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<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; 
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
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. 
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
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

<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
Opinion 
Ignorance is not Bliss &ndash; Testing to Know your Status
In this article, some controversial issues of voluntary versus routine testing are discussed. Let us know your opinion; write to <a href="mailto:hiv.aids@icem.org">hiv.aids@icem.org</a>. 
 
Of the one million Americans with HIV, some 250,000 do not know that they are infected. If they do not know, they will not seek treatment and they are more likely to infect others. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) of the US Department of Health and Human Services therefore recommends that all Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 should be routinely tested for HIV. 
 
The tests would not be compulsory but rather than testing only those who asked to be tested, the CDC wants clinics to test everyone who does not refuse to be tested, or the opt-out clause. In this way, HIV can be detected earlier, and the earlier it is detected the easier it can be treated. 
Some 40% of Americans who are diagnosed HIV positive progress to full-blown AIDS within a year of that diagnosis, which suggests that they were infected without knowing it for as much as a decade. 
 
The number of Americans with HIV increases every year. This is partly because drugs are keeping people alive longer. But the number of new infections has not fallen. It remained stable because people who are HIV positive do not know their status. 
 
With routine testing, doctors also hope to reduce stigma which is one of the largest barriers for people to avoid testing. The head of the World Health Organisation&rsquo;s (WHO) AIDS Department, Kevin de Kock, is quoted as saying that routine testing is a big step towards &ldquo;normalising&rdquo; HIV. 
 
Will routine testing lead to mandatory testing? Doing away with written consent forms and pre-test counselling to simplify procedures as part of routine testing is certainly a dangerous development and poses threats to human rights. 
 
Views have also begun to shift in Southern Africa. In 2004, Botswana became the first African country to introduce routine testing in its health sector, with Malawi and Lesotho following suit. Here the hope is also that by offering HIV testing as a routine part of any treatment, more people would be encouraged to know their status and that, over time, stigma will lessen. 
 
Zambia has initiated routine testing at health facilities in a bid to eradicate the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, by transforming it into an &ldquo;ordinary disease&rdquo;. 
 
The Botswana authorities claim that very few people are opting out when confronted with the possibility to be tested and that a large majority of the population now know their status. 
However, the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) has criticised the government for failing to launch a public information campaign, arguing that routine testing is only acceptable if patients know that they can refuse. Informed consent, counselling, confidentiality and access to treatment must be guaranteed. 
 
The WHO currently holds consultations on provider-initiated testing. Testing for HIV serves as an entry point for both prevention and treatment. Taking an HIV test is arguably the most influential driver for behaviour change. If a person tests negative, the focus must be on education and support to ensure that the person takes responsibility to remain negative. 
A person testing positive must be supported to take responsibility for managing HIV/AIDS as a chronic treatable disease, and to bring about changes in behaviour that will prevent further transmission. Antiretroviral treatment must be available. 
 
The GBC/COSATU Guide quoted below sets out principles for counselling and testing at the workplace. Together with the unions, companies must take steps to: 
&bull; prevent any discriminatory practices against HIV status; 
&bull; ensure confidentiality and informed employee consent; 
&bull; ensure that there is no penalty if an employee chooses not to get tested; 
&bull; ensure that testing is not in the form of pre-employment screening or mandatory testing; and 
&bull; reduce stigma against people living with HIV in the workplace. 
 
[Source: The Economist, 30 September 2006, from which the headline &ldquo;Ignorance is not bliss&rdquo; is also taken and various web postings of the UN Integrated Regional Information Networks. 
A Practical Guide for Business Managers: Accelerating Access to HIV Counselling and Testing was published by the Global Business Coalition (GBC) Africa Office and the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in its 2nd print in August 2005.] 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
Facilitators&rsquo; Guide on Counselling and Testing 
 
In December 2006, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance based in Brighton, UK, published a Facilitators&rsquo; Guide entitled &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s Talk about HIV Counselling and Testing.&rdquo; The guide is a toolkit to build NGO/CBO capacity to mobilise communities for HIV counselling and testing. It makes specific reference to the significant policy changes that have occurred to models of HIV testing and the recent CDC recommendations (see article above). 
 
The publication, which is available in English and Spanish, can be downloaded from the Alliance&rsquo;s website <a href="http://www.aidsalliance.org">www.aidsalliance.org</a>. Established in 1993, the Alliance is a global partnership of nationally based organisations working to support community action on HIV/AIDS. 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
Russia &ndash; European AIDS Treatment Group Demands Action 
 
With an estimated HIV prevalence of 1.1%, the Russian Federation is one of the European countries hardest hit by the HIV epidemic. 
 
In a letter to the Russian Minister of Health Care and Social Development, the European AIDS Treatment Group deplores the serious shortcomings in standards of HIV care in the Russian Federation. Despite the fact that the alarming prevalence figures have been well known for years, the country has not scaled up treatment programmes to cover all in need of medication. 
 
