Members of the Demix Béton (St-Hubert) – CSN Workers Union voted in favour of the conciliator's recommendation to sign an agreement and put an end to the long labour conflict. Now they are preparing to return to their workplaces.
It was a difficult struggle. In the middle of the fight in October the employer tried to bypass the locked-out workers and use LafargeHolcim drivers to deliver CRH concrete. Workers appealed to the Administrative labour court which made a clear verdict in favour of the CRH drivers that Lafarge workers could not be used as replacement of their fellows from CRH as long as the conflict continued.
To support the workers in their fight, in addition to own solidarity message, IndustriALL addressed to the entire union cement network in North America and European Works Council and asked to express their international solidarity and support the cement workers struggle.
Throughout the conflict, the employer failed to address the problem of inequality of wages for operators and drivers, which were lower than elsewhere in the region, even though workers were doing the same work and delivering to the same customers.
According to the union, besides the legal victories, in the new agreement workers also succeeded to remove a clause which left them vulnerable to subcontracting.
Louis Bégin, president of the Federation of Manufacturing (FIM – CSN) underlined the importance of solidarity and said,
“The biggest victory is respect for the union. A clear message was sent to CRH. Workers are behind their union, and this puts an end to unilateral, contemptuous decisions. The trade union is a democratic force that cannot be circumvented.”
Trade unions express concern over RCEP
The RCEP, mega regional trade agreement encompassing fifteen countries, signed after eight years on 15 November further deepens the market liberalization commitments of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The RCEP includes 20 chapters covering areas of trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property, digital trade, competition, government procurement and other areas.
Unions have expressed concerns over the lack of democratic process and the secrecy surrounding the RCEP negotiations. Governments did not provide space for social dialogue with workers organizations, there was no adequate opportunity for public debate on the implications of RCEP, as negotiating texts were only released after the agreement was signed on 15 November.
The RCEP lacks provisions to safeguard workers’ rights, labour and environmental standards, which unions have been demanding all along. The governments can no longer ignore the progressive erosion of labour standards in the RCEP countries. With deeper liberalization commitments paving the way for further integration of global value chains in the region, labour intensive sectors in some developing countries will witness a race to the bottom with negative employment consequences.
Andrew Dettmer, national president Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), said:
“The need for strengthening manufacturing capacity, particularly of medical products, is underlined by the Covid-19 pandemic. We are witnessing rising unemployment, a social protection crisis and the hollowing out of the manufacturing sector, facilitated by the free trade agreements. It is not acceptable that the RCEP takes away the policy space to regulate multinational corporations now and in future.”
Valter Sanches, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, said:
“We are deeply concerned that the RCEP is silent on labour and environmental standards, and includes countries which have not ratified ILO core conventions and have some of the worst labour and human rights records in the region. As people in RCEP countries are grappling with the economic and social implications of Covid-19 pandemic, it is not prudent to proceed with the agreement which may undermine countries ability to address multiple crises on social, economic and health fronts.
“IndustriALL joins the other global unions in condemning the agreement. In its present form, the RCEP is far from inclusive development, job creation and inclusive rules-based trade system.”
The government of India left the RCEP in 2019, stating that the agreement was not in the interests of people of India. The RCEP countries keep the option open for India to join the agreement.
RCEP countries account for one third of global GDP and the same amount of world population.
Argentina’s parliament in favour of ratifying C190
The bill was approved by a large majority on 11 November. In order for Argentina to ratify C190 and its associated recommendation (No. 206), the government of President Alberto Fernández must deposit the formal instrument of ratification at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Once Argentina ratifies the agreement, it will have to adapt its legislation to include the content regarding the prevention and approach of both violence and workplace harassment.
Unions in Argentina have played an important role in promoting the bill's approval. In the session of the Chamber of Deputies, deputy Vanese Siley, spokeswoman for the federal group of women trade unionists of the CGT, underscored the role of the inter-union network (made up of more than 100 unions from the three national centers) in campaigning for the elimination of violence at the workplace.
Since C190 was approved in June 2019, the trade confederations have formally asked the government to ratify it. The unions have also raised awareness about the problem of violence and workplace harassment in Argentina and promoted the ratification of the convention at large.
IndustriALL deputy regional secretary for gender, textiles, electronics, energy, mining and steel, Laura Carter, says:
”By ratifying C190, Argentina will create a more dignified work environment and send the message that there is no place for violence in the workplace.
“There has been an increase in domestic violence during the pandemic. The Convention also puts paid to the idea that violence in the home has no impact on the world of work. We urge all affiliates to increase efforts to achieve the ratification of C190."
