IndustriALL proposes ethical partnership with TATA Steel

Unions that make up the TATA Steel network are developing an action plan aimed at organizing new members, building stronger unions and improving communications with management.

Tata Steel has manufacturing operations in 27 countries with the largest located in Jameshedpur, Jharkland, India. The company has won many awards such as World’s Best Steel Producer by World Steel Dynamics, and recognition by Forbes as the world’s most ethical company.  The unions that form the Tata Steel network believe that in making the proposal they can play a proactive role in ensuring that as the company expands it avoids conflict and retains its ethical values.

The union proposal comes at a time when the network plans to improve coordination among unions at the global level. This improved coordination includes monitoring and improving the company’s implementation of its corporate social responsibility policies. It’s hoped that by working together with the management on issues such as freedom of association, problems can be resolved early.  The union network plans to implement an organizing and growth strategy across Asia.

If accepted by management the partnership would be the first of its kind and ensure a continuation of the philosophy that Tata Steel has won many awards for. A consultation of unions carried out by IndustriALL showed overwhelming support for the proposal.

Rob Johnston, Executive Director of IndustriALL Global Union, explained, “Tata Steel has a unique reputation as one of the world’s leading ethical companies. How it reacts to this offer will demonstrate how far its ethical approach extends. In our experience when it comes to organizing and growth many companies that talk a good game fail to live up to expectations. We hope that this will not be the case with TATA Steel.”

The union network has already invited senior management to attend to provide an overview of the company’s strategy for the next 5 years and to discuss the union’s proposals in Bangkok. In addition the network will also discuss plans to use social media forums to increase communications among unions in the company’s unionized operations.

Historically the company has had good relations with its unions in most parts of the world. In India where the company began its operations in 1907 it has had a partnership agreement with the TATA Workers’ Union for over a hundred years. Recently as the company has expanded its global footprint, questions have been raised as to whether the company can retain this approach through all its operations and very different cultures.

ZF

Through signing the GFA ZF accepts the basic principles of the ILO Core Labor Standards, the ILO Conventions as well as the Global Compact of the United Nations and refers to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

The provisions of the agreement define the ZF standards being applied wherever the ZF Group operates.

The company undertakes to apply the principles of equal treatment and no-discrimintation, respect of freedom of association and right to collective bargaining and negotiations, no use of child and forced labour, health and safety and environmental protection.

The ZF Group also pledges its suppliers to recognize and apply principles of the GFA and motivates them to introduce and implement similar principles in their companies.

Fiji government kicks out ILO mission

The fact-finding mission arrived on Sunday, 16 September with the government of interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama’s prior agreement. Fundamental labour rights have been greatly curtailed by the Essential Services Decree, the archaic legislation effectively bans all industrial actions, voids existing collective agreements, curbs overtime pay, and cancels wage adjustments and certain work terms in designated industries. It was introduced as part of escalating union and civil society repression, arrests of key trade union leaders and other legislative changes. See a previous report from IndustriALL here: http://www.industriall-union.org/goldminers-in-fiji-call-for-union-rights

The ILO delegation held meetings with trade unions on Monday in capital Suva, but scheduled Monday meetings with government were cancelled by the regime. The delegation received a written order this morning to immediately stop its work and to leave the country on this evening’s flight to Hong Kong.

The delegation was led by Judge Abdul Koroma of the International Court of Justice, member of the ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations. Other members of the mission were Karen Curtis Deputy Director of the International Labour Standards Department, and Christine Bader Officer of the International Standards Department.

IndustriALLGlobal Union joins the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) in condemning the decision to expel the ILO Mission and in calling on the regime to behave responsibly. 

Spanish unions lead workers in protest against austerity

Rajoy’s conservative Partido Popular (PP) is pushing the brutal cuts, primarily to health, education and welfare, at the same time as increased taxes and an enormous bailout for Spanish banks. Demonstrators called to “Defend Our Futures”, and for a referendum asking the Spanish people whether the cuts should continue.

A recent government cut was to public sector workers’ Christmas bonuses, which represent 7 per cent of annual salary. Labour reform and the removal of overtime pay are also measures hitting workers, now weakened in their labour relations. Since the Partido Popular came to power, nearly one million industrial jobs have gone in Spain.

Workers gathered at the Plaza de Cibeles on Saturday morning and marched on the Plaza de Colón where the Ministry of Industry is based.

Three IndustriALL Global Union affiliates rallied members: the Federation of Industry of CCOO, the Federation of Industry of UGT, and the UGT Metal Workers (MCA-UGT), together with the CCOO Construction Workers.

Hundreds of social and political groups also rallied their supporters and the demonstration was divided into six waves each wearing a different colour. Workers wore red.

