Another factory fire in Bangladesh claims 24 lives

Reports say that around 100 people were working in the packaging factory at the time of the explosion, which is believed to have been caused by a faulty boiler.

According to reports, the massive fire that ensued led to a partial collapse of the three-story building of the factory.

IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Jyrki Raina says:

We are saddened to see yet another tragic accident claiming the lives of workers trying to make a living. The three-year old Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh is hugely improving safety standards in the country’s garment industry.
Today’s factory explosion shows the urgency in extending the same safety standards to other industries as well.

Metalworkers meet in Asia Pacific

Following the decision at the 8th AMLC in Malaysia in 2015, the conference concluded that this would be the last AMLC. Asian metalworkers would together decide on a framework for discussion in line with expectations for the Asia-Pacific region.

Yasunobu Aihara, president of JCM stated in his opening speech “IndustriALL is about to enter the second phase. We need to get over framework of the three global unions and be united as IndustriALL Global Union. The Asia Pacific region is the center of the world’s growth and we need to focus on how to effectively develop our regional activities.”

AMLC, coordinated and sponsored by IndustriALL Japanese affiliate JCM, has been supplementing IndustriALL activities in the Asian region, and has taken place annualy, in addition to IndustriALL’s regional conferences held every 4 years.

The 9th AMLC was addressed by Bertold Huber, President of IndustriALL Global Union and Jyrki Raina, the General Secretary.

Country reports on the current situation of the metal industry and metalworkers’ unions from Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Australia were presented.

IndustriALL’s regional offices in South Asia and Southeast Asia spoke about the challenges and how IndustriALL is addressing them.

Participants discussed the common issues of over capacity of steel and hence glut in several countries, precarious work, and the future of the metal industry in the light of need of sustainability, as well as Industry 4.0.

Seigo Kojima, advisor to JCM, also presented the history and legacy of the Asian Metal Workers Liaison Conference, beginning with the IMF Southeast Asia leadership Training program to Asian Metalworkers Solidarity Seminar to the current format of the AMLC.

It was reiterated that the AMLC is an important platform, and that after the merger of IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF into IndustriALL, a new and different structure is needed and should be discussed.

Landmark compensation arrangement reached on 4th anniversary of deadly Pakistan factory fire

On 11 September 2012, more than 250 workers lost their lives and over 50 were injured in a fire at the Ali Enterprises garment factory in Karachi. Workers burnt to death trapped behind barred windows and locked doors. Others jumped for their lives from the upper floors, sustaining permanent disabilities.

German retailer KiK, Ali Enterprises’ only known buyer, has now agreed to pay an additional US$5.15 million to fund loss of earnings, medical and allied care, and rehabilitation costs to the injured survivors and dependents of those killed in the disaster.

Previously KiK paid US$1 million to a relief fund after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistani labour organization PILER in December 2012. In the MoU, KiK also committed to funding long-term compensation for victims.

However, it has taken joint campaigning by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), PILER, IndustriALL Global Union, to which NTUF is affiliated, Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and other allies including UNI Global Union, to secure proper compensation.

The new funding Arrangement follows negotiations facilitated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) between IndustriALL, CCC, and KiK, at the request of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

The Arrangement is intended to supplement payments due to victims by public social security schemes in Pakistan to meet compensation levels required by ILO Employment Injury Benefits Convention 121. Additional periodical payments to victims are expected to begin in early 2017.

Nasir Mansoor, deputy general secretary of the NTUF said: "This historic agreement is unprecedented in the context of Pakistan’s labour movement. After four years of struggle the victims of this tragedy get justice and their pain and suffering are acknowledged internationally. We are thankful to IndustriALL and CCC who represented the workers’ case successfully. The ILO has also played a vital role to make this landmark agreement possible. Let it remind us that safety in the workplace is a right, not a privilege."

Saeeda Khatoon, a widow and vice president of Ali Enterprise Factory Fire Affectees Association, lost her only son in the fire. She said: “It is a day of respite for the victims’ families as their cries have been heard. We know that our nearest and dearest will never come back, but we hope that this kind of tragedy will never ever happen again. The government, brands and factory owners must seriously observe labour and safety standards in factories.”

Karamat Ali, executive director of PILER, said: "While the payments will not bring back lost loved ones, we hope that they will ease these families’ financial hardship. We ask the Pakistan government to declare 11 September as workers’ safety day to raise awareness and improve workplace safety."

Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL, said: “At last, we have a compensation agreement to provide some kind of justice to the survivors and families of the deceased. We commend KiK for taking responsibility and ensuring that victims will receive compensation that meets international standards. Now it’s high time to start building a safer garment industry in Pakistan, as we are currently doing with the Accord in Bangladesh.”

Just weeks before the fatal fire, Ali Enterprises received SA 8000 certification from the auditing firm Social Accountability International, meaning it had purportedly met international standards in nine areas, including health and safety. The ensuing tragedy underlines the failure of social auditing models and raises serious concerns about the standard of safety inspections in Pakistan as well as the implementation of labour laws and building safety codes.

Ineke Zeldenrust of Clean Clothes Campaign stated: “We very much welcome KIK's recognition of its duty to provide remedy. This Arrangement is an excellent example of how buyers can and should take responsibility for workplace related deaths and injuries in their supply chain, especially in countries where workplaces are known to be unsafe. Garment workers in Pakistan continue to be at risk. All buyers must now focus on ensuring that proper and effective due diligence and remediation measures are put in place in order to prevent terrible incidents like these in the future."

The Arrangement is the third in a line of compensation agreements negotiated by the labour movement following large-scale disasters in the garment industry at Tazreen fashions in 2012 and Rana Plaza in 2013, both in Bangladesh.

A short summary of the Arrangement:

The US$5.15 million to be funded by KiK will include a US$250,000 margin for a fluctuation in costs, meaning that US$4.9 million will go to the affected families and survivors.
The implementation, administration and governance of the Arrangement will be developed in a process facilitated by the ILO. It will involve close consultation with relevant constituents and stakeholders, as well as a supervisory role for the Sindh High Court.
In total, the Arrangement will provide US$6.6 million for the compensation process, with US$5.9 being provided by KiK and US$700,000 being funded by social insurances schemes in Pakistan.
Claimants will be paid a monthly pension. The amount will differ according to the individual’s financial situation and number of dependents.
The pensions will be not at living wage levels, as the international standards for workplace injury are based on actual wages earned. In the Ali Enterprises Arrangement however the proxy used for the actual earned wages is generous and pensions are indexed to meet the inflation rate.
The Arrangement does not cover damages for pain and suffering.

An ILO statement on the Arrangement can be seen here.

For more information, please contact Leonie Guguen, Communications Officer, IndustriALL Global Union, [email protected]. Tel: +41 79 137 5436.

200,000 Argentinean workers march against dismissals and price hikes

IndustriALL affiliate Federation of Energy, Industry and Service Workers (FeTIA) mobilized its members for the demonstrations that took place throughout the country, as more than 200,000 people participated in the national march.

“This is the first national march but it will not be the last. A few months after Mauricio Macri formed a government and started implementing his policies, we are taking this determined and decisive initiative,” said Pedro Wasiejko, FeTIA general secretary, as well as assistant secretary of the CTA.

During the march, speakers emphasized the importance of unity between the two major trade union centres in Argentina, CGT and the CTA, which will leave the government no alternative but to start listening to the workers.

If there is no response from the government, a national strike is scheduled for 16 September.

A report by the Centro de Economía Política Argentina (CEPA) said that 141,542 public and private sector workers were dismissed between December 2015 and March 2016 and more people are losing their job all the time. During his time at power, Macri has tried to reactivate the economy by cutting public sector jobs and reducing subsidies for energy bills and public transport.

However, the economy is at a standstill and there has been an increase in the number of unfair dismissals, while prices are continuing to rise. The unions have responded by organizing demonstrations, joining forces and calling for change.

In a meeting with the labour minister, Jorge Triaca, at the start of this year, IndustriALL’s general secretary, Jyrki Raina, warned the government not to weaken labour laws or social protection, currently among the best in Latin America.

Triaca then assured that the government would continue to consult the unions and employers in order to avoid dismissals and meet workers’ needs.

IndustriALL calls on the government to keep this promise and negotiate with workers to find solutions to these problems.

Norsk Hydro

Norsk Hydro was established more than 100 years ago and today is a leading global supplier of aluminum products and energy solutions. The Hydro companies have a total of 23,000 workers in more than 40 countries worldwide. The production facilities are mainly located in Europe, North America, Australia, and Qatar.   

The parties also committed to work together to build an open network channel, which ensures implementation of the GFA in all Hydro workplaces.