The European AIDS Treatment Group appeals to the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Health Care and Social Development to amend treatment guidelines. They must include, among other strengthening guidelines, the provision of antiretroviral drugs which conform to international standards; attention to the specific needs and requirements of injecting drug users, who represent 80% of all HIV cases in the country; and to adjust national healthcare budgets and the treatment programmes, under the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to treat all patients in need. 
 
(Source: Break-the-Silence e-forum on HIV/AIDS, 3 January 2007. You can join by sending a blank message to <a href="mailto:join-break-the-silence@eforums.healthdev.org">join-break-the-silence@eforums.healthdev.org</a>) 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
Caribbean &ndash; AIDSs Crisis Blamed on Ignorance 
 
Delegates at a Caribbean Summit on HIV/AIDS blamed widespread ignorance for the AIDS crisis in the region. Ignorance is undermining the efforts to fight the spread of the disease in the Caribbean, which has the second highest rate of infection after sub-Saharan Africa. 
An estimated 500,000 people &ndash; or 2.4% - are HIV-positive. In 2005, an estimated 24,000 people died in the region from AIDS, making it the leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 44. 
 
Discrimination by employers and others is so pervasive that people do not go for testing and infected persons often delay seeking treatment for the virus. A contributing factor is also that it is still largely perceived as a &ldquo;gay disease.&rdquo; Social stigma associated with the disease keeps many sufferers from receiving life-prolonging medicines. 
 
(Source: Web posting on <a href="http://www.planetout.com">www.planetout.com</a>, 22 January 2007) 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
India &ndash; Generic Drugs 
 
India has become the premier drug provider for the developing world by producing cheaper generic versions of some of the world&rsquo;s most effective medicines, including antiretroviral drugs. But the country&rsquo;s decision to adhere to international patent regulations could limit access to generic drugs in the developing world. In future, when the country&rsquo;s patent laws will hinder its pharmaceutical companies from producing the latest drugs as generic versions, prices will go up. 
 
Some estimates indicate that Indian generic drug firms provide treatment for 50% of HIV-positive people in the developing world. The Indian generic drug company, Cipla, alone provides one in three HIV-positive people in Africa with antiretrovirals. 
 
Pharmaceutical companies in India are, however, seeking to expand their market to wealthy nations &ndash; a move that could come at the expense of the world&rsquo;s poor. In addition, the change in India&rsquo;s patent laws has led many foreign drug firms to enter the market and target India&rsquo;s growing middle class. 
 
(Source: Web posting on <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com">www.medicalnewstoday.com</a>, 10 January 2007, referring to a Christian Science Monitor article). 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
Global Fund Round 7 
 
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria will call for proposals for Round 7 on 1 March 2007. The deadline for submission of Round 7 proposals is set for 4 July 2007. Having learned from past experience, the Fund is encouraging early planning. A call for proposals for Round 8 will be issued on the same date in 2008. 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
ICEM Resource Guide on Website 
 
In the January issue of the e-bulletin, we reported on the African Regional Workshop on fundraising and project writing. One of the tools used at the workshop was the ICEM Guide on HIV/AIDS Resources and Funding. 
 
<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/0701ICEMHIVAIDSGuideEN.pdf">The Guide is now available on the ICEM website</a>, in <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/0701ICEMHIVAIDSGuideEN.pdf">English</a> and <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/0701ICEMHIVAIDSGuideFR.pdf">French</a>. A Spanish translation is being prepared. 
 
The Guide takes account of the fact that funding resources are decentralised and largely accessible at the national level. The introductory part refers to small-scale funding from national AIDS commissions and resources from employers, especially companies with which the ICEM has signed Global Agreements. 
 
It gives fact-sheets on relevant intergovernmental organisations such as ILOAIDS, UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, WHO, and the World Bank and lists a number of foundations and other organisations engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS. An annex explains in more detail the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, its structures and procedures.

ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin - No. 17

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On 30 November, the Conseil Constitutionnel in France took a decision that postpones the merger plans of two European energy giants, Gaz de France (GDF) and Suez Group, by at least another seven months. The constitutional court ruled that, since GDF is a public service, the merger cannot go forward before 1 July 2007, which is when the French gas market opens up for competition. 
 
French trade unions had already managed, through earlier legal encounters, to postpone the merger until 2007. (See: <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/2047-Unions-Win-Important-Legal-Battle-in-GDF-Suez-Merger-Saga">/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/2047-Unions-Win-Important-Legal-Battle-in-GDF-Suez-Merger-Saga</a>) 
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Many observers and experts, including large portions of the investment community, now believe that the GDF-Suez merger may not happen at all. One major reason behind this thinking is that this latest court decision postpones a possible merger until well after the presidential elections in France, which take place in the spring of 2007. The French Socialist Party, currently in opposition, has said it will stop the merger if it wins.
The Constitutional Council did, however, validate the article of the energy law that allows GDF to be privatised. FNME-CGT, the majority trade union at GDF, now seeks another reading of that law before the French Parliament. The union argues that the Council changed the text of the law, which means it is no longer the same text that had been adopted by Parliament. 
 
