Unions are demanding the proposed legislation, which limits the right to strike, is withdrawn for adoption by the Moroccan parliament.
The draft regulatory law No. 15.97 was written without consultation or negotiation with trade unions, contravening fundamental International Labour Organization Conventions 87 and 98.
The right to strike is upheld in chapter 29 of the Moroccan constitution, but now the government is trying to restrict the conditions for striking in law for the first time.
Moroccan unions say the bill would turn a universal human right into an instrument of oppression, directed primarily at protestors and trade unionists. Unions are collecting signatures against the bill, and plan to mobilize.
The legislation is part of a growing attack on trade union rights and freedoms in the country. Trade unions have mounted numerous demonstrations, strikes and marches in protest at the widespread violations against trade unions and trade union leaders, which go unpunished by the government.
IndustriALL general secretary, Valter Sanches, said:
“IndustriALL Global Union urges the Government of Morocco to withdraw the draft law on the right to strike, which was written and submitted unilaterally to Parliament for adoption, and has not been the subject of tripartite discussions with partners.”
Unions are demanding that fundamental rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining are respected and that the Moroccan government commits to tripartite social dialogue.
Union picket at Spanish packaging company in Turkey enters ninth week
Workers are protesting against the company in Söğütlü town of Sakarya province after it unlawfully dismissed six trade union members on 29 May 2019.
The company is refusing to recognize the union, even though the Turkish Ministry of Labour issued official certification on 29 April stating that Selüloz-İş has a sufficient majority for being a bargaining partner.
The dismissals are part of an intimidation campaign launched by Saica Pack Sakarya after a large majority of workers joined the union in April. The sacked Selüloz-İş members were forced to sign papers indicating that they wanted to terminate their employment through public notary, but union members refused to do so.
Selüloz-İş members are not backing down.
IndustriALL wrote to the Saica Group in Spain on 31 May, urging the company to reinstate the trade unionists, stop harassing members on account of their union membership, and ensure respect for the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining under ILO Conventions.
IndustriALL's assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, visited the picket-line just after it began and addressed the workers. He said they had extensive international solidarity, and Spanish trade unions from UGT and CC.OO have been active in showing support for the Turkish workers.
IndustriALL's assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, on the picket line.
Ergin Alşan, general president of Selüloz-Iş said during the demonstration:
“Together with our global union IndustriALL, we will keep fighting for our dignity and fundamental rights until justice is done. We feel that we are not alone. The whole IndustriALL global family is with us, which makes us stronger”.
In a show of global solidarity, José Carlos Ruiz Palacios from FICA-UGT, visited the picket-line on 27 June. FICA-UGT also met with Saica at its headquarters in Spain urging the company to recognize the Turkish union as the legitimate social dialogue partner. Saica claims the dismissals are related to a loss of important customers, but not to trade union membership. The Spanish union also brought the case to the attention of Spanish Ministry of Labour.
José Carlos Ruiz Palacios from FICA-UGT visits the picket line on 27 June
IndustriALL’s general secretary, Valter Sanches, said:
“As workers mark 57 days of picketing, we strongly urge Saica management to intervene and ensure that fundamental labour rights are respected at its operations in Turkey. It is time to reinstate the six leading union members who were sacked illegally, and recognize our affiliate Selüloz-İş as the legitatimate bargaining partner. Saica’s behaviour would not be tolerated in Spain and cannot be allowed to continue in Turkey.”
Czech energy company denies rights to Georgian workers
The Georgian union launched a campaign for dignity and respect at work, union recognition, and negotiated wages that meet living costs and are indexed to inflation. However, the company has refused to meet with the union or address any of the workers’ demands.
The union pickets outside the company office in April
The union president, Amiran Zenaishvili, said:
"After the union took protest action in April, we sent a letter to the responsible ministry, listing our grievances on low wages, health and safety and union-busting.
"We asked the government to mediate in the dispute. The government assigned a mediator who met with the union and the employer. We are now waiting for a response.
"In the meantime, the company's anti-union campaign continues, and there has been open conflict since April."
IndustriALL general secretary Valter Sanches wrote to the CEO of the company, Jaromir Tesar, saying:
“IndustriALL Global Union calls on Energo-Pro to intervene immediately at Energo-Pro Georgia to guarantee that the local management acts in full accord with national labour law and international core labour standards, and, in consequence, agrees on engaging in a constructive social dialogue with the Georgian Trade Union of Energy Workers on the basis of full respect of the fundamental rights of workers.”
IndustriALL’s Czech affiliate OS KOVO – which has members at the Czech engineering plant that produces equipment – wrote to the Energo-Pro subsidiary that employs them, Litostroj Engineering. The company responded by saying they were not in a position to influence local management in Georgia.
