Breaking News No.10

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17:00 GMT (10 March 2005)

Jordan
The General Union of Railway Workers in Jordan participated in the Action Day for the first time, thanks to the coordination by the ITF Amman Office. The union conducted a workplace seminar in the south of Jordan, at which they informed their members about the international work of the ITF and discussed their annual strategy in applying safety measures at the workplace.

Bulgaria
Members of the Syndicate of Engine Drivers - an affiliate of the Union of Transport Workers' Syndicates in Bulgaria - met with the Minister of Transport on the issue of healthy and safety conditions at work. After restructuring of the railway and division of the company, regulations are frequently broken, according to the union.

Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Nidahas Rajaye Vurtheeya Samithi Sammelanaya organised nationwide seminars on 8 March. The federation had also requested its membership unions to hold agitation meetings and 'safety first' activities at their respective offices two days prior to the Action Day. Media coverage of activities was good.

India
In India, the N.F. Railway Mazdoor Union, affiliated to the AIRF, organised safety seminars and interaction with passengers at several locations including Tinsukia, Guwahati, Maligaon New Bongaigaon, New Jalpaiguri and Malda. Different cross-sections of people including representatives from the Civil Administration, lawyers, teachers, social activists and railway workers including locomotive drivers, station masters, train controllers and operating officials took part in the activities. The union used these activities to call upon the Railway Administration to fill all sanctioned staff posts and to ensure a supply of spares and fittings to properly maintain the rolling stock and railway infrastructure. The union also demanded the Railway Ministry to reduce the duty hours to 8 hours a day and highlighted the need for adequate rest breaks and proper resting facilities at outstations.

The East Coast Railway Shramik Union, also affiliated to the AIRF, observed the Action Day at all its Divisional Headquarters. At the Macheswar Railway Institute, the union organised a meeting at 18h00 on 7 March where speeches were given on the various aspects of safety. Meetings were also held at the union's Divisional Headquarters in Khurda Road, Waltair, Sambalpur and also at the union's Zonal Headquarter in Bhubaneswar. A mass rally was also organised in Waltair.

ETF
Further to the European Manifestation that was held in Strasbourg on 7 March, an ETF delegation made up of unions from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland and Spain lobbied members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 9 March. At the trade union hearing on the 3rd Railway Package, members of Parliament from the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), Socialist, Liberal and Green parties attended. György Balla, VDSzSz, Hungary spoke on railway liberalisation and the situation in the new member states. Didier Le Reste, CGT Cheminots, France spoke on alternatives to the package.

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