Win for Bajaj Auto workers in India

On 29 January, Bajaj Auto workers took action against management’s delaying tactics over unfair terminations and wage revision, and went on a hunger strike. There was massive participation of Bajaj autoworkers in the Chakan and Akurdi plants, along with their families.

Following negotiations between the workers and the management in the labour commissioner office on 2 February, management agreed to implement the wage rise at the Akurdi Plant retrospectively, and also agreed to collective bargaining with the union. Management also committed to reinstate six employees who were fired in 2016, as well as to start a discussion with the union about the eight workers who were sacked in 2013.

Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL South Asia Regional secretary says:

It is an important victory and we congratulate Bajaj Auto Workers and the union Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sanghatana. Spirited struggle paved the way for a successful outcome in the tripartite negotiations. We will continue to stand in solidarity with IndustriALL affiliates to defend workers rights.

South Africa: Demand for better safety after nearly 1,000 miners trapped

All the 955 miners had been brought to the surface by around 6am on Friday 2 February after being stuck down the mine following a storm on the night of Wednesday 31 January that caused a power outage. 

“They are all healthy, but they are just exhausted and resting at home,” said IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). “The NUM is concerned that there were no contingency measures or plans put in place to deal with this kind of an incident.” 

Only last week, at least 30 mineworkers were trapped for 12 hours at the Harmony Phakisa mine, also in Free State. Every year since 2012, over 70 people have died underground as a result of mining accidents in South Africa. The number of deaths at South African mines has increased in 2016 and 2017, after years of declining fatalities.

“The NUM is extremely worried about health and safety measures in all mining companies in South Africa. We are calling upon the Department of Mineral Resources as the regulator in the mining industry to conduct infrastructure audits in all mining houses to see if they are ready to deal with these kinds of incidents when they happen.”

Meanwhile, IndustriALL affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), is demanding that Sibanye-Stillwater Beatrix Mine should remain shut pending a full investigation.

“We are calling on the Department of Mineral Resources to do a thorough investigation before allowing the mine to continue its usual operations. They must also investigate why the mine seemingly did not have a back-up generator when the power outage occurred.”

IndustriALL Global Union’s assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, said:

“We are alarmed by the increasing number of deaths in the South African mining industry and this latest incident must act as a clear warning to mining companies to review and renew their safety procedures to prevent a possible disaster in the future.”

Finland: 10,000 people protest against government slashing unemployment security

At least 10,000 workers and unionists gathered in Helsinki to protest against the new legislation. which may see jobseekers lose 4.65 per cent of their benefits if considered to not be searching for employment actively enough.

The new legislation would mean that job-seekers must either find employment for 18 hours during a three-month period, receive entrepreneurial income of at least 241 euro, participate in a five-day training course, or be available for other services offered by the employment offices.

Unions have opposed the proposal from the outset, which also breeches the tripartite national Competitiveness Pact from 2016. The pact was reluctantly accepted by the unions on the condition of no further cuts to unemployment security.

Jorma Malinen, president of IndustriALL affiliate Trade Union Pro, says in a statement that the unions have kept their promises, but the government has not.

There have already been statements from the Government that the next issues on the list are the generally binding character of collective agreements and making salaries flexible downwards. We are here on the Senate Square to oppose this.

Shell contract workers to lose out in profits bonanza

The oil and gas giant posted profits of US$13 billion for 2017 on 1 February, up from US$4.5bn in 2016.

“Shell has promised shareholders a cash dividend on their stocks, but the 190,000 contract workers at Shell operations across the world can’t even get a secure job,” said Kemal Özkan, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL, which represents 50 million workers in energy, mining and manufacturing sectors.

Contract workers outnumber permanent workers at Shell by more than two to one. The company’s latest figures showed 190,000 contract workers compared to 85,000 permanent employees.

By the company’s own admission, contractors are doing the most dangerous jobs and suffer more injuries and fatalities at Shell.

In Iraq, temporary workers are toiling longer hours in life-threatening temperatures, while in Pakistan contract workers are made to work 12 instead of 8-hour shifts, 6 days a week with no benefits.

Indirect workers at Shell are being laid off in Nigeria with one month’s salary, some of whom have worked at the company for 25 to 30 years.

“We call on Shell to drop its policy of precarious work and take full responsibility for all its workers. Shell depends on contract workers, and contract workers should be able to depend on Shell. They have a right to permanent jobs and a secure future,” asserted Kemal Özkan.

