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The ICEM and its family of trade unions were saddened to learn of the death of former United Steelworkers (USW) President George Becker. He died, at the age of 78, on 3 February in the US state of Pennsylvania.
Becker was responsible for bringing several USW labour disputes to a global stage, and then using his passion and tenacity to resolve those disputes with positive gains for members of his union. Those major disputes included a lockout by a Swiss holding company of 1,700 USW members at Ravenswood Aluminium in the state of West Virginia, and a bitter dispute between Japanese-owned tyre-maker Bridgestone/Firestone and 6,000 rubber workers at several US plants. 
Brother Becker was elected USW president in 1993 and won re-election again in 1997. He retired from union office in 2001, but remained extremely active for the USW, following his retirement, on fair trade issues in Washington, DC. He was engaged in the work of both the ICEM and its predecessor, ICEF. 
<img height="211" src="" width="150" alt="" />
George Becker
Born the son of a steelworker in Granite City, state of Illinois, Becker knew at an early age of the advantages that trade unionism brought. He began working in a steel mill in Granite City as a teenager. Following US military service in both World War II and the Korean Conflict, he worked at a Dow Chemical aluminium rolling mill in Illinois, where he was a shop steward. He was elected president of the local union there in 1961. 
 
In 1965, he was appointed a staff representative of the USW, a post from which he became a tireless advocate for health and safety. By 1969, he was brought to USW&rsquo;s headquarters as a health and safety technician, and became an expert witness on lead poisoning before the US Congress as it passed the Occupational Health and Safety Act in 1970. In 1985, he won election as the union&rsquo;s vice president for administration, a position he was elected to again before becoming USW president. 
&ldquo;Trade union leaders the world over knew of the resolve and courage of George Becker whenever he took on a crucial labour issue,&rdquo; wrote ICEM Gen. Sec. Manfred Warda to current USW President Leo Gerard. &ldquo;We will never forget his direction and fortitude in leading stop-work actions at Bridgestone factories in several countries on behalf of US workers of that company in the 1990s. The ICEM was proud to stand with George and the Steelworkers Union in these very effective actions.&rdquo; 
 
Gerard said of Becker: &ldquo;He was a powerful voice for the interests of our members. He had a unique ability to give voice to the frustrations and concerns of workers, their right to be treated with dignity and decency &ndash; values he believed in deeply.&rdquo; 
 
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jane, three sons, ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

ICEM Mourns Death of USW Past President, George Becker, in US

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A meeting between representatives of ICEM, Swedish paperworkers&rsquo; union Pappers, and corporate officers of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA) was held in Stockholm on 26 January to review and update a Global Framework Agreement between the three parties. The SCA agreement was signed by the three on 15 April 2004. 
 
The company informed the union representatives of progress it was making in meeting social requirements with supply-chain companies, and spoke of its corporate code of conduct in relation to compliance with human rights assessments, and health and safety issues.
 
ICEM and Pappers proposed that the company agree to a clause into the agreement that it will comply with the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work, which SCA readily accepted. A second union proposal was tabled calling for language on contract and agency work inside SCA. Such language would include consultations with trade unions before contracts are signed with contractors or agencies. SCA took the matter under advisement, and both sides resolved to continue discussions on this issue in future meetings. 
<img height="90" alt="" src="" width="73" />
Agreement was made that clarifies text in the Global Agreement stating that minimum labour and other standards are not to be predicated on the relevant national legislation in a particular country. The ICEM also invited the Swedish-based global pulp/paper firm to join a unique social dialogue programme in Colombia that was launched by the Global Union Federation in 2004. SCA is a joint-venture partner in a paper mill in the South American country. 
 
One disturbing issue raised in the meeting was the company&rsquo;s sacking of the SCA European Works Council (EWC) chairman. The individual, a leader from Skogstrafacket, the Swedish Forest and Woodworkers&rsquo; Union, was fired for &ldquo;disloyalty&rdquo; because he checked licenses and permits of contractors coming into a Swedish saw mill after a round of redundancies. SCA charged him personally with this legitimate action, rather than challenging his role as a union officer. The case is now before a Swedish labour court. 
 
