RUSSIA: On August 29 at 9 am the Interregional Trade Union of Autoworkers (ITUA), an IMF affiliate, rallied in front of the office of the employment agency Adecco on Gagarin street, Kaluga, Russia. The action marked the beginning of the union campaign against precarious work.

According to ITUA, employment agencies have developed deep roots in Kaluga. Over ten major players operate in the city, including Adecco, Kelly Services and the Russian company Kariera (Career).

Many companies, especially TNCs, eagerly introduce precarious work to limit workers’ rights. At the Volkswagen plant in Kaluga, where there is an ITUA local, an employee can not be hired directly. Before getting permanent employment, the worker has to undergo a six-month "probation period" — despite the fact that the Russian Labour Code limits such a period to three months. The precarious workers at the main production line are almost as numerous as the permanent employees, they constitute roughly 45 per cent of the work force. During the "probation period" Adecco signs a temporary work contract with the worker, and the decision to renew the contract lies solely in the hands of the administration.

The Russian parliament approved the first reading of the bill banning precarious work, introduced by Andrei Isaev and Mikhail Tarasenko.

ITUA states that the last straw was the firing by Adecco of Igor Skachko, a union member who worked at Volkswagen. Because of occupational injuries Skachko was transferred to light work on health grounds.

"ITUA filed a number of suits against Adecco. Simultaneously we started a campaign against precarious work," stated Olga Masson, editor of the ITUA newspaper Autoworker and a union activist in Kaluga.

"We plan to hold several pickets in front of the offices of employment agencies in Kaluga, distribute leaflets and carry out an awareness-rising campaign at Volkswagen," she added.

USA: Experts from the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF), United Steelworkers (USW) and International Metalworkers Federation (IMF) found out first hand just how unbearable temperatures and humidity can be during a two day plant visit. The group inspected the site of a fatality in February 2011 which occurred as a result of an explosion in the melt shop. The fatality happened after 12 months without a lost time injury and deeply shocked the workforce.

The LaPlace plant was built in 1979 and has had a number of owners until ArcelorMittal bought it in 2008. It has two electric Arc furnaces and produces 580,000 tons of steel with 423 employees and 131 sub- contractors. The United Steelworkers have a collective agreement for 280 workers. Around 150 are members of the union. Both the LaPlace plant and the previously visited plant in Vinton are unique in that most of the mini-mills in the United States are unorganized.  

The local union President Kinley Porter who is also Safety coordinator of Local 9121 explained that prior to being taken over by ArcelorMittal there hadn’t been a day let alone a couple of months without an accident at the plant.  But he also wants to see a stronger commitment to a joint approach which includes the involvement of more hourly employees and more resources for the union.

One frustration that was raised by a worker during a visit to the rolling mill was an unsafe practice that he had raised with his supervisor a number of times but that had failed to be addressed. He was advised to use a stop work card that had been issued to all employees next time he had to perform the task, which he subsequently did, stopping production. This led to a number of improvements being made and a subsequent reduction in the number of hazards faced by workers.

Tony Murphy of the European Metalworkers’ Federation stated: "I’m pleased to see that this worker felt empowered to use his card as a result of our visit. I hope that more workers follow his example and do the right thing".                                                                        

As a result of the visit and subsequent feedback a number of areas for improvement were identified. These included training of union and management representatives on corporate standards, joint safety audits, and standardization of personal protective equipment. Electrical safety and training must also be improved.  A follow-up visit to check progress may be undertaken in the future.

USA: Two main priorities identified by the group are first to improve the participation and way the local joint health and safety committee functions (JHSC) and then develop a joint action plan. The second priority is to build a consistent and credible approach to health and safety issues. For example, on a plant tour the group witnessed several unsafe acts near supervision with no action taken, yet a worker who lost his thumb in an accident was under the threat of disciplinary action.