Kyrgyzstan must abandon anti-union draft law
In a video statement, unions called on members of parliament to abandon the draft law and involve unions the discussions on legislative initiatives on trade union issues.
On 5 November, the draft law on unions passed a second reading in the parliament without consultation with unions. Its current provisions would deprive workers of freedom of association, in breach of ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, and Convention 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, ratified by Kyrgyzstan.
If adopted, the principles of democracy and collegial decision-making would be abandoned. Unions would no longer be able to independently determine their organizational structure, conditions for the number of trade union members, the right to establish their own governing bodies and the terms of their election. The draft law would push the unions into a rigid framework.
According to MMTUK chair Eldar Tadjibaev, the anti-union draft law threatens economy in Kyrgyzstan and consequently the jobs.
Eldar Tadjibaev, says that the adoption of the draft law may affect the participation of Kyrgyzstan in the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) programme. This gives Kyrgyz producers the right to export about six thousand commodity items to the EU at zero tariff rates with the annual export reaching US$ 100 million.
Since 2016, these trade preferences have been unilaterally offered by the EU to Kyrgyzstan in return for Kyrgyzstan’s implementation of 27 international conventions related to, inter alia, human and labour rights.
So far, 70,000 people have signed a petition against the draft law, and numerous objections have been sent to the country's leadership by ILO, global union federations and NGOs.
Valter Sanches, IndustriALL general secretary, is urging the Acting President of Kyrgyzstan as well as the parliament to reject the draft law without delay, and act in accordance with international labour conventions:
“We will call on the European Commission to review the current economic relationship with Kyrgyzstan in case the promotion of the draft law on trade unions continues, in breach of ILO conventions and without proper consultation with unions.”
IndustriALL’s Executive Committee calls for solidarity and unity
IndustriALL and German union IG Metall president Jörg Hofmann opened the meeting by saying that the pandemic is putting the spotlight on how vulnerable global supply chains are; the combination of cheap labour and disrespect for the environment is not sustainable.
“The pandemic has sharpened inequalities around the world. This won’t be over until it is over for everyone and workers are worried about their survival. We need to act globally, and IndustriALL will continue to fight for more equitable distribution of wealth.”
Welcoming the US election results, Hofmann said that it sends a strong message to right wing populists everywhere:
"Bolsanaro, Orbán, Lukashenko – your days are numbered."
Since protests started in Belarus three months ago, the global union movement has been united in its support for democracy in the country. Belarusians have showed an incredible ability to organize, and in the face of repression, workers continue to fight for democracy.
The Executive Committee adopted a resolution in solidarity with the independent unions in Belarus, calling for an end to the violence, for new and fair elections, the release of all political prisoners, the reinstatement of all dismissed workers and for the criminal prosecution of those participating in the brutal suppression of protests.
International solidarity and unity are more important than ever. And in the face of adversity, unions affiliated to IndustriALL continue to fight for workers’ rights.
In his report, IndustriALL general secretary Valter Sanches shone a light on the recently created IndustriALL Brazil, bringing together 10 million workers from different manufacturing sectors, the vote by Argentina’s parliament to ratify C190, unions in the Ukraine protesting against a proposed labour law that would undermine freedom of association, nationwide protests in India against the government’s anti-worker policies, unions in Indonesia, fighting back against the controversial Omnibus law, and the people of Belarus, standing up to the rigged elections in August and continuing the protests, which have been met with violent repression.
“Trade union rights need to be respected. We need the binding UN instrument on business and human rights and we need more countries to adopt due diligence legislation like France to make multinational companies responsible and accountable for their global supply chains,”
said Valter Sanches.
“The ‘pandemic profiteers’, the billionaires that added over 4 trillion US$ to their fortunes this year must pay a welfare tax that could fund a universal social protection fund, as proposed by the global unions. Stimulus money for recovery should prioritize the health and the care industry, build infrastructure, ensuring accessible high-speed internet, retain manufacturing tissue and what we call a green recovery.”
The pandemic has brought with it an increase of domestic violence. Although domestic violence starts in the home, it can impact the world of work. The Executive Committee approved a resolution, proposed by the Women’s Committee, calling on all affiliates to take action in supporting members, challenging domestic violence and ensuring employers take measures to mitigate the impact of domestic violence in the world of work.
