Thousands Take Action Against Precarious Work
Thousands of metalworkers have taken action this week as part of the global campaign against precarious work. Reports include sports games in Bulgaria, flashmobs in Hungary, balloon release in Germany and a massive rally in Thailand.
GLOBAL: Thousands of metalworkers have taken action this week as part of the global campaign against precarious work; many of the actions occurred yesterday, October 7, on the World Day for Decent Work, coordinated by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Reports of action received so far include:
- In Bulgaria TU "Metalicy" held their national metalworkers' sport games from September 30 to October 4, focusing on the issue of precarious work.
- In Hamburg, Germany 15,000 trainees from IG Metall Küste section released balloons bearing postcards with their wished for the future. With virtually no job prospects, unpaid internships, temping, fixed-term contracts and poor pay seem to have become the rule for young people, not the exception.
- In Hungary VASAS reports they held successful flashmob actions organized in 12 towns and cities all over Hungary on October 7 gaining extensive media coverage.
- In Indonesia IMF affiliates FSPMI and Lomenik held a rally on October 8 of over 6,000 people calling for an end to precarious work.
- In South Africa Numsa held pickets on October 7 carrying posters saying "We fought slavery and labour brokering is no different".
- In Switzerland, IMF participated in a movie night viewing of the latest "Yes Men" documentary on October 7, organized by the UNI global union.
In Turkey and Thailand, IMF joined up with other global union federations to highlight the harmful effects of precarious work and contract and agency labour. On October 1, a delegation of global union leaders, including IMF general secretary Jyrki Raina, met with Turkey's Minister for Labour and were assured that the bill giving "Private Labour Offices" broad rights to place temporary workers in enterprises would not be pursued.
On October 3, Raina participated in a rally against the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, before joining a second demonstration that Birlesik Metal and Sinter Metal workers held from Kartal to the concert hall were a Solidarity Event was held. The Solidarity Event began in the evening with a film which was explaining the history of Birlesik Metal and the Sinter Metal struggle.
In Thailand, the IMF and other international trade union federations lent their support to the Thai labour movement's campaign to protect precarious workers and their demands for the ratification of core labour conventions. Ten thousand workers, including a large contingent from IMF affiliate TEAM, marched to Government House in Bangkok at noon on October 7 demanding the abolition of temporary, casual contract and other form of non-regular employment and calling for the ratification of the core International Labour Organisation conventions to protect workers' rights in Thailand.
IMF assistant general secretary Fernando Lopes spoke at the rally stating, "Around the world today, unions are 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."
Reports received from IMF affiliates about actions held during this global week of action will be posted on the IMF website. [Oct 08, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Global Forum to Debate Integrating Migration and Development Goals
IMF affiliates encouraged to participate in discussion on integrating migration policies in development strategies for the benefit of all at the People's Global Action Events from November 3-5, which coincides with the Global Forum on Migration in Athens.
GLOBAL: "Integrating migration policies in development strategies for the benefit of all" is the theme of the 2009 Global Forum on Migration and Development, the preceding Civil Society Days and the People's Global Action Events in Athens this November, 2009.
The IMF will join representatives from the International Trade Union Confederation, Building and Wood Workers' International, Public Services International, UNI Global Union, International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers' Federation and various national trade union and sector unions from around the world in the debate.
The trade union representatives will be participating in the People's Global Action Events from November 3-5. IMF will also participate in specific sectoral meetings in the morning and the main Global Unions Forum on Migration and Development in the afternoon on November 4. A delegation of union representatives will then participate in a joint trade union and civil society meeting on November 5.
These events are happening alongside the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which is a state-led, voluntary, informal, and non-binding dialogue focusing on how migration can help achieve development goals. The Forum brings together senior policymakers from around the world to exchange experiences, identify best practices, and foster interstate cooperation in leveraging migration for the benefit of development.
