BRAZIL: To push their wage demands, 23,000 members of the Sao Paulo metalworkers’ union, affiliated to Forca Sindical, Brazil’s second largest union confederation, began an indefinite strike on March 26. This is the first large-scale industrial action in Brazil since the former metalworker and trade union leader Luiz Inácio da Silva — “Lula” — took office as the country’s president on January 1. The union says the decision for the stoppage, which has hit 40 plants in Sao Paulo’s metal sector, is due to the intransigence of companies to negotiate a readjustment for cost-of-living losses. Although workers had obtained a 10.26 per cent pay hike in November 2002 for consumer price increases, a union spokesperson says that this has already been eroded so they are demanding an upward pay adjustment of 10 per cent. Normally the Forca Sindical metalworkers of Sao Paulo renegotiate wages every November but, stated the union, “with this kind of inflation we couldn’t wait.” Brazil is currently struggling against high rates of inflation and unemployment.

BRAZIL: A strike by 4,700 workers at Ford’s auto plant in Camaçari, in the northeastern state of Bahia, ended after three days, on March 24, with the Bahia Metalworkers’ Union and company management reaching an agreement on wage increases. The deal sets forth an overall average pay rise of 15 per cent, representing an immediate real wage hike of 8 per cent, a reduction in workers’ contributions to transportation vouchers equal to another 5 per cent, and a decrease in safety and health costs adding an additional 2 per cent. It was also agreed that workers’ plant committees will be set up. According to the union’s president, Aurino Pedreira, the dispute focused on the difference between local metalworkers’ wages and those paid by Ford. The average monthly wage of a metalworker in Bahia is 800 reals (US$236), whereas Ford workers have been earning an average of only 550 reals (US$162). This year’s negotiations contrast with the April 2002 talks, when a number of workers were injured in an unprovoked attack by military police. About 1,700 of the workers at the Camaçari plant, which opened in October 2001 and produces the Fiesta as well as the new EcoSport model, are directly employed by Ford, and the others are employed by over 30 suppliers also operating in the plant. The Bahia Metalworkers’ Union is affiliated to the CNM/CUT.

In the first May 1st march in which I participated in Sweden, back in 1966, I was asked to carry the flag of the United Nations which, together with the Swedish flag and the red flag of the SAP (Social Democratic Party), opened the march through the streets of Gothenburg. I felt proud as never before to be a citizen of the world. I believe that democracy and democratic institutions should rule the world on behalf of its people. The UN is not the most democratic institution, but it is the best we have for the moment. The whole UN system — with the ILO, UNCTAD, UNDP, FAO, WHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNESCO — was set up to create an international system of laws and norms through dialogue and discussion. It was also meant to be a system in which every country, small or big, would have a say. To erode the whole system by ignoring or acting contrary to resolutions and norms is to take a great deal of responsibility for the disorder we can expect when the world will again be ruled by the law of the jungle. Saddam Hussein’s criminal regime must be disarmed. The Iraqi people deserve democracy and freedom, no doubt about it. Saddam has not complied with the UN resolutions, and by doing so he has undermined the authority of the UN system. That is why the international community, through the UN, is justified in taking action against him. But no country has the right to unilaterally attack any other, except in self-defense! Moreover, why should the people of Iraq pay for the sin’s of the dictator? And make no mistake about it, they will have to pay a heavy price for the war they are now forced to endure. Are the 12 years of suffering imposed on them by the embargo not enough? Let’s not forget that the UN embargo and economic sanctions were undermined by ruthless economic interests of developed countries which violated them. The UN inspectors were making progress when they were stopped by the arrogant acts of George W. Bush, Tony Blair and José Maria Aznar. By doing so, the three leaders betrayed the world community and its UN system. But they are not the only ones, unfortunately. The Israeli government has been ignoring UN resolutions for decades and, in the last two years under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, has made this lamentable record even worse. In addition, Sharon is fighting any effort to bring peace to the Middle East through the UN. We are at a very critical point, and that is why we need to mobilise all people to support all leaders who continue to believe that the blue flag of the United Nations is the only one which can bring peace and security. Stop the war now.

