IndustriALL strategy takes off in the Aerospace sector

It’s incredible to consider that somewhere in the world an aircraft powered by a Rolls Royce, General Electric or Pratt & Whitney engine takes off every two and half seconds. It is even more incredible when the millions of high-skilled jobs that are directly related to an airplane are considered and the millions of more jobs that are created by all of the related industries that have been developed by the aerospace industry.

One common theme among all the major engine manufacturers is the amazing contribution of trade unions to the success of the industry. Workers in the aerospace sector are at the cutting edge of technology. With demand for commercial aircraft ramping up, forecasts predict that 27,000 new large civil airliners will be needed by 2030.

Unions believe that employers and government need to take a long-term vision and invest in developing the industry by first creating an environment that implements fundamental human rights—like the right of workers to form their own unions and engage in collective bargaining. IndustriALL believes that governments should encourage employers to create partnerships with trade unions to ensure that everyone benefits from the growing and vibrant aerospace industry.

Tom Buffenbarger, President of the IndustriALL Aerospace Section notes, “the future for the world’s economic prosperity lies in the strength of the world’s aerospace industry and the strength of the world’s aerospace industry depends on strong labor unions.” The next generation of aerospace workers must be fully integrated into the industry to ensure the development of the new technologies, ideas and skills that have always been present in this great industry.

Much of the growth predicted is set to occur in the Asia Pacific where 33 per cent of world traffic is expected to take place by 2030. China, which has targeted the aerospace industry, has yet to recognize fundamental human rights for its workers. As a result, its continuing growth in the industry presents a sizeable challenge for workers not only in China who do not enjoy basic rights, but also workers outside of China.

In response IndustriALL is developing a global strategy through its aerospace steering committee that will offer affiliates a common vision for stronger labour unions that will contribute to the global aerospace industry. Among many items, the committee formed a global alliance of the world’s aerospace unions two years ago and will be strengthening these alliance efforts. Other strategies include, coordination with other GUFs like the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) on projects like the current examination of new trends in the industry such as the growth of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) agreements.

These agreements started in the mid 90’s as the aero-engine manufacturers embarked in a strategy to capture the maintenance value in an engine as part of the product life cycle. The industry is estimated to be worth 46 billion USD and forecast to grow by 4 per cent over the coming decade.

The challenge for unions is to ensure that this growth sector is organized and that the traditional maintenance carried out by union members in many airlines is not outsourced as a cost cutting measure to undermine workers terms and conditions in the airlines. As the end user and customer it’s also important for aviation workers and unions to support aerospace workers in conflict.

In order to achieve this aim IndustriALL has been working closely with the ITF and the outcomes of this work will be published later this year. In the coming year, the aerospace section will also be developing many other action-oriented projects involving innovative approaches to better representing IndustriALL’s affiliates in this essential and vibrant industry.

Justice for Korean workers at Hyundai Kia Motors

On Wednesday, 22 August KMWU, an affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union, asks the international trade union community to hold pickets and protest actions in support of the unions at Hyundai and Kia Motors. IndustriALL calls on affiliates to support this appeal of Korean autoworkers and hold pickets and share the information and photos about the actions at: http://kmwu-kctu.tumblr.com.

Since July 2012, Korean workers have held a number of strikes demanding the company increase monthly wages by 151,696 won ($134 US) and use 30 per cent of the company’s net profit to cover the performance-based bonuses scheme.

The union is demanding the transfer of precarious workers to permanent contracts, so far however the company is offering gradual permanent contracts to only 3,000 workers by 2015 out of the 8,000 current in-house subcontractors. Earlier this year, the Korean Supreme Court ruled in favour of a Hyundai Motor subcontract worker’s suit submitted back in 2005, ruling the worker be promoted to a permanent employee status, thus establishing a precedent for change in the Korean automotive industry, which currently makes extensive use of a subcontracted workforce to extract additional profits.

The KMWU also insists on abolishing night shift by replacing the current ten hour shifts with shorter, daytime-only schedules, with all workers off the lines by midnight at the latest. The work at nights and long working hours imposed within the current shifts system in place is causing severe sleep disorders and even death from overwork, known in Korea as “gwarosa”.

Together Hyundai and Kia form the world's fifth largest automaker by sales. Both companies registered strong sales in the first half of this year, with Hyundai achieving an 11.5 per cent increase in sales since last year and Kia celebrating a 12 per cent jump from a year earlier during the first six months of the year. Hyundai owns 34 per cent of Kia Motors through shares.

Fontana Pietro workers in Turkey fight for union recognition

As part of a recruitment drive Birlesik Metal-Is has organized the majority of the 230 workers at the plant of Italian-based company Fontana Pietro, which produces metal sheets for the auto industry, located in Tuzla, Istanbul.

