Protecting railway workers’ jobs
We want railways to return to public ownership. Neo-liberal policies and privatisation have seriously hit railway workers and their trade unions around the world, and created a worse service for passengers.
These policies have reduced the number of rail networks and created a shift towards, casual precarious work. They have also resulted in:
- a decline in safety
- job losses due to driver-only operations and line closures
- an increase in sub-contracting within the railway sector
The ITF railway affiliates are active in most countries of the world, representing a variety of political systems, various stages of railway development and different conditions for the unions to work under.
The railway workers unions have to stand up and stand together to be in the forefront of this development. Promoting the railway as a core transport system for the future, organising railway workers and fighting to protect and improve the working conditions.
Unions must take the lead in promoting alternatives to privatisation and building union capacity by:
- standing in solidarity with each other
- participating in joint campaigns
- campaigning to keep railways safe
- shaping automation and technological changes
- sharing information and experiences using the internet and social media
Trade union responses to railway restructuring and privatisation
The Railway Organising statement reflects the knowledge and experiences of unions, fighting through many years of restructuring and privatisation.
The purpose is to assist ITF Railway Workers unions in their strategic planning:
- To deal with restructuring and privatisation
- Proposing principles for a trade union alternative for railways
- Protecting the workers’ rights
- Building union capacity
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