The Vinton plant operates a mini-mill. It has 2 Electric Arc Furnaces and is the largest steel maker in West Texas and New Mexico. It began operations in 1962 as a publicly owned company. After several changes in ownership it was taken over by ArcelorMittal in April 2007. The site has 448 employees which are represented by the United Steelworkers (USW). The USW collective agreement covers 280 workers but only 60 are members of the union. Local union president Local 9424-01 Roberto Castanon is working hard to build union density but these efforts are not helped by the 140 contractors or temporary employees that form a quarter of the workforce.

Having so many contractors on the site is also having an impact on safety performance with 25 lost time incidents this year of which 16 are attributed to temporary or contract workers. Despite efforts by management to address this situation the number of accidents/incidents has increased steadily over the last 3 years.

Rob Johnston, Executive Director at the International Metalworkers Federation, commented: "In any steel plant you have the potential for a fatality, but currently in Vinton you have a higher potential. We got a clear commitment from the union and management to work together. That opportunity needs to be seized upon urgently"

At the conclusion of the visit the group of experts made a number of recommendations. They included better participation of union and workers in the local JHSC (currently only 2 out of 30 members are union representatives). Regular safety walks/audits should take place, including with union and senior management participation (the last was eight months ago). A joint training plan should be developed for union reps and supervisors. A credible action plan should be developed jointly and regularly reviewed by the JHSC to ensure progress. Also, a number of corrective actions for specific hazards were identified.

KOREA: Hanjin Heavy Industries Group earlier announced that 400 workers at the Hanjin shipyard would be dismissed. With threats of firings the company obtained 230 "voluntary resignations". In the end, the company dismissed 170 workers against their will and in breach of contract. Some of them accepted Hanjin’s pay package but still continue to support the struggle and hope for reinstatement. However, the company claims that they have renounced their rights.

Parliamentary Hearing

On August 18 a parliamentary hearing on the Hanjin mass dismissals was organized. This was the first time in 14 years that the Korean National Assembly called a chairman of one of the Korean  Chaebols – the powerful single-family-owned conglomerates – before a parliamentary committee to explain their actions. During the hearing, Hanjin Heavy chairman CHO clung inflexibly to his original positions.

National assembly members called on the Hanjin Heavy Industries Group Chair to withdraw the 170 dismissals, or at least reconsider them for the 94 workers who didn’t accept the company’s pay packages, and enter open-ended discussions with the union to find a solution. However CHO, Nam ho refused to do this.

After the hearing the KMWU has hardened its stance. Instead of calling on Chairman CHO to solve the problem, KMWU now asks the government to take CHO to court for the illegal mass dismissals that he could not justify with concrete or specific information before the National Assembly of South Korea.

Hope assembly

On August 20 some 10,000 workers and supporters demonstrated in Seoul at the KCTU "National Workers’ Rally against the government’s anti-worker, Chaebol-driven policy and for a trial of the LEE Myung Bak Regime." Students, civic groups and the larger public joined the all-night and two-day Hope Assembly. Riot police blocked the passage of the Assembly participants for some 3 hours – giving rise to spontaneous rallies in the streets as participants waited to enter Seoul Plaza – but the gathering could not be stopped. The leaders of Korea’s 6 opposition parties conveyed their support to the workers.

4th Hope Bus rally in Seoul

KMWU members will be joining a 4th Hope Bus in Seoul on August 27 to 28 under the theme "Another World is Possible!"
 
You can help!  Please click on the link to send a letter asking the Korean President to do the right thing:
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1046. 
 
 

MEXICO: After months of struggle organized by Section 309 of SNTMMSRM affiliate of both of the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), a four day strike started on August 15 has ended with victory. 

On August 18 management of Excellon de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. signed an agreement about union recognition and a committment to sign a new collective labour contract. According to the agreement in addition to recognition the company will pay out 100 per cent lost wages to those who participated in the four day strike and will not persecute workers who participated in it.

