600 Burkinabe mineworkers who lost jobs after mine closure demand fair compensation

The mine closure put 1,000 workers out of employment, including contract workers.

SMB is a private mining company which was sold to Avocet Mining, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Avocet then sold the company to the Balaji Group. The workers should have been paid compensation when ownership was transferred. They are former SMB and Avocet workers, now employed by the Balaji Group by virtue of their valid contracts.

“Workers efforts to negotiate are falling on deaf ears or met with bad faith from the Balaji Group, while the ministry of mines is notoriously negligent,” said Kiba Aidane and other workers in a statement.

To press for their demands, more than 200 workers picketed in Ouagadougou with placards alleging collusion between the government and the Balaji Group. The workers reject the employer’s proposal to reduce benefits by up to 40 per cent.

After buying Inata gold mine in 2018, the Balaji Group neither resumed production nor paid the workers what is due to them. Although they have been without jobs since the mine closed, the workers are not relenting. Their plight prompted IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, Federation des Industries Diverses (FID), to launch a campaign demanding that the Accra, Ghana based Balaji Group pay the workers.

The workers want a tripartite meeting in which their rights to fair compensation will be respected and to be paid wages backdated to November 2017. They also want pension benefits to be paid to those who were contributing. Retirement benefits should also be paid to those who were within five years of retirement. Medical benefits should be paid.

Charlotte Nguessan, IndustriALL project coordinator says: “The suffering of SMB workers shows the lengths to which some errant mining companies will go to avoid paying compensation. As part of the union building project, we are always alert to deal with these injustices against workers.”

Says Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director for mining:

“Mining companies must respect workers’ rights. When mines are sold, the new employer must assume responsibility. It is unacceptable for multinational companies to close mines and abandon workers — leaving them without jobs, even robbing them of their benefits.”

The Balaji Group has operations in India, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In India the group mines silica, garnet, quartz and iron ore.

Training advances collective bargaining skills in Ethiopia

The National Industrial Federation of Energy, Chemical and Mining Trade Union (NIFECMTU), which is affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, organized a training workshop in Adama from 20 to 21 February, attended by 23 participants from base unions at 17 factories. NIFECMTU has over 20,000 members including 6,000 members from the Ethiopia Electricity Company, 2,000 from the Ethiopian Energy Company and 800 from the Ethiopian Petroleum and Biofuel Company.

The government’s development policies are focusing on diversifying economic sectors including in the chemical, energy, mining, and oil and gas sectors. With diversification and the rapid growth of the economy at 8.5 per cent in 2018, the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, spurred by infrastructural development and light industrial manufacturing, there is potential for the unions to organize and recruit more workers.

The workshop discussed how base unions can strengthen collective bargaining and organizing skills to improve their capacity to confront strong management teams at plant level. The labour laws and International Labour Organization conventions that Ethiopia has ratified support collective bargaining.

The union at the national level agreed to support the base unions through training of members on financial sustainability, organizing and servicing members, and improving working conditions through better collective bargaining agreements. Further, it was agreed that unions should be more transparent and democratic and should have regular communication with members. Union dues, which make up over 80 per cent of the union’s income, should be used to strengthen organizing and collective bargaining.

Says Sisay Tulu, IndustriALL coordinator for Ethiopia:

“Strengthening the base unions is important for union membership growth because they are the heart-beat of the unions. The base unions are the where workers engage with the unions at the factories and the mines. If the base unions are strong, the union will also be strong.”

Adds Kenny Mogane, regional officer for IndustriALL Sub Saharan Africa: 

“Negotiating better deals through collective bargaining improves working conditions and living wages for workers. We will continue to support the NIFECMTU in its efforts for effective negotiations and collective bargaining agreements.”

Unions in solidarity with victims of Brumadinho dam disaster

February 25 marked one month after the catastrophic failure of mining company Vale’s tailings dam, situated in the town of Corrego do Feijão, in the municipality of Brumadinho (southeast Brazil). The death toll has since mounted to 179, and 131 people are still missing. The government of Minas Gerais has prohibited the consumption of untreated water for humans, animals or agricultural activities because the tailings (mine waste) have reached the Paraopeba River.

The unions carried out an act in solidarity with the victims affected by the greatest environmental, labour and human tragedy in the country, and demanded dignified health and safety working conditions.

CNQ/CUT union president, Lucineide Varjão, who is a member of IndustriALL Global Union Executive Committee and co-chair of the mining sector, participated in the action together with representatives of 11 unions affiliated to FITEM (CNQ-CUT), as well as social movements and researchers in the sector.

"In addition to providing solidarity to the victims, we seek to understand the reasons for the rupture of the Corrego do Feijão dam, the actions of Vale S.A and the organization of social movements.

