Factory fire in Tunisia shows lack of safety measures

Although there were no casualties, the fire highlights the lack of safety measures and security at the worksite. The fire quickly escalated and spread to the whole factory, indicating an absence of a firefighting system and protective equipment, as well as a lack of early warning devices.

Since the fire, the factory has resumed partial activity at another site and around 700 workers have been able to go back to work.

Tahar Berberi, general secretary of IndustriALL affiliate Fédération Générale de la Métallurgie et de l'Electronique, FGME-UGTT, says:

“The Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) played an important role in the process as the general secretary Noureddine Taboubi met with a delegation representing Valeo’s mother company. During the meeting, management committed to pay wages and transfer workers to a temporary worksite until the factory has been rebuilt. UGTT committed to support the resumed activity and accelerate some of the procedures.”

The fire is believed to have started in an adjacent factory and spread to the Valeo after a palm tree caught fire.

Workers at General Motors' Silao plant secure historic win

A total of 6,480 workers cast their ballot. There were 2,623 votes in favour of the agreement, 3,214 against, and 39 spoiled ballots. As a result, the current collective agreement will be scrapped.

Workers will not lose any of their rights, and their benefits and working conditions will remain the same until new representatives are elected.

"The union should now get to sign a new collective employment agreement,”

explained Héctor de la Cueva, general coordinator for Mexico’s centre for employment and labour relations research (CILAS), at a press conference.

The victory is unprecedented for the workers at the GM plant, which employs close to 7,000 people. The workers had reported serious irregularities in the voting process during the initial ballot in April this year and lodged the first-ever complaint under the rapid response mechanism, provided for in the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).

To ensure a free, safe and transparent voting process, free from harassment and intimidation, the Mexican and US governments agreed to repeat the vote in the presence of independent observers from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Mexico's National Electoral Institute (INE), alongside federal work inspectors from the country's labour ministry.

Many of Mexico's democratically run unions – including the federation of independent unions in the automobile, automotive parts, aerospace and tyre industries (FESIIAAAN), the “Generando Movimiento” union, the new central union of workers (NCT) and the Los Mineros union – set up camp outside the plant to show their support for the GM workers during the voting process.

At the international level, IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in the United States and Canada, as well as the regional network of GM workers, followed this key vote closely and were very happy with the outcome.  

IndustriALL Global Union's general secretary, Valter Sanches, says:

"We congratulate the brave workers at GM's Silao plant for their determination and for their victorious struggle for freedom of association. It's clear that we still have much work to do, but the workers can count on IndustriALL Global Union and our affiliates around the world. We will be by their side, helping them to secure full union freedom and dignified working conditions. The outcome of this ballot brings great hope and new prospects for workers in Mexico."

South African union demands reversal of retrenchment notice for 200 miners

According to NUM, when the company took over the mine in 2012, they promised to improve the maintenance of the mine shaft and the pumping of water from underground. CAPM also promised to create 10 000 jobs and had said it would start by hiring 2,000 workers.

Instead of the retrenchments, the union is proposing that workers be put on rotational layoffs at 50 per cent wages to allow the company to fix the winders at the mine. Workers will then return to work when the mine is fully operational.

Further, the union wants CAPM to apply for the employee temporary relief scheme. The Unemployment Insurance Fund Covid-19 Temporary Employee/employer Relief Fund falls under the department of labour and employment and was created to assist companies in distress because of the pandemic.

“The retrenchment is a double blow for us after being passed from Aurora to CAPM as the mine changed hands. We have not been paid by Aurora and the case is being finalised in court. And now we are being retrenched,”

says Mguga Mava. He has worked at the mine’s engineering department for 12 years and says workers are still owed money by Aurora which went under liquidation.

The Pamodzi Gold mine has a troubled history. CAPM took over the mine in 2011 and was reported to have demanded that workers in South Africa waive their labour rights in its new agreement with Pamodzi Gold. The controversy was resolved with the National Union of Mineworkers with CAPM reportedly committing to “ constructive engagement in the future, based on mutual trust and goodwill”.

