Mexican Teksid workers ambushed and beaten up for organizing by CTM thugs

Workers at Teksid Hierro in Monclova, Ciudad Frontera, Coahuila, Mexico, part of the Fiat Chrysler Group, are fighting back against abusive reprisals for organizing. Three workers, Marisol Ruiz Moreno, Orlando Mendoza Guardiola and Oscar Arturo Rodríguez Ponce, were sacked on 18 April and 11 more were savagely and cowardly assaulted by 80-100 hired thugs, while coming out of a meeting with management and labour authorities on 21 April. These attacks are in direct response to workers organizing to join the Los Mineros union, rejecting the CTM, and conducting a brief work stoppage on 16 April to protest disgracefully low wages and benefits.

Local Teksid management has arrogantly employed a number of union busting tactics to block the 600 Los Mineros supporters from establishing a democratic union at the workplace. The yellow CTM “union” was rejected after failing to defend workers’ interests.

Police or other authorities have not investigated the 21 April attack. Between 80 and 100 assailants surrounded the Teksid workers, insulted and attacked them with kicks, punches and sticks and iron pipes, constantly threatening them to abandon their protest movement for decent pay and their demand to affiliate with Los Mineros. Among the attackers were people from the local CTM branch.

Join the international trade union action to protest these violations of workers’ rights in Teksid, Mexico, and ensure no further reprisal sackings occur.

Writing to the Teksid president and CEO today, IndustriALL general secretary Jyrki Raina stated:

The right of workers to choose their collective bargaining representative in a democratic manner, without employer or government interference, is a fundamental right guaranteed by ILO Conventions 98 and 87. IndustriALL demands that Teksid immediately reinstate the three fired workers. We further demand that Teksid assume a position of strict neutrality in this conflict and that it communicates publicly to the workers in Ciudad Frontera that they can choose their union without fear of reprisals by management.

The global FIAT-Chrysler trade union network, meeting in Turin, today issued a message of full support to the Teksid workers in Moncloa, Mexico, battling to organize a democratic union sectional to affiliate with Los Mineros.

IndustriALL Everest hero killed in avalanche

In addition to being one of the world's very elite mountain climbers and guides, he was a union leader for the Sherpa guides, who he had helped organize to achieve decent wages and employment rights, and a passionate advocate for action on the environment, especially climate change.

IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Jyrki Raina mourned the passing of friend and comrade Dorje Khatri,

Our Nepalese brother who took IndustriALL to the top of the world was a strong and courageous trade unionist who will always be remembered both in Nepal and throughout our global family.

Dorje was a Central Committee member of the Union of Trekking Travel Rafting and Airline Workers (UNITRAV), affiliated to the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), a Nepalese IndustriALL affiliate.

Dorje Khatri, who conquered the highest mountain in the world and set an IndustriALL Global Union flag on top, was heartily applauded by the IndustriALL Founding Congress three weeks later in June 2012.

Khatri also marked Everest with flags of GEFONT, the Building Workers’ International (BWI) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

The avalanche hit a group of more than 60 support staff and guides, mostly Sherpas, at 5,900m when they were heading towards Camps I and II carrying necessary equipment and logistics for the Everest climbers at around 6:30am on 18 April.

A day to fight for the living; and mourn for the dead

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that some 2.3 million workers die as the result of their work every year. Of these, about 80 percent die as the result of occupational diseases. Only about 20 percent of worker deaths are the result of the sudden violent accidents – ­burned, cut, or crushed -­ that dominate our conversations when health and safety is discussed. Worse, it is only when a significant number of deaths occur at once, say from a mine explosion or a building collapse, that the mainstream media pay any attention.

Over two million deaths each year is a shocking total. Yet IndustriALL believes that these numbers are nevertheless gross underestimates. Fatality statistics are based on what national governments report, which in turn are usually based on accepted workers' compensation cases. Large numbers of workers are not covered by workers compensation systems and their deaths are therefore not counted. Deaths due to occupational disease, despite the ILO's estimate, are systemically under-diagnosed and under-recognized.

Of course, not all accidents and diseases are fatal. Our sick and injured colleagues are important to us, and we work every day to help them and to prevent others from suffering. Unfortunately the statistics quoted for these non-fatal categories are almost meaningless because of programmes that discourage reporting.

