No to transport violence film launches

The ITF is releasing a new film to help fight workplace violence, 28 April, International Workers’ Memorial Day.

The four minute film aims to empower urban transport workers to say no to violence at work and can be seen at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXTxQ2gvGzs&hd=1

ITF inland transport section secretary Mac Urata explained: "This is the latest tool in our and our member unions’ long running campaign against violence. We are determined that no one should have to work in fear of assault, harassment or bullying."

He continued: "The film will be complemented by the release of a special activists’ guidance pack. This contains the latest version of an ITF booklet called It’s part of our job but it shouldn’t be, which sets out how workers can combat what is a growing problem worldwide, as well as case studies of how unions have confronted violence against staff."

The film states:
‘Violence against people working in urban transport is increasing right around the world. It can be angry passengers sick of overpriced and privatised services, it can be drunken assaults or incidents by people under the influence of drugs, it can be bullying or sexual harassment in the workplace by passengers or by other workers or supervisors, it can be robbery and murder.

Violence can be physical or psychological. It can be an isolated incident or a series of events. It can be visible or hidden. Violence has become part of the daily routine for transport workers, but it shouldn’t be. It can be resisted. It can be beaten.

Around the world transport workers are fighting back. They and their trade unions are leading the effort to tackle the problem, proving that you are not alone, that you don’t have to put up with it, that you are part of something big to combat violence – hidden or open – in the transport workplace.

The ITF’s No to Violence campaign has mobilised transport workers and their unions to demand change: holding employers and governments to their responsibilities to ensure workers’ safety; and working with them to come up with innovative solutions and make changes in regulation; ITF campaign materials on violence at work have encouraged unions to approach the issue with workers so they can talk openly about violence, report and confront it.’

For more details of the campaign please see www.itfglobal.org/urban-transport/notoviolence.cfm