Strike in Chile calling for social change

The more than 200 trade unions and social organizations that make up the Social Unity movement held a general strike across the country to protest against the policies put in place by Sebastián Piñera's government. They say that the solutions proposed by the government do not meet their demands for social change.

Horacio Fuentes, president of Industrial Chile-Constramet, which is part of the Social Unity movement, said:

"The government has not withdrawn its regressive agenda, and its solutions don't go far enough. Its proposals are in line with the neoliberal model that has caused this crisis in Chile. We think we need to stay out on the streets."

The protests in Chile have been going on for more than six weeks. Protestors are calling for structural changes to the economy and public policies in order to bring an end to the widespread social inequality. Protestors also want the Constitution amended to guarantee social justice.

Although the government has acted on the calls for a new Constitution, it has not involved union leaders in the process.The union movement says that the so-called "Agreement for social peace and a new Constitution" reached on 15 November does not meet the real needs of the Chilean people.

Unions are also saying that they will continue to fight against impunity, given that protestors have been violently repressed by state security forces.

Chile's Ministry of Justice and Human Rights confirmed that the death toll has risen to 24, while the National Human Rights Institute reported that 7,259 people have been arrested and 2,808 injured.

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

"We once again call on the authorities to respect people’s right to freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration.

We urge Chile's government to work with all sectors of society, including the union movement, to change the Constitution to guarantee social justice and provide solutions to the deep-rooted problems affecting Chilean society."

Precarious workers occupy Honda factory in India

HMSI, one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world, employs about 4,000 workers at its Manesar plant. About 2,500 of them are precarious contract workers, most of whom have worked for the company for more than a decade through contractors without being regularized. Citing a decline in sales, the company started retrenching workers this year.

In August, around 800 contract workers were retrenched. On 4 November, another 200 workers were put on unpaid leave and told that they would be rehired after three months. However, due to the volume of retrenchments, workers feared that they would not be recalled at all.

 

The next day, management refused to allow 400 contract workers to enter the plant, and those inside started a sit-in strike. Later, other shifts joined the action, until more than 1,000 precarious workers had occupied the factory while a large number of retrenched workers protested outside. After several days the company stopped all production. For fourteen days until 18 November, workers occupied the factory despite numerous challenges.

The workers did not eat for many days as no food was allowed into the factory. Many workers fell ill and were hospitalized, as access to clean drinking water and toilets was restricted. The desperate workers were persuaded to vacate the factory premises on the pretext that their issues would soon be resolved.

 

The HMSI union of the permanent workers has been working in solidarity and representing precarious workers in the negotiations. Meanwhile, the company has suspended six workers, including the president and general secretary of the permanent workers’ union.

Valter Sanches, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, in a letter to the president and CEO of the HMSI stated that,

“The peaceful fourteen days’ sit-in protest exemplifies the workers’ anxiety to protect their livelihood to support their families. Most of these young workers have spent their prime youth for the benefit of HMSI.

“We call upon HMSI, as a principle employer, to take responsibility for ensuring fair working conditions at the plant. Therefore, we urge HMSI to follow the rule of law in letter and spirit and regularize the workers, who have been working for the company for a long period of time, and pay appropriate compensation to those who were retrenched in the recent past.”

The letter also called on the HMSI management to revoke all vindictive suspensions of HMSI union members, who supported the fair demands of contract workers, and engage in genuine social dialogue with the union to resolve outstanding issues.

On 25 November the company resumed production and called on the permanent workers to return to work after signing a good conduct undertaking. All contract workers joined the retrenched workers and are continuing to protest outside the factory.

German auto workers demand Just Transition

There are around 160 companies in the automotive and parts supplier industrial cluster in Baden-Württemberg, which is a major centre for the industry. Around 468,500 workers are employed across the sector.

Many companies have announced austerity programmes, relocations, job cuts and plant closures, citing technological changes. One of the companies planning cuts is Bosch, which is planning to cut 1,600 jobs at two sites. Industry experts estimate that between 30,000 and 45,000 jobs could be lost by 2030.

