Global Worker: bringing international labour issues closer

The spread of production tied to multinational corporations (MNCs) worldwide has driven employment growth in many countries, bringing new challenges to the union movement. How can MNCs be held accountable for labour rights violations in their supply chains in the absence of global rules and enforcement mechanisms? Workers' rights in the global supply chain

Workers in this industry face dangerous and precarious working conditions, with very little training, safety equipment and medical services, and they receive poverty wages. Cleaning up shipbreaking, the world's most dangerous job

Interview with Iraqi union leader Hashmeya Alsaadawe

With membership levels dwindling, Swedish trade union and IndustriALL affiliate Unionen was faced with a challenge – organize or die. Superheroes to the rescue

As of January 2015, IndustriALL counts two trade unions from Myanmar among its members. In a country where unions have only been legal since 2012, organizing and training are crucial in building worker power. Myanmar, the new union frontier

Supply-chain pressure, coalition and network building, media strategy, and corporate research are all vital elements to trade union campaigning. But it is workers’ solidarity across national borders that, time and again, makes the difference and achieves the win. IndustriALL: Campaigning, organizing and winning

Read all features and reports published since 2013 here. And subscribe to make sure you receive the next issue out in December!

CUT and Força Sindical act together to defend workers’ rights in Brazil

“We reiterate our position that we do not accept any proposals or negotiations on the elimination of workers' rights and social security or on making labour relations more precarious,”

stated an official press release from the leaders of the Força Sindical, the CUT, the União Geral dos Trabalhadores, the Central dos Trabalhadores e Trabalhadoras do Brasil and the Nova Central Sindical de Trabalhadores.

Brazilian unions affiliated to IndustriALL in the CUT and the Força Sindical participated in the event. They stopped work and held rallies in the front of the offices of the main employers’ federations in all Brazil’s cities.

In recent months, workers have been campaigning against approval of congressional bills that would reduce workers' rights and benefits. They are also fighting mass dismissals, but despite their constant efforts and campaigns, the government seems to support the flexibilization of workers' rights and other laws that legalize precarious work.

“The National Day of Action is a warning to the government and employers. We will do everything possible to stop an increase in exploitation and a withdrawal of rights. This action is just one event on our path towards a general strike," said the CUT national president, Vagner Freitas.

The president of Força Sindical, Paulo Pereira da Silva, said:

"The employers meet with the government (executive, legislature and judiciary) and tell it that it must take into account the priorities of the reform, such as social security. The workers want to find ways to increase pensions, but the employers believe that the only way to achieve this objective is by reducing rights. We do not agree and we must oppose this."

At rallies held throughout Brazil, leaders stressed the importance of maintaining the unity of the trade union centres in defence of the working class, saying that together they have the strength necessary to deal with problems like the legalization of outsourcing and the extension of the working day.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary, Fernando Lopes, underlined the global union’s support for its Brazilian affiliates’ struggle for guarantees for rights, democracy and jobs.

Ukrainian coal miners desperate over unpaid wages

In a joint letter to President of Ukraine IndustriALL and ITUC called Ukrainian Government “to re-launch social dialog with unions on the economic situation in the sector, on building employment policies, on regional development, on workers’ rights as well as on necessary measures to fight with corruption that cripple opportunities for social and economic development of the country.”

Victor Trifonov tried to set himself a light at a press conference on Tuesday at the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry in a desperate act to attract authorities’ attention to the workers’ and their families’ destiny.

Trifonov, the local chairman of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine in the towns of Selidovo and Novogrodovka, is now in intensive care at the Darnitsky district hospital with burns to 12 per cent of his body, mostly on the face, neck and chest.

Trifonov is one of five coal miners on hunger strike that include three trade unionists from the state-run Selidovugol mines and two from the state-run Krasnoarmeyskugol mine. They began their hunger strike inside the building of the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry on 4 August. Two Selidovugol miners have continued their hunger strike after their colleague’s self-immolation. The coal miners are demanding that the government eliminates wage arrears, ensures that mine operations continue and safeguards jobs.

Mikhailo Volynets, the chairman of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine, an affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union, said that wage arrears at the Selidovugol mines amounted to around 60 million hryvnia (US$2.4 million) for the May to July period. 

The total wage arrears in the coal mining industry have reached around 935 million hryvnia (US$37.6 million). So far the government has promised to transfer only 70 million Hryvnia (US$2.8 million) on 10 August.

According to Mikhailo Volynets, the miners no longer believe the government’s promises; miners and their families have been driven to despair. Many coal miners have not received a penny for May, June and July; some state-owned mines workers have not received their wages for December 2015. Miners are tired of constantly struggling for their wages through protests and strikes.

