Transport, Sustainability and People

The last decades have witnessed mobility of people and goods contributing to Europe’s prosperity. Structural change across the transport sector has been endured to serve this purpose. And broader economic and environmental objectives call for further reform.

The transport sector will certainly need to address its infrastructure needs. But it is also expected to tackle congestion, pollution, social exclusion and poor accessibility: it is urged to become sustainable.

If these sustainability goals lead to additional restructuring efforts, particular attention should be drawn to their impact on people.

Official figures tell 4.6 million workers, around 5% of Europe’s total workforce, are employed in the transport network. It is a sector based on people providing a service of public interest.

Today, job loss, wage dumping and poor working conditions within transport extend the debate to its social dimension: are sustainability strategies ready to bridge growth and competitiveness to more and better jobs?

Yes, sustainable transport should mean to Europe a more efficient, competitive, greener, well-managed transport system ready for the coming years and beyond. But, above all, it remains a system run by people working for people. Transport workers must have their say.