Continued strike at Glencore’s Koornfontein mine

Mining giant Glencore had offered the workers one week of service per year in the Koornfontein mine, and in other operations it would pay three weeks. Workers in Koornfontein not only have to deal with losing their jobs but also an unfair settlement for the many years they produced coal for Glencore.

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate National Union of Mineworkers’ (NUM) General Secretary Frans Baleni says Glencore refuses to pay a decent retrenchment package:

“Contrary to the practice in the industry of two weeks for each completed year of service Glencore wants to pay one week for each completed year of service. We are mobilising our international unions affiliated to IndustriALL to join us in attacking this unacceptable conduct.”

In an effort to find a solution and end the strike, the NUM has involved a mediating party. But at a meeting on 24 November Glencore failed to meet the union’s revised proposals.

"Today marks the 49th day of the peaceful strike fighting a multinational company refusing to pay a decent retrenchment package to workers, claiming that it does not want to set a precedent," Frans Balen continues.

"The retrenched workers have zero chance of employment post retrenchment. This is an essence a death sentence and the NUM will fight tooth and nail to make sure our members get what they demand.”

IndustriALL Director of mining Glen Mpufane says:

”Glencore’s refusal to work with trade unions to find a reasonable solution to this conflict is outrageous. We fully support the fight of the miners and urge Glencore to settle this matter urgently.”

The NUM conflict is one of five conflicts currently running at Glencore operations in Peru, Colombia, Australia, and the USA. IndustriALL will mount a global response to Glenocore's union busting agenda.

Struggle for resources threatens labour rights

Transformation is coming. The choice we have is whether it will be a violent scramble for resources such as water, energy, and fertile land; desperate last-minute survival measures that completely dismiss human rights and social protection; or an orderly and Just Transition that respects and protects today's workers while creating new, decent work in sustainable industries for tomorrow's.

This is not an abstract future. For some people, it is already happening. On 4 December, the trade union delegation at COP-20 met the widows, children, and friends of four Asháninka leaders from the Peruvian community of Saweto on the Brazilian border: Edwin Chota Valera, Leoncio Quincima Meléndez, Jorge Ríos Pérez and Francisco Pinedo of Alto Tamaya, Ucayali. They were murdered by illegal loggers while trying to protect their ancestral lands from destruction. As climate change creates increasing pressures, such confrontations will increase.

The assassinated men were leaders of their community.  Their widows brought us a cry for help. Emotions were raw.

One said, “I have come very far. You do not know me, but you must know that we are harassed. The government does not recognize our land rights and is selling our land to multinationals. But it is our ancestral land, how can they sell it? I am so sad. I am now a widow. People are talking about the climate, but it is the multinationals that are destroying the climate, the land, and the water. We want to protect it.”

Another, the daughter of one of the assassinated men, said, “We are now the only guardians of our forest. We are not being treated with respect. The state is destroying where we live. I want to be respected as a member of the indigenous community. It is important that we have support so that trees are not destroyed, and our men are not killed. We protect the forest not only for us but for all people – it is the source of clean water, clean air. Please support our struggle.”

A third woman told us, “It is thanks to support from my family that we are still here. We are under constant threat from illegal loggers, and drug traffickers. Both Brazil and Peru must protect us. We are human beings, we want justice. I do not want to kill the killers, I want justice. We want to live in peace and harmony.”

One of the men added, “Governments do not understand that borders do not exist. Indigenous peoples do not have borders, whether we are in Peru or Brazil is irrelevant. The environment also does not know borders. There is a struggle here by indigenous peoples for their land. But you need to understand that this is an issue for humanity. The exploiters may win money but soon they will not be able to buy any water, oxygen, or life with it.”

Unfair dismissals at troubled auto plant

The company repressed the strike, dismissed three workers and organized a brutal and large-scale attack by CTM thugs on eleven workers. However, it later signed an agreement with the SNTMMSRM in which it promised to reinstate the three dismissed workers; make profit sharing payments to workers and, most important, respect workers’ right to join a union of their choice. It also agreed not to take reprisals against workers who took part in the strike.

