Railway workers' unions stage day of protest

European railway workers' trade unions, coordinated by the European Transport Workers' Federation, participated in a day of protest on 29 March 2000. The aim of the protest was to criticise EU plans to introduce a "European rail freight network" which, according to the unions, could lead to "social dumping" and lower safety standards. The day of action also promoted the railways infrastructure as an environmentally-friendly and safe mode of transport.

On 29 March 2000, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) organised a first International Railway Workers' Day. European railway workers' trade unions, coordinated by the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), took part in the day of action. According to the ETF general secretary, Doro Zinke: "European railway workers are fighting for the future of their railways. Workers can make a valuable contribution to promoting this transport mode. This is why an action day is taking place. Key issues for such an alternative approach are: safety first not profits; investment and fair competition; cooperation and not privatisation, public services and sustainable mobility."

One of the main aims of the protest in the European Union was to criticise a draft Directive on railways infrastructure, whose goals include the establishment of a "European rail freight network", which would mean the liberalisation of rail freight transport throughout the EU network. A common position on the draft Directive was adopted at the Transport Council of Ministers on 28 March 2000 and the draft Directive will now go back to the European Parliament for a second reading.

The ETF is concerned that liberalisation will lead to:

• "social dumping";

• cheap labour;

• a drop in standards; and

• threats to safety.

The ETF spokesperson for railways, Sabine Trier, stated: "A vast amount of further work is necessary in areas such as technical and social interoperability, the promotion of safety standards, harmonised working conditions, investments and their financing and the promotion of cooperation among railway companies."

Through the March day of action, the unions also wanted to demonstrate that they can make a contribution to the promotion of the rail network as an environmentally-friendly and safe means of transport which can offer high-quality services and provide good and secure employment opportunities.

One of the major focuses of the day of action in Europe was the organisation of three international "campaign train" journeys, with accompanying press conferences, which involved railway workers' unions in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Luxembourg. The first train travelled from Brussels to Turin via Luxembourg and France; the second from Brussels to Passau, Germany; and the third from Sopron, on the Hungary-Austria border, to Vienna.