ITF – International Transport Workers’ Federation
Founded in 1896, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is an international trade union federation of transport workers' unions. Any independent trade union with members in the transport industry is eligible for membership of the ITF. In 2017, the ITF had 677 member organizations in 149 countries, representing a combined membership of 19.7 million transport workers in all industrial transport sectors: civil aviation, dockers, inland navigation, seafarers, road transport, railways, fisheries, urban transport and tourism. The ITF represents transport workers around the world and promotes their interests through global campaigning and solidarity. The ITF's headquarters are located in London, United Kingdom and holds a congress every five years in accordance with the ITF Constitution.
|
|
|
ITF Current emblem (Circular form representing both the globe and the wheel; green and blue colours for transport by air, sea and land) |
Although the range of ITF activities is very wide, they can be best summed up under three key headings: representation, information, and practical solidarity. The ITF represents the interests of transport workers' unions in bodies which take decisions affecting jobs, employment conditions or safety in the transport industry, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The ITF Civil Aviation Section held a well attended (26 countries were represented) and successful Conference in Valletta, Malta from 24 to 27 November 1981. Among the subjects dealt with by the Conference were the representations made by the ITF to both ICAO and ILO on cabin crew training and crew complement; the flight deck design of next-generation aircraft such as the Airbus A310; licensing and training of airline employees, together with developments on aviation labour matters. The Conference also discussed many other subjects, such as methods of cooperation with other ITF Sections, worldwide effects of air service deregulation, etc. In addition to the Conference, a regular meeting of the Ground Staff Technical Committee and an ad hoc meeting of the Flight Deck Technical Committee took place on 24 November.
A special souvenir cover was issued on this occasion (see here below). A temporary Branch Post Office was opened at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, from 23 to 27 November 1981. Postal articles sent from this temporary office were postmarked with a date stamp inscribed with the following words: ''ITF - CIVIL AVIATION / CONFERENCE. / VELETTA, MALTA". The Federation's logo in use at that time is incorporated in the postal mark.
On 11 May 2018, ITF held an Open Skies Workshop which coincided with the inaugural opening of the new IFT office within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) headquarters in Montréal.
Since the beginning of the 1970s, ITF is recognized as Observer Delegation at the Sessions of the ICAO Assembly.
|
|
|
Malta – Civil Aviation Conference organized by ITF from 24 to 27 November 1981. Envelope cancelled by the circular commemorative hand stamp dated 23 November 1981 (day before the opening of the Conference) and showing the ITF emblem in use at that time. Sent registered on service cover from the Maltese Government. Coat
of Arms of Malta in use Rectangular hand-stamp “ITF - CIVIL AVIATION / CONFERENCE. / VALLETTA, MALTA.” dated 23 November 1981. This coat of arms was adopted on 11 July 1975, seven months after Malta became a republic. It showed a coastal scene with the rising sun, a traditional Maltese boat, a shovel and a pitchfork, and an Opuntia. All these symbols are somewhat connected to Malta. Underneath the image the then new name of the state "IL-GVERN TA’ MALTA" (meaning Country Government Building) was written.
|
|
|
|
Malta – Civil Aviation Conference organized by ITF from 24 to 27 November 1981 Envelope cancelled by the circular commemorative hand stamp dated 24 November 1981 (opening day of the Conference) and showing the ITF emblem in use at that time. Sent from the temporary post office at the conference location, this registered envelope also bears the AR letters in oval design (registered letter with acknowledgment), the cachet REGISTERED (RECOMMANDE) in red, and the registration hand-stamp “R / ITF-CIVIL AVIATION / CONFERENCE. / VALLETTA, MALTA.” in a black rectangular frame.
|
|
|
|
Last Day of Issue: 26 November 1981. Stamp of the “Economic and Cultural Development” series (comprising 16 stamps) issued on 31 October 1981. |
_________________________