27 Mar 2006 -
International Railway Workers' Action Day 2006

14:00 GMT

Netherlands
The Dutch FNV Bondgenoten organised a railway safety conference in Utrecht on 27 March 2006. 100 participants from the leadership, rank and file members, the railway industry, experts as well as the ITF representative took part. The meeting discussed the importance of workers' participation to foster a rail safety culture in a privatised environment. Mac Urata, ITF told the meeting about the new initiatives by the railway workers around the world to develop a no-blame policy in the industry. (Phone report by Mac Urata, ITF)

View more photos of activities organised in the Netherlands >>

Great Britain
ASLEF has used the Action Day to focus on corporate manslaughter 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 has organised a central event at Paddington Station and activities including leafleting at Marylebone station, both of which are in London. (Phone report by Andy Reed)

Egypt
The General Trade Union of Railway Workers' Egypt used the action day to hold a meeting with the administration of the Railways to finalise the requests from the union regarding collective bargaining including salaries, upgrading allowances and benefits and health and safety. The meeting went well and all of the unions requests were met and the general consensus was that all parties were satisfied with the outcome. (Phone report by Mohamed Mostafa Ahmed)