IMF affiliates are encouraged to participate in the People's Global Action Events on November 3 and 5 in Athens. For more information, please contact Tos Añonuevo, the Education Secretary of the Building and Wood Workers' International at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The following week, the IMF is holding a workshop on migrant workers as precarious workers on November 11 and 12 in Bangkok, Thailand. In preparation for this meeting, the IMF has published the results of a survey on migrant worker sin the metal industry. Review a copy of the survey, available in English and Spanish. [Oct 08, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
International Machinists Discuss Communications for the 21st Century
IAMAW delegates from the U.S. and Canada met in Vancouver to discuss union communication strategy.
CANADA: The delegates of IMF affiliated International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) from the U.S. and Canada met recently in Vancouver to discuss how communications will develop in the future. The delegates, including local and district communicators, educators and web stewards, spoke about the ways their union could manage to get on the forefront of 21st century communications.
The speakers at the forum were IAM general vice president Rich Michalski as Chairperson of the Conference, IAM's Canadian general vice president Dave Ritchie, IAM general secretary-treasurer Warren Mart, and former Senator Hillary Clinton's Chief of Staff Tamera Luzzatto.
One of the most important events at the forum was the launch of a newly designed IAM website. The developers made the site more user-friendly and added new features including the possibility for visitors to leave their comments, rank and share stories. Interactive video is another innovation on the site. The IAMAW turned its electronic newsletter iMail into a blog. In addition, the site is updated with a new search system allowing the search by keywords known as ‘tags'.
Staying on the forefront of new communication technologies the IAM launched its official Facebook and Twitter pages.
The IAM event proceeds the IMF-EMF Communicators' Forum, which is scheduled for November 17-18 and will be hosted by German IMF affiliate IG Metall in Frankfurt. For more details see our previous story. [Oct 08, 2009 – Alex Ivanou]
Secure Jobs are the Answer to Crisis
International Metalworkers' Federation joins global unions in call for secure employment as the essential response to the global economic crisis on this World Day for Decent Work.
GLOBAL: Metalworkers around the world are participating in the World Day for Decent Work today calling for an end to precarious employment and joining the International Trade Union Confederation in its call for getting the world to work.
In the continuing fallout from the global financial crisis, millions of workers in precarious employment have lost their jobs. For employers, cutting temporary and agency jobs has proven to be a cheap and easy way of reducing their workforce. But for workers it has resulted in hardship, uncertainty and a complete lack of control over their working lives.
As economies begin to recover, there is a real risk that companies will increase their dependence on temporary jobs, replacing jobs that were once permanent with precarious jobs.
The importance of employment in the recovery is the subject of a new ITUC report released on this World Day for Decent Work. Jobs - The Path to Recovery, How employment is central to ending the global crisis describes how in response to the global economic crisis, the worst since the Great Depression with tens of millions of jobs disappearing, the economy must be built on social justice and environmental sustainability, respect for internationally-recognised workers' rights, effective financial regulation and global governance which puts people first.
Global unions, including the International Metalworkers' Federation, have been calling on governments to focus on jobs in response to the crisis. At the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh last month global unions warned that the full ripple effect of the year-old crisis is only now being felt as tens of millions of jobs are cut, with a forecast of more job losses to occur in 2010 and 2011.
The G20 Leaders' Statement, available on the IMF website here, offers some positive prospects for workers, but regrettably begins with the self-congratulatory assumption that the worst is over and recovery is in sight.
The ITUC/TUAC evaluation of the 3rd G20 Summit indicates that the results of the Summit "represented some advance on the outcome of the April Summit in London but also demonstrated a degree of complacency and progress was slow in some crucial areas". A full copy of the evaluation is published on the IMF website here.
"The IMF joins the ITUC and the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the OECD in expressing deep concern for what seems to continue being a dangerous underestimation of the employment issue, in terms of both job losses and deterioration of the employment conditions everywhere in the world," said IMF general Secretary Jyrki Raina.