The agreement covers provisions of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, discrimination, forced labour, child labour, health and safety, wages, working conditions, employment conditions, skills training, HIV/AIDS, and environmental conditions, referencing the standards established by the core labour conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Asian oil and gas unions form regional network for broader cooperation

The network was hosted by the Taiwanese Petroleum Workers’ Union (TPWU), and aims to improve communication among the participating unions for effective cooperation and international solidarity. The delegates identified the main challenges for oil and gas unions, such as privatization, liberalization and the anti-union behaviour of oil companies.

The meeting heard from the host union that energy is the cornerstone of Taiwan's economic development, and with the development of economic activities, energy supply and demand in the country has gradually increased. In energy and power supply the share of fossil energy sources, such as oil, is still very high, and the impact of energy policies on the oil sector is and will continue to be enormous.

Under the policies of privatization and market liberalization in many countries, trade union organizations face a variety of challenges, such as maintaining existing employment relations, working conditions and labour relations.

In Japan, liquified natural gas, which is moslty imported, is supplied through a network of pipes to customers for household, business, and industrial use, after gasifying, adjusting caloric values, and odorizing. 203 companies operate community-based businesses, and 50% of the total length of city gas piping is owned by three major gas companies (Tokyo, Osaka, Toho). The monopolistic supply to small users such as households in licensed regions which will be fully liberalized in April 2017. In Japan, 84% of employees working in gas companies are members of trade unions.

Outsourcing and precarious work were identified as challenges for unions. In Indonesia, for example, major companies such as Pertamina and Chevron have outsourced 80% of their services. This creates problems like poor working conditions, lack of proper health and safety, weakened unions unable to defend workers’ interests. When this is coupled with widespread in-house unionism, problems become harder throughout the country.

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary said: “We all must take action accordingly to build union power in this critical sector to improve working conditions, freedom of association and a collective bargaining system versus the power kept by national and multinational oil companies.”

“This new network will be an important tool for all our affiliates in the coming period.”

At the end of the meeting, the participants adopted an action plan, which includes regular communication, exchanging information and promoting international solidarity.

The network elected Chueh-An Chuang, president of the TPWU, as Chair.

The day after the meeting, the participants visited the Taoyuan refinery, which has a crude topping capacity of 200,000 barrels per day to supply the demand on gasoline, diesel, aviation, fuel and liquified petroleum gas for northern Taiwan. The plant produces different types of low-sulfur oil, propylene, asphalt and sulfur. It has an offshore operations subsection and Shalung storage subsection to take charge of unloading and storing crude oil for refining. For receiving imported crude oil, there are two mooring buoys five kilometres offshore, along with some subsea transmission pipelines at Shalung terminal, which is 16 km north of the refinery.

Cambodian garment unions unite on US$180 demand

Seventeen unions, including IndustriALL affiliates, took part in the discussions to determine the new wage demand, which is based on living costs, inflation and social factors.

“I think this number is still not enough yet, but we cannot demand higher than this because of our economic and political situation, and investment is limited,” said Ath Thorn, president of IndustriALL affiliate, the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union.

The unions will take the figure, almost a 30 per cent increase from this year’s wage of US$140, to the Labour Ministry on Friday 9 September for negotiations with the government and employers.

IndustriALL’s general secretary, Jyrki Raina, said:

“Our Cambodian affiliates are to be congratulated for agreeing a common wage demand to take to the government and employers. Unity is essential to success and IndustriALL will support the unions’ joint action towards a higher minimum wage outcome.”

The garment and footwear industry in Cambodia employs more than 600,000 people and is the country’s biggest export sector.

Further tripartite meetings on the new minimum wage are scheduled for 12 and 26 September.

IndustriALL pulp and paper unions target multinationals

Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on 30-31 August, the IndustriALL Global Union affiliates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia and Thailand shared strategies and information before discussing how to build their new regional trade union network.

Participants chose Alex Millar of CFMEU Forestry, Furnishing Products and Pulp & Paper from Australia to serve as the network Chair. The network established a working structure, with contact points in the respective countries, communicating through new online tools.

Alex Millar said:
“I am humbled to be selected as Chair in a room full of leaders. No matter how badly governments and companies treat workers, there are always people who will stand up for workers. I look forward to working with you. I am sure that our network will continue to grow.”

Co-chair of this sector at IndustriALL, Leeann Foster of USW, explained to the meeting how the global work group is structured and its current action plan.

“I am so pleased your meeting is happening – it is part of our larger agenda for this global pulp and paper sector that we all live and work in. This is a truly global industry – made up of multinational corporations – so it is fundamental that IndustriALL be strong in all geographic areas where the pulp and paper industry operates.

