Unions from five countries meet in Chile to campaign for BHP workers’ rights

IndustriALL Global Union is bringing together trade unions from Chile, Australia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru to strengthen union action and to call on BHP, one of the world’s biggest mining companies, to end to bad corporate behaviour at the expense of workers.

BHP is pushing a strategy to drive down wages and employment conditions in the mining industry, including replacing thousands of permanent jobs with casual labour hire.

Around the world, there are abundant examples of workers under pressure as BHP ruthlessly prioritizes profits at the expense of workers and communities.

The National Coordination of BHP Biliton in Chile Chile (La Coordinadora Nacional de Sindicatos de BHP Billiton en Chile) says BHP refuses to engage in meaningful negotiations on issues as the pressure of excessive workloads, working hours in excess of those set down by law, lack of transparency in calculating bonuses and the right to pensions and sick leave.
In Colombia, BHP uses contract labour to bring down wages and working conditions, and imposes high production targets which puts pressure on workers and leads to an increase in the number of accidents
In Australia, BHP has created an in-house labour hire workforce through a subsidiary, Operations Services, providing a supply of cheaper workers on non-union contracts, earning 40 per cent less and with worse conditions than the BHP workers next to them.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan says:

“We are uniting workers in the struggle for decent work and to call on BHP to stop contracting out jobs in its operations.
“Through our global campaign, we fight back for safer and fairer labour practices at the worldwide operations of BHP.”

Australian glass workers strike for a fair contract

Workers at O-I Austalia did not receive any pay increase over the last seven years although the company has made record sales and profits during the same period. When the Australian unions approached the company management with an attempt to bargain a new contract in late 2018, they faced with a bad-faith and aggressive bargaining behavior as the company used tactics for stalling the process.

The last contract expired in February 2019. The bargaining demands from workers for the new three-year contract include retaining the existing conditions of employment, a reasonable three per cent annual pay increase and introducing minor technical amendments over the provisions with a view to bring it up to acceptable standards.

Although workers’ demands are reasonable with any controversy, O-I’s Australia management turns deaf ear to their employees and so far refuses to negotiate fairer working conditions.

O-I controls almost nighty per cent of the market share in Australia and registered a revenue of 2.62 AUD billion (US$ 1.78 billion) in the period of 2013-2017. It is reported that the company’s CEO receives an annual 11 AUD million (US$ 7.5 million) compensation package.

According to the unions, during the strike actions, their members at O-I operations were imposed various workplace bans. Workers’ wages have been deducted up to fifty-five per cent despite continued eight-hour working days. Moreover, in retaliation, the company is threatening to lock them out with the termination of the agreement.

Workers continue their fight, and regularly organize weekly pickets and other actions.

To support the striking O-I Glass workers follow two links below: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-striking-etu-members-at-oi-glass and https://www.amwu.org.au/vic_oi_glass

Based in Perrysburg, Ohio, USA, Owens-Illinois Inc. (O-I) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of packaging products, holding the position of largest manufacturer of glass containers in North America, South America, Asia–Pacific and Europe. O-I directly employees 26,500 workers worldwide with 77 production facilities in 23 countries.

Unions support government plan to stop gender-based violence in South Africa

According to the recently released South African Police Service crime statistics a woman is killed every three hours. From April 2018 and March 2019, 2,771 women were killed, and rape and sexual offences are on the increase.

In an address to the joint sitting of Parliament on 18 September, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a government’s emergency plan to “remove the cancer of gender-based violence”.

The plan, to be implemented in the next six months, focuses on prevention of gender-based violence, strengthening the response of the criminal justice system, and firming up the legal and policy frameworks. It also provides for the care, support and healing of victims of gender-based violence. Women economic empowerment is also recognized in the plan as a strategy to reduce the vulnerability of women.

The rape and murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana, a 19-year-old University of Cape Town student, at Clairemont post office in Cape Town ignited a wave of protests to end the widespread gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.

