The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) stands shoulder to shoulder with the workers of the Railway Workers’ Trade Union (OZŽ) who are rallying today in Bratislava for decent wages and for adequate public funding of the railway network. The ETF expresses its solidarity with them, and shares their concerns regarding the chronic underinvestment of railways in Slovakia that railway workers unfortunately have to make up for.
The January announcements by ZSSK’s management to massively lay off employees together with ŽSR’s recent refusal to increase remuneration levels is unacceptable. A resilient railway network requires a qualified workforce. ZSSK’s and ŽSR’s decisions will not only impact workers, but also passengers, their safety and the efficiency of the railway network. The ETF fully supports OZŽ’s call for better funding, and for wage levels that match the workers’ skills.
Railway workers connect families, businesses and communities; they keep Slovakia moving. They carry out this essential public service and therefore deserve respect and proper financial support. The ETF loudly relays their calls for better and safer railways, and will not remain idle as Slovakia’s public railways are starved of investment and left to die while workers pay the price.
The ETF calls on all the relevant stakeholders – ZSSK, ŽSR, and the Government, to open genuine social dialogue with workers’ representatives. Investment in railways is investment in a safe, reliable and sustainable mode of transport for all, which can only be built with its workers.
The ETF stands with OZŽ and with all Slovak railway workers, today and in the struggles ahead.