Sources:

Unions worldwide demand LafargeHolcim honours its commitment for a global agreement

In their letter, leaders of unions representing workers at LafargeHolcim reminded the company’s leadership of a signed memorandum of understanding in July 2017 with IndustriALL Global Union and Building and Wood Workers’ International, in which the company firmly committed to signing a global framework agreement in January 2018. However, later LafargeHolcim informed global unions that it “had revisited the need for a formal Global Framework Agreement”.

The union leaders, supported by the workers they represent, wrote:

“We are outraged that LafargeHolcim has broken its word and refuses to meet its commitment to sign a GFA. A GFA would help to build positive industrial relations throughout the company and address some of the company’s most serious problems, including an excessive reliance on precarious work and the high number of workers killed at your operations every year.”

Scores of workers are killed at LafargeHolcim operations every year. Just as the letter was being sent to the company, another worker was killed at the company’s operation in India. And once again it was a contract worker who lost his life. The union representative reported that even after the worker was killed, there was a similar incident in exactly the same place, fortunately without any injury.

LafargeHolcim is notorious for its excessive use of precariously employed workers at its operations. The company is yet to release the fatality figures for 2017, but in 2016, 86 workers were killed at LafargeHolcim operations worldwide, most of them precariously employed contract and third-party workers.

The unions offer a solution to the company, whose programme “zero fatality target” is clearly not delivering in the absence of proper union consultation and the involvement of workers’ and their representatives in health and safety and other issues worldwide. All of these could be covered as part of a global framework agreement.

In light of the LafargeHolcim’s intransigence in denying a proper dialogue with unions and company’s violation of its commitment to sign a global framework agreement, the unions raise questions about whether the company “can be trusted as a reliable partner in any of the countries where our unions represent LafargeHolcim workers.” The unions ended their letter by expressing the hope that the company would honour its commitment and further action would not be necessary.

Valter Sanches, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union said,

“This letter is proof that the LafargeHolcim workforce will not let the company escape its commitment. One can’t keep killing people and say they are respecting human rights. LafargeHolcim, it is time to honour your commitments. LafargeHolcim, respect workers’ rights!”

Ambet Yuson, general secretary of the Building and Wood Workers International said,

“It’s time for LafargeHolcim to clean up their act. Empty rhetoric and ineffective rules on health and safety are wholly inadequate to prevent accidents and ill health in the company. There is clearly a serious and widespread problem with the number, selection and management of contractors in LafargeHolcim.

ILO to adopt improved code of practice for shipbuilding and ship repair

Over the last 43 years, since the current code was published in 1974, the industry has changed dramatically in terms of design and building technology. It has also been facing serious overcapacity which has caused market distorting practices, severe cost competition and an increase in precarious workers. Under these circumstances, safety and health has often been neglected, and many serious accidents at shipyards have been reported to IndustriALL Global Union.

Since shipbuilding requires the integration of a wide range of manufacturing techniques and skills, international safety and health standards in this industry need to cover many activities and occupations.

IndustriALL, under the auspices of the International Trade Union Confederation, coordinated the trade union experts’ participation, drawn from the following six countries; Australia, Chile, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and Singapore.

The approach of the worker’s group at the ILO was based on a fundamental principle that the draft code should raise the minimum occupational health and safety floor for all workers in shipbuilding and ship repair, and secure  worker’s representation such as:

In the meeting, the experts emphasized the importance of improving occupational safety and health (OSH) in shipbuilding and ship repair. Improved OSH performance will reduce injury rates and fatalities as well as associated economic costs to affected families and societies. It will also contribute to higher productivity and growth and to a safer and greener sector. It will also reduce human suffering related to OSH incidents.

“We face huge OSH challenges in the industry, and we have too often witnessed the loss of lives," said Deborah Vallance, the vice-chairperson representing the workers' group. “The Code of Practice is comprehensive and sound, and it is now our shared responsibility to ensure that it is applied.”

Kan Matsuzaki, Director Shipbuilding and Shipbreaking at IndustriALL, said:

“We welcome this improved code which now covers contract and sub-contract workers. Importantly, there is a lot of content that can be used for shipbreaking workers.”

The Revised Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Shipbuilding and Ship Repair will be put forward for adoption by the Governing Body in October-November 2018.

All the participants of the meeting held a minute's silence as a mark of condolence for the workers who lost their lives on 16 January by inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning an oven at the Lamina factory in Italy, which produces metal products for shipbuilding.