IndustriALL continues to pursue dialogue with governments and companies to protect the health and safety of union members and to defend workers’ rights, jobs and income. Ready to stand up, fight and campaign when union voices are not heard, the Executive Committee called on all affiliates to mobilize for:
International day for the elimination of violence against women on 25 November
Solidarity with national strike in India against anti-labour laws changes on 26 November
IndustriALL/UNI Global Union action on Black Friday, targeting Amazon on 27 November
Council of Global Unions day of action in solidarity and in defence of human rights in the Philippines on 30 November
After a debate about the effect of the pandemic on future meetings, the executive committee agreed that it would be responsible to hold the Congress next year entirely online. Delegates expressed the wish to see each other in person again as soon as possible.
The pandemic is impacting several aspects of IndustriALL’s work. Participants discussed the economic impact of the pandemic on the organization. IndustriALL third Congress was originally planned for Cape Town in October this year; as unfortunately the pandemic continues to spike and travel will likely continue to be restricted in many countries, the Executive Committee decided the Congress will take place online, in September 2021.
Developing a global trade union battery supply chain strategy
Battery power is rapidly becoming essential to our daily lives as society becomes increasingly digitally connected with electrical and electronics devices with electric vehicles being the main driver. The battery supply chain is complex and ranges from precarious and extremely dangerous artisanal mining to well organized auto manufacturing.
IndustriALL represents workers along the entire battery supply chain, with the exception of the business that is taking place in China, and is involved in the due diligence processes to secure workers’ rights and organize workers.
The demand for critical raw materials for the low carbon energy transition batteries, cobalt, lithium, copper and nickel, etc. will likely follow the same upstream demand side (mining) narrative of human rights’ violations and unacceptable environmental consequences: child labour, destruction of the living environment of indigenous peoples, ecological destruction, water shortage etc.
Andy Leyland from Benchmark Minerals discussed the risk that the quest for cheaper electric vehicles and the batteries used will lead to a race to the bottom, where the workers at the bottom of the supply chain will be the worst off in terms of wages and working conditions.
Moreover, he illustrated that the costs for batteries – against all market expectations – are likely to go up as the demand for the required raw materials will grow faster than new mining capacities can be created.
IndustriALL assistant general secretary Atle Høie said that drawing from the experiences from the work in the garment supply chain, working with a cross-sectorial along the battery supply chain opens the opportunity for a comprehensive and sustainable supply chain strategy.
“This will improve the effectiveness of due diligence processes, the enforcement of workers’ and human rights and the promotion of decent working conditions. The further down you get along the supply chain, there are more unorganized workers and substandard wages and working conditions. We need to examine our leverage in the higher end of the supply chain in order to put pressure on the companies operating in the lower parts of the supply chain.”
Speaking at the webinar, Aimee Boulanger, executive director of IRMA, the initiative for responsible mining, welcomed the membership of German automaker BMW earlier this year. She mentioned that other auto makers (the day after the workshop Daimler joined IRMA as a new member) could potentially follow BMW’s lead and join IRMA, underscoring the importance of supply chain due diligence in the global battery supply chain.
Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL mining director, described the importance of the sector for the low carbon energy transition and how the emergence of supply chain due diligence requirements in procurement could be a powerful tool to improve the performance of the sector in ESG (environment, social and governance), with a particular emphasis on workers’ rights.
Kan Matsuzaki, director ICT, electrical and electronics, explained that 80 per cent of the electric vehicle battery output is manufactured by six suppliers from China, Japan, and Korea.
“These major manufacturers are now investing outside of China, where IndustriALL’s unions are active, like in Germany, UK, USA and Eastern Europe. It is important to set up concrete organizing strategies for this rapidly expanding industry.”
Diana Junquera, energy industry director, mentioned that all the large electricity multinationals are investing in the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), as a way to accumulate and use unconsumed electricity from the grid. Oil companies are installing electric recharging points for electrical vehicles as well.
“IndustriALL represent workers in these companies and even has global framework agreements with some of them. This is why we can reach all parts of the supply chain to ensure decent working conditions for the workers.”
Armelle Seby, gender coordinator, said:
“It is important to develop a gender responsive approach addressing existing gender-based inequalities and violence along the battery supply chain. Integrating such an approach in due diligence processes limits a negative impact on women’s rights, and also brings systematic changes to discriminatory power structures.”
Georg Leutert, automotive industry director, pointed to the fact that automotive manufacturers had to shoulder an important part of the responsibility regarding socially responsible business conduct in battery supply chains. He also mentioned that auto unions are hoping for the creation of a maximum of jobs to compensate for the losses in traditional engine and transmissions plants.
“There is still a lot of movement in the make or buy decisions regarding batteries. And this is not only about insourcing the cell manufacturing but some companies are even becoming active in purchasing the raw materials themselves.”