Soon after the union applied to the Ministry of Labour on 9 August for recognition, the company management became aware of the drive and on 17 August dismissed four union members who led the organizing.

The systematic harassment campaign started by Fontana Pietro, including threats and acts of intimidation against workers joining the union, is a violation of workers’ basic rights enshrined in the Turkish Constitution and international labour conventions to which Turkey is a signatory. IndustriALL Global Union has sent a protest letter (link to the letter) to the company management in Turkey urging the company to immediately reinstate the dismissed union members, and enter into dialogue with Birleşik Metal-İş.

IndustriALL’s Italian affiliates have also taken initiative to raise the conflict with the headquarters of the company.

The Fontana Pietro Group, a supplier to Ferrari, is composed of three main divisions: engineering; construction of dies; and stamping and assembly of steel and aluminium elements for car bodies production. The group has two factories in Italy, a production plant in Istanbul, and is building another productive site in Romania. The company currently employs over 500 people.

IndustriALL condemns wild killings at South African Lonmin mine

IndustriALL joins NUM in calling for calm to return to the Marikana mine, about 100 km north-west of Johannesburg, and demanding a full and thorough investigation from law enforcement agencies that leads to arrests and prosecution for those responsible. The shootings occurred at the Wonderkop squatter camp at the mine, after police efforts to disperse crowds of demonstrators with teargas and water cannons failed. It is now the responsibility of Lonmin, the UK-based mine owner to ensure calm and safety is restored so that miners can return to work.

The blame and the root cause of the conflict, which had already killed 10 people, lies with the employer who conducted an underhanded attack on the NUM and the established bargaining structure by bypassing the proper channels and offering a unilateral allowance to rock-drill operators.

Today, NUM General Secretary Frans Baleni and an NUM delegation are visiting the mine together with South Africa’s Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, to give condolences to the families of the dead workers and to establish a clearer understanding of how the tragedy occurred. NUM President Senzeni Zokwana, also Vice-President of IndustriALL, who is at the mine appealing for calm, stated “rock drillers are always vulnerable to scam artists targeting the platinum industry in Limpopo and the North West.” Referring to the rival union he said “these guys have taken the guise of a union that promises them R12,500 – which NUM adamantly says is unachievable for a rock driller.”

Lonmin followed the example of fellow platinum miner Impala Platinum, where there has also been increasing intimidation and violence this year. At both Lonmin and Impala, NUM is persecuted by management through a number of undermining efforts that favour yellow unions and non-union members. A major contributing factor is the lack of a centralized bargaining structure inside the Chamber of Mines for the platinum mining industry, as exists for coal and gold mining. South Africa is the world’s largest producer of platinum.

IndustriALL Global Union sends heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those killed, and joins NUM in calling workers to remain united in face of management attempts at divide and rule. IndustriALL condemns the tactics of Lonmin’s local management which is the root cause for this tragedy. IndustriALL also calls on the Chamber of Mines to address the need for centralised bargaining in the platinum industry to prevent companies from undermining union rights, closing the space for such unilateral destructive actions for which workers have paid with their lives.

IndustriALL and NUM demand that the families of the deceased must be compensated as if the deceased died on duty and all workers must be paid full salaries for the period of work stoppage, as it was the company that could not provide them with transport and security to work.

“NUM always stands shoulder to shoulder with trade unions throughout the world when a worker is killed under their motto “an injury to one is an injury to all”. Condolences and solidarity messages are being sent from all regions to NUM at this time,” stated IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan.

IndustriALL takes de facto suspension of bargaining rights in Turkey to ILO

According to Turkish national legislation, the collective bargaining process can begin with a certificate of competence issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Since the beginning of 2012, the Ministry has not issued any certificate of competence for any trade union, including affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union, which makes it de facto impossible for workers to exercise their rights of collective bargaining. With this arbitrary and illegal administrative decision, the right of collective bargaining is de facto suspended contrary to provisions of ILO Convention 98, Turkey’s Constitution as well as the Collective Labour Agreement, Strike and Lock-out Act coded 2822.

It is reported that the number of workplaces for which a certificate of competence is not issued has reached some 950 covering 350.000 workers. Obviously there will be many more if the situation continues as is. The official complaint of IndustriALL Global Union contains various examples which its Turkish affiliates have provided. Workers and trade unions cannot negotiate for their wages, social benefits and other working conditions, which make them vulnerable in defending and enhancing their rights and interests through the collective bargaining process.

