Cambodian workers fight for a living wage

2014 had a violent start in Cambodia. Workers demonstrating for an increased minimum wage clashed with police; resulting in four deaths, three missing people, 23 jailed and hundreds of dismissed workers. Arrest warrants were issued for the trade union leaders supporting the strikes, including leaders of our own affiliates. Employers are suing unions for damages.

The situation in Cambodia is totally unacceptable and makes the country a priority for IndustriALL Global Union. We took quick action after the violence broke out in the country. Together with the ITUC and UNI Global Union, we conducted an international trade union mission to Phnom Penh in early January. The mission met with the unions, government and employer organization GMAC, demanding the release of jailed unionists, an investigation into the killings, and the continuation of talks on an increased minimum wage.

We launched an electronic solidarity campaign on LabourStart. So far almost 11,000 people have protested to the Cambodian government and GMAC.

And the joint action continues. Recently IndustriALL Global Union, UNI Global Union and the ITUC sent a letter together with 30 leading clothing brands urging the Cambodian government to investigate the use of deadly force, respect the freedom of association and set up a functioning minimum wage negotiation process. Now a working group has been set up to look at the wage question, while IndustriALL affiliates have taken action in Thailand, Korea, Australia and elsewhere.

The minimum wage of USD 80 per month is one of the lowest in the world. That is why IndustriALL’s eight affiliates in Cambodia decided in our workshop in December to demand it to be raised to USD 160. It would still not be a living wage, but a step forward for the 400,000 garment workers which generate exports worth of USD 5 billion a year.

However, at the end of December, the government and employers only accepted a raise to USD 95 which was later changed to USD 100 a month. The unhappy workers went on strike, and violence followed after the South Korean embassy and investors urged police to intervene.  

Union membership in the Cambodian garment is at an encouraging 60 per cent, but the workers are split in too many unions. Struggles like the one on SL Garments last year have been won, but building unity is indispensable for greater worker power.  

IndustriALL will continue its action for workers’ rights in Cambodia, to ensure a living wage and the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining without fear of violence.

Jyrki Raina

General Secretary

UMT women condemn violence in Morocco

There was a discussion of the various legal, economic, political, social and psychological effects of violence on working women, particularly violence at work as a way of excluding women and violating their rights. There was also a critical reading of the draft law to combat violence against women and for a strategy to fight all forms of violence against women. The participants made recommendations on the legislation to make it more effective.

The participants, both men and women, made the following recommendations:

Global unions call for ILO inquiry on Fiji

Following a coup d’etat in 2006, dictator Commodore Bainamarama and his regime have systematically denied freedom of association in law and practice in Fiji.

In 2012 a high-level fact-finding mission of the International Labour Organization (ILO) was kicked out of Fiji by the regime. The mission was supposed to investigate the results of a repressive labour reform put in place a year before.

For years, ILO supervisory mechanisms have detailed extremely serious and systematic violations of freedom of association. They range from harsh beatings, threats, arrests on false charges and constant surveillance, to severe restrictions on workers’ rights in the public sector, and even in the private industries under the pretext of classifying them as ‘essential services’.

In June 2013, a complaint to establish an ILO Commission of Inquiry was filed at the International Labour Conference. Since then, the situation with labour rights has worsened.

The Fijian workers need our continued support. The ITUC has launched a campaign to establish an ILO Commission of Inquiry to investigate the systematic violations of trade union rights. IndustriALL calls on all its affiliates to support the ITUC campaign by contacting your governments and convincing them to act in favour of the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry in the March 2014 session of the ILO Governing body.  The details as well as the model letters for contacting your governments are available on the ITUC website http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/circular_no_02_-_commission_of_inquiry_ilo_fiji-eng.pdf.

Glencore Xstrata urged to halt anti-union practices in Peru

Says IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina: “Mega corporations like the Swiss-based Glencore Xstrata are increasingly distant from the operations they own and manage, many of which are in developing countries where weak governance gives companies plenty of opportunities for dubious dealings.”

The Compañia Minera de Antapaccay, near Cusco in Peru, is good example. The company has resorted to unfair dismissals, coercion and interference in union affairs in order to drive home its anti-union message. The fact that the company has done little to cover up its duplicity has not make its actions any less devastating.

When Xstrata took over the company, it massively reclassified 450 technicians as ‘employees of confidence’ for no other reason than to limit their right to organize and bargain collectively and to make it easier to fire them.  Had the reclassification been genuine, it would mean that all 450 technicians were reporting directly to the boss on substantive issues relating to the core business of the company: Unimaginable!

