Dis-connecting people – raising the voice of workers at Nokia India

In 2005, Finnish Company Nokia set up its largest mobile phone assembling plant in Sriperumbadur Taluk, Tamil Nadu. Attracted by the tax concessions offered under the Special Economic Zone Act 2005, resource subsidies and an army of cheap labour, Nokia made profits by assembling the phones in India and sell them globally. In just five years the plant produced 500 million phones, and hired more than 12,000 workers, majority young women.

After eight years of profits, the company now faces charges of tax evasion by the Indian Government. The threat of imminent closure of the factory and loss of employment looms large for thousands of workers.

The film documents the voices of workers that have remained largely muted in the tax battle between the company and the state. The workers share there experiences of working for Nokia; the happy times of being 'connected'; of building dreams of becoming middle class; their fears, anxiety and anger of suddenly being 'dis-connected' by the company that they helped become profitable with their hard work; and their resolve to fight for their employment.

Global May Day celebrations

In Madagascar, Fisema Fort Dauphin marched with fellow trade unions, before organizing a debate on the importance of social partnership for a sustainable company development.

In Bangladesh the National Garment Workers Federation rallied on the streets of Dhaka together with thousands of textile workers. The IndustriALL affiliate demanded compensation for the dead and injured of the Rana Plaza and Tazreen tragedies, and a safe workplace for everyone in the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh.

To mark May Day, Bangladeshi trade union BGTLWF marched in one of Savar’s industrial zones.

Members of IndustriALL affiliate Sommelito demonstrated on May Day.

In Pakistan, secretary general Haji Muhammad Saeed Arian and chairperson Atiua Saleem Chairperson were among those addressing the audience in the WFTU-PLF National Seminar on May Day.

In Berlin, IndustriALL marked the day alongside LabourStart and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF).

Switzerland saw IndustriALL Global Union staff march on the streets of Geneva and Bern, together with affilated union Unia.

In Mexico City, Mexico, IndustriALL general secretary Jyrki Raina and assistant general secretary Fernando Lopes rallied along side fellow trade unionists.

Chilean affiliates rallied to celebrate the international workers' day.

Tell AB InBev to respect ruling for reinstatement of dismissed workers in Mexico

On 26 January 2008, Industria Vidriera del Potosí, a subsidiary of Grupo Modelo-AB InBev, sacked 220 workers including the entire executive committee of the IndustriALL-affiliated glass workers' union SUTEIVP. They did so following the negotiated agreement of a 19 per cent wage increase by the independent union.

This success infuriated the local authorities and employers in San Luis Potosi industrial areas who joined forces to get rid of SUTEIVP and to send a signal that no democratic union would be tolerated in the area. Because of the sacking of the 220, the union filed a strike notice with the local labour authorities to protest against the dismissals, which were a violation of the collective agreement. The authorities declared that the union demand was not valid, and prevented the union acting in defense of the sacked workers.

Since June 2013, AB InBev owns 100 per cent of Grupo Modelo and is responsible for the actions of Grupo Modelo's management. These actions are a clear attack on ABInBev/Grupo Modelo workers' fundamental rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining; rights recognized in a number of international standards that AB InBev claims to subscribe to.

Workers currently face huge hardship as a result of the company's actions. This hardship is compounded by "company blacklisting" and by complicit local labour authorities making it practically impossible for the dismissed workers and their families to find work locally and in other regions of Mexico. Despite this substantial hardship, and having refused a financial settlement blatantly aimed at persuading the workers to give up their fundamental rights, 33 workers continue to insist on reinstatement to their former jobs and their rights fully restored.

These 33 workers who have been fighting for justice since 2008 won reinstatement at Vidriera de San Luis Potosí as a result of the ruling of Conciliation and Arbitration Board at the beginning of April 2014.

In addition to ordering the reinstatement of members of the independent trade union, the Board ordered the defendant company VIDRIERA to reinstate workers to their posts under the same terms and conditions of employment that existed prior to their dismissal, and to pay them an amount corresponding to outstanding unpaid wages which will continue to accumulate until they are reinstated in accordance with this ruling.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Fernando Lopes says:

"For more than six years, our affiliate has been dedicated to defend all the Grupo Modelo workers' right to freedom of association. IndustriALL fully backs their struggle in reclaiming a decent job for all.”

