We are writing to provide an urgent update on the ongoing dispute at the ITF and to request your solidarity with respect to a rushed and deeply damaging restructuring process.
Impact of Restructure on All ITF Regions
ITF management is proposing to cut approximately 25% of the staff based in London this year. However, the restructuring process is not confined to the head office. This is a global process currently underway in Asia Pacific and planned for all other regions over the next year and half. Staff across all regions face the risk of losing their jobs during this process.
The scale of these changes threatens to severely undermine the organisation’s ability to deliver on the ambitious work program agreed at Congress in October 2024.
ITF staff on non-standard contracts are often the most vulnerable. These workers are being excluded from consultations, and at times given no information about their situations, despite the fact many have worked for the ITF for years doing the same work as permanent staff.
ITF management has said that the total number of regional staff will not be cut, but has not given any assurances to existing staff that there will be a place for them in the revised structure with completely new roles. Like their colleagues in London, Asia Pacific staff have been put at risk of redundancy, have been given only vague information about new roles and the process to apply for them, and are struggling to make decisions about their futures. Regional staff have not been afforded any opportunity for collective negotiation over their terms and conditions, contrary to the ITF Constitution.
Moreover, while ITF management has said that regional offices will be strengthened with an infusion of new resources, they have not explained where these resources will come from. Staff in London have been told that any cost savings must be used to address the financial deficit. Work across the entire ITF is already suffering due to the chaos caused by the restructure, and will likely be further impacted due to the significant loss of institutional knowledge that comes with high staff turnover in a short period of time.
Historic Strike Vote by ITF Staff
On 2 July 2025, in response to the proposed changes, ITF staff in London voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action. This marks the first time in ITF’s history that staff have delivered a strike mandate. The turnout was 89% of staff with 89% voting in favour of striking and 90% in favour of an overtime ban and working-to-rule. These results demonstrate the strength of feeling among staff and their commitment to defend their jobs, their colleagues, and the critical work of the ITF.
In line with this democratic mandate, London-contracted staff will undertake strike action on Tuesday 22 July and Tuesday 29 July 2025. In addition, a continuous overtime ban and work to rule will commence from Thursday 17 July 2025. Further industrial action dates will be announced if there is no progress in negotiations with management.
ITF Staff Union Proposal
Unite, which is the recognised union for ITF staff, made a formal request for an extension to the consultation period – from 55 to 90 days – to allow time for genuine engagement and the development of viable alternatives. This request is foundational to a set of other staff priorities in this process, including disclosure of the financial information which is being used to justify such severe cuts and to which the union is entitled under UK law.
We of course acknowledge that the ITF has identified financial challenges and that the Executive Board (EB) approved a mandate in April 2025 to find cost savings. We would like to be part of the process of finding solutions. That is why we repeatedly asked for the opportunity to engage with the EB’s Financial Sustainability Group.
The current proposals from ITF management are destructive and incredibly uneven, with male-dominated management roles being given immunity from the cuts. This is despite the ITF’s returns showing total compensation for management increasing at twice the rate of non-management from 2021 to 2024. Conversely, the proposals would result in downgrading of pay and work intensification in roles where there is a higher concentration of women, among other concerns with the magnification of existing inequalities.
Failure to Follow Due Process
ITF management have not adhered to our internal policy on restructuring or the dispute mechanism outlined in our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Our formal complaints have not been given a hearing in line with our internal policies. To date, management have only made themselves available for a single day with the UK government’s ACAS mediation service.
It is also important to note that all 15 current and former union representatives who fall within the scope of the restructure have been put at risk of redundancy. This raises serious concerns about anti-union conduct which must also be addressed, if a constructive and collaborative solution to these challenges is to be found.
Request for Your Support
At this crucial moment we are asking all affiliates to stand with ITF staff. Please do not cross our picket line. ITF staff work tirelessly to support transport workers all over the world. Our work is global, so too is our picket line. Refusing to engage with events or meetings organised by ITF management during this period, and to make work requests of ITF staff, is a vital expression of solidarity.
We ask you to write directly to the ITF General Secretary to urge him to:
- Reconsider the refusal to extend the consultation period
- Provide the financial information requested by staff and their union to enable informed negotiations
- Ensure that any proposed changes do not magnify existing inequalities for protected groups such as women
- Commit to a genuinely collaborative and transparent process going forward
We urge you to raise your voice now in unity with staff to protect the critical work of the ITF. There is still time to reach a fair and sustainable resolution that preserves jobs, respects staff voices and enables the ITF to fulfil its mission. But this will not happen without your engagement.
Further information available here: www.itfstaffunion.org
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