BRAZIL: A TV station for and by workers, called TV dos Trabalhadores (TVT – http://www.tvt.org.br/ ), was launched on August 23, 2010 by ABC Metalworkers’ Union, affiliate to CNM-CUT, at a special inaugural broadcast from the famous industrial zone São Bernardo do Campo of São Paulo, Brazil.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking at the opening ceremony said, "The creation of TVT is one of the most important and symbolic events in the recent history of our Republic."

Initially TVT will broadcast one hour and half of news programming each day, along with other content, and will be transmitted simultaneously by the Web TV of the ABC Metalworkers’ Union (http://www.smabc.org.br). In addition a newspaper of the TV channel and the radio and the website of CUT will help to bring the content on TVT alive and provide a forum for participation, comment and feedback by viewers.

The not-for-profit Fundação Sociedade Comunicação, Cultura e Trabalho (Communications, Culture and Work Social Foundation), which is running the channel, received permission in October 2009 to broadcast into 12 million Brazilian homes 23 years after workers in Brazil first sought permission for access to the airways.

With an initial budget of R$15 million for first the three years, TVT will have various programs, including a TV news programme between 19h and 20h30. TVT is broadcast in São Paulo (UHF 48) and Rio De Janeiro (UHF 26) guaranteeing coverage in the two regions’ metropolitan centres.

"We want a communication project that is not simply an alternative, but portrays the reality that is not seen on conventional TV," said Valter Sanches, Director of International Affairs of IMF-affiliated CNM-CUT and president of the Foundation responsible for the project.

In a video message welcoming TVT, IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina congratulated Brazilian workers on this important initiative that will help to strengthen the metalworkers movement in Brazil.

EUROPE: The European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) is mobilizing its affiliates on September 29 as part of Europe-wide trade union demonstration against the excessive austerity measures being pursued by European governments simultaneously. The EMF warns that these measures are directly threatening the fragile recovery in metal industries and promoting greater deindustrialization in Europe and a deep social recession.

"Following months of increasing turmoil and speculation on the stability of national debts in Europe, and with some Member States on the brink of bankruptcy, financial market speculators have made colossal profits at the expense of taxpayers and ordinary working people and we have seen financial instability spreading throughout the EU and its closest neighbours. This must stop!" says the EMF in a statement released on August 23, 2010.

Manufacturing workers in Europe have already paid a high price for financial market speculation. They have already lost over 10 per cent of the workforce since the beginning of 2008.

"It is time that working people and the real economy are put before the demands of the market: Putting people before profit!" states the EMF.

The EMF urgently calls for:

• A massive European re-launch plan and budget focused on investment, training, innovation, infrastructure, the greening of the economy, new urban policies and industrial conversion
• Immediate and effective re-regulation of the financial markets and stronger European economic coordination and governance
• A sufficiently high financial transaction tax
• The issuing of euro-bonds from European authorities
• Taxation on very high incomes and action on tax evasion
• Measures against the increasing precariousness of jobs in our industries
• Growth-oriented employment measures and respect for collective agreements and negotiated solutions on pay and pensions.

The EMF demands a strengthening of social Europe based on solidarity and not the socially destructive measures being pursued by our governments and the EU.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is mobilizing workers across Europe with a central demonstration in Brussels on September 29, 2010.  The EMF calls on metalworkers around Europe to mobilize on that day to demand action from policy-makers.

MEXICO: More than 800 workers, accompanied by their families and residents of the town, have once again occupied mine installations at Cananea, after being evicted on June 6, 2010.

Workers returned to the mine after the Ninth District Judge in the State of Sonora accepted the request for an injunction lodged by the National Miners Union (SNTMMSRM). On August 12, the judge ruled that the strike organised by the union, which started on July 30, 2007, remains valid despite the forcible removal of striking workers by federal police in June.

Speaking to a radio station, union leader, Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, said that the judge’s provisional suspension of the previous court ruling represents a victory for the rule of law, allows workers to legally continue the strike and means they should not be removed from the mine.

He said that the federal and state police forces took control of the mine illegally on June 6. He added that there was no court order to occupy the installations, simply an instruction from the Public Prosecutors Office to conduct some formalities.

