Pakistan: victims of Ali enterprises factory fire begin to receive compensation

After four years of intense campaigning to secure proper compensation from German retailer KiK, Ali Enterprises’ only known buyer, an agreement was reached in September 2016. According to the agreement KiK paid US$5.2 million as compensation to the victims of the fire.

The joint campaign was spearheaded by the victims, represented by IndustriALL affiliate National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), Pakistan Institute of Labor Education and Research (PILER), IndustriALL, Clean Clothes Campaign, and other allies including UNI Global Union.

The compensation payments have now started and will be paid to the victims by monthly installments through Sindh Employees Social Security Institution. As a redress to the delay in payments, the victims will initially be paid the dues of previous 20 months in a lump sum, while monthly payments will start in August this year.

A committee to monitor the payment process has been formed. The Sindh labour secretary heads the committee with members including victims’ representatives, NTUF, PILER, Sindh Employees Social Security Institution, the employers’ federation and government representatives.

At an event to mark the distribution of the cheques to the victims’ families on 19 May, Saeeda Khatoon, of Ali Enterprise Factory Fire Affectees Association and Nasir Mansoor of the NTUF said:

This is a historic moment for the workers’ movement in Pakistan. International support from the ILO, IndustriALL and Clean Clothes Campaign played a crucial role in winning lifelong compensation to the victims.

They also noted that, Pakistan needs a similar provision like the Bangladesh Accord, a legally binding agreement between unions and global brands to ensure workplace safety in all garment factories.

Jenny Holdcroft, IndustriALL assistant general secretary said:

We appreciate everyone involved in this collective struggle. The long-term compensation will provide some justice and relief to the families of victims and survivors. We acknowledge KiK for taking responsibility and paying the compensation according to the international standards.

Now we need to strengthen our efforts towards a safer garment industry in Pakistan, as we are doing through the Accord in Bangladesh.

According to the agreement life long monthly payment of the compensation would be:

Unions at Gerdau recommit to global struggle for workers’ rights

This was the decision of the Gerdau workers’ world council, which brings together unions representing Gerdau workers across the Americas, at its recent meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Gerdau, the largest steel company headquartered in the Americas, is reducing employment levels through digitialization and pursuing debt reduction through stripping workers’ benefits.

IndustriALL affiliate UOM reported that Gerdau recently built a new, technologically updated plant in Argentina that produces nearly the same amount of steel with half the workers of the old Gerdau plant.

United Steelworkers said that Gerdau has reduced its number of plants in North America from 24 to 12 while still servicing the same customers.

“Our new plant manager wants to get rid of coffee and water in the break rooms to cut costs,” said SITRAGMETAL President Ariel Acevedo, who represents workers at Gerdau in the Dominican Republic. “We hear war drums, and we will not allow Gerdau to rip away our benefits.”

Unions from Dominican Republic, Canada and Brazil reported that Gerdau misrepresents its health and safety performance. Employees injured on the job must still report to work so that Gerdau can avoid reporting lost-time injuries.

Gerdau workers’ world council coordinator and CNM-CUT general secretary Loricardo de Oliveira reported progress in discussions with Gerdau to achieve a national agreement in which Gerdau commits to respect workers’ rights and uphold high health and safety standards in Brazil.

Said Oliveira: “This national agreement, which would also include the Brazilian Steel Institute, would be the first of its kind in the metal sector in Brazil. We hope it will also open space for dialog with the company about international workers’ concerns.”

Loricardo thanked Jorge Garcia-Orgales of United Steelworkers for his many years of service as the Gerdau workers’ world council coordinator. Garcia-Orgales is retiring from USW in 2018.

Unions in the council committed to numerous actions to respond to current challenges. These include educating Gerdau workers about Industry 4.0; involving more women and youth in their unions and in the Gerdau workers’ world council; more frequent communication among unions in the council through regular conference calls and online platforms; a coordinated effort to improve health and safety standards across the company’s operations; and rapid solidarity responses when Gerdau abuses workers or provokes conflict in bargaining.

“Workers at Gerdau are confronting numerous challenges, including the company’s anti-union practices in many countries,” said IndustriALL base metals director Adam Lee. “IndustriALL applauds Brazilian unions for achieving progress toward a national agreement with Gerdau. The Gerdau workers’ world wouncil will work to build on that progress to ensure Gerdau respects workers’ fundamental rights around the globe.”

