News online
Condolences to families and friends of killed and injured transport workers in Lebanon and Israel
20 July 2006
The ITF yesterday sent messages of condolence to the families and friends of transport workers injured and killed as a result of the current crisis in the Middle East, as the transport infrastructure remains a key target for attacks. Beirut airport, ports and roads across Lebanon, as well as a railway depot in Israel, have all felt the brunt of attacks.
In a letter to Lebanese affiliates, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft expressed “heartfelt sympathy with Lebanese unions” as they faced the consequences of the events with their “disastrous results for your country.” He added: “I would be most grateful if you could pass on the federation's condolences to the colleagues and friends of the port workers in Tyre who died, as well as to the families of other union members who may have been killed or injured.”
“The ITF also fully understands that attacks on Lebanon’s transport infrastructure, including Beirut airport, will have a very negative effect on the country’s economy. I would like to assure you that as soon as it becomes possible, the ITF will examine ways to assist affiliates in Lebanon to recover from this terrible setback.”
Cockroft also wrote to Israeli unions, again expressing sympathy following the deaths of members in the railway depot in Haifa after a rocket attack.
Both letters reaffirmed the ITF’s commitment to work for peace, stating it “fervently hopes for a rapid solution to this current crisis, which has already resulted in the deaths of too many ordinary working people.”
Back to current news online stories
|
