RUSSIA: Management of the Jura Corporation RUS (Ivangorod, Saint-Petersbourg area) is ready to engage in talks with the Interregional Trade Union of Autoworkers (ITUA) affiliated to the IMF, announced company Director Rhee Ohn Sog in a letter to the ITUA President Alexey Etmanov.

In November 2010 a union local was founded at the Jura plant in Ivangorod, which supplies wiring to the Hyundai operation in Saint-Petersbourg. In two months 200 workers out of 750 joined the new union affiliated to ITUA.

When the administration learned about the union, it began threatening the workers with closing the plant, mass dismissals and bonus reduction. The management also tried to force the workers into creating a "yellow" union controlled by the administration. Despite all this a hundred workers at the union meeting on January 12 almost unanimously (with one abstained) voted against leaving ITUA. However the next day the management pulled out the workers one by one and pressured them. As a result, some of them signed the statements about leaving ITUA prepared by the management.

The union launched a campaign of solidarity with its local under fire from the administration. Company Director Rhee Ohn Sog received numerous faxes, one of them was sent by IMF Regional Representative Vadim Borisov.

On January 21 the plant was visited by District Attorney Igor Federov and his staff. President of the union local Viktor Makhnov and Company Director Rhee Ohn Sog took part in a meeting with District Attorney. Fedorov demanded that the company followed Russian laws which guarantee freedom of association. He also maintained that the company faced an investigation from the District Attorney’s office. The management was forced to recognize the union and deny speculations about moving the plant and mass dismissals.

On January 22 Jura workers held a picket in Kingisepp (Saint-Petersbourg area). Over 20 people took part in this action. Jura workers were supported by unionists from Ford, leftist groups and a media outlet Aurora-TV, which prepared a video story about the picket. Protesters chanted: "Stop the pressure, the union’s not a crime!", "De facto, de jure – recognize the local, Jura". The picket was attended by the District Attorney and a number of journalists. Korean managers, who also witnessed the picket, refused to comment.

On January 27 ITUA President Alexey Etmanov sent a letter to the Company Director Rhee Ohn Sog offering to meet and try to resolve the conflict at the plant. On Feburary 8 Etmanov received a reply: Rhee Ohn Sog announced that the company was ready to engage in talks with the union.

ITUA views positively the response and hopes for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

IMF will watch the situation at the plant closely, and continue to support the workers and their union.

SENEGAL: More than 50,000 people marched through the streets of Dakar on February 6 to mark the opening of the World Social Forum. Participants during the march varied from young soccer players calling for a fair system, to rural women who were calling for better response to climate change.

The labour movement was also well represented. About 200 delegates attended the first day briefing meeting organized by International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) at the national centre’s offices. Among IMF affiliates who attend the Forum were NUMSA, FTM- CGT, and Kenya Engineering Workers’ Union.

The World Social Forum is taking place on African soil from February 6 to 11, at a time everyone in the world is engaged in a debate about what kind of economic system is better to serve society globally.

Everyone, including champions of capitalism, has agreed that the pure capitalist system has failed and we therefore need to begin discussing alternatives. This year the World Social Forum is an important platform  for the labour to discuss and engage with different social formation so as to develop an alternative positions and way forward to the current system.

On the first day a labour forum organized two activities where two topics were discussed: "The global financial and economic crisis, challenges and prospect for alternatives for trade union power" and "African integration and the Diaspora: building bridges for development".

In a speech at the Forum on February 7, former Brazilian President Lula stated that agricultural development is key for African countries as a condition to secure real sovereignty and a way to generate export revenues. Lula also criticized the subsidies to agriculture of rich countries and the prices of commodities only determined by speculation. Lula also noted that the building of a peace culture – traditionally a key issue at WSF debates – doesn’t depend only on the end of the arms trade, but requires the effective fight against hunger, inequalities and unemployment.

CANADA: On February 6 at 5 am an explosion occurred at the Vale Ltd.’ Copper Cliff Smelter Complex following a leak of molten matte from the Furnace No.2.

The United Steelworkers Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand explained that following a failure of the tapping block on the northeast wall brought molten matte into contact with cool water causing an explosion.

Vale officials, USW representatives and ministry inspectors will look into the cause of the explosion resulted in the second closure No. 2 furnace in the last two months.

Labour Ministry representative declared in the course of the investigation they would also consider health and safety concerns including the situation with safety of workers.

Fortunately no injuries or loss of life happened however significant damage was caused. The flash furnace no. 1 was also stopped following the incident but has since restarted.