Prague-headquartered Energo-Pro is a hydropower multinational, employing 9,000 workers in five countries through a number of subsidiaries. The company generates power at plants in Czechia, Georgia, Bulgaria and Turkey, and has engineering sites that develop technological equipment in Czechia and Slovenia.
The Georgian operation is the company’s biggest, with 6,180 workers at 15 hydro and one gas power plant. The company pays significantly less than industry standard, including the state-owned electricity company and other multinationals from Russia and Turkey.
IndustriALL calls for release of Kazakh trade union leader
Baltabay, who is leader of the Industrial Trade Union of the Fuel and Energy workers union, was also handed a seven-year ban on conducting any public activity, such as trade union activities.
He is the fourth trade union leader to be criminally convicted or imprisoned in the last two years as the government of Kazakhstan continues its repression of independent trade unions in the country.
Baltabay was sentenced on bogus charges of misappropriation of funds in retaliation for his trade union activism and support for leaders of the dissolved Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan (CITUK). Larisa Kharkova, Amin Eleusinov and Nurbek Kushakpaev from the CITUK have also been punished and persecuted through the Kazakh courts.
Last month, the International Labour Conference, at its Committee on the Application of Standards, singled out and sanctioned Kazakhstan for its “persistent lack of progress” to address abuses of core labour standards related to freedom of association and the right to organize.
Kazakhstan has again been listed by the ITUC rights index as one of the top-ten workers’ rights oppressors in the world. While global civil society, including Human Rights Watch, has unequivocally condemned the unfair trial and persecution of Erlan Baltabay.
In a letter to the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, IndustriALL’s general secretary, Valter Sanches, said:
“It is not too late for your government to redress this blatant violation of human rights and labour rights of Erlan Baltabay. Therefore, IndustriALL Global Union urges you to take the necessary immediate steps, in full accordance with international core labour standards, including Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, and in strict agreement with the decisions of the ILO’s Committee on the Application of Standards, to stop the persecution of the independent trade union movement.”
Help free Erlan Batalby!
IndustriALL has teamed up with the ITUC for an online petition with LabourStart calling on the Kazakh authorities to free Erlan Baltabay and ensure freedom and safety for trade union activities in the country.
Indonesian shoe and accessory workers picket for unpaid wages
The employer Kim Seong Rok failed to provide any severance payment for affected workers, and suspended payment of statutory minimum wages from 2013 to 2019.
Currently, the Indonesian police have put the South Korean investor under the wanted persons list. According to members of the National Industrial Workers Union Federation (SPN) in the factory, Kim has disappeared since November 2018.
SPN filed a complaint in court and obtained a judgement which allowed SPN to seal the factory and sell the assets to pay the workers’ severance package.
Concerned that the assets could be stolen, the workers take turns at the picket booth for 24 hours in order to monitor the movement of trucks at the factory premises.
“Even though we can successfully sell the machines and equipment of MPI, the rough estimation of the value is only US $ 214,000 (RP 3 billion), which is far from our target Rp US $ 859,000 (RP 12 billion). It is unfair for the workers”
Said Ardi Kurniawan, the chairman of SPN Tangerang district.
“Many working families face an extremely difficult situation after the closure of the factory. They are unable to pay housing loans and school expenses for children, several members even divorced from their spouses because of loss of income,”
Said Sanusi, the chief of SPN at MPI.
SPN is negotiating with MPI customers, PT Parkland World Indonesia (PWI), for a humanitarian fund with an amount of US $ 114,000 (RP 1.6 billion). PWI had previously paid the owed February wages to workers in good faith on behalf of MPI.
Regional secretary of IndustriALL South East Asia office, Annie Adviento, said the affected workers have a right to demand a severance payment and the shortfall in thestatutory minimum wage in the last seven years. IndustriALL pledges solidarity with MPI workers and calls upon the relevant parties to solve the dispute.
Union condemns plans to retrench 2,000 workers at ArcelorMittal South Africa
Steel producer, ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), which employs more than 8,500 workers, made the announcement on 10 July. AMSA then wrote to NUMSA, stating that it did not know how many workers will be affected, even though it had just made an announcement.
Mokete Makoko, NUMSA regional secretary for Sedibeng where the AMSA Vanderbijlpark plant is located, said:
“AMSA has already gone ahead of the consultation process and decided on the number of workers who will be affected. Again, this is another example of the flagrant disregard which the management of AMSA has for workers and their right to due process.”
In March, IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, NUMSA , went on strike at AMSA demanding equal pay for work of equal value, and protesting against labour broking, deteriorating health and safety standards, and other labour rights violations.
One of NUMSA’s demands was to give permanent jobs to workers employed through labour broking companies. Instead of employing workers directly, AMSA used contractors it described as “service providers” to recruit the workers were paid 50 per cent or less than permanent workers doing the same work. Some workers employed through the contractors have been under precarious contracts with no benefits for many years. Now they have been given termination letters.
