State oil workers strike in Ivory Coast

The workers, who are members of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, SYNTEPCI, observed the three-day strike from 13 to 15 February and only voted to end industrial action on condition that their demands are attended to urgently.

Following the decision by union members to stop the strike, SYNTEPCI’s general secretary, Jeremie Wondje, held talks with the Ivory Coast’s new energy minister, Thierry Tonah, who requested time to personally deal with the issues.

SYNTEPCI represents 450 of Petroci’s estimated 565 employees. The union has held many conciliatory meetings with labour inspectors since December last year when the CEO, Ibrahima Diaby, informed workers of his decision to take away their benefits, which include housing assistance, health insurance and complementary pension payments.

Strikers say Petroci has been badly run since Diaby was appointed CEO in 2015. They also accuse him of exploiting the company through travel on private jets, uncapped mission expenses, an order for a US$126,000 BMW luxury car, and his US$2.2 million 2016 pay packet.

Last year, Petroci retrenched 48 workers citing low oil prices.

It is estimated the state has lost more than US$4 million a day in oil revenues as a result of the Petroci strike. The country is in turmoil, particularly after civil servants observed a three-week strike this year for better social benefits.

At the same time, workers at Canadian National Resources (CNR), an offshore oil and gas exploration company operating in Ivory Coast, yesterday ended their strike that began on 8 February. They accuse CNR of breaking the country’s labour code by hiring contract workers through agencies for lengthy periods, sometimes more than a decade, without ever making them permanent.

IndustriALL’s director for Energy, Diana Junquera Curiel said: “SYNTEPCI has been successful in challenging Petroci before and shown that the company is not above the law. The workers have a right to their benefits and Petroci cannot and should not take them away.” 

Thai affiliates follow up ILO complaint with Ministry of Labour

IndustriALL affiliates used the meeting on 10 February to pressure the government to resolve ongoing cases of labour rights violations. Thai unions also raised a labour dispute concerning a newly registered union at an auto-part supplier in Prachinburi Province. Y-Tec Thailand recently dismissed workers’ bargaining representatives and founding members of the Prachinburi Automobile Part Workers Union (registered in January 2017).

IndustriALL, which has seven trade union affiliates in Thailand, filed the complaint to the ILO in October 2015, citing the government’s failure to protect workers from anti-union discrimination and unfair labour legislation.

Thai law fails to provide the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining to about 75 per cent of the workforce of 39 million, leading the country to have the lowest unionization rate in the whole of South-East Asia at 1.5 per cent.

The ILO Committee for the application of international standards, which considered the complaint, has called on the Royal Government of Thailand “to take the necessary measures to ensure that workers are effectively protected against acts of anti-union discrimination at all times, both in law and in practice, and that this protection covers all legitimate trade union activities, including those relative to the establishment of workers’ organizations.”

The ILO has offered technical assistance to the government to speed up the revision process of Thai labour law, in order to align legislation with the principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining, and to ensure that issues raised in the complaint are properly addressed. 

Bangladeshi union signs collective agreement with Natural Denims Ltd.

The union is part of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation (SGSF). The agreement was signed on 29 January by representatives of the company, union and federation, after a period of negotiation lasting six weeks.

Natural Denims Ltd employs about 3,500 people, two thirds of them women, at a plant in the Ashulia garment district of Dhaka. The company produces denim for H&M, Inditex (Zara) and a number of other brands, including Pull & Bear, K-Mart, Mango and Debenhams.

IndustriALL has global framework agreements with H&M and Inditex, which include a provision for encouraging collective bargaining. The SGSF was able to use this provision to establish the union at the factory, and to negotiate the agreement.

The comprehensive agreement includes a 7 per cent annual wage increase, and two festival bonuses equal to one month’s salary each for workers who have been employed for a year or more. Workers with a shorter period of service receive the bonus pro rata.

The agreement also includes provisions for time off, maternity leave and medical care.

It includes check off for union dues, which helps ensure the financial sustainability of the union, time off for union activity, including training for members, and an explicit grievance resolution mechanism.

Wages remain low across the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh, and agreements like this are not common. 

