Day of ACTION <br>September 12, 2006

Austria

AUSTRIAN METAL TEXTILE FOODWORKERS UNION

Vienna — members of the GMTN demonstrated in front of the Japanese embassy and handed over a petition to the Japanese ambassador. They also reported about the day of action and the Toyota Philippines campaign on their union website: http://www.gmtn.at/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=GMT/Page/GMT_Index&n=GMT_4.a&cid=1157625784746.

Australia

AUSTRAILIAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS UNION (AMWU)

The AMWU added the Toyota Philippines campaign to their website and designed a leaflet to compliment their mobilization efforts at Japanese embassy.

• Sydney — 50 people, including Toyota workers demonstrated in the centre of the city in Martin Place. The demonstration was very noisy and attracted the attention of lunch time crowds. Leaflets were handed out. The local Philippino support organisation PAUL was present. The CFMEU construction union also participated. The rally was addressed by AMWU State Secretary Paul Bastian. A delegation met with the Japanese Consul and presented the petition and the consul agreed to pass on the message to their government.
  
• Melbourne — 170 people rallied outside the Japanese consulate in Melbourne as part of a national protest against car giant Toyota. Workers and union officials chanted slogans including "Shame Toyota shame" and "Who screws their workers? – Toyota". They also signed a petition, which was later handed to consulate staff, which focuses on the Japanese carmaker's operation in the Philippines.
  
  
• Brisbane — A small demonstration was held outside the consulate in Brisbane. The consulate was closed in anticipation of the demonstration and the building totally locked down. The demonstrators tried to enter the building, but were physically prevented from doing so. After some pushing and shoving, agreement was reached that the consul would meet with the demonstrators and the petition was handed over and it was agreed that the message would be passed on to Tokyo. Leaflets were handed out to the lunchtime crowds.
  
• Hobart — A demonstration was held outside a Toyota Dealership in Launceston at 12 noon. All AMWU officials, a small number of AMWU delegates, and other unions involved included NUW, HACSU, AEU and RTBU. All unions flew their various flags. A couple of the salespeople came out from the dealership to see what was happening, they were in good humour and joined in with the flag bearing. They weren't even aware that Toyota had people in the Philippines. The owner of the dealership was not on the site, so a delegation of AMWU went inside to meet with the Co-Owner to let him know what we were doing and asked him to pass on the protest letter to the President of the Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan. He agreed to do so.
  
• Adelaide — A demonstration was held outside the main Toyota dealership in Adelaide. There was a good attendance and the noisy demonstration handed out leaflets to the public.
  
• Perth — A demonstration was held outside the Japanese consulate in Perth and was addressed by State Secretary of the AMWU Jock Ferguson.

Argentina

ASOCIACIÓN OBRERA MINERA ARGENTINA (AOMA), ASOCIACIÓN DE SUPERVISORES DE LA INDUSTRIA METALMECÁNICA DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA (ASIMRA), UNIÓN OBRERA METALÚRGICA (UOM)

• The affiliates sent letters of protest to the Japanese embassy in Argentina.

Bangladesh

BANGLADESH METALWORKERS' FEDERATION (BMF) and the BANGLADESH METALWORKERS' LEAGUE (BML)

• Dhaka — The BMF General Secretary Mr. Nazrul Islam Khan and BML General Secretary Md. Mojibhur Rahman Bhuiyan met the Ambassador of Japan Embassy in Dhaka and submitted a petition.

Belgium

LANDELIJKE BEDIENDEN CENTRALE – NATIONAAL VERBOND VOOR KADERPERSONEEL (LBC-NVK) and SYNDICAT DES EMPLOYÉS, TECHNICIENS ET CADRES DE BELGIQUE (SETCA-BBTK)

LBC-NVK and SETCA-BBTK launched a petition on the web and at local Toyota plants.

