Press area
Support for Iranian regime victim is part of global road transport week
12 October 2007
Next week’s global road transport week (15 to 21 October 2007) – in which trade unionists around the world demonstrate for safer work on the roads – will also focus support on persecuted Iranian bus drivers’ leader Mansour Osanloo.
Held under the slogan Organising Globally – Building Union Power, the week offers those working in road transport a global forum for raising the matters that concern them. In many areas this is the message that Fatigue Kills, in others it may be in favour of decent wages, for better rest facilities, or against delays and corruption at border crossings. This year all participants are also being asked to signal their support for Mansour Osanloo, President of the independent trade union the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) – and target for the Iranian regime’s repeated attempts to crush it. After two years of beatings, arrests and intimidation by the Iranian police and security services he is currently being held in Evin prison (see www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/1504). They will also be backing the union’s Vice-President, Ebrahim Madadi, also in detention, the union’s right to exist and the right of Iranian workers to belong to a trade union.
During the week activities will be held across the world (see Worldwide Update at www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/RoadActionWeek2007.cfm ), including workshops, border actions, rallies and education on health and safety and HIV/Aids. In Brussels the ITF’s European regional arm the ETF has called a truck drivers’ protest rally, which will be held at 10:30 in front of the European Parliament before moving off to demonstrate at the Iranian Embassy at 12:30. EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot will then receive an ETF delegation at 15:30. The main themes of the Brussels actions will be: for equal pay and conditions for all drivers in cross border operations; for decent rest facilities; and for the release of Mansour Osanloo. An ETF press release on this event is available on request from dawson_sam@itf.org.uk.
Mac Urata, Secretary of the ITF’s Road Transport Section, commented: “This major solidarity effort will once again be launched in a multitude of countries and with a huge variety of events. With the support of our their colleagues in the port sector, drivers, conductors, drivers’ assistants, logistics workers and others involved in road transport will be pushing for what they believe in and also showing what can be achieved by belonging to a trade union.”
In one week in the run up to the event the ITF has been asked for (and sent out) 20,000 ‘Free Osanloo’ badges that will be worn by bus drivers and others meeting the public face to face.
ENDS
Worldwide events. (See also www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/RoadActionWeek2007.cfm for updates)
Europe
On 15 October, the ETF will organise a rally in Brussels, Belgium, which will be addressed by Members of the European Parliament. Later that day, unions will demonstrate in front of the Iranian Embassy.In the afternoon, a delegation will meet with the President of the Transport Council.
Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund will organise various activities across Norway. These will include an information campaign on drivers’ working hours, distribution of information about the trade union movement nationally and internationally, and discussion meetings for members. One day will be dedicated to activities on the roads, ferries, and border controls. Other days will be used for union organising campaigns in terminals, storage depots and bus depots.
Ver.di (Germany) will organise various activities to inform members about their rights at work and to raise awareness about current working conditions in the industry. Activities will include demonstrations, workshop meetings and press conferences. At a rest station between Cologne and Dusseldorf, activists will distribute ITF and union materials to drivers. The union also plans to organise an organising campaign in the logistics industry.
In the run-up to the campaign, FNCTTFEL (Luxembourg) has been lobbying the government regarding implementation of the Working Time Directive and Directive 2003/59/CE on driver training. During the action week the union will draw public attention to the difficult working conditions experienced by workers in the private goods and passenger transport sectors. OGB-L is launching a national information and organising campaign. Teams of activists will visit different locations including air cargo centres and rest areas to talk to lorry, bus and taxi drivers. The union is also hoping to meet with the Ministry of Transport during the Action Week.
On 18 October, members of UNITE (T&G) in Great Britain will participate in a national rally to support the second reading of the Trade Union Rights and Freedom bill, which would significantly strengthen trade union rights. Union leaders and Members of Parliament will address the demonstration, which is taking place between 16:00 and 19:30. Members of the RMT, ASLEF, GMB, TSSA and UNISON will also take part in the event.
Through distribution of ITF campaign materials and worker meetings, ELA Hainbat (Spain) will raise awareness of the need for workers to join a union in order to improve working conditions. The union has been organising training courses on the action week for workers in the sector. CC.OO will organise various activities, together with other ITF unions, including distribution of information at border points such as Irun, Ayamonte and Tuy, as well as at ports, airports and bus stations across the country. On 15 October, a presentation on fatigue will be made in Valladolid as part of several road transport information days in different cities.
Federatia Transloc in Romania will use the week to focus on working conditions including reducing working hours for bus drivers and to organise unorganised workers in the bus industry, in particular in the private sector. The union will hold a training programme for its members on the importance of the action week and will distribute campaign materials to members of the public. The union will also use the week to launch a campaign against sexual harassment.
Africa
La Coordination Nationale des Syndicats et Associations des Chauffeurs et Conducteurs du Mali plans to use the action week to raise awareness of the importance of belonging to a union. On 15 October, a parade will take place in Bamako to emphasize the essential role road transport workers play in the economy. Union members, as well as representatives from transport companies and other transport unions, will take part. On 16 October, a gathering will be held at a heavy goods vehicle park in the city. The union hopes to organise road transport workers, in particular young workers. On 21 October, the union will participate in a cross-border meeting at Zégoua (Mali), together with unions from Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire.
