Goldminers begin strike in South Africa

Employers offered a 6.5 per cent wage increase amounting to only Euro 30 extra a month which the NUM has reject with contempt as slave wages. The NUM is demanding an increase of Euro 230 for surface and opencast miners and Euro 300 for underground miners, constituting a 49 per cent and 60 per cent increase respectively.

The NUM has undergone a nationwide industrial action because of the arrogance of the employers in the sector gold mining industry for changing the gold mining landscape. Leshiba Seshoka, spokesperson for the NUM said: “The captains of the industry have continuously awarded themselves huge bonuses with Gold Fields CEO getting Euro 4.5 million per annum last year.”

“Mineworkers are determined to embark on the strike action beginning tonight until their demands are met. The union has noted the arrogance of the employers in maintaining that they are unshakable in their 6,5% pittance offer. The NUM is unshakable too in its demand for a living wage and as such the Chamber ‘s final offer would meet the union ‘s final demand and there shall be dust on the streets of Carletonville and PWV.” Said NUM in its press statement.

“IndustriALL Global Union fully supports legitimate demands of the NUM” said General Secretary Jyrki Raina. “Our affiliates worldwide, particularly in the mining industry, are shoulder-to-shoulder with NUM in this important strike”.

Tens of thousands to join South African strikes

More than 31 000 workers in the auto manufacturing sector downed tools on 19 August demanding a 14 per cent wage increase. The strike continues as National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) consults its members on a revised offer of 10 per cent from employers, up from 6 per cent.

Getting ready to join their comrades on 2 September are about 72,000 Numsa members after a breakdown in wage negotiations with the Fuel Retailers Association and the Retail Motor Industry Organisation.

Meanwhile, up to 90,000 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are ready to respond to a strike call on the weekend after wage talks faltered in the gold sector. The NUM, which is the majority union in the sector, has given employers until 30 August to meet its demands for up to 60 per cent wage increase. The Chamber of Mines, negotiating on behalf of gold sector employers has put forward a final offer of between 6 and 6.5 per cent, which the NUM has rejected as this is only slightly above inflation.

In the textile sector, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu) has conducted a strike ballot where workers have voted in favour of a strike should their wage dispute with employers not be settled. SACTWU is preparing to submit a 48 hour strike notice top employers on 2 September after which 50,000 of its members will take up strike action in support of their demands for a 7 per cent wage increase in metropolitan areas and 11 per cent for those in non-metro areas.

Unions plan to take global action on 7 October

IndustriALL is calling on all affiliates to join the global action and put the full force of IndustriALL’s global strength behind the fight against precarious work.

In Europe, IndustriAll European Trade Union has sent a message to its affiliates urging them to mobilize their members as part of the global action, pointing out that precarious employment continues to spread both in Europe and throughout the globe and that campaigning jointly and in solidarity can only serve to increase the effect of our actions further.

IndustriALL campaign materials available online include:

Affiliates are urged to send information to [email protected] about their planned actions, as well as photos and report of the action once it has taken place. This information will be posted on the special campaign section of the IndustriALL website.

In 2012, more than 150 affiliates in 46 countries participated in the October 7 global action to STOP Precarious Work. The resulting photos, showing IndustriALL affiliates across the globe uniting under a common cause, sent a powerful message to MNCs, governments and the institutions of global governance that workers everywhere are prepared to fight against precarious work.

While looking forward to a major mobilisation of IndustriALL affiliates around the world on October 7, General Secretary Raina stated:

IndustriALL’s STOP Precarious Work campaign is not only about an annual action day, but about a mainstreamed strategic goal. The issue of precarious work continues to be a standing item on the agenda of all IndustriALL meetings. Many company networks are undertaking mapping of the incidence of precarious work in their companies and formulating joint strategies to reduce it. New improved language is being introduced to GFAs.

Furthermore, our major externally-funded project is supporting a large number of specific activities in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Regional and national activities are focusing on supporting affiliates to make demands on employers through collective bargaining to limit precarious employment, to push for legislative reform that restricts precarious work, and to resist legislation that expands it. 

Strike season heats up in South Africa’s auto sector

More than 2,000 workers at a BMW plant in South Africa have gone on strike over a deadlock in plant level negotiations relating to shift allowances. The deadlock was not resolved in conciliation which led to the industrial action. 

Negotiations are also underway in the auto sector and BMW has portrayed in the media that they are perplexed by the strike given the sector level talks. 

"It must be very clear that BMW cannot say that they are confused by this strike. Negotiations with them at plant level preceded the industry level negotiations. In fact BMW tried to interdict the strike but the labour court allowed it to proceed;” said Alex Mashilo, negotiator for Numsa. “BMW’s claims are even more unfounded because at industry level we are discussing that shift allowance must be negotiated at plant level."