Ukraine: ArcelorMittal workers protest unsafe conditions and poor wages

On 16 May, the workers of the ArcelorMittal railway workshop came out in support of the workers of Ukrzaliznytsia, the state-owned Ukraine Railway, who have been on strike to demand the creation of safe working conditions since 14 May.
 
Most of the Ukrzaliznytsia rolling stock has been in use since the 1960s, and 90 per cent is worn out. One investigation by the government health and safety authority found 83 violations, with some locomotives not having functioning brakes.
 
The Ukrzaliznytsia workers demand that all rolling stock be repaired to meet technical requirements, that wages are increased to European levels, that early retirement be introduced, and that the board of Ukrzaliznytsia resigns.
 
ArcelorMittal railway workers addressed an official statement to company management, saying that they refuse to operate faulty equipment that threatens their lives. They began work-to-rule industrial action, paralyzing rail transportation and stopping production.
 
Workers who had a day off on 16 May blocked pedestrian crossings on the company premises for several hours. In addition to improved safety, they demand a wage increase from the current 400 euros to 1,000 euros per month.
 
This was also the core demand of all employees involved in the collective labour dispute led by the IndustriALL affiliate Trade Union of Workers of Metallurgical and Mining Industries of Ukraine (PMGU) at the end of March. ArcelorMittal management tried to undermine a workers’ conference where employees intended to discuss their demands to the company by announcing that the venue had changed. The conference eventually took place but the company filed a lawsuit challenging its legitimacy.
 
The company also filed a complaint with the police, accusing the workers of taking illegal strike action. However, the police did not uphold the complaint, as the workers acted within the law. Ukrainian law on occupational health and safety allows workers to refuse to work in case of a high risk to life.
 
Management formed a special commission with participation of a PMGU representative to assess the condition of the rolling stock.
 
Natalia Marinyuk, chair of the PMGU trade union committee at ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, says:

“PMGU has repeatedly emphasized that the delay in negotiations and conciliation procedures in general creates a critical situation and drives workers to despair.”

On 14 May, PMGU sent a letter to the CEO of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, once again expressingthe request to start constructive dialogue with the workers’ representative body and prevent spontaneous protests leading to work stoppages.
 
Vadim Borisov, regional secretary of IndustriALL, comments,

“IndustriALL Global Union calls on the employer to stop delaying the work of the conciliation commission and to come to the negotiating table. Ignoring workers’ interests and demands always leads to protests. People cannot tolerate disrespect for their problems any longer. Therefore, all responsibility lies entirely with management of the enterprise.”

French cosmetics brand Yves Rocher dismisses union members

The Petrol-Is union and its members are picketing in front of the factory and taking action even though it is now Ramadan. The union actions receive strong public attention. All the dismissal cases have also been taken into the judicial process since the termination of contracts due to union membership is unjustified.

Originally, after joining IndustriALL affiliate Petrol-Is, 85 workers at the Turkish subsidiary of French cosmetics company Yves Rocher, Kosan Kozmetik Pazarlama ve Ticaret AS, were dismissed.

Following an intensive recruitment campaign by Petrol-Is Chemical and Rubber Workers’ Union of Turkey, in March, a sufficient number of workers at Yves Rocher’s subsidiary in Turkey, Kosan Kozmetik, exercised their free choice of being of part of a union. Once the proof of the majority was obtained, Petrol-Is leadership attempted to build a constructive social dialogue and approached the company with an offer to discuss collective bargaining. The company rejected the offer and challenged the union certificate issued by the Ministry of Labour in court, using unfounded arguments and loopholes in the national legislation to hinder collective bargaining.

In April, local management dismissed 14 members of Petrol-Is due to their union membership. In addition, management continued to pressure and intimidate workers, undermining their legitimate rights to join a union at the plant. As the workers refused to give up their affiliation with Petrol-Is, management dismissed six more union members on 11 May. On 15 May, Kosan Kozmetik sacked 65 workers over their involvement in trade union work, bringing the total number of dismissed workers to 85.

