Gerhard Tauchner new President of the ETF Railway Section

The Austrian railway trade unionist Gerhard Tauchner (vida) is taking on one of the most important functions in the European rail sector: He was unanimously elected President of the Railway Section of the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) on Tuesday in Brussels. 63 trade unions from 38 countries are represented in this body – a strong sign of European solidarity in an increasingly liberalised system.

A "matter close to the heart": cooperation against liberalisation pressure

Tauchner has been active in the ETF section since 2011 and has also been a member of the Executive Committee since 2022. He sees the election as a mandate to further strengthen European cooperation.

The EU Commission's course is clearly geared towards market opening and competition - with drastic consequences for employees.

"European trade union cooperation is not only a 'matter close to his heart'. In view of the European Commission's political course in favour of liberalisation and competition in the railway system and the resulting additional pressure on working and social conditions, cooperation is 'irreplaceable'," says Tauchner and thanks the delegates.

"We can only counter these developments together as an ETF. In doing so, we are primarily focusing on sectoral social dialogue in Europe. However, if conflicts with employers become unavoidable, we will not shy away from them."

Digital Time Recording: Safety and Relief for Train Personnel

As a trained train driver, Tauchner knows first-hand the stresses of cross-border rail traffic. For him, it is particularly urgent to have a Europe-wide modern and forgery-proof recording of working hours.

"We need ways to record and control working hours. In this way, we want to take pressure off the employees and strengthen safety in railway operations. Both can only be achieved with forgery-proof recording options."

Modern digital recording would prevent manipulation, secure rest periods and no longer shift responsibility to individual employees – a central step towards fair working conditions in European rail transport.

Ensuring high training standards throughout Europe

The duration and content of training still differ massively in the EU countries. Tauchner calls for harmonization – but only at a high level.

"Under no circumstances should this mean that training standards or language requirements are lowered. Because that only jeopardizes good working conditions and railway safety."

In doing so, the union is clearly distancing itself from efforts to artificially "solve" staff shortages through lower standards.

Rail freight transport under pressure: saving single wagonload traffic

The situation in freight transport is particularly dramatic: single wagonload transport, a backbone of climate-friendly logistics, is being systematically displaced by cheaper truck competition.

"Here we finally need fair competitive conditions between rail and road," demands Tauchner.

Without political countermeasures, thousands of jobs across Europe are in danger of disappearing – a fatal signal for employees and climate goals.

Defending direct awards: Against social dumping in passenger transport

In passenger transport, Tauchner is resisting the dogma of pure tendering competition.

Direct awards, on the other hand, enable stable quality, reliable working conditions and secure mobility in the long term.

"The decisions are made in Brussels"

In conclusion, Tauchner emphasizes the importance of European co-determination:

"Together, we must further strengthen the interests of employees at the European level. Because it is in Brussels that the decisions are made that have a direct impact on the working conditions of local railway workers."