The review meeting was attended by ICEM Gen. Sec. Manfred Warda and Pulp and Paper Sector Officer Eugene Kuprin; Pappers President Jan Hennrick Sandberg and International and Research Officer Christer Larsson; and SCA&rsquo;s Karin Eliasson, senior vice president for Human Resources, Bo Rhodiner, vice president for Industrial relations, Yogi Pillay, corporate social responsibility manager, and Clive Bell, the company&rsquo;s senior EWC mill representative.

Review Meeting on SCA Global Agreement Held in Stockholm

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After successful lobbying by ICEM Peruvian mining affiliate FNTMMSP and a national labour centre, Confederaci&oacute;n General de Trabajadores del Per&uacute; (CGTP), ILO Convention 176, the Safety and Health Mines Convention, is one step closer to ratification in the South American country. The Commission of Work of Peru&rsquo;s Congress approved a motion encouraging the government to ratify the 11-year-old convention. 
 
Both unions submitted documents favouring passage, including ICEM materials and documentation supporting ratification. &ldquo;We believe that ratification of Convention 176 will serve as an instrument to prevent accidents in Peru&rsquo;s mining sector,&rdquo; said FNTMMSP Sec. Gen. Luis Castillo Carlos. &ldquo;The strengthening of trade union organisations is the other tool towards better working conditions, including health and safety conditions.&rdquo;
<img height="101" alt="" src="" width="100" />
Peru&rsquo;s Ministry of Energy and Mines reports that in 2006, 66 miners died in industrial accidents and of those deaths, 37 were contract workers employed in mines. Part of the documentation submitted to the congressional panel was ICEM&rsquo;s reporting on global contract and agency labour. 
 
In mid-January, the Peruvian government signed a memorandum with ILO Sec. Gen. Juan Somavia on principles and polices, including the government&rsquo;s intent to ratify eight labour conventions. The party of Democrats, which currently controls Peru&rsquo;s Congress, is supporting adoption of ILO Conventions, and insists such conventions be contained in the country&rsquo;s free trade agreements.

Mine Safety Convention 176 Passes Key Committee in Peru’s Congress

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The future of the German hard-coal industry was given new life early in February. Shaped by a combination of hard bargaining by German Union IGBCE in a top-level national summit and a timely demonstration in D&uuml;sseldorf by 10,000 miners, a workable plan was achieved to preserve the industry until at least 2018, and possibly beyond. 
 
The summit was necessary after some federal politicians, as well as politicians from the coal-producing regions of Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia proposed eliminating coal subsidies as German coal and industrial enterprise RAG becomes a publicly-traded company.
<img height="146" alt="" src="" width="100" />
&nbsp;IGBCE President Hubertus Schmoldt
&ldquo;Our central tenets have been fulfilled,&rdquo; declared IGBCE President Hubertus Schmoldt. &ldquo;Social compatibility, a legal financing mechanism until 2018, and keeping a future door open beyond that.&rdquo; Revenues gained from RAG&rsquo;s stock offering will be placed in a non-profit foundation for that purpose. 
 
&ldquo;We negotiated hard and at a crucial moment, our ability to mobilise materialised,&rdquo; said Schmoldt. He was referring to the 10,000 miners who left their workplaces on 1 February and protested in front of the state parliament building in D&uuml;sseldorf. Miners were demonstrating against North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister J&uuml;rgen R&uuml;ttgers&rsquo; proposal at the summit to stop all coal subsidies by 2014. IGBCE and mining industry works councils organised the protest. 
 
Schmoldt said it was that demonstration which blocked the R&uuml;ttgers plan. 
 
Now the Germany Bundestag will draft a hard-coal financing plan from the results of the summit. Coal industry aid will begin in 2009 from the newly-created foundation. The IGBCE and German mineworkers are pleased with several major features produced by the recent coal summit, and with one in particular: that in 2012, a full review of the coal industry will occur in order to sustain it beyond 2018.

