GERMANY: For many years the enterprise Volz, specialized in the production of air filters for the car industry had a good image in Horb, a small town in the region of Black Forest (Schwarzwald), Germany. The owners made contributions for the development of football in their city, supported a rabbit breeders’ association and their enterprise was even awarded a prize as a model company within the state of Baden-Wurttemberg.  The other side of the story regarding workers was not as bright.

Quite often workers faced arbitrary short notice orders to transfer to another job or to change their shifts disregarding their private life and family situation; even single mothers could not avoid it.

Enough is enough, the workers tired of arbitrariness of their employer stood up for their dignity. They decided to set a works council at their enterprise. The first meetings were held in secret at a nearby bar that only confidants, acquaintances and relatives knew about. As a result in October last year leaflets announcing the election to the works council were distributed.

The first attempt was not successful and the employer for flimsy reasons contested the second election attempt in court and even made up an opposing list of candidates loyal to him. Despite constant checks, harassment and oppression at work and even at home on the part of the management, worker activists supported by the IG Metall representative Robert Schuh managed to convince their colleagues of the necessity of union members in the works council. As result two hundred employees of the Volz enterprise voted for eight IG Metall members out of eleven members of the works council.

In parallel with the workers struggle at Volz enterprise IG Metall referred to the IMF International Framework Agreement with Daimler, which also covers its suppliers’ chain. Just before the election Daimler contacted its supplier Volz and alerted of possible labour violations at their enterprise.

GLOBAL: Piracy at sea threatens the lives of seafarers, and recently due to the increase in pirate attacks in the Somalia region, the ITF and virtually all employer organizations in the shipping industry have sponsored the global e-petition against maritime piracy. Currently at least 379 seafarers from 25 countries are being held hostage and in the last two years over 1800 seafarers have been kidnapped.

"With one click everyone can now make their feelings about piracy known, and then pass the link on to all their colleagues around the world who feel the same. In this way we can signal our belief that it is past time for all governments to do what has to be done to protect seafarers, ships and the goods that they carry and on which we all rely," said ITF General Secretary David Cockroft.

The aim of the e-petition is to reach at least half a million signatures in time for World Maritime Day, which is organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London on September 23, 2010. The present number of signatures is around 65,000, but a lot more is needed. Sign the petition at http://www.endpiracypetition.org/

THAILAND: IF Metall has once again demonstrated its willingness to cooperate with the IMF and organize workers in Swedish companies abroad, in this specific case at Electrolux in Rayong, Eastern Seaboard of Thailand. The mission members met the top management of two Electrolux companies and expressed their need to organize the plants under TEAM. They also met several members of the company’s welfare committee, and briefed them on their rights to form a union to represent workers’ interests.

The workers’ representatives were receptive to the idea of forming a union. The president of the Electrolux Union in Sweden, Ulf Carlsson explained that in Sweden Electrolux is highly unionized and the relationship between management and his union is positive. He stressed that if the Thai workers could form a union to protect themselves a similar situation could be achievable.

Carlsson explained "it is the desire of my union to ensure that all the Electrolux plants around the world be unionized and in this regard I would work with IF Metall and the IMF to make representation to management of companies and also engage the workers wherever possible."

IF Metall International Secretary, Erik Andersson stressed that "IF Metall will actively engage in the question of organizing Swedish companies around the world and this is definitely going to be a big challenge for the union".

The local management of the Electrolux plant was open to the idea of their workers forming a union.

TEAM President, Chalee Loysong expressed his willingness to assist the workers to join TEAM. He hoped other unions in the developed world would follow the example of the Swedish affiliates.

SARAJEVO: The third and last phase of the IMF Occupational Health and Safety Project for affiliates in the former Yugoslavia was held on 29 June- 1st July 2010 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.   This project initiated in 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia, targeted  the steel and non-ferrous sectors  – two sectors of special relevance to metal unions in the region and showing a high number of occupational accidents and work-related illnesses, often due to lack of proper training and awareness of OHS hazards.  The project has benefitted from the support of the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID) through the Trade Union Institute of Cooperation for Development  (ISCOD), and has been carried out in close cooperation with the IMF Spanish affiliate MCA-UGT. 

The project was built around three main lines of work that were the subject of three seminars:  (a) the legislative framework and occupational health and safety standards;  (b) risk analysis and prevention techniques; and (c) social dialogue and collective bargaining that were the main theme  of the third seminar.   

Representatives from the Spanish and Croatian governments as well as from the Spanish steel Association UNESID participated in a round table on the development of social dialogue and collective bargaining, laying the foundation for advancing collective demands in the field of OHS.  Strong emphasis was put on the importance of active and effective health and safety committees and  ongoing surveillance of workers’ health as a mean s of preventing risks .  The participants were able to interact during the group work activities arranged as part of the curriculum.