India: Bajaj Auto workers take action against management delaying tactics

According to the Bajaj workers’ union, management has been delaying issues raised by the workers.

There has been no meaningful progress made to reinstate the eight workers terminated in 2013.

In 2016, the management unilaterally reneged its commitment for a wage revision according to the collective bargaining agreement, valid for 2010 – 2019, mandating a wage revision in consultation with the union for every three years. Instead, management unilaterally revised wages, much lower than what union has demanded. Furthermore, in an attempt to bring division among unionized workers, the management deposited unilaterally revised wages in bank accounts of workers in Chakan plant and non-unionized staff of Akurdi plant. However, unionized workers in Akurdi plant were denied wage rise.

During the same period, management transferred six workers – active union members – in October 2016. The union challenged the unfair transfer in the industrial court and the court issued a stay order in favour of the workers. Management responded by dismissing the six workers.

The union has held 40 meetings with the management. But as management has refused to budge in the negotiations and used delaying tactics in court proceedings, no conclusion has been reached.

Dilip Pawar, President of Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sanghatana, the union that represents both Chakan and Akurdi plants workers of the Bajaj Auto Ltd, has gone on hunger strike to press forward these long-pending union demands.

In solidarity with the union president, workers in Chakan and Akurdi plants are boycotting breakfast and lunch provided by the company.

Dilip Pawar says that the union has tried to resolve the issues through dialogue:

As no conclusion could be reached, we have launched this indefinite hunger strike out of frustration and helplessness. We call upon the management to address the genuine issues raised by workers.

Georg Leutert, IndustriALL automotive director says:

It is shocking that Bajaj Auto, one of the major auto manufacturers in India, has resorted to unjust terminations, transfers and denial of wage rise to unionized workers.

Bajaj Auto must respect the workers’ right to collective bargaining and take immediate steps to resolve issues through dialogue and maintain industrial peace.

The union of the Bajaj autoworkers, Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sanghatana is affiliated to IndustriALL affiliate Shramik Ekta Mahasangh (SEM).

Kimberly-Clark trade unions around the world angry with mass job cuts announcement

The announced job cuts will have a devastating impact beyond the 5,000 women and men set to lose their employment. The paper industry is said to create five indirect jobs for each job in a paper mill, meaning that the potential economic harm of this announcement can affect tens of thousands of families.

Despite the high union density of Kimberly-Clark’s global workforce, and an official relationship with the international union movement, there was no prior consultation with worker representatives before the decision was made and announced.

Two global trade unions, IndustriALL and UNI have national union affiliates representing Kimberly-Clark workers all over the world. When business pressures require cost savings, unions can always contribute to finding solutions and efficiency savings. Mass slashing of jobs hurts workers, their communities, and the brand.

Kimberly-Clark unions reiterate the urgent need for serious consultation with their partners who are critical in the success of the operation. The two global unions and their affiliates call on Kimberly-Clark to pause the restructuring process in order for this consultation to take place.

On top of this general principle, under several affected countries’ labour legislation Kimberly-Clark is failing to recognize their contractual and legislative obligations and requirements to consult.

Kimberly-Clark products such as Huggies diapers and Kleenex tissues are used by nearly a quarter of the world’s population. Kimberly-Clark and its competitors are affected by retailers pushing prices down and consumers increasingly shopping on Amazon. Profits are down slightly, however Kimberly-Clark’s operating profit for 2017 was around US$3.3 billion.

Kimberly-Clark CEO Thomas J. Falk was reportedly paid a total of over US$13 million in 2017. The cost of the mass restructuring will be in part covered by savings made under Donald Trump’s corporate tax cuts.

The restructuring aims to achieve over half a billion US dollars in savings for the company by year 2021. Significant reinvestment is planned for some factories. However, that reinvestment is expected to focus on improving capacity for digital production, which may again be bad news for workers.

Unity, resistance and determination bring great victory to Turkish metalworkers

The strike was scheduled to begin on 2 February 2018. Unions refused to recognize the strike ban and vowed to continue the struggle, resulting in a remarkable achievement, advancing their wages and working conditions through a new sectoral level collective bargaining agreement covering 130,000 workers in 179 enterprises.

The two-year agreement, backdated to 31 August 2017, was signed by the three unions representing metal workers, including IndustriALL affiliates Birleşik Metal-İş and Çelik-İş, with the Metal Industry Employers’ Association, MESS.

The employers’ association MESS withdrew from its previous concessions due to the determined stance of metalworkers, and made a substantial increase in their final offer to the unions.

