INDIA: IMF global auto affiliates representing all major auto companies across the world met at Chennai and Pune in India to boost union network structures and International Framework Agreements (IFAs) in global auto companies. Strong working relationships with Indian trade unions were a major focus.
 
Bob King, President of the Automotive Group, expressed serious concern over Ford India’s reluctance to recognise trade union rights and recruitment of large number of precarious workers. He said that "Global strategy and non-violent direct action coordinated across the world are key to get justice."
 
Christian Brunkhorst of the EMF said that "International trade unions should go beyond networks and raise their voice on public and political issues, like regulation of the international financial sector."
 
Helmut Lense from the IMF Automotive Department said that significant progress had been made in building networks in auto majors like Volkswagen, Daimler, BMW, PSA and Renault. In addition, steps have been taken to build networks in GM and Ford (an IFA is planned). The existing network in Fiat/Chrysler has met for the first time this year. Next year network meetings, including with Indian participants, are planned in Bosch, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai/Kia.
 
Dennis Williams of the UAW reported on the works councils in Daimler, Volkswagen and BMW and thanked IG Metall for its strong support. He also hoped for similar support from JAW in the coming years.
 
Rajesh Nair from TATA Motors presented a detailed analysis and future prospects of the auto market, and Professor Sharit Bhowmik from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences made a presentation on the social and economic situation in India. Arvind Shrouti, Option Positive urged workers to struggle for Industrial Democracy and participative rights.

Leaders of IMF’s Indian affiliates INMF, SMEFI, and WPTUC provided a national perspective on industrial relations and leaders of Shramik Ekta Mahasangh (SEM) provided a perspective on the Pune region.
 
Sudhershan Rao Sarde, Director of the IMF South Asian office presented the challenges of the Indian auto industry, and union representatives from India presented company reports on Ford India, General Motors, Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki. A total of 91 delegates including 46 international delegates participated. The next automotive group meeting will take place in Russia.
 

NEW ZEALAND: The Council aims to coordinate the work and activities of the affiliates in Australia and New Zealand and to strengthen the work of the new Federation in the Asia-Pacific region. It will also work to coordinate industrial and political campaigns of the respective unions.

An initial project is to provide support and assistance to comrades in Fiji currently being suppressed by the military dictatorship.

The announcement is made by Paul Bastian, National President of AMWU, Paul Howes, National Secretary of AWU, Peter Tighe, National Secretary of CEPU, Tony Maher, National President of CFMEU, Michele O’Neil, National Secretary of TCFUA, Bill Newson, National Secretary of EPMU and Robert Reid, General Secretary of FIRST Union.

Australian members:
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
The Australian Workers’ Union
Communications, Electrical & Plumbing Union
Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia

New Zealand members:
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
First Union

FINLAND: The employers’ proposal included a local increase of 0,8% which the employer would be able to divide unilaterally. In practice, senior salaried employees would get increases that were lower than other staff groups, and under the frame set in the comprehensive income policy agreement.

Another contentious question was compensation for travels outside of working hours.
 
Strike began on November 1 for 10 000 YTN members in 40 metal sector companies in Finland, and can expand to 25 000 members in 40 additional companies, among them Nokia, on November 7 if no agreement is reached before that. A conciliation proposal is expected on Sunday, November 6.

Two IMF affiliates in Finland, the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK) and The Union of Professional Engineers in Finland (UIL) are members of the Delegation of Professional and Managerial Employees, YTN.

Update, November 6: Strike ends

On November 6 the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff YTN approved the conciliation proposal by the State Conciliator, ending the strike. Also the overtime ban has been removed.

The agreement between YTN and the technology industry employers is similar to the one obtained by the Metalworkers’ Union and Pro; wages will be raised from the beginning of October by 1,6 per cent, plus a local share of 0,8 percent, paid to all, if no other agreement is reached locally. At the beginning of 2012 a lump sum of 150 Euro will be paid, and in November 2012 there will be a general rise of 1,3 percent with a 0,6 percent local share. Concerning compensation for travels outside of working hours, no improvements were reached as it wasn’t possible to fit them into the national framework agreement negotiated earlier.

The IMF congratulates YTN for the positive achievement.

MALAYSIA: The recent amendment to the Employment Act 1955, which legalises contractors for the supply of labour, drew widespread protest among workers in Malaysia. This amendment would open the flood gates for the contract employment and out-sourcing of jobs in the private sector. Despite strong objection from the MTUC and opposition law makers, the government bulldozed this amendment, thereby legalising the contract system of work.

Picketing to protest against the government’s action was held in eighteen locations around the country. Workers from major industrial areas took part in the peaceful picket. According to the statement issued by MTUC this amendment would drive workers into precarious employment and exploitation. Such employment is akin to "slave labour", they claimed.

IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina in a letter dated November 2, 2011 to the Malaysian Prime Minister, expressed serious concern over the amendments which legalise the contract labour system. He said that the amendments would adversely affect permanent and gainful employment, thus impeding and affecting socio-economic development of workers and their communities. Further, it would also undermine the growth of unions, stifle collective bargaining rights of workers and overall, curtail trade union rights.

