Worldwide Update
Information on activities planned by unions for the ITF International Road Transport Action Week in 2008.
European delegation
Road transport unions of the ETF will form a small delegation to meet with representatives of the European Union institutions during the Action Week.
Finland
On 14 October, AKT will visit rest areas at service stations throughout the country to talk to truck drivers and distribute union material. The union will also distribute a voucher to the drivers so that they can buy coffee and sandwiches.
Germany
Ver.di is working together with their colleagues from Poland, Switzerland and the Netherlands during the Action Week. Leaflets have been produced in German, Polish, Russian, English, French and Turkish and will be distributed to drivers all over the country. On 15 October, the ver.di information vehicle will be at the Ohligser Heide motorway services and activists will collect signatures on a petition demanding better rest facilities for truck drivers.
Luxembourg
FNCTTFEL is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2008. The union is using the ceremonies and other actions that are taking place to mark this occasion to draw public attention to problems in goods and passenger transport.
Spain
UGT and CC.OO are writing joint letters to the government including the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Labour to raise their demands and in particular to highlight union concerns regarding the high level of accidents in the industry and the dangerous working conditions for drivers. The unions have also written to the Spanish European Members of Parliament to explain the background to the Road Transport Action Week and to lobby for independent drivers to be included in the European Working Time Directive. In some regions, the unions are also preparing meetings at different companies.
ELA-Hainbat will hold meetings during the week before the Action Week to inform workers about the campaign and its activities. During the Action Week, the union is planning education courses on safety at work and prevention; distribution of leaflets and other information; press releases; and activity at the border.
Baltic States
Road transport unions - the Estonian Transport Road Workers Trade Union, the Latvian Trade Union of Public Services and Transport Workers LAKRS and the Lithuanian Transport Workers' Federation - are planning joint activities during the Action Week in all three Baltic States. Activists will visit truck drivers' parking areas in order to carry out research on rest conditions and also to map the availability of parking places in the three countries. A questionnaire has been prepared in five languages. As part of an organising campaign, activists will also talk to drivers about the role of unions.
Lithuania
In addition to the joint activities with colleagues from Estonia and Latvia, the Lithuanian Transport Workers’ Federation will focus local activities on negotiations of the branch agreement for the transport sector during the Action Week.
South Africa
On 17 October, SATAWU is preparing an event at the Ramatlabana border under the theme "Organise and Build Union Power". The programme will include reports from the different road transport sectors including freight, passenger and taxi; updates on the current process of negotiations in the industry; and consideration of how participants see the future for road transport workers. Representatives from the different stake holders in the province including the employers' associations, will be invited to come and listen to the unions' concerns.
Mozambique
The Sindicato Nacional do Trabalhadores dos Transportes Rodoviário e Assistência Técnica (SINTRAT) will work with its activists throughout the country in order that all members can be involved in the campaign. Union representatives will visit companies where the union does not yet represent workers, as well as public transport depots and cargo ports to sensitize prospective drivers. Through media attention the union aims to lobby decision makers to ensure that existing legislation is implemented and that new laws are introduced to protect the safety of workers.
Mauritius
The National Coordinating Committee is planning activities that will bring all ITF affiliates in the country together during the Action Week.
Namibia
By visiting companies and interacting with transport workers face to face, the Namibian Transport and Allied Workers' Union (NATAU) plans to organise workers in multinational companies.
Tanzania
Through activities such as leafleting the public, road users and drivers; decorating trucks, buses and taxis with messages; conducting a press conference and media interviews; and talking to road transport workers, the Communication and Transport Workers' Union of Zanzibar aims to educate and organise workers; highlight the union demand for decent work; and raise awareness of health and safety issues including fatigue.
Kenya
The Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers & Allied Workers Union will organise a road show to educate drivers on road safety, reducing corruption and to raise awareness of their rights to join a union. The procession will start in Mombasa and cover approximately 1250 kilometres to the Malaba border where the union will meet their colleagues from Uganda.
Ethiopia
During the Action Week, the Transport & Communications Workers' Trade Unions Industrial Federation will focus on organising parking attendants. A workshop will be held on strategic campaigning and a union newsletter will be produced. Two panel discussions - on the problem of organising in Ethiopia and on long distance truck drivers' rights and safety - will be held.
Ghana
A planning committee has been set up by the General Transport, Petroleum & Chemical Workers' Union of TUC to prepare activities for the Action Week. Focus will be on transport policy and organising the unorganised, and the union plans to work together with the dockers' union during the campaign. Cross-border activities and a stakeholders forum to share information are two of the actions that are planned.
Liberia
The National Brotherhood of Teamsters Union of Liberia will coordinate activities through the union's education director. The union's Women's Wing will participate and the union also plans to work with the dockers' union during the campaign.
Burkina Faso
The Union des Chauffeurs routiers du Burkina is planning a gathering on the border together with their colleagues from Niger to discuss HIV/AIDS. Activities will also take place on the Ouagadougou - Niger corridor. Campaign materials will be displayed in towns and on lorries.
Through marches, meetings and publicity of issues for road transport workers, the Syndicat National des Transporteurs Routiers de Voyageurs aims to use the Action Week to raise awareness among road transport workers of their right to participate in collective actions. The union also hopes that the campaign will increase solidarity within its organisation.
