Asia-Pacific conference highlights struggles and women’s representation

IndustriALL Global Union’s first ever statutory regional Asia-Pacific conference gathered 230 participants to Bangkok, Thailand on 15-16 May 2014. More than 80 women attended the regional women’s conference the day earlier.

The delegates debated the goals and strategies of IndustriALL and adopted the Bangkok Declaration that confirms the commitment of unions to focus on a number of priority actions:

1. Build union power and expand organizing efforts

2. Respond to multinational companies, including through strengthening our GFA capacity, union networks and our capacity for joint action

3. Advocate worker rights

4. Fight against precarious work

5. Ensure employment related to sustainable industry

6. Strengthen the leadership and participation of women

7. Ensure that the structures of IndustriALL are truly representative of the diversity of our unions and regions.

The conference condemned the persecution and imprisonment of trade union and democracy activists in several Asia-Pacific countries. Delegates promised to stand with the Cambodian garment unions in their struggle for a living wage and the right to organize. They condemned companies such as Ansell in Sri Lanka and Samsung in Korea which resist organizing and collective bargaining, pay low wages and fail to provide safe and healthy working conditions.

The plenary adopted a resolution proposed by the regional women’s conference, calling on IndustriALL to amend its statutes to set a quota of a minimum 40 per cent women's representation at all levels of IndustriALL, including the leadership, executive committee, union building projects and other activities. The sectors need to have two co-presidents, a man and a woman.

The conference paused to remember workers who have lost their lives in industrial homicides such as Rana Plaza in Bangladesh and at the Soma Mine in Turkey. The delegates urged the clothing brands to take responsibility for the workers’ conditions in their supply chains and consequences of their actions, contributing to the Rana Plaza Trust Fund to ensure full compensation funds for victims of killed and injured workers.

IndustriALL was requested to cooperate with the ITUC in taking a strong union position on the ASEAN Economic Community, free trade agreements and bilateral arrangements, to ensure inclusion of workers’ rights and reject investment protection clauses.

The conference was opened by Yongyuth Mentapao on behalf of the Thai affiliates regrouped in Confederation of Industrial Labour of Thailand (CILT), Koichiro Nishihara, President of JCM of Japan and IndustriALL’s regional chairperson and Yoshiteru Uramoto, Regional Director of ILO’s Regional Office in Bangkok.

Regional conferences approve women’s quota

Similar resolutions were passed at both conferences, although the resolution at the Asia-Pacific conference is slightly broader. It reads:

“We call on IndustriALL to commit itself to reaching gender parity at every level of our Federation and within our affiliates.

As an important step to achieve this we call on IndustriALL to amend its statutes to set a quota of a minimum 40 per cent women’s representation at all levels of IndustriALL in the Congress, the Executive committee and the leadership including the President and the Vice Presidents, the General Secretary and the Assistant General Secretaries, and including all trainings and capacity building in general and in all IndustriALL activities. The sectors need to have one Co-President man and one Co-President woman.

The women’s working group should consider through discussions with affiliates measures to reach this quota.”

Regional women’s conferences were held the day before each regional conference. At these conferences a series of issues were contemplated, from violence against women to precarious work and organizing, maternity protection, health and safety and women’s leadership.

Violence was especially important at the conference in Colombia, not least against the backdrop of the violence faced by trade unionists there. Sexual harassment and bullying are still rampant even in sophisticated workplaces, not to mention among contract workers. IndustriALL was urged to launch a campaign to combat violence against women.

One feature at the conference in Colombia was the role played by young people. The women’s conference was opened by a young woman who is the first woman in Colombia to drive a coal train, with all of the challenges that involves, even including the lack of sanitary facilities for women.

Precarious work is of vital concern to women in particular. Moreover the majority of workers in the informal economy, which is predominant in most developing countries, are women. IndustriALL needs to continue its work to stop precarious work and especially to organize precarious workers. Since most of the work is outsourced in the meantime in all sectors, this means that more women are present even in what was traditionally male dominated industries.

