PARIS: Trade union participants used the latest Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Steel Committee meeting to inform governments of the unsustainable practices of the world’s largest mining companies. In particular the confrontational way in which Vale, Grupo México, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton treat unions and employees.

The mining industry is an integral part of the global steel industry and recently industry chiefs have been raising concerns about price hikes in raw materials due to the monopoly enjoyed by these companies. The price hikes come at a time of record profits for the industry and have damaging consequences for the global steel industry. The IMF submission to the committee makes it clear that not only are these companies abusing their unique control over raw materials but also trying to force their employees to do more for less.

In a statement from Risaburo Nezu, Chairman of the OECD Steel Committee, he said, "Concerns about the market structure of some raw material industries and the effects this may have on the stability of the steel and downstream industries have intensified. Delegates also called for improved transparency and a lifting of barriers affecting trade of raw materials to improve the industry’s unrestricted access to raw materials. This is an issue that is appropriately addressed by governments and their competition authorities."

Rob Johnston, Director of the IMF Steel Department, believes that governments must do more to protect workers, demanding that, "The prices for raw materials have increased over the last month up to 100 per cent and more. These companies are making enormous profits on our workers’ backs and this must stop. Governments have a clear role to play. For example, how can any Brazilian be proud of a company such as Vale which is attacking the very foundations of a community in Sudbury, Canada? This is not good business sense but pure greed. The OECD and its members must intervene and do more to protect our steel industry from these companies."

Participants also heard how the global steel industry was recovering from the financial crisis, but that the strength of the upturn varied across regions. Steel mills are now running at approximately 80 per cent of capacity an increase of nearly 20 per cent since the end of 2008. Trade issues remain a concern for the industry and it is vitally important that markets remain open and fair. The IMF highlighted the need to assess workers’ rights as a key element in assessing the standards of any country.

USA: Over 3,500 participants from across the United States attended the 2010 Good Jobs-Green Jobs national conference which took place from May 4 to 6 in Washington D.C.  The conference organized by the BlueGreen Alliance, a partnership of labour and environmental organizations, saw more than 100 workshops take place covering green manufacturing, job creation, clean energy, and environmental and occupational health and safety issues.

Over 70 labour, industry and academic leaders showcased how they are charting the path towards a green economy and developing green jobs. Keynote speakers Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis and other elected and administration officials. An array of issues were discuss during the conference such as the severity of job losses due to the economic crisis and whether a green economy would provide the jobs needed for the recovery. Also the critical role played by investment and innovation, in order to build a vibrant economy.

In his opening statement Leo Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), during a plenary session stated that, "We have built a movement and not just an organization, and we are going to fight for sustainable policies, not just at home, but all over the world." He explained how it was necessary to create the political will if progress was to be made both domestically and internationally.

Pelosi echoed these words when she said, "Working together, "Good Jobs, Green Jobs" has rallied an unlikely-yet strong coalition of leaders around a simple set of principles."

In the wake of the 11 workers killed on an oil rig on the gulf coast and also the U.S. average of 14 workers killed a day, a lot of attention was given to how a stronger Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) would help this situation improve. Also discussed was the link between health and safety issues the environment and the green economy. Addressing these concerns in her speech, Labor Secretary Solis said, "Just because we are moving from blue collar to green jobs, there should be no trade off for workers safety. Green does not mean less, it means more."

In recognition of the need to engage in the political process the USW held its Rapid Response meeting in tandem with the Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference. Nearly 700 USW grassroots activists attended and activities included training seminars on how to lobby including role playing, letter writing and building relationships with elected representatives. USW members then attended a rally on Capitol Hill and met with elected officials afterwards to seek support for the Protecting America’s Workers Act (OSH Bill) on health and safety and Security in Energy and Manufacturing Act-SEAM Act, which calls for greater investment in green manufacturing.

LIBERIA: A Liberian industrial workers’ union called on its government to examine Brazilan-based Vale SA’s record before granting a transportation link and mining concession in the country.

The Forestry, Logging, and Industry Workers of Liberia (FLIWUL) is protesting a proposed rail passage through the West African nation by the company in support of sriking Vale workers in Canada.

Recently, Vale purchased a 51 per cent stake from BSG Resources of iron ore blocks near Simandou in eastern Guinea. The mining house intends to create a rail and logistics corridor from Guinea through Liberia to the Atlantic Ocean coast.

In the letter, dated May 13, the Forestry, Logging, and Industry Workers of Liberia (FLIWUL) calls on President Johnson-Sirleaf to fully examine Vale’s global social record before her government grants the rail concession. Among several irresponsible social acts, Vale has a forced a bitter strike, now in its eleventh month, on 3,500 nickel and copper miners in Canada.