Tom Grinter, chemical sector director outlined the main contribution by chemical workers to this supply chain. With materials, technologies, and research, chemical companies are heavily investing into this growing business. Three companies were highlighted that are both important players in the industry, and strongly organised by IndustriALL affiliates around the world, BASF, Solvay, and Umicore.
IndustriALL has applied for funding for a project starting in January 2021 on the battery supply chain across the industrial sectors. In a pilot project IndustriALL intends to collaborate with companies, NGOs and other associations to find out how such an approach can help to genuinely improve the situation workers along the entire battery supply chain.
“We have to use all resources to ensure that workers’ rights are upheld in the entire supply chain and pressure for more transparency,”
said Atle Høie.
Union federations create IndustriALL Brazil
IndustriALL Brazil was created on 17 November, and is an umbrella organization for a number of unions in the metal, chemical, construction, textile, garment, energy and food sectors.
"IndustriALL Brazil was created with a view to reindustrializing our country. Many manufactuing jobs have been lost because of the pandemic and because the government has no real industrial and economic policies. We call on other union organizations to join the fight to protect jobs and ensure decent wages,"
says IndustriALL Brazil president Aroaldo Oliveira da Silva.
FEQUIMFAR general secretary and member of IndustriALL Executive Committee, Edson Dias Bicalho, says:
"We are trying to bring in other key manufacturing sectors that are not part of IndustriALL Global Union, Força Sindical or the CUT. We want to work with business leaders and Brazil's National Congress to create a project to rebuild our national industry."
Mónica Veloso, vice president of the national metalworkers' confederation affiliated to Força Sindical and chair of IndustriALL Global Union's women's committee, adds:
"We want IndustriALL Brazil to play a key role in developing sustainable industrial policies, using legitimate union representation to ensure that members of the working class have a decent quality of life. This new national organization aims to redistribute power by focusing on gender relations."
IndustriALL Brazil will consolidate discussions, proposals and actions to promote the creation of industrial and employment policies aimed at reindustrializing the country and generating jobs and decent wages. Topics will include Industry 4.0, the transition to a low-carbon world, stimulating the circular economy and the need for sustainable development.
Lucineide Varjão, co-chair of IndustriALL's Executive Committee, mining sector co-chair and president of CNQ/CUT, says:
"We need to draw up an action plan aligned with IndustriALL’s so that we can move forward together. Our aim is to consolidate union power in our fight for equality, the ratification of ILO Convention 190 and against all forms of precarious work."
President of IndustriALL and IG Metall, Jörg Hofmann, welcomes the new organization:
"We commend the creation of IndustriALL Brazil. If we are to achieve our common goals, we have to join forces. Throughout its history, the Brazilian union movement has shown that it is capable of doing just that. And today, you have shown us once again."
IndustriALL's general secretary, Valter Sanches, says:
"We congratulate IndustriALL's affiliates in Brazil for creating this national organization and making history. In these very difficult times, the government of Brazil does not have a sustainable industrial policy and is destroying the manufacturing sector. The world of work is changing and if we don't have the right policies, then there will be no escape from deindustrialization. This new organization will be key in helping us to move forward on the right path. You can count on IndustriALL Global Union's support. The struggle continues!"
Unions in Ghana push African industrialization agenda
As part of the Africa Industrialization Day commemorations, IndustriALL affiliates in Ghana convened an industrialization forum on 12 November to discuss the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in promoting industrialization in the country and the African continent.
The forum, attended by 30 participants, also discussed the trade agreements that Ghana has signed with other countries including the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union.
On the factors impeding industrialization, the forum mentioned the Covid-19 pandemic, illicit financial flows, the exporting of primary products with no value addition, and corruption. Limited access to financial resources meant that small to medium scale enterprises did not grow. Some investments also created precarious working conditions. The uptake of manufacturing technologies and the adoption of artificial intelligence is slow. Further, trade unions were not consulted during policy formulation and implementation. For example, unions were not consulted on AfCFTA.
Some of the recommendations from the forum is that unions should carry out capacity building training to enhance knowledge on trade policy issues. This training is important for union engagement in industrial and trade policy processes which are key to the industrialization of Ghana and other African countries. Further, mobilization that involves awareness campaigns and advocacy on industrialization are needed to promote industrialization in the country and trade unions should prioritize the issue during social dialogue.
Solomon Kotei, chairperson of the Ghana IndustriALL Liaison Council said:
“Industrialization and trade policies are complementary and important for Africa to truly industrialize. Governments must make efforts towards a national industrialization agenda that includes using trade finance as a catalyst. Further, Ghana needs to ascertain its comparative advantage on locally manufactured products to counter-balance its imports. Import substitution can ignite industrialization. We also need sustainable trade policies because trade liberalization from the West hampers African industrialization.”
