Interim tribunal rules that Mark Lyon is ‘likely’ to get job back at Ineos

Mark Lyon, a trade union convenor for IndustriALL Global Union affiliate Unite the Union, was sacked on sham charges in February this year. After 25 years of service at Ineos petrochemical plant at Grangemouth, Mark was tried in his absence by Ineos managers for not stopping the union commenting on media reports about fears of job losses at the plant. He was subsequently dismissed.

Believing that Ineos was determined to rush through a disciplinary process against Mr Lyon, denying his legal representatives the appropriate time to prepare his defence, Unite appealed the company’s decision and issued an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal and victimisation for trade union reasons.

On 7 March, in a blow to the petro-chemical company, the tribunal ruled that it was ‘likely’ that Mr Lyon will win his case for unfair dismissal when it goes to a full tribunal and ordered Ineos to pay his wages until the full hearing in a number of months.

Commenting, Unite legal director Howard Beckett says:

“We welcome this interim finding which gives Mr Lyon some financial security until the full tribunal where all the evidence will be heard.

“Ineos needs to drop its hostility to the workforce and ensure there is no victimisation of workplace representatives before the brain drain of skills at the site becomes a flood that threatens the site’s survival. 

Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL general secretary, says:

“It is totally unacceptable to victimize trade union officials. The interim hearing says as much and we hope that Ineos pays heed.”

First round of independent and transparent factory inspection reports completed in Bangladesh

The Accord for Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was signed on 13 May 2013, in response to the Rana Plaza factory building collapse on 24 April 2013, which resulted in the deaths of 1,133 workers.

The Bangladesh Accord is a major project to make the garment industry safe and sustainable, in which the brand and retail signatories have disclosed all factories they source from in Bangladesh. Signatories have agreed to independent structural, fire and electrical inspections and to implement the safety improvement measures identified by the inspections.

The reports identify a number of issues to be addressed and also explain the steps to be taken to resolve them, some of which are already underway. The reports do not highlight any issues of a similar magnitude to those that caused the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in April 2013. Issues identified include: the need to reduce weight loads in certain areas of the factory through moving material, stock, or supplies; the requirement for better support for and enclosure of electrical cables; and the need to improve maintenance procedures around items such as electrical circuits, for example keeping them free of dust.

Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union says that transparency is a key for success:

The inspection reports contain an unprecedented level of detail and sets a new standard in transparency and credibility. The reports provide the necessary measures for the continuous work to make the Bangladesh garment industry safe and sustainable.

Head of UNI Commerce Alke Boessiger – a member of the Bangladesh Accord Steering Committee said, “The publishing of our first inspection reports underlines the Bangladesh Accord’s unwavering commitment to transparency and shows just how far we’ve come in under one year.

“Since UNI and IndustriALL challenged brands eleven months ago to sign an agreement that would improve safety and sustainability in Bangladesh’s garment industry, we’ve recruited more than 150 brands, set up an entire management structure, employed the necessary staff and begun inspecting factories.

“The detailed reports published today are designed to help owners and workers alike. They are the first of their kind and will improve a worker’s ability to be informed about safety at their workplace.”

More than 150 global brands and retailers from 20 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia have signed the legally binding Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh with IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union. International NGOs, including Clean Clothes Campaign and Workers’ Rights Consortium are witness signatories to the Accord. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) acts as the independent chair.

Cambodia: Union activists defy government ban on public forum

Over 500 hundred union activists attempted to attend the rally at Freedom Park in the capital Phnom Penh but were met with heavy resistance by armed police who had barricaded entrances to the park.

At one stage, security guards wielding batons stormed a small group of marchers forcing them towards Naga bridge at the edge of the park. Eventually, in a tense stand off, the activists increased in number and were able to push back the security guards, while trucks carrying police with tear gas launchers patrolled alongside Freedom Park.  

The leaders of 18 unions had called for a public forum to discuss an increase in the minimum wage for garment workers, 80% of whom are women, and the release of 21 workers detained since a brutal police crackdown on strikes in January, which left 4 workers dead and 39 people injured.

Both the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour had been invited to attend the forum to discuss union demands but instead the rally was forbidden.

“We asked 30,000 union members to attend the public forum, but after the government banned it we warned them not to come in fear of their safety,” said Ath Thorn, president of IndustriALL affiliate, the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union.

“So we just asked union activists to participate as we wanted to avoid confrontation with police,” he added.

“We live in a democratic country and we are upset that government will not allow us to hold a peaceful public forum. We will keep on campaigning to release the 21 workers and fight for a living wage,” said Thorn. 