Jenny Holdcroft, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, said:

“The collective agreement at Natural Denims stands in stark contrast to the arrest and persecution of trade unionists at other factories. This is excellent news and shows the effectiveness of our global framework agreements with major brands. We have created the space for unions to organize and bargain. This agreement, and the one at Donglian Fashion last month, shows the effectiveness of our approach."

Inditex's Sustainability Department said: 

“The GFA between Inditex and IndustriALL provides the best framework and environment between workers and factory management for the development of this type of enterprise. Inditex encourages all their suppliers to make all possible efforts to promote better conditions for their workers through the social dialogue with the legitimate representatives of the workers at the factories.”

Gustaf Asp, Country Manager for H&M in Bangladesh, said: 

"We wish to continue the journey towards improved industrial relations, where the freedom of association is respected, where workers’ representatives have a voice and where trade unions can negotiate collectively."

IndustriALL affiliates rally in support of Georgian workers

The rally was held under the banner of IndustriALL Global Union to protest the dismissal of 350 workers from the plant. Representatives of affiliates from Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan participated, and TUMMCIWG received letters of support from trade unions in Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.

Gocha Aleksandriya, deputy chairman of the Georgian Trade Union Confederation, told participants about steps made by unions to resolve the conflict. He said that the government had ignored the company's violation of the law, and that the owner, Efrem Urumashvili, was lobbying in the corridors of power.

Tamaz Dolaberidze, chairman of TUMMCIWG, read letters of solidarity from IndustriALL affiliates and reported on the results of a media investigation on violations of sales procedures at Rustavi Azot.

Vadim Borisov, regional secretary of IndustriALL, stated that Georgia had recently signed an association agreement with the European Union. He said:

“This socially irresponsible behaviour by the employer is completely unacceptable because it undermines the basic values of the European social charter and violates ILO conventions 87 and 98.”

Gennady Fedynich, chairman of Belarusian Radio and Electronic Industry Workers' Union, warned of the danger of short-term employment contracts:

“This system is widespread in Belarus, and is in fact 21st century slavery, because workers depend entirely on the whims of employers.”

Eduard Pahlevanyan, chairman of Branch Union of Trade Union Organizations of Miners, Metallurgists & Jewellers of the Republic of Armenia, and Taalajbek Kudusov, member of the Presidium of Mining and Metallurgy Trade Union of Kyrgyzstan, also expressed support for the workers’ demands.

Tamaz Dolaberidze attempted to enter the company premises, but he was denied access.

As a result of trade union action, the employer cancelled the scheduled dismissal of another 350 employees. Benefits for the 350 employees already fired were increased from three to four months. However, the union's main demands were ignored:

The owner stated through the Ministry of Labour that there would be no other positive steps.

The company appears to be hiding from the union. Union representatives are unable to find a legal address to send official letters. The administration does not accept letters at the director’s office, stating that a company is not registered here.

The union will probably only be able to formally interact with the employer in court. The authorities, who act as mediators, seem to unofficially support the employer.

The owner claims that mass lay-offs are due to the high price of natural gas that has made production unprofitable.  Instead of negotiating with government about possible tax incentives for saving jobs, the authorities and the owner resolved the situation in the most convenient way, firing workers and shifting the burden onto them and their families.

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, stated:

“We understand the economic difficulties of the employer, but it is unacceptable that he abandons social dialogue with the union which aims at joint problem solving. Our affiliate in Georgia will struggle to lead the resolution of the conflict in a civilized fashion, and IndustriALL will support it.”

IndustriALL – the voice of labour at Alternative Mining Indaba

The meeting runs parallel to the African Mining Indaba – the world’s largest mining investment conference, which is dedicated to the capitalization and development of mining in Africa. The Alternative Mining Indaba, which is in its eighth year, represents a diverse civil society grouping, from issue-based NGOs in the mining sector to labour, mining impacted communities and grassroots organizations, and faith-based organizations.  

Speaking about the meeting, IndustriALL’s Director of Mining, Glen Mpufane, said: “The peculiarities of the mining sector demand the building of strategic alliances with mining affected communities and stakeholders. The Alternative Mining Indaba has become an important platform to create a common agenda on common issues, recognizing the differences that might exist between the different communities of interest.”