NUMSA members strike against ArcelorMittal in March 2019.
“It comes as no surprise that the management of AMSA is proceeding with this course of action, just a few months after our members embarked on a strike to end outsourcing at the company. They clearly want to punish workers for fighting to end the exploitation of contract workers supplied by so-called service providers. As NUMSA we will do everything in our power to minimize the number of jobs which will be lost,” said Mokete Makoko.
Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub-Saharan Africa said: “It’s important for ArcelorMittal South Africa to consult with unions and to respect workers’ rights before making any public statements on retrenchments. We call upon the company to implement fair labour practices.”
Around 100,000 jobs have been lost in the steel industry in South Africa over the past decade.
AMSA is part of the global ArcelorMittal group and NUMSA has over 3 000 members at the company. ArcelorMittal employs some 200,000 workers in 60 countries worldwide.
Global dialogue needed at Deere and Caterpillar
Over 40 delegates from 10 countries convened for joint and individual IndustriALL Global Union meetings from 10 to 12 July to exchange experiences, improve dialogue and develop global solidarity.
The first day was dedicated to the Deere & Co union network, and the company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Marc Howze, introduced Deere’s concept of social relations and strategy.
Deere's Senior VP & Chief Administrative Officer, Marc Howze
Representatives from Deere’s European Works Council shared their experiences of social dialogue on a European level, and delegates adopted a plan to better coordinate their work and strengthen the Deere network.
IndustriALL director for mechanical engineering, Matthias Hartwich, said:
“We want Deere to create an official dialogue between management and IndustriALL Global Union, preferably with a global framework agreement.”
Ray Curry, the host union UAW’s secretary treasurer and director of the agricultural implement department, opened the second day of the meeting. He said:
“The mechanical sector global networks provide a great opportunity for an exchange with colleagues from various global locations of both companies. The coordination of our trade union efforts provide recognizable assistance to every worker in Deere and Caterpillar. Our ultimate and attainable goal is to improve the working and living conditions for the workers and their families. The UAW will continue to support and drive the efforts to create global solidarity among workers in all agricultural implement, construction and mining machinery sectors.”
UAW's Ray Curry
Speaking at the meeting, IndustriALL’s assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, said:
“Trade union networks, like the ones at Deere and Caterpillar, are not a means in themselves; we need them as drivers of better working and living conditions for employees of the respective companies. If companies are willing to enter into dialogue, we are always open. But if they don’t respect fundamental rights of workers, then only remaining option for us to campaign.”
In the joint meeting of both networks, participants underlined the importance of the exchange of information and experience as there are common issues across borders and across companies. The meeting discussed the opportunities and challenges of digitalization in the mechanical engineering industries, which require strong trade union coordination across the borders if workers are to get a share of wealth.
At Caterpillar, employees have suffered many setbacks in recent years. Radical restructuring in the company’s operations resulted in over 10,000 redundancies with several plant closures, showing that exchange and cooperation between trade unions is crucial. Caterpillar European Works Council members described the difficulties in getting proper information and having consultation with company management. Participants expressed their appreciation and commitment for the network newsletter as an important tool of communication.
At the end of the meeting, attendees agreed to improve communication in-between meetings, which will be determined by the steering committees.
Matthias Hartwich summarized:
“The issue of communication, that came up time and again in the meetings, is a serious call for us to strengthen the capacity of the trade union networks to interact and exchange information.”
Deere & Co manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery, employing more than 60,000 workers worldwide.
Caterpillar is the world's largest construction equipment manufacturer with more than 100,000 workers. Both corporations are American.
Fiat Chrysler and CNHi must increase dialogue with unions
The annual FCA/CNHi global union network meeting on 8 and 9 July in Toronto, brought together 38 trade unionists in nine countries. FCA and CNHi’s 24 brands include Alfa Romeo, Case, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, New Holland and iron and castings supplier, Teksid.
The current transformation of the automotive industry is a huge challenge that will affect the future of auto companies and workers. The network shared the view that FCA has a responsibility to safeguard jobs and plants through forward looking investments. However, instead of strengthening dialogue, the company tends to ignore the expertise of trade unions and workers. Participants called on FCA to develop a comprehensive strategy based on close cooperation with trade unions and supported by governments, in particular when it comes to fundamental issues such as a possible merger with another OEM (e.g. Renault).
The network committed to taking immediate action to support colleagues at Teksid Hierro in Mexico. After a five-year campaign, IndustriALL affiliate, Los Mineros (SNTMMSSRM), won a trade union election at the Teksid plant in 2018 with a clear majority. Nevertheless, the company refuses to recognize the result and maintains a collective agreement with the defeated CTM union.