The union has notified the Federal Secretary for Public Safety to refrain from taking action that either threatens public safety or interferes with the peaceful occupation of the installations by striking workers. The union also called on the authorities to respect workers’ rights and not deploy the police force against workers who are only exercising their rights as set out in the Constitution and in accordance with the pronouncements of the judicial authorities.

The United Steelworkers Union (USW) of the United States and Canada has requested the Mexican government to withdraw federal and police forces from the Grupo Mexico mine installations in Cananea. The IMF supports this request, warns the government that it will be solely responsible for any violence at the mine and calls on it to safeguard the health of workers at Cananea.

In addition, the United Steelworkers’ (USW) President Leo Gerard announced on August 20 solidarity action for the striking workers in Cananea, with the USW placing a rotating team of international observers in the city to monitor the illegal police presence, who are intimidating strikers and protecting scabs.

Government support for the strikebreakers continues, with local authorities accused of cutting electric power to some of the strikers’ homes, in an effort to intimidate them.

Grupo Mexico and Mexico’s Labour Ministry have refused to accept the appeal ruling, stating that the union’s contract remains suspended, and that the District Judge’s decision has no effect as the eviction of the strikers has already occurred.

THAILAND: Chalee Loysong, President of TEAM, called on plant unions affiliated to TEAM to consolidate and strengthen in the face of mounting challenges for workers at an IMF workshop on August 20 to 21. He said that this year is the tenth anniversary of the founding of TEAM and it is pertinent that the unions and the membership think seriously on the need to restructure and develop TEAM into a strong national union.

"Under the present trade union structure it will be impossible for the labour movement to project the demands of workers and protect workers’ right," said Chalee, lamenting that the weakness of the labour laws hinders the growth of unions. TEAM is pushing the government to ratify the core International Labour Organization’s conventions and through this process will demand improvements in labour legislation.

In opening the workshop IMF Regional Representative Arunasalam.P urged the unions and the leadership of TEAM to look at the benefits of forming a national union that could cater for the wellbeing and progress of metalworkers in Thailand. Aruna also commended TEAM for taking a leading position to demand the ratification ILO Convention 87 and 98. "In order to strengthen the political voice of metalworkers TEAM should seriously embark on consolidating into a national union," said Aruna.

The workshop also reviewed the decisions of a meeting held last year. It was reported that 29 out of a total 77 plant level unions within TEAM have changed their dues structure from a fixed monthly sum to a percentage based system. A number of plant-level unions within the same sector are also merging and this will bring gradual improvements for structure building. At the workshop the unions also discussed experimenting with industry-wide collective bargaining and foresee resistance from employers.

The participants are an enthusiastic group which is keen in developing TEAM. Lectures and group discussions were held to get feedback on what should be done to enhance the attempt to restructure. The workshop resolved that it would initiate further efforts to build TEAM into a strong national union and called upon the IMF to provide solidarity support.

In trying to establish a union of their choice at the Johnson Controls Interiors plant (resureccion) the workers have been subject to violent attacks, again most recently on August 16, 2010.

The International Metalworkers’ Federation is demanding the Johnson Control management to immediately take steps to end the violence and protect the workers’ rights to form a union.

Dear Mr. Roell

I join with the International Metalworkers’ Federation in demanding you take immediate measures to guarantee the physical and psychological safety of Cándido Barreucos and Vigilio Melendez, and the other members of the Mexican Miners’ Union at Johnson Controls Interiors in Puebla, Mexico.

I am seriously alarmed about the renewed attacks on the workers and these attempts to undermine workers’ rights to form and join a union enshrined in ILO convention 87, to which Mexico is a signatory.

I also demand that you respect the agreement that you signed on May 29, 2010 with the workers to ensure their right to join the union of their choice.

Sincerely,

In trying to establish a union of their choice at the Johnson Controls Interiors plant (resureccion) the workers have been subject to violent attacks, again most recently on August 16, 2010.

The International Metalworkers’ Federation is calling on the Mexican Government to immediately take steps to end the violence and protect the workers’ rights to form a union.