Maternity protection has still not been achieved for most women workers and for contract workers in particular. Women are still forced to hide their pregnancies, even to the point of miscarrying. In addition ILO Convention 183 on maternity protection has not been ratified by any country in Asia Pacific. These attacks against women will continue until and unless maternity is accepted as a social responsibility and public policies are put into place to ensure safe pregnancies, childcare and maternity and paternity rights. Both conferences insisted that the responsibility for children has to be shared equally by men and women.

In connection with health and safety the focus was on the tragedy in Bangladesh. IndustriALL’s efforts with the Accord were applauded. Bangladesh was also the focus in connection with efforts to achieve a living wage, in which Cambodia was also highlighted.

Women in panels portrayed successful stories of women leadership and were an example to all.

With these and similar efforts we are confident that IndustriALL will achieve decent work for women.

Global unions and brands to meet Cambodian government for critical talks

The high-level discussions will take place in the capital Phnom Penh on Monday 26 May between the government, IndustriALL Global Union and brands and retailers including H&M, Gap, Levi’s, Puma, Inditex, Debenhams and New Look amongst others.

It is the second round of talks between the parties in a matter of months, following a previous meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministers of Labour and Commerce and other senior government officials in February.

IndustriALL’s general secretary, Jyrki Raina, who will be attending the meeting and also representing the ITUC and Uni Global Union, said:

“Despite assurances from the government in February, there have since been unprecedented levels of intimidation, violence, and a declining respect for the rule of law, which together constitute a grave attack on union and worker rights."

The concerted message from global unions and brands to the Cambodian government is clear: political stability and respect for human and worker rights are essential to maintaining sourcing in Cambodia.

In the past few months, striking garment workers have been forced back to work by the military, workers have been summarily dismissed and garment factories have launched a catalogue of lawsuits against union leaders.

Unions and brands also maintain their concern about the continued detention of 21 wage protestors and the fair trial of all 23, as well as the lack of progress in forming a minimum wage determination mechanism.

To date, there have been no independent investigations of workers killed by police in attacks on wage protestors in January, and those affected have not received any form of compensation.

Cambodia was recently given a score of five by the ITUC’s Global Rights Index for trade union rights abuses. Only countries where the rule of law has completely broken down got a lower rating.   

For more information, please contact: 
Leonie Guguen, Communications Officer, IndustriALL Global Union. 
Tel: +41 22 308 50 23 
[email protected] 
www.industriALL-union.org 
Switchboard: +41 22 308 50 50

Government support for a living wage in Zambia

The labour minister was addressing delegates at the MUZ Quadrennial Conference that took place from 14 to 16 May 2014. He told the conference that industry was complaining about the new minimum wage which is above the poverty line but he said the government believes this is important for the country. He also assured MUZ of government support in making sure industry is working according the laws of the country.

IndustriALL Regional Secretary Fabian Nkomo said, "The areas of focus of MUZ are in line with key strategic areas of IndustriALL and with the pledged support of government to improve workers livelihoods, the growth of MUZ is eminent".

About 200 delegates from 43 branches of MUZ attended the conference held under the theme “Workers’ Rights First”. The opening session of the conference focused on organising and building unity of workers in the mining industry. A message of condolence was also sent from the conference to the families and relatives of the mine workers who lost their lives in a mine explosion in the Turkish town of Soma.

“We would like to call upon the Turkish Government to ratify and domesticate ILO Convention No. 176 which will promote a healthy and safe working environment in the mining industry in Turkey,” said MUZ President Chishimba Nkole. 

Trinidad and Tobago unions mobilize for mass demo

The demonstration is organized by a coalition of unions and social justice groups. 

Their discontent stems from government attempts to privatize key state-owned enterprises and to increase the 40-hour working week, as well as from unprecedented levels of corruption and violence which are threatening the country’s stability and development.

Earlier this month, the planned action was featured in the discussion on “building union power for social and economic justice” at IndustriALL Global Union’s regional conference for Latin America and the Caribbean.

After hearing from representatives from the oilfields workers union (OWTU) and steel workers union (SWUTT) how the current government has failed to implement the ‘Workers’ Agenda’ to which it committed itself in the lead-up to the 2010 elections, conference delegates from thirteen countries wholeheartedly endorsed the mass rally.

