Bangladesh Accord completes inspections in 1,106 factories

From the initial inspections of 1,106 garment factories in Bangladesh, the Accord’s inspectors have identified more than 80,000 safety issues needing to be resolved.

“We have found safety hazards in all factories, which was to be expected. The safety findings have ranged from minor to significant. The Accord team is now working intensively with factory owners, brands, and labour colleagues to ensure the safety findings are corrected,” Brad Loewen, the Accord’s Chief Safety Inspector said in a statement.

Issues range from corrective measures like reducing weight loads and adhering to load management plans, to more substantial safety requirements. These include installing fire doors and automated fire alarm systems, establishing fire protected exits from factory buildings, and strengthening of columns in the buildings, have also been identified.

In 17 building inspections, the Accord inspections found that the structural integrity of the building fell below an acceptable level of safety. This led the Accord to submit its inspection results to the Government of Bangladesh’ Review Panel and recommend a temporary evacuation of the building.

IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Jyrki Raina welcomes the completion of the initial inspections:

Thanks to the inspections the repair work has already started – the journey towards a safe and sustainable garment industry in Bangladesh is well and truly under way. We will continue to organise the factories to build strong unions capable of securing workers’ rights.

The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh came into being after the tragedy at Rana Plaza in April 2013. Pioneered by IndustriALL and UNI Global Union it covers garment factories and is signed by companies who source from them in Bangladesh. The signatory brands have committed to support the Bangladeshi garment sector with continued sourcing commitments and support for remediation where needed

CANADA Rio Tinto actions

USW

Activists from USW Local 9490 took action at Rio Tinto Alcan in Alma during the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) on 7 October.

A special edition of USW Local 9490 at Rio Tinto Alcan in Alma Quebec newspaper «Le jaseur express» in French, was distributed to 800 members of the local on the WDDW. The message is clear, "Rio Tinto must change and end precarious work!"

One of the main issues of the Alma struggle was to garantee quality jobs for the next generations. It was a major struggle against subcontracting, against precarious work.

USW Local 7493 at at Rio Tinto Poudres Métalliques in Sorel Québec distributed in lunchrooms a place mat in French on october 7th to its 200 members. Text on the place mat documents Rio Tinto unsustainable behavior across the world and gave way to good discussions between workers and the members of the Union executive comitee on the need for example to build more solidarity to face the challenges in Rio Tinto facilities all across the world. They also put on all the boards the copies of the IndustriALL material for the action day.

Ron Thomas, president of the USW Local at Rio Tinto iron ore mine in Labrador City spoke to a reporter from the Aurora newspaper about the attacks on workers by the company. The USW local also distributed the global flyer to its members in Labrador.

UNIFOR

IndustriALL affiliate UNIFOR, at UNIFOR Local 2301 in Kitimat, British Colombia, held a march and rally protesting the treatment of Kitimat workers by Rio Tinto. They also distributed the global flyer to all their members at the Rio Tinto aluminum smelter there and to all the residents of Kitimat.

The action was part of a global "day of defiance" against Rio Tinto happening in more than 20 countries, coinciding with the World Day for Decent Work.

FIM-CSN

IndustriALL affiliate, the Fédération de l’Industrie Manufacturière de la Construction des Syndicats Nationaux (FIM-CSN) distributed the global flyer to its 1200 members at the RioTinto Fer et Titane worksite in Sorel, Quebec

NIGERIA

The activities in Nigeria had the full support of the Nigerian Labour Congress with the active participation of Congress’ anti casualization committee.

Workers at Ansell continue to fight for their rights

More than 200 workers and their children rallied in support of the fired Ansell workers. Striking for justice for their wrongfully dismissed colleagues, workers are paying a high price through financial difficulties and social problems. But the clear message is that a year later, the struggle to reinstate the workers continues at full force.

The conflict at the Ansell factory, where they produce surgical and industrial gloves, in one of Sri Lanka’s free trade zones has seen 294 workers out of a job for a year. The workers were fired when striking in support of eleven sacked colleagues and trade union representatives.

The Supreme Court has instructed Ansell to negotiate a settlement with the trade union FTZGSEU, which the company blatantly refuses to do.

IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Jyrki Raina says the support for the struggling workers remains unwavering:

IndustriALL is committed to achieve a fair resolution which sees the nearly 300 workers reinstated. It is high time for Ansell to step up and end these people’s plight.

EGYPT

On 7 October, IndustriALL affiliate in Mahalla Egypt organized a seminar where the problems of precarious work were discussed.

GUINEA Rio Tinto actions

Cambodia – garment workers protest after delay in wage decision

The Labour Advisory Committee (LAC), composed of government, factory and union representatives, was due to reveal the new wage for 2015 on 10 October. Instead, wage negotiations have been postponed to an undecided date in November.

In frustration, garment workers from a coalition of six different unions, including IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, NIFTUC, donned bright pink t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan ‘We want a decent wage’ in a huge rally on 12 October.

It is the largest garment sector demonstration in the Cambodian capital since wage protestors were shot dead by police in January this year.

Unions accuse the LAC of delaying proceedings in an attempt to wear down their demands for a significant increase in the minimum wage, which currently stands at US$ 100 a month.

There are set to be a series of demonstrations by unions until an acceptable minimum wage is set by the LAC.

IndustriALL’s general secretary, Jyrki Raina, said:

Deferring a decision on the minimum wage has only strengthened workers’ resolve for better pay. As the LAC dithers, unions will simply continue to mobilize to make their voices heard. We urge the LAC to put an end to this uncertainty and agree to a significant pay increase for garment workers as soon as possible.

USA Rio Tinto actions

USW

In the USA, IndustriALL affiliate the United Steelworkers (USW) employed at Rio Tinto facilities in Utah marked the World day for Decent Work and the Rio Tinto Day of Action by demanding justice for precarious workers. They distributed the global flyer to all their members at the Rio Tinto Kennecott operation.

Although problems at Bingham Canyon have not been as severe as in other places, such as Canada, Mongolia, Madagascar, Australia and Indonesia, we are showing our solidarity with our union sisters and brothers in other parts of the world,

said Bob LaVenture.

ILWU

IndustriALL affiliate the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), at ILWU Local 30 of Boron,participated and supported in meetings and rallies at shift changes at the Rio Tinto US Borax plant on 7 October to show solidarity with Rio TInto workers around the world.

Union Activists passed out flyers to all ILWU members at the mine to urge them to stand up and fight for all unions under the Rio Tinto umbrella around the world to get a fair contract and a safe workplace.

We know this for a fact at Boron. During our struggle with Rio Tinto during the 2010 Lockout unions around the world showed us support.

said Dave Liebengood, ILWU Local 30 President

MONGOLIA Rio Tinto actions

IndustriALL affiliate the Federation of Energy, Geology and Mining Workers’ Trade Unions of Mongolia (MEGM) participated in the Rio Tinto global day by handing out the Rio Tinto Ugly Truth flyer both at the mine site in OT and in the streets of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.