Awareness of HIV/Aids will be the focus of activities by SYNCTAXTU in Niger. The union will organise information and awareness meetings at bus stations and taxi ranks, as well as radio and television programmes in order to educate workers about the virus and to inform drivers of the social and economic consequences of HIV/Aids.
Members of the GSA, AGWU, TCEU and MTPEU will participate in a union workshop on 16 October and a rally on 18 October. These activities are being coordinated by the ITF National Coordinating Committee of Mauritius.
The National Union of Transport & Allied Workers, the Airways Allied Workers Union and the Zambia Bus United Taxis Workers’ Union are organising a joint programme of activities for the action wek. Activities will start on 12 October with a press conference about the campaign. Other planned activities include visits to the Chirundu, Livingstone / Kazungula and Mwami border posts; workplace visits; and a demonstration in the capital, Lusaka.
Through activities including discussions with road transport workers; press conferences and media interviews; leafleting the public, road users and drivers; and decoration of buses and taxis, the Communication and Transport Workers' Union of Zanzibar in Tanzania aims to organise workers; raise awareness of health and safety issues, in particular fatigue; and highlight the union’s demand for decent work.
Truck and taxi drivers will be targeted by the ATGWU in Uganda during the action week. The union plans to leaflet information in local languages on fatigue, stress, HIV/Aids, and working hours to truck drivers at the borders and to taxi drivers in Kampala. A union demonstration will march from the union offices to the Ministry of Transport in order to deliver a road safety petition demanding that action be taken to reduce the number of road accidents. The union plans to work together with transport unions in Kenya during the action week.
On 16 October, SATAWU (South Africa) will organise rallies in Johannesburg and Ventersburg. Representatives from the union, employers and government will participate. Activity will also be held at the Oshoek (Swaziland) and Beitbridge (Zimbabwe) border posts, together with their sister unions in these countries.
Asia Pacific
The Indian National Transport Workers’ Federation will organise activities across the country in Jabalpur, Cochin, Dehradoon, Asansol, Bolpur and Kullu. Activities will include seminars, press conferences, displays of campaign materials, sit-ins, demonstrations, blowing of horns and the submission of a memorandum to government.
On 20 October, the Pakistan Transport Workers’ Federation will organise a national seminar in Lahore, which will be attended by the Federal Minister of Communication and Highways.
NETWON (Nepal) has distributed the ITF poster and union produced leaflets to all district committees. These materials will be distributed at local bus depots on 14 October. Rallies will also be organised at workplaces on this day. In Kathmandu an interaction programme will be held with representatives from the Transport Department, the Traffic Police, and government. On 15 October, union activists will distribute leaflets at several workplaces in Kathmandu including the international airport and central bus park.
ITF road transport unions in Thailand - BMTA-SWU, TRAN-U, LU-ETA and KSLU - will organise a joint campaign to raise awareness of employers, workers and the public to the importance of road transport safety. On 15-16 October, the unions will launch activities at the Transport Company Ltd head office (Northern Terminal) with an opening ceremony. Transport Ministry representatives are expected to attend. An exhibition, leafleting, theatrical plays and panel discussion will be held. On 17 October, leafleting will take place at the LU-ETA expressway station (gateway to Suvarnbhumi airport). On 19 October, leafleting will be organised at several BMTA depots. Banners and posters will be displayed. On 21 October, the unions will leaflet and interview drivers at the Tesco Lotus Company distribution centre.
The Associated Labor Unions (ALU) in the Philippines is organising a programme of activities to raise awareness on issues related to fatigue. The campaign will start on 15 October with motorcades in Butuan, Davao, Iligan, Dipolog, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro followed by a solidarity meal with drivers and dockers. Throughout the week, union activists will distribute posters and leaflets in the bus, jeepney, taxi and port terminals in the Northern and Southern Mindanao regions. At selected transport companies the union will organise a slogan and poster competition and in Bulua, Davao and Butuan a sports festival will be held for drivers and dockers. Activities will culminate with a press conference on 21 October. The National Transport Workers’ Union (Philippines) is holding a national meeting of its Council of Leaders. The meeting will discuss urban transport issues and the ITF HIV/AIDS Campaign.
The Korean Automobile & Transport Workers’ Federation will organise a street campaign on 15 October. Like bus workers in Australia, Thailand, Norway, Great Britain, Austria, Morocoo and other countries, union leaders and bus and taxi drivers will wear the “Free Osanloo!” badge.
The Americas
Activists from CAW (Canada) will visit roadside locations and distribute campaign material across the country. The union is targeting specific companies as part of an organising campaign.
The US Teamsters union plans to organise joint activities together with the ILWU as a part of their on-going organising campaign targeting port drivers.
UNATROPYT (Costa Rica) plans to use the action week to develop its activities for lorry drivers and extend activities to include taxi and bus drivers in San José. The union will work together with the ITF dockers’ union SINTRAJAP on activities for port workers.
FETTRAMAP (Panama) will focus its activities on work health and safety issues such as accidents and HIV/AIDS.
In Brazil, CNTTT will organise several activities including union meetings and lectures at road and urban terminals and transport workers’ clubs in Sao Paulo during the Action Week. On 19 October, a special programme for women will be organised. Sindicato dos Trabalhadores Rod. Maringa-Pr, a member of CNTTT, will carry out awareness activities through distribution of information to drivers on fatigue and HIV/Aids. Activity at the border is also planned.
ENDS
For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk
International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org
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