The CCOO and UGT federations jointly committed to continued political mobilization against the cuts in services and social rights that create loss of jobs and productivity, as a flawed means of fighting the economic crisis.

The call on government is for a genuine industrial policy that can develop the Spanish economy through a strong, diversified, and competitive industry creating quality jobs.

Workers must come first in proposed EADS and BAE merger

IndustriALL Global Union is calling for an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the merger for workers in both companies.

The proposed merger is suggested as good for business but this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s good for the workforce and the countries where they operate. Eliminating the fear of workers will assist in a faster integration of the two companies should the merger proceed.

The new company would have a workforce of over 200,000 and annual sales of over 57 billion GBP. Although both companies have a presence in similar markets there are also areas that are unique to each such as EADS Space Division.

As both companies have a considerable defense portfolio a lot of attention has been focused on the implications and issues of national interest. Although this attention is warranted what’s likely to have an equally important impact is the companies’ industrial strategy post merger.

In order for unions to support the merger management must first eliminate fear among workers and develop a transparent and inclusive process. Unions in both companies have been developing strategies in response to the announcement and IndustriALL has a central role in coordinating these efforts globally.

Rob Johnston, Executive Director of IndustriALL Global Union and responsible for Aerospace argues, “A merger of this nature needs careful consideration. Both companies provide thousands of highly skilled jobs we can’t afford to gamble with these. We need to ensure the checks and balances are in place to protect employment and that a well thought out business plan exists should the merger take place.”

Critical to unions is transparency throughout the merger process and the ability to influence the company’s future plans. Since the announcement of the merger most commentary has focused on the economic case. Little attention has focused on the industrial strategy and the management’s business plan in particular the case for jobs.

Unions in both EADS and BAE Systems have been loudest in raising this question. To date an answer has not been provided and that’s why unions are seeking a greater involvement in the merger process. IndustriALL will coordinate these efforts at the global level engaging unions across the world and developing a common platform among unions.

Making the case for jobs and employment is a vitally important element to the success or failure of the proposed merger. Developing new tools that will up-skill an already highly skilled workforce should form an integral part of any new business model. The result of the merger must not be a weaker but larger company, but a company focused on developing and retaining a highly skilled workforce to secure its success.

German brand KIK sourcing from Pakistan factory

The fire at Ali Enterprises, the garment factory located in Hub river road, Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) in Karachi killed more than 289 workers many of whom were trapped and unable to escape.

There has been widespread outrage and condemnation of the government of Pakistan who failed to ensure basic safety conditions were met at the factory. More than 8,000 people have demanded action to the Prime Minister via the Labour Start campaign here: http://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=1570

The owners of the factory have been charged with murder, although they have yet to be apprehended by the authorities. An affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union, the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) in Pakistan is calling on authorities to look at charging KIK and any other confirmed buyers from the factory with criminal negligence.Following the terrible disaster, NTUF,social movements and left political parties held a protest march on 15 September.

The rally marched through the Karachi industrial area and finished with a large protest meeting in front of the burnt factory. The participants of the march demanded the arrest of the factory owners, compensation for the families of dead and wounded workers, and the institution of criminal cases against responsible government officials.

The participants criticized the international brands and companies whose negligence and non-respect of related ILO conventions, national labour legislation and international standards on occupational health and safety at the workplace culminated in the worst industrial accident killing more than 300 workers, the majority of whom were less than 30 years old.

The participants also condemned the attitude of the ILO high official in Pakistan who limited communication to labour department officials who, according to workers, were responsible for the tragedy and failed to meet workers’ representatives to get first hand information.

The rally participants appreciated the solidarity expressed by the international union movement especially the IndustriALL Global Union for launching a protest campaign demanding safety at textile factories. To support the Labour Start campaign launched jointly with IndustriALL Global Union follow the link http://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=1570.

IndustriAll Europe takes protest to FIAT’s door

The IndustriAll Europe banner was flown in Turin by FIAT IVECO trade unionists from Spain, Poland, Austria, Germany, France and Italy. All unions present are also members of IndustriALL Global Union. FIAT IVECO’s restructuring process will bring five plant closures in France, Austria and Germany.

FIAT is refusing to discuss the restructuring plan with the European trade unions.

IVECO employees who make fire trucks burned a coffin effigy at the demo to protest against their site closing.

The three Italian trade unions representing FIAT IVECO workers differ in strategy in reacting to the proposed restructuring, with Fiom-CGIL present at the 7 September protest, and Fim-Cisl and Uilm-Uil withdrawing from participation one day before.

Fiom-CGIL motivated their protest against “the plan of Fiat Iveco to dismiss thousands of workers, close sites and resize the presence of Iveco, Iribus and Magirus in Europe” saying that “Fiat Industrial simply rejected every request for a meeting proposed by the European trade union”. Full statement is available at the link  http://www.fiom.cgil.it/stampa/2012/c_12_09_07.htm.

