Cut Emissions and Transform Jobs
The transition to a low-carbon economy must guarantee employment and result in the development of new, decent jobs, say participants at global industrial unions' meeting on climate change.
GERMANY: On October 14 and 15, the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF) and the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers' Federation (EMCEF) organised a conference in Bad Orb, Germany entitled "Cutting Emissions, Transforming Jobs".
The goal of the meeting was to discuss how industrial workers might present a common position at the upcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference in Copenhagen Denmark. The UNFCCC COP-15 conference, as it is called, is expected to propose a new set of agreements on greenhouse gas emissions targets to renew or replace those contained within the Kyoto Accord.
Speaking at the meeting, IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina said, "Our industrial sectors are frequently seen as contributors to the current environmental crisis. Yet it is within these very industries that solutions already exist or are being developed. We want to reduce emissions, while at the same time increasing employment and protecting the environment."
The industrial workers' unions prepared a background discussion document taking into account work that had already been done, such as ICEM's recently-adopted policy on Sustainability. The meeting was structured around five panel discussions: environmental protection, sustainable development, sectoral concerns, sustainable job creation, and just transition.
The lively discussion covered a vast territory, some of the points made include:
- the environmental crisis is as much a failure of global capitalism as the recent and ongoing economic crisis
- good jobs and a clean environment go hand in hand, we will have both; or we will have neither
- developing countries must have their chance to develop. However, their development need not follow the same harmful paths as it did in developed countries that caused the environmental crisis in the first place. International institutions for capital and finance, resurgent protectionism, and restrictions on technology transfer, can create a new era of colonialism if we do not prevent it
- trade unions must hold governments and employers to account, particularly regarding the social dimension of sustainability
The delegates from all four organizations welcomed the opportunity to discuss the social and economic consequences of trying to solve the present environmental crisis. Overall, there was a consensus that industrial sector unions need to make our voices heard in Copenhagen, and particularly to be the champions of the social dimension of sustainable development. While there are certainly concerns within specific industries and regions, and therefore a need for strong Just Transition programs, there are also many opportunities for sustainable job creation.
The ICEM, IMF, EMF and EMCEF will be reviewing the discussion document and comments received over the next couple of weeks. Following this review, we will finalize the materials we will bring to COP-15 in Copenhagen to make our points with the country representatives negotiating the new agreement.
Following the meeting, Manfred Warda, ICEM General Secretary said, "For industrial workers and their unions an important question for changing to a low-carbon economy is who pays for it and who benefits from the transition. We only have one planet and we all have an interest in protecting our future."
Copies of the background paper and presentations delivered at the meeting are published on the IMF website.
Additional information about climate change and the position of industrial workers can be found on the following web links:
[Oct 20, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Seven Shipbreaking Workers Die in One Week
BML and the IMF call for an end to barbaric deaths in the shipbreaking yards in Bangladesh after seven workers die in one week.
BANGLADESH: Md. Jahangir Alam, a shipbreaking worker who had migrated from the poverty stricken Rangpur district to work at the Habib steel shipbreaking yard in Chittagong, Bangladesh, died as a result of an accident at work on October 12, 2009. He was the seventh Bangladeshi shipbreaking worker to die in one week.
On October 11, three other shipbreaking workers at the Pakija shipyard died from inhaling poisonous gases. On October 8, three other workers were smashed to death by an iron-plate at the Crystal shipyard.
"The labour law is being blatantly violated and the police have recorded these incidents as un-natural deaths," reports Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan, General Secretary of IMF affiliate the Bangladesh Metalworkers' League.
At a meeting between Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), an organization of workers and employees' organizations, and the Bangladesh State Labour Minister, on October 15, Bhuiyan demanded that the Minister investigate and punish the companies responsible for the deaths.
"This is murder by shipyard owners and we demand exemplary punishment. We can not allow this to happen anymore. No one can take advantage of poverty and unemployment. The government has a responsibility to create decent jobs," Bhuiyan said to the Minister.
