13 October 2006

Change low graphic options | Change language | Skip content to navigation

Page context: International Road Transport Action Week 2006 > 13 October 2006

Iran
Members of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) joined the ITF's Action Week for the first time by distributing ITF materials to bus workers in the morning of 11 October. ITF campaign guidelines and other documents were translated into Farsi locally in advance. The union thanks the ITF and its affiliates worldwide for their continued support. (Email report by Saeed Torbian)

View the Campaign Information in Farsi >>

US
School bus workers from across the US honoured coworkers who had been injured or killed at work during a "Day of Remembrance", organised by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees' International Union on 12 October. School Bus Workers United, a national organisation of school bus drivers, attendants and mechanics who have formed or are working to form a union with the Teamsters or the SEIU asked that all school bus workers hold a moment of silence to honour coworkers who have lost their lives due to unsafe working conditions. Bus workers wore the School Bus Workers United sticker to show their support for improved safety standards in the school bus industry. The organisation has sent a letter to FirstGroup and its subsidiary First Student, calling on the school bus company to investigate worker deaths or injuries caused by unsafe working conditions, and to correct any safety violations found. A Boston-area First Student worker died earlier from carbon monoxide poisoning while working in a poorly-ventilated area. (Email reports by Tim Beaty and Tammy Edwards)

Sweden
Members of the Swedish Transport Workers' Union have been participating in the ITF's action campaign for a week. Unionists have set-up information stands at strategic points such as rest areas and ports. They have been talking to professional drivers - an increasing number of whom are foreign drivers. In the southern port of Ystad where ferries cross the Baltic Sea to Poland, union activists have organised a joint action with the Polish Solidarnosc members and have been approaching drivers using the ferries. (Phone report by Per-David Wennberg)

Lithuania
In Lithuania, the Lithuanian Transport Trade Union Forum met with the employers' organisation, LINAVA today. The meeting signed a historic bilateral collaboration agreement, which aims to develop social dialogue. (Email report by Janina Malinovska)

India
The Transport & Dock Workers' Union in India organised their campaign activities on 10 and 12 October. On 10 October, the union staged meetings at the Port Trust call stands, container freight stations, railway container depots, truck terminals. ITF Educators were key resource persons in disseminating information on ILO Convention 153 and other related laws. Banners were displayed on arterial roads leading to the Port Trust and entrances to truck terminals, container freight stations, foot overbridges. Approximately 200 leaflets were distributed. On 12 October, more than 500 transport workers marched to the Port Administration Building in Ambedkar Bhawan and staged Dharna (sit-in protest action) between 11:30-13:00. Participants then visited the Port Canteens to protest against the ban on transport contract workers from entering the canteens to have a glass of water. After the dharna, activists then took part in a procession, which culminated in a rally at the Union building. During the rally, the entire transport operations in the port ground to a halt for 2 hours. (Fax report by PK Raman)

Norway
Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund has organised various events throughout the Action Week nationwide. Activities have included union information stands at border points, meetings at companies and distribution of ITF and union information out on the road. As a result, the union has recruited many new members. The union estimates that it has met more than 500 drivers during the Week. 15 of the union's branches participated in the campaign activities. Union activities were covered by TV and radio during the Week. (Phone report by Berit Aaker)

Japan
Bus members of the JRU joined the ITF’s Action Week on 12 October under the slogan "Say no to deregulation. Let’s abolish accidents from overwork". On a chilly morning in Hokkaido, 1000 leaflets were distributed by the union members. In Sendai and Aomori, more leafleting took place at major rail stations. In Tokyo, the union’s action was joined by the representatives of Koun Rokyo, the Japanese Transport Unions’ Council. The participants appealed to the public that the union movement must be on the forefront of stopping the vicious circle that is created by deregulation. Altogether, more than 5,000 flyers were delivered by the union during the day. (Email report by Massa Takahashi)

See more photos of activities organised by JRU >>

Thailand
LU-ETA, together with BMTA-SWU, have organised activity today at Asoke Expressway Toll Station. It is one of the busiest stations and the gateway to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Union activists distributed leaflets and displayed banners and posters to raise awareness about the campaign and the ITF.

See more photos of activities >>

TRAN-U has organised activities at their biggest bus depot and compound on the North & Northeastern Line. Targeting passengers, bus drivers, bus hostesses and workers at the Transport Company, the union held a demonstration and exhibition at the depot and compound, and also displayed banners and posters. (Email reports by Su-angcana Tungworachet)

See more photos of activities organised by TRAN-U >>
View Campaign leaflet >>

Section home:
International Road Transport Action Week 2006

Transport International Magazine

Full graphics version

accessibility | site help | site map

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