Industry controlled Responsible Jewellery Council fails to fulfill promise

Washington, D.C., Ottawa, Geneva, Sydney, 22 May 2013 – In a new report, More Shine Than Substance: How RJC certification fails to create responsible jewelry, an international coalition of labor and environmental groups indict the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)’s certification system as misleading jewelry consumers. The RJC holds its annual meeting in Milan on 23 May.

Jewelry is meant to lift our spirits.  But it loses its value if it’s made with gold or diamonds that are tarnished by human rights abuses or environmental destruction,

said Earthworks’ No Dirty Gold campaign director Payal Sampat. She continued,

Unfortunately, RJC’s certification cannot reassure consumers that the gems and precious metals that pass through its system did not come at the cost of community health or clean water.

The groups releasing More Shine Than Substance include the trade union federation, IndustriALL Global Union, which represents 50 million workers globally, CFMEU Australia, United Steelworkers, and environmental advocacy groups Earthworks and MiningWatch Canada.

More Shine Than Substance documents how the RJC’s certification system offers little in the way of real solutions to the serious human rights, labor and environmental problems that caused RJC’s formation. The RJC Board of Directors consists exclusively of industry representatives, with no representatives from impacted communities, labor, or environmental organizations. This exclusion is in sharp contrast to other, more robust, certification systems such as the Forest Stewardship Council.

RJC can’t polish the image of gold and diamonds while keeping worker and community representatives off the table,

said Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union in Geneva.

Having the industry set its own standards and certify compliance is rather like having the fox guard the henhouse. How can the public have faith in such a process?

In the wake of campaigns targeting dirty gold and conflict diamonds, and media exposés of the true environmental and social costs of these minerals, jewelry companies recognized that their brands and reputations were at risk.  In response a coalition of jewelry trade associations, retailers, and their suppliers, including mining companies, formed the Responsible Jewellery Council. 

If RJC is going to let its member companies claim “responsible business practices” for the corporation as a whole then all their operations should adhere to RJC standards, 

said Ken Neumann, National Director of the United Steelworkers in Canada.  

Companies like Rio Tinto can’t be RJC-certified as a whole, while remaining a principal investor in mines like Grasberg in Indonesia that don’t meet RJC standards. 

The Steelworkers represent workers at several Rio Tinto operations in the U.S. and Canada. In 2012, Rio Tinto locked out 780 Steelworker members in Canada for six months.

The RJC system is riddled with loopholes relating to membership, auditing, and accountability, allowing, for example, member companies as a whole to be certified as RJC compliant even when some of their gold, platinum and diamond-producing facilities — or projects they are invested in — are excluded from RJC audits. The system lacks transparency. Auditors’ reports are not made public, and equally troubling, the RJC itself doesn’t receive evidence or detailed auditors’ reports about operations that it certifies.

Several RJC standards are weak and violate widely accepted social and environmental principles. Under the RJC Code, mining companies can operate in conflict zones, fail to protect workers’ rights to join unions, and allow children as young as 14 to work. It also fails to place limits on water and air pollution and allows toxic waste disposal into lakes and ocean environments.

Communities living near mines are fighting to protect their health, livelihoods, social and cultural values that are threatened by mining, 

said Catherine Coumans of MiningWatch Canada.

Their efforts are undermined by the RJC system that certifies the continuation of the status quo,

she added.

The RJC system does not drive the fundamental change that is needed.

The report compares RJC’s flaws to that of industry-defined and controlled certification systems in other sectors, such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), which has come under heavy criticism from green groups. In contrast, the Forest Stewardship Council, which embraces multi-stakeholder governance and strong standards, is widely considered a more robust and credible system for certifying sustainable wood products.

Without significant improvements, the RJC system risks tarnishing, rather than burnishing, the reputations of its member companies,

added Payal Sampat of Earthworks.

Global unions renew agreement with Lafarge

This new agreement promotes Lafarge’s commitment to international fundamental labour rights, recognizes the principles expressed in the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights and upholds best practices regarding union rights and social dialogue.

The new redaction has a substantially improved language regarding respect by the company of the core International Labour Organization Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining, settlement of disputes as well as application of the agreement across the company’s subsidiaries and supplier chain. A special group consisting of the representatives of signatories will meet at least once a year to follow up and review the implementation of the agreement.

The new Global Agreement also reinforces Lafarge actions in fields like health and safety or diversity thanks to new statements and a direct reference to the Group strategy with its “2020 Ambitions” on sustainable development.

The signing ceremony took place in the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland in presence of the ILO Director General Guy Ryder. Bruno Lafont, Lafarge Chairman and CEO signed the agreement on behalf of the Lafarge Group, the signatories from the union side were Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL General Secretary and Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary.

BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson states that "especially the commitments of Lafarge to apply agreed standards in its subcontractors and the commitment of the company and its subcontractors for direct employment are beyond those of its competitors and therefore standard setting for the cement industry”.

IndustriALL’s General Secretary, Jyrki Raina, states that for IndustriALL Global Union, "the provisions in the renewed agreement represent significant improvements for workers and trade unions, especially the provisions on freedom of association, subcontractors and the settlement of disputes. It is crucial to improve social dialogue between trade unions and management for the betterment of living and working conditions for cement workers across the world”.

Lafarge Chairman and CEO, Bruno Lafont  expressed his satisfaction regarding this new agreement: “This agreement highlights the constant and positive dialogue between the Group and the Global Union Federations. It illustrates  the coherence of our actions with our values in all our countries of operations”.

Lafarge is the world leader in building materials, holds top-ranking positions in all three of its activities:  Cement, Aggregates & Concrete. Lafarge employs 65,000 people in 64 countries.

The text of the press release is available on the link http://www.industriall-union.org/bwi-industriall-global-union-and-lafarge-sign-a-new-global-framework-agreement. 

BWI, IndustriALL Global Union and Lafarge sign a new Global Framework Agreement

In 2013, the Global Union Federations of Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and IndustriALL Global Union decide to sign a new Global Framework Agreement with Lafarge on corporate social responsibility and international industrial relations, after a first agreement had been signed, in 2005, in order to promote and protect worker’s rights.
 
This new agreement promotes Lafarge’s commitment to international fundamental labor rights, recognizes the principles expressed in the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights and upholds best practices regarding union rights and social dialogue. 
 
It also reinforces Lafarge actions in fields like health and safety or diversity thanks to new statements and a direct reference to the Group strategy with its “2020 Ambitions” on sustainable development.
 
Regarding its business partners, this 2013 agreement states that Lafarge requires from its suppliers and subcontractors to respect the national legislation, as well as the fundamental human rights mentioned in the agreement and prohibits practices that aim to diminish the rights of migrant workers. 
 
From now on, as observer, the European Works Council’s Secretary will attend the Reference Group annual meetings which review the implementation of the international agreement. 
 
BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson states that “especially the commitments of Lafarge to apply agreed standards in its subcontractors and the commitment of the company and its subcontractors for direct employment are beyond those of its competitors and therefore standard setting for the cement industry”.
 
IndustriALL’s General Secretary, Jyrki Raina, states that for IndustriALL Global Union, "the provisions in the renewed agreement represent significant improvements for workers and trade unions, especially the provisions on freedom of association, subcontractors and the settlement of disputes. It is crucial to improve social dialogue between trade unions and management for the betterment of living and working conditions for cement workers across the world”. 
 
Lafarge Chairman and CEO, Bruno Lafont  expressed his satisfaction regarding this new agreement: “This agreement highlights the constant and positive dialogue between the Group and the Global Union Federations. It illustrates  the coherence of our actions with our values in all our countries of operations”. 
 
This new agreement was signed at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in presence of the Director-General, Guy Ryder, who stated: “The ILO welcomes the agreement which reinforces the commitment of Lafarge to the respect of workers' rights, including in the companies and sub-contractors that supply it. It is a good example of how social dialogue can positively impact on working conditions in a global context."
 
Information:
The BWI, Building and Wood Workers’ International is a Global Union Federation organising more than 12  million members in 320 trade unions in 125 countries around the world in the building, building materials, wood, forestry and allied industries.
 
The IndustriALL Global Union is a Global Union Federation organising workers in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors. IndustriALL Global Union unites trade unions from 140 countries representing in total around 50 million workers in these industries. 
 
Lafarge is the world leader in building materials, holds top-ranking positions in all three of its activities:  Cement, Aggregates & Concrete. Lafarge employs 65,000 people in 64 countries. 
 
Press contacts:
 
Lafarge: Christel des Royeries 
Tel.: +33 1 44 34 19 47
Email: [email protected]
 
BWI : Geneviève F. Kalina 
Tel.: +41 22 827 37 77 
Email: [email protected]
 
IndustriALL: Alex Ivanou
Tel. :+41 22 308 50 33
Email : [email protected]

Investor warning: risk shoppers turned off by Gap’s stand on Bangladesh safety deal

IndustriALL and UNI Global Union say the door is still open for Gap to sign up to the multi-stakeholder accord but time is running out as the 45 day implementation programme begins. The recent factory tragedies, including Rana Plaza, Bangladesh have graphically illustrated the urgency of multinationals, such as Gap, taking responsibility for the safety of workers producing their garments.

IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary, Jyrki Raina said:

Gap has a reputation as being ethical with strong leadership in corporate social responsibility. Today it has a golden opportunity to show this reputation is genuine and not just a part of its US$600 million PR campaign. Gap should act and join the Accord. It is not yet too late to reassure investors and shoppers it’s ready to do the right thing.

UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings said: 

Investors give Gap CEO Glenn Murphy the message – the Bangladesh Accord has been launched and you are being left behind, isolated and alone, along with Walmart. Gap shoppers will not forgive you if you do not get behind this safety deal.

Now is not the time for Gap to be enlisting Washington insiders to influence the White House and the Hill. They are getting lost in the corporate corridors of spin. Producing a new website won’t help Bangladeshi factory workers. Gap must step up, stop fudging, and take responsibility.”

Gap is holding its annual general meeting today Tuesday 21 May, 10.00 (Pacific Daylight Time) and the Bangladesh Safety Deal is expected to be raised by investors.

Contacts

Tom Grinter, IndustriALL, Mobile: +41 79 79 693 44 99, [email protected]

Richard Elliott, UNI Global Union, Mobile: +41 79 794 9709, [email protected]

Trade union movement’s solidarity and unity in Latin America and the Caribbean

The second day of the meeting began with a debate on industrial policy, employment and sustainable development. Ricardo Pignanelli, secretary of the Confederación de Sindicatos de Industria in Argentina stressed the value of work as a mobilising factor and as an engine for industry. The FETIA general secretary, Pedro Wasiejko, highlighted the renewed trade union action in Mercosur as a basis on which to link workers in the various supply chains.

The Colombian economist and academic, Bethoven Herrera, made a presentation on the need for trade unions to influence and participate in the development of industrial policies.

The Argentinean Minister for Industry, Débora Giorgi, described the progress made by industry in the country, for example, balanced regional development, growth in sectors previously felt to be unviable, an increase in the added value of each industrial worker and the creation of a million jobs. She portrayed workers as protagonists of this growth and said they “deserve a good and fair wage”.

The afternoon concentrated on IndustriALL reports and resolutions. The Regional Office gave a report on its projects and their place in the action plan. Youth representatives described their experiences  of regional links. Other contributions covered women, gender and precarious work.

The meeting approved the proposal put to the IndustriALL Executive Committee by the women’s group that participated in the workshop on 14 May on actions to strengthen women’s participation and gender equity.

“The struggle continues”, said Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL Global Union’s general secretary, at the end of the meeting. He emphasized the need to provide more opportunities for women and young workers and the need for action to take the struggle forward. He was greeted with immediate applause when he announced that the next regional meeting will take place in May 2014 in Colombia, as a demonstration of solidarity towards the struggle of the trade union movement in that country.

Sustainable Industrial Policy launch

IndustriALL represents 50 million workers worldwide in extractive, manufacturing and processing industries. The future sustainability of these industries depends on governments making strategic choices. Trade unions have a crucial role to play in working with governments and business to ensure that our present industries are sustainable, that decent, new, greener jobs are created, and that human rights and the environment are respected and protected in the process. 
As trade unions, we need to develop our own vision of how our industries and jobs should be transformed to meet sustainability goals. We must also be able to identify the policy levers that may be used to implement that vision. That is why with our Sustainable Industrial Policy initiative we are taking an integrated approach that recognizes the role of technology, labour standards, social standards, environmental imperatives, trade agreements and the urgent need for governments to formulate progressive industrial policy’ said General Secretary Jyrki Raina. ‘Sustainability is the goal – industrial policy is the route we use to get there.
 
Based on IndustriALL’s ten point Action Plan, endorsed by affiliates at its founding Congress, the Sustainable Industrial Policy initiative will include:
A first regional meeting on sustainable industrial development has already taken place in sub-Saharan Africa. Affiliates agreed to focus on developing union capacity to demand comprehensive and strategic industrial policies, educating members and raising public awareness to campaign for policies that benefit working people, and developing joint policies for specific industries. Affiliates also agreed to mobilize their members regionally on Africa Industrialization Day in November.
 
IndustriALL is releasing a discussion paper to kick-start the global initiative on sustainability by providing background on the key issues to be taken into account. It builds on the goals identified in the IndustriALL Action Plan to:
 
‘I hope that affiliates will use the discussion paper to drive debate among their members on a strategic union approach to Sustainable Industrial Policy’ said Jyrki Raina. ‘We cannot leave decisions about the future of our industries, our jobs and our planet to multinational companies and market forces. Through IndustriALL we can make the voice of industrial workers heard.’

Zambian miners strike for wages

Under the leadership of the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ, workers have taken strike action to secure better deals in wage negotiations.