"Around the world, the IMF, metal unions and their members are mobilizing, organizing and bargaining for secure jobs and equal rights for all workers" he said. [Oct 07, 2009 – Anita Gardner ]
Gerdau Tries to Close Another Plant in Columbia
After the closure of Sidelpa, resulting in the dismissal of 800 workers, the multinational now aims to close the Laminados Andinos plant at Duitama. The workers have occupied the factory in order to defend their jobs.
COLOMBIA: The multinational company Gerdau is trying to close another of its subsidiaries in Colombia. It is now trying to close the Laminados Andinos plant at Duitama, which will mean more dismissals and the disappearance of another trade union.
In response, Duitama workers have occupied the factory in order to defend their jobs.
The Yumbo branch of SINTRAMETAL, the national metalworkers' union, is calling on the trade union movement to complain about the company to the International Human Rights Committee, the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association, the OAS and the United Nations and "to defend the right to work, human dignity and our class consciousness, to keep the company open and to live with dignity in our own country."
Sintrametal added that the union must fight harder than ever over the next two months in order to stop the company dismissing their members. It is worth recalling that the company Sidelpa S.A. and consequently the 50 year old Yumbo branch of SINTRAMETAL were closed in July this year. Despite trade union action, the company terminated the employment contracts of approximately 800 workers.
The IMF has offered its solidarity to our Colombian colleagues and written to Gerdau executives demanding respect for the jobs of workers at Laminados Andinos and all other workers employed by this multinational in Colombia. [Oct 07, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Global Unions Supporting Thai Workers' October 7 Actions
Global Union Federations support Thai workers in their demands for permanent jobs first and raitfication of ILO Conventions 87 and 98.
THAILAND: International trade union federations lend their support to the Thai labour movement's campaign to protect precarious workers and their demands for the ratification of fundamental International Labour Oraganisation (ILO) conventions numbers 87 and 98, on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise and the Right to Collective Bargaining.
Thousands of workers will gather outside the United Nations Building on Ratchadamnoen Road from 10:00am to attend the big open air seminar on ILO Conventions 87 and 98 in front of the UN Building where the ILO office is also located.
The workers then will march to Government House in Bangkok at noon on October 7 demanding the abolition of temporary, casual contract and other form of non-regular employment and calling for the ratification of the core ILO conventions to protect workers' rights in Thailand.
Representatives of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) and the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) attended the rally in support of the Thai unions' action, which coincides with the World Day for Decent Work and a week of global mobilisation against precarious work.
Fernando Lopes, Assistant General Secretary of the IMF, will speak at the rally. Lopes states, "across Thailand and around the world regular employment is systematically being replaced by precarious employment and this situation not only affects workers but also trade union membership. With low wages, lack of social security and tenure of employment these workers are the most exploited."
"Around the world today, unions are 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," added Lopes.
"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. We support our affiliate the Confederation of Thai Electrical Appliances, Electronic Automobile & Metalworkers (TEAM) in their demands on government to protect workers and ensure that employers can't treat them as a disposable commodity," he argued.
For the ICEM, ICEM Thai Union Affiliates' Committee Chairman Rawai Pupaga, the President of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation Labour Union (GPOLU), said, "For decades, the labour movement has urged the Thai government to ratify these Conventions, but prior governments have neglected the labour demands."
"Non-ratification of these important Conventions has resulted in barriers and obstructions to workers who want to form trade unions and pursue collective bargaining. Now is the time for the Thai government to prove that we have a democratic country, because Conventions 87 and 98 give basic and democratic rights inside the workplace."
Added ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda, "It is important that the Thai government lead by starting the process toward ratification of these ILO core labour standards. It is also important that the government create and maintain a healthy, sustainable economy by promoting temporary and agency work into permanent, full-time employment opportunities."
