Train drivers hold Estonia’s longest strike
Published: 4 October 2004
On 8 September 2004, after 10 months of negotiations over wage increases with management at Estonian Railways (Eesti Raudtee), the Estonian Locomotive Workers’ Trade Union (Eesti Vedurimeeste Ametiühing) decided to hold a strike to support its demands. The main demands of the train drivers were a 15% pay rise, awarded retrospectively from 1 March 2004 until 31 December 2004, and the establishment of limits on overtime work. The management of Estonian Railways was willing to offer a pay rise of only 9%. One day before the planned strike on 23 September, the train drivers' union reduced its demands to:
In late September 2004, over 200 train drivers at Estonian Railways held a six-day strike to support their demands for pay increases. The longest strike since Estonian independence was ended by a deal brokered by central trade union and employers’ organisations.
On 8 September 2004, after 10 months of negotiations over wage increases with management at Estonian Railways (Eesti Raudtee), the Estonian Locomotive Workers’ Trade Union (Eesti Vedurimeeste Ametiühing) decided to hold a strike to support its demands. The main demands of the train drivers were a 15% pay rise, awarded retrospectively from 1 March 2004 until 31 December 2004, and the establishment of limits on overtime work. The management of Estonian Railways was willing to offer a pay rise of only 9%. One day before the planned strike on 23 September, the train drivers' union reduced its demands to:
an 11% pay rise retrospectively from 1 April 2004; and
regulation of overtime in the collective agreement for 2005.
The next day, the drivers launched their strike and threatened to bring freight traffic to a halt until their demands were met. On the first day of the strike, a picket was organised in front of the administrative building of Estonian Railways, attended by about 50 members of several trade unions. On the second day of the strike, train drivers at another railway company, Edelaraudtee, went on strike to support the demands of their counterparts in Estonian Railways. This 'support strike' lasted for two days. On the sixth day of the train drivers' strike, the Estonian Railway Workers’ Trade Unions (Eesti Raudteelaste Ametiühing, ERAÜ) started a support strike. ERAÜ is a member of a major inter-union joint strike pact (EE0310101N). While the other members of the pact did not join the strike, they declared solidarity with the train drivers. Altogether 23 trade union organisations declared their support for the 200 or so drivers, whole a number of solidarity actions were carried out by the Estonian Transport and Road Workers’ Trade Union (Eesti Transpordi- ja Teetöötajate Ametiühing, ETTA).
As the dispute did not seem to be nearing a resolution, the Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions (Eesti Ametiühingute Keskliit, EAKL) (EE0308101F) made a proposal to the Estonian Employers’ Confederation (Eesti Tööandjate Keskliit, ETTK) (EE0310102F) to form a conciliation commission. This commission, consisting of representatives of employers, EAKL and train drivers, held negotiations on 28 September and it was agreed that the strike would end on the next day. On 29 September, the strike was ended and a collective agreement signed between the train drivers' union and Estonian Railways. According to the agreement (which is valid for 15 months, from 1 November 2004 to 31 December 2005), the hourly wages of train drivers will be increased by 9%-15%, depending on the nature of their work.
The train drivers' six-day stoppage was the longest strike held in Estonia since its independence (EE0312103F).
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2004), Train drivers hold Estonia’s longest strike, article.
