Agreement Reached, Ssangyong Motor Sit-in Strikers Jailed
Following the tentative agreement reached this morning between the KMWU and Ssangyong Motor, police are interrogating and jailing sit-in strikers rather than transporting them to local hospitals.
KOREA: A tentative agreement was reached this morning between the KMWU and Ssangyong Motor after weeks of intense and often times brutal struggle by 700 autoworkers holding a sit-in strike within the plant.
According to the Korean Metal Workers' Union, an affiliate of the International Metalworkers' Federation, currently some 50 workers who participated in the strike have been taken by the police to area jails and the KMWU speculates that by the end of the day the number of strikers imprisoned will reach 100. Medical care at the police jails are limited at best, many of those imprisoned need thorough hospital care immediately.
The tentative settlement announced today includes the company agreeing to a "48% : 52% ratio" with 48% of restructured people maintaining employment with Ssangyong Motor and 52% having to accept dismissal (early retirement). However, other important issues remain outstanding including the persecution of those involved in the strike and how the '100%' of which the ratio is applied is decided. Negotiations are continuing.
On August 2, Ssangyong Motor management broke off negotiations and demanded riot police storm the plant's paint shop where workers have held a sit-in strike since May 21. Workers went on strike after the company ordered mass dismissals without notification to the union, a violation of the workers' collective agreement.
The inhumane treatment and assault on 700 autoworkers holding a sit-in strike at Ssangyong Motor has shocked the world inciting outcry from Amnesty International, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and international unions who are holding protests at Ssangyong dealerships and Korean embassies around the globe.
The IMF is urging affiliates to voice their concerns at Korean embassies around the world and call on the Korean government to:
- immediately release all imprisoned union leaders and Ssangyong workers;
- drop all charges (criminal and civil) against individuals and organisations involved in the strike;
- take a role in ensuring good faith, genuine negotiations towards guaranteeing the KMWU Ssangyong Motor members employment security.
Aug 13, 2009 – Kristyne Peter
Put Permanent Jobs First!
Metalworker unions around the world are preparing to take action against the rise of precarious employment from 3 to 10 October 2009, in conjunction with the ITUC's World Day for Decent Work on 7 October 2009, other Global Union Federations and the European Metalworkers' Federation.
GLOBAL: This October the International Metalworkers' Federation is taking the fight to governments, calling on them to ensure equal rights for precarious workers and to strengthen legislation to prevent employers from using precarious employment in place of permanent and direct employment.
"The economic crisis has made this demand all the more urgent, not only because precarious jobs have been the first to be lost, but because there is a real risk that employers will use the crisis as a justification to replace permanent jobs with precarious jobs," said IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina.
"We have seen governments rush to protect capital by providing bailout funds. But governments must also protect workers and ensure that employers can't treat them as a disposable commodity," he argued.
This October, IMF and its affiliates around the world are calling on governments to:
- Restrict temporary and contract work to cases of genuine need
- Guarantee equal pay for precarious workers and their right to join a union
- Require long-term temporary jobs to be converted to permanent jobs
The massive growth of precarious employment has brought negative social and economic consequences for people everywhere. That's why workers throughout the world are uniting against precarious work.
Go to IMF Metal - Precarious Work. /Aug 11, 2009 – Anita Gardner
Court Delays Sinter Metal Judgement
Workers demonstrate in Turkey's Taksim Square denouncing the decision of the court arguing, "Justice delayed is Justice denied!"
TURKEY: Sinter Metal workers demonstrated in Taksim Square on August 5 following a court ruling which furthered delayed a decision that would decide the fate of some 350 workers who were fired for belonging to the union, Birlesik Metal-IS, an affiliate of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF).
For over 7 months now, the 350 workers of Sinter Metal Imalat Sanayi A.Ş have been struggling to get their jobs back.
On Tuesday, August 4, the judge announced that the case would be delayed again by three months. The next court hearing is scheduled for November 13.
"According to the Turkish Constitution we are certain to win the case, but the employer is doing everything to drag out the process - something that they are good at doing, too. Again we reiterate: ‘Justice delayed is justice denied!!' We will not let the employer break our resistance in front of the company," said Elif Sinirlioglu of Birlesik Metal-IS.
Tony Murphy from the European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF) served as an international court monitor and participated in the demonstration. Addressing the crowd at Taksim Square, Murphy explained that, "Sinter Metal workers are not alone, and millions of EMF and IMF affiliates are with them". He went on to say that the problem is not just the Sinter case, but a larger one involving a long list of violations of workers' rights in Turkey. He called on the Turkish government to stop all violations of workers' right.
Murphy delivered a solidarity message on the IMF's behalf. "Your fight goes beyond the courthouse and company gates. Yours is the global fight for fundamental labour rights and worker protections that all workers should enjoy, but that so many of us must struggle for: the right to join a union, the right to collectively bargain, and the right to strike" an IMF statement read.