The company spokesperson declared Vale is working to determine the cause of the failure and the extent of the impact.

SPAIN: Following almost a year long fight and failed social dialogue culminating in a general strike last September 29, on February 4, 2011 Sindicato Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) and Confederación Sindical de las Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO) signed a social and economic agreement with the Government and the employers’ organizations Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales and Confederación Española de la Pequeña y Mediana Empresa CEOE-CEPYME.

The negotiations of the agreement tool place during difficult times with Spain facing severe consequences of the global economic and financial crisis, including an unemployment rate exceeding 20 per cent. The Government, through the pressure from the business circles and the European Union, announced of its intention to revise the existing system of pensions, to eliminate the temporary unemployment program PRODI and to speed up the process of privatization of savings banks without proper consultation with trade unions. Thanks to the pressure from the unions, including the industrial action in September and a demonstrated readiness to continue with the actions, the Government had to revise its approach and agreed to start fair negotiations which resulted in the conclusion of the Social and Economic Agreement.

Commenting on the signed agreement UGT General Secretary Cándido Méndez said that, "it represents a substantial correction of the initial proposals of the Government because it is a general agreement that includes measures regarding pensions, active approaches in industrial policy, innovation and energy, commitment to modernize public administration and its scope is more comprehensive and more accurate than initially raised by the Government."

CC.OO General Secretary Ignacio Fernández Toxo explained that, "the agreement preserves the public pension system and the rights of workers and, especially, young people who enter the labour market. It’s an agreement that looks to the future and is committed to the transformation of the Spanish economy; as it is not possible to get out of this crisis by reproducing the same growth patterns that brought about the crisis in the first place," Toxo added.

The new agreement enters into force in 2013 and will not affect existing pensions.

GENEVA: A delegation of Global Union Federations and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) took action at the Egyptian mission in Geneva on February 8 urging the Egyptian government to assume its responsibilities to protect peaceful demonstrators and to respect fundamental rights first of all freedom of expression and freedom of association.

The group, including a representative from the International Metalworkers’ Federation, met with Counsellor Yasser Hassan to discuss growing concerns over the government’s role in the escalating violence and the lack of protection for Egyptian citizens exercising basic civil liberties. They called on the Counsellor to use his influence to ensure that his government fully investigates all acts of violence and those responsible are punished.

In a statement delivered to Counsellor Hassan, members of the global labour movement voiced their solidarity with "Egyptian colleagues in independent trade union organizations, who always stood firm in defence of workers’ rights in spite of the extremely difficult and often times overtly hostile circumstances."

As part of the ITUC Call to Action, unions around the world took similar action in support of democracy in Egypt. In Brussels an international trade union delegation led by Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the ITUC, together with three Belgian trade union organizations went to the Egyptian Embassy in Brussels. ITUC-Africa also led an international trade union delegation to the Embassy in Dakar (Senegal) during the World Social Forum in Dakar.

Reports of many other trade union gatherings to mark the day were sent to the ITUC, notably from Australia, Korea, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, France, Tunisia, Canada, Sweden, Italy, and Mauritania.

The IMF is committed to support the legitimate demands of the Egyptian workers for democracy, good jobs and the respect of fundamental workers’ rights.

INDONESIA: The demands for the reform of social security and the fight against precarious work reverberated from the loud speakers as thousands of workers who are members of IMF affiliate the Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (FSPMI) took to the streets. This massive demonstration, which coincided the opening of the fourth FSPMI Congress, was attended by well over 10,000 workers.

Social security and the fight against precarious work are the burning issues for Indonesian labour. IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina and Regional Representative Arunasalam.P joined the peaceful march which was well organised with adequate security from the unions own security apparatus called Metal Guard.

FSPMI President Said Iqbal, from atop a truck spoke to the workers. He said "that should the government fail to reform the social security system the Indonesian unions will call for a nationwide strike on May 1st." He chided Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for his failure to reform the social security system and control precarious employment that spreads like wild fire and burns down permanent and regular employment. The flag and poster carrying workers joined in chorus to the shouts of "Hidup Buruh and Hidup FSPMI", which means long live workers and FSPMI.

IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina in his address at the union’s congress opening assured them that the IMF will continue to support the FSPMI in their struggle for social justice, improvement in social security and fight against precarious work. Raina announced that this subject will be one of the themes for discussion at IMF’s Central Committee, taking place in Jakarta in December 2011.

