43c/UtCom/Report 5.


He highlighted that the ITF’s campaign on passenger multinationals will continue. There have been successful cases of international solidarity and union coordination but more needs to be done. Based on the MOU signed with the UITP in 2013, a working group will be set-­‐up to focus primarily on violence at work and research on new modes of transport for example, BRT. The Our Public Transport campaign, to be launched at the Congress, calls for campaigns against further liberalisation of public transport, promotion and expansion of public transport, and protection of workers’ rights including the right to strike; promotion of alternative transport policies against neo-­‐ liberalism; and organising campaigns to build stronger unions. There will also be opportunity for coordination with other GUFs on joint issues such as tax justice.


6.


Ruwan Subasinghe (ITF legal advisor) added his remarks by inviting delegates to sign-­‐up to the international campaign www.right2strike.org, which will be launched once the motion on human and trade union rights is adopted in the plenary.


7.


Eighteen delegates from Brazil, France, Germany, India, Korea, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, South Africa, Swaziland, UK and USA participated in the discussion. Issues raised included:


• Multinationals such as National Express, Veolia/Transdev are notorious for their anti-­‐union policies. For example, drivers at SuperShuttle in Denver, USA – a subsidiary of Transdev – are fighting to gain a first contract with the company in the face of anti-­‐union attacks. International solidarity and coordinated union actions are therefore of high importance.


• The right to strike is often restricted in urban transport due to the requirement to provide essential services. ITF support is needed in lobbying international bodies, including the ILO, to ensure that the right to strike is guaranteed and that the core ILO conventions are ratified. There are challenges in some countries like Swaziland where international labour standards are not observed and trade unionists are arrested for participating in strike actions.


• With growing populations in urban areas, the provision of public services, including transport, will be essential. Privatisation has not improved services. Public transport has a social character and must be accessible for all groups in society. Unions therefore need to take a leading role to defend, safeguard and re-­‐nationalise public transport and campaign for investment. It is crucial to join forces around public transport and unite globally in order to fight globally against privatisation. There have been successful examples where transport systems have been brought back into state ownership. It is important to work with other GUFs and in particular PSI as part of the campaign against liberalisation.


• Outsourcing is a growing phenomenon in public transport, even where privatisation is not taking place. It is essential to fight against outsourcing.


• Exchange of information and experiences of campaigns against privatisation and promotion of public transport play a vital role in the union response.


• Unions need to consider development of alliances with civil society organisations such as passenger groups in order to promote public transport and cooperate on climate change issues.


• Campaigning on tax justice is a central tool to fight against austerity measures imposed by governments in response to the global economic crisis.


• The campaign to promote public transport goes hand in hand with climate change policies, and so this link needs to be strengthened. Unions need to take a lead on this as there will be no jobs on a dead planet. Reduction of private vehicles and promotion of public transport will increase the development of jobs in transport, decrease pollution and CO2 emissions. Urban


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