10 October 2008

World road transport action week begins Monday

A worldwide road transport action week organised by the ITF and its member unions will be held next week (13-19 October 2008) to campaign for the rights of workers in the industry.

More than 53 unions will participate in over 41 countries globally, organising events including rallies, recruitment campaigns, safety inspections, seminars and protests. They will be particularly aiming to build union membership among professional drivers and personnel and to fight attacks on the rights of workers in this sector. A particular focus will be on the continued oppression of the independent workers' movement in Iran, including the unjust imprisonment of Mansour Osanloo, the President of the Tehran Bus Workers’ Union (www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/freeosanloo.cfm)

Mac Urata, ITF Inland Transport Section Secretary, commented: “Hundreds of thousands of people who work in trucks, buses, taxis and cars will use this week of action to promote good practice and protest injustice – from lack of provision for drivers to graft at border crossings and the repression being waged against our colleagues in Iran.”

He explained: “This action has grown out of the annual Fatigue Kills events and now has an added impetus to seek to persuade all those working in road transport to join or get involved in their union.”

For more details of the week, including regular bulletins of activities as it happens, please see www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/RoadActionWeek2008.cfm

ENDS

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