German Coal Industry Preserved Until 2018, Possibly Beyond

<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/RTnews[1].pdf">Rio Tinto Workers' Global Network Newsletter 1</a>
<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/Issue2.pdf">Rio Tinto Workers' Global Network Newsletter 2</a>
<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/Issue%20No%203.pdf ">Rio Tinto Workers' Global Network Newsletter 3</a>
<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/Issue%20No%204.pdf ">Rio Tinto Workers' Global Network Newsletter 4</a>
<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/Issue%20No%205.pdf">Rio Tinto Workers' Global Network Newsletter 5</a>
<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/RioTintoNewsMay.pdf">Rio Tinto Workers' Global Network Newsletter 6</a>
<a href="http://www.cfmeu.asn.au/national/int_issues/20040513_Riotinto.html ">Rio Tinto Workers' Global Network Newsletter 7</a>&nbsp;

Rio Tinto Network Newsletter overview

ICEM affiliate in the United Kingdom, Transport &amp; General Workers Union (TGWU), began a ballot today for industrial action against Imerys among its members in the UK&rsquo;s South West. The balloting, over the French-based building materials company&rsquo;s intransigence in redundancy bargaining, will run until 23 February.
TGWU has scheduled meetings with workers and management on 27 February to release the results, and to discuss possible action.
<img height="66" alt="" src="" width="120" />
The ballot will have two questions: 
Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike? and 
Are you prepared to take part in strike action? 
 
In July 2006, Imerys announced it would make 900 workers redundant in its former English China Clay mining and processing operations, in the Cornwall and Devon regions of the UK&rsquo;s South West. Although TGWU and other unions representing Imerys&rsquo; workers negotiated job reductions down to just over 600, the company refused to negotiate an adequate redundancy packages. 
 
The ICEM believes that Imerys has demonstrated contempt for the social consultation process in the UK, and complete unfairness to industrial workers in the South West. The ICEM notes that the redundancy package put forward by the company is barely above the minimum British requirement, an amount commonly recognised as low. The 20-million-member ICEM believes that Imerys, one of the world&rsquo;s biggest and most profitable materials sector companies, must improve its social obligations to its workers in the South West. 

<img height="233" alt="" src="" width="350" />&nbsp;

TGWU Issues Strike Ballot at Imerys Today in UK

<img height="181" alt="" src="" width="300" /> 
 
USW women march against the Iraq war in Washington, DC, on 25 January 2007 
 
1. Bahrain &ndash; Women Are Still Badly Paid 
2. Canada &ndash; New Federal Policies Affect Women&rsquo;s Equality 
3. European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) &ndash; Gender Equality Report Released 
4. European Union &ndash; 2007 is Equal Opportunities Year 
5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) &ndash; Helping Women Helps the Economy 
6. India &ndash; SEWA Marks Achievements in 2006 
7. OECD &ndash; Women Scientists Wanted 
8. Palestine &ndash; Seminar Held on Democracy and Women&rsquo;s Rights 
9. South Africa &ndash; NUM and SINTIQUIGRA Have Women&rsquo;s Exchange 
10. Spain &ndash; The Government Legislates on Dependent Care 
11. Resources 
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
1. Bahrain &ndash; Women Are Still Badly Paid 
The Bahrain Centre of Studies and Research has published findings which indicate that only 9.9% of women are in leadership positions, a fact which also has a bearing on their earnings. With gender bias still predominant, women&rsquo;s salaries are low in spite of their qualifications. Most women are in low-end jobs such as secretaries, receptionists, and clerks. Their main problems involve working time, holidays, working environment, and low pay. 
The women surveyed work in industry, tailoring, construction, finance and insurance, tourism, hospitality, and other services. A full 60.7% of the women surveyed had university degrees. Some companies were also surveyed, and their opinions of women employees in their employment were largely positive. 
Some 70% of those companies deny there was any discrimination on the basis of gender. The study found, &ldquo;&hellip;gender had no effect on a worker&rsquo;s productivity, continuation of work, ability to develop themselves and creativity in their companies.&rdquo; It also said that women&rsquo;s looks or attractiveness did not affect their ability to be hired. 
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
2. Canada &ndash; New Federal Policies Affect Women&rsquo;s Equality 
 
