employment in the delivery and taxi industries

Mr Coard concluded: “If governments and multi-national companies are serious about road safety, then they must join us in Sydney, Australia, 19-20 March 2020 where unions from across the globe will be joined by industry leaders to discuss how safe rates can be further implemented.”

andy_k-g 13 Dec 2019

Safe rates planning in Argentina

The ITF road section chair Tony Sheldon has been in Argentina to learn about the Agua Negra tunnel project. He spoke with Hugo Moyano and Omar Perez of the Camioneros union about the risks and

Road Transport

Latin America

Global

news 03 Apr 2019

ITF supports truck protest in Australian cities

An ITF delegation has been in Australia to support a massive demonstration by truck drivers. Trucks converged at points in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide as part of the action by the

news Press Release 31 Aug 2019

Korea: global delegation joins 5,000 truck drivers to push for safe rates of pay

An ITF delegation of union activists has been in South Korea to support truck drivers in their demand that the government keeps its promise to make the roads safer. The Road Safety Freight Rates

news 29 Oct 2019

Road transport unions vow to collectively fight privatisation, deregulation and liberalisation

On October 15, the ITF Road Transport Section Committee, representing over 2.5 million road transport workers around the world, met in Montreal, Canada, to coordinate actions to combat the negative

Road Transport

Global

Joint statement: the International Transport Workers' Federation, Deutsche Post DHL Group and UNI Global Union agree to continue dialogue under new OECD protocol

andy_k-g — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 08:07:33 +0000

Joint statement: the International Transport Workers' Federation, Deutsche Post DHL Group and UNI Global Union agree to continue dialogue under new OECD protocol

Bonn – 2 Dec 2019: Representatives from global union federations, ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and UNI (UNI Global Union), together with Deutsche Post DHL Group reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue under the umbrella of the new OECD protocol in 2020.

The DPDHL Group, ITF and UNI believe that being under the auspices of the national contact point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises has provided an exceptional framework to build mutual trust and foster positive relationships over the years.

Looking ahead to the 2020 agenda, the parties agreed to continue their focused discussions. At least once a year, the general secretaries from ITF and UNI, along with DPDHL Group’s corporate board member for human resources attend the dialogue meeting exchanging their views.

The collaboration between all parties has been significant in 2019 and relationships continue to develop and strengthen. In addition to the regular dialogue between the parties, several workshops were conducted to evolve the existing OECD protocol and include reference to potential future challenges in employee relations.

On 25 November 2019, the national contact point signed the new OECD protocol in the presence of representatives from all parties in Berlin.

andy_k-g 02 Dec 2019

Transport giant served notice under duty of vigilance law in landmark legal move

andy_k-g — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 08:16:52 +0000

Transport giant served notice under duty of vigilance law in landmark legal move

French law is being used to force a road transport and logistics multinational to take the necessary steps to stamp out human rights abuses in its supply chain, in the first case of its kind.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and an alliance of unions are bringing the action against XPO Logistics Europe using the French Corporate Duty of Vigilance Law. It has never before been used to hold to account a global transport company.

The law holds businesses to certain obligations in relation to the human rights of their workers, local communities and others affected by their operations around the world. The law is French and is being used against a French company, but its reach is global because the company's obligations apply equally to the operations of its foreign subsidiaries and to its international business relationships.

XPO's major European arm comes within the remit of the Vigilance Law and must execute, implement and publish an adequate vigilance plan. An ITF analysis has found that XPO’s current vigilance plan does not fulfil the requirements of the law.

ITF legal director Ruwan Subasinghe emphasised the significant nature of this action: “This is a landmark move. Never before have trade unions from across the world come together to serve formal notice on a multinational company for the enforcement of legal obligations in relation to its human rights due diligence. Not only does this have repercussions in France, but along the company's supply chain relationships with suppliers and subcontractors wherever they are in the world.

“The global trade union movement has lobbied hard for workers in supply chains affected by companies to be able to use the law to take their complaints directly to the company at the top, and this is what these worker representatives have done in this case.

“This sends a clear message that hiding behind subcontracting is not a sustainable business model. Tools like this empower workers to demand transparency and further action, and they will.”