Aleksey Soroka, is a hunger-striking local union leader of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine at the Kurakhovskaya mine which employs 1,200 workers and is part of Selidovugol. He said the situation is complicated by the fact that some mines are located close to the combat operational zone in the Donetsk region and miners can’t afford to relocate their families in case of emergency due to unpaid wages.

Miners also want the government to stop purchasing coal from abroad at twice the price of local coal, and to address the occupational health and safety issues.

Over the past few months, Ukrainian coal miners at state-owned mines have organized several protests in Kiev and across Ukraine stopping mine operations.

On 4 July, Selidovugol miners went on hunger strike in Selidovo town for seven days with no success; this time miners launched a hunger strike in Kiev. Miners are going to keep on protesting and miners at Selidovugol are planning to go on strike on 18 August if their demands are not met.

The hunger-striking miners received a solidarity visit from their colleagues from Stahanova mine in Donetsk region, which went on a spontaneous strike on 11 August. Stahanova mine workers did not get their wages for last three months.

MENA women network to campaign against violence in the workplace

Thirty-two women trade unionists from nine MENA countries took the initiative for the new campaign during the workshop to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women at the workplace on 28 to 30 July.

During discussions, participants said that violence against women in the workplace is increasing and that the law does often not protect them from harassment at work. Some women complained that women workers were shouted at by men and touched inappropriately. In some cases, women were not taken off heavy load-bearing jobs when pregnant, leading to miscarriages.

The regional and national networks resolved to launch a one-year campaign on violence against women at the workplace , and conduct a series of national activities, while keeping in touch through social media.

IndustriALL’s assistant general secretary and director for women, Monika Kemperle, said:

“Women suffer all types of violence in the workplace and trade unions can play a vital role in stopping abuse. The one-year campaign in the region by IndustriALL’s MENA women network will be crucial in raising awareness of the issue. In addition, the more women that are in decision-making positions in trade unions, the better they will advocate women’s rights at work.”

Participants revealed the obstacles towards gender equality in the workplace and trade union structures, which are both male-dominated. They also explained that it was difficult for women to attend trade union meetings due to child and family responsibilities, which invariably fall upon women despite their own work commitments. They also spoke of barriers to trade union participation as a result of traditional stereotypes – that see men as the decision-makers.

Women said that the election of trade union officials and leaders every four years was too long. They said four years is a long time to hold office and many women do not have the time to devote to trade union activities on top of their work and family commitments. They proposed elections every two years and that women could share the workload of union roles.

Participants also highlighted the need to better communicate with other women about the benefits of trade union membership, but this would require assistance and training.

Although in many countries the laws are clear against gender discrimination, particularly maternity protection, in practice women said the laws are not implemented and many women lose their jobs when they get pregnant. Similarly, wage negotiations monopolized by men and while equal pay might be enshrined in law, in practice it is not realized. Furthermore, if a woman has a good qualification in a male-dominated job, preference will always go to a man, even if they are equally skilled.

The workshop addressed the ways in which unions can fight for women’s rights, whether through campaigning, raising awareness and collective bargaining agreements.

Participants also decided to set up new IndustriALL national networks in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania and Palestine that will join IndustriALL’s existing networks in the region in Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia. IndustriALL MENA Women Network was launched last year in Beirut and elaborated the key areas of work.

Finally, the participants supported the resolution for a 40 per cent quota for women’s representation in IndustriALL’s structures.

IndustriALL Global Union is looking for a Director for Automotive and Rubber Industries

Principal tasks

Requirements

If you are ready and willing to take those principal tasks with the above-mentioned requirements, please send your application including a CV and motivation letter by e-mail to Maita Wyss at [email protected] at the latest by 1 September 2016.

In line with IndustriALL’s gender policy, we encourage applications from woman candidates.

We will interview short-listed candidates and complete the application process swiftly so that the new director can start work in Geneva at the latest in early 2017 after the retirement of the incumbent director.

IndustriALL Global Union is a global trade union organization, which represents more 50 million workers in mining, energy and manufacturing sectors in 140 countries. IndustriALL focuses on building union power all over the world through organizing and campaigns, fighting for an economic and social model that puts people first, based on democracy and social justice.

How can unions promote sustainable industrial employment in South Asia? IndustriALL affiliates are figuring it out.

Affiliates in all five countries noted the negative impacts suffered by workers as a result of poor or non-existent industrial policy-making by governments. Industrial policy has been driven by economic policy and has failed to address labour, social or environmental needs. Deregulation and undermining of labour conditions have been pursued in order to attract FDI, while successive rounds of privatization have weakened health, education, power and transport services that are needed to promote sustainable industrial employment. Affiliates linked industrial policy failures directly to the replacement of permanent employment with precarious work.
 

The unions pointed to specific problems at national level. In Pakistan, the government announced an industrial policy in 2015, but while the policy itself is good, implementation is zero. In Bangladesh, gas and electricity shortages made it difficult to implement industrial policies, while in Nepal, unions are struggling to deal with the aftermath of last year’s earthquake.

