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<img alt="" src="" width="100" height="39" />
ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda and Asia-Pacific Regional Contact Person Phee Jungsun reached out last week to New Zealand trade union affiliates in the immediate aftermath of the 22 February earthquake. The 6.3 magnitude quake has claimed the lives of 147 people, with another 200 persons missing and feared dead. 
 
National Distribution Union (NDU) General Secretary Robert Reid said the building his union&rsquo;s offices are housed and NDU partly owns, the Christchurch Trade Union Centre on Armagh Street, was badly damaged from the quake. Return to work there is uncertain. The NDU&rsquo;s Christchurch offices are on the fourth floor of the labour building. 
 
&ldquo;All NDU staff and we think all our members in Christchurch are OK, although many have damage to their homes,&rdquo; he added. 
<img src="" width="196" height="200" alt="" />
NDU General Secretary Robert Reid
National Secretary Andrew Little of the Engineering, Printing, and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) said, &ldquo;EPMU personnel are unscathed but we are still ascertaining the impact on our members and their workplaces.&rdquo; 
 
Little said Christchurch, New Zealand&rsquo;s second largest city, suffered &ldquo;a lot of destruction and it will take a long time for the city to recover.&rdquo; He added: &ldquo;The shake was a very violent one.&rdquo; 
 
Some 600 search and rescue teams are at work in Christchurch and the estimated damages range from NZ$4 billion (US$3 billion) to NZ$16 billion (US$12 billion.) 
 
The 22 February earthquake is the second in less than six months in New Zealand. In September, a 7.1 quake hit some 40 kilometres from Christchurch, but caused less damage because it occurred in a less populated and rural area. Several Kiwi cities sit atop a series of faults connected to Alpine Fault, a subterranean mass where the Pacific and Indo-Australian tectonic plates slide across one another.

NDU Christchurch Offices Damaged in New Zealand Earthquake

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The 55th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women is running in New York City at UN headquarters. The annual Commissions runs from 22 February to 4 March and some 2,000 delegates from 27 nations are in attendance. On opening day, they heard former Chile President and current UN Under-Secretary General for Women Michele Bachelet. 
 
Nearly 200 trade union women are participating in the annual conference, which this year has as its theme access and participation for girls and women in education, training, science, and technology. 
 
The trade union women, behind their union banners and in step with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Education International (EI), and Public Services International (PSI), also used opening day to join New York area trade unionists at Fox News broadcast offices in Manhattan to protest legislative attacks on public-sector collective bargaining rights in the state of Wisconsin. &ldquo;We are Wisconsin&rdquo; was the unified chant protesters shouted at America&rsquo;s right-wing mouthpiece. 
<img alt="" src="" width="132" height="188" />
Michele Bachelet
Inside the 55th UN Women&rsquo;s Commission, trade union women called for full rights and protections for domestic workers by adoption of a Domestic Workers&rsquo; Convention. The Convention is to be considered at this June&rsquo;s 100th Labour Conference of the ILO. EI Deputy General Secretary Jan Eastman delivered a statement on the subject in a plenary calling for &ldquo;full opportunities for education and training for girls and women &hellip; leading to productive employment and decent work.&rdquo; 
 
This year&rsquo;s Commission on the Status of Women sees the merger of four UN gender institutions into one, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Women&rsquo;s Empowerment. Bachelet said in her opening remarks this &ldquo;has a unique and clear mandate to help ensure a seamless relationship&rdquo; between Member States and UN activities on overcoming gender imbalances. 
 
Bachelet warned not to postpone actions for women&rsquo;s empowerment on account of the global jobs crisis, stating that progress to date has been &ldquo;uneven and fragile.&rdquo;
<img alt="" src="" width="320" height="153" />
Canadian Trade Unionists Surround Rona Ambrose 
 
photo: CAW Women&rsquo;s Programs, Canada
Bachelet said: &ldquo;As we sit in this room today, there are still too many women and children being trafficked; too many domestic workers who left their families to live in new places, unprotected by labour laws or policies; too many girls forced to leave school or marry too early; too many women and girls who lack access to services. And worldwide,&rdquo; she added, &ldquo;there are too few women who are at decision-making tables where peace, trade or climate change agreements are being negotiated.&rdquo; 
 
Canadian trade union women attending the Commission got a chance to question Rona Ambrose, Canada&rsquo;s Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women. She spoke at the Commission on 24 February. The union representatives questioned Canada over lack of action and lack of outrage over 800 Canadian women being killed by men, on lax gun registry laws that perpetuate violence, and Canada&rsquo;s misuse of federal funds for programmes and work on missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

UN Commission on Status of Women Underway in New York City

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Turkish union leaders and militants of the Thrace region convened in early February for solidarity and support in a number of cases of industrial discord occurring in the rapidly-growing manufacturing zone. Five affiliates of the ICEM, the International Metalworkers&rsquo; Federation (IMF) and the International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers&rsquo; Federation (ITGLWF) met and organized a demonstration at the Free Trade Zone of Corlu. 
 
