IndustriALL urges Holcim shareholders to push for workers' rights

“Holcim shareholders cannot stay indifferent to how their money is invested. The company claims to conduct business with integrity, but our members tell a different story. Our recent World Union Council of Holcim, a forum for workers’ representatives from all over the world, urged Holcim to engage in genuine social dialogue with BWI and IndustriALL,”

says IndustriALL assistant general secretary Christine Olivier.

“Representing those who create Holcim’s wealth, we demand recognition of global unions as legitimate partners, full respect of fundamental workers’ rights, including health and safety, and the establishment of a clear protocol for conflict resolution with a commitment by the CEO for a global framework agreement.”

Holcim’s growing use of sub-contractors undermines the company’s ambition of a zero-harm target. Workers in Holcim’s cement plants are continuously exposed to dangerous working conditions, excessive working hours, lack of personal protective equipment and unpaid leave.

More than 200 workers have been killed since the merger in 2015. In January this year, three workers died and eight were critically injured in a fire at Hima Cement, a Holcim subsidiary in Uganda. The fire erupted during installation works on a diesel oil tank.

Workers are unsafe and die at work, with most of the victims being subcontractors or third-party workers. In Asia, more than 80 per cent of the workers remain without permanent contracts despite Holcim’s increasing production capacity. Holcim has cut its own and direct employment from 135.000 to less than 68.000 workers.

"The severe incidents at Holcim and its subsidiary plants and contractors are unacceptable. Holcim must create or revive the inactive joint health and safety committees,”

says Ambet Yuson, BWI general secretary.

“We have repeatedly called on Holcim to engage with unions as truly safe workplaces can only be obtained through the participation of workers. No further delay is acceptable to recognize occupational health and safety as a fundamental worker’s right.”

Workers’ rights are violated in Davao, Philippines where 141 workers were unfairly dismissed. Holcim must execute due diligence to ensure compliance with international core labour standards.

Global unions are insisting on a genuine social dialogue at all levels. In the last years, Holcim has made significant divestments in the global south, often without prior information to workers' representatives – failing to respect workers’ rights in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Zambia and again of putting profits before workers’ lives.

“It is Holcim’s directly employed and thousands of sub-contracted workers who create the company’s profits and future development – they deserve to be respected and included in the process of transformation,”

says Tom Deleu, EFBWW general secretary.

“Results are up, and the board is proposing a ten per cent increase in dividend, which will be decided on in today’s AGM. This increase is made at the expense of workers and their families who contribute most to Holcim.”

Fighting privatization of steel in India

The unions presented a memorandum to management, copying the minister of steel, urging a stop to the privatization. The unions are opposed to the government’s decision to privatize the plant. It’s estimated that the privatization will affect total of 100,000 people who directly or indirectly depend on the plant.

“As unions, we must put up a strong fight against the onslaught of capitalism. The fight against the privatisation of Visakhapatnam steel plant is part of a larger fight to defend workers’ rights, including the rights of precarious workers,”

said Sanjay Vadhavkar, SMEFI general secretary and IndustriALL executive committee member for Asia-Pacific.

Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary, said:

“IndustriALL stands in solidarity with the workers of Visakhapatnam steel plant in their fight against its privatization.”

 

The demonstration was preceded by a two-day workshop on ‘Organizing in the base metal sector’. Union leaders from IndustriALL affiliates in the base metal sector across India attended the workshop.

On the agenda was the privatization of plants; despite the fact that the public sector undertakings generate profits, the Indian government still wants to privatize the plants. Also on the agenda was contractualization of work, wage theft, and the high number of accidents due to unsafe working conditions.

Participants discussed how the process of contractualization takes place, beginning with a gradual outsourcing of different manufacturing processes, resulting in extremely hazardous working conditions for workers, particularly for contract workers. Contract workers are more lilkely to be killed or injured in industrial accidents.

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL base metal director, joined the workshop virtually and discussed how Industry 4.0 will impact work and trade unions. Participants affirmed that automation and digitalization has already begun and that trade unions must strategize faced with these technical advancements.

Participants in the meeting agreed on an action plan, which includes increasing union membership, with more participation of contract employees, women workers and young workers.

May Day 2022

In Thailand, IndustriALL affiliate CILT joined other unions in a rally today to demand increased minimum wage, 180 days maternity leave, a reformed social security system and ratification on ILO Conventions 4, 87 and 98.

Unions in Sri Lanka called for immediate political solutions to address the country’s dire economic situation.

