US/SERBIA: United Steelworkers (USW) has informed that a delegation from Local 207L at Cooper Tire and Rubber Co.’s Findlay, Ohio plant and an international union representative are meeting leaders of the Serbian union Nezavisnost representing workers at Cooper’s recently purchased tire plant in Krusevac, Serbia.
 
During one week the US delegation and their Serbian colleagues will discuss joint work within Cooper and how workers in the two countries can support each other.
 
Earlier, after the company’s announcement of plans to purchase a tire plant in Serbia the president of the Serbian union Nezavisnost, Milorad Panovich, called upon the company to end the lockout in Findlay and pledged support for the 1,051 workers locked out by Cooper in the USA.
 
USW International President Leo W. Gerard commented that international solidarity is especially important in the case of disputes with multinational employers, where a direct link for sharing information can be helpful for workers on both sides of the Atlantic.
 
The situation at Cooper Tire in Findlay remains difficult, and USW continues to reach out to different groups in the US society and abroad.
 
“The company locked out 1,050 workers in Findlay, Ohio,” Gerard said, “but our fight is anywhere and everywhere the company does business until our members are back to work with a fair contract.”
 
USW has declared Saturday, January 14, a National Day of Action, with events in over 100 US cities to support locked out workers.

CANADA: Four hundred and twenty-five workers were locked out by the locomotive producer after negotiations failed. The company has demanded a more than 50 percent pay cut, the elimination of the current pension plan and lower overtime rates. It also wants to slash health coverage, four paid holidays and the annual vacation, and cut other benefits.

The demanded wage reduction would reduce pay from 35 Canadian dollars to 16.50 dollars per hour. The 650 members of Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) earlier voted by 98 per cent for strike action if the management didn’t improve the company’s offer.

The EMD plant in London, Ontario, was bought by the transnational earthmoving equipment producer Caterpillar in August 2010 for 820 million US dollars from private investors Greenbriar Equity Group and Berkshire Partners. The two capital companies in turn had bought the EMD plant in 2005 for a quarter of that amount from General Motors when GM was selling its non-auto making businesses. Since then the company has benefited from generous tax breaks in Canada.
Now CAW suspects the company wants to move production to non-union sites.

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) President Sid Ryan said “We see this fight as being central to the entire labour movement and we are going to dig in our heels and fight Caterpillar with everything we’ve got.”

CAW President Ken Lewenza called the lockout “a serious attack on working people, their families and the greater community of London.”
“If (Caterpillar) is not going to do business in Canada, this wage cut is designed as a mechanism to blame workers.”

In mid-December, the CAW lodged a formal complaint with the government over Caterpillar’s violation of the Investment Canada Act.

A protest rally is scheduled for Saturday, January 21, 2012, in London, Ontario, and further events are planned on January 26 — when Caterpillar releases its annual report.

Also see a detailed report on the ICEM site here.

This lock-out came at the same as a lock-out of 755 Rio Tinto Alcan smelter workers in Quebec, reported on elwhere on this site.

SWEDEN: Similar agreements were approved by Swedish unions IF Metall, Pappers, Unionen, the wood- and graphics workers’ union GS, and Livs, the Swedish Food Workers’ Union. In total, 540.000 industrial workers are covered by the new agreements, which are normative for the rest of the economy.
 
Average monthly salaries are approximately 24 300 sek (2.700 Euro) in IF Metall’s biggest agreement areas, and the hike represents 730 sek (83 Euro). Also bonuses for unsocial hours and shift work are increased with 3 per cent.
 
IF Metall President Stefan Löfven said the agreements "provide for real wage increases in 2012 and maintain the competiveness of Swedish industry – and job security." In IF Metall, the agreements concern 171 000 members in technology, steel, mining and chemistry.
 
The union and the employers will continue to negotiate about a system to retain jobs and invest in education during recessions. The work is near completion, and there have been contacts with the government. The aim is a final proposal at the end of February.
 
The parties will also continue negotiations on systematic work adaptation and rehabilitation.
Furthermore, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation LO and the employers’ association Svenskt Näringsliv have agreed on pension improvements. 

GLOBAL: Many workers in the steel industry face an uncertain year as the economic prospects for the developed world have deteriorated, especially given the financial and fiscal problems in the euro zone and United States. This uncertainty has had a knock on effect in planned projects and investment decisions in many developing countries, meaning the pressure on workers job security has been building. Already many trans-national corporations have announced restructuring, idling or closure of facilities in response to market conditions.

As a consequence most projections for 2012 show an uncertain year for industry and workers.

At the 71st session of the OECD Steel Committee, in Paris, December 5-6, 2011, the IMF called on governments and policy makers to accelerate incentives for manufacturing industries, in particular steel. In a 15 point submission the IMF highlights that manufacturing industries such as steel are highly effective in boosting the prosperity of many economies. The level of per capita consumption of steel is considered to be one of the most important indicators of socio-economic development and living standards in any country.  

