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About us

Helping seafarers since 1896.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is an international trade union federation of transport workers’ unions. Any independent trade union with members in the transport industry is eligible for membership of the ITF.

We are a democratic, affiliate-led federation, connecting and leveraging the power of trade unions from 153 countries.

We are the world’s leading transport authority, with offices in London, Abidjan, Amman, Brussels, Geneva, Hong Kong, Montreal, Nairobi, New Delhi, Panama City, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

WHAT IS THE ITF?
ITF is working to improve conditions for seafarers of all nationalities and to ensure adequate regulation of the shipping industry to protect the interests and rights of the workers.
ITF INSPECTORS
ITF Inspectors are union officials who are engaged full time working on the objectives and issues relating to the ITF Flags of Convenience (FOC) Campaign.
Contact us
Are you a seafarer having problems?
OUR OBJECTIVES

The aims of the ITF are set out in its Constitution. They are:

  • to promote respect for trade union and human rights worldwide
  • to work for peace based on social justice and economic progress
  • to help its affiliated unions defend the interests of their members
  • to provide research and information services to its affiliates
  • to provide general assistance to transport workers in difficulty 

Although the range of ITF activities is very wide, they can be best summed up under three key headings:
 

  • representation
  • information
  • practical solidarity.

The ITF represents the interests of transport workers’ unions in bodies which take decisions affecting jobs, employment conditions or safety in the transport industry, such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

A major function of the ITF is informing and advising unions about developments in the transport industry in other countries or regions of the world. The ITF also maintains a Union Building department, dedicated to the development of strong and democratic transport unions.

The ITF organises international solidarity when transport unions in one country are in conflict with employers or government and need direct help from unions in other countries.

The kind of solidarity needed can range from protest messages, demonstrations and political pressure, to direct industrial action in the form of strikes, boycotts etc. The ITF’s worldwide campaign in the maritime industry against the use by ship owners of Flags of Convenience (FOCs) to escape from national laws and national unions is a good example of solidarity.