Dear President Calderon

I join with the International Metalworkers’ Federation in demanding you take immediate measures to guarantee the physical and psychological safety of Cándido Barreucos and Vigilio Melendez, and the other members of the Mexican Miners’ Union at Johnson Controls Interiors in Puebla, Mexico.

I am seriously alarmed about the renewed attacks on the workers and these attempts to undermine workers’ rights to form and join a union and to collectively bargain, enshrined in ILO convention 87, to which Mexico is a signatory.

I also demand that you carry out a criminal investigation of the violence against Johnson Controls workers and prosecute the persons responsible for these acts.

Sincerely,

MEXICO: The International Metalworkers’ Federation is calling on affiliates to urgently send letters to Johnson Controls and the Mexican Government demanding an end to the violence at the Johnson Controls Interiors plant (Resurrección) in Puebla, Mexico.

The IMF has received reports that early on August 16, unknown persons were allowed access to the Johnson Controls Interiors plant threatening workers on the first shift and assaulting them with sticks and stones, leaving many injured.

Two of the members of the Executive Committee of the newly formed Section 308 of IMF-affiliated the Mexican Miners’ Union (SNTMMSRM), Cándido Barreucos and Vigilio Melendez, were beaten in a company office and reported that they were forced to sign letters of resignation under gunpoint. They are currently in the hospital with severe injuries.

The Mexican Miners’ Union believes that the assailants were associated with the company-controlled "protection" union (the Confederacion de Organizaciones Sindicales, or COS) the union that was ejected after a three day strike by the workers in May of this year. Under the agreement ending the strike, signed on May 29 in the presence of Officials of the Puebla government, Johnson Controls agreed to recognize the Mexican Miners’ Union as the workers’ representative and to take no reprisals against the strikers. Nevertheless, we have received numerous reports indicating that in both JCI Plants in Puebla, (Resurrección and FINSA) intimidation, threats and violence against workers and their supporters has dramatically increased.

On August 9, 2010, Enrique Morales, Coral Juarez and María Luisa Rosina from the Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador A.C. (CAT), a worker center in the state of Puebla that has supported the Johnson Controls workers in their efforts to form a new section of the union, were threatened by four men while visiting workers from Johnson Controls to inform them about their human and labour rights.

At approximately 15:30 they were intercepted by a man (5’9", strong build and dark complexion) who stated that "they knew that they were CAT members and that they should tell Blanca (CAT´s Director) that she should stop messing with the CROM, and that if they kept seeing them at the plant or at the workers’ homes they would face the consequences."

The CROM is the company-controlled union at another one of Johnson Controls’ plants in Puebla. Previously, on April 28, 2010, Coral Juarez and Enrique Morales were assaulted by two people, one of who was the son of Magdaleno Texis Tecuapacho, a CROM leader.

The IMF joins a network of solidarity organisations supporting the workers and the Mexican Miners’ Union at Johnson Controls in asking affiliates to send letters to Johnson Controls management in the U.S. and to the Mexican Government demanding they take steps to end the violence and protect the rights of the workers to be represented by a union of their choice.

Send an online letter to Johnson Controls, or download a template letter, and send to: Mr. Stephen A. Roell President and CEO Johnson Controls 5757 N. Green Bay Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53209 Fax:(414) 524-2077 CC.: Jerry Okarma Johnson Controls, Inc. Vice President, General Counsel 5757 N. Green Bay Ave Milwaukee WI 53201-0591 (414) 524-3400	Send an online letter to the Mexican President or download a template letter and send to: Presidente Constitucional de la República Mexicana Lic. Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa. Residencia Oficial de los Pinos, Casa Miguel Alemán, Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, México DF. Tel: +52 55 27891100; Fax: +52 55 50934900. E-mail: [email protected]

Please, send copies of your letters to:

Lic. Javier Lozano Alarcón
Secretario de Trabajo y Previsión Social
Periférico Sur No. 4271, Col. Fuentes del Pedregal, Tlalpan 14149, México D.F Conmutador 3000-2100
E-mail: [email protected]