The protest was in support of a two-month strike by ICEM affiliate Petrol-İş and dismissal of trade unionists by India-base Polyplex company, a plastics and polyester company. (The ICEM has launched a LabourStart campaign on this dispute; please join the <a href="http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=868">protest</a> now.)&nbsp; 
 
The demonstration also centered on other trade union infringements, particularly at worksites where organising is underway, and as well on the Turkish government&rsquo;s recent efforts to modify labour legislation regarding casual, temporary, and precarious work. Thrace is an area of Turkey experiencing a high of foreign industrial investments, ranging from metals to textiles to natural gas, chemicals, and rubber development. 
<img alt="" src="" width="280" height="186" />
Petrol-İş President Mustafa &Ouml;ztaşkın (center) Speaks at Joint Demonstration
Attended the formation of this regional coalition of trade unions were union Petrol-İş President Mustafa &Ouml;ztaşkın, Birleşik Metal-İş President Adnan Serdaroğlu, TEKSTIL President President Ridvan Budak, a member of the ITGLWF, Deri-İş President Musa Servi, also of the ITGLWF, representing leather and shoe workers, and the President of ICEM-affiliated Kristal-İş, Bilal &Ccedil;etintaş, the Glass Workers&rsquo; Union of Turkey. These leaders were also accompanied by local branch union leaders of several unions, political party representatives, and NGO representatives. 
 
The five unions cited above pledge to support each other in the Thrace region in ongoing strikes and recruitment drives. 
 
Nearby to Corlu, 12 factories have been targeted for union organizing, but many union activists have been dismissed from their jobs because of their union membership. Besides Polyplex (a prior <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4212-Organising-Campaigns-of-Petrol-İş-of-Turkey-continue-but-with-Pain-">ICEM report</a> can be found here), factories of Yeşil Kundura (shoes), Disa Otomotiv (an auto supplier), Anakonda (metal fabrication), Astaş Al&uuml;minyum (aluminum), and Grup Suni Deri (leather) have been targeted for unionisation, and evidence of that can be found with several tents of picketers to be found in front of the plants. In some workplaces, achievements have been made while solidarity and support activities continue, as does several court cases. 
 
&ldquo;For many days we have been striking at workplaces individually,&rdquo; said Petrol-İş President &Ouml;ztaşkın. &ldquo;But today all the unions striking in the regional come together. We have unified our powers. We have decided to walk together and to organize joint demonstrations and actions. Our hope is that this bond now starting in Thrace will spread to the whole of the country.&rdquo; 
 
&ldquo;Regardless of distinction or which confederation the union belongs,&rdquo; added Birleşik Metal-İş President Serdaroğlu, &ldquo;we will defend the rights of dismissed workers.&rdquo; 
 
Musa Servi, President of the ITGLWF affiliate Deri-İş, said, &ldquo;Employers will try to exploit by establishing factories in free trade zones where union rights are weak. If we act together, we can change this.&rdquo; 
<img alt="" src="" width="263" height="167" />
ICEM&rsquo;s Kemal &Ouml;zkan Addresses TEKSIF Congress
To cement this bond between ICEM in its sectors, and metals and textiles, ICEM Chemicals and Rubber Industries Officer Kemal &Ouml;zkan spoke at the 18th Congress of the Turkish Textile, Knitting, and Clothing Industry Workers&rsquo; Union (TEKSIF), an ITGLWF affiliate, on 19-20 February 2011 in Ankara. 
 
The Congress was attended and addressed by the President of ITGLWF, Hisanobu Shimada, and one agenda item was to conduct an intensive organizing campaign in textiles and related industries where over two million Turkish workers are employed. The campaign will also include a large support and solidarity with Turkish and international unions. 
 
In his letter of congratulations addressed to Nazmi Irgat, unanimously re-elected President of TEKSIF, ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda said: &ldquo;We are thankful for active support of the Turkish unions to the work toward creating a joint manufacturing and energy workers&rsquo; international. We know Turkish affiliates affiliated to all three organisations will play an effective role and take important responsibilities through support and solidarity.&rdquo;

Turkish Coalition of ICEM, IMF, ITGLWF Unions Forms in Thrace

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A dispute has arisen in South Africa between ICEM affiliate National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Xstrata Coal over the apparent discharge of 12 HIV-positive miners. The miners were first sacked last fall from their jobs at the Tweefontein collieries in Mpumalanga province, but the NUM interceded on their behalf before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) and won reinstatement to their jobs. 
 