The ITF has given XPO the three months permitted under the law to fulfil its obligations or the ITF and its partners will bring this matter before the relevant jurisdiction in France.

END

CONTACT: Andy Khan-Gordon, ITF communications officer, +44 (0)7711 356 964, khan-gordon_andy@itf.org.uk

This release comes with a two-page explanation of the law, how the ITF and its partners are using it and background on the business practices of XPO Logistics.

THE XPO GLOBAL UNION FAMILY: is made up of trade unions from France, the UK, Spain, Belgium, the USA and Italy. Their goal is to get XPO to engage in dialogue at a global level to achieve decent standards, including good industrial relations, in all countries of operations.

ABOUT THE ITF: The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is a democratic global union federation of 665 transport workers trade unions representing 20 million workers in 147 countries. The ITF works to improve the lives of transport workers globally, encouraging and organising international solidarity among its network of affiliates. The ITF represents the interests of transport workers' unions in bodies that take decisions affecting jobs, employment conditions and safety in the transport industry.

ABOUT THE ETF: The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) embraces transport trade unions from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Central and Eastern European countries. The ETF represents more than five million transport workers from more than 230 transport unions and 42 European countries

andy_k-g 01 Oct 2019

XPO workers strike as the truth about gender discrimination, sexual harassment and dangerous working practices comes to European AGM

XPO workers from warehouses across France will walk out from 0900 to 1200, Friday 15 June to protest XPO’s unwillingness to deal with serious irregularities in its pay, and to show solidarity with XPO workers who have experienced harassment and discrimination across the world.

news Press Release 14 Jun 2018

Damning report exposes culture of gender discrimination at XPO in Spain

A joint report by the ITF and the FeSMC-UGT union has uncovered a culture of serious discrimination against women by XPO at one of its warehouses in Spain.

news 19 Dec 2018

ITF statement on XPO in the USA and Spain

XPO has now announced policy changes for employees in the United States – but these changes do not go far enough.

news 30 May 2019

It's time to #ConfrontXPO - join us in solidarity with XPO workers

Join us today to show solidarity with XPO workers worldwide. Since 2015, our affiliate, t he International Brotherhood of Teamsters has been campaigning for safe and just working conditions for XPO

Road Transport

Global

California AB 5 law: now we need a global law for ‘gig’ workers

andy_k-g — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 18:41:58 +0000

California AB 5 law: now we need a global law for ‘gig’ workers

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is calling for the new AB 5 law in California to be the inspiration for global rules that protect ‘gig’ workers, and all workers, from exploitation and abuse, and deliver them their basic rights.

AB 5 makes it hard for employers to misclassify workers as independent contractors. Companies typically do this as a means of avoiding their duty to provide basic rights, such as minimum pay, sick pay, overtime pay and paid leave.

ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton said: “What the California senate has done in passing this law, with the support of transport workers in the USA, is nothing short of historic and must be the beginning of something big. Global unions see this as a source of inspiration in our fight for an international governance framework for ‘gig economy’ workers, which can put an end to the scourge of misclassification, and other labour abuses.

“Global rules similar to AB 5 would revolutionise the working lives of millions of transport workers by challenging the business model that relies on exploitation and appalling working conditions. We are not just talking about drivers for ride-hailing companies, but subcontracted truck drivers, precariously employed logistics workers, airport workers on contract and more. All transport workers play a full part in the globalised world we live in, and they deserve full workplace benefits whatever they do and wherever they are; they deserve justice.”

The ITF is working closely with its 600+ affiliates to address the impacts of the future of work on transport workers. This includes campaigning for decent working conditions for ‘gig economy’ workers through helping them to organise and influencing local, regional and global policy.

END

CONTACT: Andy Khan-Gordon, ITF communications officer, media@itf.org.uk. +44 7711 356 964.

ABOUT THE ITF: The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is a democratic global union federation of 665 transport workers trade unions representing over 18 million workers in 147 countries. The ITF works to improve the lives of transport workers globally, encouraging and organising international solidarity among its network of affiliates. The ITF represents the interests of transport workers' unions in bodies that take decisions affecting jobs, employment conditions and safety in the transport industry.

For the latest news from the ITF visit www.itfglobal.org/en/news 

andy_k-g 12 Sep 2019