Lic. Mario Marín Torres
Gobernador del Estado de Puebla
Palacio de Gobierno, Av. Reforma 711 Altos Col. Centro Puebla 72009
E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Raúl Plasencia Villanueva
Presidente de la Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos
Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos
Fax +52 (55) 5681 7199,
E-mail: [email protected]

as well as to:

Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador A.C.
Avenida Reforma 903 – 3 Centro Histórico, CP 72000, Puebla, Pue. México
Tel-fax: 01 (222) 2 46 05 98
E-mail: [email protected]

TURKEY: On August 4, the 3rd Labour Court of Uskudar adjourned until October 22 the unfair dismissal hearings of 11 Sinter Metal workers among the 394 workers victimized with retaliatory dismissal for joining IMF affiliate, Birleşik Metal-İş Sendikası.

On August 6 the same judge adjourned another set of Sinter Metal cases to October 22 as well and it appears the remainder of the unfair dismissal hearing-which continue until August 27-will also be delayed for the eighth time.

A group of Sinter Metal workers, a human rights barrister of international status and representative of IMF and EMF observed the trial as monitors and gave brief press statements to the mainstream media outlets covering the hearing.

The reinstatement cases of the hundreds of dismissed Sinter Metal workers-who have been asking for "work, bread and trade union rights" with some urgency-have been delayed for over one year and eight months. While one worker commented that at least the ruling was delayed two months, and not four or five months (as in the delay from November 2009 to March 2010 reported here and again from March 2010 to August 2010 reported here), this reality contrasts deeply the Trade Unions Act 2821 article 30 which provides for courts to apply "fast-hearing procedure and conclude the case within two months" to unjust termination cases.

Birleşik Metal-İş Sendikası General Secretary Selçuk Göktaş expressed the anguish of the Sinter Metal workers, saying "Justice Delayed is Justice Denied" while DISK confederation president Süleyman Çelebi said in front of the courthouse, "this is a travesty of justice."

The official grounds for the postponement, as with previous delays, is that four witnesses called upon by the company to testify had once again failed to appear in court. The judge’s decision to delay a ruling is ostensibly to give the company yet another chance to secure attendance of their witnesses, who include the daughter of company owner Olgum Tambag. However, this time, the judge has ordered a police summons of these witnesses for the October 22 trials.

In these latest August trials, the lawyer representing the Sinter Metal workers renewed her argument of February 2009 that hearing testimony from management witnesses is not so crucial to the outcome of the case because the company submitted a "defendant statement" to the court at the beginning of the legal process claiming, "Sinter Metal gave the work to on-site subcontractors in order to increase profit." Because Turkish labor law 4857 article 2 prohibits companies from outsourcing main production to subcontractors, the judge who receives such a defense statement from Sinter Metal should have, at the outset, rejected hearing the company’s witnesses since the labour outsourcing itself and the company’s argument is based on illegal activity breaching the law.

Upon unionization of the workers, Sinter Metal had terminated 37 workers on December 18-19, 2008. When the remaining 378 production workers continued to ask for their rights, Sinter Metal terminated the 9 subcontracting companies-which were all co-owned by Olgum Tambag and his family members-and informed the 341 affected workers of their termination through a bullhorn at the factory gates on December 22, 2008. Among the remaining 37 directly-employed production workers in the plant, Sinter Metal discovered more trade union members and subsequently dismissed 16 more workers as well on January 29, 2009.

Anti-union discrimination, especially unfair dismissal, in the absence of speedy remedy is one of the most serious violations of freedom of association as it jeopardizes the very existence of unions; yet, the case of the Sinter Metal workers is not isolated and retaliatory dismissal is the single-most common way exercise of workers’ rights is undermined in Turkey.

Turkey is a member of the United Nations and the International Labour Organization, and is slated to become chair of the Council of Europe in November 2010, and hopes to join the European Union. Turkey has ratified ILO conventions 87 and 98 and the European Convention on Human Rights, in particular, articles 6 (right to a fair hearing) and 11 (right to association). Yet, workers in Turkey struggle to realize their rights.

Legal observer Sarah Hemingway-a practicing member of the independent bar of England and Wales and human rights barrister of international status-and a representative of the IMF and EMF observed the trial. The trial monitoring report will be submitted to the relevant international bodies.