BML also demanded a mechanism for inspecting the ships before their entrance into the Bangladeshi territory, and that the rights of labour are protected. The union also appealed for international solidarity to "stop these barbaric killings".
The IMF sent a letter to the Bangladeshi State Labour Minister in support of the shipbreaking workers, calling for immediate action to respect the rights and improve the health, safety and welfare of shipbreaking workers in Bangladesh.
Click here to sign a petition calling on the G20 heads of states to do more to protect the rights of shipbreaking workers in Bangladesh. [Oct 22, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Gerdau Global Workers' Committee Protests at Chile Factory
After a trade union delegation was refused entry to Gerdau's Aza factory, the Gerdau Global Workers' Committee protested outside the plant and handed in a letter to management repudiating the company's stance.
CHILE: Trade union leaders representing Gerdau workers in Argentina (UOM), Brazil (CNTM and CNM), Canada (USW), Colombia (UTRAMMICOL), Chile (CONSTRAMET), the United States (USW), Spain (Comisiones Obreras and UGT) and Peru (Sindicato de obreros y de empleados Siderperu), and led by the IMF, have handed in a letter to the company president, André Gerdau Johannpeter, at Gerdau Aza factory gates in Santiago, Chile, repudiating the company's decision to deny them entry to the Chilean plant. The letter also included a list of demands from the Gerdau Global Workers' Committee.
The protest took place after a trade union delegation, visiting the country for a meeting of the Gerdau Global Workers' Committee, was denied entry to the Gerdau Aza factory. Chilean union leaders had taken appropriate steps to prepare the delegation's visit but management refused to let the delegation into the plant and gave no clear reason as to why they took such action.
At the end of the Global Committee meeting on October 15, at 2 p.m., the committee went to the Gerdau Aza factory and IMF Assistant General Secretary Fernando Lopes handed in a letter to the human resources department, addressed to André Gerdau J. and repudiating the company's refusal to allow the delegation into the factory.
The letter also requested a rapid and effective solution to the strike in Cambridge, Canada; a negotiated solution with the SINTRAMETAL union in Tuta on the renewal of their collective agreement; and, reopening of the Duitama factory in Colombia.
As on other occasions, the letter also requested a meeting with Gerdau management in Brazil to discuss the following points:
- Company recognition of the Gerdau Global Workers' Committee
- Negotiation of an International Framework Agreement
- Implementation of a joint global health and safety committee
[Oct 20, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Gerdau Workers Strengthen Global Committee
The Gerdau Workers' Committee decided on action to seek recognition from the company and in solidarity with colleagues in Canada and Colombia suffering violation of their labour rights in this time of crisis.
CHILE: The meeting of the Gerdau Global Workers' Committee, held October 13-15 in Santiago, Chile has ended after three days of analysis and discussion about the demands of unions representing Gerdau workers throughout the world.
The Gerdau Workers' Committee, composed of trade union representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, the U.S., Spain and Peru decided on action to strengthen the committee and to seek company recognition of the committee.
The meeting discussed the most serious disputes currently affecting Gerdau workers, including the United Steelworkers strike in Cambridge, Canada to maintain workers rights and the union campaign in Colombia against plant closures that have left hundreds of workers unemployed. The committee is working on an Action Plan covering the next few months.
It was agreed to continue writing to Gerdau management in Brazil about the disputes in Canada and Colombia and to organise an International Day of Struggle in all Gerdau factories on November 18. The meeting also discussed the different arrangements in Gerdau factories for negotiating health and safety agreements.
The Gerdau Workers' Committee will focus mainly on demanding company recognition of the committee; negotiating an International Framework Agreement; and negotiating a health and safety committee.
The meeting began with a visit to one of Gerdau's factories in Chile (Gerdau Aza). However, company management refused to allow a delegation of leaders into the plant. The committee responded by writing to André Gerdau J., repudiating the company's stance.
The committee decided to meet again in October 2010 in Spain. Leaders agreed to continue strengthening the Gerdau Workers' Committee and to continue the fight, especially on behalf of colleagues most affected by violations of their rights. [Oct 20, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
ArcelorMittal: Unions Praised by Industrialist
Lakshmi Mittal, owner of ArcelorMittal, praises flexible role of unions in responding to the global financial crisis.