He called on the government to withdraw the amendments to the Employment Act 1955 and engage in meaningful negotiations with the MTUC to reach an amicable resolution to this dispute.

INDONESIA: October 28 will be engraved into the history of the Indonesian labour movement as a victorious day in the fight to protect Indonesian workers and grant them social security. On the late evening of this day the Indonesian House of Representatives finally passed the Social Security Provider Bill into law, allowing for full health and job protection for all citizens.

Two social security providers (BPJS) will be created. They will start operation in 2014. BJPS I will directly manage health care for all people in Indonesia. The responsibilities and activities of the existing social insurance company Jamsostek Ltd will be transferred to the new organization. BPJS II will manage occupational accidents, deaths, and old age pension in the formal sector beginning on January 1, 2014.

The journey leading to this hard fought victory was riddled with obstacles, challenges and at time uncertainty. Mass demonstrations by workers unseen of in the days of the Suharto regime proved that when workers make up their minds nothing can stop them from fighting for their rights. Despite all impediments, the gallant leadership of KAJS never once retreated.

Said Iqbal, President of KAJS and IMF affiliate Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (FSPMI) thanked the IMF for its support during this struggle. He said that the timely support gave his committee members the courage and confidence to move forward and win the battle. He stressed the need to monitor the implementation of this law that would benefit the people and workers in Indonesia.

The day the bill was debated in the House of Representatives thousands of workers gathered and camped outside the Parliament. When news broke out that the house had passed the bill into law, thunderous applause and screams of "HIDUP BURUH" greeted this historic victory.

IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina, in congratulating the FSPMI and Lomenik for this victorious struggle to protect Indonesian workers under social security said that it was mobilization of workers under the KAJS that won the fight. He stressed that People’s power and determination demonstrated by Indonesian workers is a source of inspiration for workers all over the world. He also assured IMF’s support in ensuring the implementation of this law in 2014.

COLOMBIA: Talks between the Colombian oilworkers’ Unión Sindical Obrera (USO) and Pacific Rubiales, a Canadian oil and gas extracting company, broke down on October 21 when the local company management tried to circumvent the legitimate bargaining partner, and instead signed an accord with a minor union, UTEN, representing 400 members in administration. USO represents over 14,000 actual oilworkers in the oilfields of Rubiales and Quifa in Colombia.
 
In a joint letter, the IMF, ICEM and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union of Canada (CEP) criticises the callousness, indifference, and underhanded manner in which Colombian management of Pacific Rubiales manipulates a process against the wishes of a majority of the Colombian employees, and urges the company management to instruct the local management to return to negotiations with USO.

BRAZIL: At a meeting on October 30, members of the São  Paulo and Mogi das Cruzes metalworkers’ union, affiliated to the Confederación Nacional de Trabajadores Metalúrgicos, CNTM,  in turn affiliated to the IMF, rejected employer proposals for a 7.5% to 8.5% pay rise and agreed to go on strike on November 7 if employers do not make an acceptable offer.

The union said the workers want more than just a pay rise, they want a real increase in the basic wage and guarantees on other important issues, such as keeping on the payroll employees injured at work or suffering from occupational diseases.

Inflation over the 12 months ending in October was approximately 7%. "We want significant real wage increases and we will not accept anything less than 10%. The workforce has contributed a lot towards increasing production in the factories. Employers have until November 4 to make a new offer. If they don’t, we will start bringing the factories to a standstill on November 7", said union president, Miguel Torres. The strike may target individual companies, particular sectors of the industry or particular areas.

This is the annual round of negotiations for 2011 and the union is negotiating jointly with another 53 metalworkers’ unions in the state affiliated to the São Paulo State Metalworkers’ Federation and Força Sindical.

CZECH REPUBLIC: IMF affiliates from Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe met in Prague, Czech Republic, on October 26-27, 2011 for the Regional Conference and Women’s Workshop. They discussed pay gap between working men and women, women’s participation in the new organization, the process of creating the new federation and cases of union rights violations in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Ukraine and other countries in the region. The conference was hosted by the Czech Metalworkers’ Federation OS KOVO.
 
The event was overshadowed by the fact that one of the delegates from Belarus, president of the union REPAM Gennady Fedynich was detained at the Minsk airport by the Belarus police; therefore he couldn’t attend the conference. A resolution condemning the actions of the Belarusian authorities against Fedynich was adopted unanimously by the delegates on October 27. This case will be included in the materials of the union’s complaint to the ILO on Belarus.

The participants of the Women’s Workshop discussed gender pay gap in the region and the development of equality and participation in their own organizations. A women’s network was founded by the unions of Southeast Europe. The participants also proposed women’s representation at all levels of the new organization and supported the proposal for a 30 per cent gender quota for the Executive Committee of the new global federation.

The process of creating the new federation on the basis of IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF was a key item on the agenda of the Regional Conference. After a brief presentation of the merger process, structures and finances of the new federation by the IMF general secretary Jyrki Raina, the participants expressed their ideas and expectations, and debated the challenges the merger will pose in the region.