Act now to tell AB INBEV to respect the ruling for the reinstatement of the dismissed workers in Mexico!

Fighting inequality

One of the main themes of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January 2014 was inequality. Now the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank voice concerns about the same problem, but the elite has presented few solutions.

The gap between rich and poor is widening in almost every nation. An increasing amount of the money of the richest people is inherited wealth. French economist Thomas Piketty talks about “patrimonial capitalism” and points out that the ten wealthiest Americans are already heirs, rather than self-made entrepreneurs.

These oligarchs contribute little to the national economy. The Republicans cut the top rates on dividends from 39.6 per cent (taxed as ordinary income) to 15 per cent, and eliminated the real estate tax. A new right-wing road map calls for the total elimination of taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains. Nice life without any taxes; who cares about the poor!

Nobel-prize winning economist Paul Krugman adds that income from capital is concentrated in the hands of a few people in the US. In 1979, the top 1 per cent of households got 17 per cent of the business income. In 2007, the same small group enjoyed 43 per cent of the business income and 75 per cent of the capital gains.

The US is not alone. In Russia in the 1990s, oligarchs took control over national oil, gas and mineral resources at ridiculous prices during murky privatizations. Even in China, a new business elite is rising, joining billionaires in Indonesia, Thailand and other Asian countries which have low taxes.

The problem for democracy is that these oligarchs wield considerable power. They have the money to buy the necessary influence for them to contribute to the common good as little as possible.

Yet part of the solution is that the coupon-clippers, heirs and companies have to take their fair share of financing infrastructure, education, social protection and quality public services. There is no reason why they should pay less taxes than ordinary wage-earners.

In a borderless world, capital moves easily from a place to another. IndustriALL supports the international campaign for tax justice and against tax havens. Despite some modest measures taken by governments, wealthy individuals and major multinational companies are actively dodging taxes.

Improving the conditions for the poor effectively reduces inequality. IndustriALL is actively supporting action to continue to increase minimum wages in countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia, where the lives of tens of millions of people have been improved during the last two years following 50-80 per cent raises. More mobilization will follow to reach the level of a living wage.

Universal social protection is equally as important. According to the ITUC Global Poll 2013, people around the world want affordable health care (97 per cent), education (97 per cent), decent retirement income (96 per cent) and affordable access to childcare (92 per cent). Yet, almost 80 per cent of the world’s population does not have adequate social protection.

Reducing inequality is a question of political will, values and struggle. Let us build union power together and mobilize for economic and social justice!

Jyrki Raina

General Secretary

Indonesia: 363 workers suspended for demanding an end to precarious contracts

In 2008, 500 workers at Pertamina formed a union affiliated to the Federation of Mining and Energy (FPE-SBSI). With increased knowledge on the Indonesian labour law and the ILO Decent Work Agenda, workers and the FPE-SBSI demanded that they be moved from precarious employment to permanent workers. Some of the workers had worked at Pertamina for more than 20 years.

The Aceh Industrial Court supported the demand and ruled that Pertamina should give the workers permanent contracts. Ignoring this decision, Pertamina brought the case to the Supreme Court in Jakarta in an attempt to nullify the verdict and simultaneously suspended the 363 workers indefinitely.

The result of this suspension has been dramatic for some workers and their families. Four workers have died as they were denied medical care facilities, and many young children have been forced to leave school, as their parents can’t afford it.

Together with the IndustriALL National Council in Indonesia, the FPE campaigned at the Indonesian Parliament. In October last year the campaign resulted in 12 recommendations concerning employment in state owned companies (SOCs):

1. SOC Minister is obliged to respect this decision

2. To eliminate all types of outsourcing in all SOCs

3. It is prohibited for all SOC to intimidate the unions and its members in SOC

4. No termination of employment because of this decision

5. SOC should pay all the rights of workers that already have been dismissed

6. All workers under the process of termination of employment should be reinstated

7. SOC should pay the salary for workers under the process of employment termination

8. Normative rights should be respected

9. SOC director cannot use the SOC budget for dispute settlement

10. Request to the Labour Department and Police to follow-up violation of labour law in SOC

11. These recommendations should be effective 15 days since the decision was taken on 22 October 2013

12. IX Commission will set up Working Committee with Labour Minister and Representatives of Unions

IndustriALL Global Union continues the fight to end precarious working conditions and to ensure strict limits on the use of precarious work. IndustriALL strongly encourage its affiliates to send letters of solidarity to support the struggling workers to engage Pertamina in a meaningful dialogue with the FPE-SBSI.