FUP and Petrobras launch Workers’ Network

IndustriALL Director Carol Bruce from the meeting in Rio de Janeiro stated:

FUP and IndustriALL have dreamt of establishing an international Petrobras workers’ network for ten years. Today our dream has come true. Policies need to be established and enacted to make CSR felt at the shop floor level, and not only at company headquarters.

Some 50 workers and trade union representatives attended the meeting from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Curacao, China, Nigeria and Colombia.

Presentations were made by Petrobras management on CSR and human resources policies. Some attention was paid to gender issues. Women make up 15.8 percent of the workforce at Petrobras. It was felt that since the president of Petrobras is a woman, this helps to break stereotypes and change mentalities. There is a women’s collective within Petrobras which fights for women’s space.

One focus of the meeting was outsourcing and precarious work. Some delegates reported on their experiences. Experiences with other networks were presented such as BASF and Repsol. A presentation was made by DIESSE, which is a department that provides studies and support to trade unions in Brazil. The two participants from Nigeria presented their case which was based on the fact that Petrobras made highly skilled staff redundant with the false argument that it was divesting in Nigeria. “Precarious work is a priority for the new network. Labour relations inside Petrobras are casual, and far too informal,” added IndustriALL’s Carol Bruce.

Ultimately the demand is for Petrobras and IndustriALL to renegotiate and renew the global agreement in order to include some good practices that have been emerging with other agreements. The unions want to make the most of the agreement and work specifically on themes such as discrimination. They would like to ensure that one activity be held every year, whether it be a meeting or a piece of research. All unions in the network are asked to send in their collective agreements with Petrobras in the attempt to create a database. The International Secretary of FUP will be responsible for coordinating this work. The participants felt that if it is possible to coordinate activities in all the countries where Petrobras operates, the network will make a real difference. The trade unions can exchange experiences, explain their doubts and propose solutions with the idea of globalizing rights. The network will be more effective once it is officially recognized by the company. In this way Petrobras can be made really responsible.

Petrobras, 56% owned by the Brazilian government, has 80,500 employees and operates in some 30 countries. The company is a leader in exploration and production of oil, and operates 16 refineries as well as numerous petrochemicals, biofuels, pipelines and other installations. 

¡Saludamos a la mujer trabajadora y sindicalista!

En Brasil, el departamento de la mujer en la CNTM/FS realizó este 8 y 9 de marzo un encuentro llamado Marzo Mujer Metalúrgica, donde la idea es debatir el día a día de las compañeras en sus puestos de trabajo y en las luchas generales de la mujer brasilera en la sociedad, sus conquistas sociales, políticas y económicas. Asimismo realizarán una actividad con las familias, puesto que pretenden promover una conexión importante entre la familia y el sindicato.

En Chile, Constramet participó de una marcha  el viernes 7 en conmemoración del día de la mujer,  que tiene como fin  llamar a la unidad de las mujeres, reivindicar el rol que la mujer cumple en nuestra sociedad, demandando el fin a la violencia de género, igualdad de salario, mejores condiciones laborales, cumplimiento del pre y post natal, terminar con el machismo, entre otras.

Asimismo otra afiliada en Chile, Consfetema, realizó un seminario el día 6 de marzo sobre derechos de la mujer, protección a la maternidad e igualdad de salarios. Para Consfetema, es importante que exista una formación sindical, por ello este año trabajarán arduamente en la creación de escuelas sindicales, así lo explicó Paula Rodriguez a cargo del departamento de la mujer.

Marli Mero, secretaria de la mujer de la CNM/CUT, señaló que este mes es oportuno para reflexionar del rol de la mujer en la sociedad, “nosotros como metalúrgicas queremos reafirmar la participación efectiva de las mujeres en la ampliación y consolidación de la democracia brasilera a través de nuestras luchas diarias en todos los espacios que ocupamos”.

Para las organizaciones sindicales colombianas, lo principal en tema de género en estos momentos de campañas políticas en el país, es demandar políticas de equidad salarial, formalización del empleo, políticas de acciones afirmativas para las mujeres en el trabajo, y ratificar el convenio 189 de la OIT.

IndustriALL está poniendo énfasis en la equidad de género, en la presencia de mujeres en las reuniones sectoriales. Cabe señalar que este año se celebrarán conferencias regionales en las diferentes regiones de IndustriALL. El tema de las conferencias es “Mujeres trabajadoras: Trabajo seguro con dignidad”. En América Latina se realizará el 6 de mayo en Bogotá, Colombia, donde se espera una importante representación femenina de los afiliados, instancia que podrá determinarán acciones a favor de la lucha por la igualdad de género.

Rana Plaza brands must pay compensation by 9am on 24 April

The total fund needed is US$40 million for correct levels of payments to be made to the families of those 1,138 workers crushed to death at their workstations in Rana Plaza, and also to the survivors, hundreds of whom lost limbs and their ability to work when the factory fell.