In a letter to the company, IndustriALL Global Union called on management to respect trade union rights, reinstate the dismissed union members and enter into dialogue with Petrol-İş. Valter Sanches, IndustriALL general secretary said:

“Kosan Kozmetik’s behaviour constitutes a blatant violation of Turkish labour law, as well as fundamental international labour standards, including Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, and Convention 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining of the International Labour Organization (ILO).”

IndustriALL’ French affiliate FCE-CFDT has approached the central company management in Paris to urgently intervene.

Petrol-Is and its members picketed in front of the plant with a large support from other workplaces and society.

“It is completely unacceptable for such well-known global brand not to respect fundamental rights in its subsidiaries,”

says Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.

“We expect Yves Rocher to open the channels to address the situation in Gebze. Otherwise we will take it to different platforms through extensive campaign.”

Based in Rennes, France, Yves Rocher is a worldwide cosmetics and beauty brand. The company is present in 88 countries and employs 13,500 people, not including more than 215,000 people employed through indirect jobs. Kosan Kozmetik employs 400 workers, and produces the brand Flormar, the number one make-up brand in Turkey with a 21 per cent market share. The plant also exports products to the markets of 104 countries, primarily in developing countries.

MENA: Textile unions continue to progress in organizing and bargaining

In Jordan, it was reported that a new sector-wide agreement includes improvement in wages and working conditions. In addition, the agreement covers both Jordanian nationals and migrant workers. In close cooperation with IndustriALL, with an objective to strengthening the voice of migrant workers in the sector, the Jordanian affiliate General Trade Union of Workers in Textile Garment & Clothing Industries (JTGCU) is currently building a Migrant Workers’ Union Advisory Committee.

Through negotiations with Employers’ Association and threatening to strike, IndustriALL’s Tunisian affiliate, Fédération Générale du Textile, de l'Habillement, Chaussure et Cuir (FGTHCC-UGTT) achieved a 6 per cent wage increase in 2016 and 2017. FGTHCC-UGTT is now preparing for the annual negotiations on the wages in the sector aiming at an 8 per cent increase.

“Despite the fact that around 300 factories were closed since 2013, we have organized more than 5,000 new members within the framework of our organizing campaign with IndustriALL launched at the end of 2015,” said Habib Hzami, General Secretary of FGTHCC-UGTT.

IndustriALL’s Moroccan textile affiliate, Syndicat National des Travailleurs du Textile et du Cuir (SNTTC-UMT) reported that it had organized three additional Inditex suppliers early in 2018 and is making progress towards setting up a national sectorial textile and garment union, as the preparatory committee has finalized the key tasks and is currently discussing the possible dates for holding the founding congress.

Garment and textile unions from Egypt emphasized their commitment to continue strengthening capacities as a genuine voice for workers at sectorial level.

Although 2017 saw an increase in membership throughout the region, there is still much work to be done in 2018.

For the first time, IndustriALL’s MENA textile meeting welcomed Italian affiliates, FILCTEM-CGIL, UILTEC-UIL and FEMCA-CISL, which lent their expertise and experience working with Italian brands. Participants worked on proposals on how to engage in industrial relations with key Italian brands that source from the MENA region and agreed to carry out a detailed mapping of the Armani and Benetton supply chains. MENA region and Italian affiliates will do a follow up bilateral meetings to follow the mapping results to elaborate action plans, improve exchange of information and strengthen solidarity, especially in the event of disputes with suppliers to Italian brands. MENA unions emphasized the need that the Italian brand’s representatives meet with unions when visiting the suppliers in the region. 

MENA affiliates plan to continue to use the sector’s global framework agreements (GFAs) to reach out to unorganized workers, in particular Inditex, which has a significant production presence in the MENA region.  

“Global framework agreements can be used to ensure that workers’ rights to freedom of association are respected in the brands’ global supply chains. GFAs are a way to put industrial relations back into the supply chain,” noted Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL’s garment and textile sector director. 

DowDuPont: Don’t Spin Off Worker Rights!

Members of IndustriALL-affiliated trade unions representing DowDuPont workers in North and South America, Europe and Asia, are facing great upheaval as the newly merged company splits into three separate segments. The demand is to have a seat at the decision-making table through this period of change.