About 600 workers at Luanshya Copper Mines embarked on strike action on two occasions a week apart during the negotiations. MUZ secured a 15 per cent increase up from the 6 per cent initially on the table.

At Ndola Lime, 400 workers went on strike demanding an improvement in salary and finally settled on 9.5 per cent. 

“Our mines should wait for strikes to improve salaries and working conditions at the table, our members have shown that they are prepared to take action on these issues,”

said Chewe. 

FNV trade union award goes to Said Iqbal

On 15 May in the presence the newly elected FNV president and Dutch Minister of Trade and Development, the FNV Febe Elisabeth Velasquez Trade Union Right Award was presented to Said Iqbal. Said Iqbal is president of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers' Union (FSPMI) and also chairman of trade union confederation (KSPI).

Iqbal attracted widespread attention last year when pressure on the Indonesian government from the strategic, large-scale trade union campaign of lobbying, mobilization and action resulted in new legislation on outsourcing enacted on 21 November.

Iqbal mobilized a rally, during which millions of people took to the streets demanding higher wages, a restriction on flexi labour as well as the introduction of statutory social security. As a result, access to health care for the very poorest and a pension for all working people was assured. Said Iqbal is also one of the two central figures in the FNV documentary ‘Working Class Heroes’ which will premiere on 16 May.

FNV Mondiaal and filmmakers Huub Ruijgrok and Arno van Beest will present the documentary ‘Working Class Heroes’ at the Balie in Amsterdam. The film is a dual portrait of trade union leaders, both in Indonesia and in Colombia. The union leaders Said Iqbal and Igor Karel Diaz from IndustriALL affiliated Sintracarbón of Colombia have, for many years and with considerable success, devoted themselves to securing labour rights for their fellow countrymen.

FNV Mondiaal stated, “Thanks to the union leaders, the right to organize and to collective bargaining is beginning to take shape in these countries. In Indonesia, millions of people are taking to the streets and rallying. And in Colombia the largest coal mine closed down for a month”.

On 16 May Dutch Minister stated that she will take the lead among international donors such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank, to improve the working conditions in Bangladesh. She feels the companies should take more responsibility and lack the sense of urgency.
 
FNV stated in a response: "we are very happy with this news. The FNV thinks it is utmost important trade unions will be involved in the plan. Trade unions have a watchdog function to make sure the sense of urgency leads to concrete action".

German metalworkers win major wage increase

Late at night on 14 May, IG Metall and the Gesamtmetall employers’ association concluded a deal after the fourth round of negotiations in Bavaria, Germany. As of 1 July 2013, workers in the metal and electrical industries will get a hike of 3.4 percent for the next ten months and from 1 May 2014 another 2.2 percent for eight months until the end of 2014.

The negotiations were backed by a number of warning strikes organized by the union in recent days involving as many as 750,000 workers nationwide and about 180,000 metalworkers from Bavaria. Later IG Metall announced that a national strike would be organized if no agreement was reached by Wednesday 15 May.

IG Metall believes that the deal is a real success as the agreed hike will be higher than the inflation rate and the overall economic productivity growth thus resulting in a real wage increase for the workers.

In addition to the wage deal the union negotiated an improved arrangement for apprentices through higher training allowances that will secure the future of the branch. The results acheived in these negotiations have set the benchmark for negotiations in other industries.

Set Edi Iriawadi Free!

Edi Iriawadi is a union leader at the local company union, Serikat Pekerja Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa (SP ITP), which is part of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Federation of Indonesia Cement Trade unions (FSP ISI).

Edi was put on a trial after the company, Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa which is part of the Heidelberg Cement Group, accused him of abusing his power by halting two kilns, on 7 September 2012, causing production loss for the company.

On 7 September 2012, around 150 people entered the plant in front of the security guards and accompanied by local members of the police. The intruders stormed into the union office inside the factory and three union members were injured and hospitalized. The motorbikes parked outside the union office were also smashed. When the intruders threatened to storm the entire plant, Edi Iriawadi urged the workers to shut down two of the kilns in order to prevent fatalities.

Local management has misused this incident in order to file a charge against Edi and discredit the local trade union. Edi Iriwadi is now in prison for saving the lives of workers put at risk due to the company’s irresponsible conduct.

After the incident in September 2012, when leaving the workplace, hundreds of union members received warning letters from management. Dadang Wardiman and Totok Budiharsani are the two key witnesses of the 7 September incident and were sanctioned by the company for no clear reason.

We demand that Heidelberg Cement and the Indonesian authorities, stop this dishonourable conduct. If they enter into a conflict with the trade union within the plant, they must solve it by entering into meaningful dialogue and without risking the lives of workers and local people. Set Edi Iriwadi free, 

said Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL Director for Mechanical Engineering and Materials Industries.