Japan: expedited ratification of Hong Kong Convention

On 9 June, a joint delegation of IndustriALL affiliate Japan Council of Metalworkers’ Union and Japan Federation of Basic Industry Workers' Unions met with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The aim of the meeting was to demand that the Japanese government ratify the Hong Kong Convention and contribute to the development of an effective solution to the issue of shipbreaking.

The ministry responded that they will make an effort to expedite the ratification of the Hong Kong Convention by setting up national legislation to meet the requirements.

It was also mentioned that the ministry is in consultation with India, the world’s biggest shipbreaking country, to accelerate bilateral cooperation to improve conditions in the shipbreaking industry. 

JCM also met with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MOFA, on 30 June and demanded that Japan actively tackles the shipbreaking issues through diplomacy. MOFA responded that they will promote and support countries' ratification of the convention, such as India.

Workers raise their anger against complacency of LafargeHolcim

The delegates raised their anger and concerns about the outcomes of the merger on the ground, and evaluated effects of the global campaign and local union actions taken so far in response to complacency by the company and lack of genuine social dialogue with proper information and consultation.

Three global action days took place since the beginning of the year with large participation in different corners of the world.

A representative of the French-based merger partner Lafarge was present at the meeting and received tough questions and criticism from the participants. They expressed their uneasiness over the dismissals related to restructuring of the company as well as to divestment without recognition of fundamental rights. Particular cases in India, Indonesia, Italy and Belgium were especially reported as worrying because of large number of unjustified dismissals and uncertainty about workers’ and their families’ future without seeking any other alternative way.

The future of labour relations and social dialogue at global and local levels were questioned, and extension of the current global framework agreement (GFA) with the new entity was heavily demanded. Proper regulations for employees’ participation and occupational health and safety remain a major concern for all Lafarge and Holcim employees.

The participants were extremely outraged that Holcim management failed to come to the conference and have a discussion with the workers.

The workers’ representatives then debated on further steps of escalation of pressure on the management of the future company.

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL Assistant general secretary says,

We came together at this global union committee meeting to discuss workers' key demands arising from the merger of the two world’s largest cement companies Holcim and Lafarge. We are always open to a genuine dialogue, but it is an inacceptable arrogance of the Holcim management not to even talk to their workers’ representatives although this meeting was known months ago."

IndustriALL at the International Labour Conference

During the two-week conference, 24 countries were shortlisted for review by the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) for failing to implement the Conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The Committee is a tripartite body with representatives from workers, employers and governments.

Of particular interest for IndustriALL were cases regarding the non observance of Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organize, including Bangladesh, Belarus, Mexico and Swaziland.

In Mexico IndustriALL continues to fight against protection unions, which do not represent workers and serve only the interests of employers and corrupt government officials. The Committee recognized the existence of protection unions and made strong recommendations to the Mexican government to put in place legislative reforms and measures to prevent the registration of the protection unions. Read more here.

Worker statements illustrated the serious challenges that lie ahead in putting Bangladesh in line with the Convention 87, ranging from legal problems, issues with EPZs (export processing zones), anti-union discrimination and violence, and trade union registration, among other factors.

IndustriALL denounced anti-union violence in Bangladesh with particular reference to the case caught on camera of two female union leaders getting beaten up at a factory owned by the Azim Group.

The Committee recommended a high level tripartite mission to Bangladesh in order to make a closer assessment of the country.

The Minister of Labour in Belarus referred to the recent decision by the country’s President Lukashenko to amend his own decree, which dictated a 10 per cent minimum union membership as condition for creation of a new union, to a lesser threshold of 10 people.

Although this is a positive development, workers’ and trade union rights are strangled in Belarus through the dominance of short-term contracts as well as bureaucratic hurdles that prevent independent unions from official registration.

During the Conference, Belarus was listed as one of the world’s ten worst countries for workers by the ITUC as it launched its 2015 Global Rights Index. The report says Belarus is characterized by anti-union discrimination, forced labour and repression of protests.

