Make an action at Connex
offices or Swedish embassies November 18th
and/or
send your email protest
to Connex, the responsible public transport
authority and inform the trade union and FoE Sweden:
We denounce Connex action
in the privatised public transport in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
Sacking the trade union leader Per Johansson fighting for metro security
measures is a threat to the public and a threat to freedom of speech
and democracy. Privatisation of public transport has been globally by
world wide corporations like Connex. It has been followed by accidents
and weakening of service standards which is a threat to the public and
the environment. It is of vital importance to society that trade
unions can defend the rights of workers and the right to inform the public
on security concerns. We demand the withdrawal of the dismissal
of Per Johansson and his reinstatement.
Send to
Connex: info@connex.se
SL, public transport authority: registrator@sl.se
SEKO klubb 119, the trade union: liljeholmen@klubb119.org
Friends of the Earth Sweden:
connex@mjv.se
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Friends of the Earth and Attac Background
2005-11-13
Friends of the Earth, Sweden and Attac in Sweden and Denmark call for
international protest to support freedom of speach and the right to
tell the public about security and working environment problems in
public transport companies.
Connex attempt to silence the metro drivers
trade union in Stockholm by sacking the chairman Per Johansson is not
only a threat against trade unions all over the world. It is also a
threat against the right of the public to get informed about serious
security risks and have something being done about it.
Only the democratic
right to organise trade unions willing to stand up and tell the truth
guarantees that private companies will choose, under all circumstances,
security before profit. Connex argument for sacking stating disloyalty
climing no connection to Per Johanssons well-known concern for trade
union rights and public security is not valid.
When Connex sacks a trade union chairman in Stockholm it is of a
wider concern. We are all threatened if corporations can force
trade unions
to silence their concern for effects on the public of what companies
are doing. It is also worrying if they can do it in Sweden in a country
were more than 80 percentage of the workforce are members of trade
unions, a higher percentage than anywhere else in the world. If corporations
can force the trade union to be silent in Sweden, they can do it
more easily anywhere.
Privatisation a threat to security and democracy
Furthermore is the way Connex acts in Sweden an example on how privatisation
of publicly owned companies strangles democracy and is a threat
to security and the environment. Before public transport was privatised
in Sweden nothing similar to the attempts now being made to act
against
trade unions concerned of public transport security issues took
place.
The experience of privatisation of public transport in Great
Britain
and other countries shows how security risks and more accidents
becomes more common when corporations takes over and unions are
put under
pressure.
Connex is furthermore a company that creates problems also
in other places. The privatised railway north of the polar
circle
in Sweden
and Norway is run by Connex causing severe diminishing of
service and thus more car traffic which is shown by a recent study
made by Friends
of the Earth Sweden. Green MP candidate Zaida Catalan protests
against Connex building a tram system for settlers on occupied
territory
in Jerusalem. In 24 countries Connex is active creating democratic
and
security conflicts that are not acceptable.
We support the trade unions in Sweden and International Transport
Federation protesting against the sacking of Per Johansson.
We call upon all people
concerned of democracy, security and environment and the
problems following privatisation to protest against Connex.
Preferably
on the international
action day November 18 announced by the trade union SEKO
klubb 119.
This can be done at any Connex office or any other office
that represents
the
mother company Veolia, the owner of Connex, Onyx, Dalkia,
Veolia Water and others.
You can also protest at the Swedish
embassy
in countries
were Connex is not operating. The protests in Sweden
are growing and it is now of importance to also get wider support
internationally
and
from all movements concerned about justice and the well-being
of the public.
Connex is operating in the followwing countries: Australia,
Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Colombia, Denmark ,
Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Jersey, the Netherlands,
New Caledonia,
New Zeeland, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland,
US.
You can use the protest symbol made by Friends of the
Earth Sweden as a poster, for leaflets or stickers as
you wish
to. Print the pdf files or make your own material using the
symbol.
Connex is a threat to security and democracy - STOP privatization
- Reinstall trade unionist Per Johansson.
