11 October 2005
(16:45 GMT) Canada
After the national holiday on 10 October, different Locals of the Canadian union CAW are approaching the professional drivers at worksites and parking areas throughout the week. In Southern Ontario, Local 4268 will be out at truck stops along the 401 Corridor with the ITF's "Organising Globally" postcards and CAW organising materials. (Email report by Len Poirier).
(16:30 GMT) Cameroon
SYNACTUICAM, together with other transport unions in Cameroon, has organised press conferences in the capital Yaounde today to explain the issues that the inter-city transport workers face and to present the union demands. Representatives from the unions are due to meet with the Police Chief later this afternoon. Tomorrow, a meeting with the Ministry of Transport is planned as well as parades of taxis in the capital with the vehicles displaying campaign materials. The unions are planning a strike next Monday, 17 October, on issues including rising petrol cost, illegal transport operators and demand for a sector-wide CBA in order to improve conditions. (Phone report by Jean Louis Mevoungou).
(16:00 GMT) Switzerland
The Swiss road transport workers, now merged in their new organisation, Gewerkschaft Unia, organised their border action with ver.di near Basel today. On 12 October, the union's full-time officers will be on the road with the union leaflets to discuss salaries and collective bargaining agreements with their members. Currently the employers have abandoned the agreements with the union. On 15 October, a demonstration is planned in Bern with union demands on the renewal of the CBAs, improved working time and rest areas for professional drivers. The union's press conference last week was well attended. (Email report by Nick Bramley)
See the Press Release by the union >>
(15:30 GMT) Ghana
More than 350 participants gathered in a rally which was held in Accra on 10 October calling for an end to "road carnage" and "improved conditions for professional drivers". The meeting, which the General Transport, Petroleum & Chemical Workers' Union initiated, was attended by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union and the Maritime and Dockworkers' Union as well as representatives from the Transport Ministry, Road Safety Commission and labour centre, TUC. It received very good media coverage. Today, the Ghanaian delegation from the two road transport unions is heading to Malanville (Benin-Niger border) where the West African cross-border action will take place on 13 October. They are talking to the truck drivers and distributing ITF materials on the road. (Phone report by Emmanuel Mensah).
(14:30 GMT) Estonia
The Estonian Transport & Road Workers' Trade Union (ETTA) has this morning organised roadside stands at entrance points to several major cities in Estonia including Tallinn, Pärvu, Tartu and Narva, on the border with Russia. The action, which was organised in cooperation with the police and customs, took place between 09h00 and 13h00. Members of the union spoke to the truck drivers and distributed information about the union and EU regulations whilst all incoming vehicles were inspected by customs and police officials. On 12 October, the union is holding a seminar for its driver members on the new EU regulations and new equipment to be introduced. (Phone report by Toomas Sarapuu).
(13:00 GMT) Spain
ELA-Hainbat has organised an information campaign at Irun (France-Spain border) today targetting different transport drivers. The union has also distributed information to the media and will also distribute information leaflets at various companies during the week. (Phone report by Esteban Pereda).
See more photos of the activities organised by ELA-Hainbat >>
(12:15 GMT) Zimbabwe
The Transport and General Workers' Union is holding peaceful demonstrations in the major cities including Harare today. The union demands include reduction in working time; improvement on health and safety issues and further awareness raising on HIV/AIDS to the members as well as the public. The earlier plan by the union to meet with their South African and Zambian counterparts at the borders did not materialise as the permission from the police was not granted on time. (Phone report by Farayi Makanda).
(10:30 GMT) Mongolia
In line with the ITF campaign slogan, "Organising Globally - Building Union Power", the Mongolian Transport, Communication & Petroleum Workers' Union organised its recruitment campaign during the ITF Action Week on 9-10 October to organise workers from the informal sector. As a result, the union has successfully brought in more than 800 workers into the union. They are also organising a survey of more than 1,000 private sector (microbus) bus drivers to identify the workers' issues - that is one out of every five drivers in the capital. The union has also organised workshops as part of its campaign activities and has used the media to emphasize its activities. Other activities that the union is planning as part of the Action Week include an open forum with the government, employers and the union that will be shown on TV and workplace inspections in order to identify labour conditions including working hours for private bus drivers and conductors. (Phone report by Erdenebat).
(09:00 GMT) Japan
More than 6,000 leaflets with the ITF message, "Fatigue Kills!" were distributed by the JRU and its bus workers in Tohoku, Chugoku and Kanto regions. More leafleting is planned in Hokkaido tonight. In Tokyo, more than 30 members of the union gathered at the Tokyo station's bus terminal in the morning rush-hour. ITF-JC representative, Ryutaro Morisaki also took part. With a large banner displayed by the unionists, 2,000 leaflets were all handed out in less than an hour. (Email report by Mizue Taoka).
See more photos of the leafleting organised by JRU on 11 October >>
(08:30 GMT) Uganda / Kenya
The ITF Action Week started on 10 October with activities at the Uganda-Kenya border of Malaba. For the first time, road transport unions from the two countries are holding joint activities. This action is based on the recent decision taken at an East African education seminar for road transport unions. Further action will take place today at the border of Busai. On 12 October, the Amalgamated Transport & General Workers' Union will join an international rally to be held in Nairobi, Kenya where they will present the ILO Working Paper on drivers' fatigue to the government representatives. The ITF African Regional Office is assisting this event. (Email report by David Baliraine).
See more photos of the activities organised at Malaba >>
