GLOBAL: Voting in the Public Eye Award 2011 for the most evil corporation of the year has started and Good Electronics and the IMF urge you to vote for Foxconn and call upon your friends, colleagues and constituencies to spread the word! The Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, Foxconn, produces high-end equipment for brands like Apple and Dell. Because of the military-style control enforced at the company’s Chinese production facilities at least 18 employees attempted suicide on company premises in the past year.
 
In India, Foxconn workers are continuing their struggle for union representation. In the process, on October 9, 2010, 319 workers were arrested, 12 union leaders imprisoned for 13 days and 24 workers were suspended.

In their struggle for union recognition and improved wages and conditions, the workers secured a Chennai High Court decision on January 4, 2011 ordering that within six weeks the Labour Department and Foxconn management conduct elections to decide on the majority union at the Foxconn plant.

Earlier on October 28 2010, the Chennai High Court granted an interim injunction restraining the Foxconn management from entering into any settlement with a union at the plant.

However, when the workers returned to work on November 18, 2010 after ending their strike action, the Foxconn management forced the workers to accept the backdated revised settlement entered with Foxconn India Thozhilalar Munnetra Sangam (FITMS), whereas the majority of workers are represented by the Foxconn India Thozhilalar Sangam (FITS) union, which is affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
 
The returning workers were told the benefits of the new agreement would not be extended to them if they did not sign a letter accepting the new wage agreement and stating they would not engage in future strikes and must abide by company rules and regulations. The management also asked workers to resign their union office bearer posts in FITS and would only consider revoking their suspension on this condition.

On January 6, 2011, all suspended workers received a letter of internal enquiry on the charges against them. All the charges against the workers were framed according to the standing orders of the company, copies of which the workers have never received. On January 7, 2011, during the meeting with union officials at the labour commissioner’s office, the management reiterated it will conduct an internal enquiry. In response FITS rejected the call for an internal enquiry and called on the management to discuss the issues in the labour commissioner’s office.

BELGIUM: Initiated in September 2010, the negotiations have necessitated several meetings with management. Against the background of these negotiations,  the wage discrepancies and hiring in the first part of the year of sub-contracted workers from temporary labour agencies and the use of precarious work contracts (Win-Win plan), essentially paid for by the State, which had resulted in a certain number of unsatisfactory tests within the two weeks following the hiring.

The unions’ priorities and demands focused first and foremost on improving the wage scale, revising classifications and revaluing trades, and implementing a pre-retirement and end of career scheme. After tough negotiations, the unions obtained a five to seven per cent increase of the starting wage and, for the whole of the workforce, an annual revision of the wage including a fixed percentage and another percentage based on multi-skilling, qualifications and team spirit.

The seniority bonus has been indexed since January 1, 2011 and prolonged to 41 years of service.  The agreement provides for a four per cent bonus increase and its development on an annual basis. In addition, all workers now have the possibility of taking pre-retirement at the age of 58 after 37 years of service (38 in 2012) and, under equal conditions, each pre-retirement is replaced by a permanent work contract. The end of career bonus is improved by adding two more years when calculating its amount. 

Recognizing that all trades have changed considerably, Caterpillar agreed to carry out an analysis of the various trades in the plant and revalue them in the near future.

The Caterpillar Gosselies plant in Belgium, the largest outside the United States, employs over 4,000 workers.  In June 2010, with the support of unions, workers had gone on a 24-hour strike, demanding a wage revaluation that management had rejected.

The new agreement was signed in December 2010 by all unions represented in the plant.

GLOBAL: Following the 3rd international meeting of the Tenaris Workers’ World Council in Brazil last November (http://www.imfmetal.org/index.cfm?id=622&l=2&cid=24840) where more than twenty trade unionists, representing workers in six countries participated, the union in Argentina negotiated a new permanent profit sharing system at the Campana plant, by which 4.5 per cent of Tenaris’ yearly profit is distributed among workers represented by the union and covered by the collective agreement.

The total amount is to be distributed among full time and contract workers. If Tenaris decides to provide this profit sharing system to non-unionized employees it will have to use funds from other sources. Three smaller plants in Argentina in Villa Constitución, Valentín Alsina and San Juan do not have the same profit-sharing system.

Even though Tenaris is the second most profitable company in Cartagena, Colombia, it still refuses to negotiate a collective agreement with its employees. Jairo del Rio, president of SINTRATUCAR, (profiles in Metal World here: http://www.imfmetal.org/index.cfm?c=24691) met with the Vice-President of Colombia in December requesting government intervention in the bargaining process. The union in Colombia also boycotted the end-of-the-year party offered by Tenaris.