Dr. Ribka Tjiptaning, a popular member of parliament echoed the voice of the workers and said that should the government fail to reform the social security laws she would join the demonstration and strike on May 1st.

INDIA: On February 1, 2011, Telco Workers’ Union (TWU) an affiliate of Indian National Metalworkers’ Federation (INMF) and TATA Motors reached an agreement to regularize 280 temporary workers at Jamshedpur plant. The agreement covers 86 skilled and 194 semi-skilled employees. According to the agreement they will be included in different production departments within a fortnight. The Union has said that they will be examining the whole issue in the month of March and they hope that another couple of hundred workers will be upgraded again.

The signatories to the agreement were Mr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, TWU President, who is also the General Secretary of All India INTUC and Mr. Chandrabhan Prasad, TWU General Secretary. The management of TATA MOTORS were represented by Mr. P. K. Chobe, Plant Head and Mr. Sumanth Sinha, DGM (IR, W & CS). It is significant to note that in line with the tripartite agreement in February 2005 and subsequent bipartite agreements a total of 2,100 temporary workers have been inducted in the permanent rolls of the company.

EGYPT and TUNISIA: The International Metalworkers’ Federation received an urgent appeal from the International Trade Union Confederation, see the text below:

"The ITUC is with great concern following the escalating violence against demonstrators in Egypt and the attacks on trade unions in Tunisia by militias known to be associated with the former ruling parties."

"We appeal to you to take part in this action and to urge your government to intervene with the governments of Tunisia and Egypt. We also appeal to you to protest to the Tunisian and Egyptian embassies in your country. Please find attached a statement issued by the ITUC, as well as a Spanish translation. A copie in French will be provided as soon as possible."

"We thank you for your solidarity."

The IMF calls on all affiliates to express their solidarity with the oppressed demonstrators and unions and send their letters to the Governments of Egypt and Tunisia. Model letter is published in English and Spanish.

KOREA: On February 2, GM Daewoo management signed an agreement committing to reinstating all 15 members of the Irregular Workers Chapter of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) who were laid off three years ago. The two high altitude sit-in protesters who had been living over the arch in front of GM Daewoo for over 60 days concluded their struggle and are now in recovery.

The key points of the agreement included the following:

• Nine union members laid off after closure of the in-house subcontractor they were employed by will be rehired by a subcontractor by the end of January 2013,
• Five union members laid off for disciplinary reasons will be rehired by a subcontractor by the end of July 2013, and
• One union member employed by a GM Daewoo parts supplier (secondary subcontractor) will be rehired by a subcontractor by the end of July 2013.

Through the efforts of the GM Daewoo workers and solidarity from Korean and international supporters, GM Daewoo was forced to agree to the reinstatement of all the workers of the Irregular Workers’ Chapter.

Although the struggle for direct employment and the regularization of in-house subcontracted workers will continue, this agreement represents an important victory for the workers. The KMWU express their gratitude to all those who sent solidarity and protest letters.

MEXICO: Under the flags, posters and banners of a broad coalition of independent trade unions including the Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union (SME) and IMF-affilated Mexican Miners’ Union (SNTMMSRM), civil organizations and farmers groups, 50,000 people participated in a national march on Reform Avenue in Mexico City on January 31, 2011.

The demands of the demonstrators concentrated on calling for a change in direction in Mexico’s economy, politics and society, including rejecting the austerity programme and proposed labour law reforms of the Felipe Calderón administration. The protests also called for a reduction in poverty, promoting sustainable agriculture for small to medium sized producers and putting a stop to the widespread use of violence.

The independent trade unions participating in the march on January 31 will be continuing to co-ordinate a series of actions across Mexico during the forthcoming global days of action demanding trade union rights in Mexico.

Independent unions including the Mexican Miners’ Union (SNTMMSRM), the Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union (SME), the UNTyPP union representing workers in Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company PEMEX, the National Union of General Tyre Workers of Mexico (SNTGTM) and the Union of the Autonomous University of Mexico’s Workers (SUTUACM), as well as the Mexican Telephone Workers’ Union (STRM), Authentic Workers’ Front (FAT) and up to thirty other unions affiliated to the National Union of Workers (UNT) have all faced violent attacks, intimidation and repression of trade union rights.

Trade unions in at least 30 countries around the world affiliated to the IMF, ICEM, ITF, UNI Global Union, and ITUC are taking action from February 14 to 19 demanding the Mexican government stop violating trade union rights in Mexico. For more details go to IMF’s Mexico Action webpage at: www.imfmetal.org/Mexico2011