“There are many other mine tailings dams in the country, and we believe that participating in these actions is fundamental for the strength and unity of the mining unions in Brazil and throughout the world," said Varjão.

The event was also used to alert society about the precarious conditions of tailings dams belonging to other mining companies in the country, where workers are extremely unprotected, and prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. In Brazil there are 88 tailings dams built in the same way as Brumadinho.”

Experts agree that the tragedy was not a surprise. Despite having all the elements for a possible catastrophe, Vale ignored the warning signs for years. Vale will have to pay compensation to all the inhabitants of Brumadinho, following a decision made by the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais, on 20 February.

Valter Sanches, General Secretary of IndustriALL, stated:

"This is a crime, not an accident. We mourn for the dead and we sympathize with the victims of this terrible tragedy. It's time for Vale to listen and take concrete steps to improve industry safety. "

Unions say no to violence against women!

“As trade unions, we are at the forefront of this fight. Let’s again show our strong determination to advance gender equality in the world of work on 8 March, International Women’s Day,” says Jenny Holdcroft, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.

Preconditions for gender equality include strengthening women’s voice and leadership, eliminating violence and harassment at work and the implementation of equal pay.

IndustriALL is also encouraging those affiliates that have not yet taken the Pledge to end violence and harassment against women in their workplaces and in the union, to #TakeThePledge.

There is artwork and a video that can be downloaded from IndustriALL’s website. On IndustriALL Women Facebook group, unions can share their plans for 8 March.

And please let IndustriALL know about your actions, in order to magnify the message on social media. Send photos to [email protected], and don’t forget to use the hashtags #ALLWomen #TakeThePledge on social media.

Radical change needed for gender equality at work

The recent landmark ILO report, Work for a Brighter Future, is calling for the implementation of a transformative agenda for gender equality in the future of work.

The trade union movement must take the lead in this agenda – in its own structures as well as the sectors it represents. However, gender equality cannot be achieved without first eliminating the epidemic of violence against women at work. 

This International Women’s Day on 8 March, IndustriALL is calling on affiliates to take action in support of an ILO Convention and Recommendation on violence and harassment at work, with a strong focus on gender-based violence.

Incredibly, no international standard addresses gender-based violence at work, even though 35 per cent of all women over the age of 15 have experienced sexual or physical violence at home, in their communities or in the workplace.

In order to eliminate violence against women and achieve gender equality, the new world of work must be free from the patriarchal structures that dominate the current model and only serve to undermine the working conditions, pay and prospects of women workers.

“Women continue to have to adjust to a world of work shaped by men for men,” said the ILO’s Global Commission for the Future of Work, which produced the new ILO report.

The Commission recommends that women’s voices, representation and leadership are strengthened. It encourages governments, employers and workers’ organizations to actively pursue and support greater representation by women.

Last November, IndustriALL’s Executive Committee adopted recommendations to increase women’s participation in its sectors. Women’s participation is not just about being present in meetings, it means that women have a genuine voice and take part in decision-making.

It is all the more important for unions to address the challenge of women's participation as industries undergo profound transformation led by digitalization. Digitalization is not a gender-neutral process. Industry will be increasingly driven by skills and innovation rather than physical strength, which should make it easier to achieve gender equality. But the emergence of these new technologies risks worsening the gender inequalities within the labour market.

Women still face barriers to access education and training. Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) studies represent a minority of students. While technological progress will create new jobs within Industry 4.0, those who are not prepared will not be able to gain access to them.

Women currently hold many of the underpaid manufacturing jobs that are likely to be replaced by new technologies over the long term. In some male-dominated industries, the number of female workers is set to increase as manual labour gives way to white-collar jobs, but action is needed to ensure that this work is properly valued and does not perpetuate existing patterns of undervaluing work that is predominately performed by women. Replacement of unionized jobs with non-unionized jobs will only increase the potential pay gap.

Furthermore, developing artificial intelligence and algorithms for recruitment processes tend to be based on historical data that are filled with gender stereotypes, which will only exacerbate existing inequalities. For example, algorithms used by taxi service, Uber, favour men who work longer and later hours, which often pose problems for women who often have more caring commitments and are reluctant to work riskier night shifts.

Let’s make sure that the future of work for women is based on equality and free from violence.  In June 2019, there will be a second discussion on violence and harassment at work during the International Labour Conference. Employers remain opposed to a binding Convention and much of the important content demanded by unions.

A new Convention is an historic opportunity to fill the gap in the protection of millions of workers, and more specifically women workers. But to achieve this, unions need to mobilize.