The companies are represented by a regional employers’ association, which negotiates wages and conditions with IndustriALL Global Union affiliate IG Metall. At least one company has left the employers’ association and therefore the wage agreement.

The union takes the situation very seriously because the transformation of the world of work due to Industry 4.0 and the shift to electric vehicles is just beginning, and the cuts set an alarming precedent. The situation in Germany is part of a wider trend in the global automotive sector. The need to invest in new technology and in some cases fundamentally change both the product and the production process is disrupting the sector and has led to global plant closures.

The workers have taken part in a series of demonstrations in the city of Stuttgart. On 22 November, 15,000 workers turned Schlossplatz in the city centre into a red sea of ​​flags.

Roman Zitzelsberger

IG Metall regional secretary Roman Zitzelsberger said,

“We will not let ourselves be deprived of our jobs and our future because employers have not done their homework.

“All employers need to know: we can only shape a successful future together. Let's work together with employees to develop perspectives for all our sites and for a transformation that includes all employees. We stand here, we will fight and we will not give up until there are good solutions for everyone.”

IndustriALL general secretary Valter Sanches said:

“We are deeply concerned by the irresponsible and short-sighted approach taken by the employers in this auto cluster, which demonstrates a lack of social responsibility. Our unions have addressed the changing world of work in great detail, and consistently called for a Just Transition managed through a fair negotiation process.

We stand in solidarity with IG Metall and its members who are showing their willingness to fight back – the transformation of the industry must not leave anybody behind.”

Ethiopia: towards a common collective bargaining strategy

The workshop, which took place in Addis Ababa 25-26 November was attended by 30 union leaders from factory unions in the textile and garment sector. The participants came from some of the 125 factory or basic unions that make up the Industrial Federation of Textile Leather and Garment Workers Union (IFTLGWU), affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union.

The unions agreed to work together towards a common set of demands for collective bargaining, which would then be put collectively to the employers.

If this plan succeeds, the unions will move away from the current negotiations in which they bargain with employers as individual unions at factory level. According to the unions, this set up weakens the unions and exposes the leadership to intimidation by some employers. Some workers even declined to take up union positions for fear of victimization.

Mesfin Adenew, IFTLGWU president said:

“We need to strengthen unions in Ethiopia. A weak union does not have the power to confront employers, but strong unions can achieve far more.

Like our sister union the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) in South Africa that has carried out a successful living wage campaign. Interunion solidarity is important in Sub Saharan Africa to build union power.”

The unions agreed on the need for a national bargaining conference to consolidate their demands, including those for living wages and better health and safety at work. However, before this happens the unions must strengthen leaders’ skills in recruiting and organizing and fighting for the rights of the workers according to Ethiopia’s constitution and labour laws.

These rights include the protection of women workers against gender-based violence and sexual harassment. Improving skills in negotiation, conciliation, mediation, and arbitration were identified as key to improving collective bargaining and protecting workers interests.

Tigist Fisseha from ILO outlined the decent work and inclusive industrialization programme in Ethiopia which supports collective bargaining.

The workshop was held with support from Mondiaal FNV and facilitated by Hlokoza Motau, former head of organizing, campaigns and collective bargaining at National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, who explained the tactics South African unions have successfully used in collective bargaining.

The workshop is a follow up to an earlier solidarity visit by Ethiopian unionists to SACTWU in South Africa.

IndustriALL renews global agreement with Siemens Gamesa

The new agreement, signed on 25 November, covers 23,000 Siemens Gamesa workers around the world and strengthens the company’s commitment to human rights, the environment and sustainable jobs.

Siemens Gamesa CEO, Markus Tacke, and Valter Sanches general secretary, IndustriALL

The new GFA includes some important improvements from the original agreement signed with Gamesa in 2015. These include:

IndustriALL, trade union representatives and management at Siemens Gamesa group will jointly oversee the effective implementation of the agreement, and a series of local committees will be set up to allow for this process.

