Campaign Activities

Opciones de lectura | Cambio de idioma | Pasar directamente a navegación

Contexto de página: International Railway Workers' Action Day 2006 > Campaign Activities

This page is in English only
Google free translation service: Deutsch, Français, Español, Svenska, Nederlands, Italiano, Português, العربية, 中国的, Polski, Русский, 日本語, 한국의, Български, فارسی , Norske - About these links

Europe

FIOST
The International Federation of Trade Unions of Transport Workers (FIOST) has confirmed its participation in the Action Day. Their affiliates in Europe will work closely with the ETF and in Belgium they will join the activities at Ottignies and Pécrot stations.

ETF
As part of its demand for proper evaluation of European railway policy and the possible consequences of the 3rd Railway Package, the ETF is currently collecting information on closed railway lines and stations, reduction of passenger services and employment with the aim of publicising this information on 27 March.

With the meeting of the Council of Transport Ministers to discuss the 3rd proposal for a regulation on public passenger transport services by rail and road scheduled for 27 March, the ETF is asking unions to raise trade union concerns with their Transport Minister before the meeting.

Belgium
Under the slogan "Safety First!" the Belgian unions will organise activities at Ottignies and Pécrot stations to mark the 5th anniversary of the accident that took place at 08:50 on 27 March, killing 8 people. The action will start at 08:40 at Ottignies station. At 08:49 train drivers will blow their horns and at 08:50, there will be a minute's silence. At 09:50, a delegation will travel to Pécrot to lay a wreath in memory of the victims.

Download information about the activity in Belgium here >>

Croatia
The Railroad Engineer Trade Union of Croatia is producing hoardings with the ITF message "Safety First!" in Croatian, which the union plans to display on the inside and outside of trains. The union is also organising a press conference on railway problems in Croatia and Europe as a whole.

Germany
On 27 March, TRANSNET is meeting together with the Austrian union, GdE. The unions plan to sign a joint declaration on safety as a result of this meeting.

Great Britain
The RMT will be using the ITF Action Day to promote its campaign to persuade the government to drop its plans to remove railway fire safety regulations that were introduced after the 1989 Kings Cross fire that claimed 31 lives. A lobby by rail workers outside the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is planned and union members will be joined by Tube workers who were on duty and assisted in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 7 July 2005. The delegation will submit a protest letter to the government on this issue. The union has also asked its members to send letters to Members of Parliament asking them to sign a parliamentary motion in support of the campaign. Information on the union campaign can be found here >>

The transcript of a recent parliamentary debate secured by the RMT parliamentary group on this issue can be found here >>

The British union ASLEF is focusing on corporate manslaughter on the Action Day and specifically why the British government has not produced anything after promising in its 1997 manifesto that a new law would be introduced. Under the slogan "Eight years is too long - Punish Corporate Killing", the union is planning a central event at Paddington Station in London. For more details on the event, visit the union website >>

Italy
The Italian rail unions, including ITF affiliates FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL and UILTRASPORTI will organise a ten-minute work stoppage on 27 March between 12:50 and 13:00. Announcements will be made during the day informing people that 27 March is the ITF International Railway Workers' Action Day under the slogan "Safety First!" A meeting is also planned in the Roma Termini Station.

Luxembourg
During the Action Day, FNCTTFEL will highlight safety as a priority as well as the demands to stop liberalisation and the need for infrastructure to be developed. A demonstration is planned in the Luxembourg station hall at 11:00.

Russia
The Trade Union of Railwaymen and Transport Construction Workers of Russia plans to hold conferences, meetings and seminars for all its members all over the country. The union is publishing guidelines and a history of the campaign in the regional railway press and on the Internet. The union will also publish material on the safety issues highlighted by the campaign in the central, regional and local newspapers and distribute the campaign materials.

Spain
On the Action Day, CC.OO and UGT will jointly organise a demonstration, together with their French colleagues at Port Bou on the French/Spanish border. A possible mobilisation at the Portuguese/Spanish border with the Portuguese unions is also planned. The unions will also distribute materials to train passengers and hold press conferences. These activities will be part of the unions' campaign on the 3rd Railway Package and the regulation of public services. The unions will also make contact with the Ministry of Public Works and the Economy, Parliamentary Groups and the Spanish European Members of Parliament.

