Turkish Glass Workers Reach Collective Agreement After Strike Ban

According to Turkish legislation, “a lawful strike or lock-out that has been called or commenced may be suspended by the Council of Ministers for 60 days with a decree if it is prejudicial to public health or national security. The suspension shall come into force on the date of publication of the decree“.

The legislation further reads “if an agreement is not reached before the expiry date of the suspension period, the High Board of Arbitration settles the dispute upon the application of either party within six working days. Otherwise, the competence of the workers’ trade union shall be void”. It is a well-known fact that the High Arbitration Board never rules in favour of union demands because it is dominated by government and employers’ representatives. This is why Kristal-Is has pursued a strategy to conclude the agreement without going to compulsory arbitration.

In the meantime, Kristal-Is has applied to the State Council for nullification of the Government’s Decree with a demand of suspension of its execution for being able to continue to strike. However surprisingly the State Council has refused this demand on the contrary to its earlier jurisprudence on the basis of economic arguments rather than protecting fundamental rights. In addition to this, Kristal-Is has filed a complaint against Turkish Government at the ILO over violation of the right of collective bargaining, and IndustriALL Global Union supported it. In the meantime, Kristal-Is and its members engaged in a series of nationwide actions.

Before the sixty-day suspension period was about to be over, Kristal-Is has organized a secret-ballot vote on 26 August with its members over the last offer made by the employers at the onoging negotiations. On the basis of the results and potential risk that the collective agreement be concluded by the High Arbitration Committee, Kristal-Is has decided to sign.

The new agreement has brought important achievements to the union members. With the new deal, wages were increased with an average of 14% and a substantial improvement has been made for lower-paid categories. Bonuses and other social payments were augmented by between 10% and 49%.

The agreement covers 5800 glass workers in ten factories of Sisecam group, namely Trakya Cam, Trakya Mersin, Trakya Yenişehir, Trakya Otocam, Cam Elyaf, Paşabahçe Eskişehir, Paşabahçe Mersin, Paşabahçe Kırklareli, Anadolu Cam Mersin and Anadolu Cam Yenişehir.

Kemal Özkan, Assistant General Secretary of IndustriALL stated:

IndustriALL Global Union salutes and congratulates Kristal-Is over its determination for better wages and working conditions during this difficult period. Our right to strike is under threat worldwide. The strike ban in the Turkish glass industry is a clear example of how this fundamental right is critical for us since the strike is a vital instrument for workers in betterment and advancement of their rights and interests.

IndustriALL joins mourning for five killed miners in Bosnia

The last of the five Bosnian miners’ bodies was recovered late Sunday, 7 September. The five were killed after an earthquake triggered a collapse inside the central Raspotocje mine near the town of Zenica, central Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The 3.5-magnitude earthquake caused explosive fractures in the rocks as flammable methane gas pockets were released. The collapsed shafts trapped 34 miners, 29 of whom were rescued within 24 hours of the accident. The joint memorial of the five killed miners took place on Monday in Zenica, with thousands of people attending. The five were then buried in village cemeteries near the town.

Raspotocje has a reputation as Bosnia’s most dangerous coal mine, with frequent rock bursts and accidents. Raspotocje produces coal for Bosnia’s largest power utility, EPBiH, and employs 430 miners. The authorities have not addressed the safety concerns since war damage sustained during the 1990s.

The Raspotocje mine was one of seven coalmines merged in 2009 by the government to supply the EPHiH utility’s coal-fired energy plants. As part of that deal EPBiH pledged to invest more than 70,000 Euros over five years to improve working conditions. Although that money has been spent, almost none has gone to Raspotocje.

IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Raina sent written condolences to president Sinan Husic of the union organizing the mine, the Independent Miners Trade Union of the BIH Federation:

This is a sad and tragic reminder of the importance of ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for miners all over the world, in full accordance with national labour legislation and international core labour standards, including the International Labour Organization’s Convention 176 on Safety and Health in Mines. We strongly encourage the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement its plan to vastly upgrade the operation at the Raspotocje coal mine and improve working conditions.

An injury to one is an injury to all.

Global unions unite to back Cambodian garment workers’ action day

IndustriALL Global Union, UNI Global Union and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) are joining Cambodian garment workers in a day of action on 17 September calling for a rise in the minimum wage from US$100 to US$177.  

In early October, the Labour Advisory Committee (LAC) in Cambodia is set to announce a new minimum wage for workers in the garment, textile and footwear industry, which generates US$5 billion in revenue for the country.

At this critical juncture, IndustriALL, the ITUC and UNI are asking affiliates to take part in the global day of action by organizing protests outside Cambodian embassies and present a letter to the ambassador. Affiliates are also being asked to send letters directly to the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL, said:

“The global day of action on 17 September will be a sharp reminder that the world is watching as Cambodia sets a new minimum wage. Cambodia is an important sourcing country to the fashion industry and yet pitiful wages mean that garment workers live in poverty and are forced to work exhausting hours to survive. We urge the Cambodian government to listen to workers’ demands for a peaceful path to a just wage – or seriously risk jeopardizing brands’ confidence in the country as a sourcing partner.”