One session of the seminar was devoted to labour inspection which has been identified as a particularly weak link in prevention policies throughout the region.   Experts from Spain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, the ILO Budapest Office and the European Trade Union Institute gave enlightening presentations, providing a national, European and international perspective on the need to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of labour inspection in the region, moving towards more prevention-oriented organisations.

As part of the implementation of its 2009-2013 Action Programme,  the IMF will continue to promote the development of OHS activities in the region with a view to strengthening trade unions, supporting their efforts both at national and enterprise levels to carry out health and safety training and work out organising strategies around safer and better workplaces.    The material produced in local language in the course of the project will be used as an information and educational tool to further the union objectives in this area.

Health is not for sale  – health is a fundamental right to be defended.  This has turned into the main slogan for trade union action and campaigning in the region that needs to be developed further.

CANADA: After a yearlong strike following the company’s demand for concessions on workers’ pensions, nickel bonuses, seniority transfer rights and contracting out policy at the Vale facilities at Sudbury and Port Colborne, the IMF affiliated USW announced a tentative agreement on July 4 after a series of tough negotiations.

The final obstacle was removed after the parties signed a letter of agreement on the procedure for the reinstatement of nine discharged striking employees.  The case will be submitted to the Ontario Labour Relations Board panel, to be considered as of July 9.  The nine workers were fired for alleged misbehaviour on a picket line.

The USW is confident that the Ontario Labour Relations Board will take a positive decision and consider the company’s conduct illegal.

The agreement is set for ratification votes by USW members on July 7 and 8 in Sudbury and July 8 in Port Colborne.

BULGARIA: NFTINI Podkrepa, representing workers in the IT sector in Bulgaria, has reported on serious violations of freedom of association at IBM Bulgaria where workers involved in trade union activities are subjected to intimidation and harassment.

The International Metalworkers’ Federation joins with the European Metalworkers’ Federation and UNI Global Union in expressing concerns that IBM is putting pressure on workers and trade union officials within the company after learning about the trade union organization in the factory.

EMF, IMF and UNI support their Bulgarian colleagues and strongly oppose any kind of intimidation of workers involved in trade union activities.

The trade union founded within IBM Bulgaria complies with local legislation and is recognized by the appropriate public administration. It is therefore entitled to recognition by IBM’s Bulgarian management.

"We urge you to do everything in your power to assure the respect of internationally recognized workers’ rights to join and form trade unions and the right to collectively bargain at IBM in Bulgaria. EMF, IMF and UNI demand in particular that IBM Bulgaria apply IBM’s internal regulations stipulating the strict application of local legislation, as put forward in the Corporate Guidelines of IBM Corp," states the letter.

THAILAND: IF Metall, once again demonstrated its willingness to act in solidarity with the International Metalworkers’ Federation to organize workers in Swedish companies and in this case the Electrolux plants in Rayong, Eastern Seaboard Area in Thailand.

IF Metall International Secretary Erik Andersson and the President of the Electrolux Union in Sweden Ulf Carlsson joined the IMF  Regional Representative Arunasalam and IMF Thai affiliate TEAM on a mission to assist in organising the Electrolux plants which produces washing machines and dryers. These plants employ about 700 workers and 60 per cent are male workers.

The mission members met the top management of two Electrolux companies and conveyed their desire to organise these plants under TEAM. They also met several members of the company’s welfare committee, and briefed them on their rights to form a union to represent workers interest.

The workers representatives were receptive to the idea of forming union in these companies. Ulf Carlsson explained that in Sweden Electrolux is highly unionized and the relationship between management and his union is positive. He stressed that in Thailand too this could be the situation if the workers could form a union to protect themselves.

Carlsson said it is the desire of his union "to ensure that all the Electrolux plants around the world be unionized and in this regard IF Metall will work with the IMF to make representation to management of companies and also engage the workers wherever possible."

Erik Andersson stressed that, "IF Metall being part of the IMF family would actively engage in the question of organising Swedish companies around the world and this is definitely going to be  a big challenge for IF Metall."

The local management of the Electrolux plant was open to the idea of their workers forming a union and this is certainly an encouraging development.

TEAM President, Chalee Loysong expressed his willingness to assist the workers to join TEAM. He hoped other unions in the developed world would emulate this good example of the Swedish union.

NEW ZEALAND/MEXICO: Representatives of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), an affiliate of the International Metalworkers’ Federation, the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (CTU) delivered a letter to the acting Mexican Ambassador on June 30 expressing deep concern at the Mexican government’s use of force against striking workers in the National Miners’ and Metalworkers Union of Mexico (Los Mineros).

The letter condemns the assault by heavily armed riot police on striking members of Los Mineros at the Cananea copper mine in Mexico earlier in June.

On June 6, hundreds of Mexican riot police surrounded the mine and used tear gas to dislodge workers who were occupying the entrances and to assault the union office. More than 1,000 members of Los Mineros were on strike over a long-running dispute with the company, Grupo Mexico, over health and safety and other contract violations.

Los Mineros reported that three workers received gunshot or projectile wounds, and others had been beaten or were suffering from the effects of the tear gas.