The first offer from MESS was a 3.2 per cent increase, at the level of realized inflation. Afterwards they increased it to 6.4 per cent in the second and to 13.2 per cent in the third rounds of negotiation. However, in the end the employers accepted a 24.6 per cent increase in wages, and 23 per cent on social benefits. Turkish metalworkers also gained complementary health insurance in line with their demands.

As their demands were largely accepted by employers, Turkish metalworkers expressed their happiness and satisfaction with the victory. Workers repeated their motto, saying “we said that this fight would never end until we say that it ends”.

In its statement, IndustriALL affiliate Birleşik Metal-İş said: “Signing this collective agreement is an achievement of metalworkers who did not recognize the strike ban. We thank everyone for their effort in this process.”

The general secretaries of IndustriALL Global Union and IndustriAll Europe, Valter Sanches and Luc Triangle, wrote to the Turkish metal affiliates saying:

“We congratulate all the Turkish metalworkers on their determined stance in these hard negotiations. Your unity, struggle and determination made it possible for such a great victory.

“You have made a great example to the whole world that when you stick together, anything can be achieved. We trust that this unity will be maintained.”

International and Russian trade union movement opposes the dissolution of ITUWA

On 25 January, eight FNPR affiliates of IndustriALL issued a joint statement in connection with the recent decision by the Saint Petersburg city court on the dissolution of the ITUWA, due to allegations that the union is involved in politics and receives foreign funds. ITUWA is affiliated to both IndustriALL and the KTR.
 
In their statement, the unions noted that ITUWA is not an affiliate of the FNPR, and that their union structures compete with each other at the factory level.  Despite this, the unions declared that,

“The Saint Petersburg city court decision, in our opinion, not only blatantly violates the rights of workers and the trade unions representing their interests. It also moves the proper regulation of trade union activities in Russia out of national and international legal frameworks”.

“We call on all the branches of state authority of the country to restore justice, and we looking forward to the cancellation of the judgement made by the city court of Saint Petersburg by the Supreme court of the Russian Federation in order to provide genuine constitutional freedom for trade union activities for the trade union movement of Russia”.

The letter was sent to the State Duma, the Prosecutor's office, chairperson of the Supreme Court and the President of Russia.
 
The national trade union centres – FNPR and KTR – and the global union the International Trade Union Confederation published their own official statements on their websites. They believe that the decision may set a negative precedent and affect the trade union movement of Russia, and the rights and guarantees of workers. In addition, the KTR filed a complaint against the Russian Federation to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.

IndustriALL affiliates in CIS countries also express solidarity support with ITUWA.

Tamaz Dolaberidze, president of the Trade Union of Metallurgy, Mining and Chemical Industry Workers of Georgia, wrote in his letter to Alexey Etmanov, president of ITUWA,

“Taking this decision, the court issued a death sentence to union independence. It is obvious that it is used for the artificial formation of public opinion”.

Mychailo Volynets, president of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine, stated,

“We are deeply concerned that the Saint Petersburg city court satisfied the claim of the Prosecutor's office on the dissolution of ITUWA on 10 January. This is a gross violation of workers' rights to association, which are guaranteed by international legal standards, including ILO Convention No. 87 on freedom of association.”

Gennady Fedynich, president of the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Industry Workers' Union (REPAM), noted,

“Our union is almost in a similar situation. Authoritarian regimes in Russia and Belarus seek the liquidation of trade union organizations that really protect the rights of working people and don’t depend on government bodies”.

Eldar Tadjibayev, president of the Mining and Metallurgy Trade Union of Kyrgyzstan (MMTUK), said,

“MMTUK fully supports ITUWA’s position, considering that this trade union is one of the most independent, powerful, principled and influential representative bodies of the employees”.

In its turn, ITUWA has launched a campaign for freedom of association, against the ban of trade union activities. ITUWA’s activists, factory and enterprise workers from Saint Petersburg, Vsevolozhsk, Moscow, Kaluga, Togliatti, Omsk and other cities, expressed their support of their union in numerous videos spread through social networks.

ITUWA will appeal to the Supreme Court of Russia this week and will prepare itself for further trials.

Vadim Borisov, IndustriALL regional secretary commented,

“IndustriALL Global Union is concerned about the development of events and expresses support for all legitimate actions of trade unions in defense of their rights. We appreciate the unity in the region around freedom of association and trade union rights shown by our affiliates.”