INTER-AMERICA MEETING - Mexico City -- 9/1/99

ITF INTER-AMERICA MEETING
Mexico City -- 9/1/99 - 9/3/99

(LtoR - Benito Bahena Lome, ATM President ; Juan Manuel Palacios, UTA Secretary General; Chuck Hardie, Asst. Director of Gov't Affairs; David Rosen, TWU General Counsel; Bernie McNelis, UTU VP; Maurica Sant'Anna, ITF Regional Secretary; ITF Regional Secretary, ITF Assistant General Secretary

On behalf of the President C. L. Little and Assistant President Byron Boyd, Vice President McNelis attended a meeting of ITF Inter-American Road Transport Workers' Meeting in Mexico City from September 1 – 3, 1999, with which the UTU is affiliated.

In addition to the presence of the UTU, many Latin American countries were in attendance as well as a Union representative from the TWU and the IBT. Jointly chairing the meeting; from the office of the ITF in London, England were Assistant General Secretary

Assistant Secretary Inland Transport Mac Urata, ITF Regional Secretary Maurica Sant'Anna, UTA Secretary General Juan Manuel Palacios, ATM President Benito Bahena Lome and ITF Executive Board Member Omar Jose Gomez of Brazil. Assistant to Regional Secretary Filomena Garcia was in attendance and very instrumental in seeing that the meeting turned out to be the success it was.

This meeting was the gathering of Union Representatives from the Road Transport Workers of the Inter-Americas who represent member/workers from the Bus, Van, Taxi and Trucking Industries. There was some discussion regarding the concerns of rail Union members but the meeting was mainly for those members who work on the roads.

The agenda consisted of reports from the Secretary, National Reports, Drivers Hours/Fatigue, Day of Action, Issues facing the Unions throughout the Americas, Cross Border Trade Agreements (i.e. NAFTA), Multinational Companies, Mobilizing Solidarity and Women's Activities, Education and Urban Transport Issues.

The issue of vans, unregulated, non-union and illegally operating as individual taxi's or vans transporting passengers in front of unionized regularly scheduled bus service at a cheaper price was discussed. This is a major concern throughout the Americas as it is causing unemployment. The vehicles are unsafe, drivers untrained, usually do not have proper licenses, and do not carry liability insurance for the passengers. Hours of Service for bus and truck drivers were discussed at great length and many of the participants stated how drivers in their countries are working excessive hours. In many countries hours of service regulations are insufficient causing fatigue, health problems as well as social problems for the driver and their families.

There are over 600,000 women who are members of the ITF. Filomena Garcia and Maria Da Conceicao Gomes spoke about women's' issues and the increase in the number of women in the ITF and in leadership positions. Sisters Garcia and Gomez and other women in attendance spoke on the importance of solidarity between women and men.

The group also discussed multinational companies such as Stagecoach from London, England who recently acquired Coach, USA. There is a meeting in London on October 13 & 14 to further discuss multinational companies, their impact on the transit industry and their dealings with the Unions throughout the world.

Vice President McNelis spoke on the focus of safety in the bus and truck industry by the government regarding hours of service and how we are attempting to have the vans who haul our rail crews and the public regulated by the FHWA or the appropriate agency. Those regulations should include CDL'S for the drivers, hours of service and other rules or regulations for equipment safety. Vice President McNelis also spoke on women involvement within the UTU and how men and women must work together and that women need to be more involved in their union and politics. On the second day, NAFTA was another issue McNelis spoke on and the importance of the Unions on both sides of the border working together. The concerns of the union members on safety of the equipment, insurance, drug and alcohol testing, valid drivers licenses, vehicle inspection and wages were also discussed.

This was a very important meeting to discuss the common concerns of the unions and how we can unite together to tackle the many problems facing us all.

October 5, 1999 is the ITF Transport Workers Action Day to bring the concerns of fatigue and excessive driving hours to the attention of the public. I urge all members to drive their vehicles with their headlights on during the action day.

ITF Meeting - Mexico City - 9/1/99 - 9/3/99