However, on 26 November, Teksid Hierro dismissed 17 workers, including their spokeswoman, Imelda Jimenez, for calling on the company to comply with the agreement.

The company claimed it had dismissed the workers because production had ended and their contracts were temporary. However, the truth is that the company was trying to intimidate the workers prior to the vote that will decide which union will have collective bargaining rights.

The union has criticized the dismissals and says the company is trying to provoke the workers into stopping work like they did on19 April.

The dismissed workers said:

“Production is still going ahead and we fulfil all the legal requirements for the right to permanent contracts; they dismissed us because, on 19 May, we took the lead in asking the company to remove the CTM so we could be represented by the SNTMMSRM, led by Napoleón Gómez Urrutia.”

The company dismissed the workers before paying them their benefits and wages and tried to force them to accept their redundancy cheques  or they would be left without any money during the Christmas holiday period. Imelda Jiménez and Joel Silva accused the company of lying, refused to sign their redundancy settlement papers and decided to continue the struggle. It is important to understand that workers who do not sign redundancy papers can continue to seek reinstatement and payment of unpaid wages and vote in the election to choose which union should represent the workforce. 

Imelda said that after she was dismissed and refused to accept redundancy, she organized a meeting for her colleagues, who were joined by a national SNTMMSRM representative and union lawyer, Mr Alzaga, who communicated the union’s unconditional support.

“We are claiming unfair dismissal and demanding my reinstatement and payment of unpaid wages. My colleagues will support me all the way and I will fight to the end”, she said.

The workers know that a labour board meeting is scheduled for 10 December to hear the union’s application to represent the workers for collective bargaining purposes and to set a date for a vote. It is clear that the company  dismissed the workers in an attempt to intimidate them prior to the ballot.

Manuel Prince Durán, union representative in Monclova, Coahuila, said that the union is supporting the workers at Teksid and that the workers want a genuine union that does something to combat the exploitation to which they are subjected. He said that the workers know that if the mining union gains representation rights, it will support the dismissed workers legally and financially during the whole process of seeking redress.

Workers of TEKSID, united we will win the struggle and the vote! said the union.

IndustriALL Global Union completely rejects the unfair dismissals and Teksid’s intimidation of workers and demands that the authorities protect the workers and defend their union rights.  

IndustriALL’s magazine out now!

The Global Worker feature “Campaigning, organizing and winning” puts the spotlight on some of the latest frontline battles waged by IndustriALL and it’s affiliates. From Cambodian unions fighting to increase poverty wages, to America’s Autoworkers (UAW) organizing workers in the union-hostile Southern US, this feature takes a look at how unions are taking a strategic approach to achieve success. 

IndustriALL’s Stop Precarious Work campaign saw the biggest ever affiliate participation this year. The Global Worker special report looks at how unions are fighting back by limiting precarious work through collective bargaining agreements and legislation.

Readers will find a number of profiles in this issue of Global Worker, one on the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) fighting for Australian workers and another profile on Alejandra Ancheita, a Mexican human rights lawyer putting her life on the line for workers. Since this edition coincides with IndustriALL’s Executive Committee meeting in Tunisia, one of the profiles takes a glimpse of how Tunisian trade unions are paving the way to stability.

Also take a look at IndustriALL’s interview with Sharan Burrow, “The world needs a pay rise”.

While women unionists work in traditionally male-dominated fields, a report on women in Latin America gives a snapshot of how they are leading within their union structures despite the discrimination that they face.

Sign up to receive copies of Global Worker in English, French, Spanish or Russian by writing to [email protected]

Also view the Global Worker online version here: http://www.industriall-union.org/globalworker

Women put issues at top of IndustriALL agenda

The meeting is taking place during the 16 days of no violence against women and children campaign, which began on 25 November.