Guinée Conakry
The aim of the Fédération Nationale des Transports et Marins Pêcheurs de Guinée (FENATRAMP.G) for the 2008 Campaign is not only to bring the drivers, conductors and their apprentices together during the Action Week but also all ITF affiliates in the country including unions representing dockers, global delivery company workers and women working in the car parks. Awareness activities under the theme "Collective Agreements - A Right for Workers" will be held before the Action Week to contact groups of workers who are not yet members of the union. A general assembly meeting will be organised on the central theme "Decent Work for a Decent Wage".
Côte d'Ivoire
Under the slogan "Decent work, Decent life", the Syndicat des Conducteurs de Taxis de Côte d'Ivoire wants to use the Action Week to prepare its members for future challenges and in particular the development of a collective agreement for drivers. The union aims to hold a workshop for its members.
The Syndicat National des Chauffeurs de Transport Terrestre de Côte d’Ivoire plans to hold a meeting with contact people along the corridors.
Mali
La Coordination Nationale des Syndicats et Associations des Chauffeurs et Conducteurs du Mali will use the Action Week to mobilise its activists and approach workers in the informal sector to raise awareness of the importance of belonging to a union.
Niger
The Syndicat National des Conducteurs Routiers Voyageurs du Niger is going to organise a procession of vehicles displaying campaign posters in order to raise awareness. The union will also hold a general assembly meeting.
The Syndicat National des Conducteurs Routiers du Niger (SNCRN) will also organise awareness activities for its rank and file members.
Togo
Syndicat des Professionnels Routiers du Togo (SYPROTO) is planning a procession from the Port Autonome of Lomé to the Sahel Terminal in Togblé, as well as meetings at loading places for their members.
The Syndicat National des Conducteurs des Hydrocarbures du Togo is planning national level activity together with other unions to raise drivers' awareness of safety.
Through activities including games and media coverage, FESYTRAT is using the Action Week to carry out an awareness campaign in particular for road transport drivers.
Hong Kong
The Federation of Hong Kong Transport Workers' Organizations, together with the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, is campaigning for the introduction of a statutory minimum wage. The Hong Kong government has started some preparatory legislative work on this for cleaners and security guards. On 11 and 15 October, the unions are planning wage protest actions demanding that the Hong Kong Chief Executive include the issue of minimum wage in his policy address on 15 October.
The Kowloon Canton Railway Workers' Union is preparing posters and slogans for its organising campaign during the Action Week. The union aims to organise 500 new members, mainly from the MTR Corporation Ltd, and plans to give souvenirs to members who recruit workers.
Japan
The JRU held a bus workers’ meeting on 11-12 September to decide campaign activities and to discuss bus workers’ working conditions in Japan. On 14 October during the morning rush hour, the union will distribute leaflets to commuters and taxi and bus workers.
On 9 October, UNYU-ROREN will organise activities as part of national Truck Day. The union will also hold its annual organising campaign on 6 November this year. The union aims to mobilise more than 1,000 members in 43 prefectures all over Japan to recruit new members. During these activities, the union will show its solidarity to the ITF campaign.
Philippines
The Associated Labor Union TUCP will focus on fatigue and HIV/AIDS during the Action Week. The union will start its campaign activities on 1 October by putting up posters in terminals and cities to make people aware of the campaign. Small group meetings and a general assembly will discuss the topics. On 13-14 October a presentation will be made to the media. On 15-16 October a motorcade parade will be organised in cities including the port authorities to distribute leaflets. On 17-19 October, the union will conduct a seminar in the provinces for drivers and conductors on the issues.
India
Under the theme, "Organising Globally, Build Union Power", the Indian National Transport Workers' Federation is planning a programme of activities for the Action Week across India. Publicity activities will start the week prior to the Action Week. Planned actions include the display of materials on trucks, buses and other important places; leafleting the public and road users; interviewing and surveying road users; workshops, seminars and union meetings. Tents will be put up at workplaces and the union will invite doctors to perform eye examinations and routine medical check-ups of members. The union will also lobby the state minister and inter-governmental bodies.
The affiliated unions of the All India Railwaymen's Federation will be working with the road transport unions to organise joint seminars and protests.
Nepal
NETWON will hold its activities on 17-19 October due to a religious festival taking place during the Action Week. A district level programme will be organised on 17-18 October including leafleting and a public rally. On 19 October, a national level rally for taxi unions will be held.
Due to the religious festival taking place during the Action Week, the Independent Transport Workers' Association of Nepal will celebrate its Action Week programme on 20-25 October with a rally.
Pakistan
In addition to a national seminar to create awareness amongst transport workers, the Pakistan Transport Workers’ Federation will organise rallies all over the country. Leaflets will be distributed and meetings will be held at different truck and bus stands.
Colombia
Through the distribution of campaign material and information at the Bogota-Villavicencio tolls on 15-17 October, the Asociacion Nacional de Servidores Publicos del Instituto Nacional de Vias (ANSEINVIAS) plans to use the Action Week to raise awareness of the risks faced by road transport workers.
Venezuela
The Sindicato Nacional Unión Universal de Marinos Mercantes de Venezuela, Afines y Conexos plans visits and meetings with heavy goods workers and passenger transport drivers in Puerto La Cruz and Cumana.
10 October 2008
