Korean Metal Workers’ Union stands up to anti-union government

Since January, the Korean government has launched serious attacks against Korean trade unions and violent police interventions in labour disputes have increased. Police have forcibly dispersed assemblies and arrested participants, curtailing democratic rights to demonstrate. 

KMWU and its national center Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) have protested against the stonewalling of labour law reform in ensuing the ratification of ILO Convention 87 and 98 by the previous Korean president Moon Jae-In. Both unions demand that the provisions on criminalization of strike action and enabling precarious work must be amended.

Even though the Labour Ministry Anyang Office visited plants on 26 May to threaten unionists that they would face criminal charges if they went on strike, on 31 May, KMWU staged demonstrations in twelve cities and provinces. 

In Seoul, KMWU members demonstrated in front of the National Police Agency then marched to Gwanghwamun to join a cross-sectoral KCTU national struggle as construction workers marched up from Yongsan district and Seoul labour office. Some 13,500 unionists in Seoul shouted the slogan “Smash through retrogressive revision of labour laws and union repression! Down with the Yoon Suk-yeol government!”.

In solidarity with the warning strikes, IndustriALL Global Union affiliates across the world have taken solidarity actions. On 30 May, the Malaysian Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC), consisting of IndustriALL and BWI Malaysia affiliates and NGOs, submitted a protest letter to the Embassy of Korea in Kuala Lumpur, calling on the Korean government to immediately stop the attacks on Korean unions. 

In a solidarity letter, the Cambodian Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW) says:

“CUMW condemn in the strongest possible terms the government's unjust intervention into unions, the abusive use of coercive power of the state against unions, using police, public prosecutors, and invoking national security to attack unions, push for retrogressive legal changes to undermine unions and their independence from the state.” 

said Pav Sina, the CUMW president.

UAW’s solidarity letter noted the violent raid of the KWB factory owned by Denso and the large numbers of trade unionists summoned by the police for questioning, including KMWU President YOON Jang hyeok, KMWU VP for Auto SON, Deok Heon and KMWU Ulsan Branch Chair. 

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said: 

“Union activity is a right and not a crime. We urge the Korean government to stop criminalization against trade union leaders and members and ensure a stable environment exists so workers can enjoy their fundamental rights. We stand in solidarity with our South Korean comrades in their rightful fight for their rights.”

Youth forum in Kyrgyzstan discuss organizing and communication

Affiliates are following IndustriALL's recommendations in the field of youth policy.  Youth committees have been established in all national trade unions and the youth are represented in all elected bodies. 70 per cent of the participants are women and this is a testament to the effective implementation of gender policies at IndustriALL events and activities. 
 
Chairman of the Trade Union of Textile and Light Industry Workers of Kyrgyzstan, Almabubu Zharkynbayeva, said: 

“Many of our seamstresses work from home, and this makes their life unbearable. They are obligated to fulfill the order from the employer and at the same time do all the work at home, including caring for elderly parents. Most times they are registered as individual entrepreneurs, and the employer does everything to get away from regulating relations with the help of the Labour Code, saying that these are relations of a civil nature. We see our task in bringing work out of the shadow economy into the legal field. From this point of view, the union welcomes the government's plans to create a large technopark, where big enterprises will work, and the hiring of workers will take place without the use of illegal gray, and black schemes.”

These schemes make room for employers to avoid social responsibilities towards workers and to avoid taxation. 
 
Chairman of the Mining and Metallurgical Workers’ Trade Union of Kyrgyzstan (MMWTUC), Eldar Tadjibaev said: 

“Thanks to IndustriALL’s continuous work in the region, we see that trade union ideas have taken root in the working environment and are starting to spread actively. Workers/members of the trade union of the gold mining enterprise Altynken started working at Jerooy and became the initiators of the creation of a new trade union organization at this enterprise.”

Participants also shared their experience of communication work, an important element in strengthening trade unions. The chairman of the MMWTUC continues his profile on Tik-Tok with daily legal consultations on labour issues and answers questions that are asked in the comments section. Such engagement has led to an increased number of subscribers on Tik-Tok exceeding 11 000.  For many publications, the number of views is almost 100 000. The Mobile Trade Union application created provides daily trade union news and gives solid discounts in many retail chains, restaurants, foreign language learning centers, etc. 
 
Vadim Borisov said: 

“A nice feature of affiliates in Kyrgyzstan is that after each seminar they try to put into practice the ideas that were voiced at the forum and then they decide what works and what doesn’t. The Mining and Metallurgical Trade Union of Kyrgyzstan has been an experimental platform on which many trade union initiatives are being tested. For example, MMWTUC specialists conducted classes on labour relations for students at the Mining Institute to give future workers knowledge about their labour rights and about the protective functions of the trade union. This is serious work for the future.”