CHINA: Lakshmi Mittal, owner of the steel giant ArcelorMittal, used the annual conference of the World Steel Association held on October 12 in Beijing, to praise trade unions for the part they had played in helping the company adapt to the recent global economic crisis.
Mr Mittal took the opportunity to thank steel employees, customers, shareholders and governments for the "flexibility and patience they have shown in enabling us to find solutions to surmount the crisis". Adding, "In particular the unions: who have realized the importance of flexibility to help chart a way through these difficult waters."
"This difficult year has served to demonstrate that the steel industry is now able to absorb some very large shocks. The situation would no doubt have been considerably worse had the industry not significantly restructured over the past decade," Mr Mittal said.
IMF general secretary Jyrki Raina met with Mr Mittal and General Management Board members of the company in September to discuss areas of strategic concern for steelworkers, such as climate change, trade policy and sustainability. Raina commented that, "It does not surprise me that the unions have been recognised in this way, the same could be said by many companies it's just that Mr Mittal is bold enough to say it, that's what sets this company apart."
In June 2008, IMF and ArcelorMittal signed a global agreement to improve health and standards throughout the company. Since then a joint company and union global committee on health and safety meets regularly to find ways for improvement at all sites around the world. The IMF is also continuing to negotiate with the company to look at expanding the agreement into an international framework agreement. [Oct 20, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Renewed Hope for Cochlear Workers
AMWU bargaining campaign at Cochlear gets boost from new labour laws.
AUSTRALIA: The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) has made significant progress in its campaign for collective bargaining rights for 320 Cochlear production workers. In July 2009, the Rudd Labor Government replaced the neo-liberal "WorkChoices" labour laws. The new legislation requires employers to "bargain in good faith" with unions if a majority of workers support collective bargaining.
The AMWU made an application on behalf of the majority of Cochlear employees to the new tribunal for workplace disputes Fair Work Australia in late July 2009. Following a ballot of all eligible employees, and an intensive employer campaign against a "Yes" vote, the AMWU won a historic victory and the Tribunal issued bargaining orders.
The AMWU will commence bargaining with Cochlear in the first week of November. "I am optimistic that Cochlear management will respect the majority of employees' decision, but this campaign won't be over until we resolve a fair collective agreement," said AMWU NSW Assistant Secretary Tim Ayres. "AMWU members are going to work hard to get to agreement, but we won't hesitate to enforce our new legal rights if Cochlear management frustrate good faith bargaining."
"The AMWU members greatly appreciate the solidarity shown by members of the AMWU in many other workplaces and by unions around the world through the IMF. The name Cochlear became associated with a refusal to respect the workers wishes and to bargaining fairly with the union under Australia's unfair labour laws. We hope that this will now change. We will keep the IMF informed of progress." said Julius Roe, AMWU National President and IMF Executive Committee member.
The IMF launched a campaign in August 2007 in support of the workers at Cochlear after the company, a world leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art hearing devices, used Australia's anti-union industrial relations laws brought into force by the previous conservative government to deny workers the right to be represented by their union.
Click here for further information. [Oct 19, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Mexican Government Attempts to Bust Electrical Workers' Union
More than 100,000 people protest in Mexico City against power firm closure and attempted destruction of SME, an independent trade union in Mexico.
MEXICO: On October 15, more than 100,000 people marched in Mexico City to protest the sacking of 45,000 workers by the national government when it shut down the city's electrical utility. Earlier, on October 10, thousands of Federal Police seized the plants of the state-owned Central Light and Power Company (Luz y Fuerza del Centro), which provides electricity to Mexico City and several neighbouring states.
Minutes later the government of President Felipe Calderón announced that the company would be liquidated and all its approximately 45,000 workers fired, which would mean the destruction of the Mexican Electrical Workers' Union (SME) and elimination of its members' collective agreement and pension benefits for 20,000 retirees.
