11 October 2006
India
The Adarsha Auto & Taxi Drivers Union has organised an impressive meeting of over 300 auto rickshaw drivers in Bangalore. The inspector general of police was the chief guest. Union leaders demanded that the authorities allow reserved spaces for auto rickshaw stands outside all bus stations in the city. The union also demanded that the police authorities should not harass drivers and detain them on pretexts of incomplete documents and pollution emission certificates. The Police Commissioner assured the meeting that within 2-3 months the authorities would introduce a 'master pass' which would be the only document the drivers would have to carry. The Commissioner lauded the efforts of the union for initiating various welfare schemes for the auto drivers. Many new drivers were issued driving licenses free of charge by the transport authority at the meeting. (Email report by Sangam Tripathy)
Spain
Following the successful border actions organised at La Jonquera and Fuentes de Oñoro on 9 October, CC.OO, and the Portuguese union FESTRU organised action at Ayamonte on the Spanish-Portuguese border on 10 October. More than 250 activists participated. CC.OO also organised border action at Irún on the French border.
See more photos of activities at Ayamonte >>
Local activities have also been organised by CC.OO around Spain. For example, on 9 October, the union distributed leaflets to drivers and passengers in the bus station in Cantabria. The union's information campaign continued on 10 October, with action in several locations including the port of Santander, the Canary Islands, Aragón, Murcia, Asturias, Navarre and Rioja. In Valencia, a seminar was organised on fatigue and in Madrid, a meeting was held for more than 100 union members on how to deal with fatigue. In Castilla-Mancha, the union visited workplaces and distributed information to workers. Media coverage of the union's campaign activities has been very good. (Email report by Juan Luis Garcia Revuelta)
See more photos of activities in Cantabria >>
Côte d'Ivoire
SYNACTT-CI and SCT-CI have combined their activities over a two-day period starting with a display of union banners alerting truck drivers to the Action Week. This activity was followed by a worker rally at a major truck stop combining both truck and taxi workers. SYNTRAS met with their largest employer to reinforce the union policy that they were 'social partners' and to hold a discussion on the employment security of the workforce.
Burkina Faso
UCRB and SNTRV -B are holding a three-day programme at a garage park to encourage HIV testing. In support of the policy of ITF West African road transport affiliates, drivers will be encouraged to refuse to pay bribes demanded by government officials in regions where the union is active.
Togo
SYPROTO in Togo is using the Action Week to challenge the government's political action of withdrawing the union's registration. Union activists will inform drivers at gas stations and truck stops that the union will continue to organise and agitate for transport workers' rights.
Democratic Republic of Congo
SYTRACOM in the Democratic Republic of Congo has indicated that after the struggle for union survival during the civil war, preparations for Action Week activity has been put on hold to avoid any possible conflict during the period of campaigning for the Presidential election set for 29 October.
Guinée Conakry
In Guinée Conakry, FENATRAM-G is organising information activities at the Port of Conakry to support the road transport organising campaign.
Niger
SLCRPN, SNCRPN and SUCOTAN in Niger are holding membership sensitisation meetings to report on regional union and ITF activities.
Burundi
In Burundi, STT is participating in the Action Week for the first time with sensitisation sessions explaining the ITF Campaign at the Port of Bujumbura and at local truck parks culminating in a party for drivers. Government officials have been invited to attend. (Email reports by Eddie Dickson)
Estonia
On 10 October, the Estonian Transport & Road Workers Trade Union (ETTA) organised action on seven main roads around the country, including in Tallinn, Pärvu and Tartu. Members of the union spoke to approximately 300 truck drivers and distributed a fatigue checklist and information about the national legislation on driving and rest time. Customs and police officials inspected vehicles. In preparation for this action, on 9 October, the union held an awareness event for truck, bus and urban transport drivers. Two police officers spoke to the drivers about rest time and demonstrated how to use a tachograph. On 13 October, truck drivers from the British union, the T&G will visit Estonia and attend a seminar, organised by ETTA on the new driving and rest time regulations due to be introduced in April 2007. On 14 October, members of the union will visit rest facilities, together with their British colleagues. (Phone report by Toomas Sarapuu)
See more photos of activities organised in Estonia >>
Brazil
The Federation of road transport workers in Sao Paulo (FETTRESP-CNTTT) has organised a series of activities for the Action Week. Activists have visited different bus and truck terminals on a mobile stage to organise meetings with groups of workers. The meetings informed workers about activities being developed worldwide and two doctors from the Ministry of Health talked about HIV/AIDS prevention. Condoms and T-shirts were distributed to drivers to raise awareness. On 10 October, 100 women transport workers gathered in the headquarters of the Federation to hear a presentation by a professor from a local university about the impact of fatigue and HIV/AIDS prevention. The ITF was represented at the activities by Gabriel Mocho. (Email report by Gabriel Mocho)
Chile
In Chile, FENASICOCH started their activities for the Action Week on 6 October. Together with representatives from the Labour Ministry, the Federation visited important toll points to check the working hours of professional drivers. As a result many companies were fined by government officials because workers did not have the proper documentation or they had been working more hours than allowed by law. On 7 October, the Federation organised a meeting for its leaders from all over the country to discuss activities being organised during the Action Week. Gabriel Mocho, ITF attended the meeting. The Federation is also visiting different cities across the country to distribute fatigue prevention materials to drivers that have been developed with the national government. (Email report by Gabriel Mocho)
See more photos of activities organised in Chile >>
Canada
Members of CAW Local 114 began their Action Week activities on Tuesday. Unionists are out in Kamloops, Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland of Vancouver, speaking to drivers. Throughout the week, they will be approaching road transport workers to hand out ITF materials as well as information from CAW about the benefits of belonging to a union (Email report by Bill Gaucher)