“We are pleased that today, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we have signed a strengthened agreement with Siemens Gamesa that includes respect for ILO Convention 190 on ending violence and harassment at work, before it has even been ratified by Spain,” said Valter Sanches, IndustriALL general secretary. He added:

“In a first test of the agreement, as the Siemens Gamesa goes through restructuring in Europe, we expect the company to carry it out in a socially responsible manner and in negotiation with the respective trade unions.”

Under the agreement, Siemens Gamesa promises to adhere to UN core human rights as well as fundamental labour conventions concerning freedom of association and collective bargaining, forced labour, child labour and exploitation, and discrimination.

The group also treats unions positively and commits to constructively cooperate with workers and their representatives.

Siemens Wind Power and Gamesa concluded the merger of their wind power businesses in April 2017 providing onshore and offshore services. The united company is based in Zamudio, Spain, and has a presence in over 90 countries.

The 2019 GFA was signed by Siemens Gamesa CEO, Markus Tacke, and Valter Sanches from IndustriALL Global Union.

C190 – It can change lives!

Gender-based violence and harassment at work is a daily reality for millions of women workers all around the globe.

In June 2019, the International Labour Conference said STOP to violence and harassment in the world of work by adopting ground-breaking international instruments, ILO Convention 190 (C190) and Recommendation 206 (R206).

The new ILO C190 is the first international standard that aims to put an end to violence and harassment at work, and that recognizes that everyone has the right to freedom from violence and harassment in their working lives.

ILO C190 is a vital new instrument to close the gaps in national legislation and enforcement, and therefore in the protection of millions of women workers. 

C190 is a meaningful tool to fight discrimination and inequality in the world of work. It calls for the adoption of legislation ensuring the right to equality and non-discrimination in employment and occupation, and addresses particularly gender-based violence.

C190 is a huge victory for the trade union movement that has been pushing for years to achieve an international instrument aimed at eradicating gender-based violence. The adoption of this new Convention gives momentum to the trade union fight for a world of work that is free from violence and harassment.

Trade unions should start using it now, including in their collective bargaining, as well as within the negotiation of global framework agreements with multinational companies.

Through the adoption of the IndustriALL Pledge, the Executive Committee and many IndustriALL’s affiliates have already recognized the importance of trade unions fighting against gender based violence.

“C190 represents a real opportunity for trade unions to fight against gender-based violence, and more broadly gender inequality and discrimination in the world of work. With C190 no worker will be left behind! We should use this instrument to change the lives of workers, and more particularly women workers,” says IndustriALL assistant general secretary, Jenny Holdcroft.

#C190 #ITCANCHANGELIVES #ALLWomen

Unions in Cambodia urge EU not to withdraw EBA benefit

The EU initiated the procedure to suspend the EBA for Cambodia in February this year. A report is to be issued this month and the final decision will be announced in February 2020.

According to the EU, systematic violations of workers’ rights, including the right to strike, political repression and a crackdown on independent media, are behind the launch of the procedure.

However, Cambodian union leaders attending IndustriALL Global Union’s trade and workers’ rights training on 4-5 November in Phnom Penh expressed grave concern over the enormous impact of a suspension of the EBA scheme, as foreign investors have said they may move garment production to other countries, risking thousands of jobs in the process.

“750,000 workers are employed in the garment and footwear sector, and 20 per cent are members of unions affiliated to IndustriALL. Withdrawing the EBA will be a disaster for Cambodian garment workers,” said Pav Sina, president of Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW).

The Vice President of the Federation of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) Mann Senghak added:

“Cambodian trade unions must urgently put aside any differences and unite to send a strong message to the EU that the trade preference scheme is of paramount importance for the survival of millions of Cambodian people dependent on the industry.”

“A critical decision like withdrawing EBA must take into account the social and economic rights of workers as human rights are interdependent and indivisible,” said Annie Adviento, IndustriALL South East Asia office regional secretary.