MEGM in Mongolia used the May Day rally to protest the new labour law that the unions say enables employers to steal the workers’ salary. The IndustriALL affiliates also called for an eight-hour workday.

Unions in Thailand on May Day

In a joint statement, the Confederation of Cambodian Worker-Movement (CCW), Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW), Independent Labor Union Coalition (ILUC), Cambodia Development People' s Life Association (CDPLA), Association of Domestic Workers (ADW), called on the government of Cambodia to ratify ILO Conventions 144, 183, 189 and 190, and to review the implementation of ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

In Korea, 75,000 workers rallied in 16 regions, with 14,000 on the streets of the capital Seoul, calling for labour rights for all workers, without discrimination and the right to a safe workplace, and an end to anti-labour policies.

Unions in the Philippines addressed poverty wages, poor occupational health and safety and demanded an end to violence and harassment in the workplace, amid local and national elections and the corona virus crisis.

IndustriALL affiliates in Sub-Sahara Africa came out to commemorate May Day, campaigning for the restoration of dignity in world of work.

On May Day, Lesotho union IDUL officially opened its office in Buthe Butha, aimed at improving service delivery to mine workers. Belgian union ACV-CSC have supported the construction of the office.

Turkey, May Day 2022

 

United in solidarity

Solidarity is as important as ever – the military junta in Myanmar has outlawed unions, union leaders of IndustriALL affiliates in Belarus have been arrested, and the war in Ukraine is causing enormous suffering.

“But we also have to look forward,”

says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie.

“And call for a Just Transition where workers have a seat at the table.”


Belarus tightens grip on independent trade unions

According to reports yesterday, Alexander Yaroshuk, chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), Sergei Antusevich, BKDP deputy chairman, BKDP accountant Irina But-Gusaim, Nikolai Sharakh, chairman of the Belarusian Free Trade Union are being held under on Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them Article 342 of the Criminal Code, which carry prison sentences up to four years.

The 66-year-old deputy chairman of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers, Alexander Evdokimtchik, is still behind bars. He was detained on 19 April and is currently held in the KGB pre-trial detention centre. Evdokimtchik is also held under Article 342 of the Criminal Code and has not been allowed to see a lawyer of his choice, but has been given a state-appointed lawyer.

On 27 April, Volha Brytsikava, union chairman at Naftan, was sentenced to 15 days of arrest for the fifth time. She has now been in jail for more than two months.
 
The last few days have seen two more independent unions falling victim as the authorities are tightening their grip. JSC “Mozyr OF” was excluded from the official trade union register, which effectively terminated the organization. In a statement, the prosecutor's office of Belarus’ Grodno region labelled the primary organization of JSC “Grodno Azot” extremist, prohibiting its activities and ordering liquidation.

International solidarity is needed

We need to raise the pressure as much as possible.

We therefore ask you to take action in support of independent unions in Belarus.

Photo: Alexander Evdokimtchik, the 66-year-old deputy chairman of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers, is still behind bars.

Finnish paper workers end historic UPM strike in settlement

The IndustriALL affiliated Paperiliitto led an inspirational strike against the company’s attack on union rights and employment conditions. The 2,200 members resisted the strike breaking efforts of management, with the strong industrial action receiving significant solidarity support in Finland and internationally.

The conflict was resolved with both parties accepting a final proposal of the National Mediator. Under the proposal, five separate collective bargaining agreements are signed, one for each industrial segment of the company, with a duration of four years and salary renegotiation after two years.

The strike was unprecedented in size in the sector in Finland, and was caused by the anti-union beliefs of UPM’s executive management, determined to break union power held by its blue collar employees, members of Paperiliitto.

This UPM management attack failed to destroy the union, failed to break the collective bargaining system, and failed in its attempt to set pay and conditions unilaterally without Paperiliitto representing workers.

UPM also failed with its insistence to reduce employment conditions including by adding considerable amounts of annual working hours with no increase in wages. The strong strike ultimately forced UPM into accepting the union demand for conditions in line with the industry standard. The new agreement also delivers salary increases that are in line with the industry standard.

UPM’s financial losses from the strike were estimated between two and three million Euros per day, on top of the long term damage done to the company’s reputation with customers, both socially and on its reliability to deliver contractual obligations. Up to €300 million was the estimated total cost to the company of the strike.

 

The strike also cost members and the national union financially. The Finnish Industrial Union, Teollisuusliitto, another IndustriALL affiliate contributed €2.2 million to the Paperiliitto strike fund.

