Open World Conference of Workers

In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights

Russia

Rail Workers' Preparatory Conference for Berlin   

Victory Over Labor Code Reform

Appeal Launched by the Railworkers of Murom to Railworkers in the West

Introduction
An international conference of railworkers met in Saint Petersburg (ex-Leningrad ) in Russia on November 3-4, 2001.

This conference, convened by Russian railworkers, gathered 2,426 railworkers from Saint Petersburg, Moscow and Murom in Russia, as well as four railworkers from France, one from Germany and a London tube driver.

The Conference received support from the Rail federation affiliated to the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, the railworkers union affiliated to the Korean KCTU, and from Swiss and Brazilian rail unionists.

In the last few years 540,000 Russian railworkers have been made redundant. Now proposals to privatise the rail system are threatening to double this figure.

The Conference noted the similarities between the process of privatisation in Russia, what happened in Britain, and what is also happening in France and Germany. In every case the starting point is the division of the system according to specific activities within the framework set by regionalisation.

The conference also noted that privatisation is also being extended to water, power and gas distribution as well as to civil aviation.

Privatisation and deregulation policies have the same source: They are dictated by Brussels [the European Union], the IMF and the World Bank.

The Conference also noted that whatever the country, railworkers are resisting, opposing privatisation and fighting for renationalisation where privatisation has taken place.

Drawing the lessons of the consequences of privatisation in the UK, the Conference reached unanimously the conclusion that fighting against deregulation and privatisation was the only way to preserve the gains of civilisation.

This is why the Conference was unanimous in its support for the International Conference Against Deregulation and for Labour Rights for All, to be held in Berlin in February 2002, considering that the Berlin conference will be a leaning point for the fight against deregulation and privatisation in every country.

An appeal to the railworkers of the world in support of the Berlin Conference was adopted.

A liaison committee composed of railworkers from each country represented was also established.

A press conference was also organised with the participation of the delegates from each country.

This bulletin publishes the documents adopted by the Conference as well as the appeal to the Berlin Conference.

If you wish to be kept informed, complete the form and you will receive regular information sent by the International Railworkers' Liaison Committee.

Support the Berlin conference, participate in the Conference!

Take back the track! Renationalise Railtrack! Renationalise the railways! No privatisation of the London tube!


**************

Appeal of the International Railworkers' Conference (Saint-Petersburg, November 3-4, 2001) to the Workers of all Countries

The privatisation of railways is a destructive phenomenon and is becoming more common, even though railworkers everywhere are resolutely opposed to it. We know the consequences of privatisation. We are all familiar with the example of the British railways: tragic accidents (37 dead at Paddington), price increases, attacks on railworkers' rights and benefits won over the years (deregulation), the deterioration of operating conditions, worsening working conditions, etc.

The creation of a publicly-owned railway system was a step forward for civilisation, and must not be abandoned.

The privatisation of the railways is one element of a global policy of deregulating and privatising the public sector, which the IMF, the World Bank and the European Union are trying to impose on all countries in all areas of life: the closure of hospitals and maternity wards, the privatisation of electricity and water, the destruction of pension systems and of agreements achieved through collective bargaining.

We call on workers throughout the world to unite in order to organise resistance to this policy and to campaign for the renationalisation of everything that has been privatised.

Resistance to this destructive policy is being organised in each country. Such resistance is indispensable, but it is not enough: faced with a worldwide policy of destruction, we must respond with a worldwide campaign waged by the workers of all countries.

We must organise; together we must prepare the International Conference in Berlin in February 2002, which will bring together workers' delegates from all continents and from tens of countries to fight against privatisation and against deregulation.

As no government body or international institution is financing our activity, we appeal to all workers to help by making a financial contribution in order to enable delegates to attend the Conference.

Saint-Petersburg, November 3-4, 2001.

Signed by 26 Russian rail-workers, three Russian activists and the English, French and German delegates to the conference.

******************

Creation of an International Committee Against Rail Privatisation

Railworkers from Russia, France, England and Germany assembled in Saint-Petersburg, November 3-4, 2001 -- taking into account the position described in the messages of solidarity sent to the conference from Pakistan, the Ukraine, Estonia, South Korea and Brazil, and noting that only publicly-owned railway systems guarantee the equality of all citizens and their freedom of movement -- have decided to create an International Committee Against Rail Privatisation.

The tasks of the Committee are: first, to make information about rail-workers' struggles against privatisation more widely available in all countries of the world; second, to help to establish links in the international struggle against rail privatisation and against privatisation in other areas; and finally, to contribute to the development of international solidarity.

This Committee rests on the following principles:

It does not aim or intend to be a rival either to the trade unions or to the political parties. Its sole aim is to bring together the railworkers of different countries in order to work with them to express and organise effective resistance to privatisation. As the Committee is not a rival to the trade unions or to the political parties, membership of the Committee implies no obligations on participants.

The Committee is open to all those organisations or individuals who share its aims and its tasks. Decision-making in the Committee is based on a democratic principle: anyone who is not in agreement with its decisions is free to not act on them, but may not oppose them.

The first measure decided on by the signatories of this declaration is to broaden the Committee and to develop its activities, to preparer the conference against privatisation and deregulation to be held in Berlin in February 2002.

Saint-Petersburg, November 3-4, 2001

Signed by the members of the Bureau of the Committee

*********************

Also:

British Preparatory Committee of the Berlin Conference Against Deregulation and Privatisation

URGENT APPEAL TO THE RUSSIAN DUMA: Don't Privatise the Russian Railways!

(please circulate and return to <Stefanc@leeds-art.ac.uk)

We, the undersigned, have been informed that the bill privatising the Russian rail system is due to be introduced on November 28, 2001 at the Russian Duma.

In the UK, the Paddington disaster showed that the privatisation of the railways, putting profit before safety, was detrimental to both the railworkers and the transport users.

With Russian railworkers we say: don't privatise the Russian railways!

Endorsements (initial list):

Stefan Cholewka Editor The Link; Dr David Cromwell, University of Southampton; Helen Hintjens, University of Wales Swansea; Alan Lafferty (Dr) NATFHE (English Universities Lecturers Union); Dr. Nat M. Queen University of Birmingham AUT (Association of University Teachers Union ); Dr John Parrington, University College London; Martin Moloney, London School of Economics, Martyn Edelsten, University of Edinburgh; A S Rinomhota, University of Leeds; Dr M. Messkoub, Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds; Oliver Springate-Baginski, University of Leeds; Brian Nugent, Secretary, Shetland College EIS; Ben Rickman, Secretary, Brent TUC; David McKnight, Youth Coaltion Gogledd Cymru; Dorothy Macedo, Unison delegate to Greater London Labour Party executive board; Dexter Whitfield, Centre for Public Services, University of Leeds; Oliver New, President RMT London Transport Regional Council (tube workers); Maggie Sumner, University of Westminster; Dr. Mayeh Omar, Lecturer University of Leeds, Malcolm Law University of York; Peter Glanville, University of York, Choong-Ho Kang, University of Leeds; Dr Bob TennantSecretary, Greater London Association of Trades Councils

Back to Berlin Conference        Back to Home