AFA at the Vatican
August 12, 2022 - Pope Francis invited the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) to meet with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences for a summit at the Vatican. The summit was to discuss climate justice, good union jobs, and human rights.
Our AFA President Sara Nelson, Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien, IAM General Vice President Richie Johnsen, represented transportation unions from the United States.
The world has been shaken by the global Covid-19 pandemic, the worsening climate emergency, a war in Europe, and a global cost of living crisis caused by spiraling energy and food prices, with impacts on workers. The protection of the lives, livelihoods and human rights of transport workers as key workers is of utmost importance, as it is them who secure a sustainable global economy in these uncertain times.
This meeting presents the opportunity to shine a light on these issues and discuss courses of action to improve collaboration of key stakeholders in transport.
Union leaders cheer the message of Pope Francis that all workers should have the free right to join unions. This is a basic human right.