Meanwhile a wage deadlock has been reached in the industry level negotiations. More than 31,000 workers are expected to go on strike on 19 August, should the deadlock not be resolved. A strike notice has been served to employers in the auto sector including Toyota, Nissan, Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Originally workers demanded a 20 per cent increase and are down to a demand of 14 per cent. Employers have officially offered 6 per cent plus R1.07 per hour.

Employers are indicating willingness to raise the offer to 10 per cent plus R1.07 per hour for the first year, and consumer price index (CPI) inflation plus 0.25 per cent and R1.07 per hour for each of the following two years.

Numsa wants a double digit wage increase and is not willing to accept lower wage increases after the first year in subsequent years covered by the three year agreement. 

Nupeng strike demands met

Nupeng called the strike to address amongst other concerns, the anti-union and unfair labour practices of multinationals, in particular Shell Petroleum Development Company, Chevron Nigeria Limited and Agip Oil Company.

In a letter to the Permanent Representative of the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations, IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina, urged the Nigerian government to take forward plans to address casualization in the oil and gas sector agreed on in a tripartite meeting in 2011. He also called for intervention on the poor corporate behaviour of multinational companies in the sector, and that arbitration awards in favour of workers be confirmed.

An agreement was reached after a tripartite stakeholders meeting in the oil and gas sector detailed the way forward on the demands put forward by the union. The agreement also addresses unfair labour practices, casualization and confirmed the rights of workers to unionise.

“On behalf of the President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Comrade Igwe Achese, the entire members of the National Executive Council (NEC) and the Oil and Gas Workers in Nigeria, we appreciate your concern and solidarity support extended to our Union during the confrontation with multinational oil  companies in Nigeria and the Federal Government over unfair labour practices in the Oil and Gas Industry, ” said NUPENG General Secretary Isaac Aberare.

Wage agreement for South Africa’s textile sector

After two rounds of compulsory conciliation a settlement was reached with the South African Cotton & Textile Processing Employers Association, under the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC). A 7% wage increase was reached for around 7 000 workers in 65 factories around the country. The settlement will be backdated to 1 July this year.

As a brand new provision, never included in past agreements, the parties have committed to engage at plant level on measures, initiatives and projects aimed at reducing companies' carbon footprints.

“This is the first ever SACTWU wage agreement that directly tackles issues relating to the ‘green economy'. We hope to build and expand on this in future agreements,” says General Secretary of SACTWU Andre Kriel.

Mass dismissals at Rio Tinto in Madagascar

The security company Omega stopped operations on 31 July 2013. No response was ever given to the workers despite the many demands made by the local union FISEMA to the different stakeholders.

The mass dismissals announced at Rio Tinto QMM in Madagascar would affect over 300 workers. IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Fédération des Syndicats des Travailleurs de l’Energie et des Mines (FISEMA) calls on the Rio Tinto and local authorities to adequately deal with the situation. These dismissals come with no social planning for the dismissed workers and Rio Tinto has not entered into meaningful dialogue with the union.

Rio Tinto has demonstrated a common trend in a number of countries where it runs operations, of destroying communities by failing to develop sustainable operations as it always manages to keep wages to a minimum, justifying that they are above the national minimum. This is very far from its commitment to conduct its activities in compliance with environmental, health, safety and well being of its employees and the community.

For the union there has been a real failure for sustainable development in the region. Now that Omega has ceased operations, the fate of the workers now lies in the hands of the local authorities to which the union has made their demands to enable them to be able to sustain a decent life in the region. 

IndustriALL signs GFA with the Renault Group

The global framework agreement (GFA) signed on 2 July 2013 in Paris follows on from  the “Declaration of Employees’ Fundamental Rights” dated 2 October 2004.  The signing ceremony took place on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Group Works’ Council which this year coincided with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Committee.  

The new agreement consolidates the company’s commitments to ILO’s labour standards, including freedom of association and neutrality, and contains a number of major improvements in particular concerning skills, training, health and safety, and diversity. The wording on the responsibility of suppliers and subcontractors has been significantly strengthened and the respect for fundamental rights identified as a determining criterion in their selection.  The agreement also incorporates new commitments to environmental protection and sustainable development, as well as improved provisions on implementation and follow-up.  A committee composed of representatives of IndustriALL and management as well as members of the Works’ Council has been established to monitor the GFA’s effective implementation.  

