Today, I have the honour of opening the ILO training on the Guidelines for Decent Work and Safety in the Road Transport Sector, here in Santiago de Chile. 

In a time when some countries are turning away from multilateral cooperation, it is more important than ever to invest in dialogue, solidarity, and shared progress through institutions like the International Labour Organization.

This training brings together six unions from across the bi-oceanic corridor in Latin America, all proudly affiliated with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). 

Read my opening remarks below

• I’m pleased to make opening remarks on behalf of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the global union federation representing the voice of transport workers at the ILO
• The ITF represents over 700 affiliated trade unions in 150 countries, with nearly 16.5 million members across the transport industry. We are a democratic, affiliate-led federation, which exists to protect and improve the lives and futures of transport workers. We also place strong emphasis in working with our social partners, and all industry stakeholders to ensure that transport is fair, safe, sustainable and inclusive.
• Within the ITF the road transport section is the largest, with 38% of ITF’s membership and 291 affiliated trade unions. In Latin America, we have 31 affiliates in the road transport sector, representing several millions of workers operating along the bi-oceanic corridor. I’m very pleased to be with representatives of many of these unions today, participating in a workshop which will set our priorities for achieving decent work, road safety and sustainable development along the corridor.
• The ITF was honoured to lead the workers group delegation to the experts meeting which adopted the ILO Guidelines on the promotion of decent work and road safety in the transport sector, and worked diligently with the employer and government representatives to achieve meaningful outcomes in the guidelines.
• Since their adoption, the ITF has conducted education and training for our affiliates about the guidelines across all regions (North America, South America, Europe, the Arab World, Africa and the Asia Pacific). Many of our affiliates have also used the Guidelines as a basis for engagement with governments, employers and road transport chain parties to reach agreement on regulation and policies to truly improve decent work and road safety. As a result we have seen many improvements, including the adoption of Safe Rates systems which bring industry stakeholders together to set fair and safe pay standards for drivers in many countries. The ITF is also using the guidelines as a basis for carrying out worker-led data collection and inspections in the bi-oceanic corridors and other key corridors globally.
• However, considerable challenges remain across our sector, including widespread subcontracting and informality, unfair competition, and a lack of proper regulation, monitoring and enforcement. These problems exist in all regions from Europe to Africa to Latin America.
• Respected representatives of the ILO, of governments, employers , and workers, our collaboration to achieve full implementation of these guidelines – to embed them in legislation and in agreements among road transport chain parties, employers and unions is absolutely essential.
• I also want to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of multilateral organisations and meetings. Especially now with everything that is going on in the world. With some countries even stepping out of multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation. So it is important that we keep on investing in  multilateral dialogue between unions,  employers and governments to try to find solutions for the many problems we are dealing with.
• We thank the ILO for this workshop which will take us another step in this direction. We look forward to our dialogue with you all over the next three days.

Today, I have the honour of opening the ILO training on the Guidelines for Decent Work and Safety in the Road Transport Sector, here in Santiago de Chile. 

In a time when some countries are turning away from multilateral cooperation, it is more important than ever to invest in dialogue, solidarity, and shared progress through institutions like the International Labour Organization.

This training brings together six unions from across the bi-oceanic corridor in Latin America, all proudly affiliated with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). 

