18 October 2007
Lithuania
On 18 October, members of LAKRS (Latvia) and LTWF (Lithuania) held joint actions at the Terechovo and Grebnevo border-crossings with Russia in Latvia as part of the joint activity by the transport unions in the Baltic states to highlight problems experienced by drivers when crossing the borders.
(Phone report by Janina Malinovska)
Japan
In the evening of 15 October, JRU members at JR Hokkaido Bus distributed 1,000 leaflets in Otaru to passers-by, taxi drivers and workers at the Hokkaido Chuo (Centrak) Bus company. JR Bus Tohoku members distributed 2,200 leaflets in 12 locations from Aomori to Fukushima. Public reaction to the message "Fatigue Kills!" was very good and many voiced their opinion against deregulation of tour buses. (Email report by Mizue Taoka)
View photos of activities organised by JRU >>
Mauritius
Following the successful health and safety workshop organised by GSA, together with AGWU, TCEU and MTPEU on 16 October, the unions held a rally on 18 October. Wearing the ITF yellow decken and the "Free Osanloo" badges, union activists carried placards displaying the ITF Campaign poster and messages demanding the immediate release of Mansour Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi. (Email report by the GSA)
View photos of activities organised in Mauritius >>
Uganda
The Amalgamated Transport & General Workers' Union organised a symposium on 18 October under the theme, "reducing road accidents; a collective responsibility". Representatives from the Police, Ministry of Transport and Labour, Employers, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and drivers participated. (Email report by Ouma Mugeni)
Bermuda
On 16 October, the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) held a forum where the ITF Pedro Zamora film was shown and members took part in a discussion about HIV/AIDS. Today, the union is organising a games night using the ITF HIV/AIDS playing cards. (Phone report by Kathy Landy)
Estonia
This year, the road transport unions in the Baltic States are organising joint activities to stress their concerns about the long waiting times for drivers at the border-crossings with Russia in Estonia, Finland and Latvia. On 17 October, the Estonia Transport Workers' Union ETTA organised a joint rally at the Narva border crossing with Russia. Postcards with the message "Drivers are not garbage - get rid of queues at the borders" were distributed to drivers waiting at the border. On 15 October in Brussels, representatives from the Baltic unions in the ETF delegation stressed their demands for adequate rest areas and a reduction in waiting times for drivers at border crossings to EU Commissioner Barrot. During the week, members of ETTA will also have meetings with urban transport drivers who are working excessive overtime. Together with the nurses' trade union, the health of the drivers will be tested.
(Email report by Peep Peterson)
Canada
CAW Local 114 is focusing its activities on organising. During the Action Week activists from the Local are visiting various workplaces to talk to members and non-members about the issues that are affecting them and spread the message about the importance of belonging to a union. ITF campaign material and union contact information is being distributed to workers. They will continue to work closely with the National Organising Department to develop follow-up plans of action, to be used by the Locals throughout the year. Transit Drivers of Local 111 are wearing the "Free Osanloo!" ITF badges during the week.
(Email report by Bill Gaucher)
Ethiopia
The Transport & Communications Workers' Trade Unions Industrial Federation has organised two workshops focusing on the major health and safety issues of transport workers. The first workshop, organised in collaboration with the Heavy Truck Drivers Association and the Federal Transport Authority, targeted cross-border problems for long-distance drivers mainly on the Ethiopia-Djibouti corridor. The meeting agreed a memorandum of understanding between the unions and the FTA to resolve cross-border problems and issues. The second workshop addressed questions of unionisation in the country. The meeting was addressed by the former President of the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU). Leaflets highlighting the objective of the campaign were also distributed to workers, employers, government officials and other union organisations. Media coverage of the events was good.
(Email report by Daniel Gebeyehu)
Colombia
The Asociación Nacional de Servidores Públicos del Instituto Nacional de Vias - ANSEINVIAS is distributing leaflets at various toll gates around the country. The union leaflets highlight the dangers of long working hours and fatigue and the high cost of tolls in the country. (Email report by Raul Soto)
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