• Brussels — On the 12th of September 60 trade unionists demonstrated before the Embassy of Japan demanding the reintegration of the 136 Toyota-employees of the Philippines. Ms Madoka Funatsu, second secretary of the Japanese ambassador, received a delegation of 6 persons. The delegation was able to share their concerns but also to hand over the results of a petition. In two weeks time they succeeded in collecting more than 1,000 signatures. The embassy had respect for this action and promised to give the petition to their government. The case at Toyota Philippines will be examined and if necessary the Japanese government will put pressure on Toyota and the Philippine government. The embassy has promised us to give feedback within the month about the steps the Japanese government will take in this case. "Kanaal Z" TV did a short report on the action.
  
  
  After this action the demonstrators joined a demonstration of the Belgian network "Stop the killings in the Philippines". They were demonstrating before the European Commission where the Philippine president was on a visit. The protestors called on the Philippine government to urgently guarantee the security of human rights activists and also trade union activists and thoroughly investigate the political assassinations. Since 2001, 750 political assassinations have been committed in the Philippines, many of them trade unionists. Letter of the Belgian affiliates to the Japanese Embassy.

Brazil

CONFEDERAÇÃO NACIONAL DOS METALÚRGICOS (CNM/CUT)

• Sao Paulo — CNM/CUT publicised the IMF's September 12 DAY of ACTION in their international bulletin.

CONFEDERAÇÃO NACIONAL DOS TRABALHADORES METALÚRGICOS (CNTM-FS)

• The affiliate sent a letter to the Japanese embassy in Brazil.

Chile

CONFEDERACIÓN NACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES METALÚRGICOS (CONSTRAMET)

• Santiago — The affiliate sent a letter to the Japanese embassy.

Colombia

FEDERACIÓN DE TRABAJADORES DE LAS INDUSTRIAS METALÚRGICAS, ELÉCTRICAS Y MECÁNICAS DE COLOMBIA (FETRAMECOL)

• The affiliate sent a protest letter to the respective Japanese embassy.

COLOMBIA'S NATIONAL MINEWORKERS' UNION (SINTRAMINERCOL)

• SINTRAMINERCOL sent a protest letter to the respective Japanese embassy.

Curacao

CURACAOSCHE ALGEMENE DOK & METAALBEWERKERS UNIE (CADMU)

• The affiliate sent a protest letter to the respective Japanese embassy.

France

FÉDÉRATION NATIONALE CFTC DES SYNDICATS DE LA MÉTALLURGIE ET PARTIES SIMILAIRES (CFTC), FÉDÉRATION DES TRAVAILLEURS DE LA MÉTALLURGIE (FTM-CGT)

• Valenciennes — The CFTC mobilized their members on September 12 in front of Toyota France and sent a protest letter to the Japanese Ambassador in Paris.
  
• Montreuil — The FTM-CGT sent a letter to the Philippine ambassador asking him to use his influence in bringing a just and fair outcome for the TMPCWA members illegally fired.

Ghana

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS UNION (ICU)

• ICU wrote a letter in support of TMPCWA workers and send it to the Japanese embassy in Accra.

Guatemala

FEDERACIÓN DE TRABAJADORES DE LA METAL-MECÁNICA DE GUATEMALA (FETRAMEGUA)

• The affiliate sent a protest letter to the respective Japanese embassy.

Honduras

FEDERACIÓN DE TRABAJADORES MINEROS Y METALÚRGICOS DE HONDURAS (FETRAMIMH)

• The affiliate sent a protest letter to the respective Japanese embassy.

India

STEEL, METAL & ENGINEERING WORKERS' FEDERATION OF INDIA (SMEFI), INDIAN NATIONAL METALWORKERS' FEDERATION (INMF), and WORKING PEOPLE TRADE UNION COUNCIL (WPTUC)

• Mumbai — The SMEFI General Secretary Mr. Sanjay S. Vadhavkar, Mr. V.V. Rane and other office bearers met as a delegation with Consulate General of Japan and submitted a petition. The Consul General has responded in a letter stating that he will forward the petition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.
  
• New Delhi — The INMF Secretary Mr. P.J. Raju and others submitted the petition to the Japan Embassy in New Delhi.
  