“Many of these multinationals are anchored in the U.S. The United Steelworkers represents over 90,000 workers in the industry in the U.S. and we are ready to use our influence with those headquartered in the U.S. in solidarity with you.”

The newly adopted objectives of the network include organizing, supporting solidarity campaigns, addressing the issues of precarious work, women workers and health and safety. The network will also build a database of CBAs and conduct skill sharing and training.

IndustriALL research and industry officer, Tom Grinter said:

“This exciting group of young workers leaders have set an ambitious work plan for the new network. We will continue to conduct mapping of pulp, paper and packaging unions in the region, conduct regular meetings and work together to build union power.”

IndustriALL Global Union Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan saluted the work of the new network.

“We now have a regional trade union network in Latin America and South East Asia for this important industrial sector. IndustriALL will support our affiliates’ in expanding their work at APP and KC.”

IndustriALL condemns the coup against democracy in Brazil

“We condemn the coup in Brazil, which will lead to the dismantling of national and regional institutions created for the benefit of the people and the development of nations,” said Jorge Almeida, IndustriALL Regional Secretary.

Brazil has been the scene of dramatic political events accompanied by an economic crisis that has had a strong impact on workers. Rousseff, re-elected by 54 million people in 2014, was officially removed from office on 31 August, following an unlawful impeachment procedure.

Since the process began on 12 May, members of unions affiliated to IndustriALL in Brazil and throughout the world have denounced this attack on democracy. Removing President Rousseff from power is a coup because it ignores the sovereign will of the people.

IndustriALL president Berthold Huber said that the Brazilian Senate’s vote to begin the procedure to remove Rousseff set a dangerous anti-democratic precedent.

When IndustriALL’s Executive Committee met on 12 May in Frankfurt, Germany, its members approved a solidarity resolution with the Brazilian people and vigorously rejected the coup in the country.

The transitional government are introducing bills that attack workers' rights and seek to reverse advances made in recent years of struggle. The bills promote flexible labour relations, attack the pensions system and endorse outsourcing.

IndustriALL underlines its solidarity with workers in Brazil and condemns the coup against democracy, and will continue the fight to stop any attempt to attack labour and social rights.

Unity in action: 100 million Indian workers take strike action

The general strike jointly called by ten central trade unions saw spirited participation by workers from both public and private, and industrial and services sectors of the economy, including automotive, electronics, coal and non-coal mines, engineering, petroleum, defence production, textile and garments, shipbreaking, telecoms, transport, port and dock, education, and financial sectors such as insurance, banking and state and central government employees.

According to media reports, between 100 and 150 million workers participated in the strike action, but this figure has not been independently verified.

IndustriALL Global Union affiliates across India held protest demonstrations and rallies, including in Chennai, Hosur, Pondicherry, Koraput, Mumbai, Alang, Cuttack, Jamhshedpur, Kolkata, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Pune, Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam, Singareni, Dhanbad and in number of other cities. In many places, including Maruti Suzuki in Manesar and garment factories in Chennai, workers were detained by the police and later released.

Against the backdrop of a series of anti-labour policies, including anti-worker labour law reforms pursued by the ruling National Democratic Alliance, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the trade unions were left with no other option but to go ahead with the general strike to send a strong signal to the government.

All ten national trade union centres, except for Bahartiya Mazdoor Sangh, the trade union wing of the BJP, rejected the recently announced meagre wage hike and went ahead with the strike.

Dr. G Sanjeeva Reddy, president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress and executive committee member of IndustriALL congratulated the workers for a determined and peaceful strike and said:

“The massive success of the joint trade union strike demonstrates workers’ unity and their determination to fight against injustice.

“About 100 million workers participated in the strike. So far the government is merely serving the interests of a handful of industrialists and multinational corporations.

“It no longer can ignore the basic interests and demands of millions of working people in India. If the government does not come to the negotiation table to discuss workers’ demands, we will intensify our protests.”

Today’s national strike is part of series of actions taken by unions, including national conventions, strikes and protests in 30 March 2016, 10 March 2016, 2 September 2015, 5 December 2014, 12 December 2013, 28 February 2012 and a historic march to parliament on 23 February 2011.

IndustriALL affiliates from Pakistan, All Pakistan Federation of United Trade Unions (APFUTU) and from Sri Lanka, Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZ&GSEU) extended their solidarity in support of the strike.

The unions participating in the strike include INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC and LPF.

The unions have a 12 point charter of demands.