IndustriALL views occupational health and safety as an issue of worker's rights. Workers must have the right to know ­- fully -­ about the hazards of their work and how to do their jobs safely. Workers must have the right to refuse to perform, or to shut down, unsafe work. Workers must have the right to fully participate in decision-making related to workplace health and safety: the only people with the moral authority to assess a risk, are those who must eventually accept it. In addition, we demand that governments accept their responsibility to protect people at work, with strong, enforceable, and enforced systems of legislation and regulatory standards.

Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL General Secretary, says: "Workers have rights, employers and governments have responsibilities. It really is that simple".

Since workers rights are almost never delivered without a strong trade union, IndustriALL knows that unions make work safer. This is as true in developed countries, as it is in countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia.

28 April is a day to pause and remember our fellow workers who died or have suffered, trying to make a living. Make it our day to renew our fight for safe and healthy working conditions.

Energy unions worldwide back UWUA in struggle against FirstEnergy: “One Day Longer, One Day Stronger”

The IndustriALL World Energy Conference adopted a strong resolution on 11 April to take action calling on the company to end the attack and treat its workers with dignity. The UWUA represents 3,200 FirstEnergy workers in the U.S. states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

See the IndustriALL letter to the company CEO here.

The 142 UWUA members at FirstEnergy’s Penelec subsidiary in central Pennsylvania held strong through a vicious lockout that started three days before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday and lasted four months through a record cold winter, but still face malicious concession demands designed to undermine customer service and fair labour standards.

View the international solidarity video attached to this article that sends a united boost to workers battling against aggressive cuts to their employment conditions and trade union rights.

IndustriALL general secretary Raina told the union:

Your great union, the Utility Workers of America has informed us of the outrageous and anti-worker tactics of FirstEnergy, including a lock-out, and cuts in jobs, wages and benefits. As you can see from these messages from colleagues from around the world, at our recent World Energy Conference in Spain, you are not alone.

FirstEnergy is still demanding similar concessions from more than 700 additional UWUA members across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, and these workers’ collective agreement is scheduled to expire on April 30.

In West Virginia, FirstEnergy has refused to agree to a fair, first union contract for UWUA members at a power generating plant, even though these workers voted for representation by UWUA more than three years ago in October 2010.

Writing to IndustriALL general secretary Raina, UWUA national president Michael Langford said,

I wish to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude for the solidarity shown by IndustriALL affiliates with our members in struggle with FirstEnergy.  IndustriALL affiliates have demonstrated time and again that international solidarity is a powerful force for justice.  We are convinced that, with the support of IndustriALL and its affiliated trade unions worldwide, we will prevail against FirstEnergy’s unfair assault on the rights of UWUA members.

IBM unions agree new global strategy to fight job cuts

The Global Union Alliance @IBM, alongside UNI Global Union, IndustriALL Global Union and IndustriAll European Trade Union, will issue a series of demands to IBM management designed to protect the firm’s loyal workforce at a time of huge upheaval for IBMers.

The demands include:

Since the announcement of IBM strategies known as “Roadmaps” in 2010 and 2015, unions say the company has mutated into a machine focused solely on profit. Earnings-per-share became the corporation’s most important goal and a lack of appreciation of its own workers now threatens to undermine the corporation from the inside out.

The unions, meeting at UNI Global Union's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, will elect a brand new global steering group to lead the coordination of IBM union matters in future.

“IBM workers worldwide are facing increasing difficulties in the workplace – everything from job cuts and declining wages to poor working conditions," said Head of UNI ICTS Alan Tate. "This meeting was a unique opportunity to bring IBM workers and unions together to discuss ways to protect workers and help ensure a better future for IBMers too.”

The job count at IBM dropped for the first time in a decade this year when the company cut costs in attempts to meet ever-higher profit targets. Thousands more jobs are expected to go soon, with employees at IBM’s struggling hardware business thought to be particularly vulnerable to cuts.

“IBM is trying to take away jobs and to outsource them which means workers are being pressured into precarious positions," said Kan Matsuzaki, Director of ICT, Electrical and Electronics at IndustriALL Global Union. "We need to gain our negotiation power by organizing in the workplace and that's why this alliance is so important.”

