10 October 2009
Nepal
On 8 October, a high-level meeting with government officials, members of the Parliament, representatives of the national labour centre, employers and police was held in Kathmandu. The Labour and Transport Minister was the chief guest. Under the slogans "Ratify ILO Convention 153" and "Stop violence to transport workers", 350 members of the ITF-affiliated Nepal Yatayat Mazdoor Sangh (NETWON) were present.
The Minister promised the meeting that he will raise these issues in the cabinet meeting soon and thanked the ITF for hosting this campaign. A PowerPoint presentation introduced the works of the ITF and NETWON; informed about the ILO Convention 153 and highlighted the activities of this international campaign from 1997 to 2009. The event was covered on prime time TV programmes and in newspapers.
On 10 October, a vehicle march and rally were organised in Biratnagar City, Morang District by NETWON. It started from the Biratnagar bus depot, marched to the city centre and returned to the depot. After completing the manifestation, the unionists organised a gate meeting there and addressed the workers about ILO Convention No. 153 and issues on violence at work. Union leaflets were distributed to the workers, police and public. (Email report by Ajay Kumar Rai)
"This campaign has been very fruitful to us because it publicises our union and the ITF to the public, government officials and law enforcement agents. It is also a tool to organise the unorganised workers because after this programme and its publicity, everybody knows us" said Ajay Kumar Rai. "Because the ITF has been continuing this campaign for many years, and because our activists are familiar with it, they started to exchange SMS messages "Happy 13th Action Week! Let's build global solidarity through the ITF" from 7 October" he added.
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Thailand
Four ITF road transport unions in Thailand, together with the other affiliates, visited the Laem Chabang Port to mark the ITF Action Week 2009. The day started with a short demonstration with campaign banners, posters and union flags at the port's entrance where the unionists approached port drivers and workers with campaign brochures in Thai. The set of documents included leaflets to introduce the ITF and Thai union movement, a handbook on Labour Protect Law in Thailand and an application form for the Transport Workers Union of Thailand (TWUT).
This year, the target groups of the unions were container cargo drivers and port truckers. The unionists discussed their trade union rights, the ITF's fatigue kills campaign and invited them to join the TWUT. Free drinking water, sweets and ITF-Thai key rings were also handed-out. The ITF-Thai's Young Workers' Group was part of the activities. (Email report by Su-angcana Tungworachet)
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Colombia
The Sindicato de Conductores de Taxis de Cartagena -SINCONTAXCAR began the campaign with a political and trade union seminar where the union explained to their activists about the planned activities to be carried out during the ITF Week of Action. On the first day, the unionists visited many taxi stations and talked to cab drivers about the advantages of being organised and the important aspects of the ITF campaign. Cab drivers responded to the union information with interest, and in particular about the union's international affiliation to the ITF. Many drivers have decided to join SINCONTAXCAR as a result. More recruitment activities will continue during the campaign week. (Email report by Alfonso Bahena)
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