INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BUILDING AND WOOD WORKERS
IFBWW Trade Union Rights Flash - September 2005
Dubai: Asian Migrant construction workers exploited Following the recent information in the press regarding the working and living conditions of one million Asian migrant workers in Dubai, the IFBWW wrote to the President and Vice-President of CICA requesting for a meeting in Dubai to visit some worksites. The IFBWW cannot tolerate that these migrant construction workers work around 13 hours a day under 50°C, earn between 100 and 150 euros and live in very poor conditions.
Belgium: General strike paralyses the country The Prime Minister met representatives of the unions to hear their concerns that his reform package, which also includes measures for workers at the end of their careers, is imprecise and incomplete. IFBWW affiliate, La Centrale Générale, which participated in the general strike on the 7th of October will keep up the pressure on the government.
Canada: Forestry workers say days of mourning would enhance safety IFBWW General Secretary expressed her personal sorrow on hearing of the death of twenty-seven forest workers in 2005. In her solidarity message to our affiliate USWA, Anita Normark asked the union to pass its condolences to the workers' families and colleagues. The union will organize a day of mourning every time a logger dies on the job in a bid to focus attention on the industry's unacceptably high number of fatalities. For further info, click here.
Djibouti: Unfair dismissal and arbitrary detention of eleven trade union leaders and 165 strikers Our Secretariat has sent a protest message to the President of Djibouti concerning the unfair dismissal and arbitrary detention of 11 trade union leaders and the arbitrary detention of 165 strikers, employees of the autonomous international port of Djibouti.
Hungary: Works Council members dismissed for trade union activities IFBWW addressed a strong protest message to the General Manager and President of Pétfürdö Nitrogen Works Co. Ltd following the dismissal of four works council members. The IFBWW urged the company to agree to re-establish a normal social dialogue in the works council, and, as a first step, to reinstate the works council and union representatives in their former posts within your company. Copies were sent to the Prime Minister of Hungary and ICFTU.
Chile: Pardon for murderer of union leader in 1982 In its message to the President of Chile, IFBWW rejected the negative developments in the legal case against the non-commissioned army officer and former official of the National Intelligence Agency (DINA), Manuel Contreras Donaire. The case concerns the assassination of Brother Tucapel Jimenez Alfaro, President of the Asociación Nacional de Empleados Fiscales de Chile (ANEF), which took place on 25 February 1982.
USA: Katrina
The IFBWW conveyed its support and solidarity to its union members in the USA following the tremendous damage caused by the the hurricane Katrina. We are very concerned about the difficult situation workers and their families are going through.
Switzerland: FES panel discussion on human rights and UN norms for TNCs Our Federation participated in the panel which focussed on the potential dangers to human rights posed by investment agreements underpinning projects, as well as the need for a new approach to investment that ensures respect for human rights. In the last years, there has been a proliferation of bilateral international treaties (BITs) for the protection of foreign direct investment and a rise in litigation as foreign investors invoke international protections such as environment or taxation. The panel also emphasized the great need to promote greater transparency, accountability and independence. In this respect, a Model international agreement on investment was presented which complies with local law, environmental management, core labour standards, human rights protection, anti-corruption and transparent information. Finally, the importance of the UN Norms on the responsibilities of transnational corporations (TNCs) was stressed. In April 2005, the Commission passed a resolution that called for the UN to appoint a Special representative to "identify and clarify existing issues related to business and human rights". It remains very clear that these UN Norms remain the most comprehensive attempt at filling the gaps in understanding business responsbilities for human rights. For additional info click here.
IFBWW Welcomes World Bank eport Including Positive Move On Workers' Rights
The new World Development Report (WDR) 2006 "Equity and Development"
recognizes the importance of core labour standards and the role of trade unions in equitably distributing the benefits of economic growth. IFBWW General Secretary welcomed the findings of the report which represent an improvement.