CANADA: Over 100 workers, members of the IMF-affiliated USWA Canada, have occupied the bankrupt plant of Ontario Store Fixtures and strapped themselves to their machines to keep them from being removed. The company closed the Ontario-based plant in January without compensating its workers and is now selling its assets in public auction. The equipment for sale is said to be worth C$10 million (US$6.75 million). The union said that workers were “the last to be considered as stakeholders by the receivers” and that this had to change. The workers of the bankrupt company want a decent severance payment. Ontario Store Fixtures, based in Weston, Ontario, is North America’s largest integrated store fixture manufacturer.

The following is the full text of the statement:
Iraq: Global Unions Deplore Unacceptable and Unjustified Decision to Go to War The international labour movement has repeatedly warned of the dangers of a “slide into war” in Iraq. The launching of this military conflict by certain governments in the absence of clear United Nations authority is unacceptable and unjustified. Real possibilities for resolving this crisis through peaceful means and with the broadest international support have been squandered by this rush to war. For years, the Iraqi dictatorship has defied the United Nations and world opinion by violating the human rights of its people and through belligerent actions against others, and few would mourn the passing of this brutal regime. Global Unions* deplore the recourse to the rule of force rather than the use of legitimate UN processes at a time when the rule of the UN and the multilateral system in ensuring global peace, security, human rights and economic development is needed as much as at any time in history. Nations must work to avoid and resolve conflicts through diplomacy and in accordance with the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law. Governments must now take urgent action to restore commitment to the UN. Global Unions are deeply concerned at the likely loss of life that will result from this conflict and urge that every possible measure be taken to minimise casualties and protect life, including the lives of civilians, humanitarian workers, media workers, and others whose work brings them into proximity with the conflict. We call upon all parties to the conflict to respect in full the principles enshrined in all relevant provisions of international humanitarian law. Urgent action is required to deal with the looming refugee crisis and humanitarian emergency. The international trade union movement urges all countries to fulfil their obligations to assist and support those affected. A major rebuilding task in Iraq will also be required, and we urge all governments to work together through the UN to carry out this task. The governments which have initiated this conflict have particular responsibilities in financing the necessary reconstruction through the UN, and in ensuring that the Iraqi people themselves have full control over and benefit from the enormous potential wealth of the country. The UN’s International Labour Organisation should have a key role in this process, in supporting economic reconstruction and in ensuring respect for human rights and specifically the rights of working people as foundations for a truly democratic society. Global Unions are gravely concerned at the likely wider implications of an armed conflict, in particular in the Middle East region. In the long term, peace and stability in the region depends crucially on the spreading and deepening of democracy, the full respect of workers’ and other human rights and just and sustainable development. It depends as well upon a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. We urge the international community act without any further delay to help bring Palestinians and Israelis onto the road to peace, co-existing as two sovereign states on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions. Working people and their trade unions around the world have raised their voices to call for the Iraq crisis to be resolved peacefully and through the UN. Now, many trade unions are calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The international trade union movement shares these concerns and fully supports all legitimate and peaceful protests by trade unions against this decision to go to war. New determination and new initiatives to tackle conflict peacefully must now be the resolve of the entire international community, and we must redouble our struggle to make social justice a reality for all people. The Global Unions grouping will continue and redouble its efforts to ensure that the paramount objectives of international peace and security are met at all times in accordance with the provisions of international law, through the United Nations. We call on all our affiliates to intensify their actions to promote respect for the United Nations and commitment to its vital role in avoiding and resolving conflicts peacefully.


*Global Unions is the grouping of international trade union organisations comprising the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the Global Union Federations and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD.