"We are aware of many serious issues surrounding Vale and its mistreatment of workers and communities where it operates around the world," writes FLIWUL Secretary-General David D. Sackoh.

"Organizations in Mozambique, Brazil, Canada, Peru, Chile, Germany, Italy, and New Caledonia have declared that Vale ‘infringes human rights, exploits both male and female workers, imposes precarious working conditions, destroys nature and disrespects traditional communities.’ It appears that every place where Vale operates, communities are displaced, the environment is harmed and workers’ rights are not respected.

"We are disturbed at the treatment that Vale has given to its workforce in Canada. The company provoked a strike through its demands for deep concessions from its workers despite the fact that the company has made billions of dollars in profit in recent years.

"Madame President, following many years of civil war and turmoil the Liberian people finally enjoy peace and has a promising future under your leadership. This behemoth Vale with its suspect actions could potentially destroy our fragile economy for the benefit of a greedy few. As key stakeholder in the infrastructural and economic development of Liberia, FLIWUL wishes to urge the government to carefully study the situation and ensure that transitional companies investing in Liberia do so responsibly."

The IMF and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers’ Union (ICEM) have joined forces with the United Steelworkers (USW) in a global campaign to prevent Brazilian mining giant Vale from eroding working conditions and denying basic labour rights at Vale operations worldwide

PARAGUAY:  Company intimidation of union leaders has turned the strike of Acepar workers, which began on April 23, into a struggle to defend the trade union rights of Paraguayan workers.

The union (Sindicato de Trabajadores de Acepar – SITRAC) affirms that the striking workers have stiffened their resolve in the wake of violent repression by the security forces and denounces the company’s decision to recruit personnel to replace the striking workers. Meanwhile, the government has ordered the detention of the trade union leaders Hugo González Chirico, Hugo Cardozo, Mariano Velázquez and Daniel Ibarrolla on charges of disturbing the peace.

"Chirico", general secretary of SITRAC was arrested on Monday May 10 when summoned to the public prosecutor’s office in Villa Hayes. After six hours spent making a statement, he was arrested by judicial police and ordered to await a ruling by a judge. On Tuesday, May 11, González Chirico was taken to court, where he made a further statement to Judge Miguel Tadeo Fernández. The judge ordered his release on condition that he keeps away from Acepar, does not leave the country and reports to the court on a monthly basis.

Workers have reacted by insisting they will defend their labour rights more strongly and carry on the fight whatever the consequences in pursuit of their demands for company respect for the collective agreement, reinstatement of four dismissed trade union leaders and an end to the recent persecution of trade unions. The 811 workers on strike have stated on several occasions that they will not go back to work until the majority shareholders at Acepar agree to their demands.

Background to the dispute

The roots of the dispute go back to 1993 when the government privatised Acepar and the company’s employees became shareholders. After various meetings and demonstrations in 1997, the government transferred the company to Cosipar (Consorcio Siderúrgico Paraguayo) with 66.6 per cent to Cerro Lorito S.A., and 33.3 per cent to Cootrapar Ltda., a social company created for SITRAC to allow workers to administer and protect their own interests.

Since then, there has been a series of disputes with the majority shareholders (the company is now in the hands of Argentinean owners), who want to rid the workers of their shareholding. Persecution, violation of labour rights and even psychological torture of SITRAC and COOTRAPAR members have increased in intensity in recent times. More than ten workers have been dismissed; more than 110 transferred to other workplaces; five workers have been suspended without pay for alleged misdemeanours; more than five workers with pension rights were relieved of their duties; and there has been a succession of threats and psychological torture of trade unionists.

The dispute has become even more acute as working conditions and health and safety have deteriorated and the company has failed to comply with the 1995 collective agreement.

The IMF supports the just and legitimate measures and actions taken by Paraguayan metalworkers and offers Acepar workers all the solidarity they request and need

CANADA: Next month, the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) and the IMF will conduct a pivotal forum for industrial and manufacturing unions on sustainable development. On June 18-19, 2010, the two Global Union Federations – along with their Canadian affiliates – will host a conference titled "The Triple Crisis of Sustainability" in Toronto, Ontario, to precede the G8 and G20 summit meetings near there.

There is little question that the economic collapse, environmental degradation, and the resulting negative social impacts have badly affected workers, their families, and their communities. Contributing to the magnitude of these crises is the absence of effective global regulations and lagging financial governance of markets.

Toronto’s World Conference on Sustainability will produce a declaration that will be forwarded to the G8 and G20 summits. It will demand that global economic and political leaders take decisive action to reverse the downward social spiral felt by most of the world’s people, and begin implementing real, worker-friendly solutions on climate change and a sustainable economic future.

