Rio Tinto telling lies on precarious work?

Rio Tinto telling lies on precarious work?

During the AGM, Kemal Özkan, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, took the floor and denounced Rio Tinto’s policy of outsourcing. Precarious workers at Rio Tinto have less job security, poorer working conditions and less social protection.

 “There is no real benefit for Rio Tinto to this massive outsourcing.  […] The reason for this business model with massive use of precarious labour is to weaken unions”.

Sam Walsh submitted apparently false reasons to justify their resort to outsourcing and precarious work.

“Outsourcing, […] is an area where clearly specific tasks [Rio Tinto] outsourced because of the particular expertise that one of our suppliers or a contractor company physically provides. It may be something that [Rio Tinto] need[s] periodically rather than regularly. And it’s the best and the most effective way of supplying that. Clearly there are times when [Rio Tinto] [has] surges and these are times when [Rio Tinto] need[s] to respond to a market up-turn […]. But let me assure you outsourcing is about giving this sort of flexibility this is not an anti-union strategy. It is more about the company recognizing the fact that in the business there are core functions that [the company] need[s] to provide [itself] and there are other you need to supplement with other expertise.” (Sam Walsh The annual general meeting for Rio Tinto plc, London April 2015)

Rio Tinto is not transparent about the use of precarious workers and does not disclose how many people work on sites it directly manages; it reports only direct employees. However a recent IndustriALL Global Union survey among affiliates representing workers at Rio Tinto’s fully or partially owned operations in 14 countries received answers in sharp contrast to Rio Tinto CEO’s claims. 

Contractors [at IOC ] are not the skilled labourers you actually had, they replace our members on a constant basis. “ (Ron Thomas, President USW IOC Labrador responding to Sam Walsh at the Rio Tinto’s AGM in London)

Among unions surveyed, the percentage of precarious workers at Rio Tinto worksites is estimated to be as high as 70 per cent. Unions at Rio Tinto report that the company is increasing the use of precarious forms of employment. Over the last five to ten years, precarious work in France has increased from five to 25 per cent of the workforce. The use of precarious work at Grasberg (Indonesia) has doubled.

There is a clear strategy to replace important parts of the permanent workforce by outsourced or casual workers. At Rössing (Namibia), following retrenchments in 2013 and 2014 combined with outsourcing, ex–retrenched employees are now being contacted to work on six-month contracts.

At Rio Tinto’s coal mines in Australia, The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) reports of Rio Tinto making permanent workers redundant while continuing to employ casual workers, replacing departing permanent workers with casual contractors and in some cases having an open policy of moving to a majority of outsourced workers.

In his response to Kemal Özkan’s statement, Sam Walsh said that Rio Tinto is

an organization who cares […] who offers good terms and conditions […]focused on health and safety.

However when resorting to precarious work, Rio Tinto generates inequalities among workers at its worksites. At Rio Tinto’s New Zealand and Alma smelters precarious workers reportedly earn 50 per cent less than direct employees. In addition, precarious workers generally have fewer benefits. Furthermore these workers are exposed to higher health and safety risks.

The fight against precarious work has become a central demand in IndustriALL Rio Tinto’s Campaign. IndustriALL latest publication Rio Tinto: The way it really works outlines the consequences of this increased use of precarious work.

MENA: IndustriALL women create their regional network

Women in the region have many achievements, but they have not been championed by trade unions. Nevertheless civil society associations seem to be more conducive to women’s participation.

Some of the meeting’s highlights were the following:

In Tunisia women get involved in trade unions at the expense of the family. In Iraq the women say they need their parents’ consent to attend union activities, even though they work side by side with men at the factory.

In Morocco two thirds of the 8000 people who work in the electric cable parts sector are women. The women suffer a lot, also for health reasons. They are forced to work very fast and then suffer from muscular stress injury or repetitive strain. It is a health hazard.  