No wonder that the Committee expressed “deep concern that, ten years after the Commission of Inquiry’s report, the government of Belarus has failed to take measures to address most of the Commission’s recommendations. Workers continue to face numerous obstacles in law and in practice to the full exercise of their right to form or join trade unions of their own choosing.”

Despite having registered labour federation Tucoswa last month, Swaziland was again shortlisted for examination by the Committee which concluded that the government has a way to go before Swaziland is in full compliance with Convention 87.

The conclusions of the discussion on Swaziland list nine actions that the government is urged to take immediately. At the top of the list is a call for the unconditional release of a jailed lawyer for the Trade Union Confederation of Swaziland (Tucoswa), Thulani Maseko, who is serving a two year sentence for contempt of court; as well all other imprisoned workers whose right to free speech has been violated.

The committee also called for the registration of IndustriALL’s affiliate, the Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (Atuswa) without further delay. Atuswa was formed through a merger in 2013 of several unions that organize industrial workers in Swaziland, including textile, garment and metal workers. An affiliate of Tucoswa, Atuswa has not been registered despite meeting the requirements set out by government for the registration of a trade union.

The Committee also listed legislative reforms required to bring the country into compliance with the freedom of association Convention and has urged the Swazi government to accept technical assistance to achieve this.

Read the full report from this year’s Committee on the Application of Standards here. 

Workers approve agreement reached at Tenaris, Italy

The deal with Tenaris Dalmine was approved in a ballot that took place on 11 and 12 June.

According to the agreement, the earlier announced 406 redundancies will be reduced to 301. The lower number has been obtained through the use of solidarity contracts, which allow workers to keep their jobs but with decreased working hours. One of the main cornerstones of the negotiations was about the destiny of 120 apprentices. Through the negotiated agreement they will now receive confirmation of their employment. Previously the company had announced their temporary contracts would not be renewed.

Out of 301 layoffs, 261 will take place at the Dalmine facility, while 40 other job losses will be carried out in the outlying worksites. Solidarity contracts will be used for 12 to 24 months and a voluntary mobility option with accompanying support up to the age of retirement will be offered to all workers who agree to access the scheme before 2020.

The union delegation, headed by Emanuele Fantini (Fim-Cisl), Eugenio Borella, (Fiom-Cgil) and Angelo Nozza (Uilm), considered the resulting agreement as positive although not all of the workers’ demands have been accepted.

Among its achievements, the union leaders cited the decrease in the total number of redundancies and confirmation of employment of apprentices, proving the company’s preparedness to invest in human resources. The option of voluntary retirement and agreement on solidarity contracts was also positively assessed.

ILO calls for greater protection of all workers

The Committee for the Recurrent Discussion on Social Protection (Labour Protection) said that although some advances have been made in minimum wage systems, working hours, health and safety, and maternity protection, too many workers lack adequate social protection.

The discussion was informed by a report prepared by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Labour Protection in a Transforming World of Work, which paints the new challenges that workers are facing. New technologies and globalization have led to different business models that have created fresh barriers to the exercise of the freedom of association. Collective bargaining coverage has declined. Labour protection regulations have been questioned under the pretext that they have a negative effect on employment. 

The Committee said more should be done to give better protection to workers in non-standard forms of employment (NSFE). NSFE or precarious work questions the traditional employment relationship that has been the basis of labour protection. The Committee recommended, as the Meeting of Experts on NSFE did in February, to evaluate the need for new international labour standards on temporary employment and on discrimination on the basis of employment status. 

A special focus was also given to health and safety. The Committee put forward the need to identify emerging risks linked to new way of work in particular, increased violence against workers, exposure to hazardous substances and psychosocial problems.  Emphasis was again put on the need for employers to develop their policies and risk management mechanisms in consultation with workers and their trade union representatives.  The Committee reminded of the need to protect pregnant women, and highlighted, as stipulated in ILO convention 183, that all women, including those in NSFE should enjoy protection without discrimination.

The Committee also called for a tripartite meeting of experts on the developments and challenges of flexible working time arrangements and their impact on workers. The pressure on workers to be available to work for extended periods, as well as zero hours contracts were other issues raised during the discussions.

