rail
News and articles about work, policy and workers' struggles in transport and distribution around the world.
The Despotism of Speed
This was published in the early 90s by someone in or around the Encyclopaedie des Nuisances, at the time of the vast extension of the TGV (fast-speed railway) into all parts of France.
Translated from the French.
PROVISIONAL SUMMARY OF OUR GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE DESPOTISM OF SPEED
On the occasion of the extension of the T.G.V. fast-speed railway track.
Tube strike goes ahead as lawyers scrap deal
Thousands of London Underground workers have launched a 48 hour strike against pay and job cuts.
Talks took place today, Tuesday 9 June, to avert industrial action but a proposed deal was withdrawn:
Tube workers strike over safety equipment
Tube drivers on the Victoria line are staging a 24-hour strike in a row over door safety equipment. About 180 drivers on the Victoria Line stopped working from 9pm on Tuesday.
The RMT union claims trains need safety features to prevent doors from opening on the wrong side.
The industrial action is being taken by workers from the Seven Sisters depot in north London. The workers said the correct door-side enabling equipment was installed on all other lines on the London Underground.
Israeli wildcat strikers kicked out of union
In unprecedented move, the Histadrut union federation has ousted leaders of last weeks wildcat strike on Israel Railways.
The action paves the way for Israel Railways management to prosecute the six workers committee members as if they were regular employees.
Aftermath of wildcat at Israel Railways
Using an inside source, an Israeli libertarian communist constructs an analysis of the picture behind the scenes at the recent wildcat of Israel Railways workers. For context, see the original news update.
“We couldn't even walk around a train station without workers eating at us!” – One of the six union representatives accused of being responsible for the wildcat, at the disciplinary hearing.
“What you saw today was a distress signal from workers without a leadership... what they needed was a bear hug, an open ear...” – advocate for same, at the disciplinary hearing.
Welsh rail wildcat over pay
Passengers are facing "severe disruption" to Arriva Trains Wales rail services on Sunday due to unofficial industrial action.
Drivers' union Aslef said it was not supporting the action over pay.
Services cancelled include trains to Cardiff from Treherbert, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Ebbw Vale, Barry, Penarth, Bridgend and to Manchester. Arriva Trains Wales apologised and advised people to make alternative arrangements for any essential travel.
Israel: northern Israel Railways workers in wildcat strike
Israel Railways workers in Haifa conducted a wildcat strike this morning, Thursday Feb 5th, in response to fraud charges against official union members, and replacement of workers not loyal to management.
The wildcat is said to have been organized by an unofficial union committee. The official union committee has ceased functioning since the beginning of a probe by police fraud sections of its leaders.
Train travel has been disrupted around Israel throughout the day, as Israel Railways claims it was "forced" to close all travel, not just to the north, due to safety reasons.
General strike hits France
As the recession begins to bite in France, transport, education and other services are brought to a halt by a national strike demanding action on unemployment and the rising cost of living.
Bloomberg business news reported that France’s rail network, airports and public schools were disrupted today as the country’s eight biggest labor unions called for a one-day general strike.
Norwegian train drivers strike for Gaza
Norwegian transport workers engage in short symbolic strike against the attack on Gaza.
On Thursday 8 January all trains in the whole of Norway, and all trams and subways in Oslo, stood still for two minutes in protest against the Israeli invasion. The union issued the following information for passengers:
Notes of a militarised Spanish Renfe rail worker, 1976
The very interesting personal account of a rail worker in post-Franco Spain when the railways were militarised following a strike in 1976.
RENFE: THE TESTIMONY OF A MILITARISED WORKER...
Renfe, through its rail services, spreads throughout the Spanish State, and is the company which employs most workers (72,000). Every Spaniard knows this and also knows that these workers have the job of ensuring a regular service to the country, crucial to its well-being and development.