Training and developing the next generation of steelworkers will be vital even during times of economic crisis. Retention of a highly skilled workforce will also be important to take advantage of an economic upturn. Providing the right conditions and support to industry during the downturn can allow for a re-tooling of the industry and an opportunity to explore new technologies that will modernize the way in which steel is produced. But this can only happen if governments, policy makers and employers demonstrate their confidence in the industry during tough times.

Rob Johnston Executive Director at the IMF commented: "The backbone of many developed economies was laid on the strength and inherent use of steel. We are not asking for a hand out but a signal of intent and a show of confidence in this industries future".

Using the steel industry as a backbone for an economic recovery may sound farfetched but when you consider that steel has a major influence on our lives, the buildings we work in, the homes in which we live, the cars we drive and countless other facets in between, maybe it starts to make sense. Then if you look at our greatest challenges for the next decades, building a greener economy, an alternative energy supply, new and more efficient transportation, and more efficient buildings, you start to realize that steel will have to be part of the solution.

Trade unions are a significant stakeholder in the steel industry and the IMF is continuing to build networks within the industry as part of its strategy to give workers a greater voice.

GERMANY / FRANCE: IMF affiliates IG Metall, Fédération Générale des Mines et de la Métallurgie (FGMM-CFDT), Fédération Confédérée "Force Ouvrière" de la Métallurgie (FO Métaux) and Fédération des Travailleurs de la Métallurgie — CGT have adopted a joint statement on the future of the industry, enterprises and jobs in the face of current austerity policies that promote dumping of social conditions and wages.

Against the backdrop of global crisis, the unions denounce the spread of precarious employment contracts and an increasing value-destroying competitive pressure. They call on national and European politicians to adopt an active industrial policy that strengthens the industrial base and innovation capacity of their economies, and promotes growth.

This policy must be structured around the following:

• A new direction for the "Europe 2020" strategy, focusing on employment, social cohesion and sustainable development;
• A boost to workers’ purchasing power that stimulates consumption through a strong socially responsible industrial policy;
• A level playing field for localization of sites and competition within the European Economic Area;
• Innovation of technology and public and private investment to meet the new challenges of sustainable development, mobility, healthcare and intelligent networks;
• Investment in training and qualifications to meet technological and industrial developments;
• Development of "green" markets (investment in environmental technology and climate protection). This includes the development and use of renewable energy emitting less CO², and the development of climate-friendly materials;
• The democratization of the economy at all levels with the view to promote dialogue and strengthen employees’ rights to information, consultation and participation.

A central element of the IMF Action Programme 2009 – 2013 is to promote the industry as an engine for creation of stable and sustainable jobs, innovation and improvement of living standards.

CANADA: The Syndicat des travailleurs de l’aluminium d’Alma, or Alma aluminium workers’ union, an affiliate of United Steelworkers (USW) overwhelmingly rejected company proposals at a general assembly on December 29 and 30.

The union local has 755 members at the plant, 674 hourly workers, 25 office personnel and 56 workers at the pot relining centre. Office workers voted 71 per cent for a rejection, hourly employees 98 per cent for rejection, and pot relining workers 88 per cent for rejection.

Bargaining for a new contract started in October 2011. The parties were not able to agree on subcontracted labour – the union wants to limit subcontraction, but the company refuses.

The Alma facility hosts one of Rio Tinto Alcan’s most important North American aluminium smelters. The company has said that it will ensure safe and efficient aluminium operations throughout the region, and cut production by only one third at the 438,000 tonne smelter during the lockout, with the help of 200 managers. Union leaders at the Syndicat des Métallos d’Alma have said to CBC News in Montreal that they suspect the company is using illegal replacement workers to continue production.

Rio Tinto Group is a British-Australian mining group with headquarters in London and Melbourne and operations on six continents, mainly in Australia and Canada. It is the fourth-largest publicly listed mining company in the world, with a market capitalisation over 130 billion US dollars. Union relations are often strained, and the IMF has repeatedly reported on conflicts in the company in North America, Australia and Latin America.

RUSSIA: On December 19-20 the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FITUR) and the Confederation of Labour of Russia held an international conference in Moscow in support of the bill to completely ban agency labour, which is currently awaiting the second reading in the State Duma (lower chamber of the Russian parliament).

The bill was introduced in 2010 by Andrey Isaev, deputy president of the FITUR, and Mikhail Tarasenko, president of the Mining and Metallurgy Workers Union (MMWU), an IMF affiliate in Russia. In May 2011 the Russian Duma passed the bill in the first reading.

The conference, organized by the two largest union federations with support from the ILO, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and the Moscow-based Center of Social and Labour Rights, was aimed at supporting the Isaev-Tarasenko bill and launching a massive campaign for its approval.

"The campaign we are launching today is not a crusade. It is essentially an attempt to explain to the Russian society that our bill will make the Russian Federation stronger and the lives of its people more decent," stated Mikhail Tarasenko.

The participants established four task forces to lobby the bill within Russian authorities, support it on the grass-roots level, solve various legal problems and organize communications and information support.