Then when a group of employees decided last month to form the Sindicato de Trabajadores Funcionarios de la Compañía Minera de Antapaccay in response to the company’s unfair treatment, the company dismissed them all, saying simply that it was ‘withdrawing its confidence’. The fact that workers with an unblemished employment record stretching back in some cases over thirty years were dismissed two days after forming a union leaves no room for doubt about the company’s true motives. But to drive home the point, management then offered to reinstate them on condition they quit the union.

Having successfully reduced the number of union members, the company then concocted a letter in their name asking for the union to be deregistered. IndustriALL has urged the labour authorities not to be duped: after all, how likely is it that former union members would make such a request – and in the form of a joint seven-page typed letter citing four different pieces of legislation, no less!

Concludes Jyrki Raina: “To CEO Ivan Glasenberg,  Cusco in Peru may seem far removed from the company headquarters in Baar in Switzerland. But Glencore Xstrata must now roll up its sleeves and intervene to ensure that the internationally-recognized rights of Peruvian workers are upheld”.

More solidarity for Cambodian workers

The violent end to the demonstrations in Cambodia in January this year resulted in four deaths, three missing people, 23 jailed and hundreds of dismissed workers. Trade union leaders have been warned that if they go on strike, their union registration will be suspended or cancelled. More than 100 court cases have been filed by employers against union leaders for inciting violence and damage of property, and six trade union leaders have pending arrest warrants.  

IndustriALL Global Union and the ITUC quickly sent a mission to Phnom Penh to talk to the government and garment employers. Soon after, 30 global clothing brands joined IndustriALL, UNI and the ITUC in a strongly-worded letter to the government, demanding that workers’ rights be respected and negotiations on minimum wage re-launched.

The clothing industry is the largest manufacturing sector in Cambodia, with USD 5 billion worth of export per year. Still workers earn only USD 80 per month and live in miserable conditions. Many Cambodian garment workers are forced to take high interest loans to tie them over at the end of the month, while sharing a bedroom with three or four co-workers and eating one meal per day.

South Korea is one the top investors in Cambodia, mainly in the garment, electronics and toy sectors. According to the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, the country is the new manufacturing base for South Korean investors, replacing Thailand and Vietnam.

There is worrying information that the South Korean embassy and investors in fact called in the security forces which lead to deadly fire. Korean unions have showed solidarity with Cambodian workers by staging a demonstration in front of the Cambodian embassy in Seoul. They also handed over a letter to the Cambodian Prime Minister, condemning the violent attack on peaceful demonstrations and denouncing the low standard of working conditions in the garment sector, which includes both low wages and short-term contracts.

Also Thai unions demonstrated in front of the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok. Union activists called on the government to stop the violence, release union activists from jail, and to hold accountable those responsible for killing and shooting workers. Demonstrators also denounced the low wage and the long working hours.

IndustriALL Global Union, together with UNI and ITUC, continues action to ensure freedom of association in Cambodia, get the jailed garment workers freed, and restart negotiations on a minimum living wage and with a proper bargaining mechanism to ensure regular wage increases.

“The brands have confirmed in public their support for freedom of association. Now it is time for them to make it clear to their suppliers in Cambodia that the respect of workers’ rights is a pre-condition for their business relations to continue. We will continue the campaign on pay as long as is needed to guarantee a living wage for the workers.  Workers have made a justified demand for getting their fair share to live decently, while they are creating huge profits for manufacturers and brands”,

says Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL. 

Negligence and a lack of security at the La Platosa mine leaves two workers dead

Following this serious accident, the National Miners’ Union, affiliated to IndustriALL, issued a statement saying: “The Canadian company Excellon Resources is responsible for this tragedy. It has systematically and stubbornly refused to hold a civilised dialogue with its workers and, in response to their claims that they do not enjoy freedom of association, it uses every possible means to stop them joining the National Miners’ Union, as they would like to do”.

The workers who lost their life are Jorge Antonio Valentín Carrillo, 25, and Evaristo Soto Nava, 35. The injured, who are in a grave state according to the doctors treating them in a hospital in the town of Gómez Palacios, Durango, are Andrés Cháirez, Juan Pablo González Saucedo and Julián (or Uriel) Calderón.