Read my opening remarks below

• I’m pleased to make opening remarks on behalf of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the global union federation representing the voice of transport workers at the ILO
• The ITF represents over 700 affiliated trade unions in 150 countries, with nearly 16.5 million members across the transport industry. We are a democratic, affiliate-led federation, which exists to protect and improve the lives and futures of transport workers. We also place strong emphasis in working with our social partners, and all industry stakeholders to ensure that transport is fair, safe, sustainable and inclusive.
• Within the ITF the road transport section is the largest, with 38% of ITF’s membership and 291 affiliated trade unions. In Latin America, we have 31 affiliates in the road transport sector, representing several millions of workers operating along the bi-oceanic corridor. I’m very pleased to be with representatives of many of these unions today, participating in a workshop which will set our priorities for achieving decent work, road safety and sustainable development along the corridor.
• The ITF was honoured to lead the workers group delegation to the experts meeting which adopted the ILO Guidelines on the promotion of decent work and road safety in the transport sector, and worked diligently with the employer and government representatives to achieve meaningful outcomes in the guidelines.
• Since their adoption, the ITF has conducted education and training for our affiliates about the guidelines across all regions (North America, South America, Europe, the Arab World, Africa and the Asia Pacific). Many of our affiliates have also used the Guidelines as a basis for engagement with governments, employers and road transport chain parties to reach agreement on regulation and policies to truly improve decent work and road safety. As a result we have seen many improvements, including the adoption of Safe Rates systems which bring industry stakeholders together to set fair and safe pay standards for drivers in many countries. The ITF is also using the guidelines as a basis for carrying out worker-led data collection and inspections in the bi-oceanic corridors and other key corridors globally.
• However, considerable challenges remain across our sector, including widespread subcontracting and informality, unfair competition, and a lack of proper regulation, monitoring and enforcement. These problems exist in all regions from Europe to Africa to Latin America.
• Respected representatives of the ILO, of governments, employers , and workers, our collaboration to achieve full implementation of these guidelines – to embed them in legislation and in agreements among road transport chain parties, employers and unions is absolutely essential.
• I also want to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of multilateral organisations and meetings. Especially now with everything that is going on in the world. With some countries even stepping out of multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation. So it is important that we keep on investing in  multilateral dialogue between unions,  employers and governments to try to find solutions for the many problems we are dealing with.
• We thank the ILO for this workshop which will take us another step in this direction. We look forward to our dialogue with you all over the next three days.

The European Directive on the minimum wage has always been a key tool to combat social dumping and create a level playing field for workers across the EU. Like many others, including European trade union organizations, I firmly support this directive as a means of promoting fair wages and reducing inequality.

This directive is particularly important for workers in Central and Eastern Europe, where wage levels are often significantly lower. Without a European framework, workers in these regions remain more vulnerable to exploitation and unfair competition, perpetuating inequality within the EU.

On January 14th, Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou presented his opinion to the European Court of Justice, recommending the annulment of the directive. This opinion aligns with the arguments of Sweden and Denmark, who believe wage-setting should remain a national responsibility.

While the Advocate General’s opinion is not binding, the Court follows this guidance in approximately 70% of cases. The final decision is expected later this year, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

If the directive is annulled, it could weaken our collective fight against unfair wage practices. But if upheld, it has the potential to strengthen efforts to ensure fair wages across Europe, particularly for workers in lower-wage regions, while respecting the diversity of national systems.

Now more than ever, we must stand firm in defending a Europe that prioritizes workers’ rights and fair competition. A minimum wage framework at the EU level is not just a policy—it’s a step toward social justice.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Let’s discuss!

Die Demokratie steht auf dem Spiel. Nicht aufgrund eines bloßen Zufalls, sondern aufgrund der gezielten, systematischen Handlungen einer kleinen Elite mit unvorstellbarem Reichtum. Unter der Führung von Persönlichkeiten wie Elon Musk werden demokratische Werte in einem alarmierenden Tempo ausgehöhlt. Dies ist nicht die Zeit für Nuancen oder Diplomatie. Es ist Zeit zu handeln.

Musk ist nicht nur ein Technologie-Milliardär mit einem riesigen Vermögen. Elon Musk ist derzeit der reichste Mensch der Welt mit einem geschätzten Vermögen von über 400 Milliarden Dollar. Laut Bloomberg wird sein Vermögen im Dezember 2024 einen historischen Höchststand von 486 Milliarden Dollar erreichen.

Musk ist aber auch ein politischer Akteur mit einer rechtsextremen Agenda. Er hat die Kampagne von Donald Trump finanziert, seine Botschaft aktiv über X verbreitet und erzwingt nun sogar die Stilllegung der US-Regierung. Das ist kein Zufall. Musk nutzt seine Macht, um eine Welt zu schaffen, in der gewählte Politiker durch die Eliten des Silicon Valley ersetzt werden – durch Männer wie ihn. Seine offene Unterstützung für Nigel Farage und die AfD in Deutschland zeigen, dass seine Ambitionen global sind. Er beteiligt sich aktiv an der Normalisierung und Förderung rechtsextremer Ideologien sowohl in den USA als auch in Europa.

