London — 20 October 2025 — The executive board of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has ordered an urgent independent investigation following detailed allegations that the organisation and its General Secretary, Stephen Cotton, fostered a “masculine, sexist, patriarchal boys club” culture within the global union.
The allegations include claims that several women employees were subjected to sexual harassment, including incidents in which the general secretary allegedly entered a woman’s hotel room uninvited and followed another into a women’s restroom during an ITF event, making sexually explicit remarks.
Internal staff survey data reportedly indicated that nearly 40 percent of women within the organisation expressed safety concerns about attending informal gatherings, while one-third had similar concerns regarding formal events. Around 22 percent said they had experienced unwanted sexualised touching, and 15 percent reported instances of sexual coercion.
In response, the ITF’s executive board announced that it has authorised the formation of an independent Affiliate Oversight Group (AOG), composed of senior women trade union leaders, to oversee the investigation and deliver its findings directly to the board.
In a statement, the board emphasised that it had “unanimously agreed to commission an urgent investigation” given the seriousness of the claims and the need to uphold accountability and transparency across the organisation.
The investigation represents a critical moment for the ITF, which represents 677 affiliated unions and advocates on behalf of approximately 16.5 million transport workers worldwide.