The Canadian government enacted many changes in 2006 that adversely affect women&rsquo;s equality, including cutting and changing programmes that benefit women. The government rejected the recommendations from the Task Force on Pay Equity and refused to broaden maternity and parental leave coverage. The women&rsquo;s programme no longer speaks of equality. 
The Early Learning and Childcare agreements were cancelled with the provinces, instead of following recommendations to strengthen them. Housing subsidies were cut, and legal aid programmes were reduced for people who needed to fight against discrimination. In general, women now have less economic equality and less access to affordable childcare. Status of Women Canada saw its budget cut by C$5 million with the argument, &ldquo;women are already equal.&rdquo; 
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3. European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) &ndash; Gender Equality Report Released 
 
On 29 January, the European social partners ETUC, BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME, and CEEP released a report which showed progress in the field of gender equality. 
The social partners have integrated the gender equality actions defined in 2005 into their activities in 20 countries. Actions have been taken, such as negotiating collective agreements, discussing with authorities, designing gender equality projects, and developing projects to tackle equality gaps. Work-life balance was the theme of many of the activities. 
The work done in this area included introducing or extending care leave, preventing long working hours, promoting flexible and innovative forms of employment such as telework. 
Equal pay was one other area where information and guidance tools were developed, training schemes were carried out, studies and statistics were produced to deal with the pay gap. Labour market segregation and under-representation of women in decision-making were also contemplated. 
More follow-up actions are also planned at European, national, cross-industry, sectoral, and company levels. 
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4. European Union &ndash; 2007 is Equal Opportunities Year 
 
The aim of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All is to make people aware of the right to equality, and to reinforce the message that all people have the right to equal treatment without discrimination on the basis of sex, ethnic or racial origin, religion or conviction, incapacity, age or sexual orientation. 
One other aim is to boost participation in society on the part of groups who have suffered from discrimination as well as to increase equal participation by women and men. The ultimate goal is to celebrate diversity and equality. All people have a positive contribution to make to society. Stereotypes must be eliminated as well as prejudices and violence. 
The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All was launched officially at the EU Equality Summit held on 30 and 31 January. In spite of the progress achieved so far at European level in eliminating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities, much remains to be done, and hopefully more positive steps will be taken in this year. For more information, see: 
<a href="http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/cha/c10314.htm">http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/cha/c10314.htm</a>.
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) &ndash; Helping Women Helps the Economy 
 
A recent IMF study indicates that gender inequality hinders economic growth. Higher rates of economic growth and macroeconomic stability will stem from greater gender equality. Lowest-income countries with the highest degrees of gender inequality should take the benefits of policies into account, which reduce inequality. 
The United Nations&rsquo; Millennium Development Goals expressly link economic progress to the realization of equal opportunities for women. Women&rsquo;s status should be raised, and the gaps between men and women must be eliminated. 
Women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s economic behaviour differ. For example, women tend to spend more on a household&rsquo;s basic requirements and to make the most of children&rsquo;s potential. Women save more and invest in more productive ways. Women&rsquo;s lack of education, health care, and economic and social opportunities hinders economic growth. 
The study suggests that when women&rsquo;s access to education, health care, employment and credit are improved, and when differences between men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s opportunities are narrowed, the pace of economic development speeds up and poverty is reduced. 
For more see the IMF Working Paper No. 06/232, &ldquo;Gender Budgeting,&rdquo; and No. 06/233, &ldquo;Gender and Its Relevance to Macroeconomic Policy: A Survey,&rdquo; both available at <a href="http://www.imf.org">www.imf.org</a>.
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
6. India &ndash; SEWA Marks Achievements in 2006 
 