"The NUM disagrees with CAPM on cutting jobs by 66 per cent. We are disappointed that it is the same former Aurora workers who will be affected by these retrenchments. The NUM hoped that when the mine re-opened, the unemployment in the region would be reduced, and that the conditions of workers in this mine would be aligned to those of the industry as undertaken by the company.

"We are very much disappointed to find ourselves back paddling as the mine faces closure and is going into care and maintenance,"

says Masibulele Naki, NUM regional secretary for Matlosana.

The union says Chinese owned companies like CAPM are exploiting workers “without showing the slightest respect for the basic labour laws.”
 
The NUM went on strike at the mine in 2018 for better health and safety conditions to avoid situations in which workers would be forced to work under dangerous conditions. At the time there were no risk assessments being carried out as per mining regulations. The strike forced the department of mineral resources and energy to inspect the mine and ask the employer to comply.

However, workers say some issues related to winder engines, cables and communication bell recorders for operators are yet to be resolved.

“Jobs should be preserved, especially under the harsh conditions of Covid-19. CAPM should have a dialogue with NUM and the government to find ways to save jobs. It is important to always remember that workers have families to look after and their welfare should be seriously considered before deciding on retrenchments,”

says Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa.

KMWU concludes first industry-level transformation agreement with Korean employers

The marathon negotiating session, concluded at dawn on 11 August, also agreed on a 5.11 per cent increase from last year of the metal-industry floor-wage. As of 1 Jan to 31 December 2022, this means Won9,250/hour (US$7.9) or Won2,090,500/month (US$1,787) and is a voluntary floor above the statutory minimum wage of Won9,160/hour (US$7.8).

In the transformation agreement, KMWU and the employers agree to design and implement plans responding to digitalization, automation, electrification and climate crisis-related industrial transformation. The plans will include ensuring employment security and decent work; providing job training for new technology; protecting health/safety/human rights; responding to climate crisis; and fair treatment along the supply chain.

 

KIM Ho Gyu, KMWU chairperson, says:

"KMWU and the Korean Metal Industry Employers' Association have negotiated as true industry-level organizations. Both the agreement and the declaration will be as important as last year's Protection from infectious disease agreement. It is meaningful that we have agreed with the employers' association on the goals, ideals and future pursued by the KMWU."

A union-management body shall be formed at each work-site to jointly draw up and implement the specific industrial transformation plans.
An joint declaration on metal industry response to climate crisis confirmed the commitment to rapidly and consistently lower carbon emissions together, that companies will secure the funds and build the structure for whole supply-chains to reduce carbon emissions, and that any investment or transformation plans must not aggravate the climate crisis.

Annie Adviento, South East Asia regional secretary, says:

“We congratulate KMWU on signing the industrial transformation agreement. It is more important than ever to negotiate for a Just Transition with employers as digitalization threatens job security and the Korean government is pushing for a tech-centric economy.”

The ratification of the industrial transformation agreement by KMWU branches is expected to take place in October 2021.
 

South African unions and civil society march for democracy in Eswatini

The march to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Pretoria on 13 August was followed by the handing over of a memorandum, demanding that the United National Human Rights Council (UNHRC) convenes an urgent meeting to respond to continuing human rights violations including the right to life, and the rule of law. Further, the UNHRC must emphasize on Eswatini’s responsibility to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as specified in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 
According to a memorandum by the United Eswatini Diaspora to which NUMSA and other civil society organizations signed, the UNHRC must investigate and act upon stopping:

“The human rights violations by the government  and the absolute monarchy which have assumed a number of forms  including the killing of 72 civilians, severe injuries to more than 200 people, harassment, arbitrary detention, persecution of pro-democracy Members of Parliament, censorship of the media, state intimidation and threats, the promulgation and use of laws that violate fundamental rights to freedom of expression and association, and unlawful state efforts to undermine bar or crack down on peaceful protests.”

 

 
The memorandum states that over 600 people, including children, have been arrested. Speakers during the march said the whereabouts of several hundreds of people remains unknown.

