International Railway Workers' Action Day, 13 March 2007 (Report)
Information on activities organised by unions for the ITF International Railway Workers' Action Day in 2007:
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Belgium
European railway workers' unions including CGSP-ACOD in Belgium and CGT Cheminots in France met at the Courtrai railway station in Belgium on 13 March. From 08:00, activists distributed leaflets to passengers with messages demanding safety first in public transport and no to social dumping. At 10:00, the unions participated in a demonstration organised by SETCa (Belgium). This was followed by a meeting with the local attorney to ensure that adequate measures are put in place to protect railway workers and passengers against violence.
Luxembourg
The railway unions in Luxembourg, FNCTTFEL and FCPT organised their activities for the Action Day on 8 March. Approximately 350 railway workers participated in a meeting held in the Luxembourg station. Representatives from CGT Cheminots (France), CGSP-ACOD (Belgium), SLFP Cheminots (Belgium) and TRANSNET (Germany) also attended the event. Campaign leaflets were distributed to passengers. The demonstration received good media coverage.
Spain
Activists from ELA-Hainbat distributed 5,000 leaflets at several stations with information relating to railway safety and demanding better working conditions in the industry. At Barakaldo station, the union and the METRO Bilbao management got together to denounce physical and verbal violence against workers and to raise awareness that they have the right to work without passenger aggressions. Two short courses were also organised on health and safety at work for the participants.
Switzerland / Italy
SEV in Switzerland organised a common action with their Italian colleagues FILT-CGIL at their border point on the Action Day. The two unions held a joint press conference at Pollegio and highlighted safety in passenger rail transport, certification of international train crews and protection of employment conditions in the face of EU rail liberalisation. Representatives from the two unions also participated in an action in front of the Gotthard Base Tunnel that is currently being built. Displaying a banner with the message "Più personale per una sicurezza ottimale" ("Safety is ideal with more workers"), the unions stressed their demand that trains should be manned by two drivers on rail sections with tunnels of more than 1 kilometre. At a planned length of 57 kilometres, Gotthard Base Tunnel will be the longest railway tunnel in the world.
Germany
On 13 March, the first group of international locomotive drivers in Germany received the European locomotive drivers' licence from the DB AG and the ITF-affiliated TRANSNET. The three recipients are active on international routes from Köln to Brussels and Amsterdam. The certificate is derived from the ETF/CER agreement and is based on qualification standards agreed between the social partners. These standards assure that drivers are well qualified to drive on another network. The company confirmed that all of their international drivers would be issued with the licence soon. The licence had already been issued in Austria and Hungary and the SNCF in France was also due to follow shortly.
Great Britain
ASLEF members used the ITF Railway Action Day to promote their 'SQUASH' campaign for improved conditions in train cabs. 'SQUASH' stands for ‘Safe, Quiet, User-friendly, Air-conditioned, Specially seated and Healthy’. At London Bridge station in the capital, the union's national executive members, regional representatives and the Southeast regional members distributed leaflets and stickers on and around the forecourt. Keith Norman, ASLEF General Secretary said that 'conclusive evidence' from Rail Safety and Standards Board reports from July 2006 showed that high temperatures increased potential hazards on the line by a massive 62%. 'Had the cabs been fitted with modern air cooling systems, this health hazard could have been avoided.' Eddie Dickson, ITF attended the event.
To mark the Action Day, the RMT asked its members to write two letters to their Members of Parliament. The first letter asked MPs to support the union's call for a public inquiry into the derailments that occurred in Grayrigg, Cumbria in February 2007 and Potters Bar, Hertfordshire in May 2002. The second asked MPs to support the campaign to keep the East London Line on the London Underground public.
Netherlands
FNV Bondgenoten organised a photo competition to celebrate the Action Day. Members and non-members were asked to submit digital photos of safe and unsafe situations at the workplace, on trains, on the tracks and in stations. Union activists visited workplaces and spoke to workers about railway safety and related issues. Information about the Action Day was also highlighted on the union’s webpage and in its publications.
Russia
The Trade Union of Railwaymen and Transport Construction Workers of Russia held their committee meetings in all regions and locals as well as at the enterprises. Union officials and activists informed the members about the ITF's Action Day. The meetings emphasized the new challenges that the union faces today with the current process of rail restructuring and the importance of safe and efficient public services that the railways provide. Campaign information was distributed to all union levels in advance.