The Self-Employed Women&rsquo;s Association (SEWA) of India held its annual meeting from 10 to 12 January, and was able to celebrate victories in 2006. To start with, the union grew to 965,000 members with membership growing in various states. 
SEWA managed to win legal battles for vendors in Gujarat and Indore, obtained identity cards for paper picker women, made gains in SEWA insurance, launched a new pension scheme by SEWA Bank, among other achievements. 
At a conference, the Prime Minister of India agreed to establish a national policy for home-based workers. Nevertheless, the government of Gujarat state continues its repression and intimidation of SEWA. SEWA is not clear about the reasons for the attacks by the government, except that the union speculates that the government does not like a growing and empowered organisation of poor working women who believe in the Gandhian ideology of unity across castes and religions. 
Ela Bhatt, the founder of SEWA, was honoured with a series of international awards throughout 2006.
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
7. OECD &ndash; Women Scientists Wanted 
 
OECD science ministers are trying to get more women into research. Women make up only some 30% of researchers. It is increasingly important to attract, recruit, and retain women scientists because of the need for more scientists and technology specialists, the ageing workforce and youth&rsquo;s lack of interest in science. 
One reason why women are not attracted to science jobs is because of trouble with work-life balance. One major problem is the requirement for mobility in early years. 
About one-third of US university professors are women, but the figure is lower in the EU, Australia, and Korea, where it is 14.5%. Women make up less than 20% of senior academic staff in the EU, which means that there are not enough role models to encourage women to embark upon similar careers. 
The number of women researchers is on the rise, however. In the EU, the number of men in science and engineering increased by 4.9% from 1998 to 2002, while the number of women rose by 4.2%. Women tend to work more in biology, health, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, with lower numbers in physics, computing, and engineering. Most women researchers in OECD countries work in the public sector, while men work in industry. 
Only 17.5% of women researchers in the EU and 6% of women in Japan work in business, yet nearly two-thirds of women researchers in the US work in industry or business.
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
8. Palestine &ndash; Seminar Held on Democracy and Women&rsquo;s Rights 
 
Twenty women participated in the seminar organized by ICEM affiliate General Union of Petrochemical, Mining, and Chemicals Workers in Palestine (GUPMCWP) on democracy and women&rsquo;s rights. 
Dr Nuza, head of the women&rsquo;s committee, explained that the seminar continues the union&rsquo;s education programme to raise women&rsquo;s consciousness and to encourage women to participate in the political and economic fields, thus enabling them to reach decision-making levels. The union started such training programmes for women in all areas, and Dr Nuza called upon the women to participate more and more. 
Women&rsquo;s creativity is important for their participation. The participants stressed the importance of the training and called for it to be extended.
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
9. South Africa &ndash; NUM and SINTIQUIGRA Have Women&rsquo;s Exchange 
 
This project was conceptualized in 2003. The Secretariat of both unions met in Mozambique and discussed common issues that affect them both. Out of that, what was agreed upon between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in South Africa and Sindicato Nacional Dos Trabalhadores Da Industria Quimica, Borracha, Papel e Grafica (SINTIQUIGRA) was a program of action for three years, which included an exchange programme of women structures from the two unions. 
 
The activity, held 22-26 January, was the second leg of the exchange programme in which 31 women and one man participated. Fifteen of the participants were from Mozambique. 
The objective of the workshop was to strengthen women&rsquo;s understanding of labour law, health and safety, and employment equity, as well as transformation issues in the mining and energy sectors. At the political level, the African National Congress&rsquo; Women&rsquo;s League secretary general made a presentation on the challenges facing women, particularly working class women in South Africa. 
What was concluded was that the third leg of the exchange will take place in the last week of August 2007, where the South African women will be hosted in Mozambique. What was agreed was that in between, the two unions will invite each other when they have activities on labour law, occupational health and safety, HIV/AIDS, and women&rsquo;s empowerment.
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
10. Spain &ndash; The Government Legislates on Dependent Care 
 
