14 October 2005

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Page context: International Road Transport Action Week 2005 > 14 October 2005

(21:00 GMT) Costa Rica
SICOTRA used the Action Week to collect data in order to formulate a formal complaint to the ILO Freedom of Association Committee about recent violations to Convention 87. As an example, bus companies in Costa Rica have systematically charged the conductor for tickets unpaid by passengers due to problems with the electronic charging machines. When SICOTRA leaders denounced the situation to local media, they were fired. (Email report by Ana Beatriz Duarte)

(16:00 GMT) Congo DR
In Congo DR, a gathering of drivers, conductors, mechanics and other administrative staff has been organised by the ITF National Coordinating Committee in the Mariano parking area. The meeting called upon the participants to join a union and to take part in ITF activities. Leaflets and the contact details of ITF affiliates in the country were also distributed. (Email report by Guy Kuku Gedila)

(15:20 GMT) Tanzania
The Communication and Transport Workers' Union of Zanzibar in Tanzania is holding a symposium on 15 October to discuss problems in road transport with drivers. The symposium will discuss various issues including accident prevention, decent work, how to get licences and the importance of trade unions. 75 drivers are expected to attend the event and the union is hoping to use the meeting as an opportunity to organise. (Phone report by Mohamed Ali Salum)

(14:30 GMT) India
In Mumbai, the Transport and Dock Workers' Union has organised a mass rally. Members of the union addressed the rally explaining the meaning of the International Campaign and its aims including ratification of ILO Convention 153, which India has not yet ratified despite embarking on large road infrastructure projects. Following the rally, approximately 1,000 transport workers from the Mumbai Port demonstrated in front of the Inspectorate of Dock Safety, Operation Service Centre demanding provision of basic facilities such as a canteen and adequate rest shelters. (Email report by Sangam Tripathy)

(14:10 GMT) Zambia
On 14 October, members of NUTAW took part in a march from Kafue Roundabout to Freedom Statue in Lusaka with workers from various companies in attendance. Participants carried union banners and displayed campaign materials including the poster and sticker on vehicles. Speeches were given at the Freedom Statue and media coverage of the event was good. (Email report by Sam Phiri)

See more photos of the activities organised in Zambia >>

(14:00 GMT) Great Britain
The Transport & General Workers' Union has organised a rally at the Port of Dover this morning. 50 members of the T&G and 11 representatives from the French union, the CGT gathered in the port. After negotiations with the Harbour Board, two groups were allowed to enter the harbour property in order to distribute leaflets. The T&G and CGT have agreed to increase their cooperation on common issues. (Email report by Eddie Dickson)

This afternoon, the T&G has launched the new London Busworkers' Charter with a rally in central London. This launch is a matter of days before a national review by the T&G of the UK Busworkers' Charter at a summit meeting of union representatives from all the major UK bus companies and the regions of the country. (Email report by Graham Stevenson)

See Press Release from the union >>

(12:00 GMT) Latin America
(Email report by Ana Beatriz Duarte)

Honduras
SINAMEQUIPH has delivered a document to the Honduras Congress about the abuse made by several companies in relation to truck drivers' work journeys. The main target of the campaign is the Coca-Cola branch in Honduras, where accidents caused by the fatigue of drivers obliged to work between 16 and 20 hours a day has already caused several injured drivers and deaths. Honduran law establishes the maximum of 400 kilometres a day for professional drivers. Last week union representatives met some of the workers who have denounced the situation. On 15 October, the union will organise a stoppage of trucks at the entrance of Puerto Cortes, in San Pedro Sula, the main port of Central America. ITF materials and the union's bulletin will be distributed. A press conference will also be held.

See more photos of activities organised by SINAMEQUIPH >>

Chile
FENASICOCH started its campaign in the capital, Santiago on 11 October, with a press conference to promote the ITF Campaign slogan "Fatigue Kills!". The National Labour Director attended the press conference. Materials were also distributed on the streets of the city. The same activities were held in Concepcion on 12 October. On 13 October, the union leadership met the regional labour authority in the southern part of the country for another press conference and a public inspection of the truck drivers in the region in order to check the accomplishment of the maximum journey allowed by law. Next week, the union will visit the northern part of the country to hold similar activities. The union's campaign will continue until 21 October.

Paraguay
On 10 October, USTT held a conference of 300 people with national union centres in order to discuss issues relating to road transport. They discussed and celebrated the approval with consensus, by the Public Works Commission of the Deputies Chamber, of a bill presented last year by USTT, that was also responsible for the presentation of the current Law of Transport in Paraguay. The bill regards the creation of a Transport Ministry. The issues related to transport are currently managed by decentralised secretaries submitted to the Public Works and Communications Ministry. On 11 October, union representatives met the Minister, who also showed his approval for the bill. The bill now has to be voted at plenary at the National Deputies Chamber.

Brazil
ITF materials on the Action Week were sent to all CNTTT affiliated unions and federations. The Confederation is strongly lobbying for the approval of a bill at the labour Commission of the National Deputy Chamber that regulates road transport to a maximum journey time of 6 hours, instead of the current 8 hours.

(09:00 GMT) Australia
Despite the rain, over 80 union representatives united together for a solidarity breakfast on 11 October to celebrate the ITF's global events. Issues of fatigue and workers' rights were raised, and in particular, the importance of emphasising solidarity at Melbourne's waterfront in order to get workers to see the unions working collectively as the waterfront is likely to double in size in the next five years. There was good representation from all three unions. The Victorian Branches of the ITF affiliated TWU, MUA and RTBU have come together to form the ITF Victorian Transport Unions Working Group. The working group was set up 12 months ago to support and promote international solidarity with the ITF. (Email report by Rebecca Turney).

See more photos of the event organised in Australia >>

(08:00 GMT) Canada
Local 114 of CAW has been visiting truck stops in British Columbia to speak to road transport drivers and to spread the message that non-union trucking groups need to get organised in order to bring a higher rate of pay for rising fuel prices and to address health and safety concerns. The Local has also visited its road transport units to speak to members about the ITF and the Campaign. (Email report by Bill Gaucher)

(07:00 GMT) West Africa sub-regional event
ITF road transport unions from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger and Nigeria gathered on 12 and 13 October at Gaya on the Niger-Benin border on the Niger river to jointly celebrate the ITF Action Week. On 12 October, 26 representatives attended a one-day seminar to discuss how to challenge police harassment in the sub-region. The seminar agreed that solidarity among drivers on the road and sub-regional cooperation between road transport unions was essential in order to combat this problem. A questionnaire on issues that drivers are facing in the sub-region was also distributed for use by the unions.

On 13 October, a large rally was organised at the Gaya custom truck park. At 08h30, union leaders and activists and approximately 120 taxis, minibuses and truck drivers gathered in front of the SNCRN truck drivers' union office for the 3 kilometre march to the customs park. Union representatives led the march singing slogans such as "drivers are fed up with customs agents' harassment" and "drivers are fed up with police abuses" in the local language. The vehicles followed, blowing their horns. The rally was addressed by representatives from the Niger government as well as the unions. The venue had to be shifted to the other side of the border due to unforeseen issues. (Email report by Nazi Kabore)

See more photos of the West Africa sub-regional event >>

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