rail
News and articles about work, policy and workers' struggles in transport and distribution around the world.
More strikes expected as Greece passes pension reform
Greek unions promise to continue protests against the government's pension reforms, passed on Thursday.
The pension reform raises the retirement age for women to 65 and workers in hazardous industries will have to work an extra two years. Many accuse the conservative government of going back on pre-election promises not to cut pension rights.
Greece heading towards general strike
Greek workers are set to go on general strike tomorrow (Wednesday 19th March) in protest of the government's planned pension reforms.
The government's reforms would mean the merging of pension funds and increasing the pension age for some workers. The government, however, has not made public any details on the size of savings that will accrue from the reforms. The trade unions have also argued that the current pension system could survive if bosses were made to pay their contributions.
Railway, agricultural workers protest and walk out
Recent weeks have seen a continuation of the workers' unrest in Egypt, with over 2,000 agricultural workers going on all-out strike at the end of February and 100 railway workers protesting their pay and conditions at the start of March.
Agricultural workers strike & sit-in
Mexico City metro workers in work stoppages
Workers in the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC) in Mexico City - the underground train service - have announced a series of 10 and 15 minute service stoppages in response to government stalling on a list of demands submitted way back in November.
The stoppages will start next Wednesday (12th), with the majority of the 12,000 employees of the service expected to observe it.
Greece: general strike by public service workers
Public service workers in Greece have gone on strike, for the second time in two months, to defend their pensions.
The strikes have virtually paralysed the country as workers nation-wide seek to defend their pensions and protest against a government that has broken its promises.
Edinburgh rail workers in wildcat strike
Rail signallers in Edinburgh went on wildcat strike, bringing the station to a standstill for an hour on Monday.
The action at Edinburgh's Waverly station was taken in a dispute over the provision of cover for breaks. David Simpson, of Network Rail in Scotland, said the "deliberately disruptive, unprovoked action" was "completely unacceptable".
Ian MacIntyre, the RMT's regional organiser for Scotland, was reported as saying: "Our members took the action in the interests of safety.
Hungary: rail workers' strike becomes unlimited
Hungary's largest rail union announced that its members would continue their current strike indefinitely.
The strike began with a nine-hour stoppage on Friday, workers then recommenced action on Monday, practically paralysing Hungary's rail network. After this second one-day strike it was decided to continue action. According to the state rail company (MAV) only one in five trains ran yesterday, with the captial, Budapest, particularly affected.
Belgium: train conductors wildcat over violence
[1].jpg "2003 rail picket in Liège")
A wildcat strike by conductors over violence has rapidly spread across Belgian railways.
The strike began late Monday night at the Mons et La Louvière depot after two conductors were attacked on a train and their colleagues walked out in support. As new shifts arrived from 4:30am more workers joined the action. In all only two conductors crossed pickets and at least 30 trains had been cancelled by 6:30am.
France: round-up of strikes and more government attacks on conditions
The government continues attacking workers and immigrants and workers continue defending themselves.
Just outside of Paris at the Areva TD factory in Montrouge, 89 striking workers have been occupying and blockading the factory for four days.The movement began after management announced plans to close the factory, which produces electrical transformers. Workers are demanding large compensation payments, management is currently refusing to negotiate.
Greece: General strike against pension reform
Thousands of Greek workers have joined a 24-hour strike in protest against reforms which could jeapordise pensions and jobs.
Launched by Greece's two largest unions, the strike has affected all public services, hospitals, banks, courts and airports. All flights out of Athens airport have been grounded after air traffic controllers, pilots and flight crews walked out, and ferry and metro systems across the country have been hit.