These differences were glaringly exposed in a panel discussion on extraction of natural resources and how to promote broad-based sustainable growth and socio-economic development in Africa. The panel, which included a mining impacted community member from Zambia, Lawrence Mwanangombe; Environmental Justice Network representative, Rev Malcolm Damon; Amnesty International representative, Thabileng Mothabi, and the CEO and President of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Tom Butler.

The panel raised critical issues in the mining sector ranging from the need for redistribution of resources, taxing mining companies, stewardship in the sustainable exploitation of natural resources, unfulfilled promises by mining companies, corporate injustices practiced by mining companies, and land grabs among others.

Both the African Mining Indaba and the Alternative Mining Indaba centre on the African Mining Vision, a development model for natural resource governance in Africa. Adopted by African countries in 2009, it has the long-term goal of attaining transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources to underpin broad based sustainable growth and socio-economic development. "It is therefore not about mining, but development," said Mpufane.

The voice of labour at the Alternative Mining Indaba was raised and carried by IndustriALL and the Southern Africa Coordination Council (SATUCC), which represents all the major trade union federations in the Southern African Development Community.  

The meeting ended with a march through the streets of Cape Town to the venue of the African Mining Indaba to deliver the declaration of the 8th Alternative Mining Indaba. The declaration was accepted by Tom Butler of the ICMM. 

Asia Pacific executive committee calls for immediate release of jailed unionists in Bangladesh

The committee condemned the crackdown in Bangladesh, where a struggle for a higher minimum wage has lead to the arrest of 35 trade unionists and workers.

The committee unanimously passed a resolution calling on the government of Bangladesh to immediately and unconditionally release all jailed trade unionists. It also committed to continue to support brothers and sisters in their struggle, till they win full recognition for trade union rights and a living wage.

Regional co-chairs Michele O’Neil and Aihara Yasunobu chaired the meeting. Cyrille Tan, chair of the Singapore IndustriALL Council, welcomed the participants.

The co-chairs congratulated the newly elected executive committee members. Underlining the challenges confronted by the global trade union movement, Michele O’Neil said:

“Around the world and in the Asia Pacific region, we are witnessing an escalation of racist and xenophobic attacks on people. The rise of right wing governments in the region and the deregulation of labour legislation has unleashed a vicious attack on workers’ rights.

“The executive committee has the great responsibility to defend workers’ rights, unite people and end the onslaught on workers. United workers struggle across the region show that we have great capacity and ability to do this.”

Aihara Yasunobu said:

“IndustriALL affiliates in the region are facing very difficult situations. Our affiliates in Korea are struggling to restore democracy and defend workers rights. In Bangladesh, unionists are being imprisoned for demanding a wage increase. More than thirty shipbreaking workers lost their lives in recent months in Pakistan.

“We need to build international solidarity to support workers’ struggles in these countries.”

Representatives from sub-regions, including Kim Sang Gu of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU), G Sanjeeva Reddy of the Indian National Mineworkers’ Federation, Nazma Akter of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation (SGSF), and Boenadi Prihanani of the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers' Unions reported on workers struggles, achievements and future challenges in their respective countries.

They thanked IndustriALL affiliates for extending solidarity to workers’ struggles in their countries, and called for continued support. A video featuring IndustriALL’s solidarity with the incredible mobilization of workers and people across South Korea to safeguard democracy and workers’ rights was played on behalf of the KMWU.

Jenny Holdcroft, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, reported on progress in implementing the action plan adopted at the 2016 global congress. She said:

“IndustriALL is strongly influencing international debate on supply chains to ensure that global brands and multinational corporations take greater responsibility for workers’ rights.

“Effective implementation of global framework agreements is one of our key priorities. Union building projects, fighting against precarious work, and women’s participation in union activities are important areas of work.

“Endeavors to establish industry wide collective bargaining towards a living wage in target countries in the region through the ACT initiative will be launched soon.

“IndustriALL is also heavily involved in union rights hotspots in Sri Lanka, Korea and Bangladesh. We are working across many fronts, including the ILO and EU, to push against repression of trade union rights.”

Annie Adviento and Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL regional secretaries of South East Asia and South Asia respectively, reported on activities in the past and future plans.

They said that IndustriALL’s strategic goals form the guiding principle for activities carried out by regional offices. The organizing project has helped affiliates to increase union membership.