Angriff auf die Demokratie

Diese Entwicklungen sind keine Einzelfälle. Musk und seine Verbündeten, wie Peter Thiel, werden von einer gefährlichen Ideologie angetrieben. Sie glauben nicht an die Demokratie. Thiel – Mitbegründer von PayPal – sagt es unverblümt: “Freiheit und Demokratie sind unvereinbar. Das ist die Logik des Silicon Valley: Disruption ist alles, und wenn das bedeutet, unsere Demokratien zu zerstören, dann soll es so sein.

Ihre Ideologie hat ihre Wurzeln im Futurismus von Filippo Marinetti, der den Grundstein für Mussolinis Faschismus legte. Wie Marinetti verherrlichen sie Geschwindigkeit, Technologie und die Zerstörung alter Systeme. Demokratie ist für sie kein Wert, sondern ein Hindernis. Sie stellen sich eine Welt vor, die von Unternehmern regiert wird, in der Profit über Menschenrechten steht und die Macht in den Händen einer kleinen technokratischen Elite konzentriert ist.

Unsere Verantwortung: Handeln

 Heute verbreitet Musk bewusst falsche Informationen über den Angriff in Magdeburg. In seiner Berichterstattung über X verzerrt er die Realität und bezeichnet die Mainstream-Medien als Lügner. Damit greift er die freie Presse direkt an. 

Musk ist auch ein entschiedener Gegner von Gewerkschaften! Er weigert sich, Gewerkschaften in den von ihm kontrollierten Unternehmen anzuerkennen. Die amerikanische Gewerkschaft United Auto Workers (UAW) hat im August 2024 eine Klage gegen Elon Musk und den ehemaligen Präsidenten Donald Trump eingereicht. Die UAW wirft den beiden vor, Arbeitnehmer eingeschüchtert und Gewerkschaftsrechte untergraben zu haben, nachdem sie erklärt hatten, dass streikende Arbeitnehmer entlassen werden könnten. 

Inzwischen verbreitet Musk sein gewerkschaftsfeindliches Modell über Tesla weltweit. Ein Beispiel dafür sind die Aktionen der schwedischen Metallgewerkschaft IF Metall – unterstützt von Transportgewerkschaften – gegen die Weigerung von Tesla, Tarifverträge zu unterzeichnen und einzuhalten.

Das können wir nicht hinnehmen. Es ist an der Zeit, Widerstand zu leisten. Es ist an der Zeit, unsere Demokratie zu verteidigen.

Ich habe den ersten Schritt getan, indem ich mich entschieden habe, „X“ zu verlassen. Diese Plattform ist zu einem Tummelplatz für Musks extremistische Agenda geworden, zu einem Nährboden für Hass und Intoleranz. Ich rufe alle Demokraten auf, es mir gleich zu tun. Verlassen Sie X. Packen Sie Ihre digitalen Sachen und setzen Sie ein Zeichen. Wählen Sie Alternativen wie Bluesky und Threads, Plattformen, die Respekt und Inklusivität fördern.

Und ist es nicht auch an der Zeit, eine klare Botschaft an Tesla zu senden? Die rechtsextremen politischen Ansichten von Musk haben bei einigen Tesla-Besitzern – zu Recht – Scham und Unbehagen ausgelöst. Um sich von Musks Ansichten zu distanzieren, haben einige ihre Autos mit Aufklebern wie „Anti Elon Tesla Club“ oder „Ich habe das gekauft, bevor Elon verrückt wurde“ verziert. Es gibt viele Alternativen auf dem Markt für Elektrofahrzeuge! Wer heute einen Tesla kauft, unterstützt einen CEO, der die Demokratie offen verachtet.

Musk, seine Plattformen und seine Produkte zu boykottieren ist nicht nur symbolisch – es ist ein Akt des Widerstands. Er zeigt, dass wir nicht bereit sind, tatenlos zuzusehen, wie unsere Demokratie demontiert wird. 