An inclusive process has been conducted under the stewardship of the ILO during the second half of 2013, achieving a final agreement in December 2013 with the signed commitment from all parties. The Arrangement set out to build the Donor Trust Fund Cosigning partners of the Rana Plaza Coordination Committee and the Arrangement framework include the Bangladeshi government, Bangladeshi unions, Bangladeshi manufacturers, IndustriALL Global Union and the Clean Clothes Campaign, as well as four key brands.

The Fund is open for anyone to make a humanitarian contribution, and all clothing brands sourcing Bangladesh are encouraged to do so.

However this long list of brands connected with Rana Plaza MUST pay their share as a matter of urgency. 

Adler, Auchan, Benetton, Camaieu, Carrefour, Carrona, Cato Fashions, Children’s Place, JC Penney, Kids for Fashion, Lee Cooper, Manifattura Corona, Mango, Matalan, NKD, Premier Clothing, Primark, PVT (Texman), Store 21, Yes Zee, Walmart.

Support IndustriALL Global Union, UNI Global Union and the Clean Clothes Campaign in ensuring all these brands pay. Sign the LabourStart campaign here and tell the Rana Plaza brands:

If your company is still on this list on 24 April, the one-year anniversary of the disaster, your message to consumers everywhere will be clear regarding conditions in your supply chain.

You and your organization can also make a solidarity payment into the fund by following the instructions on the dedicated website of the Rana Plaza Arrangement.

Act now for Rubén Darío Montoya Obando!

In July 2002, when working for a contractor in the Tenaris – Tubos Caribe plant, Rubén suffered an accident in the workplace. A pipe pierced his chest and he lost three ribs and was incapacitated to work.

Since 2002, Rubén has been in and out hospital, twice reinstated to his job only to be fired again. The insurance company still denies any compensation.

In September 2013, the court ordered the reinstatement of Rubén in a position suitable to his disability, a payout of salaries since the day of the accident, as well as a partial pension.

But Tenaris – Tubos Caribe and the insurance company have appealed the court decision to pay past wages and grant a pension. This move will postpone a solution for months, perhaps years.

In order to incite action, Rubén went on a hunger strike in February.  His condition has deteriorated and he is now hospitalized as result.

Walberto Marrugo, president of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate Sintratucar who organizes the workers of Tenaris – Tubos Caribe, said:

“There is no serious program of safety and health at work in Tubocaribe. The Labour Ministry has not taken strict measures with respect to this issue.”

Sintratucar is affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union affiliate FETRAMICOL.

Fernando Lopes, IndustriALL assistant general secretary says:

“The actions of Tenaris – Tubos Caribe demonstrate that their words about health and safety are void. Sintratucar and IndustriALL Global Union demand a prompt resolution and that Rubén is paid the compensation he is entitled to.”

Workers at the Tenaris plant in Italy have shown their support, now we call upon workers around the globe to do the same.

Cambodian riot police prepares to attack women’s march tomorrow

Government officials have explicitly warned IndustriALL affiliates not to mobilise the mass Forum on Labour Rights, and this morning released ominous photos in the local press of riot police in the Olympic Stadium preparing for an attack on the peaceful demonstration.

An elite military group under the leadership of the Prime Minister’s son is also gearing up for violence tomorrow. This group was responsible for the brutal attacks on IndustriALL member unions at the Sabrina factory last year that killed two unborn babies of striking workers.

IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary Monika Kemperle stated:

We are immensely concerned for the safety of our Cambodian sisters tomorrow, facing heavily armed government forces on International Women’s Day. But we are even more inspired and proud to stand with them in solidarity. Their campaign is for a minimum wage increase to US$160, trade union rights and the release of 21 activists jailed in the previous mobilisations around 5 January. IndustriALL affiliates will lead tomorrow’s demonstrations, and we remain in constant communication.

IndustriALL trade union affiliates are responding to the call for messages of solidarity to be sent to the Cambodian women worker leaders. One of the main organisers of tomorrow’s action is Mohn Nihm, President of trade union affiliate NIFTUC and Chairperson of the IndustriALL Women’s Committee in Cambodia. See the photo of this inspiring leader opposite. Prominent unions taking support action include IG Metall of Germany, UA Zensen of Japan, and the TCFUA of Australia.

The three IndustriALL affiliates central to tomorrow’s action are CCAWDU, NIFTUC and FTUWKC.

Next week, from 12 to at least 19 March, garment workers will carry out a stay-at-home strike action as the next step in the campaign for a decent increase to the minimum wage. This follows last week’s boycott of overtime. The government of Prime Minister Hun Sen has set up a special committee to conduct research and make recommendations on the wage increase. But workers demand change now.