Violent attack against Korean unionists must stop

While visiting a sit-in protest of FKMTU members working at POSCO steel mill in Gwangyang on 31 May, FKMTU president Kim Man-jae was manhandled. Six plain-clothes police officers pressed Kim on to the ground and kneeled on his neck before handcuffing him.
 
The following day, FKMTU secretary-general Kim Jun-yeong joined the sit-in protest on a makeshift scaffolding, seven metres above ground. At dawn, four police officers approached Kim with a mobile crane, striking Kim Jun-yeong with a long stick until he fell down from the scaffolding. Kim suffered severe injuries to his forehead and head, a fractured knee and bruises all over his body. He was taken into police custody.
 
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) has condemned the police for their excessive use of force against the two FKMTU leaders, calling for the immediate resignation of the Chief of the National Police Agency.

“This bloody incident tarnishes the international image of Korea. We demand that the Korean government respect workers’ freedom of expression and cease the violent attack against Korean labour unions. IndustriALL stands in solidarity with FKMTU,”

says Shinya Iwai, IndustriALL Global Union regional secretary for South East Asia.
 

Gender equality must be a priority

In April participants from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India came together to practically plan how to strengthen their unions and make them more inclusive for women and young workers. Much of the discussion focused on contract workers because those most affected are women and youth. This meeting also focused on gender-based violence and harassment and building capacity and strong awareness using valuable resources like ILO C190 Toolkit on violence and harassment in the world of work. 

Nigeria ratified ILO Convention 190 which aims to eliminate violence and harassment from the world of work, in September last year. The ratification came after sustained campaigns and concerted efforts, which included social dialogue involving trade unions, civil societies and labour support organizations. Unions said that the ratification of the ILO C190 will strengthen the development of workplace policies to address gender discrimination, gender inequality, improve reporting mechanisms and confidentiality, and make perpetrators accountable and be prosecuted under appropriate laws.

Last year on International Women’s Day, trade unions in Turkey highlighted the situation of women in the country, supporting women workers fighting for their rights. Women are bearing the brunt of Turkey’s increasing inflation – poverty, discrimination and a gender pay gap are daily realities for an increasing number of women workers. On 8 March, Petrol-is organized an activity to support the women workers picketing outside the PAS South East Europe Factory in Çerkezköy. The workers protested after management forced them to resign from their union membership. 

Armelle Seby, IndustriALL director for gender said:

“As trade unions, we must break the cycle of gender inequality because it happens on a continuum and is caused by unequal power relations between men and women. Gender inequality is rooted in patriarchy, harmful social and cultural norms, and discrimination. We must address these root causes, carry out risk management, and stop the abuse of power.”

 

Building stronger unions in Asia Pacific through collective struggle

During a virtual meeting on 23 May, the co-chair of IndustriALL’s Asia Pacific executive committee, Akira Takakura, stressed that unions must take a firm stand against union busting, infringement of the right to collective bargaining, regressive labour law reform and the prosecution against trade unionists.

“Trade unions must show solidarity with other unions who are struggling. We will continue to support the fight for democracy in Myanmar and Ukraine, the struggle against the Omnibus law in Indonesia, and the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.”

Attending the executive committee meeting, the president of Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM), Maung Maung, said that the repression against unions continues. Maung Maung is declared a non-citizen by the military regime, his passport is not valid and there is an arrest warrant against him. Despite bombings by the military, strikes and demonstrations still continue across the country.

Maung Maung shared that international solidarity is working and is putting pressure on the military at international forums like the United Nations and ILO. Trade unionists in Asia Pacific should tell their governments that the power base of the military regime is fragile, and if their governments refuse to support the regime, the people and workers of Myanmar will win. CTUM vows to work together with Ukraine in their fight against dictatorship.

The executive committee members discussed the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. With an inflation rate of 97 per cent, employers are asking workers to work four days per week, 12 hours a day, and women are asked to work at night. IndustriALL affiliates have been excluded from the National Labour Advisory Council.

Two positive developments in India are motivating unionists. After several nation-wide strikes, the Central Labour Minister in India has begun listening to trade unions on regressive labour law reform. The Indian National Mineworkers' Federation reported the collective struggle at a mine site achieved substantial increase of wages. An out-of-court settlement between the union and the employer was recently signed.

"The world is burning and workers' rights are under attack. Trade unions must join hands to restore democratic rule and to stop regressive labour law reforms and a deterioration of working conditions, like increasing working hours in factories and unsafe practices at mine sites,"

said Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.

Unionist nine-month jail ordeal expose workers’ rights violations in Madagascar

The rights are protected by Convention 87 on freedom of association and protection of the right to organize, and the national labour code. Madagascar’s violations of Convention 87 will be discussed at the ILC on 9 June.