Besides GPOLU, Warda commended other Thai labour federations affiliated to the ICEM that are taking action in Bangkok tomorrow on World Day for Decent Work. They include the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Labour Union (EGATLU); the Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Federation (PCFT); the Paper and Printing Workers' Federation (PPFT); and the Chemical Workers' Union Alliance (CWUA).
In addition to ICEM and IMF, the rally is supported by the International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF), the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF), Public Services International (PSI), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI), State Enterprise Relations Confederation (SERC), Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC), and all the national trade union congresses in Thailand.
The action is being organized by TEAM, ICEM Thai Committee, Thai Labour Solidarity Committee and the State Enterprise Relations Confederation. [Oct 06, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
New Report Shows Disadvantage Faced by Migrant Workers in the Metal Industry
According to the results of a new IMF survey, migrant workers in the metal industry work in precarious jobs, earn lower wages than local workers and are less likely to be members of a trade union.
GLOBAL: In conjunction with the global week of action against precarious work, IMF today released a new report of a survey that focused on the experiences of migrant workers in the metal industry. IMF affiliates from every region of the world responded to the survey, providing vital information about the status and conditions of migrant workers in the metal industry, as well as the problems unions face in organizing them. The survey findings clearly show that migrant workers are currently being employed in all sectors of the metal industry. It also showed that overwhelmingly they are only offered precarious employment contracts.
Other key findings of the survey include:
- Wages paid to migrant workers are generally less than for local workers in similar jobs
- Deductions from wages for accommodation, transport etc are commonly made
- Even where it is prohibited by law, migrant workers in the metal industry are being required to pay fees to recruitment agencies
- Migrant workers face significant problems in accessing social security, legal and health systems
- The unionisation rate of migrant workers is extremely low, in most cases less than 20 per cent
- It is very difficult for unions to make contact with migrant workers
The report provides information on ways that IMF affiliates are supporting migrant workers. It confirms that there are many obstacles to migrant workers joining a union, including cultural and language barriers, but that the biggest obstacle to unionization is workers' fear. Included in the report are many examples of how IMF affiliates are working to improve the rights of migrant workers, with the goal of ensuring equal pay and conditions with local workers. The report is available on the IMF website in English and Spanish.
Strategies for organizing migrant workers in the metal industry will be further discussed at an IMF global conference taking place in Bangkok on November 11-12 , ‘Migrant Workers as Precarious Workers'. [Oct 06, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Unions Rise to Challenge of EPZ Organizing
Throughout Asia, EPZ workers face the worst working conditions and the most obstacles to joining a trade union. But unions in the region are developing creative ways to reach EPZ workers and improve their working lives.
INDONESIA: Unions from seven Asian countries came together in Batam, Indonesia on September 30 to share successful strategies for organizing workers in Export Processing Zones (EPZs). The island of Batam is itself an EPZ where IMF Indonesian affiliates FSPMI and Lomenik-SBSI have managed to organize many of the factories located there.
Delegates once again emphasized the poor quality of jobs in EPZs and the enormous difficulties that must be surmounted in order to make contact with workers and organize them. Precarious employment is endemic in EPZs, wages are low and often underpaid and working hours are excessive, in many cases exceeding legal maximum hours. Unions are restricted from entering EPZs and so are forced to find alternative means to reach workers.
Given the high percentage of women workers in EPZs, at times up to 90 per cent, affiliates reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that women take on leadership roles and are given training to be active in the union.
Wages emerged as a key issue to organize around with some unions taking action in support of increases to the minimum wage. In other cases unions have discovered workers being underpaid and have motivated them to join the union by helping them ensure they are paid correct wages.
All unions involved in EPZ organizing stressed the value of taking organizing beyond the workplace and into communities. Delegates from TEAM in Thailand said that organizing in the communities where workers live helps raise the profile of the union and creates a positive impression. In the Philippines, workers that have been laid off organize on the ground in their communities. One union in India has a special unit dedicated to helping members address their social needs. This can involve assistance in securing places in school for workers' children, or support in applying for a bank loan.