The signature of the agreement took place in the Gómes Palacio in Durango in presence of representatives of the union, management, the authorities of the state Durango, as well as the organization Proyecto de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales (ProDESC), which put a lot of efforts in assisting the union in their struggle.

One of the biggest obstacles workers faced when fighting for their rights was the existence of two yellow unions which back in 2005 signed protection contracts with the management to block access of authentic unions to the mine. Each of these contracts was concluded with only 10 and 20 workers respectively. The vast majority of workers of the mine were neither aware of existence of these contracts nor familiar with the leaders of these unions.

The next step will be the conclusion of a new collective labour contract between Section 309 and management of the Excellon de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. after the competent authority, the Local Committee for Conciliation and Arbitrage of the State of Durango, confirms Local Section 309 of SNTMMSRM as the union representing majority of workers at the La Platosa mine.

The IMF has earlier reported about the situation at La Platosa mine and contacted the company and Mexican authorities on several occasions including recently when management of Excellon de Mexico submitted a complaint for eviction before the Public Ministry instead of addressing workers concerns of unsatisfactory working conditions.

IMF and other global unions welcome this victory of workers and will keep on following closely the development of the situation with trade union rights at La Platosa mine and Mexico in general.

KOREA: Renault Samsung workers joined the KMWU and formed the Renault Samsung Motors Local, as more than 100 workers affiliated. The Local was officially established and launched at a general meeting on August 21 at the KMWU Pusan Yangsan Branch.
 
PARK Chongkyu was elected local chair. Workers at all of Korea’s auto assembly companies – Hyundai, Kia, GM, Ssangyong, Tata, Daewoo and Renault Samsung – are now affiliated to KMWU-KCTU.
 
Renault Samsung Motors began as Samsung Motors in 1995. In 1997 the company was hit by the East Asian financial crisis and serious labour disputes. French Renault took over control of the company in 2000 (Samsung Card retains 20%). Renault increased production capacity – and work pace – from 100,000 to 300,000 units per year. Worker representatives have claimed that work intensity was forced up to unbearable levels. Renault wants to make the company to the stepping stone of Renault’s expansion in Asia.
 
From the start, an ‘Employees Representative Organization’ at the company made unilateral agreements on annual wage increases and goals concerning units per hour and hours per vehicle. The wage increases have not matched those at other auto assembly companies. During the course of 2011 workers started to unite, with a view to affiliate with the KMWU.
 
KMWU will now inform Renault Samsung Motors about the establishment of the local union and request a meeting to start negotiations on a collective agreement.

Since 2004 IMF has an international framework agreement with Renault, covering more than 130,000 employees worldwide. The negotiations of new agreement are under way.
 
For more info, contact Seong-sang KIM / Executive Director, KMWU, at [email protected].

CANADA: Jack Layton led the New Democratic Party of Canada from 2003 until his death. In the national election in May 2011, the NDP achieved a historic total of 103 seats, more than double its previous high.

Layton laid out a vision for a Canada with a more open, accountable and democratic government, where progressive policies help create good, sustainable jobs and protect the environment.  Wealth should be invested to strengthen health care, education, transport and other public services that benefit all citizens.

Layton also paid a contribution to international solidarity. During a global labour mission to Mexico in 2009 with the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), Layton said: “We made it clear that the government’s interference in union governance, it’s jailing of union leaders and freezing union bank accounts, declaring strikes illegal and failing to prosecute the killers of union leaders, are serious and unacceptable violations of basic human rights.”

Ken Neumann, Canadian National Director of the United Steelworkers (USW), said: "Jack reawakened Canadians to the reality that government can – and must – play a positive role in ensuring the economic and social wellbeing of its citizens."

Ken Lewenza, President of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) said in a message to the NDP: "At Jack’s passing, your voice of conscience is needed more than ever. Your efforts can and will make a difference in the direction of our country."

IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina said: "Jack joined us on a solidarity mission to Mexico and on the picket line in Sudbury, demonstrating once again his deep commitment to social justice and struggles of workers for a better life. The trade union movement has lost a great ally."