“For a longtime the people of Eswatini have been fighting for freedom against the repression. As trade unions we support the struggle to end their suffering and call upon the UN and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene,”

says Jerry Morulane, the NUMSA regional secretary for Hlanganani which includes Pretoria.
 
Recently, IndustriALL affiliates in Eswatini, The Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) and Swaziland Electricity Supply Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (SESMAWU), took part in a workers’ march to parliament in Lobamba to demand democratic reforms and a constitutional monarchy. The march was organized by the Swaziland Congress of Trade Unions and coincided with the global day of action by IndustriALL and the ITUC.

“IndustriALL continues to call on the government of Eswatini to facilitate social and political dialogue that will lead to democratic reforms. The country must respect human rights and adhere to the UN Charter and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that it has signed,”

says Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa.

Eswatini is Africa’s last absolute monarchy and political parties were banned in 1973. The country has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986 and he appoints the prime minister and other key officials. Mswati, whose net worth is over $50 million according to reports, is infamous for an opulent lifestyle that includes buying a fleet of Rolls-Royces for his family of 15 wives and 23 children while most of the population lives in poverty and faces high unemployment especially amongst the youth. The country also faces a high prevalence of HIV and AIDS.

Need for youth policy, say young unionists

The 59 participants at the Bangladesh national youth forum listed job insecurity among the major challenges. A large number of young workers are on precarious contracts with low wages and no social securities, with women workers being more exposed than their male colleagues.

A youth committee was formed in February 2020. Young unionists decided to implement the action plan to organize young workers and address youth issues in their unions. During the virtual meeting, it was also decided that young activists will work to establish sustainable union structures, union capacity building and create awareness of young workers’ rights and effective union communication.

After intense debate, the young trade unionists committed to work with senior union leaders to pursue the following action plans during 2021:

Developing effective youth communication networks to support youth organizing campaigns, sharing experiences and knowledge to young members, organizing communication and other technological trainings for young union members will be prioritized. Developing intervention strategies and trainings on ILO convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work will also be prioritized.

 

At the Sri Lanka youth forum, participants decided to form a youth working group. They decided to reorganize the youth committees of their respective unions and youth policies with a gender perspective. Developing capacities of young workers to ensure that young leaders, including women, are able to take on leadership positions will be prioritized.

Developing effective communication networks to support organizing young workers and creative use of social media platforms to attract more young and women workers will be a key priority for Sri Lankan affiliates.

Apoorva Kaiwar, South Asia regional secretary, said:

“It is encouraging to see the active participation of young unionists in the youth forums. It is essential to organize and integrate more young and women workers in the day-to-day union activities. We have a democratic trade union history in South Asia, and the voices of young workers need to be well integrated in union activities.”

ST Microelectronics Malaysia – don’t put profit before workers’ safety

Since July, Covid-19 cases have surged in Malaysia, peaking at an average of 20,000 new cases in the past week. The country’s per capita infection rate is the highest in South East Asia.

Malaysia’s ministry of international trade and industry only ordered a full shut-down of the plant between 29 July to 4 August. Previously, only certain sections of the plant were closed down when Covid-19 cases were detected.

Roslan Bin Rosdi, EIEUSR deputy president, says:

"We are saddened by the demise of the co-workers at STM. This could have been prevented if regular social dialogues had been held between the management and the union. We call on STM to strictly implement health protocols and sanitize all production sites."

In a letter to the company, IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Valter Sanches calls on the company to put workers before company profits and to engage in dialogue with IndustriALL affiliate Electronics Industry Employees Union South Region (EIEUSR).

Kan Matsuzaki, IndustriALL electronics director, says:

“IndustriALL expresses sincere condolences with the families of the 19 workers. We urge STM to walk the talk on its sustainability strategy, which emphasizes putting people first and protecting everyone’s life.”

STMicroelectronics manufactures power devices, micro controllers and other semiconductor integrated circuits used in various electronics devices.

Uruguay: Yazaki workers file harassment complaint

In June, UNTMRA's general committee called for immediate talks with Yazaki to discuss workplace harassment involving a senior manager and staff under his responsibility. The committee notified the Ministry of labour and social security (MTSS) and lodged a written complaint with the employment inspectorate, providing details of the harassment, and the verbal and gender-based violence.