Since launching its so called "workforce rebalancing" drive in which thousands of jobs are expected to go, IBM has played down the importance of its own employees. The global workforce policy of IBM is increasingly focused on reduction resulting in a lack of motivation and a climate of fear in the workplace.

“The IBM Global Union Alliance is saying to IBM that you need to treat us with respect, with dignity, and listen to employees when they discuss the situation within IBM. We want to make a better IBM, we want to make a better future for IBM employees worldwide,” said Lee Conrad, the long-time coordinator of the IBM Global Alliance.

Please also see UNI Global Union website at: http://www.uniglobalunion.org/news/ibm-unions-agree-new-global-strategy-fight-job-cuts

Workers donate blood in solidarity for struggling Paharpur workers

On 3 April, GRSE Workmen’s Union organised a Blood Donation Camp at their union office. The blood was sold to a Blood Bank and the money will go towards the struggle fund of the Paharpur workers.

Management of Paharpur has dismissed the five trade union activists speaking up on the company’s gross violation of workers’ rights. There had been no wage increase for the last 15 years and the canteen facility had been discontinued.

On 4  April, Workers’ initiative, a common platform of independent trade unions in Kolkata, organised a meeting with the striking workers. The gathering was addressed by Petra Brännmark, communications director IndustriALL Global Union, Sudhershan Rao Sarde, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary, S M Fahimuddin Pasha, education officer and Shahnaz Rafique, coordinator, both from IndustriALL South Asia, as well as Kamal Tewary, president of Paharpur Cooling Towers Mazdoor Sabha. Speakers supported the cause of the struggling workers.

Sudhershan Rao Sarde, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary, stated:

“I will raise the struggle of the workers in the India Committee of IndustriALL Global Union for solidarity action, and also appeal to all fraternal organisations to extend solidarity for the struggling workers.”

A two day strike planned for 9 and 10 April has been deferred to 22 and 23 April, to provide the management of Paharpur with more time to find a just resolution for the workers.

Rio Tinto stands far from real sustainability

Activists from IndustriALL Global Union, civil society organisations like London Mining Network, and a number of trade union leaders and protestors from around the world gathered outside the venue to show participants at the AGM the real face of the mining giant. The action was jointly organised with Unite the Union, with participation from IndustriALL affiliates Community, FNV and United Steelworkers.

The Rio Tinto AGM coincided with the release of IndustriALL Global Union’s report Unsustainable: The ugly truth about Rio Tinto.

Kemal Özkan, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL says on the report:

By showing that Rio Tinto does not operate in a sustainable manner, we aim to force the company to live by its own claims. These are our members and we demand a safe workplace, freedom of association and a constructive dialogue with management.

One of the people who spoke out at the AGM was Perle Zafinandro from Madagascar, president of the FAGNOMBA association. She has criticized QMM-Rio Tinto of land-grabbing and environmental destruction in Madagascar. In March this year Perle and a number of other members of the organisation were arrested and put in prison for 58 days.

“Your opening video presentation shows great operations. But that is very far from our reality in Madagascar”, she said.

IndustriALL was one of the speakers in the AGM, raising questions to the board members of Rio Tinto. Kemal Özkan challenged the company, asking how Rio Tinto aims to improve communication and interaction with local communities and the labour movement for the sake of transparency and accountability.

Putting forward facts and figures on fundamental rights’ violations, watering down of collective bargaining processes, precariousness of labor, and appalling health and safety records in Rio Tinto operations worldwide, Kemal Özkan said:

“We question Rio Tinto’s sustainability practices; particularly labour relations and your commitment to health and safety- You say fatal accidents are a shame in the 21st century, and yet you reported 40 deaths last year. And according to the official government investigation the Grasberg accident in Indonesia could have been prevented!”

Lacking in conviction, Sam Walsh, CEO of Rio Tinto, at one point said:

“You can count on me”.

To many workers at Rio Tinto operations around the world those are just empty words without meaning.

IndustriALL affiliates build unity in Philippines

Since creation of IndustriALL Global Union in June 2012 several steps have been taken to join forces and build unity among all the affiliates in the Philippines.