Bodies of Pasta de Conchos victims may be recovered

Tuesday, 19 February marked the 13th anniversary of the Pasta de Conchos tragedy in which 65 workers were killed by an explosion at the mine owned by Grupo Mexico. Mexico's president, Andrés López Obrador, announced that he would look into the possibility of recovering the bodies of the 63 miners still below ground.

The President expressed his support for finding the remains of the dozens of miners still buried in Coal Mine 8 owned by the mining company Grupo Mexico, in Pasta de Conchos, Coahuila. The initial search for survivors was called off just five days after the explosion, and the bodies were never recovered.

During a press conference, Mexico's president said that he would look into the possibility of recovering the bodies, as this would help to heal wounds and bring national reconciliation and justice for the victims' families.

"In this case, we will not rule out the option of the company willingly agreeing to conduct a search for the remains of those who were left trapped in the mine. This would be a great step towards achieving reconciliation between the parties and at the national level as well. World experts should be brought in so that excavations can be organized and the bodies recovered. Anything we can do will help to heal the wounds."

On the same day, the Los Mineros miners’ union, an affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union, organized a march and a rally in memory of the miners killed in this industrial homicide. The event was held at the entrance to the General De Hulla facilities at Mine 8.

In addition to union members, it was attended by: family members of the deceased miners; USW's National Director for Canada, Ken Neumann; USW International's Director of International Affairs, Benjamin Davis; and president of Los Mineros and Mexican Senator, Napoleón Gómez Urrutia.

At the event, the leader of the Miners’ Union said:

"This tragedy has lasted for 13 long years. Right from the beginning, we have had three key demands, which we reiterate today:

1. For the bodies in the mine to be recovered.

2. For the families affected by this industrial homicide to receive just and fair compensation.

3. And for the investigation into the causes of Grupo Mexico’s negligence to be reopened and those responsible punished."

He said that he would do everything he could to ensure that these demands were met and that experts brought in to conduct technical studies with a view to recovering the workers' bodies.

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

"IndustriALL stands by the families of the deceased miners and supports Los Mineros in its relentless fight and its plight to restore the dignity of the victims of this tragedy."

Expanded maternity leave becomes law in the Philippines

Women workers and unions celebrate as Philippines’ President gave the final push on 21 February to a Senate Bill extending maternity leave in the country.

The new law increases the current paid maternity leave of 60 days for normal delivery and 78 days for caesarian, to 105 days for female workers in government and the private sector, including those in the informal economy, regardless of civil status or the legitimacy of the child. The law allows allocation of up to seven days of leave to the child’s father.

This law has been achieved through the efforts of women and men leaders of IndustriALL Philippines, together with allied unions, legislators, women’s rights advocates and other supporters,

says Eva Arcos, national vice president of Associated Labor Unions (ALU) and IndustriALL Women co-chair.

As well as being very good for mothers’ and babies’ health, it will protect jobs and secure the income of working women while on maternity leave.

The law covers the wage difference between the average or regular monthly salary and the full payment of the maternity benefit. Exceptions, like micro-business enterprises and retail/service establishments employing less than ten workers, are subject to annual submission of justification for exemption.

Non-compliance with the law can be fined up to P20,000.00 – 200,000.00 (US$385 – US$3,850), and six to twelve years in prison.

IndustriALL Philippines Women Committee (IPWC) chair Susanne Dejon says:

The new law protects women workers and their health. It is a major victory for all workers in the Philippines.

Asuncion Binos from Pinagisang Tinig at Lakas ng Anakpawis (PIGLAS) and former IPWC chair, says:

The expanded maternity leave law shows that things can change for the better. It took hard work and unity among affiliates to achieve this great result, and we hope that this success encourage more women victories in the future.

Cement unions in India commit to strong organizing drive

All trade unions present also decided jointly to fight precarious work, improve women workers’ situation and fight for better occupational safety and health (OSH) in India’s cement companies.

Participating IndustriALL cement sector affiliates, Indian Cement Workers’ Federation, All India Cement Employees Federation and Pragatisheel Pragatisheel Cement Shramik Sangh (PCSS) expressed serious concern over a cement corporates’ general tendency to reduce manpower, which sidelined with rampant use of precarious work creates a hurdle for union organizing in the cement sector in India. Often, permanent workers are directly replaced by contractors, hence initiating a “race to the bottom” when it comes to working conditions, health and safety and wages. Generally spoken, contract or precarious workers suffer low wages, poor working conditions, lack of job security and social protection.

Lack of appropriate safety and health measures continues to cause injuries and claim workers lives in the cement sector. Deployment of contract workers and trainees without proper personal protection equipment and training, in critical areas of production, results in multiple near misses and fatal accidents. Corporates and governments continue to ignore impacts of occupational disease in the cement industry. Unions underlined that no top down approach is acceptable on OSH issues. Workers have the right to know, right to refuse unsafe work and the right to be involved in decision-making process to stop accidents and improve the OSH situation.