Country-specific interventions in the form of campaigns on national issues, the stop precarious work campaign, gender equality and maternity protection campaigns, unity meetings, trade union networks, the implementation of global framework agreements, training workshops, and the publication of resource materials enhanced affiliates’ abiliuty to defend workers rights.

Nazma Akter of SGSF, co-chair of the Asia Pacific Women’s Committee, reported key decisions taken by the committee in its meeting the previous day. She said the women’s committee firmly committed to 40 percent women’s participation in IndustriALL leadership positions and in decision-making bodies across national, regional and global level.

The next Asia Pacific executive committee meeting will be held in early 2018.

Asia-Pacific women’s committee to prioritize organizing young women workers

The Asia-Pacific women’s committee deliberated on actions taken and future strategies to deal with key challenges confronted by women workers including precarious work, gender equality, occupational safety and health, maternity protection, sexual harassment, organizing young women workers and increasing womens’ participation in IndustriALL structures and leadership positions.

Michele O’Neil, co-chair of IndustriALL Global Women Committee presided over the meeting and said:

“We are witnessing intensified attacks on workers’ rights due to regressive political and economic changes around the world. Irresponsible actions of global capital, with unabated promotion of precarious work, attacks on union rights, and disregard to safety and health pose serious challenges to women workers, families and communities.

“The IndustriALL women’s committee has the important job of making sure that women industrial workers’ voices are heard”.

Jenny Holdcroft, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL, explained that the IndustriALL action plan and implementation of related activities made significant inroads to defend the rights of women workers. She said:

“Affiliates made meaningful progress in increasing women’s participation in IndustriALL structures. At the recent global congress we gained statutory commitment to introduce 40 percent representation for women in all levels of decision-making bodies. We need to consistently and pragmatically work to increase women’s representation at local, national and global levels.”

IndustriALL affiliate the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers' Unions (FSPMI) reported a significant increase in inclusion of women into union fold. Darmawati Natakusumah said:

“Women workers in the Indonesian industrial workforce have been increasing significantly in the recent past. Despite major challenges the FSPMI made significant inroads in bringing more manufacturing sector women workers into union fold”.

Participants underlined the importance of organizing young women workers and also highlighted the challenges in organizing youth. Nghiem Thuy Lan of Vietnam National Union of Oil & Gas Workers and Dorlina Lumban Toruan of Serikat Pekerja Nasional in Indonesia said:

“The majority of the workforce particularly in the electronics, garments and textile industry in the Asia-Pacific region are young women. This new generation of workers’ lifestyle and aspirations are different.

“Most of them are precarious workers and face numerous problems including low wages, long working hours, sexual abuse and harassment. It is essential that the union movement devises smart strategies to bring young women workers into the union fold.”

The women’s committee committed to renewing its efforts to organize young women workers.

Nazma Akter of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation in Bangladesh said:

“In many countries, including Bangladesh, the conservative value system poses a  major challenge for women workers to participate in union activities at the grassroots level.

“There is a need for collective intervention to sensitize male counterparts, create a conducive environment and opportunities for women’s participation.”

Annie Adviento and Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL regional secretaries of South East Asia and South Asia respectively, reported increased women’s participation and advances made in addressing maternity health issues through various activities organized in the region. They also underlined that in some countries women’s committees have been formed and in many countries affiliates committed to increase women participation in the national councils.

Participants expressed concern that in some countries where women’s committees have been formed, there is an inadequate response from the national councils to take on board the issues raised by the women’s committee. They called for linking these national structures.

The women’s committee expressed deep concern over the crackdown on unionists in Bangladesh, who are demanding an increase in minimum wages. They expressed solidarity with the workers’ struggle in Bangladesh and demanded that the government of Bangladesh immediately release jailed unionists and workers.

Michele O’Neil and Nazma Akter were elected unanimously for the position of co-chairs of the women’s committee. Co-chairs will consolidate and take forward women’s issues into IndustriALL’s decision-making process.

Bangladesh union repression intensifies

Nine trade union members of IndustriALL affiliate, the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Union Federation, were detained by authorities in Chittagong on Friday 10 February after police interrupted a training session in union offices.

They were released on bail this morning, but the charges have not been dropped.