In April 2019, Teksid Hierro dismissed 123 workers who protested the company’s behaviour, including the entire plant leadership team of Los Mineros. The network has vowed to continue solidarity support until the company reinstates the dismissed workers and recognizes Los Mineros as the democratically elected bargaining partner.
The network resolved to approach FCA and CNHi on the importance of core ILO labour conventions in upholding basic social and trade union rights in a globalized economy, especially in relation to supply chains. In this context, it will propose to enter into negotiations for a global framework agreement with both FCA and CNHi.
Participants agreed to increase the exchange of information in the network, in particular by contributing to the database and by making active use of it. The network also agreed clear rules on the representation of women and younger generations in the network.
On the second day of the meeting, participants visited the Brampton Assembly plant where they met the Director of HR, FCA Canada, providing an example of how good relations with the North American management could work with the entire Group.
IndustriALL’s director for the auto sector, Georg Leutert, said:
“Fiat is the only European automotive company without a global forum providing for regular information and consultation between the company and trade unions. We urge the company to end this unsustainable position and to enter into dialogue.”
The group particularly thanked Canadian affiliate, Unifor, for hosting the meeting.
Textile and garment unions in South East Asia build networks
Sixty trade unionists from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam gathered in Yangon, Myanmar, on 4 and 5 July for IndustriALL’s regional textile, garment, shoes and leather (TGSL) meeting on organizing in supply chains.
Cambodian affiliates condemned the dirty tactics used by Cambodian employers to thwart unions’ effort in organizing supply chains, including termination of union leaders.
Nenden Hirawati from National Industrial Workers Union Federation (SPN) said Indonesian employers were equally hostile to trade unions. She added that employers often hire thugs to intimidate unions’ organizing efforts and workers were fearful that factories would be shut down and relocated to other regions.
Nonetheless, affiliates also highlighted their successes in building worker power in the supply chain.
Unionists shared a variety of organizing strategies to overcome obstacles, including direct negotiation with employers, mediation with the assistance of global brands, and the use of ILO conventions.
“Outsourcing is a common phenomenon in the TGSL sector, that’s why IndustriALL has four key strategies to build industrial relations in the supply chain. We need to create networks amongst our affiliates that support organizing in the sector,” said Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL’s director for the textile and garment industry.
She gave a briefing on how IndustriALL’s affiliates could be active in holding brands accountable for the business practices through the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector. Trade unions should also use global framework agreements to establish relationships with brands and resolve disputes within supplier companies.
Another key strategy to building union power across the supply chain is the creation of trade union networks. The meeting also hosted the first South East Asia network gathering for the Coats and Birla networks. Further steps will now be taken to expand these networks regionally and globally.
“Currently, IndustriALL has 10 union network meetings in the region every year and we have many successful stories. In solidarity with their counterparts in other countries, our regional affiliates shared useful information about multinational companies, such as wage structure, health and safety issues, and direct dialogue strategy with employers,” said IndustriALL’s South East Asia regional secretary, Annie Adviento.
The meeting also included a presentation on how to use Fashion Revolution, a movement to improve sustainability and working conditions in the garment sector, to increase union visibility in global supply chains.
Photo: Trade union leaders at the regional meeting take action using Fashion Revolution's #Imadeyourclothes tagline.
Bangladesh young unionists demand greater role
Some 38 young representatives from IndustriALL affiliates in Bangladesh, including 22 women, took part in the meeting, where participants called for appropriate trade union structures and financial resources to achieve their demands.
Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary, said:
“Trade unions in Bangladesh need to intensify their engagement with young workers and increase youth trade union membership in order to strengthen the union movement.”
Participants at the workshop also expressed concern over increasing unemployment among youth in Bangladesh. Furthermore, a large number of young workers who are employed, are working as precarious workers with poor wages, unjust working conditions and lack of job security. Participants said the government of Bangladesh should take immediate steps to address the issue of unemployment and stop precarious work.
After intense debate and frank discussion, the young trade unionists committed to work with their union leaders and take action to fulfill the following objectives:
Establish youth committees in respective unions within six months.
Take steps to develop unions’ capacity to attract and retain young leadership through creating a democratic union culture that involves young leaders, including women.
Increased focus on organizing young workers, including precarious workers, and involve young workers in organizing initiatives.
Develop intervention strategies and trainings to stop sexual harassment and violence against women, and to take the IndustriALL Pledge: Violence and harassment against women: Not in our workplace! Not in our union!
Work to enhance allocation of financial resources for youth activities.
Communication training for young union members.
Sarah Flores, IndustriALL Youth and Project Officer said:
“It is encouraging to see large number of young women participate in this workshop, which called on IndustriALL affiliates to enhance youth empowerment, representation and participation towards building union power.”
The meeting was also supported by 3F (United Federation of Danish Workers), the largest trade union in Denmark.