A coalition of garment unions, including IndustriALL affiliates, agreed on the figure of US$177 based on a study commissioned by the Cambodian government for the LAC. The study found that the minimum wage should be between $157 and $177 dollars a month. This number is also close to the amount had the original minimum wage for the sector been adjusted for inflation over time – around $170.

Philip Jennings, General Secretary of UNI Global Union said, “Cambodia has a choice, either to take the high road to becoming a sustainable, ethical, fair play industry or the low road that leads to the bottom. The eyes of everyone from consumers to brands are on Cambodia. Cambodia do the right thing and raise the minimum wage to US$177.”

Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, further explained:

“The impoverishment of workers in supply chains is a global scandal. In Cambodia, garment workers’ labour supports a multi-billion dollar industry, while wages are insufficient to cover basic expenses, including adequate food and shelter for themselves and their families. Cambodia will simply not move forward if the economic strategy is to continue to rely on a poverty wage system. We strongly support the unions’ call for a living wage and urge the government to act now.”

Ends

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Leonie Guguen

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Tel: 00 41 (0)22 308 50 24

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Juno Lighting workers celebrate the joy of victory

The workers went on strike as the last remedy in their fight for decent conditions and fair wages after several months of negotiations prior to the end of the previous agreement in August.

At the end of the strike the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board representing the striking workers shared the information about Juno Lighting workers’ victory. Reportedly the newly reached deal includes an average wage increase from US$11.90 to US$13.30 per hour. Also workers managed to obtain improvements in many other benefits including the double sick pay and a decrease in the cost of family insurance.

In his letter to IndustriALL Richard Monje, International vice president of Workers United/SEIU praised the support of the IndustriALL Global Union family playing an important role in assuring justice for Juno workers, he said, “this is a victory not only for Workers United members at Juno Lighting but for global labor solidarity“.

IndustriALL Global Union Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan commented on the victory, “We are indeed glad that the dispute at Juno Lighting Group is over and the management of the Group came quickly to its senses and made the right choice when it accepted the workers’ demands. We salute the determination of Juno workers and share their joy of victory with all our members across the globe."

SAPPI trade union network builds worker power

Responding to a common trend throughout SAPPI’s international operations of cuts to employment conditions and attacks on trade union rights, the SAPPI trade unions created the first IndustriALL company network in the paper sector a year ago, in June 2013.

The 3-4 September meeting was conducted in Brussels and hosted by IndustriALL’s Belgian affiliates representing SAPPI workers at the two confederations ACV/BIE and ABVV/FGTB. Twenty-two participants from USA, Germany, Belgium and IndustriALL participated.

The network builds power and solidarity between SAPPI unions through important information exchange and comparisons of company tactics in the respective plants in different countries. 

Common concerns of SAPPI workers regardless of the country include increased outsourcing, retrenchment without reduced workload, increased outsourcing and precarious working contracts, health and safety concerns, and workers being played off against each other by management. An example of a common anti worker tactic is SAPPI’s two-tier contracts that make it increasingly difficult for unions to organise new and young workers.

The network agreed its plan of action going forward continuing its exercise of mapping union strength throughout the company, and continue to build its unity going forward.

The network elected Peter Schuld of IG BCE as its new president for the coming two years.

IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Jyrki Raina stated:

The SAPPI trade union network now stands as an example to others for building power and unity amongst workers inside a multinational.  We will continue to build the foundations and establish a strong counterweight to this company.

Sappi has approximately 13,500 employees in over 20 countries in Africa, North America and Europe. Sappi’s paper production capacity is 5.6 million tons a year, paper pulp production is 3.5 million tons a year, and is the world's largest manufacturer of dissolving wood pulp with production capacity of 1.3 million tons a year.

Sappi’s paper products are used for countless paper products, from magazine covers to confectionary wrapping, from cigarette packets to jam jar labels.

Urgent call to action for Cambodian garment workers!

In early October, the Labour Advisory Committee in Cambodia is to announce a new minimum wage for workers in the garment, textile and footwear industry, which generates US$5 billion in revenue for the country.

At this critical juncture, a coalition of Cambodian garment unions has called for international solidarity to support their demands for a raise in the minimum wage from US$100 to US$177 a month.

IndustriALL, the ITUC and UNI are asking affiliates to take part in the global day of action by organizing mobilizations outside Cambodian embassies and presenting a letter to the ambassador. As there are only a few Cambodian embassies around the world, affiliates can also send a letter directly to the Cambodian government.

Garment workers in Cambodia deserve to live in dignity and receive a fair wage. Poverty wages mean that many workers are undernourished and compelled to work exhausting overtime hours to survive.

