Unions are pressing forward with their global campaign for safe and sustainable railways and will seize the opportunity to influence to demand the international labour standards for rail in 2025.
Trade unionists came together today at the ITF’s Rail Conference in Marrakech to endorse a five-point plan for the next five years which prioritises:
- Expanding the Safe and Sustainable Rail campaign
- Strengthening gender equality and women’s inclusion in railways
- Addressing the linkage between rail freight and warehousing in global supply chains
- Developing the capacity of unions through ‘union-building’ projects
- Securing strong recommendations at the upcoming rail-focused meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2025.
Delegates emphasised safety being at the forefront of the union agenda, especially as workers continue to experience the consequences of cuts to funding, jobs and chronic understaffing.
Railway workers are crucial to ensuring our railways are safe for the communities they serve. We will not allow safety or working standards on our railways to be degraded.
In an emotional moment, the conference held a minute silence for comrades we have lost since our conference 2018 including sister Janina Malinovska Asistant Secretary Inland Transport and José Bonnin Toro, an ITF Global Task Force member who tragically lost his life alongside rail worker Daniel Vega in a railway accident in June.
Their loss is a stark reminder of the dangers our workers face every day, and it is a motivation for all of us to fight even harder for the safety of our colleagues and the communities we serve. We owe it to them, and to every railway worker, to demand the highest safety standards on our railways.
Delegates also endorsed the Railway Workers’ Disability Charter, a landmark commitment to ensuring that disabled workers are fully supported in the workplace.
Lamiaa Kamal, a disabled worker from Morocco’s UMT union, spoke about the importance of championing accessibility as an equalities issue.
“As a visually impaired worker, I understand firsthand the barriers that disabled people face in the workplace. But I also know that when we come together, we have the power to ensure that all workers, regardless of ability, are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Kamal.
“The Railway Workers’ Disability Charter is a powerful tool for change. It represents a commitment to ensuring that disabled workers across the railways can contribute fully and equally.”
Delegates also approved four motions and one emergency motion brought forward by affiliates that will be woven into the five-year priorities plan and will be critical tools in safeguarding workers’ futures:
- Driverless trains: A motion submitted by JRU (Japan) warns of the risks posed by automation, calling for stronger oversight and regulatory frameworks to prevent accidents and job losses. The motion underscores the importance of skilled human labour in maintaining safety standards.
- Preventing fragmentation and privatisation: A motion moved by EVG Germany and supported by five European rail affiliates highlights the need to halt the dismantling of integrated public rail companies, a growing trend that threatens to fragment service delivery, compromise safety and create job losses. This motion will drive campaigns to stop privatisation efforts that prioritise profits over people.
- Investing in rail to tackle climate change: UK union ASLEF submitted a motion that makes the case for public investment in rail infrastructure as a key to reducing global carbon emissions, emphasising the importance of affordability of passenger rail to achieve these goals.
- Training young workers: The need to invest in the next generation of rail workers was reinforced by a motion spearheaded by CGT (France), with support from RMT (UK), and unions in Morocco, France and the Netherlands. The motion seeks to educate young workers about the social and political context of railway work and to engage them in the Safe and Sustainable Railways campaign.
Congress also passed an emergency Motion: “Trade union rights in Pakistan railways” submitted by Pakistan Railway Workers’ Union Open Line. The conference condemned the railway authorities for prohibiting access to the railway union leaders and for mistreating railway workers.
As the rail section moves forward, the motions passed at this conference and the five-point workplan will guide unions in their efforts to secure safer, fairer railways. From combatting understaffing to protecting public railways from privatisation, railway unions remain steadfast in their fight to ensure railways serve workers and communities alike.
“Rail workers and communities share a common interest in promoting rail as a sustainable option for the transportation of both passengers and goods,” added Noel Coard, ITF Inland Transport Sections Secretary. “We will fight to ensure that our railways are run in the interests of the public good with meaningful training opportunities for young people and that commercial supply chains guarantee principles of human rights due diligence are being followed.”
Noel Coard expressed his gratitude to Chair David Gobe for his outstanding efforts and extended his congratulations to Julio Sosa from La Fraternidad, Argentina who became the newly elected Chair of the Railway Section.
Julio Sosa also received a Gold Award in recognition of his significant contributions and dedicated efforts to the ITF.
Global position holders are:
- Chair Julio Sosa La Fraternidad, Argentina
- Vice Chair Raul Sengo SINPOCAF, Mozambique
- Vice Chair Mohammad Naseem Rao, RWU Pakistan
- Vice Chair C A Rajasridhar AIRF, India (Urban Transport)
- Global Women’s Rep Simi Lalsingh NFIR, India
- Global Youth Rep Preeti Singh AIRF, India.