In addition, the text opens the way for other global thematic agreements to be negotiated with IndustriALL in the future. IndustriALL’s General Secretary Jyrki Raina praised the major improvements to the 2004 Declaration and the open and constructive atmosphere that prevailed during the whole negotiating process.   In a joint press release he stated “The agreement contains significant improvements in the area of fundamental labour rights, notably concerning freedom of association, of health and safety, training and the environment.  IndustriALL applauds  Renault’s strong commitment to advance these rights at its suppliers and subcontractors and promote social dialogue at global level.”  Marie-Françoise Damesin  Executive Vice President, Human  Resources for the Renault group, said: “ I welcome the agreement, which reflects Renault’s commitment to corporate, social and environmental responsibility. It is the result of a responsible social dialogue built over 20 years internationally.” Jocelyne Andreu, Secretary of the Renault Group Works’ Council, expressed her satisfaction, saying “ This agreement is the result of several months of discussions and it symbolizes mature employer/employee dialogue. I am sure that its implementation will be a powerful lever for progress and success for the company and its employees”.

The Renault Group manufactures vehicles under three brands – Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors – and has an alliance with Nissan since 1999.  It operates in 118 countries with 38 production sites and employs 127,000 people worldwide.  In 2012 the Alliance inaugurated a plant in Tangier, Morocco, that is expected to have some 6,000 workers by 2015.

This new agreement is part of IndustriALL’s Action Plan, which calls for the establishment of regular social dialogue at global level to enable constructive industrial relations leading to global level negotiations.

Tragedy in crisis ridden Central African Republic

Whilst the President of the Central African Republic (CAR) Michel Djotodia, who seized power through a coup in March 2013, declared three days of mourning for the dead miners, there are many more victims of this nation in crisis. Freedom of association has been banished and no gathering of any form is allowed under the current government.

Louis Marie Kogrengbo, General Secretary of the Democratic Organisation of Workers Union of Central Africa Republic (ODSTC), an IndustriALL affiliate, reports that rebels roam the streets of the city as well as the countryside attacking people and that not a day goes by without hearing of violent incidents. Security is the biggest issue worrying the majority of population.

CAR is dependent on cotton as its top export and then diamonds and gold mining sectors, which all face collapse. Miners earn as little as US$ 4 a day. Most of the 80,000 to 100,000 diamond miners in CAR work in artisanal and small scale mines without licenses. Their mined stones are then often sold to smugglers or exporting companies for a tiny percentage of the retail value.

The current government is reacting to international pressure, through the Kimberly Process, to eradicate blood diamonds funding conflict. The measures include establishing a new centralized clearing house and banning cash purchases. The measures however serve to put mineworkers under increased pressure of losing their job.

Many artisanal diamond miners out of desperation have switched to gold mining; prices for gold have remained more stable than that of diamonds. Illegal trade in gold is thought to be much worse than diamonds, estimated at 95 per cent of output. Thus the workers that died in the recent tragedy were no doubt driven by poverty to engage in illegal mining under perilous conditions for the black market.

IndustriALL General Secretary Raina stated:

Ending the exploitative and dangerous working conditions as well as the cycle of violence in the Central African Republic requires international action. International solidarity is needed from the labour movement to push for peace and stability for workers and to ensure that worker and trade union rights are restored.

Nupeng issues ultimatum over unfair labour practises

The union issued a strike notice to government early in June and has been engaging government in dialogue “We have given an ultimatum to the government on unfair industrial relations practices at these multinational companies that are using more and more outsourced workers”, says Acting General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (Nupeng),  Isaac Aberare. “We are mobilising our members and preparing to go on an indefinite strike, should the issues not be resolved.”

Amongst the unions concerns, is one on the increasing casualization of work in the oil and gas sectors. Almost 85% of Nigerians working in the oil and gas sector are either contract, casual or outsourced workers with conditions of work not commensurate with oil and gas industry standards and best practices globally. These workers remain without job security or benefits, some for many years, without conversion to permanent workers.

Contract workers are being handed over to labour outsourcing companies without receiving terminal benefits. The outsourcing of labour to contractors exposes workers to possible exploitation and often times these contractors prevent workers from join the union.  

The union is demanding that a forum be set up with which the union can interface with contractors for bargaining. At a previous tripartite meeting for the industry in July 2011, it was resolved that a contractors forum should be put in place to interface with the trade unions on contract workers’ unionization and negotiation of their conditions of service.

Nupeng raises issue with anti-union and unfair labour practices at Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigeria Agip Oil Company and Shell Petroleum Development Company. Poor corporate behaviour of these multinationals includes arbitrary retrenchment and redundancies, resistance to unionisation, non-compliance with labour laws and disregard for government intervention on labour matters. Nupeng is also concerned that government has not confirmed and gazetted awards of the Industrial Arbitration Panel that were given in favour of the workers.

Nupeng has demanded that government urgently convene an Oil and Gas Conference for tripartite dialogue to address workers concerns.

In writing to the Nigerian government, IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina stated:

We are prepared to mobilise international action to support the Nupeng strike should the issues they have raised with you not be addressed. We ask that you engage with the union in constructive dialogue and to this end we support Nupeng’s call for an Oil and Gas Conference to seek lasting solutions to workers concerns.