Fim-Cisl and Uilm-Uil came with a joint declaration saying that since the time of the call for the protest on June 28 different local agreements have been concluded, which “glossed over the main reason which gave rise to the debate within IndustriAll European Trade Union.”

IndustriAll Europe’s Deputy General Secretary Luc Triangle addressed the demo, asking FIAT IVECO to find “socially acceptable solutions,” to “open dialogue to present the group’s industrial programs and their motivations,” and to “set up a European works council as provided for by law”.

"This is the first protest of many to come aimed at Fiat offices in Europe."

14 Vietnamese tailors die in fire in Russia

According to the preliminary investigation the fire started on 11 September 2012 around 16:20 on the second floor of an industrial building in Yegoryevsk (a city located 100 km to the southeast from Moscow) on the site of an old cotton factory. The cause of the fire was reportedly a short circuit, but an official investigation continues.

The victims were migrant workers of Vietnamese origin who did not have the right to work in Russia. When the fire started people could not get out of the building because the exit door was locked and blocked from outside with a sledgehammer.

The police are looking for the owner of the illegal business. The owner of the premises claims not to have been aware of the factory on his property saying the shop was rented to a third party.

The premises had already been twice the focus of the Russian Federal Migration Service. Last time in April, the FMS discovered 20 workers from Uzbekistan who were without the legal right to work and deported them from the country.

As part of the on-going investigation the authorities have also found nearby another illegal factory with 60 Vietnamese workers. The police detained the workers until further investigation of their case is complete.

IndustriALL Auto Group Meeting: laying out strategy for the sector

During two days of intensive work, the participants discussed the whole range of issues. The presentations started with the exposition of trade union networks and global framework agreements. Afterwards, works councils were discussed. This issue proved to be controversial: while in some countries like Germany works councils are an effective legal instrument extending the power of unions, in others companies tend to use works councils as an administration-controlled alternative to the unionization of the plant. Representatives of the Russian unions were especially concerned.

Participants from the US, Turkey, and Russia mentioned serious trade union rights violations in their countries, from intimidation and one-on-one meetings of the management with employees at Nissan in the US to the difficult situation at Renault in Turkey. IndustriALL is fully committed to provide international solidarity in such cases. And the opportunity to do so immediately showed up  – delegates from Brazil and Germany took part in the Interregional Trade Union of Autoworkers (ITUA) picket action in front of Vlankas plant in Kolpino near Saint-Petersburg.  Vlankas is a GM supplier and a strongly anti-union company: ITUA activists at the plant were sent on forced vacation with subsequent dismissal.

In another concrete gesture of solidarity, all the participants adopted and signed a resolution addressed to the PKC Group president Matti Hyytäien regarding the anti-union practices at PKC facilities in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico.

The participants from Brazil, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Belgium, USA, Russia, Australia, Finland, South Korea, and Turkey focused on the situation in the auto sector in their respective countries. Two presentations provided key insight into the future of the automotive industry on a global scale. Christian Brunkhorst from IG Metall explained the long-term shift in demand from Europe to the developing countries, and Dr. Jürgen Dispan examined the effects of electric drive trains and hybrid cars on employment.

Gerdau Diaco Muña workers create Sintrametal committee at Sibaté plant

After the mass dismissals carried out by Gerdau Diaco at the Muña and Tocancipá plants in Colombia, a group of workers who were not dismissed joined the Sintrametal union, which organizes workers at other Gerdau Diaco steel plants at Duitama and Tuta in Bocayá and Cota in Cundinamarca. Sintrametal is part of UTRAMMICOL, which is affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union.

Last week, workers at the Muña plant held a meeting to get organised and defend their jobs, wages and the welfare of their families. The meeting had the support of the president and vice president of the Sintrametal Cota branch, respectively Esteban Gonzalez and Nelson Chacón who has been working for the union’s education and legal advice services for years.

The meeting formed a Sintrametal committee at Sibaté and later submitted the relevant documentation to the Ministry of Labour and Gerdau Diaco. The union said that the plant managers were trying to crush the recent wave of unionisation and had argued that it was undermining the trust between workers and managers.

José Edilberto Vallejo Madrigal and Raúl Hernando Acosta Herrera were elected as representatives of the committee, to act as spokesmen for the group and seek support for the new organisation.

Workers at the Muña plant in Sibaté received support from colleagues at the Cota, Tuta and Duitama plants.

IndustriALL Global Union said “as a global union in the industrial sector, we will closely follow the situation at the Diaco Gerdau plants and we will offer all our support and solidarity to help the affected workers.”