In Morocco there are improvements in legislation and codes, but there is a gap between laws and what happens on the ground. Some women do not get paid, laws are not implemented in industry, pregnant women have no access to work, and marriage and children limit career development. “Women have unpaid work, unequal pay, no work-life balance.” Family responsibilities affect women’s future. Women working in the informal sector are the most vulnerable. Little attention is paid to women’s issues in negotiations, and their needs are not reflected in actions and demands. Sexual harassment is not taken seriously.

In Tunisia 85 percent of the textile industry is made up of women, and it is growing. Nevertheless hygiene and the lack of toilets is serious. The issues on the spot need to be addressed. Women need to aspire to higher positions, but they don’t do it because they are shackled by their daily lives.

Involvement of women in Egypt in the oil sector is practically nil. In time the men are becoming more supportive, but still the women are reluctant to participate.

In Jordan in the textile industry 60 percent of the workforce are women. Maternity leave is a burden to the employer. Now social security covers it. There are many language and cultural barriers in the textile industry in Jordan because nine nationalities work there. Working hours are long, between 8 and 10 hours a day. The productivity targets are high and leave no time for toilet breaks. Thus the Jordanian women prefer to stay home or to look for another job. Sexual harassment is one more reason why some women quit.

Violence against women was addressed as a priority theme. There are multiple types of violence at work. Sexual harassment is rampant in the textile sector. However it is difficult to prove. In addition women work far away from home, and transport arrangements are not safe. Women need someone to go to because men rarely consider it to be a problem.

In different countries wars and religious conflicts limit women’s participation.

Let the women break down the wall, let the women impose themselves,

Hashmeya Muhsin demanded.

Despite the serious challenges facing women at work and in union work, good practices in the region also show how far these women have come. The IndustriALL women’s network in Morocco was presented. The network meets regularly, conducts activities and education activities bringing women from different union national centers to work together on the key issues and to promote working women’s union participation.

Participants emphasized that women need training to overcome psychological barriers, training on ILO conventions for example and training to upgrade their skills, also in reporting.

The women worked out the following objectives for the regional network:

Monika Kemperle concluded the meeting by praising the women’s good work:

IndustriALL will definitely give support to this women’s network. These women are an example to everyone on how to meet challenges and keep on fighting.

What are you doing on May Day?

May Day has allowed millions of workers around the globe to rally in their fight for good working conditions. 

Use this day for advancing your demands and strengthening the unity of trade union ranks. Let IndustriALL know what you will be doing on May Day this year – send us your photos or videos and we will share them widely.
 

MENA unions build cooperation in auto and supplier sectors

MENA unions representing workers at different major car makers such as Renault and PSA, as well as suppliers such as Leoni, discussed working conditions and union actions with their colleagues from Germany, Spain  and France.

IndustriALL’s presentation on the situation in auto industry worldwide with special focus on MENA region made a base for the discussions during the meeting. Participants learnt about IndustriALL's activities in the sector and the importance of the company networks in assisting union organizing efforts and strengthening unions.

Union representatives from Europe explained their union structures and organizing efforts with a focus on the auto and supplier industry.

Contacts already exist, especially in the supply chain with the German union IG Metall and with unions from Renault. There were also discussions to intensify these contacts with PSA as well.

Participants decided to organize follow-up meetings to tackle the challenges for the unions in auto and supplier industry in the region and to improve cooperation of different unions in the companies concerned. Union building at the plant level will be a focus for the planned activities. This includes capacity building, further organizing efforts and networking on different levels.

“This first-ever MENA region meeting is a very important start for IndustriALL,” said Helmut Lense, Director for Auto and Rubber Sectors. “MENA is becoming more and more important for car manufacturers, and therefore we have to begin making all the necessary efforts to organize the plants to increase union membership.”

Lafarge and Holcim workers mobilize for health and safety

Workers from both multinationals used the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers on 28 April to express their discontent with occupational safety at their companies.

From 2011 to 2014, almost 300 employees were killed while doing jobs for Holcim or Lafarge. This outrageous number has pushed workers to tell the leadership of both companies that current measures to tackle health and safety concerns are inadequate.