IndustriALL affiliates took action and demonstrations took place in many citites across the country. 10,000 people demonstrated in Cape Town, saying “enough is enough”. In Johannesburg, demonstrators petitioned the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, to support campaigns to end gender-based violence. Social media campaigns such as #AmINext and #stopviolenceagainstwomen supported the protests.

Lydia Nkopane, chairperson of the IndustriALL National Women’s Council South Africa (INWC-SA) said:

“We are appalled by the increasing number of women who are murdered in their homes and at workplaces. This makes South Africa one of the most violent countries for women to live in. Therefore, we welcome the government’s plan to curb gender-based violence, and to improve the safety of women.”

The affiliates have signed the IndustriALL pledge, commiting to stop gender-based violence in the union and at workplaces. The affiliates are also campaigning for the ratification and implementation of the new International Labour Convention 190/Recommendation 206 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.

INWC-SA comprises women workers from the following IndustriALL affiliates: Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union, the National Union of Mineworkers, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, and the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union.

Anti-union tactics at Google contractor

Last month, more than 66 per cent of around 80 eligible Google contractors at HCL signed cards in favour of union representation by IndustriALL US affiliate United Steelworkers. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has scheduled a representation election for 24 September, when the votes will be counted and results available immediately.

As the election approaches, HCL has responded to the workers’ intention to join a union by enlisting a controversial management consultant who played a role in defeating a union organizing campaign at Fuyao Glass in Ohio, in 2018.

The USW is condemning HCL for pressuring workers into mandatory meetings, aimed at defeating the campaign to unionize.

“We have vast experience after decades of negotiating fair contracts for many thousands of members who work for multinational corporations,” said USW International President Thomas M. Conway, “but in its drive to avoid bargaining in good faith with its employees in America, HCL, like Fuyao, is resorting to the same tactics employers have used for 100 years.”

According to the USW, employees at HCL have been coerced into attending meetings where managers talk about how they prefer to resolve conflicts “within the family” and without a union to advocate on the workers’ behalf. Generally, the company’s behaviour evolves into bullying individuals or groups of workers if support for the union persists.

IndustriALL general secretary Valter Sanches says:

“We stand in solidarity with the workers wanting to join the union and call on HCL to not interfere with the fundamental right of freedom of association The vote for union representation at HCL is an important step for the workforce, as it would allow the USW to negotiate for a collective agreement and improved conditions, and it also shows a growing movement to organize.”

Karnataka garment workers demand agreed minimum wage

Frustration among garment workers in Karnataka has been growing as a government proposal of minimum wage revision in February in 2018 from Rs 8,346 (US$117) to Rs 12250 (US$ 171) per month was withdrawn within a month after intense lobby from the employers. Since then, there has been no progress and more than 350,000 garment workers, 85 per cent of which are women, are losing money due to the government’s inaction.

Meanwhile, the government has announced minimum wage revisions for 73 scheduled employment, while excluding workers in the garment industry.

Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary says:

“We are disappointed at the government of Karnataka’s lack of commitment towards the welfare of women garment workers. The government should announce the just revision of minimum wages without delay.”

Prathibha, president of Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU), says:

“Garment workers in Karnataka face enormous hardships. Delaying the wage hike is not the way to promote women empowerment in India.
“Who will compensate our loss after the withdrawn proposal? Delay in implementing wage revision is wage theft and it is pushing workers into poverty. We demand that the government immediately announces and implements the wage revision.”

GATWU is demanding that the government incorporate food and clothing, house rent, electricity and water needs, children’s education, and healthcare in the minimum wage calculation, and that the benchmark of family be raised from three units to five, by including parents as dependents in the family.

According to the union's calculation, workers need at least Rs 24,000 (US$ 336) per month to live a dignified life. GATWU maintains that, until a decent living wage is established, garment workers’ minimum wage should be at least of Rs 11,557 (US$162), which has been provided to other scheduled employment.

Karnataka’s garment industry contributes to about 20 per cent of India’s garment exports. Many of the leading brands, including H&M, Inditex, Walmart, Old Navy, JC Penny, Target, Khols source from the Karnataka garment factories.