With 1 May approaching, remember to mobilize your members and join the global fight to STOP Precarious Work!

Turkish government bans May Day celebrations in historic Taksim square

When national trade union centres DİSK and KESK and their affiliates, together with the Chamber of Medicine and Chamber of Engineers, declared their intention to celebrate May Day in Taksim Square, the Turkish Government simply banned the celebrations. The famous square has been the scene for excessive force against activists before; during May Day in 2013, police violence against trade unionists culminated with hundreds of severly injured people, including a 17-year old girl.

May Day celebrations represent important milestones for Turkey's labour movement, and the Taksim square in Istanbul is of special significance for Turkish trade unions. The first massive May Day celebration took place at the Taksim Square in 1976. Led by the national centre DİSK, hundreds of thousands of workers participated. The celebrations in 1977 drew more than 500,000 people to the same place. In a tragic turn of events, 37 people were killed by unknown gunmen.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the government of Turkey violated Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, on the right to freedom of association, when it used repressive measures against members of DISK and KESK to prevent the 2008 May Day rally in Taksim Square.

Likewise, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has underlined the importance of May Day to trade unions, and the right of trade unions to carry out activities on this day. As the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association has explained: “the right to organize public meetings and processions, particularly on the occasion of May Day, constitutes an important aspect of trade union rights”.

“We are deeply concerned about the Turkish Government's attitude towards trade unions and civil society who want to organize peaceful demonstrations on May Day,” says Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union.

We support the legitimate demands of the Turkish trade unions to celebrate May Day in Taksim Square without repression, detention and violence.

Please sign Labourstart's campaign for the right to celebrate May Day in Taksim Square in Turkey.

UAW and IndustriALL alert OECD to rights abuses at Nissan USA

The UAW and IndustriALL, which represents Nissan and Renault unions worldwide, assert that Nissan’s “aggressive campaign of interference” with employees’ efforts to form a union at the Canton, Mississippi plant is in violation of OECD guidelines on workers’ freedom of association.

“Nissan and its Alliance partner Renault works with unions in every part of the world, yet in the United States it acts very differently. We are hopeful the OECD process will help us reach a just and fair resolution that ensures all Nissan workers can exercise the fundamental right to Freedom of Association without fear of retaliation or threats of job loss.” said Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL.

A research report issued by the Mississippi NAACP in 2013, detailed systematic management predictions that Nissan would close the factory if workers form a union. The union has offered a plan called “UAW Principles for a Fair Election,” but Nissan has refused to engage the union on steps to ensure employee choice in an atmosphere free of fear and intimidation.

The unions’ action is based on U.S. endorsement of the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, a set of rules adopted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD is an international economic policy body in which the United States plays a key leadership role.

The OECD Guidelines aim to promote ethical behaviour by multinational corporations in their foreign operations and supply chains. The guidelines cover human rights, non-corruption, tax honesty, environmental responsibility and other markers of good corporate conduct in firms’ overseas activities. They also cover employment and industrial relations, and require non-interference by management with workers’ organizing rights.

Each OECD country maintains a National Contact Point (NCP) to serve as a forum for confidential mediation and conciliation in disputes over the guidelines. Based in the State Department, the U.S. NCP relies on experienced mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to bring parties together in a confidential forum to explore ways of ending a conflict.

Under the OECD Guidelines, the U.S. NCP can also collaborate with counterparts in Japan, France, and the Netherlands. Nissan is a Japanese corporation, but it is linked through cross-ownership with French automaker Renault. Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn is the head of both companies, and their Strategic Alliance is incorporated in the Netherlands. As a result, the U.S. NCP can involve NCPs in those countries to help reach a result agreeable to all sides.

“Nissan is a global company that should abide by global standards that the United States and other countries have agreed on,” said UAW President Bob King. “The OECD Guidelines offer a way for the UAW, IndustriALL and Nissan to talk to each other in a neutral setting overseen by professional mediators.”