"We begin the new phase of the struggle to completely ban agency labour in Russia. We will carry out this campaign – and we will certainly win," concluded Boris Kravchenko, president of the Confederation of Labour of Russia.

GERMANY: On December 21 workers converged at GEA global headquarters in Düsseldorf. The German company continues to refuse to meet with the Turkish union, Birlesik Metal, which represents the locked-out workers.
 
Several public figures and unions in Germany and internationally have become involved in the conflict at GEA Turkey, and have contacted the GEA management, for example Michael Sommer, President of the ITUC, the IMF, ITF and ICEM, as well as DISK, the national confederation in Turkey. Recently the executive committee of the German metalworker’s union IG Metall called on the GEA management to respect social standards and engage in dialogue with the Turkish union Birlesik-IS.
 
The action in Düsseldorf is the first time representatives of trade unions in Germany publicly voice their support for the locked-out colleagues in Turkey, and criticise the multinational for its disrespect for fundamental rights and ILO standards.
 
The call for the rally in Düsseldorf was signed by a long list of elected union representatives in IG Metall, Verdi and IG Bau, amongst others.
 
Also representatives from the food workers’ union NGG and shop stewards from Ford, as well as the federation of Turkish immigrant workers’ organizations in Germany DIDF participated at the action at GEA headquarters, and underlined the importance of respect for workers’ rights.

On December 16 IMF and EMF joined the picket line at GEA’s subsidiary in Turkey to address locked-out workers and show solidarity with their struggle. In November, international union leaders rallied outside of GEA’s factory GEA Klima Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (ATR) in Gebze, Turkey in connection to a world conference on labour rights in Istanbul. A Labourstart campaign was launched on November 28.
 
Labourstart campaign in 14 languages here: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1167.
 

GLOBAL: The 17th conference of the parties (COP17) to the UN framework convention on climate change took place in Durban, South Africa, from November 28 to December 9, 2011. Again, the negotiators could not reach an ambitious, fair, and legally-binding agreement on greenhouse gases during the two week long negotiations, and they postponed dealing with serious issues which will impact heavily on future generations. On December 12 ITUC, who had led the international trade union action during COP17, expressed its disappointment, as climate negotiators in Durban agreed on a platform to continue negotiations but without any guarantees that the cuts to emissions needed to stop a climate disaster will be made.

See related articles:
ITUC online: http://www.ituc-csi.org/durban-outcome-no-guarantees-for.html.
IMF Africa Region: http://www.imfmetal.org/index.cfm?c=28430&l=2.

As representing workers in the metal, chemical, energy, mining, paper, rubber, textiles, materials, and related sectors, the IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF have been jointly promoting the following demands:

• that the negotiators reach an ambitious, fair, and legally-binding agreement on greenhouse gases at COP;
• that funds, such as in the Green Climate Fund launched according to the Copenhagen Accord, are made available to trade unions for vocational and educational purposes as part of the broader principle of Just Transition.

No legally-binding agreement could be reached at COP17, but countries officially met one of the industrial workers’ demands, the creation of a Green Climate Fund.

See Decision adopted by COP17 "Launching of the Green Climate Fund" http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/durban_nov_2011/decisions/application/pdf/cop17_gcf.pdf.

The fund now has a formal structure. In order to promote sustainable jobs and a Just Transition, the industrial workers now need to influence the board members of the fund, who will design the crucial "100 billion" scheme.  IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF will continue to focus on the common industrial policies which aim towards sustainable production, the transformation and enhancement of existing jobs, and the creation of new, greener jobs that are needed at local, national, regional and international levels.

USA: They are members of the IMF and the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) affiliate, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). In June they had voted overwhelmingly in favour of being represented by the IAMAW.

This is an important victory after a long campaign by the Machinist, and global action of the BWI. An important achievement is that the agreement includes language limiting the number of temporary workers to be employed in the facility.

According to the Machinists, the new agreement limits the number of temporary workers that can be hired and stipulates safety training before they enter the plant. It provides for a grievance process and access to a union steward. Work rules must apply equally to all workers, and the contract provides for binding arbitration by a neutral third party if work rule issues cannot be resolved. The number of vacation days is tripled, and existing holidays are maintained. The criticised point system has been modified.

Three joint committees will be established; a Health and Safety Committee, a Maintenance Committee, and a Training Committee. Bill Street, Director of the IAMAW Wood Workers Department, said "the three cooperative committees are the first steps towards social dialogue in Swedwood."  

IKEA has an own code of conduct that touches on freedom of association; "The IKEA supplier shall ensure that workers are not prevented from associating freely" and collective bargaining; "The IKEA supplier shall not prevent workers from exercising collective bargaining activities."

This has contrasted with the local management’s anti-union stance. Swedwood Group CEO Gunnar Korsell commented after the union vote, "We will respect the workers’ decision, and cooperate with their representatives in a spirit of mutual respect."

See a full report on the BWI site here.