At the same time as organizing, unions are taking action at the political level to persuade governments of the negative impacts of their EPZ policies. In India there is strong resistance from unions and other social groupings to the government's policy to promote SEZs, or Special Economic Zones. The net outcome of constructing an SEZ is often the opposite of the stated intention, namely the loss of jobs and reduction in incomes. This is because construction of an SEZ involves massive displacement of people dependent on agricultural, fisheries and related self-employment.
The meeting concluded that unions must work on two fronts: to organize EPZ workers and improve their working conditions and at the same to force governments to reconsider whether their EPZ policies promote sustainable industries and employment. [Oct 06, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
New Collective Agreement for Volkswagen AG, Germany
Agreement includes 4.2 per cent wage increase and a 710 Euro single payment.
GERMANY: In the fourth round of collective negotations a new collective agreement for the 95,000 Volkswagen employees in the plants of the Volkswagen AG (Wolfsburg / Hanover / Emden / Brunswick / Salzgitter and Kassel) was reached and signed.
According to this agreement the employees receive a 4.2 per cent wage increase from January 2010. In addition a single payment of 710 Euros was agreed. 510 Euro will be paid out in October 2009 and the rest of 200 Euros in February 2010.
Starting in 2011 a productivity bonus of around 100 Euros will be introduced.
The program for part-time work for people approaching retirement will be continued. Also the apprenticeship program and the takeover of the apprentices are agreed.
The duration of the agreement is 18 months. [Oct 06, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Every Fouth AutoVAZ Worker Will Lose His/Her Job
The management reached an agreement with the union - 27,600 AvtoVAZ workers will lose their jobs before the end of the year. Management's original plan was to cut 36,000 jobs.
RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ management reached an agreement with IMF affiliate Automobile and Farm Machinery Workers' Union (AFM) - 27,600 AvtoVAZ workers will lose their jobs before the end of the year. Management's original plan was to cut 36,000 jobs. The plant employs 102,000 workers.
On September 14 cutting of 5,000 jobs was announced.
The administration's restructuring plan includes "one-shift work, 65 per cent operation rate, which will result in the annual production of 500,000 cars," (official news release).
The same news release states that 13,000 workers to be made redundant have reached retirement age and "will be paid all the compensations required by the collective agreement". Another 5,500 workers have reached preretirement age (53 years for women, 58 years for men). These workers are also in position to receive both state and corporate retirement benefits. Another 9,100 workers are still of the working age. An employment program was developed for them - they will be offered a job at the new Renault production line at the plant, which will supposedly open in 2012. Before that redundant workers will be offered temporary jobs in Togliatti.
AvtoVAZ is in a critical state now. Recession caused a 40 per cent drop in sales of Lada cars. According to the estimates of the management, annual losses in 2009 will reach 35 billion rubles ($ 1.1 billion). The restructuring plan includes drastic cuts in expenses and production rate. [Oct 05, 2009 – Ilya Matveev]
Say NO to More Rights for "Private Labor Offices" in Turkey
Four days before the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund officials meet with the Turkish Government, Global Unions met with Turkey's Minister for Labour, and lent their support to President Abdullah Gül's veto of a bill giving "Private Labour Offices" broad rights to place temporary workers in enterprises and warned of the dangers that precarious employment poses for society.
Representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), the International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF), and the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) reported to the Labour Minister that contract and agency labour and precarious forms of employment have been exploding around the world, bringing with it two categories of workers: one with good secure jobs and another category of workers faced with short term jobs, low wages, no social protection and a loss of rights.
At a press conference in Istanbul today, Manfred Warda, ICEM General Secretary, said, "Globally, the massive shift away from regular employment into temporary work or jobs through agencies and labour brokers is having a deep impact on all workers, their families, and on society. Erosion of the employee-employer relationship, often the basis of labour law, is leading directly to a growing number of violations of workers' rights."