The Committee recommended that due regard would be made in next year’s discussion on global supply chains. IndustriALL Global Union will participate in this debate and promote effective measures to ensure good labour protection for workers in supply chains and non-standard forms of employment.

Catelene Passchier, Workers' Spokesperson for the Labour Protection Committee said:

We need fundamental changes to ensure that economic growth, social justice and decent working conditions go hand in hand. It is absolutely unacceptable and indecent that, despite decades of economic growth, still many workers have hardly any social protection; are exposed to extremely hazardous working conditions; need to work excessive hours; lack maternity protection; or do not even earn a proper minimum living wage. Without collective representation many workers cannot access their rights in practice and the potential of collective bargaining and social dialogue cannot be used.

Mexico should act to end undemocratic unions says ILO

Mexico was one of 24 countries shortlisted for examination by the ILO Committee on Application of Standards in Geneva early this month, for its failure to implement ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize.

The Conclusions, adopted by the ILO Governing Body and the Committee on Application of Standards asked the Mexican government to:

The Committee requested the Mexican government to fulfil without delay its obligation to publish the registration and bylaws of trade unions on the local boards of the country’s 31 states, and to accept ILO Technical Assistance to address the issues referred to in these recommendations.

Government and employer members from Mexico at the ILO meeting tried to put emphasis on progress achieved in relation to the country’s new Labour Law and alleged transparency of the collective bargaining agreements. However, IndustriALL Global Union and worker members strongly denounced the daily and institutional violations to workers’ rights by the local & federal labour courts, also indicating that unfortunately “the criminal and corrupt system of labour relations known as Protection Contracts continues to grow in all sectors.”

Examples of severe violations to the right of freedom of association were mentioned in relation to IndustriALL’s Mexican mining affiliate, Los Mineros, and their fight for democratic union elections at the Finnish autoparts multinational PKC in Ciudad Acuña, at the Gunderson railcar plant in Monclova, and at CB&I, a steel piping manufacturer in Matamoros, as well as the systematic criminalization of workers who are sacked and then brought to court by the companies, as in the case of Sandak/Bata,  STRACC workers and STUHM at Honda-Jalisco.  

Worker representative, Katja Lehto-Komulainen, from Finnish trade union confederation, SAK, spoke up on the situation in Ciudad Acuña in Arneses and Accesorios de Mexico (PKC case), stating that in Mexico, national legislation is used as an excuse to undermine ILO core standards. She called on the government to fulfil its obligations in relation to Convention 87.

The case of farmworkers in San Quintin fighting against protection contracts to overcome slave-like conditions of work and child labour was highlighted. The export of fruit and vegetables from Mexico to the US has tripled to US$ 7.6 billion in the last decade under the North American Free Trade Agreement, which continues to increase benefits to employers to the detriment of workers' most basic rights. 

Notably, the US government member supported IndustriALL’s position, explicitly demanding that the government of Mexico take serious measures to redress the structure of the local Labour Boards to provide for adequate workers' representation and to address the continued presence of protection unions. 

“The ILO Recommendations represent a positive step forward but we will continue to pressure the government of Mexico to respect workers' rights to Freedom of Association and to decent jobs for our affiliates and all Mexican workers,” said Fernando Lopes, assistant general secretary at IndustriALL.

Global unions denounce comments made by Bangladesh Finance Minister

The unions say Mr Abul Maal Abdul Muhith’s comments criticizing the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety and describing it as a ‘noose’ around the neck of the garment industry are wholly irresponsible.

“Your remarks wrongly accuse the Accord of seeking to hold back Bangladesh’s progress, when the reverse is true. As your government is well aware, the Accord came into being in response to the collapse of Rana Plaza, when it became evident to the world, and specifically to garment brands, that the safety of garment workers in Bangladesh could not be guaranteed.”

More than 1,100 people were killed and 2000 more injured when the Rana Plaza garment factory complex collapsed in April 2013.