In December, as Tenaris held its end-of-the-year party in Ontario in which Tenaris CEO Paolo Rocca participated, the United Steel Workers (USW) in Canada requested a meeting with him. Management called the union executive board asking for the reasons for their meeting. The USW explained their interest to discuss local issues and the recognition of the Tenaris Workers’ World Council. In a one hour meeting, the local management resolved many of the local issues outstanding but did not talk about the Workers’ World Council. At the end of the meeting they asked the USW representatives: "now, are you coming to the party?" The USW response was: "if we meet Paolo Rocca, we are going to the party." They did not attend the party.

UK/GLOBAL: During the meeting the trade union participants raised concerns over the company’s decision to implement a safety violations policy. The unions present outlined the belief that workers should be seen as part of the solution to safety problems, and not the problem themselves.

Union participants informed management that hazard identification and correction including workers being able to report near misses without fear are potentially at risk if the policy is implemented in a heavy handed way without dialogue and consent from the local unions representatives and joint safety committees.

Rob Johnston, IMF Executive Director and Union Chair of the committee, stated, "Although the committee does not have a mandate to negotiate policies or agreements, we do have a responsibility to speak out if we feel management’s strategy is wrong, we have voiced our concerns on this issue and need to find a solution."

The JGHSC also reviewed results for 2010, which saw a slight increase in the number of fatalities from 2009. However since signing the JGHSC agreement rates have fallen by more than 50 per cent. The JGHSC also plans to publish a detailed review in the second half of 2011 on all its activities to date. The next meeting of the JGHSC will take place on March 1 to 3, 2011 in Argentina.

RUSSIA: Over the last two months of 2010, about 200 workers joined the newly formed union. In total the South Korean company wiring supplier of the automaker Hyundai in Saint Petersburg employs about 750 workers from Ivangorod, Kingisepp, Slantsy and neighboring Estonia. Victor Makhno, the quality controller, was elected as a chairman of the primary organization.

The factory "Yura" was opened in January 2010 on the basis of the declined city backbone enterprise "Lenpoligraphmash”. The decision to create a union by workers was due to low salaries currently around 11-12 thousand rubles (US$280 — US$300), including bonuses, many problems in living and working conditions of employees, improper behaviour of managers, and non-compliance with many of the norms of the Russian labor legislation.

The ITUA notified South Korean trade unions of the establishment of the new union branch. Last year on December 12 Alexei Etamonv, ITUA chairman, met Yura workers in Ivangorod. The trade union hopes for a constructive cooperation between their new local and the management in dealing with the backlog of problems.

CHILE: Government, worker and employer representatives from more than 30 American countries met in Santiago, Chile, for the 17th American Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which concluded on December 17, 2010 with a call for greater effort to promote the Decent Work agenda on the continent.

Delegates called for promotion of the decent work agenda; respect for the freedom of association and collective bargaining; ratification of ILO Convention 102 on social security; a  competitive economy accompanied by social cohesion; basic labour rights; and institutionalisation of the labour market.

Jorge Almeida, IMF Regional Representative, highlighted three issues at the meeting: job insecurity, freedom of association and collective bargaining. He proposed:

1. Harmonisation of the OECD guidelines with the ILO Tripartite Declaration, in such a way as to take account of the conventions mentioned in the ILO document.
2. Increased ILO technical support and cooperation on sector studies to help strengthen national and international collective bargaining at the sector level (IFAs).
3. He noted the absence of any study on the new forms of organisation of TNCs, notably the impact of new production methods on job insecurity (for example outsourcing) and non-compliance with ILO Convention 87 on the freedom of association (for example, Grupo Mexico and the Mexican National Miners’ Union.

"We have an opportunity to produce a consensus document focusing on the next four years, a period within which there will be opportunities for decent work in the Americas. To waste this opportunity and allow working conditions to deteriorate will take us down the path of job insecurity, exploitation and conflict," said Almeida.

He added that the freedom of association must be preserved as an absolute value of trade union democracy and that free, independent and democratic organisations must never renounce their right to the freedom of association. He said that collective bargaining must be seen as an essential instrument for regulating labour relations, resolving workplace problems and sharing the benefits of labour. Its impact goes much further than the workplace and affects the living conditions and development prospects of communities, so we must not ignore it.

He also highlighted the situation of the Mexican miners, commenting that many companies make absolutely no investment in health and safety at the workplace and violate the freedom of association, "for example, Grupo Mexico; on 19 February, five years will have passed since the industrial homicide at the Pasta de Conchos mine, from which the remains of 63 workers have still not been recovered," said Almeida. He added that the Mexican government and Grupo Mexico violate the trade union autonomy of the Mexican National Miners’ Union as does Mexican legislation, which prevents the freedom of association.