"There is a connection between international ‘policy changes', those inspired by the international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which have encouraged work flexibility and brought with it a lowering of work conditions at national levels," added Warda. "Such changes reflect clear employer strategies to weaken collective bargaining through part-time and agency work, and the ICEM will resist this in every way possible."
Guy Ryder, ITUC General Secretary, reiterated today a message delivered by the global unions to the G-20 Summit last week, stating "The expansion of precarious forms of work and deregulation of the labour market are not the answer to the employment crisis - in fact, the insecurity of working people over recent decades was a significant contributor to the recession. It is no coincidence that precarious work and fragile financial markets have both been developing in recent decades."
"The way forward must be based on sustainable, not precarious development - a sustainable economy where the financial sector is at the service of the real economy. We need social justice and environmental sustainability to reverse the damage done to our planet in a way that provides good, steady and secure jobs," added Ryder.
Neil Kearney, ITGLWF General Secreatry said, "Agency hires and temporary contracts destroy job security and undermine all other rights and promote gross exploitation of both the temporary worker and the permanent employee working alongside them."
"In Turkey, ITGLWF affiliate Teksif is locked in battle with Edirne Giyim where workers employed on an agency type arrangement with inferior wages and conditions are being used to reduce and eventually eliminate a permanent workforce of long standing. Union resistance to the worsening conditions has resulted in mass firings of union members," Kearney added.
"Elsewhere in Turkey, ITGLWF affiliates are in daily conflict with textile, clothing and leather industry employers using every means, including sub-contracting, undeclared labour and short-term contracts to prevent unionisation and the protection of workers' rights. Government action is urgently needed to restore worker protection against this onslaught," demanded Kearney.
Jyrki Raina, IMF General Secretary, said "Permanent jobs are being eroded by an increasing reliance by employers on labour hire via employment agencies. In some plants we are now finding that more than fifty per cent of the workforce are agency workers."
"The financial crisis has delivered a further blow to precarious workers. Hundreds of thousands of them have been the first to lose their jobs, because dismissing workers with no rights to severance pay or notice periods is a cheap and easy way for employers to reduce their workforces. The crisis has had significant and far reaching impacts on employment," he added.
"Here in Turkey, IMF affiliate Birlesik Metal Is has been supporting 350 workers who were dismissed last year by Sinter Metal for exercising their right to join a trade union. The company alleges that the dismissals were a necessary response to the financial crisis, but the evidence shows that this is no more than a weak excuse to dismiss union members and prevent workers from protecting their jobs," he said.
Over the next week, metal worker unions around the world will be mobilizing against precarious work and will be joining with other national and sector unions around the globe in a World Day for Decent Work on Wednesday 7 October.
The ICEM will focus World Day for Decent Work activities on its Contract and Agency Labour campaign in Thailand and Turkey.
"A sustainable recovery will not be built on precarious and substandard jobs. That's why around the world today, unions and their members are united in their demand for secure jobs and equal rights for all workers, " said Jyrki Raina.
The ITUC represents 170 million workers in 157 countries and territories and has 312 national affiliates; the ICEM represents 467 trade unions in 132 countries; . the ITGLWF is the global voice for 217 trade unions in 110 countries; and the IMF covers over 200 trade unions in 100 countries.
More information about the World Day for Decent Work.
More information on the IMF campaign against precarious work.
More information on the ICEM contract and agency labour campaign.
More information on the dispute at Sinter Metal.
Prominent Workers' Rights Activist Attacked in Kazakhstan
Ainur Kurmanov, a prominent workers' rights activist, was viciously attacked and hospitalized.
KAZAKHSTAN: Late in the evening of September 22, Ainur Kurmanov, a well known workers' rights activist and organizer, was viciously attacked by unknown thugs at the entrance to his home in the capital city, Almaty. He is in a hospital now, suffering from concussion and head wounds. He is badly bruised from head to toe and has a broken finger.