Long working hours, poor health and safety conditions and malnutrition led to mass fainting of women in the factories in 2013 and the violations continue unabated.

Write to the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen using the messaging tool opposite, and send your direct message to the head of the Cambodian garment manufacturers association Ken Loo here [email protected].

Global unions mobilizing to stop Crown Holdings from exporting union busting

More importantly, they developed a plan of action to defend workers in Canada and Turkey and to prevent the spread of the company’s anti-union behavior, often practiced by North American employers, to other areas where Crown operates.

Using the “Take-Backs No More” campaign (www.takebacksnomore.ca) of the United Steelworkers union in Canada as a start, a new global network of unions at Crown is emerging along with a global campaign.  The campaign is being bolstered by participation from two other global union federations, UNI Global Union and IUF whose affiliates represent other Crown workers and as well as those of key customers.

“Our effort to not only link together various unions at Crown but also incorporate supply chain unions is meant to provide a more equal balance of power in dealing with the enormous power of this multinational corporation,” said Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of IndustriALL. “The arrogance displayed by Crown Holdings in refusing to even acknowledge offers by global unions to meet demonstrates that we need real actions and not just words.”

Ron Oswald, IUF General Secretary says, “The IUF has successfully fought for formal international recognition from a number of major food and beverage companies all of whom would claim to respect human rights standards for their workers. Those companies’ responsibility for ensuring similar standards for human rights through their supply chains is equally clear and we therefore cannot allow a major supplier of packaging to those same food and beverage companies to flout human rights standards the way Crown does. We stand shoulder to shoulder with IndustriALL members fighting for their rights at Crown".

Christy Hoffman, Deputy General Secretary of UNI Global Union says, "We can win these fights with global corporations when we stand together, share strategies and coordinate across the entire supply chain. Crown will not be able to continue its anti-union treatment of employees in Canada and Turkey once the facts are known to workers across the world. UNI has worked in successful partnership with IndustriALL in a number of campaigns and will fully support its efforts to vindicate the human rights of the brothers and sisters at Crown Holdings".

Crown is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of food, beverage and aerosol cans.

Included among Crown’s belligerent acts and thoroughly discussed at the meeting are:

a decade of cuts forced on union workers in North America
an on-going six-month strike in Canada prompted by Crown’s demands for a permanent lower wage scale for new workers that would reduce pay by 42%

using legal barriers to delay full recognition of a union in Turkey
a lack of transparency and consultation over possible closure of plants in Europe in violation of the EU legislation.

On 5 March 2014 the 500,000-member Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC) has endorsed a boycott of Carnival Cruises to protest the role of Carnival's chief executive, Arnold Donald, who as a director of the U.S. based Crown Holding is accountable for the six-month labour dispute in Toronto.

Plans are already underway to mobilize for Crown’ shareholders meeting in Philadelphia. Other actions are also planned.

Ceramic workers strike in Suez

Workers of Ceramica Cleopatra have been at the forefront of struggle in Egypt, leading a wave of protests as early as 2006 when they demanded the right to organize and increased wages. 2011 and 2012 saw workers again protesting for similar demands.

There appeared to be a resolution of the problems and industrial action was halted in 2012 following the signing of a collective agreement with the owner of the factory, Mohamed Abu Elenin. However despite the fact that the agreement was signed in the presence of the then Minister of Labour,  the company failed to implement the agreement and continued to seriously violate workers' rights. By the end of 2012, workers of the company had  met with the Egyptian President as well as the  Ministers of Labor and Investment and  the employer again promised to accede to the workers' demands.

However over recent weeks the dispute has again erupted following the factory owner pressuring the trade union committee of the company to agree on decreasing workers' wages. When the union unanimously stood up to the pressure and rejected these demands the owner’s response was further threats, intimidation and threatened legal cases. Under this tremendous pressure the trade union committee were forced into signing letters of resignation.

Together with their reinstatement workers demand the payment of outstanding profit shares for 2012 and 2013, the payment of hazardous work allowances, the provision of occupational health and safety equipment, – as well as improved health care and the establishment of a workers' fund to be paid at the ending of service.

IndustriALL Global Union Assistant General Secretary, Kemal Özkan, in a message of support to the workers stated,

We fully support their struggle for trade union rights and as well as demanding that the employer fully implement the collective agreement and reinstate the trade union committee members we are urging the government to intervene and protect workers from these outrageous threats and fully meet their obligations under ILO Conventions".

The company is located in Suez City at the southern entrance to the Suez Canal. Suez witnessed early and intense clashes between protesters and security forces during the uprising that ousted Mubarak in 2011.