Kemal Ozkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary said:
“Sustainable industrial and trade policies are crucial to industrialization efforts in Ghana. This entails policies that support economic integration of regional economic communities like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the coordination of intra-African trade. Africa should also benefit from being part of global value chains as equal partners and exporting industries should provide decent work and avoid low wage models that impoverish workers.”
IndustriALL affiliates in Ghana: Industrial & Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) Ghana, Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU), General Transport Petroleum Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU), Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU).
French unions unite to defend the future of energy
French energy multinationals EDF and ENERGIE have announced restructuring plans which unions believe will threaten jobs and the security of the energy supply, and surrender the future of energy to the private sector.
In a joint statement, the French unions stressed the importance of the public service ethic by reminding the company of the dedication and professionalism of staff who maintained the electricity supply throughout the coronavirus lockdown. The statement called the forced liberalization of the electricity market “madness”, saying that the French government risks destroying a formidable asset.
The four unions – FNME-CGT, CFE-CGC Énergies, FCE-CFDT and FO Énergies et Mines – believe that plans for the unbundling and privatization of renewables shows a lack of commitment to energy futures at a time when the state should be playing a leading role in managing a Just Transition to a low carbon future. This future must include quality jobs as well as a reliable supply of energy.
The unions are united in their opposition to the restructuring plans, which will affect not only workers and the public in France, but company employees around the world. IndustriALL has global framework agreements with both companies. The unions expressed their concerns about jobs, and that the companies will lose their leading role in driving the energy transition by surrendering energy futures to the market.
EDF is a largely state-owned company that employs 165,000 people around the world. Unions are fighting French government plans to restructure and partly privatize the company. The government plans to split EDF into three separate entities, named green, blue and azure. The less profitable blue part of the company will remain in the public sector, while the green part, which includes renewables, will be a listed on the stock exchange. A third part, azure, will cover hydroelectricity.
ENGIE is a private company that employs around 70,000 people globally. The French state is the biggest shareholder, with almost a quarter of the company’s stock, and is very influential. The company plans to split into two entities, New ENGIE and NEW Solutions.
The unions will take a joint day of action on 26 November to oppose the restructuring and defend the public sector model.
In a solidarity letter to the affiliates, IndustriALL general secretary Valter Sanches said:
“Energy is a public good and a strategic sector. There can be no strong and sustainable economy without energy independence and infrastructure development. Splitting the energy activities of large integrated groups into sub-divisions, such as at EDF and ENGIE, will lead to the progressive dismantling of the energy giants.
“Access to energy, security of supply and favourable energy prices directly contributes to industrial growth and the creation of sustainable jobs. At a time of major energy challenges, when the world must ensure the integrity of its supply while managing a Just Transition to a low-carbon economy, it is unacceptable to endanger the capacities for development, investment and innovation of EDF and ENGIE.”
Unions around the world have been fighting like never before to protect the health and safety, jobs and income of their members, while being forced to adapt to the changes brought on by the pandemic. And we have showed that we are prepared to stand up for our members, we are strong and resilient. During the pandemic, we have had the opportunity to learn from each other, find inspiration from each other, support each other and show solidarity.
While the work hasn't stopped, neither have labour rights violations. In some countries they have even worsened as some companies and governments are using the pandemic as a smokescreen to attack democracy, human and labour rights.
Since protests started in Belarus three months ago, the global union movement has been united in its support for democracy in the country. Belarusians have showed an incredible ability to organize, and in the face of repression, workers continue to fight for democracy. International solidarity for the Belarusian unions’ fight for their country must continue.
The profile on GOSTTRA in Haiti tells the story of a young union determined to build workers’ power in the face of adversity.
The special report on the textile and garment industry addresses some of the actions taken to improve the industry and strengthen workers’ rights . And #UnionWins in the face of union busting show that our unions are able to win even in the worst of times.
The auto industry has also been hit hard, but the hard work of unions on the global framework agreements has been instrumental in protecting workers in the industry.
Negotiations on a UN binding instrument on business and human rights to end impunity for corporate human rights abuses could be a global benchmark for business and human rights. Employers’ organizations and governments, particularly in rich countries, are trying to undermine the process. We need to maintain the momentum to drive it forward.
Like April Sims, secretary treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, says in her interview: "It's not just about bringing another chair to the table, it is making sure that everyone at the table is dealt into the game and knows the rules so that they can compete."
With global solidarity it is possible to win even in the most testing time. And our unions win show the way forward.