Said General Secretary Jyrki Raina in a subsequent letter addressed to its affiliates in Trinidad and Tobago: “IndustriALL Global Union and its affiliates stand with you in your struggle for transparent and accountable governance and for the defence of the rights and interests of workers, and wish you every success in your demonstration”.

Addressing gender based violence in Tanzania

A Women’s Workshop in Arusha brought together 25 women shop stewards from the energy, mining and textile sectors organised by the Tanzania Union of Industrial and Commercial Workers (Tuico) and the Tanzania Mines, Energy, Construction and Allied Workers Union (Tamico). The workshop addressed HIV and AIDS related issues confronted by women at the workplace, most specifically gender based violence.

Sexual harassment and rape were discussed at length and the extent of these issues, in particular for young women from textile factories was uncovered.

“Women were encouraged during the workshop not to accept sexual harassment and rape and report any offence to their trade union representative at the plant should they fear management,” said the HIV and AIDS coordinator, Paule Ndessomin.

Ndessomin and Regional Officer, Thabo Tshabalala visited to A to Z Textile Ltd that employs mostly women workers. The average age of these workers is 23 and they come from villages, brought to work in the factories. They live in hostels within the factory compound. “Beside work, there are no other activities offered to the young workers”, says Ndessomin. “This could contribute to the high pregnancy rate among these women.”

A workshop was also conducted with 33 Masai women, all Tuico members, at the Maserani village to raise awareness on HIV, AIDS and gender-based violence including female genital mutilation.

This was a follow up visit after a workshop last year where Masai women requested training on HIV and AIDS issues. “There were open discussions on the practices of female genital mutilation,” says Ndessomin. “The Masai women complained about some aspects of their culture but agreed that it would take time for these practices and beliefs to disappear.”

Global unions sign Health and Safety Agreement with GDF Suez

Gérard Mestrallet, CEO of GDF SUEZ, signed the Global Agreement on Health and Safety with IndustriALL Global Union, Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) and Public Services International (PSI) on May 13 in Chile.

The pact, which is an extension of IndustriALL’s Global Framework Agreement with GDF Suez, sets out to eradicate fatal accidents that have a causal link to the company’s operations.

The agreement also sets out to continuously reduce the number of accidents at work; and to improve health by phasing out products containing substitutable toxic substances, particularly chemicals classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction.

Brian Kohler, IndustriALL’s Director of Health, Safety and Sustainability said:

“GDF Suez joins a small group of companies willing to work with their unions to globalize best practices in health and safety. We aim to protect workers throughout all of its multinational operations, as well as workers sub-contracted to it.”

Particular attention is paid to sub-contractors in the construction phase of industrial and infrastructural projects, with GDF Suez undertaking to carry out a risk assessment of each phase of a project to ensure that best practices are followed. Final approval of projects will include criteria for project acceptance and inspection for health and safety issues.  

The agreement will be subject to annual review in a five-year action plan from 2015-2020. 

Union leaders announce commitments to fight against climate change

Unions are taking part in the unions4climate action by mobilising to ensure ambitious commitments from governments, engaging in dialogue to plan for industrial transformation and secure Just Transition measures and organise workers in "sustainable" jobs to ensure decent work and union growth.

ITUC research shows that 48 million new jobs could be created in just 12 countries. In Germany up to 400,000 new renewable energy jobs have been created in just two years.

IndustriALL Director of Sustainability Brian Kohler, says that climate change risks everything the labour movement has ever stood for.

The same people that try to avoid action on climate change have repressed workers for decades. A Just Transition into greener jobs is the key to unlock the door to a sustainable future.

The 3rd ITUC World Congress in Berlin dedicated a new award for Union Action for Climate Justice in memory of Dorje Khatri, leader of his Sherpas’ Union and Vice-President of IndustriALL affiliate GEFONT. The annual award will be announced by the ITUC General Council.

Dorje Khartri, a great climate warrior who planted the IndustriALL flag on the top of Mount Everest, died in a tragic accident at work on the giant mountain.