Ein Aufruf zum Handeln

Wir erleben bereits die Folgen der Big-Tech-Diktatur und der damit einhergehenden Ideologie: eine Welt, in der Hassreden ungefiltert verbreitet werden, in der demokratische politische Systeme durch Geld und Macht untergraben werden und in der die Fundamente unserer Gesellschaften im Namen der „Disruption“ zerschlagen werden.

Wir müssen um unsere Demokratie kämpfen. Und wir dürfen diesen Kampf nicht den (progressiven) Politikern allein überlassen. Es ist ein Kampf, den jeder Bürger auf allen Ebenen führen muss. Es ist auch ein Kampf der Gewerkschaften.

Ich habe X verlassen und fordere alle Demokraten auf, dasselbe zu tun. Machen wir daraus eine Massenbewegung. Treffen wir Musk dort, wo es weh tut: bei seinem Einfluss und seinem Geldbeutel.

An die Politik: Die Botschaft ist klar: Stoppt die Big-Tech-Diktatur, bevor sie die Demokratie selbst zerstört. Stoppt die Deregulierung und bremst stattdessen die Macht dieser Konzerne und ihrer CEOs. Wir brauchen Regulierung und Schutz!

Es ist an der Zeit, deutlich zu machen, dass wir, die Bürgerinnen und Bürger, uns unsere Demokratie nicht kampflos nehmen lassen. Steht auf, macht mit und kämpft an unserer Seite. Denn wenn wir jetzt nicht handeln, wird es bald nichts mehr geben, wofür es sich zu kämpfen lohnt.

Democracy is at stake. Not due to a mere coincidence, but because of the deliberate, systematic actions of a small elite with unimaginable wealth. Under the leadership of figures like Elon Musk, democratic values are being eroded at an alarming pace. This is no time for nuance or diplomacy. It is time to act.

Musk is not just a tech billionaire with a massive fortune. Elon Musk is currently the richest person in the world, with an estimated wealth exceeding $400 billion. According to Bloomberg, his fortune reached a historic high of $486 billion in December 2024. 

But Musk is also a political actor with a far-right agenda. He funded Donald Trump’s campaign, actively spread his message through X, and is now even forcing a shutdown of the U.S. government. This is no coincidence. Musk is wielding his power to create a world where elected politicians are replaced by Silicon Valley elites—by men like himself. The fact that he openly supports Nigel Farage and endorses the AfD in Germany shows that his ambitions are global. He is actively normalizing and promoting far-right ideologies both in the U.S. and Europe.

The Assault on Democracy

These developments are not isolated incidents. Musk and his allies, such as Peter Thiel, are inspired by a dangerous ideology. They do not believe in democracy. Thiel—co-founder of PayPal—said it bluntly: “Freedom and democracy are incompatible.” This is the logic of Silicon Valley: disruption is everything, and if that means dismantling our democracies, so be it.

Their ideology has roots in the Futurism of Filippo Marinetti, which laid the groundwork for Mussolini’s fascism. Like Marinetti, they glorify speed, technology, and the destruction of old systems. They see democracy not as a value but as an obstacle. They envision a world ruled by entrepreneurs, where profit takes precedence over human rights, and power is concentrated in the hands of a small technocratic elite.

Our Responsibility: Take Action

 Today, Musk is deliberately spreading false information about the attack in Magdeburg, Germany. He twists reality in his reporting on X, dismissing the “mainstream” media as liars. In doing so, he is directly attacking the free press.

Musk is also a staunch opponent of unions! He refuses to recognize unions in the companies he controls. The U.S. labor union United Auto Workers (UAW) filed complaints against Elon Musk and former president Donald Trump in August 2024. The UAW accuses them of intimidating workers and undermining union rights following statements suggesting that striking workers could be fired.

Meanwhile, Musk is spreading his anti-union model globally through Tesla. This is evidenced by the actions of the Swedish metalworkers’ union IF Metal—supported by transport unions—against Tesla’s refusal to sign and respect Collective Labor Agreements.