Affiliate support for our similar day of action on 10 February was instrumental in helping to release 23 Cambodian wage protestors arrested by authorities during the deadly police crackdown on demonstrators in January.

Please show your support now and help make a difference again.

Email us for more information on how to join your nearest action: [email protected].  

Download this model letter to present to the Cambodian Ambassador.

Download and print the campaign poster (opposite) and take it to your protest, and send us the pictures! 

12 workers in Pakistan acquitted after two-year trial

Charges against the 12 workers were brought in 2012; they were accused of engaging in political activities Under the Pakistani Anti-Terrorist Act. Six of the accused workers were arrested and tortured at the local police station in Karachi. They were later released on bail.

After enduring a long trial with more than 100 hearings, the twelve activists were finally acquitted on 29 August.

IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina welcomes the acquittal:

We are happy to see the end of this struggle after a drawn-out trial. We will support our affiliate and their relentless fight for trade union rights in Pakistan.

Juno Lighting Group workers in dispute for fair wages in U.S.

Juno Lighting Group’s workers are represented by the Local 2565, Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United, SEIU, an IndustriALL affiliate, and are bargaining a new collective agreement covering wages and conditions of employment for the hourly employees at Des Plaines, Illinois.  The decision to go on strike has been taken following several months of negotiations before and after the expiry of their current agreement at the end of August.

Juno Lighting Group is a private company purchased by the French multi-national Schneider Electric back in 2005.

Over the last months previous to the expiry of the contract Juno Lighting Group has insisted upon proposals the union believes to be unreasonable, because if accepted workers would be taken away their ability to have a living wage and dignity. Despite the fact that Local 2565 has already agreed to many of the demands put forward by the company, Juno Lighting Group demands for more concessions. The union says the Group has thrived since 1976 and can’t understand why the company needs to deny its workers of just wages.

The union says this is not a fight about worker “greed.” It is about worker justice. Unfortunately, Juno Lighting Group has forced the workers to engage in a labour strike based on Juno Lighting Group’s desire to undermine the union members’ living standards.

To support the striking workers IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina sent letter to the CEO of Schneider Electric France SA. In his letter Jyrki Raina said, “Workers United at Local 2565 are on strike as of yesterday due to the unwillingness of Juno Lighting to accept the reasonable and fair demands of workers for a wage increase. Instead, the company is offering a reduced wage increase to an already underpaid workforce. Workers are rightfully demanding a living wage that would help offset the rising cost of living, including individual healthcare coverage, housing, food, and education.”

In his letter Raina further added, “it is imperative that Schneider Electric guarantee decent working conditions and fair remuneration to the workers at its US subsidiary Juno Lighting, in full compliance with national labour law and international core labour standards.”

IndustriALL also conveyed a message of solidarity to the striking workers.

Juno Lighting Group has been established in 1976, and is engaged in the design, assembly and manufacture of a range of recessed and track architectural grade lighting products. Juno Lighting Group is one of the principal players in the US$12 Billion Lighting Industry.

Striking miners in Iran are released

Nine workers at the Bafgh Iron Ore Mine in Yazd, Iran, were detained when opposing the government’s insistence in privatizing the company, and, as consequence, deteriorating the working conditions of the miners.
 
More than 5,000 miners downed tools in support of the arrested colleagues, but yesterday went back to work when all nine workers were released on bail and authorities promised to stop the privatization.
 
IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan says:

We welcome the release of the arrested workers, but the struggle is not over. We continue to support the workers and their fight for the mine not to be privatised.

IndustriALL building power through support for organizing in Turkey

Trade union membership in Turkey has fallen dramatically in recent years. Participants in the two-day workshop identified a connection between declining unionization and an intensification of work, longer working hours and worsening work-life balance. They renewed their commitment to make organizing new members a top priority for their unions.

The workshop included discussions of principles of organizing, getting prepared for and planning organizing campaigns, prior organizing successes and failures, and global campaign strategies and tactics.

IndustriALL affiliate Petrol-IS presented their innovative “Get Unionized” organizing campaign. This campaign focuses on proactive and open communications with workers and the public, and on spreading the message that it is a workers’ right to get unionized.

“Unions in Turkey are under attack from the same neoliberal forces attacking unions around the globe. IndustriALL is working with our Turkish unions to ensure they can respond to these forces and build their power through organizing,” said IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan.

The workshop was jointly organized by IndustriALL and sister organisation UNI Global Union for Turkish affiliates of both federations. The two organisations have collaborated extensively on the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, an agreement designed to make all garment factories in Bangladesh safe workplaces. They have used their affiliates’ representation at different parts in the supply chain to pressure employers to join the Accord. IndustriALL has also collaborated with UNI on a joint IBM network. The IndustriALL’s Pulp & Paper sector has on going joint work with UNI’s graphical sector.