More serious steps and better engagement of both companies is needed before and after the merger in order to secure the most fundamental right of all workers to return home safe and sound at the end of their shift.

At Holcim’s Obourg factory in Belgium, trade unions ACV-CSC BIE and CG FGTB decided to jointly boycott the Safety Day organized by their employer and to organize a work stoppage and a general assembly to inform the workers about the bad performance on occupational health and safety of the company worldwide.

In the Philippines, workers marked the global day of action against Holcim and Lafarge by organizing a march and picket rally at government offices. The Philippine union action ended yesterday in a live radio interview airing the various actions conducted by the unions relative to the events.

In Lebanon, 350 workers at a Holcim plant held a minute’s silence for all the workers who have died while working for the company.

Actions, information sessions and work stoppages were also organized at other sites of Holcim and Lafarge in different countries in all regions of the globe.

IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan said, “This merger, while opening new opportunities to the company main shareholders, cannot ignore those who by their daily work made these companies rich. Workers’ fundamental rights to safety must be respected. No merger without workers’ health and safety rights!”

Nepalese unions launch relief fund

The General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) has set up a relief fund to help people on the ground. It is the worst earthquake to hit the country for 80 years.  

GEFONT has spent the week mobilizing people to rescue victims from the rubble. It will use aid to focus on immediate relief for the countless men, women and children who have lost their homes by providing temporary shelter, clothing and food.

GEFONT will then focus on reconstruction and resettlement, employing resources nationally and internationally to support its members, working people as well as the general population.

IndustriALL, which has nine affiliates in Nepal, joins the ITUC’s call for a huge international aid effort. General secretary Jyrki Raina said:

“Our hearts go out to the families of victims and the thousands of people who have lost their loved ones and now struggle for survival without food and shelter.  We applaud unions’ drive to help the people of Nepal and the global solidarity already shown by many trade union organizations abroad.” 

Unions in Nepal have cancelled May Day festivities and will be holding a candle-lit vigil for the thousands of people who have perished in the devastating earthquake that hit the mountainous country on 25 April.

GEFONT president Bishnu Rimal said:

"This year Nepali unions will not celebrate May Day, we will mourn in the name of dead beloved ones, wish for the speedy recovery of injured people and express our solidarity with the families of victims. We will also pay tribute to those who were killed by the Everest avalanche.”

GEFONT’s finance secretary Gunaram Acharya is in a serious condition having sustained serious injuries after being caught in a landslide. 

Donate to GEFONT here. 

MENA textile unions ready to organize more

The participants discussed development of an organizing agenda for the sector, and how to improve strategic cooperation within the region, as well as with unions from other regions. The meeting started with recapping the previous meeting in Morocco in June 2015 setting stage for the discussions.
 
In a general assessment of the situation in the region, the participants noted the current difficult political and economic environment – political crisis in most countries, undercutting of labour laws, no or low adherence to international standards and the ease of international companies and brands of disengaging from a country with ease abound.
 
As such, though pressure from political forces, suppliers, and international brands, continue to make organizing new union members difficult. In some cases within the region, there has been strong union growth and improved collaboration among active trade unions.
 
Intense input and discussions around the Global Framework Agreement (GFA) between Spanish Inditex, biggest garment retailer in the world, and IndustriALL over organizing in supply chains as part of its implementation. The participants exchanged information and strategies on the ongoing progress of organizing in Inditex, especially in Tunisia. The meeting also included an introduction to an ongoing industry mapping and strategy options for union growth in MENA region conducted by IndustriALL.
 
Following intensive discussions, the participants with a strong women's representation laid out plans of action for organizing more members, especially in supplier factories producing for international companies.

Our intensive work in the textile, garment and leather sectors in MENA region continues” said Monika Kemperle, Assistant General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union. “The plan of action drawn up at the Beirut meeting perfectly fits to the strategic goals of our global union.
 

MENA: Let us organize more!

More than 80 participants took part in IndustriALL’s MENA Conference on "Building Union Power through Organizing" in Beirut, Lebanon 20-23 April 2015. There were delegates from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Yemen, as well as representatives from European affiliates from France, Germany and Spain.