The SME is one of Mexico's oldest independent trade union organizations with one of the best collective agreements in the country. It has been playing a leading role in the fight against privatization, proposed regressive reforms to the Federal Labour Law, and other neoliberal policies.
Secretary of Labor Javier Lozano declared in September that SME's internal elections were invalid and that General Secretary Martín Esparza and other officers would not be recognized by the government. Without legally recognized officials, the union cannot engage in contract negotiations or other activities.
"This act of aggression on an independent union that campaigns for progressive change for Mexican people comes as no surprise to the IMF. The attack on the SME is not dissimilar to the attacks we have seen on IMF affiliate the Mexican Miners' Union since 2006," said IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina.
"This most recent attack against SME and independent unions in Mexico is truly shocking and will not be tolerated by the international community. The government's actions, including the use of the police and the military, breaches all international norms and represents a serious set-back to democratic life in Mexico," added Raina.
Together with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), the IMF sent a letter to President Calderón on October 14 protesting the breach of international labour standards and calling on the President to "directly and promptly to reverse this decision, restoring the full independence and autonomy of the SME trade union". [Oct 16, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
Identifying IMF's Priorities in Africa
IMF coordinating committee for the Africa region agrees to prioritize work in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, review IMF's regional strategy and develop an industrial development strategy for Africa.
AFRICA: The Afrec coordinating committee met on October 9 in Johannesburg, South Africa to discuss with the IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina IMF priorities for 2010 and beyond and to plan for 2010 regional activities. This important coordinating meeting was attended by members of the Executive in Africa's three sub-regions and their substitutes. Also participating in the meeting were the general secretaries of IMF affiliates in the four countries in the southern Africa sub-region.
The meeting heard from affiliates presenting their country's challenges and enabled participants to exchange ideas. Three countries were immediately identified as priorities for the next few months. They are:
Kenya: The meeting agreed that there is an urgent need to engage the two IMF affiliates in Kenya to develop an organizing strategy, it became clear in the reports from both IMF regional representative Stephen Nhlapo and the Kenyan delegate that there are more than 100,000 metalworkers in Kenya who are not organized and the situation needs to change. The meeting also tasked the other executive committee members and IMF to work with the two Kenyan unions towards the formation of one union in that country.
Zimbabwe: The meeting agreed to dispatch a delegation of Numsa leadership to meet with the two unions and the national centre to discuss ways of speeding up the merger discussions and to encourage parties to cooperate with the process.
Swaziland: The meeting agreed that IMF regional representative, working with the IMF Executive Committee, should meet with the Swaziland national centre leadership to try and resolve the relationship between our affiliate and the centre. The meeting agreed that it is unacceptable that our affiliate is not part of the national centre in that country.
After the presentation by the IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina on IMF priorities based on the IMF action program and regional priorities based on the consultation document the meeting agreed on the following issues:
- There is a need to add the issue of industrialization of the continent as part of the regional priorities, including the development of an industrial development strategy that can be used by affiliates when they engage the government about development,
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The regional office should develop a strategy to organize and recruit affiliates in west Africa and strengthen the sub-region, this is one of the key priorities in 2010,
- All affiliates need to play a role in IMF activities including making input on the consultation documents,
- That affiliates in the region should meet to re-discuss the regional strategy but before the meeting the region should provide affiliates with a detailed analysis of each affiliate and that country's economy and politics.
[Oct 14, 2009 – Stephen Nhlapo]
AFW and ITUA Sign an Agreement with VW Management
On September 25, VW works council together with IG Metall held a seminar for the unions at Kaluga plant in Russia and signed an Agreement on Cooperation.
RUSSIA: On September 25, IMF Russian affiliates AFW and ITUA participated in a seminar organized by Volkswagen works council and IMF German affiliate IG Metall. Both Russian unions represent workers at VW plant in Kaluga.
The meeting ended with an Agreement on Cooperation signed by both unions and the Volkswagen-Kaluga management.