The unions are bringing to the ILC the case of the unjust imprisonment of Sento, a trade union representative at the Alsico subsidiary, E-Toile SA in Antananarivo. Sento served the sentence from 29 August 2022 and was released on 30 May 2023 after a presidential pardon.

Sento was arrested and imprisoned for posting on social media the outcome of discussions with E-Toile management to improve working conditions at the garment factory where he worked as a machinist. Unions say the charges against Sento were trumped up: ranging from breaches of confidentiality, data protection, and violation of state property. The trial was unfair and concluded in a record 48-hours under a hostile judge who colluded with the E-Toile lawyer.

An appeal against the judgment was never heard and the judge ignored the fact that that the duties of the trade union representative were protected in the Madagascar labour code. For justice to prevail, the unions say they want a judicial review of the sentence and are arguing that the trial and sentencing offended sections of the law. They also want Sento to be reinstated at E-Toile SA.

During the period of the imprisonment, the unions took to the streets to protest the injustice and were supported by IndustriALL and ITUC Africa which wrote protest letters to E-Toile SA and Alsico management.

Rafenoarimanana Leontine Mbolanomena, the general secretary of USAM, which is in alliance with SVS as Randrana Sendikally said:

“On behalf of the alliance, Sento Chang and his family, we are deeply grateful to IndustriALL, ITUC Africa and other stakeholders, for the unfailing support they gave during the period of his imprisonment. However, despite his release from prison, our fight will continue until the Malagasy state acknowledges the violations it has committed and remedies them by making Sento's criminal record clean, and by taking steps to ensure that he gets his job back. So, during the ILC, particularly when the case of Madagascar's violation of Conventions 87 and 98 is raised, we ask for your continued support.”

Says Kemal Özkan , IndustriALL assistant general secretary:

“We support SVS on its unwavering commitment to workers and trade union rights in Madagascar as seen in this campaign for the release of Sento Chang and for the justice system to protect rather than be used to bash trade unions. Being a trade union representative is not a crime, and we strongly support calls for the expunging of the conviction and sentence.”

Indian unions ask ILO to discuss attacks on workers’ rights

The hard-won workers’ rights that were enshrined in the earlier labour laws have been undemocratically and unconstitutionally either diluted or deleted in the name of ‘ease of doing business’.

Trade union federations in India, including IndustriALL affiliates, have raised their voices, including through general strikes, against the central government’s anti-worker policies and actions.

Under the new labour code, the term ‘factory’ excludes employers with less than 20 workers from any liability, the daily working hours have gone from eight to twelve, with Maharashtra and Karnataka states already in the process of implementing it. Employers with less than 300 workers in their factories no longer need prior permission from appropriate government authorities for layoff or closure. Unions fear that the introduction of ‘fixed term employment’ in the new law will further increase precarious work. The changed law also fails to ensure social security for all workers.

As a member state of the ILO, India has obligations to respect international labour standards, but in reality, the government is following policies to the contrary. 

The letter references the complaint submitted by Indian unions to ILO in 2015 on the violation of ILO Convention 81 on labour inspection. The situation has since worsened. The new law on occupational safety, health and working conditions contradicts the provisions of C81 that call for the free initiative of labour inspectors to enter the workplace without notice and discretion to initiate legal proceedings without prior warning. In the new code, the labour inspector is a facilitator that cannot initiate legal proceedings against an employer, but must instead give an opportunity to the employer to comply with safety provisions.

Unions have requested that the government’s continued, deliberate violations of international labour standards be included in this year’s ILC agenda. They have also urged the ILO to take note of the complaint filed by the ITUC with the Committee on Freedom of Association in 2019 regarding the violation of freedom of association in the Maruti Suzuki case as well as the government’s disregard for international norms in organizing G20 under the Indian presidency.

Says Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary:

“IndustriALL firmly stands with its Indian affiliates and supports their demand that the ILC discuss the Indian government's attack on workers' rights. Governments have the responsibility include union voices when making decisions about labour-related issues. The tripartite mechanism cannot be disregarded.”

Photo: ILC 2023, plenary sitting, Crozet – Pouteau / ILO

Fight for decent wages continues

Wages are one of the conditions of work that have the most direct effect on the everyday life of workers. A regular and adequate pay rise can be used as a means of reducing inequality, increasing demands, and contributing to economic stability. 

In May, Indian unions successfully negotiated with the Coal India management and secured a 19 per cent wage increase and a 25 per cent increase in allowances. The Joint Bipartite Committee on Coal Industry (JBCCI- XI) comprising central trade unions and management of Coal India Limited (CIL) signed the eleventh national coal wage agreement (NCWA- XI). The agreement is valid for a period of five years. Around 280,000 permanent workers of CIL and its subsidiaries, and the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) will benefit from the agreement.