Four months after that all the Philippines affiliates agreed on a new framework that they believed would bring about a change for workers http://www.industriall-union.org/events/industriall-philippines-leadership-forum-a-force-for-change. At the meeting a manifesto was approved and a task force was set up to look at the best way to promote unity among the unions.

A new joint meeting was held in February, where the task force presented the conclusions of their hard work towards the unity process. The report has been discussed in details between the Philippines affiliates, IndustriALL regional and head offices as well as affiliates from Japan and Australia http://www.industriall-union.org/challenges-of-unity-building-in-the-philippines.

1 April 2014 all the affiliates resolved to approve a road map and agreed on a project planning meeting to be held on 10 and 11 April to launch the new three year project supported by our Swedish affiliates through LO-TCO focused on building unity, organizing and building campaigning and communications capacity.

“The process was long, but the discussion was always frank and respectful, therefore we have a solid base to go forward united, look for the better for the workers in our sectors and to contribute to build a stronger union movement in the Philippines”, said Industriall Assistant General Secretary Fernando Lopes when concluding the planning meeting.

Brax “Feels Good” over labour rights violations at Lafem in Turkey

The Turkish union Tekstil, belonging to DISK national center and IndustriALL, conducted an organizing campaign at Lafem in September 2013. A majority of the workers joined the union in the following month seeking to achieve better working conditions.

However Lafem management dismissed 40 union members with seniority of 10 to 17 years instead of respecting fundamental labour rights. Two of the dismissed workers were already elected as workers’ representatives in the factory, and had never received any complaint or negative notification beforehand.

All the dismissed workers filed a court case against Lafem for reinstatement, as their dismissals were unjustified. Lafem management in the meantime continued to exert pressure over the workers to withdraw from their court cases with the condition of paying their severance payments, but most of them did not accept.

Brax is the major customer of Lafem, and almost its entire production is done for the German brand. Even Brax employs a full time staff at the Lafem plant to check the production on a daily basis.

The union of Tekstil attempted to pursue a peaceful route to solving the problems at Lafem, however Lafem management repeatedly refused. Then Tekstil communicated with Brax to intervene in the situation as a part of the brand’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy and practices. Initially Brax accepted to investigate, but not in a concrete and sincere way.

However Brax preferred to listen only to its supplier, and stalled the process by only sending letters to the Union. Finally Brax declared that they could not find any violation of labour rights in the workplace after their audits. IndustriALL’s German affiliate IG Metall extended solidarity to the dismissed workers and raised the problem to Brax, but the company’s response was always negative.

The dismissed union members continue to be suffering from the situation while working union members inside the plant are under heavy pressure from the management to get rid of the union presence. Lafem rejects calls for dialogue while Brax is silent to the requests for further investigation.

The motto of Brax is “Feel Good”. The German brand publishes pages of documents to prove that they are socially responsible and that they respect the environment. They claim to support many projects for the sake of protecting nature, however what Brax does in reality is completely contrary without respecting basic labour rights.

“IndustriALL Global Union, IG Metall and Tekstil have done everything to restore the situation at Lafem through dialogue” said Kemal Özkan, Assistant General Secretary. “Enough is enough. If Lafem and Brax insist on not reinstating the dismissed workers and entering into constructive talks with Tekstil, our campaign will grow.”

Exposing the ugly truth about Rio Tinto

IndustriALL Global Union has produced a report, to be released in the morning of 15 April; “Unsustainable: The Ugly Truth about Rio Tinto” highlighting the multinational’s global practices. IndustriALL is calling for Rio Tinto to live up to its claim to be a sustainable company including by respecting workers’ rights.

Kemal Özkan, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL says:

Rio Tinto’s blind pursuit of profit at any cost has caused disputes with numerous unions as well as environmental, community and indigenous groups. IndustriALL has launched a campaign working with civil society organizations to defend against Rio Tinto’s abuses. Through demonstrating that Rio Tinto does not operate in a sustainable manner, we aim to force the company to live by its own claims.

The report exposes Rio Tinto’s performance on areas including environmental, economic, social and governance issues which the company claims to be key areas for its sustainable development .

Economic

Social

Governance

Environment

The protest will take place at 10 am, Tuesday 15 April, at the Rio Tinto AGM, The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London.