 “The Miners’ Union holds the Canadian company responsible, because it maintains an arrogant attitude to the needs of workers and the peasants of the La Sierrita community, denying them any chance of an honourable agreement in return for leasing their lands, which it uses for its mining operations”.

The United Steelworkers (USW), the Canadian union that has been supporting members of the community and members of Section 203 of the miners’ union for three years, has expressed its exasperation that only days after the workers died, the company showed itself to be completely insensitive and inconsiderate towards the memory of the dead workers and the pain felt by their families by issuing a press release boasting about its high production figures and profits.

IndustriALL Global Union regrets the loss of life of the workers and offers its sincerest condolences to their families, who have suffered this painful loss. It also stresses that these accidents could have been avoided by greater supervision and better security. It calls on the authorities to put an end to the violation of labour rights in the field of health and safety.

IndustriALL and the USW express their concern at the Mexican National Point of Contact’s refusal to discuss the observations about the Canadian company presented to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2013. The death of the workers at La Platosa shows that many of the companies questioned about their abuses of human rights are inclined to prioritise production to the detriment of safety.

It therefore unfortunately remains unclear as to whether the company will conduct an adequate investigation into the circumstances and the negligence that caused the death of the two workers, especially as the Excellon mine has a protection union that works hand in hand with the state and federal governments and the company.

Davos 2014: Unions call for leaders to reshape the world economy with jobs and decent wages

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Poll of 13 countries found 87 percent of people say their wages are falling behind the cost of living or stagnant. One out of eight respondents said they are struggling financially and can no longer pay for basic living expenses. According to the ITUC, financial forecasts point to stagnation – not recovery – with nearly 200 million people unemployed.

“In a stagnant global economy, it is investment that will kick start jobs and demand. We cannot assume that growth alone will create jobs. The global economy cannot recover on export-led growth if wages don’t rise. There must be an expansion of demand – particularly from working households,” warned Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.

The past year has seen growing inequality and a widening gap between leaders and citizens. Only 13 percent of people in the ITUC Global Poll of the general public in 13 countries think that governments are acting in their interests. 28 percent of people are disenchanted or worse, disengaged, believing that governments are acting in the interest of neither people nor business.

Commenting on the report, Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, said:

Inequality is a huge obstacle on the road to economic recovery and poverty wages have a devastating impact on workers. In too many countries and industries around the world workers are not paid a living wage, a wage that covers life’s necessities. This is well-known, and governments and employers now need to take their responsibility.

The Davos 2014 plan set out by labour leaders for investment and jobs, wages and social protection includes:

Global unions and 30 major brands call on Cambodian government to investigate deadly violence

IndustriALL and UNI, whose joint efforts resulted in the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, say they are encouraged that brands are taking responsibility for their production and are demanding a change from the Cambodian government.

The letter, dated Friday, urged the government to launch a new process to set minimum wages and to respect the rights of workers and trade unions. The brands also asked for a meeting with Mr. Hun Sen himself.

The group expressed its concern at the killing and wounding of workers and bystanders by security forces on 2 and 3 January, when peaceful demonstrations were taking place over an increase in the minimum wage.

Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, says:

ILO has stated on Convention 87 ratified by Cambodia that no one should be deprived of their freedom or be subject to penal sanctions for the mere fact of organizing or participating in a peaceful strike. The government must now take responsibility for protecting the workers’ and unions’ rights. Employer and union representatives must engage in constructive dialogue resulting in a real living wage.

UNI Global Union general secretary Philip Jennings says:

“These protests were the legitimate action of Cambodian workers who should be protected and afforded their right to campaign for a decent wage. We are pleased that a group of retailers shares our concerns about the rights of workers and is calling on the government to investigate this use of deadly force.”

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary says:

“With big global brands from Adidas to Walmart calling for action jointly with unions, Cambodia’s government needs to fix the broken system which has left workers no option but to take strike action.  Failure to do so will mean continued suffering for workers on poverty wages, and do immense damage to Cambodia’s lucrative export industry.”

“The authorities must release the workers detained earlier this month immediately,” she added.

Persecution of Indian Holcim cement workers continues, 7 jailed

The seven wrongfully imprisoned young activists are: Lakhan Sahu PCSS Organising Secretary, Yogesh Sahu, Dhannu Ram Patel, Bhagwat Sahu, Thanu Ram Patel, Lala Ram Dhruv and Dilharan Dhruv.

The young worker leaders had been central to organising the PCSS union from 2010, winning minimum wages and other basic employment conditions. The PCSS also represented and supported the local communities around the Ambuja factory, suffering poisoned water supply and forced displacement.

