Friday March 14, 2003 - International Railway Workers’ Action Day Campaign

The RTBU National Council decided to strongly support the ITF world action day on March 14, 2003. Meetings of members will be held in different sections of the rail industry in each state to decide what specific form of action and what specific demands will be made on March 14, 2003.

Some ideas include:

• workplace meetings to highlight safety incidents and conduct safety audits;
• demands for proper staffing levels and no more cutting corners;
• demand for a nation-wide compatible train radio system;
• measures to increase passenger and railway workers safety at level crossings
• upgrading of rail safety laws, based on changes to the NSW Rail Safety Act.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) is a federation of 570 transport workers' trade unions in over 132 countries. It is one of the eleven International Trade Secretariats allied with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).

Founded in 1896, it is organised into eight industrial sections - seafarers, docks, railways, road transport, civil aviaiton, inland navigation, fisheries and tourism services. It represents the interests of transport workers at world level through international solidarity. The Railway Workers' Section's membership includes some 140 unions in nearly 80 countries worldwide, representing 1.4 million members, which is more than 30% of the ITF's total membership.