“If non-violence is a measure of the development of society then we are in trouble,” said Olivier, who is Chair of IndustriALL’s Women’s Committee, adding that 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence.

“Combatting violence against women and maternity protection should be a part of the normal work of women’s committee and every industrial director and regional office,” said IndustriALL’s general secretary, Jyrki Raina before adding that women’s concerns are already integrated into projects and the women’s budget has been increased.

The general secretary’s proposal that all men should take an oath against violence against women at the 2016 IndustriALL Congress, was strongly endorsed by the Committee. 

In 2014, three regional conferences proposed adopting a 40 per cent quota for women’s participation at all levels of IndustriALL. All three conferences, in Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa, had more than 30 per cent women’s participation.

Assistant general secretary, Monika Kemperle, highlighted the stalled discussion in Europe, where members are considering a 20 per cent quota for women:

“Women are under-represented in Europe. We are seeing women’s representation going down,” she said.

The meeting was reminded of the political agreement reached at IndustriALL’s 2012 founding congress, where IndustriALL committed to improving women’s representation. Currently a third of  IndustriALL’s executive committee is made up of women (20 out of 60).

The debate has since moved on to push for 40 per cent quota of women at all levels of IndustriALL. In addition, progress has been made in electing one woman and one man as co-chairs of the IndustriALL sectors.

“Why 40 per cent? We want to change the face of our industries, which we will only do if we have women there. Our IndustriALL sister organizations IUF and UNI both have a 40 per cent quota for women,” said Raina.

The meeting decided that “Strengthening our rights, safety and participation in decision-making” should be the theme for the 2015 Women’s World Conference in Vienna, Austria.

The revised survey on women’s representation amongst affiliates was raised at the meeting. The survey has been sent out three times. There were 200 responses out of 700. In general, the survey showed that IndustriALL has between 20 and 30 per cent women membership according to the sector. Garment unions have women members of around 80 per cent, whereas some mining unions do not even have ten per cent women.

Action Points

The Chair will report to the Executive Committee on these and other points.

New minimum wage sets off demonstrations in Indonesia

With the new minimum wage for 2015 being announced in Indonesia, trade union confederations KSPI and FSPMI are demanding a 22 – 30 per cent increase, depending on the province. The wage claims take into account the increasing cost of living in Indonesia – inflation alone was nine per cent in September.

Minimum wage in Indonesia is set according to the province of the country.

The Indonesian employers’ association has announced minimum wage increases in the provinces ranging from four to ten per cent. The government has the target set for 7 to 11 per cent.

The announcements led to disappointed workers all around Indonesia demonstrating. In the industrial area of Bekasi 50,000 workers laid down their work and marched on the nearby motorway. Police violently attacked demonstrators, with three people critically injured and 12 workers arrested and detained by police over night.

If demands are not met mobilizations are set to continue. Together with another federation (KEP,ISI,SPN and FARKES) affiliated to the KSPI, the FSPMI are planning for a national strike on 10 – 11 December.

IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina says:

Our global organization supports the workers in Indonesia, demanding a minimum wage off which they can live.

Creation of a single industrial union in Chile – a "dream come true”

The need for a union able to unify and recruit workers in the various sectors of industry resulted in the creation of the National Union of Manufacturing, Mining, Chemicals and Energy Industry Workers (Industrial Chile) on 28 November. “This marks the end of one stage in the process”, said Miguel Soto, the union’s general secretary, as he closed the eighth congress of the former National Confederation of Metalworkers.

It has taken four years to build the new industrial union, in a process that culminated in this congress and signalled an important and historic step forward in the history of the Chilean trade union movement. Delegates discussed changes in union structures and collective bargaining procedure. Fraternal organizations were invited to join the debate as the initiative is a project of IndustriALL Global Union and has enjoyed the support and solidarity of the Swedish union LO-TCO.

