07 Mar 2005 -
International Railway Workers' Action Day

12:15 GMT

Great Britain
The British union RMT has organised activities in London against the privatisation of the railways.  Members of the union leafleted central London underground stations with postcards designed to be sent to members of parliament.  The union also presented a letter to the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, calling on him to persuade the British government to bring the railway system back into full public ownership. David Cockroft, ITF General Secretary, participated in both these actions.

India
In New Delhi, over 500 railway workers from the All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) attended a seminar on Rail Safety to discuss railway issues with railway management representatives. Mahendra Sharma, ITF Delhi Office, represented the ITF at the event.  Speakers highlighted the importance of safety in the Indian Rail System and the initiatives which have been taken by the Railways in consultation with the unions to upgrade the safety systems and skills of rail employees to minimise the number of accidents.

<¬5hone ITF="ITF" report="report" by="by" JP="JP" Chaubey,="Chaubey," AIRF="AIRF" Mahendra="Mahendra" Sharma,="Sharma," and="and" email="email" />Morocco
200 activists from the Union des Syndicats UMT des Transports in Morocco have distributed approximately 5,000 leaflets at railway sites including workshops, depots and stations this morning in various cities including Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech.  Activities will continue this afternoon nationwide as the union organises general meetings for railway workers.