2 protest badges A4 (pdf)
8 protest badges A4 (pdf)
Protestsymbol (jpg)
Please
inform SEKO klubb 119 and us about your action. We
are especially thankful
for pictures sent by email or mail. Send them to:
SEKO KLUBB 119
http://www.klubb119.org
e-mail: liljeholmen@klubb119.org
Tel: +46 8 686 42 46
Fax: +46 8 686 42 54
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1. Trade Union call
2. International Transport
Federation statement
Trade Union Call
2005-11-02
Stockholm metro: The sacking of the chairman of the union
An appeal for support - Connex Employees plan for a new strike
November 18th has been declared a day of protest against the anti-union
policy of Connex in general and against the sacking of Per Johansson
in particular. We are appealing for your solidarity.
On September 27th, his employer, Connex Sweden, fired Per Johansson,
chairman of the metro drivers' union of Stockholm. The reason for this
was Johansson's alleged disloyalty to the company and his alleged rudeness
towards his "fellow employees" (probably referring to his bosses).
Connex maintains that the sacking is in no way related to Johansson's
role as union chairman. The members of his union and other unions think
otherwise.
Under Johansson's chairmanship the union has gained considerable ground
in questions concerning wages and working hours. The immediate cause
for his dismissal, however, is probably his focus on safety and working
environment. Together with the elected safety controllers the union has
put its finger on several sore spots. The safety controllers have used
their power to stop the traffic on three different occasions after severe
incidents. Insufficient measures having been taken to remedy the ills,
Johansson has gone public. In all likelihood this constitutes his "disloyalty".
Since the sacking of Johansson the metro drivers' union has convened
meetings for its enraged members at least once a week to discuss measures.
In Sweden trade unions are tied up by collective labour contracts. This
makes it impossible for the union to call for a strike in support of
Johansson. Nevertheless, the metro drivers went on an unauthorised strike
on the morning of October 6th. The Stockholm metro came very close to
a complete standstill. At nine o'clock, the traffic was resumed. On the
same day a demonstration was stages in front of the main office of Connex
Sweden.
The metro drivers' union has continually taken many actions, putting
pressure on Connex to reemploy Per Johansson. One of those actions was
the big demonstration on the 20th of October where about 2000 members
showed their support for Per. Connex employees in Stockholm are planning
for an unauthorised 24 hours strike the 18th of November and a large
demonstration, a local demonstration on the 7th of November, and other
actions.
The metro drivers' union enjoy the unanimous support of the other trade
unions of Sweden. Petition lists are being circulated, calling for the
reemployment of Johansson. Thousands of leaflets have been distributed.
A poster campaign is going on with the motto "We refuse to keep
silent!" The national leadership of the union is investigating the
possibility of a political strike for the freedom of speech. The ITF
is exerting pressure on Connex internationally.
Fellow workers all over the world, at the 18th of November a huge demonstration
organised by the union will take place in Sweden; we are calling for
your support on this day. You can support us this day by demonstrating
or by taking other actions in front of Connex offices or any other office
that represents the mother company Veolia, the owner of Connex, Onyx,
Dalkia, Veolia Water and others. In case there is no representative of
any of the above-mentioned companies in the country you live in, you
can still show your support by demonstrating in front of the Swedish
embassy.
An urgent call for the unions that have not yet sent their petition lists
to do so as soon as possible.
P.S. We need if it´s possible, pictures from your actions. Send
them to us by mail, so we can show your solidarity actions to our members
and the workers in Stockholm's metro.
For the board of the metro drivers' union
Yiannis Konstantis
Vice-chairman
2. International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF
ITF: reinstate sacked worker now
5 October 2005
The ITF is demanding that transport multinational Connex immediately
reinstate a trade unionist sacked on 30 September by its Swedish subsidiary,
Connex Sweden, which runs the Stockholm metro.
The ITF's Inland Transport Section Secretary, Mac Urata, has sent a message
to the company ahead of talks between them and the dismissed worker's
union, SEKO. In it he says:
" The ITF has learned that Per Johansson, the local trade union representative
of the SEKO members employed by Connex Sweden, was dismissed by the
company. The statement that the ITF received makes it clear that the reasons
for
his dismissal are not based on any substantial grounds, but reflect
a determination to get rid of a trade union representative who is
acting within the context of his duties and prerogatives and for the
benefit
of the SEKO members of Connex."
The ITF is gravely concerned regarding the behaviour of a worldwide
company such as Connex, especially in Sweden, a country with a well
developed
trade union movement and a long tradition of political trade union
rights.
" The ITF fully supports SEKO's position on this case, and demands that
Connex immediately withdraw the dismissal and that Per Johansson be reinstated."
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