The work shouldered by CONSTRAMET in the middle of a period of important labour demands and reforms in the country received praise at the congress. Bárbara Figueroa, president of the CUT, commended the debate and called on all the union leaders present to participate in developing the country’s policies. Javiera Blanco, labour minister, said that by “strengthening collective bargaining, the unions will improve the labour environment, encourage greater understanding and promote social dialogue”.

The congress was attended by a delegation from IndustriALL head office in Geneva and the Latin America office in Uruguay, led by Fernando Lopes, IndustriALL’s assistant general secretary. He was accompanied by representatives of affiliated unions in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Uruguay, who all praised the creation of an industrial union that will strengthen the fight against precarious work and the violation of workers’ rights.

Delegates discussed the new union’s statutes and organizers plan to seek official recognition under the name of Industrial Chile.

Delegates approved an action plan in a debate in which Miguel Soto emphasized the importance of ending the situation in which workers within the same company are represented by a large number of unions. “With training and a stronger union, incorporating women and regional unions, we shall achieve that”.

Delegates promised to implement the plan agreed at meetings that took place prior to the congress. This includes holding area seminars and meetings in the north, centre and south of the country to formulate a programme for each region. An important focus will be to develop a strong training programme that will prioritize UNITY and end the public perception that unions are run solely for the benefit of their own members.

In his closing speech to the congress, Horacio Fuentes, president of the union, pointed out the important responsibility that delegates bear in this process of strengthening organization and fighting fragmentation. “We have to be self-critical. We know that it is a complex task to build a union like this, but we know that it is possible. We must seek greater influence in shaping the country’s policies and we want to build our union by putting forward its own policies”.

“I urge you to continue fighting in this huge task”, concluded the president of Industrial Chile.

Holcim-Lafarge: No merger without workers’ rights!

The decision was made by 75 trade union leaders from 22 countries representing workers at Lafarge and Holcim at a meeting held on 25-26 November in Houffalize, Belgium. The meeting was organized by CSC bâtiment – industrie & énergie (CSC BIE) of Belgium, the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and IndustriALL Global Union.

At the meeting both IndustriALL and BWI committed to working together with affiliates in the campaign to support the workers’ demands.

The merger would result in a company with 130,000 workers and a turnover of € 35 billion, making it the biggest cement company in the world. Both companies want to cut costs and reorganize their work through the merger, which they aim to complete in the first half of 2015.

Unions have little faith that this merger is driven by a well-reasoned industrial policy, but that is rather a product of corporate greed pursuing only big profits at any price with dramatic effects on working rights and conditions.

Workers and their unions at Holcim and Lafarge spoke loud and clear: they demand workers’ rights, respect, and recognition as a social partner during and after the merger process. IndustriALL stands in full support of the workers’ demands,”

said Kemal Özkan, Assistant General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union.

This is a global merger by shareholders for shareholders,”

stated Ambet Yuson General Secretary of BWI.

The rights and interests of the workers who are responsible for the shareholders profits have been lost in the numerous meetings discussing the impact of the two cement giants. It is important we as trade unions representing workers in the cement industry mobilize to develop a concrete, coordinated strategy that puts the workers issues at the center of the merger.”

As the biggest player on the market after the merger, Lafarge and Holcim must set a good example for others. That is only possible if they recognize and consult workers as equal interlocutors while providing real information about the future company’s structure and core activities.

Other demands concern good working conditions and decent wages while observing the principle of “equal pay for equal work” for permanent staff and subcontractors. Outsourcing, extensively used by both companies and especially Holcim, resulting in badly paid precarious and insecure jobs must be restricted.

Unions insist on a fair social solution for the workers of the companies that will be sold during and after the merger. The future company does not only need to take over the existing global framework agreement with Lafarge, but also must adjust it to the new situation. A world works council with regional consultative bodies for each continent should be created urgently in order to establish a good social dialogue.

At the conference, Pierre Cuppens (CSC BIE, vice president BWI) was very clear,

We promise to follow this merger process very closely, we will not drop the workers. The offer price is not the only important element, there must be job security and respect for the existing collective labour agreements.”