Ukraine
The Sovet Profsojua Zeleznodoroznikov I Transportnzh Stroitelei Ukrainy began its preparations for the Action Day in January, when a special order signed by the union and railway management was issued declaring their participation in the campaign. In February, the regional offices of the union also concluded joint agreements with regional railway management concerning mutual support and promotion of the campaign. Several activities were organised in the run-up to 13 March. These included letters to local railway administrations and special meetings with railway workers to discuss safety issues and social protection. Unannounced safety and technical inspections of trains by management and union representatives were also organised and workers' conditions were checked in different regions including Kharkiv and Poltava. In Donetsk, special railway safety films were shown and meetings were held with the families of railway workers who had died or been injured at work. In Lviv, a safety month was held - a direct phone line was set-up for railway workers to discuss issues with the union. Activists in all six regions of the union distributed leaflets and posters. On the Action Day, special meetings under the slogan “Safety First” were held. In the Southern Railway region, approximately 12,500 people participated. The suggestions and questions collated during the meetings were later submitted to management for consideration. During the Action Day, announcements via loudspeakers to promote the safety campaign were made at railway terminals including Odessa, Lviv and Donetsk. In some regions, workers organised games, quizzes and other cultural activities to demonstrate their safety knowledge. Media coverage of the events was very good.
Romania
Following a series of incidents that exposed the low level of safety and security on the metro system, USLMA organised two meetings on 13 and 14 March. As a result of these meetings, the union established their strategy for the metro system, which the union planned to take to the Metrorex management demanding that the company focus its agenda on safety.
Serbia / Hungary / Romania
The Trade Union of Railwaymen in Serbia held a border meeting with their railway colleagues from Hungary and Romania.
Croatia
The Railroad Engineer Trade Union held a press conference about the Action Day near the capital on 13 March. Advertisements with the message "Safety First!" in Croatian were displayed on every train. The union also sent letters to the government about railway restructuring.
Macedonia
The Association of Independent Trade Unions of Personnel in Traffic organised a rally at Bitola train station, attended by railway workers from the region. "Safety First!" posters were displayed on train station walls across the country in the week before the Action Day. The union also held an outdoor press conference at the beginning of the 17 kilometre stretch of missing rail track, which would connect the country with Greece. At the press conference the union stressed that the Government needs to invest in the railways and stop engaging in privatisation of the railways, which is resulting in mass redundancies.
Turkey
Officials from Demiryol-Is distributed gifts to passengers and talked to them about the objectives and importance of 13 March as an international action day. Campaign leaflets were distributed and posters were displayed in the central station of Ankara. All branches of the union had been informed about the Action Day. The union issued a press statement to raise awareness of the government, railway workers and passengers of the necessary measures to be taken on safety issues and technological developments in the sector.
Thailand
The State Railway Workers’ Union of Thailand organised a culture ceremony in the morning of 13 March to celebrate the ITF's Action Day. It was followed by a demonstration from the union headquarters to the main Bangkok train station. At the station, a meeting with the management, as well as interactions with the local and international passengers was organised. The users stressed the need to promote railways as a safe and affordable mode of transport for the general public.
Mongolia
In Ulaanbaatar, the Federation of Mongolian Railway Workers Trade Union organised an open-air meeting with the management at the central railway station to emphasize safety. 500 people took part. The union also held a meeting at the locomotive depot with 200 locomotive drivers. Information about the ITF, the International Action Day and railway safety was highlighted. Union activists also leafleted passengers on five national trains departing from Ulaanbaatar. Local activities such as safety lectures and inspections were also held in the different regions.
Japan
During the morning and evening rush-hours, 2,000 members of JRU leafleted the public in various key railway stations throughout Japan. The union highlighted their activities on rail safety and their campaign against union oppression. At Shinagawa station in Tokyo, a Koun-Rokyo (ITF-JC) representative joined the action where 3,000 flyers were distributed to the commuters. On 13 March, members of the Hokkaido Railway Workers' Union (affiliated to the JRU) leafleted in the northern island's key cities. During a heavy snowstorm, union activists distributed 6,000 leaflets to commuters in the main stations.
The National Railway Workers’ Union (KOKURO) produced 100,000 leaflets to promote safety and handed them out to the public at major railway stations in various parts of Japan.
The Japan Railway Trade Unions' Confederation (JR-Rengo) distributed leaflets at 62 major stations nationwide, focusing on the significance of the ITF Action Day, safety for passengers and workers, promotion of the railways as environmentally friendly, prevention of accidents, and preparedness in case of disaster.
India
All 16 affiliated unions of the AIRF observed the Action Day by organising Safety seminars. In Delhi, the National Railway Mazdoor Union held a function which was attended by more than 500 people. Representatives from the railway board and the ITF Delhi Office attended the event.
The South Central Railway Mazdoor Union organised a safety workshop at the union's education centre in Secunderabad. More than 100 railway workers employed in the safety categories from Secunderabad and Hyderabad attended the event, as well as representatives from the South Central Railway. The workshop discussed in detail various issues connected with the White Paper on Safety that had been submitted by the Railway Ministry and the Corporate Railway Safety Plan 2003-2013. The meeting stressed the importance of railway safety and the fact that safety should not be ignored in favour of punctuality. The South Central Railway stated that suggestions raised during the workshop would be examined and addressed to the Railway Board if necessary.