Local union leader and member of UNTMRA's general committee Vanessa O'Neil, says:

"At a meeting with union leaders and ministry officials on 23 July, Yazaki said that the perpetrator would be removed from his position. However, he is still there, is still carrying out the same work and still has staff under his responsibility. This is despite the various complaints that have been made against him by several female workers – complaints that the company is well aware of."

The union raised the issue with the Secretariat for gender, equity and diversity within Uruguay's trade union federation PIT-CNTT, which condemned the situation. In a letter, it demanded full compliance with International Labour Organization Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment, ratified by Uruguay, and called for compliance with Act 19.580 on gender-based violence.

The gender committee of the union confederation took the complaint to its representative board. It undertook to keep monitoring the situation to ensure compliance with the complaints process.

Despite the solidarity shown by the union movement, the process is still ongoing and the workers at Yazaki have not yet received a response from MTSS or the company.

IndustriALL regional secretary, Marino Vani, said:

"We congratulate the women who took action to stop the violations and support their fight. We hope that Yazaki and the government are not working together and that their inaction does not lead to further harassment.

"We have an opportunity to develop an effective policy in line with domestic legislation and C190. We hope that the company will listen to UNTMRA's demands and will work to establish an agreement containing guidelines to prevent violence and rules for punishing perpetrators.”

IndustriALL 3rd Congress website is live!

The IndustriALL Congress, “United for a Just Future”, will take place on 14-15 September 2021. To facilitate the work of the Congress, IndustriALL has built a dedicated Congress website https://congress2021.industriall-union.org/. Congress participants are invited to visit and register themselves as soon as possible. The final registration deadline expires on 18 August 2021!

The website is published in English, French, Spanish, and Russian.

A tutorial video has been developed to explain the registration process, in English, Spanish, French, Russian and Arabic.

Also, on the website is a list of Congress documents, including the Secretariat report, draft agenda and the programme of the Congress.

Follow IndustriALL Congress on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. You can follow the conversation around Congress by using the hashtags #IndustriALL2021 #UnitedForAJustFuture on social media.

Amandla! Awethu!

Workers bring Electrolux Chile to a standstill to safeguard collective bargaining

On 13 July, some 800 Electrolux workers rejected the company's latest collective bargaining proposal. Learning of the decision, the company informed union members that the hours spent during a work stoppage in June and at previously authorized union meetings would be deducted from their pay.

In response, the unions held a strike on 14 and 15 July and have since brought production plants and distribution centres to a standstill. Workers condemned the company's attitude after it delayed the start of the collective bargaining process, which should have run from October to December 2020, for almost a year.

Electrolux says that it postponed the process for several months because it was waiting for a response to its request for a reclassification of minimum services. During the same period, the company refused to meet with union leaders or to respond to the draft collective employment agreements submitted by the two unions.
The unions appealed to the regional employment inspectorate, which ruled that the formal collective bargaining process could not be put on hold because of an administrative request. The National Employment Directorate issued a final ruling on 11 March 2021, rejecting Electrolux's reclassification request.

"It is now more important than ever for national and international workers to show solidarity with the members of Electrolux unions 1 and 2 as they fight to safeguard their dignity and their right to collective bargaining and to strike. These rights have been undermined by the indifference and bad faith of company management,"

said an official union statement.

The unions have submitted a draft collective employment agreement that takes into consideration the impact that the current social and economic crisis has had on their daily lives. So far, the workers have not accepted any of the company's proposals, which they say do not meet their demands.

In addition, they say that company management acted inappropriately when it used informal channels to inform some workers of the terms and figures being discussed during the negotiations. It did this with the aim of creating a rift between unions leaders and members.

IndustriALL Global Union's regional secretary, Marino Vani, said:

"Electrolux’s actions are unfortunate. We hope the company will engage in good faith negotiations. The workers have union representatives and deserve to have a formal agreement based on respect and dignity.

“We stand with the workers, the unions and our affiliate Industrial Chile-CONSTRAMET, supporting their struggle and their actions to protect workers.”