During the two days, 25 Cambodian unionists were trained on trade issues, as a follow up to the Asia Pacific trade and industrial policy meeting held June 2019.

Towards IndustriALL’s third Congress: “Amandla Awethu – United for a Just Future”

The IndustriALL Global Union executive committee, meeting in Geneva on 21-22 November, considered preparations for the third Congress in Cape Town 2020, which will send a strong message to the world about the strength and unity of the global movement.

Delegates analysed the proposals of the two preparatory working groups for the Congress: on Action Plan and Political Resolution and on Statutes, Finances and Sustainable Structures. In the upcoming period affiliates will be invited to submit their proposals for the above, and nominations for leadership positions.

The executive committee resolved to campaign for the ratification and implementation of ILO Convention 190, following a recommendation from the strong World Women’s Conference on 18-19 November.
 
The decision was made after introductions by assistant general secretary Jenny Holdcroft and women’s committee co-chair Eva Arcos. Arcos reported on the inspiring women’s conference, which saw more than 200 women from 60 countries demand a transformative agenda to address discrimination, violence and harassment in the workplace and in our unions.

Holdcroft spoke about the ongoing global crisis of violence against women, and the power of ILO Convention 190 as an instrument to fight it. She called on the executive committee to campaign for the ratification of the Convention. The resolution passed unanimously.

IndustriALL president Jörg Hofmann reminded delegates of the global retreat from democratic values, trade wars, a shift in production due to Industry 4.0, and climate change.

“We need strong and united workers’ organizations to confront the challenges ahead of us. Failure is not an option. We have to be positive, face challenges, pool our resources and bring all the forces of trade unions together with civil society for the challenges of the future,”

he said.
 
General secretary Valter Sanches reported on the work of the organization in a challenging context: the combination of low growth and growing inequality is explosive, and there are people on the streets in Hong Kong, Algeria, Haiti, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Lebanon, Chile and elsewhere. Although each uprising has a local cause, the movements are united by a common understanding that freedom, democracy, social protection and the environment are threatened.
 
Sanches thanked the affiliates for their steadfast support for Lula during his 580 days in prison.

“His release is the first step to restoring democracy in Brazil, and your solidarity was crucial,”

he said.
 
Assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan spoke about IndustriALL’s involvement in the UN climate change conference, and the importance of unions engaging in these discussions to ensure that there is a Just Transition.

“Corporations will fail to deliver what is required unless we put pressure on them.”

Vice-president Anna Fendley said,

“We represent industries that are uniquely affected by changes to meet climate emissions targets. We have power here. We can act on the climate crisis.”

Özkan introduced a discussion on binding global instruments to ensure corporate social responsibility. The meeting discussed global framework agreements, which need to be living instruments, not just words on paper. The commitment of home country unions is essential.

IndustriALL will join other global unions in dedicating Human Rights Day on 10 December to The Philippines, where President Duterte’s war on drugs has killed 27,000 people.

At least 43 trade unionists have been killed.

The executive committee approved the affiliation of the following unions:

The meeting also passed a resolution in support of NUMSA members striking at South African Airways.

A side meeting was held on organizing white collar workers, and a new guide was introduced.

Thai unions call for review of labour laws

According to the US Trade Representative (USTR), the Thai government had failed to address issues of violations of workers’ rights petitioned by American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Oganizations (AFL-CIO) in 2015, despite years of engagement by the  USTR with the Thai government.

“The Thai government should be held  fully responsible for the termination of GSP, as it has failed to tackle widespread anti-union discrimination and protect workers' rights.
 
“The Thai labour movement has called on the government to ratify ILO conventions C87 and C98 to defend workers’ right to organize. It is now high time for the government to ratify the two conventions, as a mean to resolve the problem of GSP suspension,” says Prasit Prasopsuk, president of the Confederation of Industrial Labour of Thailand (CILT)    
 
“Representatives of the US government have been sent to negotiate with the Thai government but the efforts were in vain. Thai politicians claimed the termination of GSP was due to banning three controversial chemicals by Thai government, but this shows how little concern they have for workers,”  says Chalee Loysoong, the secretary of Thai Confederation of Electronic, Electrical Appliances, Auto and Metal Workers (TEAM).