The number of dependent individuals in Spain is increasing rapidly. The growing demand for dependent care is largely related to the rapid aging of Spain&rsquo;s population: 30 years ago, 9.7% of Spain&rsquo;s population was over 65 years of age (3.3 million), where today, that percentage has increased to 16.6% (6.6 million). 
Furthermore, the number of Spaniards over 80 has doubled over the past 20 years. Thirty-two percent of the population over 65 years of age has some kind of disability, as compared with 5% of the remaining population. 
In 1999, taking into account all age groups, approximately 9% of the Spanish population had some degree of disability that required special care. Traditionally, this care has been provided by family members, particularly women. The growing participation of women in the work force, together with the breakdown of the extended family, has sharply increased the social service requirements of this dependent population. 
 
Comisiones Obreras comments on the new legislation as follows: &ldquo;It establishes the right to care, and co-financing (central government, regional government, and the individual with dependency if his earnings/properties are sufficient). 
But the specific mechanisms by which the system will work have yet to be established &hellip;The system will create many new skilled and unskilled jobs, and be good for employment. However, its application requires more trained personnel in the social service sector than what schools are currently providing &hellip;The Law barely touches the need for coordination with the health system, in spite of its importance. 
 
&ldquo;We are aware of the fact that we will have to put a lot of work into the application of this law, and pressure on administrations to make sure they take it seriously and get it right. Nevertheless, we consider that this legislation is a huge and necessary step in the right direction.&rdquo; 
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
11. Resources
The State of the World&rsquo;s Children 2007, see <a href="http://www.unicef.org/">www.unicef.org/</a>. 
 
For books on women and development, see <a href="http://www.womenink.org">www.womenink.org</a>. 
 
Human Rights Watch 2007 Report, <a href="http://www.hrw.org/wr2k7">www.hrw.org/wr2k7</a>.
Women&rsquo;s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development and Peace, <a href="http://www.learningpartnership.org/news/events/2007/wsfjan21panel">www.learningpartnership.org/news/events/2007/ 
wsfjan21panel</a>.
<a href="http://www.genderaction.org">www.genderaction.org</a>&nbsp;highlights the gendered impacts of World Bank and IMF policies, including news about oil&rsquo;s gender impacts in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Sakhalin.

ICEM WOMEN’S BULLETIN 19

Mr. Mahmoud Abbas 
President 
President&rsquo;s Office 
The Palestinian Authority 
 
Brussels, 5 February 2007 
 
Dear President, 
PGFTU Headquarters bombed 
On behalf of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Unions, the Global Union Federation representing 20 million workers in the Mine, Energy, Chemical and related Process Industries I condemn in the strongest possible terms the bombing of the headquarters of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), only three days after the rocket attack on the home of Deputy Secretary General of the Rasem Al Bayari. 
 
The ICEM has been informed by the PGFTU and ITUC that the PGFTU headquarters were attacked on February 2, 2007. The main entrance of the building was bombed and the radio station in the building (the Voice of Workers) was burnt down. Fortunately nobody was in the building when the attack took place. 
 
This is not the first time that the headquarters and the union&rsquo;s means of communication have been targeted. A similar incident took place on 12 October. 
 
The ICEM finds it totally unacceptable that peaceful trade unionists, working hard to promote the rights of workers, must work and live in fear of their lives and that of their family members. The Palestinian Authority has a duty to ensure the personal safety of all trade unionists in accordance with internationally recognised rights, namely the right to life and freedom of association. 
 
The ICEM urges you to immediately take all necessary measures to ensure the full safety of all PGFTU trade union officials, activists, members and their families. We also urge you to ensure respect for the premises and all other property of the PGFTU. We urge you to immediately order a thorough investigation into this attack and the recent attacks against the home of Mr. Al Bayari and to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. The PGFTU and Mr. Al Bayari should be given proper compensation for the damages caused. 
 