Unions at Chinese-owned ZiJin Bor copper mine in Serbia signed a collective agreement with a 15 per cent wage increase. In the new agreement wages will increase from RSD177 (US$1,6) to RSD192 (US$1,7) per hour. A payment of 4,000 dinars (US$36) was also included in the basic salary. The company agreed to leave the existing CBA in place as a result of a strong demonstration of solidarity among all unions in the workplace.

In July last year, South African unions, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), signed a wage deal with electricity supplier Eskom. The deal, which was signed at the Central Bargaining Forum (CBF), included a 7 per cent wage increase, a R400 (US$24) housing allowance increase, and a commitment to continue negotiations to improve wages and working conditions. 

Workers at an Iran Khodro Company auto factory in Tabriz had a wildcat strike in protest of the non-payment of wages. The Iran Khodro Company is the principal automaker in Iran, manufacturing vehicles, trucks, minibuses and buses. The Union of Metalworkers and Machinists of Iran (UMMI) reported that conditions in industrial plants are catastrophic across Iran as the economic impact of the pandemic added to the ongoing consequences of US sanctions. Major auto factories and their suppliers were affected, and many companies failed to pay wages and make social security contributions. This left workers unable to receive benefits or healthcare.
 
IndustriALL assistant general secretary, Kan Matsuzaki, says:

“Unions have a big role to play in fighting for decent wages. The real wage increase is made possible by collective bargaining power through strong solidarity among unions and workers. We must continue to fight for decent wage for all workers.”
 
 
 

European law on due diligence is a step in the right direction, but EU must do better

The vote of the Parliament’s report on the proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is an important step in putting people and planet before the profits, and making all businesses accountable.

The time when companies could make profit out of the exploitation of the environment and on the back of their and their suppliers’ workers’ fundamental rights all over the world is soon to be over.

However the process is not over yet and opposing forces remain active. Lobbying against the EU directive has been extremely high and achieved some wins in the final European Parliament’s vote with: no more reference on a corporate director’s duty to act in the interest of the people and the planet too; no more leeway for Member States to go beyond the EU minimum rules; no reverse of the burden of proof for victims; no full inclusion of the financial sector.

Now that the European Parliament has adopted its position, trilogue negotiations can start with the Council and the European Commission for a final adoption of the EU Directive expected by the end of 2023.

IndustriAll Europe, IndustriALL Global Union and affiliated trade unions in more than 100 countries are urging the EU negotiators to close the remaining loopholes and adopt the first-ever transnational binding due diligence rules that the 50 million industries’ workers they represent are demanding.

Doing business, within or outside the EU, must mean doing business responsibly, and companies must take responsibility for their actions.

Deputy general secretary of industriAll Europe Judith Kirton -Darling says:

"This vote is a step in the right direction, but the European Union must deliver for workers and must hold all buisnesses accountable. Workers deserve adequate working conditions and for their rights to be respected! European companies cannot turn a blind eye to their supply chains. People over profits!"

Says Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary:

“This is a huge step towards corporate responsibility and accountability to safeguard human rights  in global supply chains. The EU must take the lead in respecting, protecting and empowering workers and the struggle continues in this process. The next step should be the same position for a UN Binding Treaty.”

 

Glass workers strike at Owens-Illinois plant in Montreal

"Our purchasing power is rapidly diminishing. We refuse to see wage rollbacks at a time when our families are suffering from the rising cost of groceries, housing and mortgages. We say no; this time we're putting our foot down,"

says Éric Dumas, president of USW Local 206G, representing workers at the O-I plant.
 
The collective agreement expired in February. The strike is fuelled by a number of issues that have long been a source of discontent among workers. The union argued that wages had remained stagnant and not in line with the rising cost of living. In addition, concerns were expressed about deteriorating working conditions, endangering the well-being of employees.
 
Workers at the O-I plant are determined to make their voices heard and bring about positive change. The strike has attracted attention both in the local community and throughout the trade union movement with messages of solidarity from other unions and organizations, underlining the importance of workers uniting to defend their rights.

The Pointe-Saint-Charles plant is the only glassworks in Quebec that manufactures dark beer bottles and other glass containers. Picket lines have disrupted plant operations and shown the workers' unwavering determination. The strike is affecting the supply chain that depends on O-I's glass packaging products, causing concern among retailers and businesses. Workers want to be recognized and respected for the contribution they have made to this company and the sacrifices they have made in previous contract renewals.

The last round of negotiations took place on 25 May,  but no decent offer was made from the employer’s side. A date for a new meeting has yet to be fixed.

“The strike in Montreal is a testament to the power of collective action and the unwavering determination of workers to improve their working conditions. We express our solidarity and strongly support the fight of our brothers and sisters at Pointe-Saint-Charles,”

says Alex Ivanou, IndustriALL materials director.