The current de facto suspension of collective bargaining rights in Turkey makes workers unable to enjoy their fundamental rights of freedom of association. Since trade unions cannot deliver any service and protection to their members in newly organized workplaces, workers are very cautious of joining trade unions since they are open to all kinds of dismissal and intimidation at the workplace. There are a number of cases of this kind in various sectors which IndustriALL Global Union’s Turkish affiliates are faced with. The official complaint gives special reference to two recent cases in Turkey, Togo Ayakkabı with Deri-Is and Ceha Büro Mobilyaları with Birlesik Metal-Is.

The current situation also brings potential difficulties to Turkish trade unions in collecting dues and nominating workplace level trade union representatives. Turkish legislation stipulates that “a trade union which is a party to the collective labour agreement in force in the undertaking or, of the workers’ trade union which has obtained the certificate of competence to bargain can collect fees and appoint local trade unionists." This may potentially destruct trade unions financially and structurally.

IndustriALL Global Union’s complaint formally calls the ILO to urgently study, draw conclusions and make recommendations regarding the Turkish Government’s violations of Convention 98 with a view to restoring a full exercise of the right of collective bargaining.

Kemal Özkan, the Assistant General Secretary of Turkish origin of IndustriALL Global Union said: “While awaiting improvement in Turkish labor legislation for more freedom and extended rights, this de facto suspension of bargaining rights has narrowed the range of trade union activity. As the Ministry is not responsive to our petitions, the ILO complaint becomes an important resort to restore today’s unacceptable picture”.

Carbones de la Jagua and Fenoco suspend employment contracts

The Carbones de La Jagua mining complex, operated by Prodeco and subsidiary of the Swiss transnational company Glencore, and the railway company Fenoco owned by Drummond, have started to dismiss workers who have been on strike since mid-July.

The workers’ union, Sintramienergetica, reports that more than 20,000 workers are involved in the dispute. “The attitude of the employers is absurd. These transnationals are trying to break legitimate strikes by Fenoco and Glencore employees at Carbones de la Jagua in the municipalities of La Jagua and El Paso”, said the union.

The union added that “Fenoco and Carbones de la Jagua refuse to seek a negotiated solution to the strike. On the contrary, they are usurping the role of worker organisations and violating freedom of association by convening mass meetings to pressure the workers into referring the dispute to an Arbitration Board. They are trying to create divisions within the union, evade their responsibilities and violate the legal and constitutional rights of workers and the general public.”

The strikes began on July 19 at Carbones de la Jagua and July 22 at Fenoco, after Glencore, Drummond, Vale and the other main transnational shareholders of Carbones de la Jagua and Fenoco, turned down workers’ demands.

The union is calling on the Colombian government to put a stop to violations of the rights of Colombian workers and citizens by these transnational companies and to guarantee the constitutional right to strike. The union also wants the government to ensure companies comply with international standards and the terms of the labour action programme that forms part of free trade agreements signed by Colombia.

It also urges the government, senators, deputies, mayors, governors and municipal assemblies and councils to speak out and prevent companies from committing these vicious violations of rights in their departments and municipalities.

It has requested the International Labour Organisation to make a prompt and vigorous statement on these violations and requested solidarity from trade unions and human rights organisations.

IndustriALL Global Union wrote a letter of support to the union when it began the strike, in which it expressed solidarity with the “just struggle against the multinational company Glencore, which is known for its anti-worker policies throughout the world”. It now reiterates its solidarity in the context of the latest action taken against the workers.

IndustriALL plans to continue campaigning against the merger between Glencore and Xstrata because of the continuing anti-union behaviour that the company continues to demonstrate globally.

Solidarity support needed for suspended ZESA workers

The Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU) says that the postponements are an attempt to frustrate workers and starve them into submission. At a meeting between the union and ZESA on Friday 3 August, ZESA attempted to trade off the reinstatement of suspended workers in exchange for workers abandoning the wage increase gained through an arbitration award. This is tantamount to economic blackmail and an attempt to intimidate workers to concede their rightful gains.

Even with the wage increases, workers of the lowest pay grade, that are entitled to a wage increase from US$190 to US$275, would be earning way below the poverty datum line. The poverty datum line is a figure calculated by the Zimbabwe Consumer Council that assists in deciding how much a person needs in order to sustain a reasonable livelihood for 2011 was US$520.

The President of Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU), Angeline Chitambo, is amongst those that have been suspended along with two other elected officials of the union, Tariro Shumba and Dennis Mukote. They face different charges to the rest of the workers, singled out for carrying out their trade union leadership responsibilities. The hearing for Angeline Chitambo, who is also a member of the Executive of IndustriALL, has been postponed until 28 August.

ZESA is also putting pressure on workers and their union through legal proceeding. The utility made a court application seeking relief against 132 workers it suspended resulting in a show cause order being issued to workers to appear before the court and explain why the court should not take action against them. In addition to this, ZESA is appealing the arbitration at the High Court on the basis that the arbitrator was not impartial and favoured the union.