The letter urges the Mexican government to allow the elected leader of the union, Napoleón Gómez, to return to Mexico from exile in Canada and resume his position.

The acting Mexican Ambassador Luis Enrique Franco gave an assurance he would convey to his government the deep concerns of the New Zealand trade union movement over the Mexican government’s treatment of the workers involved.

"We urge the Mexican government to allow the safe return of Napoleón Gómez, the elected leader of the National Miners’ and Metalworkers Union of Mexico, so he can resume his duties without fear of reprisal," says the EPMU’s senior national industrial officer Paul Tolich.

"The Mexican government needs to honour its commitments as a member of the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) and guarantee freedom of association for all Mexican workers," says MUNZ general secretary Joe Fleetwood.

GLOBAL: On June 21 through 25, over 1,400 delegates from around the world of whom 50 per cent were women met in Vancouver, Canada at the second World Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represents the collective interests of 176 million workers in 156 countries and territories.

The delegates discussed a number of subjects many of which related to the global financial and economic crisis and issues including labour demands to reform the global economy in order to prevent a repetition of the crisis. The delegates made a special emphasis on subjects regarding workers’ rights, migrant workers, climate change and HIV/AIDS.

The ITUC Congress adopted a number of resolutions including resolutions on a decent life for young working men and women; organizing; global unions and global business; sustainable and just development model for the 21st century; the International Labour Organization; climate change and sustainable development; migrant workers; social protection and good occupational health and safety; promotion and defense of fundamental workers’ rights; democracy, peace, security and the role of the United Nations. Full texts of the resolution are published on the ITUC website.

On last day of the Congress the delegates elected Sharan Burrow as General Secretary of the ITUC.  Burrow will succeed Guy Ryder, the first General Secretary of the ITUC, who was elected at the ITUC foundation Congress in Vienna in 2006. Sharan Burrow was the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), holding this position since 2000. She is the first women to take this position in the ITUC.

"The ITUC is still facing many challenges in the wake of the global financial crisis. Although we have seen some exceptional results in a small number of countries including Brazil, Argentina, China and Australia, the recovery in jobs has not been universal. Global unemployment and underemployment continued to rise throughout 2009 and during the first half of this year," Burrow added.

NORTH AMERICA: A first-ever, tri-nation forum to unite trade unions struggling for democratic autonomy in Mexico with US and Canadian unions was held in Toronto, Canada, on 20 June. Some 120 trade unionists, NGO representatives, and Canadian civil society activists gathered for the one-day "Building Solidarity with the Democratic Labour Movement in Mexico" conference.

As Dave Coles, President of the Communications, Energy, Paperworkers’ (CEP) Union of Canada said, the meeting brought together trade union leaders from Mexico who never would be allowed to similarly gather inside Mexico. Those leaders included Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, the exiled President of the National Union of Mine, Metalworkers’, and Allied Workers’ Union (SNTMMSRM), Martín Esparza Flores of the Mexican Union of Electrical Workers (SME), Francisco Hernández Juárez of the Mexican Telephone Workers’ Union (STRM), and others mentioned below.

The conference consisted of presentations by two Mexican-based labour attorneys, who told of the legal and political institutional obstacles to a free and democratic trade union movement in Mexico, and it also detailed the dreaded but common protection contracts, which inhibit true trade union rights.

A central focus throughout the conference was the continuing harmful effects to the now 16-year-old North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, Mexico, and the US.

Ben Davis of the U.S. Solidarity Center provided several inspiring examples on how SNTMMSRM, or Los Mineros, continues to organize workers despite overt suppression by the Mexican government. He also outlined work done at the U.S. federal level to press the Obama administration to take a stronger stance against Mexican trade union repression. And on the global level, Davis told of work being done at the ILO over protection contracts, as well as institutional shareholder pressure again Grupo México, the major corporate protagonist of Los Mineros.

Jorge Robles of the Mexican Authentic Workers’ Front (FAT) addressed inherent deficiencies in current labour law reform inside Mexico, while Alberto Espinosa Rocha, Secretary-General of the National Union of General Tire/Continental Workers’ Union (SNTGTM), spoke on the harmful effects of the free trade agreement.

Espinosa said NAFTA has been "evil for Mexico" since previous good wages and benefits have eroded. He said in both the tyre industry and auto-parts industry, "year-to-year, employers are taking contractual rights away."

Espinosa was fired in 2003 for impeding General Tire’s agenda during collective negotiations, but remained a union activist for the three years he was off the job. In 2006, he was reinstated as a maintenance mechanic and in 2008, was elected Secretary-General of SNTGTM.

At the conference conclusion, delegates shaped a strategic plan that includes insertion of strict worker protections in NAFTA, continuation of work on Mexican protection contracts, and solidarity and campaign work on specific Mexican labour struggles.

The conference was sponsored by several North American trade unions, the IMF, the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), and Union Network International (UNI).