I thank you for your prompt attention to this very serious matter. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Manfred Warda 
General Secretary 
Cc.: Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Ismail Haniya

ICEM Letter to Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas

Mr. Mahmoud Abbas 
President 
President&rsquo;s Office 
The Palestinian Authority 
 
Brussels, 31 January 2007 
 
Dear President, 
 
On behalf of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Unions, the Global Union Federation representing 20 million workers in the Mine, Energy, Chemical and related Process Industries I strongly condemn the rocket attack on the house of Deputy Secretary General of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), Rasem Al Bayari. 
 
The ICEM has been informed by the ITUC and PGFTU that gunmen attacked Mr. Al Bayari&rsquo;s home at 2.15 am on 29 January 2007. The gunmen fired two rockets against his house, destroying the doors and the entrance to the building. Mr. Al Bayari and his family only survived the attack as they were asleep on the upper floor of the residence. 
 
At 2.30 am yesterday shots and bombs were again fired at the house, which is now completely damaged, leaving Mr. Al Bayari and his family without proper shelter. Mr. Al Bayari now fears for his life, but unfortunately he and his family have had to stay in their house with only a small number of security people for their protection. 
 
The attacks on Mr. Al Bayari&rsquo;s home are grave violations of fundamental human and trade union rights. The ICEM is especially concerned about the very grave threat to the safety of Mr. Al Bayari and his family. 
 
The Palestinian Authority, as a responsible Authority, must uphold internationally recognised rights, including full respect for fundamental human rights of workers, such as their right to life. 
 
 
The ICEM urges you to immediately ensure the safety of Mr. Al Bayari and his family and prevent further attacks on his home. We urge you to order a thorough investigation into the rocket attacks and the shooting, to bring the perpetrators of this serious crime to justice and to ensure proper compensation to Mr. Al Bayari and his family for the destruction of their home. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Manfred Warda 
General Secretary

The 20-million-member ICEM filed a strong protest yesterday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over this week&rsquo;s assassination attempt on a prominent trade unionist. 
 
Rasem Al Bayari, deputy general secretary of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), managed to escape in the early morning hours of Monday, 29 January, when assailants fired rockets into his home. A day after this violent act, more attackers returned to his home and fired shots at the house. 
 
&ldquo;The Palestinian Authority, as a responsible Authority, must uphold internationally recognised rights,&rdquo; wrote ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda to Abbas, &ldquo;including full respect for the fundamental human rights of workers, such as their right to life.&rdquo; 
 
The ICEM has demanded that the Palestinian Government ensure the safety of Al Bayari and his family, and urges &ldquo;a thorough investigation into the rocket attacks and the shootings&rdquo; so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
<img height="203" alt="" src="" width="160" />
&nbsp;PGFTU Gen. Sec. Shaher Sae'd pionts to a bullet hole in the wall of the PCFTU conference room 
 

On 12 October 2006, the PGFTU&rsquo;s headquarters in Nablus was attacked. This assault was followed by death threats to the union&rsquo;s leaders. The Palestinian national labour centre then called it an escalation against trade unionism, because PGFTU leaders had been strongly speaking out on behalf of workers. 
 
The ICEM stands solidly behind PGFTU, and echoes the commitment of the Palestinian labour centre, at it reacted to this week&rsquo;s cowardly and violent act on the Al Bayari&rsquo;s home: &ldquo;This act will not silence the workers and will not stop our activities to build the structures of the Palestinian State for the benefit of our people and workers.&rdquo; 
Read the ICEM Letter to Palestinian Government <a href="/en/24-North-Africa-Middle-East-/2124-ICEM-Letter-to-Palestine-President-Mahmoud-Abbas">here</a>.

ICEM Issues Strong Protest to Palestinian Government

Archive

ICEM Mourns Death of USW Past President, George Becker, in US

Review Meeting on SCA Global Agreement Held in Stockholm

Mine Safety Convention 176 Passes Key Committee in Peru’s Congress

German Coal Industry Preserved Until 2018, Possibly Beyond

Rio Tinto Network Newsletter overview

TGWU Issues Strike Ballot at Imerys Today in UK

ICEM WOMEN’S BULLETIN 19

ICEM Letter to Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas

ICEM Letter to Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas

ICEM Issues Strong Protest to Palestinian Government

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