• Chennai — The INMF affiliated Tamil Nadu National Engineering Employees' Union conducted a protest demonstration under the leadership of Mr. N. Devarajan and submitted a petition to Consulate General of Japan in Chennai. The protest actions are covered by Media i.e. Local TV news channels. And, The WPTUC conducted a protest demonstration under the leadership of Mr. R. Kuchelan and submitted a petition to Consulate General of Japan in Chennai.

Indonesia

LOMENIK-SBSI

• Jakarta — Workers demonstrated in front of the Japanese embassy calling for Toyota Philippines to REINSTATE THEM NOW!

Kenya

AMALGAMATED UNION OF KENYA METALWORKERS

• Nairobi — Kenyan Metalworkers sent the following letter.

Korea (South)

KKOREAN METAL WORKERS' FEDERATION

• Seoul —The KMWF sent a letter of protest on September 12 to the Japanese ambassador in Korea.

Mexico

SINDICATO NACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES DE TELEINDUSTRIAS Y SISTEMAS DIGITALES DE LA REPUBLICA MEXICANA (SNTTSD) and SINDICATO NACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES MINEROS, METALÚRGICOS Y SIMILARES DE LA REPÚBLICA MEXICANA (SNTMMS)

• The affiliates sent protest letters to the Japanese embassy in Mexico.

Nepal

NEPAL FACTORY LABOUR CONGRESS (NFLC)

• Kathmandu — The NFLC President Mr. Dhirendra Kumar Singh along with other Office Bearers submitted a petition to Japanese Embassy at Kathmandu.

Pakistan

PAKISTAN METALWORKERS' FEDERATION (PMF)

• Karachi — The PMF Secretary General Muhammad Suhail and other Office Bearers submitted a petition to Japanese Consulate in Karachi and the Consulate assured them that they would forward the petition to the concerned authorities.

Peru

FEDERACIÓN DE TRABAJADORES DE LAS INDUSTRIAS MINERAS, METALÚRGICAS Y AFINES DEL PERÚ (FETIMAP)and CENTRAL NACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES INDUSTRIALES DEL METAL & ELECTRO MECANICA DEL PERU (CEMETAL)

• Lima — the affiliates sent protest letters to the Japanese Ambassador.

Philippines

TOYOTA MOTOR PHILIPPINES CORPORATION WORKERS' ASSOCIATION (TMPCWA), NISSAN WORKERS UNION, HONDA WORKERS UNION (part of CAR-AID alliance) and MWAP

• Manila — A picket action was launched in front of the Japanese Embassy. The action was attended by members of TMPCWA and other unions as well as families of the illegally dismissed members of TMPCWA. The Labour Attaché of the Embassy and the Economic Affairs officials met with two leaders of TMPCWA, Representatives of CAR-AID, MWAP and two representatives from the Support Group of TMPCWA from Japan for one almost one hour inside the Embassy and promised to discuss this issue with Tokyo Foreign Ministry Officials.

Romania

FEDERATIA NATIONALA SINDICALA (METAROM)

• Bucharest — METAROM members held a picket line in front of the Japanese Embassy in solidarity support of Toyota Philippine workers.

Russia

MINERS & METALLURGICAL WORKERS' UNION OF RUSSIA (MMWU)

• Moscow — A representative of the union paid a visit to the Japanese Embassy and handed in a petition to the Japanese ambassador.

SHIPBUILDING WORKERS' UNION OF RUSSIA (SWU)

• Moscow — SWU sent a protest letter to the Japanese ambassador.
  

ENGINEERING WORKERS' UNION OF RUSSIA (EWU)

• The affiliate sent a protest letter to the Japanese embassy in Moscow

Singapore

INTERNATIONAL METALWORKERS' FEDERATION SINGAPORE COUNCIL

• The IMF-Singapore Council delivered a letter of protest
  to the Japanese embassy on September 12.