India is still heavily reliant on coal power and faces a big impact from the Paris COP agreement, with investment in the sector currently on hold. There is an enormous need for skills development with many rural youth without skills and therefore unemployable.

Unions analyzed how policies to attract investment and develop industries are negatively impacting on workers’ rights and the environment because these are not being adequately addressed in policy development. The biggest impact has been on freedom of association and collective bargaining, and on outsourcing and precarious work. Cheap labour and low wages have been pursued to ensure higher profits. In Bangladesh, when provision is not made for adequate housing, workers end up in overcrowded and squalid conditions, exploited by landlords.

There has been no proper planning for mining and industries with the result that permission is given for industrial development without effective analysis of the environmental impacts. In India this has resulted in industries being allowed to pump and deplete groundwater, pollute the air and contaminate the groundwater through the burial of waste. Investment is designed to benefit the companies, not the country.

Affiliates face a huge challenge to influence industrial policy-making towards sustainable industrial employment, especially when governments listen only to business and are not interested in trade union views. They will need to use their influence on local members of parliament and political parties sympathetic to union views, as well as develop clear messages and a media strategy. If the union voice is to be heard, they will also need to build unity, increase membership and strengthen unions financially through increasing membership fees.

Next steps for affiliates in all five countries will be to further discuss the issues in their own organisations, with other affiliates and with national centres with the aim of formulating concrete demands around sustainable industrial employment. Where consultative bodies to government exist, the issue will be included in the agenda. Unions in other countries will explore the models of joint union cooperation at national level which exist in India and Nepal.

Sri Lankan affiliates will continue to press the government for a sustainable industrial policy in the context of its proposed employment policy which does not currently consider how industry developments will impact on workers and the environment.

The meeting concluded with a call for solidarity at South Asian level to counter government attempts to undermine labour rights in the name of competing with other countries in the region, and to work towards greater protection for workers in trade agreements both within the region and with other countries.

Indian mine unions to launch joint campaign for adoption of ILO convention 176

Mining union representatives from different subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL) and National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) took part in the two-day mining conference, discussing challenges faced by mine workers like unions’ response to climate change and the commodity crisis.

Union members expressed concerns that precarious workers with meager wages and poor working conditions are replacing large numbers of permanent jobs. Unions in CIL have signed a joint agreement to protect the interests of precarious workers in mining areas. However implementation of the agreement is proving to be a major challenge and unions are working hard for its implementation.

Inadequate health and safety is a major concern for mine workers and IndustriALL regional secretary Apoorva Kaiwar called on the unions to intensify efforts to improve safe working conditions in mines.

Participating unions resolved to launch a joint campaign for the adoption of ILO Convention 176 on safety and health in mines. Mining plays a large role in India’s national economy and the country has yet to ratify the convention.

Concerns were raised that CIL and NMDC managements are not holding adequate consultation or sharing information with unions on technological changes, outsourcing and climate change mitigation efforts which will have huge implications for mine workers. Management should consult with unions and listen to their views when implementing corporate social responsibility policies.

Speaking about the implication of Paris agreement on climate change, S Q Zama, secretary general of Indian National Mine Workers’ Federation (INMF), said that mine workers in India need to ensure a Just Transition protecting their interests. He also explained various aspects of a charter of demand submitted jointly by five central trade unions for a national coal wage agreement and said that negotiations with the government will start soon.

Regarding the proposed diversification plans of CIL, the largest state owned coal producer in India, unions said that given the sluggish demand for coal diversification is necessary. Unions must be consulted in the process to protect workers’ interests. They also called for more investments from the government on power generation, clean coal technologies and coal liquefaction.

IndustriALL condemns death threats made to Colombian union leader

Rodolfo Vecino Acevedo received a letter that threatens to kill him and all his family if he does not leave the country within one week. The letter was sent by the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, a paramilitary group formed in 2008. The letter criticizes his trade union activities and claims that they “obstruct the plans of companies and their economic development”.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time he has received such threats. USO has had to repeatedly denounce such letters to the public prosecutor and the police. However, the union says the authorities have failed to conduct any investigation.

Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL General Secretary, has written to Juan Manuel Santos, the President of Colombia, asking him to intervene immediately; take the necessary measures; and ensure that the country’s judiciary takes action in response to the paramilitary group’s death threats.

This incident again illustrates the huge restrictions to freedom of association and expression, as well as the intense level of repression in Colombia, placing the country among the ten worst countries for workers on the 2016 ITUC Global Rights Index.

“It is inconceivable that progress is being made in the peace process in Colombia to build a future without fear, reprisals and insecurity while people are still allowed to issue this kind of threat and insult,” wrote Raina.  