People can show support and join the movement for climate action: http://act.equaltimes.org/unions4climate

IF Metall congress shows support for workers around the world

On 18 May, IF Metall and more than 40 international guests, including IndustriALL general secretary Jyrki Raina, called on the government of Turkey to act immediately to avoid preventable accidents in mines. As a first step, the government should ratify ILO Convention 176 on Safety and Health in Mines.

The congress slammed the uncaring attitude of the government and mining companies:

This attitude is unacceptable and must come to an end. It is intolerable that mine workers in Turkey are denied their basic human right to work in an environment that guarantees their safety, and that instead they are expected to go to work to die.”

Delegates also expressed support for workers in the Bangladesh garment industry, and the daunting task of organizing the largely union-free sector. The union presented IndustriALL with a gift to the global union’s fund for organizing and campaigning in Bangladesh.

IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Jyrki Raina said in his speech:

Our 600 affiliates are committed to buid global solidarity, and here IF Metall plays an important role. Your hands-on support in promoting trade union rights and organizing in countries like Colombia, South Africa, Bangladesh and Indonesia makes a difference and shows that change is possible.”

The congress re-elected Anders Ferbe for president and Veli-Pekka Säikkälä as collective bargaining officer. Marie Nilsson was elected vice president, and Monika Theodorsson was re-elected as union secretary. 

PROFILE: Fighting for women in the DRC

Profile

Text: Aisha Bahadur

In 1994, Josée was dismissed from her job as a nurse when requesting extended maternity leave during a difficult pregnancy. After four years at home she approached the union to challenge her unfair dismissal and was reinstated.

I realised that without the union you have no one to fight for you

            – Josée

She has continued to spread this simple message to other workers after being elected as a union representative in 1999. In 2003 she was put in charge of women’s issues at CSC on a full-time basis.

I would go around from company to company in all the sectors we cover, share my story and encourage women to join the union.

At every company with trade union membership the CSC organize elections for a women’s committee. The women’s committee’s main purpose is to highlight and combat the problems faced by women in the work place.

There are few formal sector jobs in the DRC, where surprisingly women outnumber men in terms of those with jobs. But these jobs commonly come at a price and it is an established practice that male bosses give jobs to women in exchange for sex. Once in employment sex is again used for job security and to advance, "we call this ‘sofa promotions’ here”, shares Josée. Sexual harassment in the workplace is rife and can occur before and during employment.

Josée says the situation for women in the informal sector is worse;

Without the benefits of health insurance, retirement funds and family allowances, women in the informal economy face many hardships with no social protection.”

They are also frequently harassed to pay ‘taxes’ by various corrupt state agents or have their goods confiscated.

Added to that is a level of violence towards women that is so extreme in conflict areas that the union promotes that women wear female condoms when going about their work. Rape is an everyday reality and so insurmountable to prevent at a systemic level that the best that can be offered is to ensure that there is protection in place.

Josée explains,

when a woman is taken forcefully at least she may be spared sexually transmitted diseases.

These conflict areas are situated around mineral extraction, where small scale mining can be found. They are characterized by overcrowding as people seek out meagre opportunities to earn what they can from the demand for minerals which eventually find their way to multinational companies and the global market. Women come to sell things to the miners like food. What can be taken from them forcefully is sometimes sold willingly.

Women engage in prostitution in these areas as a way to survive or supplement what they earn from the goods that they are able to sell, 

            – Josée

Josée speaks of a project that the CSC has had for the last two years reaching out to women in conflict areas. But she acknowledges that little can be achieved without the political will on the part of government to address the underlying issues.

"It can be challenging, stressful and frustrating but it is a passionate job for me knowing I am helping other women,… Slowly we are getting there, women are getting to know their rights, participating more in the union and I am proud to be part of positive change.”

            – Josée

But the severity of the situation created by conflict is a huge obstacle to meaningful progress.

These minerals are not going anywhere. Multinationals could invest properly, create jobs and stability, 

rationalises Josée,

What we need is peace, when there is no peace, nothing can be achieved. This is my dream for the DRC, that we may know peace.