The strike at Norwegian State Railways (NSB) and CargoNet began on 29 September. The National Union of Norwegian Locomotivemen (NLF) told the ITF that the drivers had to intensify their action because there had been no contacts between the union and the employers. It said the main impact was on NSB’s commuter services, especially on the south-eastern line towards Gothenburg in Sweden.
NSB and CargoNet – both state owned – have introduced plans to drastically reduce the training programs for locomotive drivers. The NLF is demanding that the companies accept a national training program as the basis for all locomotive drivers training (as it is now), and that this program is developed on a tripartite level by the authorities, employers and trade unions.
ITF unions in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Mongolia and in Europe have supported the striking drivers, along with Norwegian trade unions, politicians and passengers. Unions have sent protest letters to the chief executives of NSB and CargoNet. And they have displayed banners with the slogans ‘No dumping of training standards’, ‘Our training, your safety’ and ‘Safety before profit’.
ITF inland transport section secretary Mac Urata said: “There’s been a great response from many of our ITF unions but we need more of you to add your voices to the Norwegian train drivers’ protest.
“Please help to keep up the pressure on the companies by sending protest letters to Norwegian State Railways and CargoNet.”
NLF international secretary Oystein Aslaksen added that international support from ITF unions was of the utmost importance to put pressure on the companies and boost the morale of NLF members.
Demonstrate your union’s solidarity for the striking Norwegian train drivers – use this sample letter to write to Norwegian State Railways CEO Geir Isaksen at geir.isaksen@nsb.no and CargoNet CEO Arne Fosen at arne.fosen@cargonet.no.