“The easiest response for the brands to this situation would be to walk away and look for safer countries to produce in. Instead, IndustriALL and UNI negotiated the Accord with more than 200 brands sourcing from Bangladesh, in order to demonstrate their commitment to the industry in Bangladesh by working with the factories to make them safe,” continues the letter.

The Accord has inspected 1,600 garment factories and made safety recommendations for each and every one. 

“Let’s not forget that prior to the Accord, self-regulation by brands and government inspections failed to prevent Bangladesh’s worst-ever industrial accident,” said IndustriALL’s general secretary Jyrki Raina.

“The minister’s remarks are inaccurate and irresponsible. The Accord is a positive game changer for the Bangladeshi garment industry and his comments put at risk its future sustainability,” said Philip Jennings, UNI secretary general.

The Minister reportedly made the comments at a meeting of garment industry employer associations. He claimed that the confidence of the brands in the Bangladesh garment industry has already been won and therefore the Accord should cease its operations.

This could not be farther from the truth. The danger for the Bangladeshi garment industry is not over and the factories are not yet safe.

In their letter to the Minister, Jyrki Raina and Philip Jennings call on the Minister to stop sending negative messages to factories that could have the effect of delaying or undermining essential factory safety improvements. 

IndustriALL and UNI have also written to BGMEA President Atiqul Islam to take issue with comments he made at the same meeting, and were subsequently reported in the media, describing the Accord as a ‘big problem’ for Bangladesh’s readymade apparel industry.

Islam’s remarks were made in relation to efforts by the Accord to ensure reinstatement of workers who were dismissed for reporting a fire and safety concern. 

“It is crucial that workers can effectively raise violations of safety regulations and workers’ rights without fear of retaliation so that there is not a repeat of Rana Plaza when the workers did raise concerns but were forced into the building anyway,” said Raina.

IndustriALL and UNI will continue to support the work of the Accord in Bangladesh until the factories are safe.

New cement giant LafargeHolcim ignores the voice of employees

The delegates raised their concerns about the on-going process of the merger and evaluated the results of the union campaigns taken so far in response to the lack of genuine social dialogue with proper information and consultation. The participants also discussed further steps to escalate pressure on the management of the new company that purposely avoids proper negotiations about the future of workers both remaining at and leaving the company. The Egerkingen meeting reiterated the motto of “No merger without workers’ rights”.

IndustriALL Global Union, Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) and European Federation of Building and Wood Workers (EFBWW) delegates invited the management of both Lafarge and Holcim for an open discussion of workers’ concerns. However, only Lafarge participated while Holcim decided to unilaterally ignore the voice of workers by refusing to come to the meeting.

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL Assistant general secretary says: "We came together at this global union committee meeting to discuss workers' key demands arising from the merger of the two world’s largest cement companies Holcim and Lafarge. We are always open to a genuine dialogue, but it is unacceptable arrogance from the Holcim management not to even talk to their workers’ representatives when they knew about this meeting months ago. We believe that if a company seeks success, it must include open labour relations based on respect of fundamental rights. Holcim´s refusal to enter into this dialogue is an obvious provocation."

Fiona Murie, BWI Global Director Construction and Health and Safety, "We welcome the attendance of our conference by Lafarge representative clearly proving that unlike their partners in the merger Lafarge is more committed to the principles of social dialogue. We keep our hope that this interest of at least one of the key players would eventually move the entire future company to the good practices of solid based social partnership relations."

Sam Hägglund, EFBWW General Secretary, "We are certainly upset by this attitude of Holcim. We remain open to a dialogue. But if we are not listened to, we will use all possible mechanisms, including the OECD complaints system and other possible legal options as well as on-site industrial actions. A company that shows such disrespect towards its own workers must be named and shamed in front of the world."