IndustriALL General Secretary, Jyrki Raina, has sent a letter to ZESA calling for the reinstatement of all suspended workers and implementation of the bargaining agreement and raised the issue with the Zimbabwe embassy in Geneva. Broader support is urgently needed and IndustriALL is appealing to affiliates for solidarity support of suspended workers and their union. A sample letter is available for affiliates to send to ZESA to apply additional pressure.

Favourable settlement reached on Evraz strike

The 2000 striking workers, that were protesting the retrenchment of more than 500 workers and salary cuts due to the implementation of a new shift system that affected overtime pay, returned to work on 13 August 2012.

Workers affected by the new shift system will now receive a 7.5 percent wage increase and a one off payment of R15,000 to mitigate the loss in overtime pay. Laid off workers that did not take a voluntary severance package will be reinstated and back paid.

Our perseverance has paid off,

says a NUMSA shop steward at Evraz.

While we are unable to prevent the new shift system, NUMSA gave us good leadership to make sure that workers can adjust to the new system and did not lose their jobs.

Conflict at Merck Serono, Switzerland ends with a Social Plan

The MoU was reached in bargaining between worker representatives, UNIA, and management of the pharmaceuticals giant, under the mediation of Geneva authorities. The unfortunate decision to close the sites in Geneva and Coisins was not reversed, but a sustained determined effort by workers throughout the summer since 27 April has at least achieved a positive settlement for the 1,500 employees to lose their job. Workers had renewed strike action last week as Merck Serono refused to improve the social plan, in one of the largest industrial action campaigns in recent history in Switzerland.

Two further goals of the workers’ negotiators were for reemployment at a new biotechnology institute on the Geneva site, and a push to raise awareness of the need to change the labour legislation in Switzerland. The Merck Serono employees have garnered wide support from the local community, thanks in part to their creative campaigning. The project to create a new biotechnology institute is now in the hands of local and national government, and can save hundreds of jobs and considerable skills in the city.

Significant gains were won especially enabling early retirement of older employees, on good terms. Minimum redundancy payments were increased. A special fund was created for compensation for temporary workers and subcontractors. Workers are released from work for one month to look for another job. Also achieved was the commitment from Merck Serono to support the creation of biotechnology institute, under certain conditions. The agreed social plan also brings the withdrawal of all retaliation by management on workers’ representatives.

UNIA now prioritizes the fight to save manufacturing jobs in Switzerland. The Merck Serono employees’ General Assembly that voted to accept the MoU denounced the weak legal framework protecting workers facing redundancy. The General Assembly called for the creation of a new national multi-stakeholder committee charged with revising national legislation. UNIA plans a large demonstration in capital Bern on 22 September calling for a strong industry in the country.

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL Global Union’s Assistant General Secretary said: “We congratulate our affiliate UNIA and Merck Serono employees for their decisive struggle and campaign to secure their jobs. This is what we need to do at the global scale since more or less all pharmaceutical multinationals plan mass job cuts at a time when they are making huge profits”.

See a previous IndustriALL report here.

IndustriALL calls for legal and fair elections at PKC Mexico

IndustriALL Global Union has written to Matti Hyytiäinen, president of the PKC Group, about the dispute at its plant in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico.

The National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union (SNTMMSSRM), led by Napoleón Gómez, filed a legal action seeking the right to negotiate the collective agreement at Arneses y Accesorios de México, a PKC subsidiary in Ciudad Acuña, México. The Federal Conciliation and Arbitration Board rejected this demand. However, on July 4 2012, the First Circuit Ninth Collegiate Labour Court accepted an appeal filed by the SNTMMSSRM and ordered the Conciliation and Arbitration Board to make arrangements. The Board then requested an election to be held to determine which union should represent the workers.

The Conciliation and Arbitration Board scheduled a hearing for August 31 to set a date, time and place and establish a list of those eligible to vote. The elections may take place in September. IndustriALL is calling for free, fair and transparent elections and for the employer to maintain a neutral position as it is the workers alone who have the right to elect their trade union representatives.

At meetings called by the company since July 16, workers have been told that an election will be held in September. According to the workers, the company is saying that the Mexican Confederation of Workers (Confederación de Trabajadores de México, CTM) is now on the workers’ side and not there to protect the company. The workers say they are increasingly being put under pressure and threatened by managers.

IndustriALL says that these actions clearly show the company is interfering in the electoral process and attempting to control it, in violation of ILO Conventions 87 and 98. It has called on the company to change its attitude and follow procedures that guarantee a legal and fair election.