The Conference will include panel discussions, as well as keynote speeches from notable experts on the economic crisis, sustainability, and global governance. In addition, there will be ample opportunities for trade union leaders of ICEM and IMF affiliates, as well as others to tell their own stories of how workers have responded to a crisis not of their own making.

The Conference will be held in the Dominion Ballroom of the Sheraton Centre Hotel, Toronto, 123 Queen Street West. The ICEM has reserved a block of rooms. The registration form for the Conference and hotel rooms can be found here, and it should be returned forthwith to [email protected] in order to assure prompt booking.

Workers have a central role to play in building a future that lifts people out of poverty, while protecting the environment. The ICEM and IMF believe that the systematic looting of the global economy by unscrupulous speculators must be stopped. The Jobs Pact, developed by the ILO, is one proposal for exiting a financial crisis brought about by greed and lack of financial oversight.

Regarding the environment, industrial unions did deliver a message in Copenhagen that a fair, ambitious, and legally binding agreement on global greenhouse gas emissions is necessary, but that the legitimate concerns of workers for decent work, social justice, and long-term, sustainable jobs must be forefront. It cannot be jobs or the environment, it must be both, or it will ultimately be neither.

The crises of failing economies, environmental inaction, and social disorder are interconnected. It will be the goal of the ICEM/IMF conference to ensure that the voices of workers are heard on these matters at the highest level. Jobs, workers’ rights, social protections, quality public services, and sustainability are at the heart of this agenda.

IRAN:  IMF has been shocked and outraged to learn of the execution on May 9 of Farzad Kamangar, 35 year old teacher who was a member of the Teachers’ Union of Kurdistan.

The threat of execution was pending on Farzad since February 2008 when he was accused of "endangering national security" and "enmity against God". However he was only guilty of trying to achieve better wages for teachers in his country.

Despite an accepted appeal to the Supreme Court Farzad’s case has never been reviewed and his lawyer was told at some point that the documents from Farzad’s file were lost; this however did not impede the authorities to execute the trade unionist without informing even his family in advance.

The International Trade Union Confederation and Education International tried on many occasions to convince the authorities to review the sentence. Farzad’s case is not unique. IMF mourns the death of the Iranian trade unionist Farzad Kamangar and joins the ITUC in their demand "to halt further escalation of trade union repression and human rights abuses against trade union members", expressed in the recent ITUC letter to the leader of Iran.

ARGENTINA: The metalworkers’ union (Unión Obrera Metalúrgica – UOM) has reached a pay deal with employers in the metalworking sector after several unsuccessful meetings and a 24-hour national strike.

The agreement is for a two-part pay rise, with a 15 per cent increase from April 1 and a further 10 per cent on July 1, 2010. The agreement covers the period up to March 31, 2001.

This closes negotiations for the year, with a total pay rise of 25 per cent. The employers initially offered 15 per cent but after several meetings they gradually increased their offer to 20 per cent under trade union pressure.

The UOM insisted on a 25 per cent pay rise because last year, employers agreed to a 15 per cent pay rise in the middle of the crisis and with the industry only working at 50 per cent capacity in the second quarter of the year. The situation has now improved and the industry is working at 80 per cent of capacity so the union would not accept the same increase as last year.

GEORGIA: On March 31 two workers of Zestafoni Ferro Factory in Georgia were dismissed, one being a father of a prominent union leader and the other a union activist himself. This act exhausted the patience of 2,800 workers employed by the plant and Chiatura mines; they decided to take action.

An average monthly wage at the plant and mines is just 400 lari (USD 231), which is slightly above the subsistence level and 100 lari less than the average wage in Georgia. The working conditions at the mine and smelting operations are extremely hazardous, and the health and safety standards are low. Workers, represented by the Metal and Mining Industry Workers Trade Union (MMIWTU) in Imereti Region affiliated to the Georgian Trade Union Confederation (GTUC), have long demanded a wage increase, however the administration refused to satisfy their demands.

On April 10-11 two meetings of the workers with the union leaders were held in the atmosphere of intimidation and provocations by the management and security service, which tried to intervene.

On April 20 workers at both the smelting plant and the mines held a warning strike. The action took place from 12 AM to 2 PM. The production at the plant completely stopped. While at Zestafoni the strike went through without incidents, at Chiatura the administration tried to intervene. The manager of one of the mines physically attacked the union leader, a 55-year-old man who has worked at the mine for 27 years.

On April 23 workers at Zestafoni and Chiatura began a two-week strike, drawing a list of ten demands:

• Reinstatement of two union activists;
• Wage increase of 50%;
• Setting up a minimum salary for Chiatura workers;
• Paying for overtime work;
• Paying 50% more for the night work;
• An annual leave of 35 days;
• Permanent work contracts;
• Various improvements in health and safety standards and working conditions, such as providing the workers with good tools and safety equipment;
• Recognition of the union and good faith negotiations with workers’ representatives;
• Allowing GTUC to participate in negotiations.