The company’s ideological attack against union power was also targeted at IndustriALL affiliated white collar union Ammattiliitto Pro. This union’s 500 members at UPM working in white collar positions have had their right to bargain collectively broken by the company’s re-categorization of their contracts. By law UPM is required to maintain the existing labour conditions for these employees, and the union will continue to provide legal advice if the company attempts to reduce benefits.

IndustriALL sector director Tom Grinter said:

“Paperiliitto members at UPM have inspired all paper workers around the world. By standing strong and united against the powerful company’s attack, Paperiliitto members send the message to all paper companies that union rights will not be broken, and the message to all paper workers that collective action can win tough battles.”

Paperiliitto President Petri Vanhala said:

"Thanks to Paperiliitto members at UPM holding the strike strong, a collective agreement was achieved for all of the company. This strike defended the right to bargain. UPM’s behavior was a bad example of industrial relations and we expect that now companies will respect workers more when they see they are capable of 112 days of strike."

Gender based violence and harassment is a health and safety issue

Women workers represent a large share of the labour force in global electronics supply chains, particularly in the assembly of small components.

“There are few women in supervisory positions and promotions are often dependent on women going along with the men and accepting this kind of sexual banter,”

says a factory union leader from CNM-CUT, Brazil.
 
The jobs are often in large factories in special economic zones; many women workers are young and migrant workers. The electronics sector is characterised by fluctuating orders, “just in time” production and short product cycles. This results in a high level of temporary and agency work, and high levels of overtime. Poor working conditions, involuntary overtime, insufficient rest/time off and exposure to toxic chemicals, put women at risk of GBVH.

“It is mainly verbal harassment in the factory…when there are production pressures…in one hour when they have to produce 2,400 pieces, this is where the pressure happens [and the] discrimination starts such as not allowing women to go to the toilet, this is harming women,”

says a union representative from Indonesia.  
 
There is limited data on GBVH in the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), electrical and electronics sector.

“Many workers are not aware; they think that only physical abuse [sexual assault] is sexual harassment. It has been important to help them understand that it can be psychological, and we have programmes in the union on awareness,”

says Sanjyot Vadhavkar, national secretary, SMEFI, India.
 
Unions play a critical role in preventing GBVH and ensuring that it is a central part of health and safety programmes, including risk assessments.

“As a trade union we are trying to promote gender equal participation and in OSH to prevent GBV. But by raising awareness in every workplace, including unorganised ones, we can improve this awareness as a whole society, leading to better enactment of laws,”

says a union leader in Japan.  
 
Women’s leadership and participation in unions is key to address GBVH. Organizing women and youth has helped to transform unions in the sector, with more women leaders who give priority to GBVH.

The women interviewed recommend:

IndustriALL ICT director Alexander Ivanou says:

"Three years ago, the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment was adopted. IndustriALL’s research has revealed that close to half of the surveyed worksites reported cases of GBVH. At the same time, only a third of the unions had a policy on GBVH. So the seriousness of the problem cannot be underestimated. We, the unions fight for equal rights and opportunities for all workers and with this research we turn another page in this fight.

"In addition to numerous revelations about GBVH in the workplace, the research gives a clear set of recommendations on how to create greater visibility and awareness about GBVH in the sector. IndustriALL is already conducting GBVH-related trainings, which we will continue to make sure to root out this evil from our ranks, our workplaces and our homes."

The research documents the findings from interviews held with 22 union leaders and representatives in the electronics sector, in Indonesia (FSPMI and LOMENIK factory-based unions), India (SMEFI, SEM, Ever Electrics Pune union, Siemens Kalwa Unit union, Siemens Goa Unit union), Japan (JEIU, JC Metal, Hitachi Workers Union, Murata Manufacturing Workers Union) and Brazil (CNM-CUT).

Photo: © ILO/Asrian Mirza

Brands must sign International Accord

Out of the rubble, the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building safety was born. It’s a landmark, legally binding agreement which has made the garment industry safer for the people who work in it.
 
Employers have a duty of care for the health and safety of its workers. Everyone should go to work in the morning, safe in the conviction that they will return home alive.
 
Last year, the Bangladesh Accord transformed into an International Accord, extending the scope to countries outside of Bangladesh. To date, over 170 brands have signed up, but the majority of North American brands are conspicuously lacking from the list of signatories.