Global call for climate action on 27 September

A global week of climate action has been declared for 20-27 September 2019. These dates bracket an important United Nations summit on climate change.

IndustriALL’s general secretary, Valter Sanches, says:

“IndustriALL Global Union has fought for a Just Transition to a sustainable future for many years. It is time to make our point most strongly, again. Our futures, and those of our children, depend on it.”

IndustriALL affiliates are encouraged to undertake their own initiatives on 27 September, or to integrate their actions with other unions and/or their national centres.

What can affiliates do?

Publicly express strong support for the Paris Agreement of COP21, and the Silesia Declaration on Just Transition of COP24
Demand comprehensive Just Transition programmes to reach a sustainable future while leaving no worker behind
Put pressure on companies responsible for global warming to pay for remediation and the Just Transition for workers and communities
Put pressure on politicians to define sustainable industrial policies that put the public interest first; and on business people to urgently take action to cut greenhouse gas emissions
Demand that politicians define the specific and concrete steps that will be taken to address climate change. The areas that need urgent attention are energy, transportation, buildings, and finance.

A list of some of the events being organized during the week of action can be found here https://globalclimatestrike.net/#join – please join us, or organize you own!

“The climate crisis is real, it is urgent, and it is a threat to working people and communities. The crisis has social and economic dimensions not just environmental ones. The bridge to a sustainable future and a stable climate is a Just Transition that protects workers, their families, and the communities that depend on them,” says Valter Sanches.

Please send news of your actions and photos to [email protected]

Ericsson global trade union network moves forward

The Network was launched in April 2016 with the purpose of uniting Ericsson trade unions from around the world; sharing essential information and practices; protecting workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively; and engaging with the company in global dialogue.

The network is a joint initiative of UNI Global Union, IndustriALL Global Union and the Swedish Unions at Ericsson.

The meeting focused on the latest developments at Ericsson globally and discussions addressed:

Information exchange and union activities in each country
Developing strategy on organizing including supply chains
Ericsson’s policy on social responsibility and human rights
Communication and coordination among unions

Participants welcomed company management to the second day of the meeting to exchange views on Ericsson’s corporate social responsiblity policy and its implementation.

As a result of the meeting, the Ericsson trade union network adopted a revised strategic plan and participants agreed on cross-border cooperation and solidarity actions to develop organizing strategies and advance social dialogue with the company worldwide.

Ericsson is a multinational networking and telecommunications company headquartered in Stockholm.

Peru: mining strike met with violence and arrests

IndustriALL affiliate the Federation of Mining and Metallurgical Workers of Peru (FNTMMSP) went on strike on 10 September demanding the right to collective bargaining at sector level, after having spent six months trying to engage the employer in a dialogue.

The strike, which stopped work in several workplaces, was met with violence from police forces. 17 people, including the union’s general secretary Jorge Juárez, other union leaders, women from the wives’ committee and the union journalist, were detained for 48 hours after leaving a meeting at the Ministry of Labour in the capital, Lima.

Mine workers, who had come from the different mining areas of Peru, were faced with police violence as they gathered in Lima, resulting in four workers hospitalized with serious injuries.

Peru is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of precious metals, with mining bringing significant income to the country as well as companies. Many of the world's leading mining companies have operations in Peru, including Anglo American, BHP, Glencore, Rio Tinto, Grupo México, Newmont, Barrick Gold, Freeport-McMoRan, China MinMetals, and Shougang Group.

Although one of the main sources of labour, mining also contributes to social and environmental conflicts in Peru. Around 130,000 people work in precarious conditions, 70 per cent are outsourced, and an average of 30 workers die every year in work-related accidents.

Carried out in areas where farmers and indigenous populations live, mining endangers their livelihoods, but there is no legitimate prior consultation process to obtain consent of these communities.

Marino Vani, IndustriALL Latin America regional secretary, says:

IndustriALL stands in solidarity with the miners and their leaders, fighting for a more just and sustainable mining industry. We regret the lack of dialogue and the attacks on the mine workers, and instead call for a genuine dialogue aiming to establish functioning collective bargaining.”