The company was formed in August last year after a US$150 billion merger between Delaware-based DuPont and Michigan's Dow Chemicals. The three new spin-off companies will be in these industries: Specialty Products, Material Sciences, and Agriculture. Each of the three is cutting costs by around US$1 billion.

Through this restructuring, management’s cost savings goal is $3.3 billion. The company calls this the “cost synergy number”. The network argues that this cannot come from employees.

DowDuPont is posting massive increases in earnings, with sales up by 13-percent.

United Steelworkers (USW) Local 12075 President Kent Holsing from DowDuPont’s facility in Midland, Michigan chairs the DowDuPont North American Labor Council. Kent said:

“We are speaking not only for the unionized employees of DowDuPont, but also for the non-union employees who don’t have that voice. Our goal is to use this petition as a platform to ensure the employees and their communities are represented and heard.”

IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan said:

“The DowDuPont merger creates the world’s biggest chemical company and has triggered other major restructuring in the industry. Now the company’s breakup into three separate segments will again affect working men and women all over the world. The demand from those workers’ national unions and international trade union, IndustriALL, is to have their voice heard through the restructuring.”

“Workers’ representatives must play a central role in the decision making that will affect them and their communities. Our international network of DowDuPont unions is ready to work together in this regard and demands a proper seat at the table.”

International trade union networking at DowDuPont has been conducted since the merger, and will continue. A large meeting of the network will take place on 9-12 October.

Click here to access the online petition calling on DowDuPont to respect their workers, and not just the shareholders at this important time.

Iraqi electricity workers win inclusion for 150,000 precarious workers

The electricity workers took unprecedented militant action, suspending work and occupying electricity facilities and gas terminals to fight the growing use of temporary contracts in the electricity sector, and the exclusion of these workers from social security.

The government had previously argued that public sector workers were not covered by social security law. However, in a statement released this week, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs confirmed that public sector workers are covered by the law. This brings legal protection to 150,000 workers who were not previously covered.

This is a major victory for Iraqi workers and their unions.

Speaking at IndustriALL Global Union’s executive committee meeting in Geneva on 27 April, Hashmeya Alsaadawe, president of the Basra Trade Union Federation, gave the background to the dispute, and explained that a tentative agreement had been reached. This week’s announcement confirms the union victory.

She said:

“When the protests started, 100 workers were dismissed. Workers responded by occupying sites across the country. This had the desired effect. All those dismissed got their jobs back, and all precarious workers were promised social security. They decided to end the occupation. We are waiting to see if the promises will be kept.”

Alsaadawe, who was one of the union negotiators, explained that the elections in Iraq had created a mood where people are demanding to benefit from the country’s oil wealth.

“Workers’ have high expectations,” she said. “They have been very active in demonstrations and on social media to demand their rights.”

The election was won by a coalition pledging to end foreign interference – primarily by the US and Iran – in Iraqi politics, and address the social needs of the population.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said:

“Once again the Iraqi trade unions have set a magnificent precedent for the region. By taking this action, the electricity workers have won a major victory for the entire public sector. 150,000 workers can now rely on social security and pension coverage.

“Iraq is a country with an abundance of oil wealth. The people should benefit from this wealth. The Iraqi trade union movement is a very strong defender of social justice in the country.”

Belarus: Independent union leaders face long prison sentences

Gennady Fedynich is president of IndustriALL Global Union’s affiliate the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Industry Workers' Union (REP), Ihar Komlik is treasurer of the same union. Both have been given one month to prepare for the case before it goes to court. Both leaders face with imprisonment up to seven years, with confiscation of their private property.
 
The investigation lasted ten months, and at least 550 REP members were interrogated by the Investigative Committee of Belarus. According to reports, union members were mostly questioned about trade union activities, rather than about the union’s financial matters.
 
Gennady Fedynich says: 

“I plead not guilty and will never consider myself guilty. The case is politically motivated, and the main goal is to put pressure on me as a union leader, on the REP and the independent trade union movement in general.”

The case against the union leaders is a clear retaliation against the union’s active engagement on issues affecting workers, like a tax for unemployed. The protests forced the president of Belarus to abolish the decree.
 
