|
|
Change low graphic options | Change language | Skip content to navigation
Page context: Home > Transport International Magazine > Issue 26 January 2007 > Big push for rights
Unions at the world’s big four logistics companies took a stand for workers rights and global solidarity in November 2006 as part of a worldwide action day on integrators.
The action day, organised jointly by the ITF and Union Network International UNI, was supported by union members employed by DHL, Fedex, UPS and TNT, who work in integrated transport functions such as sorting, transporting and distributing packages.
MORE: Why we need a union Voices from the workplace (DHL and contractors)… |
Worldwide around one million workers in integrator companies are already members of unions, many of which are affiliated to the ITF or UNI. They are employed in a huge range of jobs – for example as call centre operators, couriers, customs clerks, dispatchers, pilots, security personnel, sorters, truck and van drivers.
Rallies, education activities, press conferences and leafleting took place under the banner of Organising Globally, Fighting for Our Rights, reflecting the global nature of the integrated transport industry, which employs people across national boundaries and transport sectors.
The scale of the response from unions in at least 10 countries reflected their understanding that decent jobs, wages and conditions for their members will increasingly depend on the global planning and coordination of their initiatives.
Among the actions taken, some unions ensured that major ongoing local campaigns and disputes received a boost from the global Action Day. In France, for example, a second wave of strike action against wage flexibility was scheduled for the action day. In Australia, the ITF/UNI campaign was the subject of a parliamentary speech.
ITF inland transport secretary Mac Urata commented: “This action day proves that unions in the big four integrators are part of a global labour movement to bring these multinationals into line.”
Global action day on integrators
The Transport Workers Union of Australia organised yard meetings. Petitions were signed and union members spent time encouraging non-members to join their union. Queensland MP Claire Moore spoke about the action day in parliament. Companies leafleted at their work sites. Canada Members of the Teamsters union displayed campaign posters and leaflets in workplaces across the country. On 9 November, they visited Parliament Hill and handed out union leaflets to Members of Parliament. Activists also met MPs responsible for labour and transport issues to highlight the challenges workers face worldwide in trying to organise workers. France Following a successful 24-hour stoppage at 40 DHL worksites nationwide on 17 October, the CGT began their second wave of strike action on the action day, 9 November – over a management plan to de-stabilise the wage system with greater flexibility. Germany Ver.di targeted all “big four” companies by leafleting, holding meetings at worksites and collecting petitions. Union members took part at locations including hubs in Leipzig and Cologne as well as union branches in Stuttgart, Berlin and Mannheim. The petitions were to be submitted to the management of DHL, FedEx, UPS and TNT respectively. Great Britain Transport and General Workers Union members across TNT Express operations voted on the action day to accept a 10 per cent pay deal for 7,500 workers. The union reports that 1,300 new members across the company were organised between July and November 2006. The GMB union suspended its dispute with DHL following a new pay and conditions offer by the company. The offer includes union access to organising and recruitment. Hong Kong Representatives from the Federation of Hong Kong Transport Workers’ Organizations met with workers at integrator company service centres in India In Chennai and Mumbai, workers in DHL and other integrator companies leafleted at their work sites. A dozen union representatives from UMT held a 20 minute demonstration in front of the DHL offices in Casablanca demanding their freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. South Africa On 9 November, Satawu members continued to stage lunchtime pickets at DHL gateways in Johannesburg. These were held to coincide with union negotiations with management over outsourcing and restructuring within the company. Pickets were also planned in Port Elizabeth and Gauteng. In Cape Town, union representatives at the DHL depot met management on the action day to raise issues such as continuation of the employment of casuals, and flexi-time. The union also met with TNT management to discuss their relationship with workers and the union. |
Section home:
Issue 26 January 2007
Other pages for Issue 26 January 2007:
Comment: gender barriers | Representing the unrecongnised | Breaking point | Winning for all | Future secured for German railways | Taking the strain | Border dialogues | Waiting and hoping | Tricks of my trade | Reflections on women in trade unions | Working life
Other pages for Big push for rights:
Why we need a union
ITF Home | Transport International Magazine | Current issue | Previous issues | About Transport International | Distribution | Request copies | Editorial staff
accessibility | site help | site map
The journal of the International Transport Workers' Federation
© ITF 2004 All rights reserved
ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR | +44 20 7403 2733 | mail@itf.org.uk