Indian auto unions prepare for technological transformation

Participants at the workshop highlighted that trade unions must be proactive in understanding complex and rapid technological changes in the production process and their implications for job security, workers’ rights and their welfare.

Georg Leutert, IndustriALL Director for Automotive and Aerospace industries said:

“It is the social responsibility of the employer, government and trade unions to make sure that no one is left behind and the workers of today are also the workers of tomorrow. Workers’ skill gaps should be assessed and training needs of every single employee must be fulfilled. Adequate resources should be deployed for training and retraining.

“Auto unions should ensure that such needs should be part of the collective bargaining process in order to influence the change in workers’ favour while contributing to build progressive industrial relations. In order to be heard, workers need to be united. Unions need to have a plan. Unions need to organize to secure our future.”

Indian auto unions can take advantage of IndustriALL’s recent innovative agreement with Groupe Renault, on quality of working life, which in many ways provide framework for using social dialogue to find solution to new issues in the world of work, added Georg.

International union representatives gave an overview of social dialogue processes and sustainable union structures in companies such as Volkswagen and Ford. The Japanese Auto Workers Union and IG Metall also shared who they work in their respective countries.

Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary said:

“We are seriously concerned over loss of employment for thousands of automotive workers due to declining automobile production and sales across India. It is the contract workers who have suffered most. Indian auto unions should establish sustainable union structures to strengthen union power and collective bargaining processes in order to overcome the challenges faced by technological transformation and to safeguard the interest of all workers.”

Indian auto union representatives resolved to: bring more workers into unions, including women and precarious workers; take steps to regularize contract workers: create awareness over technological change and its impact; promote collective bargaining; and strengthen union power by institutionalizing networks among auto unions.

Participants of the meeting included Indian union representatives from Ashok Leyland, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Mahindra, Mercedes Benz, Skoda, Tata Motors, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Nearly 50,000 UAW workers strike at General Motors in US

Some 200 local union leaders from United Auto Workers (UAW), an IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, unanimously agreed to strike after the current collective bargaining agreement with the auto giant expired on Saturday 14 September.

Workers want GM to recognize the contributions and sacrifices that the company’s UAW members have made to create a healthy, profitable, industry.

“We told UAW GM members that we would stand up for them and their future,” said Gary Jones, President of the UAW.

UAW members are demanding:

Fair wages
Affordable healthcare
A share of profits
Job security
A defined path to permanent seniority for temporary workers

“We stood up for General Motors when they needed us most. Now we are standing together in unity and solidarity for our members, their families and the communities where we work and live,” said UAW Vice President Terry Dittes.

UAW members at GM are asking for fair wages and a share of profits. Photo: UAW/Facebook

In 2008, the US Treasury bailed out GM to the tune of US$49.5 billion, and UAW workers accepted major concessions to keep one the country’s largest car makers in business. In the past three years, GM has made more than US$35 billion in profits in North America and workers want fair wages and a share of the profits.

At the same time, GM CEO Mary Barra's compensation was US$21.87 million in 2018, 281 times the median GM worker pay.

Another IndustriALL affiliate, Teamsters union, has said 1,000 of its members will stand in solidarity with the UAW and not haul any GM product to dealerships around the country, which will have a significant impact on GM’s distribution capacity.

In a letter to UAW President Gary Jones and Vice-President Terry Dittes, IndustriALL general secretary, Valter Sanches, said:

“Your charter of demands calls for a fair share of GM’s economic success, for job security and fewer precarious workers. I can ensure you of the support of the entire labour movement around the globe in this. Insecurity and precarious work destroys our communities. This fight is also our fight. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”

The strike comes at a time when 10,400 members of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU), also an IndustriALL affiliate, are in their second week of strike action against the automaker. Other IndustriALL affiliates, such as in Canada and in Brazil, have also taken bold action in defense of GM workers in their respective countries.

IndustriALL is calling on affiliates to show solidarity with UAW members at GM by writing to UAW President Gary Jones and UAW Vice President Terry Dittes, and copying in Mark Liburdi ([email protected] ) and Kristyne Peter ([email protected]).