Since December, at least 26 trade union leaders and garment workers have been jailed and remain in detention. At the same time, union offices have been ransacked, vandalized and had their documents and equipment stolen. Many union leaders have gone into hiding for fear of arrest.

Only last week, police spent four hours grilling trade union officials at the Gazipur offices of IndustriALL affiliate, the Bangladesh Revolutionary Garments Workers Federation, leading them to halt their union activities for fear of police interference.

IndustriALL’s general secretary, Valter Sanches, said:

“We demand the government stops this shameful repression of trade unionists in Bangladesh. The government must drop the charges and release all those that are still detained.  By continuously flouting international laws on trade union and worker rights, it is seriously risking its most precious asset – the garment industry.”

IndustriALL is coordinating a campaign together with UNI Global Union and the ITUC to defend trade unionists and end the repression of trade unions in Bangladesh.

There are many ways you can participate:

Pakistan: Two coal miners killed and one seriously injured

Mine workers Muhammad Salam and Nida Muhammad were killed, and Khan Wali was seriously injured, when the mine they were working in collapsed following a gas explosion.

Rescue teams recovered the bodies after several hours and moved them to a civil hospital. The bodies were released to family members after examination.

Pakistan has a poor mining safety record, and gas explosions caused by the accumulation of methane gases are common in Baluchistan mines. Mining accidents claim many lives, and the government of Pakistan has so far failed to act on calls to ratify ILO Convention 176 on Safety and Health in Mines or take meaningful steps to ensure mine safety.

Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL Global Union mining director said,

“IndustriALL has reported many fatal accidents and demanded that the government of Pakistan ensure the safety of mine workers.

“It is disappointing to note that no progress has been made. IndustriALL reiterates its demand that the government of Pakistan immediately ratify and implement the ILO C 176.

“IndustriALL is also calling on the ILO to make an intervention in Pakistan as part of its decent work programme.                                           

“Industriall is urging the ILO to make good on their commitment to the All Pakistan Labour Federation to conduct much needed health and safety workshop training in Pakistan, particularly in the mining affected regions such Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

Sultan Muhammad Khan, secretary general of the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation and president of IndustriALL Pakistan Council said,

“About 250,000 coal miners in Baluchistan face serious problems as no adequate safety measures are in place in the mines across the province.

“The IndustriALL Pakistan Council calls upon the government to act immediately to ensure appropriate safety procedures are followed and adequate safety equipment is provided to miners. The government should bring effective legislation to ensure the safety of mine workers.”

Georgian workers prepare major protest

The workers were dismissed in January 2017 after the company owners changed and new management came to the Georgian chemical plant, which is the largest fertilizer producer in the Caucasus. The plant is facing economic problems and was looking for financing of its modernization. Despite an earlier announced agreement with the European bank of reconstruction and development  last year the deal on financing the modernization of the plant has never been finalized. The future of the plant providing jobs to 2,300 people remains uncertain.
 
A rally will take place in the city of Rustavi, in front of the main office of Rustavi Azot. The Georgian Trade Union Confederation, students and independent civil society activists will participate. The chairpersons of IndustriALL affiliates from Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, regional secretary Vadim Borisov will join the rally to show solidarity with Rustavi Azot workers.
 
This follows a protest held in Tbilisi on 7 February, when about 100 people marched through the city to the building of the central branch of the Bank of Georgia. The protesters whistled, shouted the word "solidarity" and beat drums. Initially the police did not intervene, but later blocked the highway on which the protesters were moving. A series of small rallies is planned in the lead up to the 14 February action, in front of the offices of government and other state structures.
 
Union representatives met with Rustavi Azot management at the Ministry of Labour on 6 February, but failed to reach agreement. 
 
A series of protests has taken place in Georgia since the company stopped production at the plant at end of January. A protest on 2 February turned violent when police forcedly removed workers and their supporters who were protesting at the company's administrative building.
 
TUMMCIWG chair, Tamaz Dolaberidze, states:

“Our goal is the reinstatement of the illegally dismissed workers, and the action on February 14 will be another tool to put pressure on the Georgian government to do their best to end this social crisis. To my mind, international support will strengthen our struggle”.

IndustriALL appeals to all affiliates to send letters of solidarity to Tamaz Dolaberidze [email protected] up to the morning of 14 February. They will be read during the protest.