The affiliates provided a lot of cases of extending solidarity to contract workers. They highlighted their experiences of unionizing contract workers, pressuring the management to successfully regularizing them, winning wage increases and improving their working conditions. They also noted another positive sign of an  increasing number of women participating in union activities.

The three affiliates will do all they can to increase union membership particularly of women, youth and precarious workers. These especially vulnerable workers will also become represented in union leadership structures. The unions also committed to start a campaign on OSH issues and intensify their engagement with the employer to minimize accidents and address occupational diseases in the cement sector. More specifically, unions decided to appoint a dedicated union officer to engage on OSH issues in every plant/unit.

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL director for mechanical engineering and materials industries sector said, “Social dialogue in the cement sector on global and regional level remains our goal, but in order to get employers to the table, it is important that our affiliates increase their membership and organizing power. Especially women, youth and precarious workers must be integrated in our structures. Also, addressing health and safety issues will strengthen the union power to effectively defend workers’ rights in the cement sector.”

Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary said that, “I see significant progress made by our affiliates in improving union membership and extending solidarity support to precarious workers. Increased union membership with the inclusion of women and youth membership and creating awareness on OSH issues will strengthen the voice of all cement workers in India.”

Brazilian unions protest against pension reform and promise further action

February 20 was a day of many emotions for the people of Brazil. It was the date chosen by President Jair Bolsonaro to deliver a proposal to Congress to reform the pension system to restrict access, especially for the poorest, and reduce the benefits and historical rights won through years of struggle.

Thousands of workers demonstrated against the ending of their pensions across the country. One of the largest took place in the centre of São Paulo, where it is estimated that more than 10,000 people took part.

At this national assembly of the working class, the unions rejected the changes in the rules and presented a plan of action with nine points to take forward.

Among others, they intend to:

The union leaders explained that Bolsonaro is attempting to end the public solidarity system of universal pensions in the country. Instead, he is intends to gradually transition to an “individual capitalization model”, in which each worker's retirement will depend on what they are able to save throughout their working life.

Workers believe that this capitalization should not be implemented for the working class, who struggle for a guaranteed dignified retirement at the end of working life. Periods of unemployment and informal jobs mean that workers are not in a position to save adequately.

The proposal also sets the retirement date by period of contribution and implements a mandatory minimum age of 65 years for men and 62 for women. In addition, it establishes that the transition will be from 10 to 12 years, less than the 20 years proposed by the illegitimate former president Michel Temer.

General secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, Valter Sanches, said:

“The right-wing government of Brazil is intent on destroying the system of social solidarity provision, following failed examples in Latin America, such as Chile, extending working hours and introducing benefits lower than the minimum wage. IndustriALL support its Brazilian affiliates in the fight against the deepening misery represented by this government policy.”

Glencore African union network opens dialogue with company

Union representatives from the African countries where Swiss-based mining and commodities giant has operations, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Africa and Zambia, met Glencore’s human resources (HR) management team for the first time at the launch of IndustriALL Global Union’s regional union network. The Glencore team included the HR managers from Mutanda Mining and Katanga Mining in the DRC, Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia, and Alloys Assets and Coal Assets in South Africa.

The benefits and effectiveness of constructive dialogue become a reality when a company works together with unions to improve working conditions, respect workers’ rights, pays decent living wages, employs more permanent workers, and improves health and safety, said participants at the meeting, which was facilitated by the IndustriALL central and regional offices.

IndustriALL’s affiliates elaborated the progress they expect from Glencore, which includes equal pay for work of equal value, good health and safety practices, maternity leave, and access to health services. Union representatives raised their demand that Glencore should hire more permanent workers and ensure that contractors enjoy the same rights under labour laws. Unions noted improvements in working conditions and community development.

The Glencore HR management team provided extensive information about the company and its labour-related policies and practices. They explained what they are doing at their operations to resolve the grievances raised by unions, how they engage with the unions, and the community projects that they are involved in.

Says Gerda Schwindt, the Glencore group head of HR:

“We welcomed the opportunity to engage with IndustriALL, allowing us to understand their concerns as well as highlighting our commitment to our ambition of being recognized as a top employer in all of our operating regions.”

Says Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary:

“We have started the interaction with Glencore in a form of constructive dialogue. The company should be able to listen to the concerns of the workers recognizing and respecting their fundamental rights with working conditions. I believe this dialogue with Glencore furthers labour relations in the operations of the company”.

The meeting ended up with a common understanding to develop similar dialogue at country level.

IndustriALL’s Glencore Global Union Network will be held in Colombia in September, and the company management is expected to be present with the same commitment to dialogue at global level.