South Africa

NATIONAL UNION OF METALWORKERS OF SOUTH AFRICA (NUMSA)

• Johannesburg — More than 400 NUMSA members protested in front of the Japanese embassy. IMF regional representative Stephen Nhlapo delivered a letter of protest calling for a resolution to the situation facing 136 unjustly fired TMPCWA workers.

Sri Lanka

JATHIKA SEWAKA SANGAMAY METALWORKERS' FEDERATION (JSSMF) and the SRI LANKA NIDAHAS SEWAKA SANGAMAYA (SLNSS)

• Colombo — The JSSMF Secretary Mr. Palitha Atukorale and SLNSS General Secretary Mr. Leslie Devendra met the Ambassador of Japan Embassy in Colombo and submitted a petition.
  

Thailand

CONFEDERATION OF THAI ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES; ELECTRONIC AUTOMOBILE & METALWORKERS (TEAM)

• Bangkok — TEAM executive and active leaders gathered in front of the Japan Embassy in Bangkok at 10:20 where reporters and police had been waiting in expectation. Bro.Chalee Loysoong handed out copies of the appeal letter to his Excellency, the Japan Ambassador, to media and requested a meeting with the office-in-charge of the day. The Labour Attaché then granted a meeting with TEAM representatives. Bro.Chalee Loysoong expressed Thai metalworkers' concern over Toyota-Philippines' management violations against its workers' trade union rights and that the company has refused to re-instate all concerned unionists back to work.

Ukraine

TRADE UNION OF MACHINE BUILDERS AND INSTRUMENT MAKERS OF UKRAINE

AUTOMOBILE AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY WORKERS' UNION OF UKRAINE

RADIO ELECTRONICS AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING WORKERS' TRADE UNION

TRADE UNION OF DEFENCE INDUSTRY WORKERS
UKRAINIAN SHIPBUILDING TRADE UNION;

UKRAINIAN MACHINEBUILDING AND METALWORKING UNION "MACHMETALL"

TRADE UNION OF AIRCRAFT BUILDERS OF UKRAINE

• Kyev — A collective effort from seven Ukraine affiliates signed on to a protest letter on behalf of TMPCWA workers and sent it to the Japanese ambassador.

Uruguay

UNIÓN NACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES DEL METAL Y RAMAS AFINES (UNTMRA)

• The affiliate sent a protest letter to the respective Japanese embassy

Venezuela

FEDERACIÓN DE TRABAJADORES METALÚRGICOS, MINEROS, MECÁNICOS Y SUS SIMILARES DE VENEZUELA (FETRAMETAL)

• The affiliate sent a protest letter to the respective Japanese embassy.

Denmark/Finland/Norway/Sweden

Nordic IN

• Nordic IN sent letters of protest to Toyota management and Philippines' Department of Labour and Employment.

South-East Europe

Serbia

GRANSKI SINDIKAT METALACA (NEZAVISNOST)

Croatia

METAL WORKERS TRADE UNION OF CROATIA

Slovenia

SINDIKAT KOVINSKE IN ELEKTROINDUSTRIJE SLOVENIJE

Macedonia

TRADE UNION OF INDUSTRY, ENERGY AND MINING, SIER

Bosnia-Herzegovina

METALWORKERS AND MINERS UNION OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

TRADE UNION OF METALWORKERS

Bulgaria

TRADE UNION (METALICY)

SYNDICAL FEDERATION OF MACHINEBUILDERS AND METALWORKERS

CL- PODKREPA-SFMM

FEDERATION OF METALLURGY – CL PODKREPA-FM

FEDERATION METAL ELEKTRO

Montenegro

FREE TRADE UNION OF METALWORKERS OF MONTENEGRO

Kosovo

INDEPENDENT TRADE UNION OF METALWORKERS OF KOSOVO – SPMK

Romania

F.N.S. SOLIDARITATEA METAL

FEDERATIA NATIONALA SINDICALA METAROM

METALWORKERS FEDERATRION (HENRI COANDA-FRATIA)

• IMF affiliates in South-East Europe have signed a collective petition both in English and Serbian and handed it over to the Japanese ambassador in Serbia on September 12.