With the request filed, the U.S. NCP has three months to decide whether to offer mediation services. Mediation would only take place if the UAW, IndustriALL and Nissan accept the NCP’s mediation offer. Once mediation begins, it aims at resolving the dispute within six months.

International Workers' Solidarity Day

Dear colleagues!

May Day greetings to you!
Let this Spring and Labour Day remind the whole world that everything around us is made man's labor. Laborers deserve a decent life and respect for their rights and interests.

The May Day allowed millions of workers all around the world to rally in their fight for the best working conditions and rest. Use this day for advancing your demands and strengthening the unity of trade union ranks.

We wish you and your families best holiday spirit these May days.

Staff of the Moscow office of the Global union IndustriALL
Vadim Borisov
Natalya Afonina
Maxim Belousov
Olga Kolos

Unions speak out against Crown with field actions

On April 24 protest actions took place in Philadelphia, U.S. where Crown Holdings held its annual shareholders meeting with participation of union representatives in capacity of shareholder. However in an unprecedented bid to avoid uncomfortable questions the Crown Holdings CEO John Conway announced only written questions would be answered. However he even ignored the written questions from shareholders concerning the company’s anti-labour practices both in Europe and North America.

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary condemned Conway saying, “This is unprecedented, not only Crown Holdings shows disrespect to its workers who in daily hardship are growing its wealth, but the company’s arrogance goes as far as to ignore the concerns of their shareholders in the issues that have a direct impact on company’s future. We will not stop there and will continue escalating our solidarity campaign together with the workers of Crown Holdings, and we render the leadership of the company accountable for all unsustainability the company will face in the future.”

Earlier the same day in Turkey, two strikers, members of the United Steelworkers Local 9176, Stephen McHugh and Deborah Amos participated in a press conference organized by the IndustriALL’s Turkish affiliate Birlesik Metal-Is held in Izmit. At the press conference Birlesik Metal-Is leadership and the USW strikers revealed to the press different facts about the company misbehaviour including dismissal of four union organizers under false accusations as well as argued against the rumours distributed by the company about relocation of the Crown production plant in Turkey following the supreme court decision confirming that Birlesik Metal-Is is the legal and legitimate bargaining agent without further resort for the company.

The very next day, 25 April, the delegation of IndustriALL Global Union composed of the strikers McHugh and Amos, activists of IndustriALL’s Swiss affiliate UNIA and representatives from the head office met representatives of the Crown European division in Baar, Switzerland. The delegation exposed the union busting practices applied by the company against its workers in Turkey and Canada and submitted a letter with union demands to the company. The delegation was assured that the message would be forwarded to the senior leadership of Crown Holdings.

The next series of actions are taking place in Italy and France.

Victory of trade unions in Kyrgyzstan

At the end of February 2014 amendments to the Criminal Code were submitted to the parliament of Republic of Kyrgyzstan. According to these amendments directors and staff of strategically important enterprises could be imprisoned for up to 15 years for failure or stoppage of production. This bill was published on February 28, 2014 on the official website Zhogorka Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic for ensuring public discussion.

It was followed by reaction of IndustriALL and other labor unions in protection of the rights of workers and the international campaign in support of the rights of workers was organized. IndustriALL made a motion to withdraw the bill or make changes to it.

The adoption of this bill was counted inexpedient after a train of the protest letters directed to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, to the heads of parliamentary fractions and the speaker of Parliament. As a result, drafting amendments were made to the bill. Thanks to these amendments action of this bill won't extend on the non-management employees participating in strikes, but only on directors and structural divisions for intentional actions which can entail stoppage of production.
Now discussion of the bill is performed in the edition which isn't violating legitimate rights of workers on holding strikes.

Eldar Tadzhibayev, the chairman of the Mining and Metallurgy Trade Union of Kyrgyzstan (MMTUK), an affiliate of IndustriALL, estimates such result as a clear victory of trade unions:

This has been achieved through the mass protest letters from MMTUK, the federation of trade unions and industry professional associations, the international professional associations, such as IndistriALL Global Union and from the divisions of labor unions in other countries. We didn't allow adoption of the anticonstitutional bill.

Kemal Özkan, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL, says:

We are glad that our joint efforts helped the MMTUK to fight back the planned attack on the workers' rights to defend their interests.