- HTUR's Day: Workers' rights are human rights - Let's move things forward for progress!
Workers' rights must form an important message this year on December 10, which is International Human Rights Day and Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) White Band Day III just before the 6th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong (13-18 December). Your involvement in activities around December 10 can help convince governments to support the call for decent work and trade justice so that millions of people can have the chance to break the poverty cycle. We are inviting you to dispatch the attached poster with the slogan "Workers rights are human rights" and to mobilise your members to wear white bands, distribute white bands and leaflets to workers at or near the workplace and organise/take part in GCAP rallies and marches. Click here to view the many actions that are already planned. Global Unions have produced a statement which you can use to lobby officials in trade delegations and ministries by clicking here. It is critical to defend the rights of workers, particularly the rights of women, children and migrant workers. Many women are working in our sectors in low paid jobs and face very difficult working conditions. Women are more likely than men to be in informal activities that are not registered and in small scale economic units. Furthermore, especially in the construction sector, many countries continue to rely on migrant workers who are exploited and paid low wages and are not covered by social and labour legislation. Other categories are discriminated against like children and young people.
- Macedonia: IFBWW affiliate calls for decent work Our affiliate Trade union of civil engineering, industry for construction materials and projection reports about competition in the construction industry. Workers worldwide live in poverty, work in highly exploitative, informal conditions and are unable to enjoy their basic rights. The need for employment is so desperate that workers are obliged to accept arduous working conditions and low wages if they are to survive in the competition for jobs. In this connection, the IFBWW addressed a strong message to the government of Macedonia.
- Slovenia: Attack on the country's social model The Government has adopted a new strategy clearly attacking Slovenia¹s social model and interfering in the free collective bargaining between the social partners by imposing limits to the wages negotiation. We expressed our full support to the ZSSS demonstration that took place on 26 November 2005 in Ljubiljana under the slogan ³Preserve a social Slovenia². The IFBWW called upon the Government of Slovenia to reconsider its programme of social and economic reforms, and to accept to re-engage in a social dialogue that has proved successful during so many years.
- Czech Republic: Unionists defend labour code Consultations on the reform of the Labour Code have been taking place during the last months and these consultations have enabled the Government to propose a compromise. There are voices now asking for a renegotiation of the compromise, emphasising the need to further increase the flexibility of the labour market, even at the expenses of the social rights of the workers. In its message to the Government, IFBWW General Secretary appealed to reassert its will to maintain the social dialogue, on a balanced basis, with the social partners.
- Australia: Australian Government¹s new anti-union laws/Follow-up You were requested to support the Australian workers on the 15th of November, national day of protest against the Government's repressive new industrial relations legislation. The following messages were received from affiliates: GTUBWW (Egypt); ROGWU (Russian Federation); FSLIL (Romania); FNV Bouw (Australia); NZ FMAWU (New Zealand); KPPPSM (Malaysia); FNCB-CFDT (France); INRLF (India). The IFBWW entended a solidarity message to the Australian workers in their fight. For more info click here.
- Zimbabwe: Trade unionists released
Two weeks ago, 118 trade union activists and leaders were arrested including the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). Large numbers of police swamped the streets of Harare, reacting to mass public demonstrations against poverty and hunger caused by the Government's catastrophic policies.
This shows once again a blatant disregard for working people and their families. Once again we condemned Mugabe's actions and urged him to ensure that all trade unionists be released. The CTV from Venezuela and IAM & AW extended solidarity to affiliates in Zimbabwe.
- Cambodia: EFEO Angkor Wat/Follow-up
Since the visit of EFEO's General Secretary in July 2005, the IFBWW and its French affiliate FNCB-CFDT and fraternal organisation have continued to put pressure on the headquarters in Paris. In November, EFEO Paris Office went to Siem Reap to discuss the collective agreement proposal submitted by the union. A lawyer has been helping the union APWU-EFEO-CCTUF in the negotiation process. Nearly all provisions were approved by the employer.
One more meeting is expected before signing the collective agreement.
Regarding the Sophia case, the Arbitration Panel will conduct hearing on 25 November 2005.
- Chile: The company EME diseños rejects collective agreement Our affiliate Fetracoma reports that workers at EME diseños began their strike on 3 November 2005 calling for decent work conditions and jobs. In her protest letter, Anita Normark fully supports the union in its difficult struggle for workers' rights and respect of collective bargaining enshrined in international labour standards. The IFBWW will continue to monitor the case.
- Egypt: Amreyah Cement Company intimidates the recently elected committee leaders Our affiliate General Trade Union for Building and Wood Industries Workers (GTUBWW) in Egypt reported the intimidation of the elected committee leaders pushing them towards early retirement. Furthermore, the company has not been cooperating with the general trade union and not dealing with workers issues. Our Federation wrote to the company to take immediate action to settle the conflict without delay. The IFBWW also addressed its message to the Ministry of Manpower and Director Alexandria. The company belongs to the Cimpor Group, which is a large cement manufacturing and marketing group based in Portugal. For more info, see the IFBWW website.
- Burma: 38 newcomers!
The ICFTU released an updated list of foreign companies doing business with Burma, bringing the total number to 474. Beside long-standing business partners of the junta such as Total (France) and more recent ones, such as Daewoo (Korea), the ICFTU's updated inventory lists 38 "newcomers". These firms are based in the United States (6 companies), China (5), India and Thailand (4 each), Japan, Malaysia and Singapore (3 each), Germany (2), and one each in Bangladesh, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea, Qatar, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
