Privatisation - French Railways - Dugny Campsite Struggle
RMT: 15 August 2005
Circular No.NP334/05
To the Secretary, All Branches and Regional Councils
Dear Colleague,
Following consideration of an invitation from Sud-rail, the French Trade Union Federation of railworkers, to attend a "struggle campsite" on 16th and 17th September, 2005 to protest against rail privatisation in France, the Council of Executives carried the following decision:
?That we instruct the General Secretary to send a message of support to the SUD-Rail ?Struggle Campsite? and we send as many Council of Executives members as possible to attend. We further instruct the General Secretary to circulate this item to Branches and Regional Council encouraging as many members to attend as possible.?
The background to this issue is that on 2nd May the French railway workers' trade union federations called a demonstration in Metz against Rail Privatisation to coincide with the operation of the first private freight train on the French National rail network from Dugny-sur-Meuse, in eastern France.
When this occurred, on 13 June, French riot police removed hundreds of railway workers occupying the tracks by baton charges and teargas to enable the Connex train to run.
On 30 June the French Transport Minister held discussions with the trades unions without mentioning that on the previous day he had secretly authorised a licence for passenger transport for Connex.
SUD-rail federation rejects the models of British and Japanese railways, privatised in order to guarantee profits to a minority, and are anxious to ensure that the first operation of a private train on the French national rail network since 1937 should not take place without a response.
Therefore SUD-Rail is organising a "struggle campsite" between 1st and 3rd September, at Dungy, (Meuse, Eastern France) in order to stop the operation of the private train. They are hoping many European railworker colleagues will join the camp to demonstrate their opposition.
The nearest station to Dugny is Verdun, however, SUD-Rail will meet RMT demonstrators at Chalons-sur-Marne. Tents will be provided and it will therefore not be necessary to take equipment other than personal sleeping bags and of course Union banners if possible.
Please contact my National Policy Department at Head Office, 020 7529 8822 or James Croy if you would like to attend the camp.
Yours sincerely,
R. Crow
General Secretary