At the Guwahti Railway Station, members of the N.F. Railway Mazdoor Union organised various activities to celebrate the Action Day. The themes of customer care and safety were highlighted and badges with the "Safety First!" slogan were distributed to railway workers on duty. In the evening of 13 March, the union held a safety seminar at the Guwahati Branch Office, attended by locomotive drivers, station masters and train controllers and management representatives. The seminar called upon the Government to invest in the renewal of infrastructure and rolling stock, as well as to reduce the duty hours of railway workers to 8 hours a day. The need for rest periods and proper rest facilities at outstations was also highlighted.
Zonal unions and affiliates of the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) observed the Action Day on 13 March. Activities including safety seminars, gate meetings, workshops and rallies were organised in towns and cities throughout the country including Chennai, Trichy, Katihar, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Nagpur. More than 250 railway workers attended a health check-up camp conducted by the Eastern Railwaymen’s Congress at the Eastern Railway Headquarters in Kolkata. Several programmes focused on HIV/AIDS awareness activities.
The Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh used the Action Day to present a Memorandum to the General Manager of Central Railways. The Memorandum, which was addressed to the Prime Minister, highlighted various problems facing railway workers such as downsizing of the workforce, outsourcing of railway activities and long working hours. Rallies, dharna and gate meetings were organised in Pune, Solapur, Nagpur, Bhusawal and Mumbai.
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Nidhas Rajaya Vurthiya Samithi Sammelanaya (Sri Lankan Independent State Employees’ Federation) organised campaign activities at the Nawalapitya railway station. Boards with slogans such as “Safety First!”, “Get together to protect the railways” and “Protect the environment by traveling on trains” were displayed in the station and leaflets were handed out to passengers. The union also held a half-day seminar on the importance of the ITF International Railway Workers’ Action Day, which was attended by 41 union members. A panel discussion on Sri Lankan railways was held as part of the seminar. The General Manager of the Railways commended the union for raising awareness of the issues. On 8 March, the union met with the Transport Minister and submitted a set of proposals for improvements to the railways.
Philippines
The Bagong Kapisanan Ng Mga Manggagawa Sa PNR organised a medical mission on the Action Day for railway workers and their families at the union headquarters in Manila, together with the Television network GMA 7. This activity was also used to emphasize the importance of safety where union members who had suffered accidents while on duty spoke about their experiences to the participants.
Australia
Delegates and members of the RTBU Rail Division displayed union flags and banners at the Southern Cross Station in Melbourne on the Action Day.
Malaysia
On 14 March, more than 40 women members and union committee members attended a seminar for women members organised by the Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya in Port Dickson, Seremban as part of activities for the Action Day. The seminar informed participants about the role of unions and also highlighted the importance of women members within unions.
Zambia
The Railway Workers' Union of Zambia held a meeting at their headquarters in Kabwe where 250 participants took part. The railway workers wore their campaign T-shirts to celebrate the event. Government representatives including those from the Ministry of Transport were present. The meeting discussed the effects of railway concessioning on safety and workers' conditions. The organisers of the event also used a theatrical play to sensitize the community on the importance of the railways following recent incidents of vandalism.
Morocco
The UMT celebrated the Action Day on 13 March with meetings and awareness activities at the major railway stations, workshops and yards. Various issues related to railway safety and security of social conditions were revealed as a result of these activities. These included excessive reduction of the workforce, long working hours, lack of training and communication, deterioration of rolling stock, deterioration of working conditions and weak pensions.
Tunisia
The Fédération Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisien used the Action Day to organise an awareness campaign under the theme "Security of jobs" since the right to work and the right to safety are being threatened by economic changes. The union approached their members at railway stations where ITF materials were displayed.
Brazil / Venezuela
At the border of Venezuela and Brazil, 35 activists from SITRAMECA and FETRAHARINA met 10 leaders from FETRONORTE (affiliated to CNTTT, Brazil) for the first time since Venezuela entered Mercosur in 2006. The activists distributed the joint Mercosur Action Day leaflet to transport workers and the general public.
Argentina
La Fraternidad took the initiative to organise activities at the Argentina-Paraguay-Brazil border points and the Argentina-Brazil border point in Uruguay. As the Action Day coincided with the Mercosur Transport Day in the region, the ITF's road transport affiliates from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay also organised joint border actions in Iguaçu to draw attention to the importance of union participation in the Mercosur Governments’ policy discussion. More than 60 activists and regional leaders visited passenger and freight road transport terminals and parking areas near the borders, providing union leaflets to the professional drivers and discussing health and safety issues. Gabriel Mocho, ITF attended the event.
Canada
CAW representatives used a meeting with the Transport Canada Rail Safety Directorate to raise ongoing rail safety issues and to voice concerns about derailments, shipping dangerous commodities and negligent safety inspections. Transport Canada agreed to meet the union at least once a year over rail safety.
30 November 2007
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