On July 16, Klaus Preignitz from IG Metall, Alexander Todic from Serbia, Nina Berg and Susanne Dörflinger from DGB Bildungswerk, and Manfred Wannüffel from Bochum University expressed international solidarity and participated in a demonstration in front of the company in Dudulu Organized Industrial Zone.
The IMF and EMF launched a joint campaign in support of Sinter Metal workers in March 2009. CLICK HERE for more information about this campaign. / Aug 06, 2009 – Kristyne Peter
Trade Union Solidarity Mission to Honduras
International trade union representatives are visiting Honduras in solidarity with the Honduran people to verify rights violations and demand the restoration of democracy and a return to constitutional order.
HONDURAS: A delegation of international trade union leaders is visiting Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula in Honduras on a mission aimed at intensifying international political pressure on the government that came to power in a coup. The delegations is also expressing solidarity with trade unionists who are resisting the dictatorship and suffering violations of the freedom of expression.
The mission's objective is to demand the restoration of democracy and a return to constitutional order and to express solidarity with the Honduran people. The mission was organised by the International Trade Union Confederation and the Trade union Confederation of the Americas. The delegation also includes representatives of the Global Union Federations, including Jorge Almeida, IMF representative for Latin America and the Caribbean,
The mission, representing the international trade union community, is in Honduras from August 5 to 8 and will report violations to international and trade union organisations and work with Honduran trade union and social movements to draw up a programme to intensify solidarity action, at different places and times, and at the local and international levels with a view to restoring democracy.
The mission's programme includes meetings with social movements that are resisting the dictatorship and also with international observation groups, alternative media, trade unions and human rights organisations.
The IMF condemns the coup in Honduras, which took place on June 28 when President Manuel Zelaya Rosales was abducted, removed from office and expelled from the country. The IMF has been acting in solidarity with its Honduran affiliate, FETRAMIMH, throughout this period.
Since the coup in Honduras, an atmosphere of political persecution has affected political, trade union and social movement leaders. The ITUC and the IMF, through its affiliate, has noted serious human rights violations with at least eight killings, more than 150 injured and wounded, many threats and restrictions on the freedom of expression, information and movement. / Aug 06, 2009 – Valeska Solis
Bosch and Brembo Workers on Strike in India
Demanding the payment of previously agreed wage rises and equal pay for equal work, precarious workers, trainees and permanent employees are taking united action at Bosch and Brembo plants in Pune, India.
INDIA: Workers at a Bosch plant in Pune, India went on strike on July 18, their demands include equal pay for equal work. Significantly, precariously employed workers, trainees and permanent workers are in unity in the fight, which is being lead by the Bosch Chassis Systems Kamgar Sanghatana (Employees Union) and supported by IMF affiliates in the region.
The union was established after Bosch Chassis Systems took over the plant in 2006. The plant consisted of two units producing four wheeler and two wheeler brake systems respectively. A collective agreement between the union and Bosch was entered on November 3, 2007 lasting until 2010. At the time Bosch informed the union that the two wheeler brake unit was being handed over to Brembo, an Italian company, and that 50 workers were to transfer to the new company.
The workers protested and signed the agreement with Bosch and Brembo only after a clause was included stating that, in the event of closure or relocation of Brembo, the transferred workers would be reemployed by Bosch. In addition to this the collective agreement gave an average wage rise of around 60 per cent and stipulated rises for each year of the agreement.
The union served a notice of "stoppage of work" after both companies failed to implement wage rises, Brembo in 2008 and 2009 and Bosch in 2009, and following the suspension of the union's General Secretary Mr. Pradip Thakare.
The union is also protesting the huge disparity in pay between precariously employed workers and regular workers, with precarious workers earning only 25 to 30 per cent of the wages earned by regular workers.
Instead of negotiating with the union, company management lodged a complaint against the union with the local Industrial Tribunal. However after hearing both sides, the Tribunal has ruled that the strike is not illegal.
"The success of the struggle will have far reaching benefits, as regards, wages, working and service conditions of precarious workers and trainees, not only for Bosch, but, the entire Pune industrial landscape," said IMF Regional Representative Sudharshan Rao Sarde.
"All the unions in the area want this struggle to succeed, as this will strengthen their effort to tackle the widespread use of precarious workers by the companies, which is weakening the collective bargaining capacity of unions," explained Rao. / Aug 06, 2009 – Anita Gardner
In Memoriam: Hans Mayr
Hans Mayr, former President of the International Metalworkers' Federation, died on August 3, 2009 aged 87.
GERMANY: Hans Mayr, former President of the International Metalworkers' Federation, died on August 3, 2009. Hans served as President of the IMF and Chairman of IG Metall from 1983 to 1986.