Time running out to avoid climate disaster

Nevertheless, speaking at the opening plenary of COP-20, which runs from 1 to 12 December, Pulgar-Vidal tried to strike an optimistic tone, insisting that flexibility and compromise can make progress possible.

The main expectation for this COP is to lay the groundwork for a new binding global agreement on greenhouse gas emissions to be signed, if all goes well, at COP-21 in Paris, 2015.

The parties have spent the last five years since COP-15 in Copenhagen trying to rebuild a global consensus after national leaders failed to agree on a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol, which set internationally binding emission reduction targets and expired in 2012.

However, there are some encouraging signs. The Green Climate Fund is finally starting to receive significant contributions although still far from sufficient. The European Union has come out with its latest climate commitments and plan; and the USA has reached an agreement with China on greenhouse gases.

On a more somber note, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, gave a brief overview of the latest scientific findings from the Fifth Assessment Report authored by 803 scientists and commented on by over 150,000 others. He stressed that if temperature increases are to remain below the 2C° target, GHG emissions need to decline by 40-70% by 2050, relative to 2010 levels, and reach zero or negative levels by 2100. These objectives are still possible to reach with existing technologies, but after 2015 may not be.

As always, IndustriALL's objective is to monitor the direction of the talks and insist that the social dimension of sustainability be given full weight in the debates. The consequences for working people, their families, and the communities that depend on them; implications for poverty alleviation, development, human health and human rights – these are not trivial side issues but are fundamental to finding a solution that can be implemented.

JYRKI RAINA: Welcome to Global Worker

This Global Worker looks at a number of key union battles on organizing, union rights and living wages. A strategic approach is important for success – and coalition building, supply chain pressure, corporate research and a media strategy are some of the essential elements. But it is global worker solidarity that makes all the difference.

Incorporating all these factors in a campaign with our partners led to a victory against Dutch electronics supplier NXP in the Philippines. The company, which produces parts for the iPhone 6, fired 24 elected union officials for taking time off on national holidays. But powerful local action in the Philippines, social media flagging the labour rights flaw in the new iPhone model, 150,000 petitions to Apple and demonstrations at its stores in the US, turned this union-busting attack into a triumph for IndustriALL affiliate the Metalworkers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP).

In union-hostile southern US states, the United Autoworkers (UAW) is using new tactics to organize workers at foreign-owned car plants. German affiliate IG Metall is using its influence to ensure neutrality at Volkswagen in Tennessee and Mercedes operations in Alabama. Japanese unions joined an IndustriALL solidarity mission to Mississippi, pledging continued solidarity with the Nissan workers’ organizing drive and pressing global management to ensure neutrality.

IndustriALL’s campaign to STOP Precarious Work on 7 October saw the biggest ever participation by affiliates around the world in rallies, human chains, press conferences and public speeches.

For the first time, IndustriALL used a social media tool called Thunderclap to ensure that the message to STOP Precarious Work resonated around the world.

1,592 supporters sent out the same message at the same time on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr, reaching an amazing 1,194,792 people.

But the campaign continues every day of the year to limit precarious work through legislation and collective agreements. Check our new guidebook Negotiating Security for bargaining victories by our affiliates.

‘The world needs a pay rise’ says International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary Sharan Burrow. IndustriALL, together with ITUC and UNI Global Union are targeting a number of countries to raise minimum wages to the level of living wages.

Together with our NGO partners, the three global unions have organized two worldwide action days this year in support of the Cambodian garment workers’ fight for a living wage. In an unprecedented move, leading multinational clothing brands wrote to the government and employers in September, supporting the unions’ demands and promising to increase their purchasing prices accordingly.

Sharan Burrow sets a target of 20 million new union members by 2018. In the IndustriALL family we will do our share of organizing and building global union power for social and economic justice.

Jyrki Raina

General Secretary