The structural changes within the railways are also problematic for railway safety. The splitting up of companies and the widespread use of outsourcing and workforce agencies makes the lines of responsibility unclear. Experience and training levels are often low, since many of these companies performing railway services often have their main operations in other sectors. Railway companies operate with their own specially designed safety procedures, which can lead to misunderstandings and confusion among workers shifting jobs. At the same time, in many countries, the safety authorities are assigned tasks as an authority to enforce competition and to open the market. This shifts the focus away fromsafety.


The role of unions in guaranteeing safety


The railway workers’ trade unions are the strongest guarantee for upholding and developing a high level of railway safety. In this work we should seek alliances with other supportive forces in civil society, for instance political parties sympathetic to the situation in the railway sector, and passenger organizations.


Trade unions must play an active role in maintaining and improving operational safety levels. The Collective Bargaining Agreements must have strong safety related provisions for issues such as working time regulations, professional training, work place standards and procedures for active participation in the safety work of the company. Health and safety issuesmust be an integrated part of trade union work as a whole, and have the support of the trade union leadership.


International trade union cooperation for railway safety must be stronger International cooperation between the railway workers’ unions is becoming more and more important. The liberalization and privatization policies pursued by many governments are general, global trends. Governments learn from each other and import solutions. Trade unions also work together and learn from each other, but cooperation must be even stronger. We have the tools, the national trade unions, the regional cooperation and the railway section of the ITF.


Trade union solidarity for a safe railway system!


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