14 October 2008

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Page context: International Road Transport Action Week 2008 > 14 October 2008

Japan
Members of the JRU leafletted approximately 5,000 flyers calling for an end to deregulation and union oppression in the areas of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Tokyo and Kansai. 18 members of JREU Bus-Tohoku started the campaign early in the morning at four locations in Sendai city, the biggest town in northeast Japan. At Shinjuku Station, one of the busiest areas in Tokyo, 47 members from Bus-Kanto and JRU handed out flyers from 10h00. Yuji Iijima, Director of International Affairs of the ITF-JC, joined the activity in Tokyo. Union activists, wearing yellow jackets with the ITF logo, carried large banners and campaign placards displaying the union's demands. Some union members also used horns to raise awareness about the impact of deregulation on safety. Many fatal accidents have been caused in Japan by long working hours and drivers' fatigue. Public reaction to the activity was very positive with many people stopping to read the flyers. "I agree with you", "Thank you for informing me", "Let's fight together" are some of the comments made by members of the public. (Email report by Mizue Taoka)

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Luxembourg
A delegation from the OGBL met with the Luxembourg Minister of Transport on 13 October together with Cristina Tilling, ETF Road Transport Secretary. Discussion at the meeting concentrated on the increased outsourcing trend by transport companies who turn to Eastern Europe and also their use of "independent drivers" to drive their lorries. Tilling stated that this situation was very similar to that of Flags of Convenience (FOCs) in the maritime industry and stressed her concern about the problem of fatigue while driving. The Transport Minister expressed support for better European social standards and proposed a round table meeting in November with the participation of other Ministries and various social partners including OGBL to address the issues in the industry and look for solutions. The OGB-L also raised in the meeting the employers' demand for tourist coach drivers to be allowed to drive 12 consecutive days before their rest period. Currently, drivers work 6 consecutive days. OGB-L feels that this claim endangers road safety and this concern was shared by the Transport Minister. (Email report by Hubert Hollerich)

Spain
This year the CC.OO has used the slogan "Fatigue Kills!" as a way to contact the national, regional and local government bodies and transport companies and institutions. They have sent out letters to the Minister of Labour, Minister of Public Works/Development and the Home Office Minister, and the transport companies proposing working groups to discuss the problems in the road transport industry which includes driver deaths, health and safety and accidents. The union has also made a statement to the Government that they want all owner-drivers to be included in the European working time directive. The union proposes that joint meetings are held with all parties involved in order to ensure that there is a coordinated approach in the discussions with the outcome of a policy which covers everyone not just one sector or section of the industry. They will be following this up throughout the year and hope that the high percentage of deaths and accidents on the roads can be brought down.
(Phone report by Juan Luis Garcia Revuelta)

Mauritius
A one-day workshop was organised by the ITF National Coordinating Committee of Mauritius at the Government Servants' Association office in Beau Bassin, with participants from GSA, AGWU, TCEU and MTPEU. The Presidents from all of the unions unanimously stressed the necessity to consolidate union membership and they all agreed that the problem of driving under the influence of alcohol needed to be addressed. Speakers from the police traffic unit and the National Agency for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Substance Abusers addressed the participants regarding drink driving and the problems that arise from it. Several resolutions related to the subject were adopted at the workshop. (Email report by M. Ramchurrun)

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Kenya
The Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers and Allied Workers Union reports that they are taking a roadshow of 5 trailers and dozens of union activists, as well as senior staff from the Ministry of Transport and two police motorbikes as escort, from Mombasa to the border crossing with Uganda of Malaba covering approximately 1250km. They are holding rallies at the junctions and truck stops along the way. The unionists are trying to educate the professional drivers on road safety and ways to reduce corruption. The key message is that the drivers have a right to join a union and that the union can help them. Once the roadshow arrives at the Malaba border crossing on 19 October they will join with the Ugandan unions and hold a celebration to which the Ugandan and Kenyan Prime Ministers have been invited.
(Phone report by Nicholas Mbugua)

Ghana
A rally was held in Accra involving all the transport unions who are members of the Trade Union Congress, starting at 09h00 outside the TUC building. Around 350 people attended the rally. It is the highest turn out so far on the ITF's campaign day. Emmanuel Mensah along with the Chairman of the Union, Samuel Quarshie; the Secretary General of the TUC; Kwasi Adu-Amankwah; and Chairman of Ghana TUC, Alex Donney spoke about Organising Globally - Building Union Power; eradicating the carnage on the roads; correcting the indiscipline on the roads and minimizing HIV/AIDS among road transport workers. The Transport Minister also attended the rally. After the rally, members of the TUC along with the unions spoke with representatives of the road transport organisations, and companies such as Intercity STC, Metromax and Kingdom Transport Services regarding a number of issues affecting the transport industry. The unions officials will be working together to analyse the issues that arose during the rally to see where they can move forward and continue the dialogue with the companies and government. (Phone report by Emmanuel Mensah)

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