On April 26, just three days after the strike began, the management made a series of concessions, and the production resumed. According to the agreement, two union activists will be reinstated and all the workers will be given permanent contracts. Striking workers will be compensated for the three days of industrial action.

The strike committee will be transformed into a bargaining board, which will discuss the implementation of all the other demands with the management, however the union is prepared to launch further and extended strike actions if the workers’ demands are not met.

Both IMF and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) lend their full support to the struggle of Georgian metal workers. On April 21 the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) sent a letter to the president of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili, condemning the violations of workers’ rights and discriminatory practices at the smelting plant and mines.

On May 5 and 6, ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda visited Georgia on a mission to get first-hand information on the dispute. Working with ICEM, IMF will closely monitor the situation at Zestafoni and Chiatura.

MEXICO: The XXXVI Ordinary General Convention of the Mexican National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union (SNTMMSRM) opened on May 3. The Convention was attended by delegates elected at union branches, National Executive Committee (NEC) members, Area and Special Delegates and many representatives of Mexican trade unions, trade union centrals and social organizations along with leaders of Global Union Confederations (GUFs) such as the IMF and ICEM.

The Convention, which ended on May 4, gave a vote of confidence to Napoleón Gómez who continues as General Secretary until 2014 and debated the struggle of workers at the Cananea mine in the state of Sonora, where 1,200 miners have been on strike since July 2007.

The latest reports indicate that the Supreme Court of Justice has backed Grupo Mexico’s decision to close the mine. Meanwhile, on April 23, Court 32 withdrew the order to detain Napoleón Gómez, who was accused of the misappropriation of US $55 million. The court’s ruling requires ratification by the Supreme Court’s criminal division. The Mexican Attorney General plans to appeal but the court’s ruling is Res judicata, which means that the decision is definitive and the accused cannot be prosecuted twice on the same charges.

The representatives of Mexican miners at the Convention decided to continue the struggle and to defend their leaders, their jobs and their employment and trade union interests.

On the final day of the Convention, a Global Forum of Support and Solidarity was held in support of the miners’ strike in the town of Cananea. An international delegation expressed its support for the miners on strike at Cananea and they, in turn, thanked the delegation, which included IMF and ICEM representatives, for their solidarity.

MEXICO: The International Tribunal on Freedom of Association, created last year to examine accusations against Mexico for violation of the freedom of association, met on April 28-30 2010 to consider information and statements submitted by trade unions and to rule on the case brought against the Mexican government.

The ruling will be made available to the Mexican government, the ILO, the OAS, the United Nations, the European Union and other countries with whom Mexico has signed treaties that include sections on human and employment rights.

The IMF, which could not be present at the meeting, sent a statement of support for the struggle to protect trade union rights and the freedom of association. It denounced the use of ‘protection contracts’ and condemned the abuses and intimidation suffered by those who defend rights and seek genuine social justice in Mexico.

The Tribunal condemned Mexican government policies restricting the freedom of association, annulling collective bargaining, denying the right to strike and generally interfering with the fundamental human right to decent work. It also condemned the web of corruption involving government officials, companies and bogus trade unions that deny fundamental employment rights by a combination of corporativism, a pretence of legality and the use of violence. The Tribunal also repudiated the practice whereby companies and bogus trade unions sign contracts that prevent or try to prevent the development of independent and democratic trade unions that can defend workers’ rights.

The Tribunal warned that the government’s consent to such practices constitutes an additional violation of human rights: "We demand an end to impunity and the punishment of those responsible".

Labour lawyer Carlos del Buen comments on the situation in his electronic daily "El Seminario", He discusses the use of ‘protection contracts’, referring to them as bogus collective agreements, examines the role of false trade union leaders and corruption and highlights the complaint against the Mexican government presented by the IMF to the ILO.

The Tribunal recommends that the Mexican government should comply with:

• the duties set out in the Constitution of the Republic and Mexican legislation and International Labour Organisation Conventions 87 and 98;
• the recommendations made in 2006 by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and by the United Nations Human Rights Council at the time of its Universal Periodic Review of Mexico in 2009.

The Tribunal call on the Mexican government to stop criminalising social protest and conflict and stop using police forces against the workers’ movement. The resolution specifically calls on the government not to use the security forces or the army against the historic miners’ strike of Cananea and calls on it to suspend its attacks on the union. It also calls on the Mexican people and the international community to support the Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union (SME) in its fight to defend the right to work and the employment rights of its members.

To read the full proceedings and recommendations of the Tribunal go to: http://tribunaldelibertadsindical.blogspot.com/