Day of action in rail sector

On 26 March 2002, trade unions representing rail workers organised an international day of action in support of safety and social standards in the sector. In Europe, the action focused on the forthcoming liberalisation of international rail freight transport within the EU.

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) staged its third international railway workers' day of action on 26 March 2002, under the slogan 'Safety first. Not profit'. The first day of action was held on 29 March 2000 (EU0004239N), while the second was held on 29 March 2001 (EU0105212N). In Europe, the action, coordinated by the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), focused on the European Commission's recent second EU 'railway package', which was discussed by the EU Transport Council of Ministers on 26 March. ETF stated that its main demand is for transport safety and social harmonisation to be at the heart of European railway policy, particularly in the context of the liberalisation of international freight transport within the EU, which is planned for 15 March 2003. ETF states that European legislation on safety, qualification standards and harmonised working conditions is incomplete and will not be fully in place until after liberalisation.

ETF's key demands are:

• the maintenance of integrated railway companies;

• social harmonisation and commitments from the EU to combat 'social dumping';

• transparency and participation in the development, implementation and monitoring of European legislation;

• representation of European rail unions in the European Railway Agency; and

• more financial means for investments in safe railways.

An ETF spokesperson, Sabine Trier, stated that: 'One year before the start of liberalised cross-border rail freight operations, new legislative initiatives for the railway sector must concentrate on safety and social harmonisation. We do not want to have the same safety and social conditions as the road sector.' She added that, although rail is still the safest mode of transport, the increasing number of accidents is a cause for concern – an increased number of new operators and cross-border operations in a liberalised European market needs harmonised safety and social standards.

The day of action was supported by rail trade unions in various countries, including unions from Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and Luxembourg, which joined a European rally in Brussels on the afternoon of 26 March.