12 October 2005

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Page context: International Road Transport Action Week 2005 > 12 October 2005

(16:20 GMT) Germany
Members of the German union, ver.di, the Polish union, Solidarnosc and the Czech union, OSD have today met in Frankfurt to participate in a joint seminar on social dialogue in Europe. Tomorrow after the seminar has finished, the unions will go to the German-Polish border for further joint actions. (Phone report by Peter Baranowski).

(14:00 GMT) Zambia
Activities in Zambia started on 10 October with actions in Chirundu and Livingstone in the western part of the country. Members of NUTAW spoke to drivers from Zambia and neighbouring countries at these two border points, distributed leaflets and handed out a survey for completion by the drivers. Various issues and problems were identified as a result of the interviews including police harrassment at road blocks; the lack of facilities at border points; lack of job security; long working hours with drivers on duty for 24 hours per day when they are away; and bad conditions of roads and road signs. (Email report by Sam Phiri)

(12:15 GMT) Great Britain - Women
Women members of the Transport & General Workers' Union are using the Action Week to launch a campaign to improve toilet facilities for drivers and in particular to provide toilet access on bus routes. The union is surveying its members and will submit the outcome to the employers to negotiate this issue. The campaign is starting in Bristol, but the union hopes to expand their demands nationally and internationally. This campaign has emerged from the ITF Road Transport Women's Workshop held in London on 21 September 2005. (Email report by Louise Robinson).

(11:50 GMT) Finland
The Finnish union, AKT has launched its campaign today with a press conference in Helsinki, which was well attended. On 13 October, the union will visit rest areas at eight service stations and three ports to talk to the truck drivers and distribute union material. The union will also distribute a voucher to the drivers so that they can buy a coffee and sandwiches. (Email report by Juhani Salmela).

(10:50 GMT) Lithuania
The Lithuanian Transport Workers' Federation (LTWF) has this morning organised a picket at the Vilnius municipality to demand an increase in wages. A second picket has been organised simultaneously in the second largest city in Lithuania, Kaunas. Press coverage of the event has been excellent with local and national TV present at the event. The union has also been working with its colleagues in the German union, ver.di, which has agreed to distribute the LTWF's leaflets in Lithuanian to Lithuanian drivers during their activities at the German/Polish border on 12 October. (Phone report by Janina Malinovska)

See more photos of the picket at the Vilnius municipality organised by LTWF on 12 October >>

(07:45 GMT) Colombia
On 12 October, unions in Colombia including ITF affiliate Sindicato de Conductores de Taxis de Cartagena (SINCONTAXCAR) are taking part in a national work stoppage. SINCONTAXCAR will also use this day to make all drivers' unions aware of the effects of fatigue and long working hours by distributing leaflets. (Email report by Esteban Barboza Palencia)

(07:30 GMT) Nepal
Following the successful taxi rally that was organised by NETWON in Kathmandu on 6 October, the district committees of the union have organised a variety of activities throughout Nepal on 8 October. These activities have included cleaning of the bus depots, blood donations at the bus depots, gate meetings and distribution of leaflets. (Email report by Ajay Rai)

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