rail

Indefinite Transport Workers' Strike in South Africa

Submitted by Django on May 15 2010 08:34

Transport workers in South Africa have been on strike since the 10th of May. Major South African exports, including fruit, metals and wine have sat idle in warehouses following the walkouts of railway and port workers.

The strike has involved some 50,000 workers, including members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), the South African Railways and Harbour Workers' Union and the United Transport and Allied Trade Union. The workers are in dispute with Transnet Ltd., South Africa's largest rail and port operator and freight logistics company.

Eastleigh Railway Works: two texts from Boot 'Em! and a 2010 postscript

Submitted by Wellclose Square on Apr 20 2010 15:39

Here follow two texts from Boot 'Em!, an anarchist paper - 'for autonomous class struggle' - produced in Southampton, UK, which ran for four issues from 1985-86. The first is a leaflet handed to the day shift at the BREL works at Eastleigh (and incorporated in Boot 'Em! No.3). The second is an article about the works from No.4. A postcript from 2010 concludes the series of texts with an interesting account of working life at Eastleigh.

Boot 'Em! No.3 Feb/March 1986.


GIVE BLOOD –
NOT OURS –
THE BOSSES’

Network Rail dispute: Railway signallers vote for strike action

Submitted by Django on Mar 20 2010 11:57

Following in the wake of votes for strike action by railway maintenance workers and supervisors, signallers have delivered a vote for strike action in an RMT-organised ballot.

The ballot is over the same dispute – cutbacks being imposed by Network rail which are opposed due to concern over safety and job cuts. The company plans to axe 1,500 of 18,000 jobs as part of its restructuring plans, which have been criticised by the Office of Rail Regulation and by 150 MPs.

Railway maintenance workers vote to strike, further action brewing in the industry

Submitted by Django on Mar 12 2010 20:16

RMT members have voted strongly for strike action, in what stands to be the first national strike of rail workers in 16 years. Other workers including signallers and electrical supply controllers may also strike following their ballots in the coming weeks.

Railway maintenance workers have voted for strike action in an RMT-organised ballot, with the prospect of strikes over the Easter bank holiday - the most effective time to take action – still on the table.

Riot at Old Station, Faridabad

An account of a commuter riot against poor service in India, 2006.

A daily commuter: The 7:55 am Mathura Shuttle towards Delhi, the 8:15 am Ballabhgarh train and the 8:35 am Palwal Shuttle haven’t reached New Town Station yet, and it is already 8:35 am. The platform is packed with commuters. The Ballbhagarh train arrives New Station at 8:40 am, there is a fair bit of pushing and punching and quite a lot of people miss the train.

Belgian rail-workers blockade depots as strike grows

Submitted by jef costello on Feb 16 2010 12:43

Belgian rail-workers have organised strikes across the country after the fatal crash yesterday which left 18 people, including the train driver, dead.

Machinists and technical workers have blockaded depots across the country with services most afffected in Wallonia. Train drivers and signal workers are also observing the strike.

Wired - temp-work in the rail-industry, Germany, 2006

Vossloh worker

Prol-Position examine working life and the use of agency staff in railway infrastructure corporation Vossloh.

The corporation Vossloh: From Prussian war profiteer to multinational investor of the rail-industry

Capital moves: transport and logistics

An analysis of the global transport and distribution industry, particularly with respect to the advent of "just-in-time" delivery and the implications for the working class.

Finally some damage to the national economy! -Wildcat

Wildcat's analysis of the German railway strikes in autumn and winter 2007, and interview with striking train drivers.

"I assume that once the next strike is on our workmates will form discussion groups in order to debate about the 'here and now'. This is how it was during the last strike, colleagues debated a lot and could not stop talking. There wasn't a moment when you were alone with your thoughts for more than five minutes."
- A striking commuter train driver

Intro

Striking transport workers in Lyon occupy head office

Submitted by jef costello on Sep 29 2009 21:24

After six days of strike action 20 workers have occupied parts of the head office of Keolis, the company responsible for the city's public transport.

The strike action began on Thursday with strong support by workers leaving only 58% of metro; 32% of tram and 25% of bus services running. Workers were protesting against management attempts to remove a large number of conditions from their contracts.