In accordance with the Agreement the company undertakes to negotiate in good faith with the unions and provide them with all the necessary information. A joint representative body (works' committee) will be created at the plant as well as a number of employer-employee committees on personnel matters, organization of production and occupational health and safety. Union representatives, foremen and shift supervisors will be taught Volkswagen "production culture". The agreement allows the unions to organize seminars for their members. Participation in such events will be paid as working time.
The agreement requires the company to provide both AFW and ITUA with offices for daily work as well as to setup information union stands in the workplace. Both unions will participate together in regular meetings with VW management.
A general meeting enabling workers to communicate with the management directly will be held four times a year.
Also the parties agreed that another meeting similar to that of September 25 will be conducted in six months time in order to evaluate the results of joint initiatives.
Volkswagen plant in Kaluga was opened in November 2007. In 2008 62,000 cars were assembled. The management plans to keep the production rate at the same level in 2009. The plant currently employs 1,700 workers. [Oct 13, 2009 – Ilya Matveev]
Italian Metalworkers Strike for Eight Hours
250,000 Italian metalworkers strike for decent jobs, employment and a national collective agreement.
ITALY: On October 9, 250,000 metalworkers demonstrated in five Italian cities calling for decent jobs, employment and a national contract.
IMF affiliate FIOM-CGIL criticised the optimistic declaration by the government and Confindustria (the Employers' Association) that the worst of the crisis is over, arguing that workers conditions are worsening and that if they want to stop the crisis they must:
- block dismissals
- stop plants' closures and relocations
- provide for all the workers - contract as well as permanent workers - a decent public subsidy for the short term (cassa integrazione)
- invest in industrial sectors in order to create employment, not for speculations
Federmeccanica, the metalworkers' employers' association, rejected FIOM's demands for a national collective contract. On the contrary, they are negotiating and want to sign an agreement with only two of the three unions that represent metalworkers in Italy.
Furthermore, Federmeccanica refused to accept FIOM's proposal for joint negotiations with the three trade union organisations on a few common points, such as issues relating to the crisis, job security and a transitional wage increase.
Federmeccanica also refused to suspend the implementation of the new "rules" that decrease collective bargaining power and change the timing for the renewal of collective agreements as contained in a separate agreement, which has not been signed by CGIL, the national centre representing six million members.
The FIOM-CGIL and the workers that took strike action in Rome, Florence, Palermo, Milano and Naples believe that the national contract has to be negotiated by Federmeccanica and the three Unions on a consensual basis and submitted to the approval of all workers. [Oct 12, 2009 – Anita Gardner]
IMF Joins Global Effort in Support of Bangladeshi Shipbreakers
International labour community launches world campaign demanding that G20 leaders protect workers, not just bankers.
GLOBAL: The International Metalworkers' Federation has joined a global campaign calling on G20 heads of state to protect workers in one of the world's most dangerous industries - shipbreaking.
A new report produced by the U.S.-based National Labour Committee titled Shipbreaking in Bangladesh & The Failure of Global Institutions to Protect Worker Rights, documents conditions for some 30,000 workers, many of them children just 10 to 13 years old, who break apart massive decommissioned tanker ships, 650 to 1,000 feet long and 20 stories high, which are run up onto the beaches of Bangladesh. According to the report, the shipbreakers are forced to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, for wages of just 22 to 32 cents (USD) an hour, doing one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Workers, who often lack even the most minimal safety protections, are injured and maimed every day and on average a worker is killed every three weeks.
As part of the global effort to raise standards in Bangladesh shipbreaking yards, unions are signing on to an electronic petition (click here) which will be sent to this year's chair of the G20, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, with a copy to U.S. President Barack Obama.
The petition calls for an end to child labour, the enforcement of basic labour law protections in Bangladesh shipyards and the implementation of basic safety provisions.
"The ten countries-many G20 members-and ten shipping companies that dominate global merchant cargo trade must guarantee that all toxic waste will be removed before ships are sent to Bangladesh-or India, Pakistan, China or Turkey-for scrapping," reads part of the petition signed by the IMF.
Click here to sign the petition and join the global campaign.
The National Labour Committee is a human rights advocacy group that focuses on the promotion and defence of worker rights. [Oct 09, 2009 – Kristyne Peter]