ELA-Hainbat plans to use the Action Day to improve safety in the rail industry. The union will hold meetings with affiliates and company representatives to explain the importance of security and the cooperation between unions and employers. Information will be distributed to the public and workers on the importance of safety and security measures.

Switzerland
SEV in Switzerland is organising a petition against violence at work on the railways. The petition will be delivered to the Swiss government and railway company offices. A media campaign on violence will be organised in the workplaces.

Turkey
The United Transport Workers' Union (BTS) is planning a programme of activities on 27 March including a synchronized press declaration at its nine branches and activities at Ankara Station by the union Head office and Ankara Branches. An exhibition on the struggle of railway workers is planned as well as a film show. A bulletin will be distributed to passengers and workers.

Ukraine
Preparations by the Sovet Profsojua Zeleznodoroznikov I Transportnzh Stroitelei Ukrainy for the Action Day began on 21 March when the Presidium of the union approved a list of activities at all levels of the organisation. In January-February 2006, regional and sub-regional organisations of the union elaborated their own activity plans which included a safety month in the Donesk region, a competition for young people in the Karkiv region, distribution of leaflets and safety instruction meetings in depots and workshops. View article on the Action Day from the national railway newspaper, Magistral here >>

Asia / Pacific

Australia
The Australian Services Union is planning to launch a web-based campaign on 27 March. A union charter on the public transport sector including the union's action plan for 2006 will be made available on this campaign page and will run for 12 months. The union hopes that its members as well as members of other unions, workplace groups, members of Government and Parliament, individual corporations, social movements and NGOs will sign the charter.

India
Through seminars, processions, meetings and rallies, the All India Railwaymen's Federation will focus its campaign activities on government anti-labour policies.

Japan
In addition to the main campaign slogan of "Safety First!" the JRU will focus on the theme of "Against Union Oppression". The union is planning to leaflet in larger stations and display banners and placards. The union will also organise meetings to discuss safety.

Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Independent State Employees' Federation will use the Action Day to make the union known to those workers who are not yet members through demonstrations and seminars.

Thailand
The main focus of campaign activities by the State Railway Workers' Union of Thailand (SRUT) will be the importance of railway transport and to promote support for investment. Through the distribution of campaign materials the union hopes to target passengers and railway officers. The union will also organise an exhibition and meetings. A music show, games and a question and answer session will also be organsied. Activities will culminate with a march.

Africa

Morocco
The UMT will start its campaign activities on 26 March with a railway workers' meeting in Casablanca which will coincide with the union's regional Congress. On 27 March, the union will mobilise its railway members to distribute leaflets and make railway workers aware of work conditions through workplace visits. At 16:30, a round table meeting will be organised in Rabat on work health and safety. The union is also in the process of studying why workplace accidents are taking place. Download a copy of the union leaflet here >>

Uganda
Creating health and safety awareness among workers will be the primary focus for the Railway Workers' Union on the Action Day. Awareness activities will include HIV/AIDS and the union aims to encourage victims to feel part of society. The union will also ask the employers to take an active part in giving assistance to workers. The union plans to organise marches and speeches.

Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railwaymen's Union hopes to use the Action Day to send a message to government through management that safety must take precendence. The union plans to invite management to participate in activities, which include a meeting on 27 March.

The Americas

Argentina
La Fraternidad and the Asociación de Señaleros Ferroviarios Argentinos are planning to organise a tripartite meeting on the Action Day however the unions are currently in dispute with the railway companies (the companies have not yet paid salaries for January and the companies are refusing to negotiate the Collective Agreements). The unions are also planning demonstrations in the railway terminals on 27 March.

Brazil
The CNTTT has distributed decken and other materials to its affiliated unions for their activities and the Federation is planning a meeting with workers and employers on issues of safety and work conditions in the morning of 27 March. Leaflets will also be distributed at the railway terminals.

Página inicial:
International Railway Workers' Action Day 2006

Revista 'Transporte Internacional'

Edición texto con gráficos

accesibilidad | ayuda | mapa del sitio

ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR | +44 20 7403 2733 | mail@itf.org.uk