“It is critical that North American brands and retailers to get off the sidelines to join the global effort to safeguard workers' lives on a global scale. It is unacceptable that these brands are unwilling to commit to ensuring that health and safety of the workers in their global supply chain. IndustriALL will continue to demand and campaign for all global brands and retailers to sign the agreement,”

says IndustriALL textile director Christina Hajagos-Clausen.


IndustriALL is joining the global call to make health and safety in the workplace a fundamental right at the International Labour Conference in June this year.

Fighting for a safe and responsible steel industry

“The members of IndustriALL’s affiliated unions are the ones who make the steel. They are the ones who either live or die, who return in either good or bad health from their workplaces in the steel industry. If anything goes wrong, they pay with their health, or even with their lives. That is why we support every effort to improve working conditions and occupational health and safety measures.

“IndustriALL is a member of ResponsibleSteel as it is important to represent our affiliates in a growing organization aimed at producing steel in a responsible way. Within ResponsibleSteel, we, as a global trade union can give the men and women working in the industry a voice in the discussions on Responsible Steel’s standards and on what producing steel in a responsible manner means for workers and their unions around the world. Having this multi-stakeholder approach is crucial.

“A general understanding and respect for ILO Core Labour Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work are crucial in every steel and mining operation that seeks to be certified by ResponsibleSteel.

“Today, on International Workers' Memorial Day, we are remembering our colleagues who have died or have been left disabled in the steel sector. A core question is to make sure that the ILO conventions on health and safety are respected and reviewed during certification procedures. The conventions are:

“It is also crucial to adopt a general approach of Just Transition in the steel industry. We think that a changing steel industry needs the workers’ perspective when it comes to piloting through the upcoming changes in our important industry.

“A global standard for the steel industry can help to protect workers’ rights. Workers’ and unions’ rights must become indispensable when certifying steel. ResponsibleSteel can deliver and support this – especially if we train our certification bodies accordingly.

“Steel producers along the value chain must accept responsibility for fair treatment of their employees, including sub-contractors. The ILO conventions above are key. If all steel producer in the world applies these standards, we will make huge progress for the workers, but also for the industry as a whole.

“We demand what we call Just Transition. This simply means that no worker – regardless of blue or white collar, regardless of directly employed or subcontracted – is left behind in the transition process that the steel industry will go through.

“In other words: we want to see a climate-neutral steel industry that still offers clean, healthy and good workplaces, were men and women in the industry are proud to contribute to responsibly produced, climate-neutral steel. This is what sustainability is all about.”

The fundamental right to be safe at work

“A fundamental rights approach to health and safety provides a human rights lens. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights include a duty and responsibility to protect the health and safety of workers. Such a human rights-based approach will have the effect of creating coherence between human rights and occupational health and safety standards and reinforce the principle that all workers share the right to a safe and healthy working environment,”

says IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kan Matsuzaki.

While IndustriALL Global Union applauds the ILO Governing Body’s decision in March to agree to put forth the discussion for an amendment to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work to include occupational safety and health during the International Labour Conference in June 2022, we demand no less than an agreement. It has been three years since the ILO Centenary Conference agreed to the amendment and in that time

“around 8.1 million people have died as a result of their work and even more now live with life-altering injuries and illnesses,”

says ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow.

According to an estimate by the Workplace Safety and Health Institute, across the world in 2017, 2.78 million deaths were the result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases. The biggest share of work-related mortality was from work-related illnesses, which accounted for 2.40 million (86.3 per cent) of the total estimated deaths. Fatal injuries accounted for the remaining 13.7 per cent.
In 2019, the World Health Organization estimated that workplace-related deaths exceed the average annual deaths from road accidents (999,000), war (502,000), violence (563,000) and HIV/AIDS (312,000).

“Many of IndustriALL’s sectors, like mining, shipbreaking, chemicals and textile and garment, mirror these statistics, which also show a stark regional difference,”

says IndustriALL mining and health and safety director Glen Mpufane.

 

In combination with other fundamental principles and rights, recognizing health and safety as a fundamental principle offers workers a fighting chance to win the war. IndustriALL is calling on its more than million members across the world to participate in events and activities on 28 April, demand that employers and governments act by: 

Let us know what action you are taking in making the demand for the recognizing of health and safety as a fundamental principle and right – it could be webinars, protests, online statements, petitions, workplace inspections. Please tag IndustriALL on social media and use the hashtag #IWMD22

The ILO is hosting a webinar, Act together to build a positive safety and health culture – World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2022, with ILO Director General Guy Ryder and global leaders and experts. You can register here.

Cover photo: Marcel Crozet / ILO