IndustriALL Global Union filed a complaint against the Thai government with the International Labour Organization on 7 October 2015. The complaint includes 18 cases of flagrant violations of workers’ rights.

IndustriALL South East Asia office regional secretary Annie Adviento says:

“We fully support our Thai affiliates in their long-standing struggle against constant union busting and intimidation of workers. We demand that the Thai government initiate labour law reform to address the root cause.”
 

Our future, our union – IndustriALL Women’s Conference demands transformative agenda

The women unanimously passed a resolution demanding radical changes to the way their unions operate to ensure women’s equal representation, participation and leadership.

"We want to change the status quo. We have been making progress but it’s not enough. If we want to transform our unions to be sustainable unions that can recruit and attract women members and members from all diverse groups, we need to change the way we do things,"

said IndustriALL assistant general secretary, Jenny Holdcroft, outlining the goals of the conference.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary, Jenny Holdcroft

The conference took place in a year of historic mobilization in Switzerland. Five hundred thousand women took to the streets on 14 June 2019 to demand equal pay, equal rights and an end to discrimination and violence against women. This has led to a new law that prevents discrimination and a record 40 per cent women elected to parliament.

You strike a woman, you strike a rock

The conference participants endorsed a resolution calling on the IndustriALL Executive Committee to support the joint global union campaign to promote the implementation and ratification of the new ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment at work. 

The convention, established in June, is a major victory for trade unions. It has given a new impulse to the campaign against violence against women, particularly gender-based violence and sexual harassment, said Armelle Seby, IndustriALL’s gender coordinator.

IndustriALL is now including respect for the convention into its global framework agreements with multinational companies.

More than 100 IndustriALL affiliates have taken The Pledge, making a statutory commitment to take action to stop violence against women in unions and at work.

Ruth Ntlokotse from Pledge signatory, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, said femicide in South Africa is increasing on a daily basis. The union is campaigning for companies to do more to ensure the safety of women at work and is providing training for people handling cases of sexual harassment and violence. She said:

“Women are scared to report for fear of retaliation. So how the cases are handled is problematic.”

Women and the future of work

Industry 4.0 and the changes brought about by automation, digitalization and artificial intelligence is set to particularly impact women who are under- represented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs.

Lina Andersson of Unionen in Sweden added that women employed in STEM are more likely than men to leave the sector because of a macho "brogrammer" culture; competence not being recognized; and accusations of being emotional when raising technical issues.

Jane Ragoo from Mauritius revealed cameras in factories are having a negative psychological impact on workers and called for more research into the impacts of company surveillance on employees.

Jane Ragoo, general secretary, CTSP, Mauritius

Participants called for unions to promote lifelong learning, upskilling and capacity building to protect women’s jobs in the world of work. However, the flexibility offered by new technology can help women in achieving a better work-life balance and offer new opportunities.

It’s our time!

It's our time!

 

Young women trade unionists demand greater participation in their unions.

Young women at IndustriALL gave rousing and impassioned testimony, and presented five key demands to strengthen young women participation and youth globally.

  1. Training school for young women (18-35) in all regions
  2. Making young women more visible
  3. Guaranteeing and promoting positive youth policies
  4. Strong youth representation at Congress
  5. Representation of youth in IndustriALL structures

The way forward

In concluding the conference, participants unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that IndustriALL’s Action Plan for 2020-2024 integrates gender equality, diversity and the advancement of women rights into all its activities and actions.

“We are motivated to continue our struggle because what we have decided over the past two days will help all those who are not here today,” said IndustriALL Women’s Committee Co-Chair Monica Veloso.

Co-chair, Eva Arcos, added:

“We have provided a safe environment for women to express their experiences and struggles and it has been a very productive conference.”

Myth busting!

Participants at the conference rip up slogans stereotyping women.