Another critical issue raised at the meeting was the worrying spread of precarious employment. President of the Russian union MMWU Mikhail Tarasenko presented the bill that he introduced to the Russian Parliament. The bill bans “triangular employment relationships” and agency work in Russia.
 
Participants discussed union and workers’ rights abuses in the region. Among the most severe cases were increased judicial harassment of unions in Ukraine and the full-blown offensive against the democratic unions in Belarus, the consequences of which the participants of the conference felt themselves, when Gennady Fedynich couldn’t come. Other cases presented were the persecution of striking oil workers in Kazakhstan and metal workers in Georgia also on strike.

“Trade unionism is a lifestyle. It’s a 24 hours a day job,” said Vedran Dragicevic, president of the Metalworkers’ Trade Union of Croatia (SMH-IS), referring to reports on increased attacks on trade unionists. “I take it personally. I understand it as attack against me. I cannot stand by and not do anything”.

UK: On 24-25 October, young non-manual workers from the UK, Brazil, Germany, Australia, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Japan met up for the IMF Youth Workshop on Non-Manual Workers in Eastbourne, UK. The purpose was to share ideas and practices on how to reach out to young non-manual workers and to make suggestions on what unions should do nationally and internationally to support them. The delegates discussed issues that concern young non-manual workers and students and took up case studies in a series of sessions.

The U.K. TUC and German IG Metall presented case studies and spoke about organizing young non-manual workers. Workplace issues of concern to young workers included the generation gap, burn out, long working hours, precarious work, career building, mental care, and human relationships.

The workshop participants then shared good practices of organizing youth at school and at workplaces, how to make youth understand the merit of being union members, and effective ways to use social media.

In a future-oriented session the participants debated how union structures and activities should be adapted to cater for youth, and how unions could help achieving a work-life balance and decent work for youth. Finally, the participants discussed future trends of working life.

Over the last 20 years, as youth employment has changed because of globalization, the young non-manual workers’ union concerns have become more fragmented, and relate to issues of gender, migration, culture, equality, environment, and communication. The delegates shared the common understanding that unions should be more active organizing young non-manual workers and students, and use social media, which could be a powerful tool to connect young members and "old" union leaders.   

The workshop participants also sent a solidarity message to the IMF affiliate Unite the Union and its young members, rallying in Westminster on October 25 under the banner of Choose Youth, a coalition of 30 U.K. organizations campaigning to save services for young people. The youth want MPs from all parties in the UK to listen and speak up for young people and young people’s services (see: http://chooseyouth.org/events/).

After the workshop the IMF gathered for a meeting in its global working group on non-manual workers. The working group members confirmed that non-manual workers’ issues should be a main cross-sectoral activity after the creation of new international with ICEM and ITGLWF.

Billed as a lead up to World Day for Decent Work,  the Canadian Auto Workers union recently hosted two “Good Jobs Bad Jobs” round tables with visiting union delegations from Denmark and South Africa.

With almost 40 per cent workers in Canada now in non-standard employment including temporary, contract and part-time jobs, there is a new urgency to develop our analysis and cross-border strategies.

On September 8, 2010 the round table hosted guests from the United Federation of Danish Workers (3F). On September 27, Canadian activists shared experiences with guests from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).

Delegates from NUMSA and 3F strategized with representatives of the CAW and other Canadian unions, action centre coordinators, researchers, and community activists who are engaged in the fight against precarious work.

The round tables highlighted the striking similarities between the three very different economies of Canada, Denmark and South Africa. We heard examples from all three countries of the escalating use of temporary help agencies and labour brokers and the super-exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers, as governments shift away from traditional immigration.

Discussions also focused on the power corporations are wielding to pressure governments to allow unrestricted access to these precarious work arrangements, further eroding the standard employer-employee relationship.

The roundtables underscored the systemic nature of the global rise in precarious employment and, at the same time, allowed for international solidarity to be made more concrete.  These were also opportunities to build stronger links with community organizations that work with non-unionized workers.

The round tables featured presentations on:

Systemic Racism and Precarious Work, by Deena Ladd of the Workers’ Action Centre

A Snapshot of Precarious Work in Canada, by Angelo DiCaro, CAW Communications

Labour in the Global Economy, by Armine Yalnizyan, Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Migrant workers in Canada, by Justicia for Migrant Workers’ Chris Ramsaroop

Precarious work in South Africa  by NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim

IQT – the runaway employer  by IQT Action Centre Co-ordinator, Shannon Jacquier

The 2011 round tables are part of the CAW’s continuing campaign against precarious work:

·         A first round table on Oct. 7, 2009 and brochure on precarious work www.caw.ca/en/8157.htm

·         Adoption of a resolution “Precarious Work Affects Us All” at the CAW Council meeting in December 2009  www.caw.ca/en/8299.htm

·         Development of a  Precarious Work Workshop that has been presented in a number of communities

·         Bargaining initiatives to curtail the expansion of precarious work

·         A study with researchers at McMaster University to track a group of laid-off CAW members and their challenges in finding retraining and secure, decent jobs

·         A precarious work module delivered during working hours as part of our workplace training program for all CAW members at GM, Ford and Chrysler.

More information is on the CAW webpage on Precarious Work: http://www.caw.ca/en/7688.htm