Unions in France have been resisting the privatisation of GDF through the merger with Suez from the very beginning. The State of France currently holds 80.2% of GDF. In the event of a merger with Franco-Belgian Suez Group, that ownership stake would be reduced to 34%.

GDF-Suez Merger Further Delayed by Court Ruling

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UK ICEM affiliate Amicus denounced French multinational Saint-Gobain&rsquo;s decision to reduce the number of workers at its Stanton Iron Works plant in Ikeston, Derbyshire. The company announced on 5 December that is was cutting 220 of 400 jobs, beginning in April 2007, citing price increases in scrap steel and high energy costs. 
 
Amicus called the holiday-season announcement &ldquo;a heavy blow to the workers who face an uncertain few months ahead,&rdquo; and the union immediately scheduled meetings with management to discuss the need for redundancies and to begin enhanced severance talks. 
Saint-Gobain&rsquo;s announcement said it would retain flange pipe making at Stanton, and keep customer servicing staff based in Derbyshire. But the community loses the production of water pipes, which it has been supplying to the UK&rsquo;s water-delivery system for decades. The Paris-based company said the work will now be done in France and Germany. 
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Amicus said that the loss of 220 jobs in Ikeston will lift November&rsquo;s job-loss totals in the East Midlands to nearly 1,000. Amicus has been campaigning and lobbying the government to introduce better employment laws that protects UK workers and assist more in alternative job placements. 
 
Amicus has also been calling for a statutory entitlement to be established that provides workers with a skills and training agenda, as well as for a statutory employer investment fund for training. Amicus says the current tone and level of the debate over jobs and training is &ldquo;largely irrelevant&rdquo; next to the tens of thousands of high-skilled and well-paid jobs that have left the UK. 
 
Amicus Assistant General Secretary Tony Burke provided a stark reminder on why the UK was in such a jobs crisis: &ldquo;Employers have neglected to invest in the skills of their workforces for decades. This under-investment means that we now have to run to stand still in terms of up-skilling.&rdquo;

Amicus Refutes Saint-Gobain’s 50% Reductions in UK Pipe Manufacturing

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In a display of political manoeuvring that will have a devastating effect on millions of contract workers, South Korea&rsquo;s Grand National Party (GNP) and Uri Party combined to pass a series of bills in the final days of the most current National Assembly session. 
Included among those bills were three so-called &ldquo;irregular workers&rsquo; bills,&rdquo; which will give Korean employers a virtual unlimited license to use and discard contract and agency workers. 
 
The contract workers&rsquo; bills, along with hundreds of other bills, had been held up by the GNP throughout the current 100-day legislative session over opposition to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun&rsquo;s choice for president of the country&rsquo;s highest court, the Constitutional Court. 
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But in mid-November, Roh withdrew the nomination of his close friend, Chon Hyo-suk, and two weeks later, on 30 November, GNP members inside the Assembly sided with Roh&rsquo;s Uri Party members to push into law the liberalisation of contract workers. 
 
GNP support for the measures meant that the Uri Party&rsquo;s 139 members had the necessary majority in the 297-seat Assembly for passage. But passage did not come without controversy. The Uri Party Speaker of the Assembly bypassed a key committee and took the bills straight to a plenary session for final vote. Passage occurred despite vehement opposition from South Korea&rsquo;s two labour federations, and members of the Democratic Labor Party. 
 
The new irregular workers&rsquo; law will, beginning in July 2007, allow employers with 300 workers or more to utilise contract or agency workers for up to two years before they must be made permanent. The same policy becomes effective in July 2008 for companies with 100 to 299 workers. For companies with fewer than 100 workers, the two-year period takes effect in September 2008. 
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&ldquo;South Korea has effectively opened a revolving door for the use of contract and agency workers,&rdquo; said ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. &ldquo;Employers can now use, abuse, and then discard contract workers within a two-year time period, which certainly will prove to be detrimental to sustainable and family-supporting full-time direct employment inside the country.&rdquo; 
 
South Korea currently is one of the highest ranking OECD countries in terms of contract workers, with estimates of up to 50%, or 8.5 million workers, engaged in work in part-time or temporary status. 
 
In another legislative action before the National Assembly, a committee late last week passed a controversial labour reform measure which includes the three-year suspension of a pay ban for full-time union members, as well as allowing multiple unions to take hold inside a workplace, effective in December 2009. 
The reform bill, passed by the labour committee on 8 December, must now go before the judiciary committee before it is expected to be voted on in plenary session this week.

Korea’s National Assembly Passes Regressive Contract and Agency Labour Regulations

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ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin - No. 17

GDF-Suez Merger Further Delayed by Court Ruling

Amicus Refutes Saint-Gobain’s 50% Reductions in UK Pipe Manufacturing

Korea’s National Assembly Passes Regressive Contract and Agency Labour Regulations

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