ENDS

Contacts:

Fiona Murie, BWI, +41 22 827 3786

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL, +41 79 945 57 26

Sam Hägglund, EFBWW, +32 475 84 06 51

*   *   *

IndustriALL Global Union – represents 50 million workers in 143 countries in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors and is a force in global solidarity taking up the fight for better working conditions and trade union rights around the world. For more informationhttp://www.industriall-union.org/

BWI – The Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) is the global union federation for unions covering workers in the building, building materials, wood, forestry and related areas of work. The BWI has 335 national affiliates in 131 countries with a global membership of 12 million. For more information http://www.bwint.org/

EFBWW – The European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) is the European Industry Federation for the construction industry, the building materials industry, the wood and furniture industry and the forestry industry. The EFBWW has 76 affiliated unions in 34 countries and represents a total of 2,000,000 members. For more information http://www.efbww.org/

Canada – USW successfully reduces layoffs at Rio Tinto

In the most significant job reduction since the early 1990s, the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) announced in April this year that it was laying off 150 workers in an effort to cut costs. All janitorial service workers were planned to be let go, leaving heavy equipment operators and other employees to clean up.
 
IndustriALL Global Union affiliate United Steelworkers (USW) were told that 150 of their members were to lose their livelihood at the same time as mining giant Rio Tinto, who owns the majority of IOC, were making record profits.
 
But following a union protest with nearly a thousand participants, IOC has partly reversed its decision and will keep 55 of the originally planned 150 lay-offs.
 
Ron Thomas, USW president at IOC Labrador, says he welcomes the news as the workers are still needed:

But there are still problems at IOC. In addition to the remaining layoffs, there are over 2,500 unresolved grievances. Management is consistently breaking the collective agreement, leaving grieve as the only recourse.

At Rio Tinto’s annual general shareholders’ meeting in London in April this year, the dispute at IOC was raised by both Ron Thomas and IndustriALL.  
 
Bringing up Rio Tinto’s extensive use of contract workers, Ron Thomas said:
“Contractors at IOC are not the skilled labourers you actually had, they replace our members on a constant basis.

"Rio Tinto needs to treat our members with respect and get them back to work."
 
IndustriALL is campaigning to increase trade union membership at Rio Tinto plants and make the company recognize workers' rights. Claiming to abide by good corporate practice, Rio Tinto’s behaviour includes major disputes with trade unions, communities, indigenous peoples and regulatory authorities.
 
Kemal Özkan, assistant general secretary at IndustriALL, says:
“IndustriALL strongly supports the USW in this struggle with Rio Tinto in Labrador. Rio Tinto’s systematic violation of its labour agreement with USW in Labrador must stop.

We demand that Rio Tinto adopt a positive approach to labour relations and negotiate in good faith with USW to resolve this dispute.

Hugo Boss must address rights abuses at Peruvian supplier

In a letter to Hugo Boss CEO, Claus-Dietrich Lahrs, IndustriALL urges the multinational to ensure that Topy Top reinstates sacked unionists and stops terminating the short-term contracts of unionized employees.

The use of export sector short-term contracts by Peruvian textile and garment suppliers not only violates international labour standards and Hugo Boss’s own code of conduct, it also makes it impossible for workers to organize and defend their rights.

IndustriALL’s general secretary, Jyrki Raina, writes:

“Topy Top is well known to us, as we have repeatedly dealt with violations at this company. It is a good example of the problems that arise from the abusive use of short-term contracts.”

The letter comes as Hugo Boss plans to meet Topy Top management at the brand’s German headquarters.

In April, during negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, Topy Top dismissed SINTOTTSA union secretary Huber Amed Albujar, affiliated to IndustriALL through the National Federation of Textile Workers of Peru (FNTTP).

The company also dismissed 12 union members, five of whom enjoy immunity from dismissal.

Albujar has been an outspoken critic of the exploitation of short-term contracts and a staunch defender of worker rights at the company. It is not the first time Topy Top has tried to get rid of him.

He is now facing four alleged offences all of which he denies.

IndustriALL Global Union, together with its affiliate FNTTP, is demanding that Hugo Boss ensures:

In addition, FNTTP and its member unions have a long-standing demand to see short-term contracts made permanent, in accordance with Hugo Boss’s own code of conduct.