He explained that the IMF has presented two complaints to the ILO: first, in 2006, about the anti-trade union attitude of Grupo Mexico regarding the Miners’ Union and second, in 2009, about protection contracts and official procedures (toma de nota) that restrict the freedom of association. The second complaint called on the ILO to ask the Mexican government to take the necessary steps to incorporate ILO Convention 87 into national law and to encourage democratic labour relations.

NEPAL: The first ever meeting of IMF’s South Asian affiliates including observers, All Nepal Trade union Federation (ANTUF) from Nepal and National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) from Pakistan, was held in Kathmandu on December 9 and 10, 2010.  The meeting was organised to deliberate upon specific problems of metal workers in South Asia and a regional strategy to defend the workers’ rights and also regional focus reflected in the work of the IMF affiliates.

Participants observed that due to global economic crisis, manifold increase in end of life ships reaching the shores of South Asia for dismantling. Weak regulatory mechanisms negligent occupational health and standards low union density and cheap labour are the main causes for the rapid growth of shipbreaking industry in the region. Trade unions affirmed that wage differentials, unfriendly labour legislations, will lead to race to the bottom and detrimental for the safety of the working people and environmental degradation.

Trade unions resolved to utilise networking and expression of solidarity among the shipbreaking workers in different countries and demand the respective governments, ILO, IMO for providing appropriate health and safety measures workplace, better working and living conditions. Further. Trade unions decided to convene an international conference on shipbreaking industry with representatives from all stakeholders to make ship breaking industry sustainable and respect labour rights.

The meeting also emphasised the need for organising metal workers in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and decided to intensify their struggle against labour unfriendly SEZ legislations in the region and to fight for the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining and regular employment.

Trade unions also discussed about the structures of the trade unions in the region to make them more sustainable economically and organisationally. Enterprise based unions and collective bargaining is a predominant characteristic of South Asia region. The meeting felt that in the era of globalisation unions have to develop national collective bargaining and strengthen the national union structures to match the might of the capital. The participants also observed that trade unions should take assertive steps to ensure enhanced women participation. 

Bro. Fernando Lopez, Assistant General Secretary called upon the affiliates in the region to effectively use communication tools and networking structures established by IMF. The meeting has taken note of the IMF’s Asia pacific webpage and discussed various strategies to strengthen networking amongst the affiliates of South Asia and Asia Pacific to exchange information amongst affiliates to build international solidarity. 

BELARUS: December 19, Belarus held presidential elections, won for the fourth time by Alexander Lukashenko. Activists of the IMF affiliates Belarusian trade union of radio industry (REP) and the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM) participated in the elections as observers and reported on numerous violations.

The same day in the evening mass demonstrations took place in Minsk that were brutally crushed by riot police. Chairman of the Free Trade Union of Belarus (UPB), Michael Kavalkou, activist Belarusian Free Trade Union (SPB), Alex Kovun, activist of SPM, Vladimir Sergeev, and activist of REP, Alexander Tysevich, were arrested.

"We are outraged of the inappropriate force used against peaceful demonstrators. There is no excuse for the security agencies to attack and beat unarmed people and presidential candidates," reads the REP’s statement.

"SPM Council members and rank and files are indignant at the brutal slaughter of peaceful action of citizens defending their constitutional right to free expression of their will by the authorities and demands an investigation into the facts of the inappropriately brutal actions of security forces against peaceful protesters," declares SPM.

On December 22 the International Metalworkers’ Federation sent a letter to Lukashenko demanding the immediate release of arrested union activists.

"Your regime has once again demonstrated its anti-democratic nature and a complete disregard for fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, which are enshrined in the Belarusian Constitution, including the right of public expression of the views concerning the process and results of elections".

"We demand the immediate release of all detained citizens and a public inquiry into the incidents. We will make sure the European Union and the International Labour Organization ILO have not missed these outrageous attacks, which were widely reported in European media," states the IMF letter.

The following documents are published on the IMF website:

• Statement by National Council REP;
• Statement of the SPM;
• Statement of the Council of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP);
• Letter from the IMF to Alexander Lukashenko.

UPDATE: As of January 12, 2011 all above mentioned activists were released, repressions against members of the teams of opposition candidates and the candidates themselves continue.

MEXICO: These days many of us are preparing to celebrate the Christmas holidays exchanging gifts with our relatives, colleagues and friends. Mexican workers are no different; but Christmas this year has a bitter taste for many of them.

Please take a few minutes before leaving on holidays, to let these workers know that we support their struggle and denounce the violations of their labour and human rights!