The four full days included various sectorial, cross sector, networks and women meetings: IndustriALL Middle East and North Africa Textile, Garment and Leather Sector Unions' Regional Network Meeting; MENA Oil and Gas Unions’ Regional Network Meeting; MENA Regional Auto and Suppliers Sector Unions Meeting; MENA Regional Meeting; MENA Regional Women's Network Meeting.

Several MENA unions experience difficulties in organizing and reaching out to new production locations due the political disputes, terrorism, deteriorating security situations, armed conflicts in some countries and lack of laws on protecting the rights to organize.

In Egypt and Iraq, independent and free unions still struggle for fair labour and trade union laws that recognize their rights to organize freely. The emergence of ISIS in different parts of the regions adds to the daily misery of workers who cannot safely reach their workplace, and in some cases ISIS are in control of the production locations.

The Iraqi government is now turning state owned companies, more than 70 in total, into a so-called self-financing system. This means wages can only be paid if the company makes a profit. This puts the salaries of thousands of workers on hold for several months.

The Moroccan government is still reluctant to respond to unions' demand to improve citizens' purchasing power and pensions funds and to put an end to the violation of trade unions rights. The three national centres Union Marocaine du Travail (UMT), Confédération Démocratique du Travail (CDT), and Fédération Démocratique du Travail (FDT) have recently announced May as the month of protests and condemnation across the country.

In Palestine, the suffering of the workers in the occupied territories and crossings continue to be the major issues in achieving decent working conditions and increasing union membership.

In Kuwait, highly dependent on oil revenues, the government’s new project "strategic alternative" represents a direct threat on the long-standing rights and retreat on the benefits for the workers in the oil sector. IndustriALL's affiliate Oil & Petrochemical Industries Workers Confederation stands firm on defending 30,000 workers in the sector.

Participants from Libya and Yemen explained the extreme difficulties faced by workers and their organizations due to the ongoing armed conflicted and called for peaceful resolutions.

Tunisian unions have played key role in the country's transition. However revising labour code, implementation of the outcomes of the social dialogue among UGTT, government and employers' organization as well improving health and education systems are current challenges for the unions.   

The conference discussed the progress of IndustriALL’s work in various sectors and countries, as well as future perspectives on building stronger democratic and free unions. Participants shared experiences on their respective unions' structures and strategies on organizing with the purposes of improving strategies and cooperation on increasing union density at national and sectorial level.

Women and youth are important active components of MENA society. In line with the agenda of various unions from the regions, the conference discussed details on how to empower and include more women and youth in the unions. Together with the affiliates from the respective countries, IndustriALL progress on establishing women and youth networks was subject to intensive discussions.

Considering the growing number of multinational companies (MNC) operating in the region, especially in oil and gas, garment and metal sectors and the difficulties confronted by workers in organizing and defending their rights in the supply chains, the conference devoted intensive discussions on improving organizing tactics and pressuring MNCs for a constructive social dialog. Success stories from Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco were highlighted. 

With the purpose of enforcing networking and enhancing cooperation among unions in the MNCs home countries and MENA unions in the supply chain, European unions emphasized workers' interests on both sides. Panelists highlighted the key facts on the operations of major European companies in the region as well as the ongoing bilateral cooperation between unions in Europe and MENA. Representatives from IG Metall, Germany; FTM-CGT, France; CCOO de industria, Spain and MCA-UGT, Spain pointed out potential cooperation and activities to strengthen union presence. Organizing have been planned for the coming months.  

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan underlines the organization’s support for building stronger unions and promoting its affiliates’ organizing agenda:

Such unprecedented participation and inspiring discussions reflect our affiliates’ commitment and awareness. Unions with such enthusiasm and common understanding of the challenges ahead will defend their rights and achieve their members’ demands sooner or later.