Judging from the nature of Ainur's wounds, a heavy instrument was used against him, possibly a metal bar. He was attacked from behind, without warning, and although left with little chance of defending himself, he still managed to resist the attack and return to his flat before receiving urgently needed medical treatment.
Ainur is in a hospital now. His wounds have been bandaged and stitched and he has received medical treatment.
Recently, Ainur has conducted important campaigning work in defence of workers at the Almatinskii Wagon Factory and also at the Almatinskii Heavy Engineering Plant (AZTM). With Ainur's active assistance, workers at these plants went on strike and participated in protest meetings and other activities. As a result, hundreds of jobs were saved at the wagon factory and the plant was rescued from bankruptcy and collapse.
Factory bosses are attempting to prevent similar worker actions from being repeated at the AZTM plant, where the struggle to save jobs has just begun.
The International Metalworkers' Federation is calling on trade unions and social organizations to protest these assaults against workers' rights activists and demand the immediate arrest of those guilty for this attack and for the perpetrators of the assault to be exposed.
Addresses for protest letters:
General Prosecutor of Kazakhstan
Kairat Mami
010000, Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana, Seifullina str., 37
t/f +7172 71 25 79 email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Prosecutor of Almaty
Amirkhan Estaev
050059, Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, Zheltoksan str., 189
t/f +7327 250 4225, 250 4242 email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev
Head of the Administration of the President
Musin Aslan Espulaevich
"Akorda" building, Left bank of the Ishim River,
Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan
t/f +77 17 74 41 68, +77 17 24 33 08, +77 17 74 40 86, +77 17 74 56 31
Address solidarity letters to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please send copies to the IMF at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it [Oct 02, 2009 – Ilya Matveev]
Brazilian Metalworkers Win Major Gains in Annual Pay Round
The FEM-CUT/SP, affiliated to CNM/CUT, and the Greater Curitiba Metalworkers' Union, affiliated to the CNTM/FS, have won a pay rise that will have a positive influence on other negotiations in the sector.
BRAZIL: When the employers' side began to make excuses during the annual round of negotiations on pay, metalworkers organised rallies, protests and demonstrations. This struggle by IMF affiliates CNM and CNTM has resulted in major gains for metalworkers.
After a series of demonstrations and protests by workers, FEM-CUT/SP, affiliated to CNM/CUT, negotiated major gains for the 53,000 metalworkers employed by Volkswagen, Ford, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Toyota and Honda in Sao Bernardo and Taubate. Employers agreed to a 6.53 per cent pay rise and agreed to pay an additional R$2,800 (US$1570) bonus. The 6.53 per cent takes account of the annual inflation rate of 4.44 per cent, based on the National Consumer Price Index (INPC) and includes a real increase of 2 per cent. The agreement also included a series of social benefits.
Meanwhile, 6,000 metalworkers at Renault-Nissan and Volvo, affiliated to CNTM/FS unions, won the biggest pay rise in the country's manufacturing sector this year, according to the trade union research institute DIEESE. They won a real increase of 3% plus the 4.44 inflation rate, totalling 7.57 per cent, and a bonus payment of R$2,000 (US$ 1,110) for each worker.
"The pay rise won by the Curitiba Metalworkers' Union for Renault and Volvo workers is important and will have a positive influence on other negotiations that are scheduled to take place over the next six months" said Miguel Torres, president of the São Paulo and Mogi das Cruzes Metalworkers' Union and vice president of Força Sindical.
Valter Sanches, CNM General Secretary, said that the agreement in the auto sector "is a major victory after a year in which Brazil, especially the metalworking sector, was affected by the international crisis. The sector has lost approximately 210,000 jobs since October 2008, after a gain of 700,000 since 2003." Sanches said that at the beginning of the year, metalworkers took the lead in negotiations with employers and the government about how to deal with the crisis and avoid job losses. [Sep 25, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