“In the name of IndustriALL’s 50 million members from all around the world, we make this special request to you to order the relevant authorities to find the people responsible, guarantee Rodolfo Vecino Acevedo’s right to life and to conduct trade union activities and provide guarantees for the protection of his life and that of his family,” said Raina in the letter to the Colombian President.

IndustriALL denounces Pakistan suicide attack

The attack took place as a large crowd, including dozens of lawyers, gathered at the hospital following the killing of the Balochistan Bar Association president Bilal Kasi. Many lawyers and some journalists were killed in the blast as well as other civilians.

A number of lawyers have been killed in recent weeks in the Balochistan province of Pakistan where Quetta is the provincial capital.

The Taliban faction, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, has claimed responsibility for both the hospital attack and the killing of Mr Kasi.

IndustriALL’s general secretary, Jyrki Raina, said:

IndustriALL denounces this cruel and cowardly attack in Quetta and sends its deepest sympathies to the victims and their families. IndustriALL stands with its affiliates in Pakistan in demanding that the government should bring the attackers to account and ensure the safety of people in Pakistan.

Lawyers across Pakistan are now boycotting court proceedings for three days to protest against the multiple attacks on members of their profession. They will observe a week of mourning for the victims of Monday's attack.

The Olympic Games must respect workers’ rights while celebrating the human spirit

The Olympic Games is a magnificent opportunity to showcase human achievement, but far too often the elitist spirit tramples workers’ rights.

This triumphant spectacle opens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday 5 August, as a celebration of the Olympic spirit: not to win, but to participate with passion and dedication.

In addition to thrilling sporting achievement, there is a glorious cultural celebration as the host nation of Brazil highlights its charm and natural beauty.

The Olympics also brings moving moments of great historical importance – such as when Jesse Owens embarrassed the Nazis by winning four gold medals and proving white racial superiority wrong during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, when Ethiopian Abebe Bikila – running barefoot – won gold in the Marathon in Rome in 1960, or the Black Power salute of John Carlos and Tommie Smith in Mexico City in 1968 that drew the world’s attention to the civil rights movement in the US.

There will be moments like this at the Games that open in Rio on Friday. I am looking forward to watching the courage shown by the refugee team. This includes an 18 year-old Syrian woman, swimmer Yusra Mardini, who helped save 20 refugees from drowning in the Mediterranean when they fled from Turkey to Greece.

But the Olympics is still an elitist event: while we celebrate the achievements of the world’s best athletes, the homes of the poor have been bulldozed to build the Olympic Park.

In an attempt to address these issues, the Rio 2016 organizing committee developed a sustainable supply chain guide. This is an admirable and praiseworthy document that attempts to ensure that the Games are sustainable for people and planet, and leave a positive legacy. It includes commitments to freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, and a commitment to providing formal work.

The agreement covers not just suppliers, but sponsors, too. So it is disappointing that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took no action against Nissan for failing to adhere to the guidelines.

Nissan is an official Olympic sponsor, providing 4,200 vehicles for the Games, and launching the Kicks as the official car. They have capitalized on the Olympic spirit, as president of Nissan Brazil Francois Dossa says:

“We can expect strength, boldness and a daring disposition from Nissan – as captured in our motto "QuemSeAtreve" or "Who Dares?”

But Nissan doesn’t dare to face its own workforce fairly. The company has failed to honour its commitment to freedom of association with its aggressive anti-union campaign in Canton, Mississippi. IndustriALL protested at the headquarters of the IOC in February, and our affiliates have taken action around the world.

Most recently, our Brazilian affiliates took dramatic action against Nissan during the torch relay, using the opportunity to highlight Nissan’s union busting and reaching 26 million people in a social media campaign that hijacked the company’s  #QuemSeAtreve hashtag.

Similarly, the Games provide an opportunity to clean up the supply chains of sportswear manufacturers, but this has been missed.

When IndustriALL meets for its second world congress in Rio in October this year, we will take up these issues.

The Games come to Rio at a difficult time for the country. There is political turmoil due to an attempted coup by the Right, and the cost of the Olympics has added to the economic problems in the country. There are concerns about water safety and the Zika virus, and police and firefighters are protesting at delays to salary payments.

Behind the legendary beauty of Rio’s seafront at Ipanema and Copacabana lie the favelas. Behind the shining corporate spectacle of the Olympic Games lies a trail of corruption, murky supply chains and rights abuses.

Enjoy the show. But while you watch the athletes, remember also the garment workers who sewed the clothes they are wearing, the construction workers who built the arenas, the poor of the city who lost their homes, and the workers in the supply chains who are fighting against union busting.

The Olympics should be a celebration of what we can achieve collectively, as human beings, and an opportunity for Brazil to showcase itself. Let’s use this opportunity to also celebrate the workers who made it happen.