Participants decided to deepen discussions in their home countries, identified potential organizing targets and adopted a slogan:

LET US ORGANIZE MORE!! – !!يلا ننظم أكتر

Oil and gas workers network is launched in MENA region

Given the recent dramatic fall in the global price of oil, the meeting took place at a particularly appropriate time. It brought together unions from across the region, including major exporters of oil as well as major importers.
25 Participants came from both IndustriALL – affiliated trade unions and potential affiliates from 12 countries of the region were joined by  representatives from oil and gas unions from Germany, France and Spain. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Resident Director, Achim Vogt, also participated fully in the conference proceedings.

Discussions centered on the global oil and gas industry and the role and Importance of the MENA Region in the production. Following a detailed overview of the situation by Jim Catterson, IndustriALL Director of Energy Industries’ Section, delegates outlined the present situation of the industry in their countries,  as well as the economic effects of the dramatic recent falls in the price of crude oil. Obviously there were major differences between countries that were major exporters of hydrocarbons and those that were major importers, however all saw that widely fluctuating prices had major detrimental effects.

The challenges and difficulties for oil and gas unions in the region were discussed, as well as how they could successfully ensure union building and organizing against a background of political and economic problems. Unions discussed the importance of building networks as well as better use of Global Framework Agreements (GFAs).

The importance of this was quickly realized when the Kuwaiti delegation were contacted by their union and informed that the government there had just announced an intention to change the oil and gas legislation in the country in a way that could result in the privatization of the industry. Clearly the union intended to struggle against this decision by all means possible. Conference delegates discussed the situation after hearing a report from their Kuwaiti brothers and together with the secretariat offered their full support and solidarity in such an important struggle.

Participants also examined  the presence of multinational companies in the oil and gas industries of their countries, as well as whether or not the workforce was organized. The intention was to highlight potential organizing targets. However it was realized that there needed to be more time spent on gathering detailed information for this to be effective and it was decided that the secretariat would develop a questionnaire, that would be circulated in Arabic, to all participants and affiliated trade unions in the region to gather more information and a focus on identifying potential organizing opportunities would take place when the questionnaire results were analysed.

It was also agreed that the unions needed to both improve the participation of women and youth representatives in the Network, and also to ensure that their unions participated in the respective networks on these issues established at the MENA region.

Participants agreed to establish a small steering group which would take the work forward and ensure that the network of all the unions present would function in between this meeting and a follow up foreseen for next year. It was resolved that the steering group would include  the oil unions from Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.

Jim Catterson says:
"This conference is a first step towards bringing the unions together in an effective network. Increased international cooperation and work will be essential to ensure trade unions not only survive but increase influence in a region dominated at present by armed conflict."
 

Rana Plaza – a last push to close the compensation gap

On 24 April 2013, more than 1,100 workers were killed and thousands more were injured in an industrial homicide which opened the world’s eyes to the conditions in garment factories.

Two years after the deadly building collapse, the Rana Plaza compensation fund is still missing US$2,7 million from the targeted US$30 million.

IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Jyrki Raina says:

“Let us now close one of the most shameful chapters in the history of the garment industry and move on. The multi billion-garment industry has the resources. We call upon all leading brands to end the funding crisis.”

On the anniversary people all over the world manifested the need for a changing garment industry.

IndustriALL affiliates around the world organized solidarity actions; on the streets of Dhaka children made orphans two years ago staged a sit-in; the IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) formed a human chain followed by a rally.

“We urge buyers and other stakeholders to pay off the remaining compensation and we demand a safe workplace,” said leaders of the IBC. 

Towards a living wage

Since the collapse, progress in making Bangladeshi garment factories safer have been made, using the legally binding Bangladesh Accord.

However, with the remediation process currently behind schedule and an increasingly anti-union approach from factory owners and the government, the struggle for garment workers in Bangladesh is not over.

Jyrki Raina says that brands and factory owners have to be part of the solution, working together with IndustriALL.

“Important progress has been made. Now the garment industry needs sustainable jobs with living wages, safe conditions and reasonable working hours. For that there needs to be bargaining structures in place where brands pay a bit more to enable living wages for the millions of workers in countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia and Myanmar.”