In the meantime, a new version of the decree has been launched, still punishing the unemployed. The decree gives authorities a lot of power, including access to personal information about all workers in the country. The REP is openly critical of the decree, saying it also contains elements of forced labour and if fully implemented together with fixed-term contracts, will force workers to accept low pay and bad working conditions.
 
On 17-19 April, IndustriALL Global Union and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) organized a joint mission to Belarus. The mission expressed concerns to the Belarusian government about continued persecution of independent trade unions and violation of workers' rights.
 
Gennady Fedynich has already been named as an IndustriALL delegate to the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva on 28 May to 8 June. However, his participation remains under question as he cannot leave the country during an ongoing investigation.
 
Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, says:

“We call on Belarusian authorities to end the persecution of independent trade unions and dismiss all accusations against Gennady Fedynich and Ihar Komlik. It is time for the Belorussian government to show its political will to bring Belarus on to the path of democracy, take steps towards a meaningful dialogue with unions, and build social peace in the country.”

South Africa: Union condemns retrenchment of 1,722 mineworkers at Evander gold mine

The company, which went through the retrenchment processes according to the Labour Relations Act, says the Evander 8 mine shaft will be closed to reduce further losses caused by weak gold prices and a strong currency – after the South African Rand’s recent gains in value.

The company mentions that it will prioritize low-cost operations including the Elikhulu Tailings Retreatment Plant in which it is investing 1.74 billion rand (US$139 million) and where 250 jobs will be created. In contrast, Pan African Resources will only pay 160 million rand (US$12.8 million) towards the retrenchments and says some of the retrenched workers will be reskilled for the new operations.

The NUM disputes that the company is making losses, and says that it is instead sacrificing workers for profits as seen in its tailings investments. This money could have been invested in the underground mine facing closure and thus saving jobs. The union points out that the mine is prioritizing surface mining where it employs cheap contract labour rather than underground operations.

Says the NUM:

There is plenty of ore body which can allow the operation to run for the next 40 years. It is therefore irrational for Pan African Resources to close down such an operation where there is an opportunity to create employment.

Workers were given short notice to vacate the houses they are living in, which the company intends to sell. According to the NUM, 80 per cent of the workers are from other parts of South Africa and neighbouring countries, and some have lived in the houses for years and their children go to local schools.

Says Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa:

Instead of retrenching thousands of workers, jobs should be protected. Retrenchments should be used as a last resort to protect the interests of workers and their families.

According to Statistics South Africa, mining is the largest employer in Mpumalanga. Although gold mining is declining, the precious metal’s sales are third in value after coal and platinum group metals.

Unions to take joint action against General Electric

General Electric (GE) is one of the world’s largest multinational companies operating in 170 countries with more than 310,000 direct employees. The company proudly promotes its social responsibility credentials having been awarded various global ethical accolades, such as Best Place to work, Most Ethical Company, and 100 Best Companies for working mothers.

However, unions at the network meeting revealed that GE has walked away from the workers and communities that built the corporation, destroying jobs and the opportunity of secure work for coming generations, and leaving illness clusters, environmental damage and devastating local economies, especially in North America and Europe.

In Europe for example, unions reported that GE seems ready to scrap everything they and their workers have achieved for the sole purpose of generating short-term cash and shareholder value. In North America, Unifor and UE have united to launch the ‘General Electric Commit to our Communities’ campaign to transform the labour movement based on democratic, social unionism and international cooperation between American and Canadian workers. (See “Workers unite to take action against General Electric”)

The meeting also focused on the consequence of GE operations on occupational health and safety and the environment. The Unifor delegates presented a report that showed workers at the GE plant in Peterborough, Ontario, have been exposed to more than 3,000 toxic chemicals, including at least 40 known or suspected human carcinogens. The delegates agreed to investigate the possibility of joint activities and campaigns around certain issues including occupational health and safety (OHS), and sustainable industrial policy.

Unions attending the meeting re-confirmed that GE management must work together with trade unions representing GE workers with the view to achieve a fair and just social business model. The delegates unanimously adopted a meeting statement to take joint action against General Electric to develop a clear strategy to support collective activity across the network to secure our objectives, including taking concrete steps to implement GE Trade Union Network Strategic Plan 2018-2020.

The GE trade union network will focus on the following activities: