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Workers march to stop Europe-wide rail break-up
14 November 2008
Thousands of rail workers staged a demonstration in France’s capital city yesterday in protest over European Union plans for the wholesale sell-off of national railways.
Some 20,000 people representing trade unions from more than 12 European countries gathered in Paris at a demonstration, called by the ITF’s European arm, the ETF, to lobby against EU proposals to force EU governments to sell off national railways. The move is part of a relentless campaign to restructure and privatise the sector. Unions fear that the plans could lead to the complete fragmentation of Europe’s railway network.
A delegation from the ETF also met with Dominique Busserau, Secretary of State in charge of transport, representing the French presidency of the Transport Council of Ministers.
ETF Deputy General Secretary Sabine Trier, commented: “In the last few years the EU, the European Parliament and the Council of Transport Ministers have adopted three legislative packages for the railway sector. The consequences have been total restructuring, fragmentation and privatisation, and for workers more stress, less job security, longer hours and a cut in the workforce by half.”
She added: “European rail workers are saying ‘Enough is enough’ and protesting against more liberalisation and fragmentation, but more importantly, for publicly owned, environmentally sound, properly funded, customer responsive rail networks.”
Rail unions from India, Mongolia, Thailand and the US sent messages of support to the protestors.
More details:http://www.itfglobal.org/files/extranet/-75/11475/ETF%20tract%20EN.pdf
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