Honda workers from the Mexican plant in El Salto, Jalisco producing CRV trucks mostly for the U.S. market have struggled for years against a hostile company, corrupt union and subservient government. In 2009, they decided to create their own independent union, the United Workers’ Union of Honda, the management, supported by the Central de Trabajadores de México, CTM’ protection union, immediately replied by repression and harassment. This year, workers began building a real union to defend their rights, and elected an executive committee for their union, but local and federal authorities, under pressure from Honda, have systematically denied, under whatever pretext, the recognition of the democratic union. This month the union took their battle public denouncing the violations of their rights. In reprisal, on December 20th, management fired a number of union activists, including José Luis Solorio, the General Secretary of the new independent union. Honda workers are facing repression and urgently need our international solidarity support.

For more details on this struggle and the addresses to send your letters of protest and please follow this link: http://www.labornotes.org/2010/12/honda-workers-mexico-face-repression-firings

Notified about creation of a new union, the management at the “La Platosa”mine, located in La Sierrita, Durango, property of the Canadian company Excellon Resources Inc., is waging a harsh antiunion campaign on the new members. Last November, 100 workers, from a staff of 123, chose to form Union Section 309, joining the Mexican Mineros union, SNTMMSRM, affiliated to IMF. On December 13th, Jorge Mora, the legitimately elected local trade union leader was fired under fallacious motives, co-workers are being pressured and bribed to sign letters stating their disinterest in the new union. Several workers who refused the pressure and bribes offered by management, have already been threatened and penalised. We fear that management repression and intimidation of workers will increase.

Please get the relevant addresses for urgent protest letters at: http://www.prodesc.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/URGENT_ACTION_Excellon.pdf

The last case reported regards the ransacking of the office of the Centre for Worker Support (CAT) Labour Rights NGO that has supported workers and Mineros ‘organising campaigns in Puebla. During the night of December 20th the office was robbed and vandalised, the intruders painted threats on the office walls, stole office archives containing history of the organisations’ human and labour rights campaigns and demands, as well as electronic and computer equipment. The municipal police called by the CAT members ignored their appeal.

It is not the first time that CAT activists and their advisors are subjected to assaults and intimidation. See: http://www.imfmetal.org/index.cfm?c=23788&l=2 .  In several cases, where members were threatened and beaten up there is patent evidence that the CROM and COS protection unions operating in the Johnson Controls plants in Puebla, have organised these attacks with overt complicity of the company.

For more detailed information and addresses please follow the link to the PRODESC website http://www.prodesc.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/URGENT_ACTION-CAT-21-DIC.pdf

The continued violations of the right to freedom of association by the Mexican government and employers must stop.

In February 2011, four Global Union Federations IMF, ICEM, ITF and UNI are calling on all affiliates to take action between February 14 and February 19th, as close as possible to the fifth anniversary of the Pasta de Conchos tragedy on February 19, 2006 which cost the lives of 65 miners. In the forthcoming weeks, additional background information, leaflets, protest materials and press kits will be made available on the IMF website http://www.imfmetal.org/mexico2011.

KOREA: The IMF Shipbuilding Action Group (AG) meeting took place on 13-14 December 2010 in Seoul, hosted by IMF affiliate, the  Korean Metal Workers’ Federation (KMWU). 22 participants and 2 guest speakers from Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, USA, and France held an active discussion of the agenda as follows:

• Trade union structures in the shipbuilding industry in Korea;
  East Asian shipbuilding performances and China’s impact in the global market;
• Challenges to make the shipbuilding/breaking industry “Greener”;
• Health & safety in the shipbuilding/breaking industry;
• Developing future activities/programs in the IMF Shipbuilding/breaking sector.
  

After the global financial crisis, economic performance and employment in the shipbuilding industry has been heavily damaged, and the industry needs to achieve a fair, level playing field in order to create a sustainable industrial base. The meeting mainly focused and shared opinions on:

• Achieving a fair and level playing field in global shipbuilding sector;
• Market factors and monitoring;
• Promoting Green technology and creating sustainable jobs;
• Impact on environment and health: Life cycle from shipbuilding to shipbreaking.

Many fatal accidents still occur in this sector all over the world, especially in Turkey (both in the shipbuilding and shipbreaking industry) and in the South Asian region (in shipbreaking). The Action Group confirmed that the IMF will continue to promote occupational health and safety (OHS) and organizing activities in the region. All the participants of the meeting agreed to hold an event/seminar promoting OHS and green jobs in the sector at the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work which will take place on September 11-15, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey, together with  the next IMF Shipbuilding/breaking meeting.

To make IMF shipbuilding/breaking sectoral activities more effective and stronger, in 2011 the IMF will conduct a research covering OHS working conditions, union structure, the global market, green jobs & technology, union policies and more.

On December 15, the Action Group visited DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding and Maritime Engineering), one of the biggest shipyards in Korea, and met with union leaders to learn about the emerging issues of sub-contract workers in the yard.