Hans played a central role in some of the toughest labour disputes in Germany during the post-war period and was involved in union campaigns that lead to the introduction of the 35-hour week. Hans was born on December 13, 1921 in Freudenegg, near Ulm (Baden-Württemberg) and his first job was with Junkers, an aerospace company.
Hans joined IG Metall in 1946 directly after the war and his release from being a prisoner of war. From 1951 to 1955 Hans was the chairman of the local DGB, German Trade Union Confederation, in Göppingen and became chairman of IG Metall's local in Göppingen in 1955.
Hans joined the national executive committee of IG Metall in 1962 and was responsible for collective bargaining. He was elected IG Metall vice chairman in 1970 and then chairman in 1983. / Aug 06, 2009 – Anita Gardner
Workers Evicted at Pasta de Conchos
Police officers and company security staff have entered the mine installations to seize the coal washing plant that Grupo México has supposedly sold to the businessman Rogelio Montemayor. The miners' union described the police action as an assault on legality.
Mexico: Coahuila State armed forces and security staff employed by Grupo México violently evicted workers from the Pasta de Conchos mine on Friday, 31 July so that the Transportes Signum company, owned by the former director-general of Pemex, Rogelio Montemayor Seguy and his son Rogelio Montemayor García, could seize the coal washing plant, apparently sold to them by Grupo México and Industrial Minera México (IMMSA).
For the Mexican miners' union, led by Napoleon Gómez Urrutia, and relatives of the victims of the Pasta de Conchos disaster, who have still not been able to recover the bodies buried on 19 February 2006, this is one more attack on them and an assault on legality.
The widows of Pasta de Conchos, who tried to prevent the raid but who were unable to resist the attack, released a communiqué in which they condemned the violence and stated the action was taken because the company (IMMSA) knew the relatives were getting closer to where the bodies of their relatives might be buried.
Sergio Beltrán Reyes, Secretary of the Interior, Exterior and Minutes of the miners' union, affirmed that "neither the presumed buyers of the coal washing plant from Industrial Minera México, owned by Grupo México have been able to show documents proving they are the new owners of the plant, nor was any legal notice given to the widows and relatives of the dead miners. Moreover, in November 2007, the Secretary of the Economy cancelled, albeit provisionally, Grupo Mexico's concession to exploit the coal deposits. The action taken was therefore illegal."
The miners' union demands that the police be evicted and legality restored. The IMF Regional Office repudiates the violent eviction that occurred on 31 July and supports the demands and actions taken by the miners' union and the relatives of the victims of Pasta de Conchos. / Aug 04, 2009 – Valeska Solis
Impact of FTAs on Chile
The workshop on Free Trade Agreements analysed the consequences and impact of free trade on employment and labour rights. The IMF also organised workshops on this issue in Argentina and Brazil.
CHILE: Thirty national and regional leaders of IMF trade union affiliates in Chile participated in a debate on the impact of trade agreements on Chile as part of a series of seminars and workshops organised by the Trade Union Strengthening Project that IMF has organised with its affiliates in the country.
The workshop on free trade agreements analysed the consequences and impact of free trade on employment and labour rights. This is part of an ongoing debate among IMF affiliates in the region and workshops on this issue were previously organised in Argentina and Brazil. The workshop discussed the results of a study conducted by the research unit CENDA (Centro de Estudios Nacionales de Desarrollo Alternativo) and the Instituto Observatorio Social in Brazil, with additional contributions by the IMF and its Chilean affiliates.
The study highlighted the open nature of the Chilean economy with regard to trade and the movement of capital. This means the country is not protected and the multiplicity of agreements signed by Chile (approximately 30 free trade agreements) means that it does not change the situation very much if it concedes new access facilities. The study emphasises that Chile lacks a strategy for regional integration.
More specifically, metalworking has been one of the sectors most affected by the opening up of the economy during the last decade because it was mainly focused on trade in Latin America and production for the internal market. The free trade agreements signed by Chile with the United States and Asian countries, resulted in unequal competition between imports and national production and promoted the outsourcing of the workforce.
There has been a massive increase in subcontracting. In 2006, the number of metalworking companies subcontracting work had risen to 53.3%, although trade union data indicates that as many as two-thirds of workers are employed by subcontractors. Subcontracting has resulted in a high incidence of outsourcing and this casualisation of the workforce has led to poorer health and safety and working conditions. Subcontracting is also a major cause of division among workers.
Carla Coletti, IMF International Officer, said the workshop had provided an opportunity for an in-depth debate and "recommendations for action were made to promote a detailed analysis of the issues, disseminate information to workers, progress the debate among IMF affiliates in Chile and mobilise workers to focus on the country's strategic development on the basis of an exchange of experience with metalworking unions from other countries, particularly the South, within a framework of solidarity between metalworkers at national, regional and global levels."
* For more information, see the section on Trade, Employment and Development. The study will be available on our website within a few days. / Aug 03, 2009 – Anita Gardner