BELGIUM/EUROPE: In solidarity with Belgian workers affected by the closure of Arcelor’s “hot phase” division in the Liege region, the European Metalworkers’ Federation is calling for a European Action Day on April 25, 2003. Arcelor announced its decision to shut down this division two months ago, without proper consultation with the workforce involved. The EMF says the closure will result in approximately 3,300 direct job losses in the region and an expected total of 6,000, when including jobs lost in supplier companies and indirect employment in Liege. An EMF spokesperson stated that a loss of employment on this scale would be “a direct threat to the complete socio-economic structure of the region and will have catastrophic consequences in many fields.” The closure of the “hot phase” division in the Liege region is part of an overall strategy of the steelmaker which will affect both the flat carbon and inox sectors in Belgium, France and Germany. Arcelor was formed in 2002 with the merger of Luxembourg’s Arbed, Spain’s Aceralia and France’s Usinor and is now the world’s largest steelmaking group.

KOREA, REP: After a long, bitter dispute, and following government arbitration, the Korean Metal Workers’ Federation and Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction reached a settlement on March 12. Among the main issues which have been resolved, the company has agreed to:

• rehire five of the 18 workers dismissed for taking part in the Doosan Workers’ Trade Union strike of May 22-July 7, 2002, and continue to negotiate the reinstatement of the other 13;
• provide 50 per cent of the wages withheld by the company during the strike;
• drop demands for damage compensation and seizure of assets of individual trade union members for plant losses incurred during the strike, and reduce demands to 40 per cent (from 100 per cent) for provisional seizure of the union’s property.

On January 9, 2003, Bae Dal-ho, a 50-year-old Doosan worker and trade union activist, who had participated in the strike, committed suicide by self-immolation after the company had had his property assets and wage compensation provisionally seized. In the 62-day standoff which followed Bae’s death, a number of actions were taken in protest at the company’s harsh, anti-union stance. Members of the KMWF and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held daily vigils outside Doosan headquarters. On January 16, 20,000 KMWF metalworkers went on a 4-hour strike; on January 21, the KCTU announced a boycott of Doosan products; a march on Doosan had been planned for March 12, and 72.91 per cent of the KMWF’s membership of 160,000 had voted for a general strike on March 20. Since January, there has also been an international action alert on LabourStart to protest Doosan’s anti-union repression.

CANADA: The Canadian Auto Workers union reports that members at Sterling Trucks (Freightliner), a division of DaimlerChrysler, have ratified by 91 per cent the tentative agreement reached on March 7 between the CAW and the company, ending a two-week strike of 1,100 workers. The major issue which led to the strike was the company’s demand to impose escalated costs for health care coverage in the second and third year of the agreement. The company has dropped this demand and agreed to a 2.5 per cent wage increase in the first year, 2.7 per cent in the second, and 3 per cent in the third year. Improvements in time off the job, pensions and specific health care benefits are also part of the newly reached deal. Workers at the Sterling Trucks assembly plant, in St. Thomas, Ontario, joined the CAW in December 2002, and negotiations for this first contract had been underway since January. A spokesman for the union said that the settlement “not only ended the strike but these workers have built a solid union with their first contract and they understand these gains were made because of their solidarity and strong leadership.”

CANADA: One-thousand USWA members at Ispat-Sidbec in Montreal and Contrecoeur — representing both production workers and office staff – have ratified a new collective agreement worth C$304 million (US$207.5 million). The union says it is “one of the most generous monetary packages ever obtained without surrendering anything to the employer.” Negotiations centred on three main priorities: pensions, contracting out and seniority. Pensions were improved to meet the industry standard and, over the next seven years, more than 1,200 of the approximately 1,600 workers in the chain will be eligible for retirement. Jobs have been protected through a tightened contracting out clause, which guarantees the practice will be kept to a minimum. The new contract will also benefit new hires at the Montreal pipe mill. Full salary will now be reached in 36 months rather than 72 months. Ispat-Sidbec is Canada’s fourth largest steel producer, with an annual steelmaking capacity of 1.6 million tonnes. It is owned by Ispat International N.V.

AUSTRALIA: Upon the request of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, the IMF is seeking out affiliates with membership in ResMed, a leading respiratory medical device manufacturer, specialising in products for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered breathing. The AMWU is attempting to organise at Resmed but says the company is extremely anti-union. It has tried to prevent entry to the union and refused to sit down and negotiate an agreement. The IMF has written to affiliates in the U.S., UK, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and New Zealand to find out if any have succeeded to organise in this company.