We cannot accept this. It is time to resist. It is time to defend our democracy.

I have taken the first step by deciding to leave “X.” This platform has become a playground for Musk’s extremist agenda, a breeding ground for hate and intolerance. I urge all democrats to do the same. Leave X. Pack your digital bags and make a statement. Choose alternatives like Bluesky and Threads, platforms that uphold respect and inclusivity.

And isn’t it time to send Tesla a clear message too? Musk’s far-right political stances have—rightfully—caused shame and discomfort among some Tesla owners. To distance themselves from Musk’s views, some have adorned their cars with bumper stickers reading “Anti Elon Tesla Club” or “I Bought This Before Elon Went Crazy.” There are plenty of alternatives on the electric vehicle market! Anyone buying a Tesla today is supporting a CEO who openly disdains democracy.

A boycott of Musk, his platforms, and his products is not merely symbolic—it is an act of resistance. It demonstrates that we are unwilling to passively watch as our democracy is dismantled.

A Call to Action

We are already witnessing the consequences of the Big Tech dictatorship and its associated ideology: a world where hate speech is spread unfiltered, where democratic political systems are undermined by money and power, and where the foundations of our societies are torn apart in the name of “disruption.”

We must fight for our democracy. And this is not a battle we can leave to (progressive) politicians alone. This is a fight that every citizen must take up, on every level. It is also a union struggle.

I have left X, and I urge all democrats to do the same. Let this become a mass movement. Let us hit Musk where it hurts: his influence and his wallet.

To the political world, the message is clear: stop the Big Tech dictatorship before it destroys democracy itself. Stop the deregulation, and instead rein in the power of these companies and their CEOs. We need regulation and protection!

It is time to make it clear that we, the citizens, will not let our democracy be taken from us without a fight. Stand up, join the cause, and fight alongside us. Because if we do not act now, there will soon be nothing left to fight for.

Black Friday is well known for being the biggest bargain day of the year for major online retailers. The discounts offered are big and turnover is enormous. But who actually pays the price? That’s right: the people who deliver the parcels and who work so hard every day to ensure your packages reach their destination. Which is why my union BTB-ABVV is again holding ‘Courier Day’ in Belgium on 29th November. And, in recognition for all the hard work they put in every day, they are making couriers feel truly appreciated for the job they do. Because they deserve to receive a parcel more than anyone else.

Couriers are the people who make sure we receive the items we order on time. Despite the high working pressures and long hours they endure, couriers remain essential links in the logistics chain. Which is why it is so important that they receive the appreciation they deserve. In the form of fair pay and respect for the work they do. So, on Black Friday, BTB-ABVV will be handing out a package of their own to parcel couriers working at the depots of major e-commerce companies across Belgium.

The people who drive for parcel delivery companies (such as Amazon, for example) carry out their tasks in conditions that are anything but pleasant. The working day is long, workloads are high and respect for drivers is far from what it should be. BTB is recognising them for what they do and – perhaps more importantly – how they do it. On the 29th, BTB will be offering them support, seeking them out where they work, handing out packages and chatting with them. That’s how you get to find out what is going on.

Despite the rising revenues enjoyed by the courier companies, wages are not rising with them. Worse than that, drivers’ wages are simply too low, including those of the parcel delivery drivers. Drivers have to be increasingly flexible. And despite more and more being asked of them, their wages are not increasing. Profits for the major e-commerce companies are growing like crazy, yet none of the drivers share in those profits. That is unacceptable.

At the BRC conference on sustainable e-commerce, it was pointed out that the distribution sector is changing, with the growth of e-commerce adding to the workload for parcel deliverers. However, their working conditions are lagging behind. BTB-ABVV is arguing for fair pay and respect for the work they do. A sector such as this one, where every penny is carefully watched, has an interest in clarity: both for drivers and for road safety. Which is why we are arguing unequivocally for the introduction of Safe-Rates legislation. These are clear minimum rates that apply to every player in the industry. They are verifiable and can easily be looked up by all customers. It is the method needed for tackling excesses in the sector and improving working conditions for all drivers in the sector.