The case against union leaders Bhagwati Sahu and Lakhan Sahu is derisory. They are accused of stealing a mobile phone from company security officer Nand Lal Choubey, on a day they are proven to have been in another region. 

The PCSS represents contract workers at the two plants and Holcim is the largest cement producer in India. Contract workers are protected by Indian law and by a sectoral agreement prohibiting employment in core production work, with all work paid at the same rate that permanent workers receive.

This stipulation has been flouted at Holcim India, where contract workers work side by side with permanent workers in core production, and they are denied proper protective equipment and paid one-third that of permanent workers.

IndustriALL has supported its affiliates’ demands on Holcim to reengage in the national bargaining process for the cement industry in India. A reengagement in the national industry agreement negotiations would increase protection for contract workers especially.

IndustriALL continues to support its affiliate PCSS through proceedings chaired by the National Contact Point of the OECD in Switzerland dealing with the trade union complaint on breaches of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises at Holcim India.

IndustriALL’s Swiss affiliate UNIA’s coordinator of the Holcim European Works Council, Rolf Beyeler, reports on the company’s damaging restructuring programme in Europe throughout which the trade unions have been ignored:

For years already, Holcim’s central management for Europe has continuously disregarded the rights of the Holcim European Forum, its European Works Council (EWC). The latest example is Holcim’s intended deal with the other big player on the international cement market, the Mexican Cemex. Holcim leaves the control over its plants in Spain to Cemex while Cemex delivers its plants in North Rhine-Westphalia to Holcim. There can be no doubt about the transnational character of this deal that concerns the rights and jobs of several hundred employees in Spain and Germany. Nevertheless Holcim informed the EWC the night before its press release and disregarded the EWC’s right to be consulted about this issue. This was the last and probably most serious violation of the EWC’s rights and forced the EWC to take legal proceedings and to terminate the existing EWC-agreement with Holcim’s management.

The European restructuring programme has cost 1,600 jobs since 2011 and closed sites and restructurings in Spain, UK, Hungary, France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

‘Take-Backs no more’ campaign targets Carnival Cruises CEO

Workers of Crown Holdings plant in Canada, members of an IndustriALL affiliate United Steelworkers were forced to go on strike in September last year after they were imposed severe wage cuts up to 42 per cent and demanded serious concessions while the company doubled its profits. This is despite the fact that right before the conflict the company rewarded the Canada plant in Weston, Toronto as the best production site in North America. http://www.industriall-union.org/thousands-protest-against-crown-holdings

In Turkey, Crown Holdings is preventing workers to have a union after workers won a free and democratic election.

Some 10 millions of people, including workers and their families in every part of the world, annually board Carnival Cruises, the largest ship line. This is despite the fact of numerous accidents occurred at the lines of the company over the last two years, including the most dramatic ones like Costa Concordia ship, which sank off the coast of Italy in January 2012 and Carnival Triumph, which was stranded in the Gulf of Mexico for several days because of an engine fire in February 2013.

Reportedly the accidents are due to a combination of company negligence and badly trained crewmembers often employed on precarious conditions.

In a bid to boost the campaign against Carnival Corporations and to bring travel agents into its battle USW sent out an email to some 16,000 agents with questions, "Are Carnival cruises worth recommending? Are travel agents protected?" and cited the above-mentioned accidents as well as other reasons why agents should be wary of selling Carnival cruises.

According to USW, Arnold Donald, President and CEO of Carnival Cruises, holder of M.B.A. degree from Chicago Graduate School and a former Monsanto senior officer, is undermining Carnival's business model that relies on good wages and employer-paid leave to fill Carnival's ships. He applies now similar anti-worker style at Crown Holdings.

Global Unions including IndustriALL, International Union of Food Workers (IUF), and UNI Global Union wrote their letters of protest to Carnival, International Transport Federation (ITF) is taking direct actions of protest.

Send a message to Carnival CEO Arnold Donald and demand to stop union busting at http://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=2114

As part of the campaign, the web based RadioLabour interviewed Joe Drexler, the head of the USW Strategic Campaigns department, who speaks about the campaign directed at Carnival http://www.radiolabour.net/drexler-040114.htm

Some other video materials about the campaign are available below.

http://youtu.be/DXkFeDD2uI0

http://youtu.be/3VmvuFm32J0

http://youtu.be/KgToolf2lV4

http://youtu.be/E0PVyRyMTaw