In a message to his friends, written just two days before he passed away, Layton thanked the tens of thousands who had written to him to wish him well, saying: "We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

USA: The collective bargaining agreement between CWA and Verizon expired on August 6.

For the new agreement, Verizon wanted to freeze and eliminate pensions, increase offshoring of jobs, slash health care plans and eliminate disability payments for injured workers. In total Verizon had nearly 100 concession demands, despite profits of US$19.5 billion and payments of US$258 million to its top five executives in the last four years.

According to the new agreement on how to proceed, the existing contract will be back in force for an indefinite period, but can be terminated by either party by providing seven days notice after September 20.

Members of CWA and IBEW at Verizon Communications who have been striking since August 7 will return to work on Tuesday, August 23. The major issues remain to be discussed, but issues have been focused and narrowed. The unions will now focus on bargaining fairly and moving forward.

CWA and IBEW represent 45,000 workers at Verizon covered by this contract from Virginia to New England.

Contact: Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, [email protected].

 

RUSSIA: As a result of negotiations with local authorities present, an agreement was reached at the Vyshnevogorsky mining and processing plant in Chelyabinsk, Russia. A ten per cent wage increase will be implemented at the plant in November 2011. The union cancelled public action scheduled for August 18. A workers’ meeting will be held at the plant instead.

Vyshnevogorsky workers were on the brink of strike action all summer. They protested against low wages and poor working conditions.

On June 24, 2011 the negotiations and the workers’ resolution to take action resulted in an agreement. The administration agreed to save the "benefits and guarantees" section in the CBA for 2011-2013, conduct a workplace assessment before July 15, 2011, pay double rate for  overtime work before August 20, 2011 and make regular overtime payments thereafter. They will also introduce a 40 per cent premium for night work and pay the utilities workers arrears for 2011 according to these new pay rates, allow for additional days of vacations for work in hazardous conditions, and introduce new pay rates before August 1, 2011.

The agreement was fully supported by the workers. However, in August all the deadlines were missed and the agreement wasn’t implemented. This led to the decision to take action on August 18.

However, the negotiations between the union and the administration with local authorities present resulted in an agreement to increase wages by ten per cent in November 2011. The issues of overtime and night work were resolved in full accordance with the Russian Labour Code — the overtime rate was set at 150 per cent of the normal rate and the night work rate was set at 140 per cent of the normal rate. The workers were paid arrears for the first half of 2011. New pay rates were also introduced by the administration. The union will handle the assessment of workplaces.

“Such an increase in wages is of course a compromise. The workers demanded a 20-30 per cent increase, but now the figure is ten per cent,” said Yuri Goranov, president of the Chelyabinsk branch of the Mining and Metallurgical Workers’ Union (MMWU), an IMF affiliate in Russia.

“We believe that the wages should be increased on a case-by-case basis. The first priority is to improve the income of the lowest-paid workers, who earn less than 12 000 rubles (US$300 dollars) a month.”

MEXICO: The Volkswagen Workers’ Union (SITIAVW) has reached agreement with the company, a few hours before a strike was scheduled to begin. The agreement included a six per cent pay rise, a 661 peso one-off payment to all union members and employment contracts for 500 temporary workers.

The union’s general secretary, Víctor Jaime Cervantes Rosas, told local media that the company and union reached agreement at 4am and therefore avoided a strike.

The union leader said workers were satisfied with the six per cent pay rise because it was above the inflation rate and higher than the pay rises agreed with other companies in the automotive industry, which had been the union’s objective.

He also explained that the company will make a contribution towards the cost of school materials for the children of more than 11,800 union members, irrespective of the number of children they have.

The union initially demanded a 13 per cent pay rise but then lowered its demands to 7.5 per cent. The company began by offering 4.5 per cent, employment contracts for 400 temporary workers and a contribution towards school materials only for workers with two or more children.