But in mid-February, Xstrata Coal South Africa informed the NUM that it would re-sack the 12 and appeal the CCMA&rsquo;s decision to a labour court. At issue is whether or not Xstrata knew of their HIV status through a joint NUM-Xstrata Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCR) programme that is strictly confidential. Hundreds of Tweefontein miners were tested through the programme in October and November 2010. 
 
It is uncertain if Xstrata Coal gained access to results of the screenings, but the NUM alleges that the company does know the results. A private service provider was contracted to do the screenings and results are supposed to be shared only with the individual.
<img alt="" src="" width="225" height="169" />
Left: NUM Regional Secretary Paris Mashego
NUM Highveld Regional Secretary Paris Mashego accused the company of dragging backward the campaign to test for the pandemic and said the NUM will continue to press for the real motive behind Xstrata&rsquo;s reversal. Late this week, NUM delegates and shop stewards from many Xstrata worksites will descend on the company&rsquo;s Johannesburg headquarters to manifest against the injustice. 
 
&ldquo;What we experience here with Xstrata is the same thing our Australian comrades of the CFMEU experience with the company,&rdquo; said Mashego. &ldquo;They cannot accept official rulings and must always appeal their losses in order to get their way. Only in this case, there is something fundamentally wrong, the anonymity and confidentially of HIV-positive workers.&rdquo; 
<img alt="" src="" width="70" height="100" />
The National Education, Health, and Allied Workers&rsquo; Union (NEHAWU) of South Africa also responded negatively to Xstrata Coal&rsquo;s alleged actions. &ldquo;This ghastly and barbaric behaviour by a company is a clear sign of how some big companies are failing to abide by the ILO or the OECD Codes of Conduct by violating workers&rsquo; rights and working conditions. 
 
&ldquo;This alleged discrimination against workers who are HIV-positive is a huge blow to the government&rsquo;s fight against AIDS,&rdquo; stated a NEHAWU spokesman, &ldquo;because it sends a message to those who have the disease that they will lose their jobs if they come out.&rdquo; 
 
Xstrata Coal South Africa, 20% owned by African Rainbow Minerals Ltd., operates 11 coal mines in South Africa, and is currently developing three new projects &ndash; the Arthur Taylor Colliery Opencast Mine (ATCOM) East development, the Goedgevond coal project, and optimisation of the Zonnebloem project, all in Mpumalanga province. Together with the Tweefontein optimisation project now nearing completion, the projects will eventually produce 90% of the company&rsquo;s South African coal output.

Xstrata Coal South Africa Accused of Sacking HIV-Positive Miners

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In France, European paper and packaging giant SmurfitKappa was made to move up on a 2011 wage offer for 2,500 corrugated packaging workers following a day-long strike on 23 February. The French paperworkers are employed at 18 SmurfitKappa paper plants and French union CGT-FILPAC staged successful strikes at all 18 that increased 2011 earnings. 
 
The agreement calls for a 2.35% wage increase spread across 2011. SmurfitKappa had offered only 1.4% prior to the strike, with half of that &ndash; 0.7% -- first due on 1 April. CGT-FILPAC won a one percent on 1 March, with the remainder due sooner this year than the company&rsquo;s now discarded proposal dates. 
 
The union also won an added increase for lower-salaried workers, effective 1 October 2011, and posted an increase in holiday pay as well. 
 
Last week&rsquo;s industrial action was the second within a month in the French paper sector over what constitutes a fair 2011 pay increase. Some 400 UPM paperworkers at the Chapelle Darblay newsprint mill had been staging twice-weekly two-hour strikes across all three work shifts to get the Finland-based company to meet French cost-of-living demands. 
 
And to illustrate the deadly risks inside the paper sector, also in France, in late January a contract worker was killed at Emin Leyder&rsquo;s paperboard mill in Nogent-sur-Seine, Aube, when a gas explosion occurred inside a pulp tower. The 47-year-old contractor was working on the roof of a pulping tower with another worker and was blown off the roof by the blast. The 300,000 tonne-per-year corrugated medium and linerboard mill is the smaller of Emin Leyder&rsquo;s two French mills, owned by the holding company FINEL SA.

24-Hour Paper Strike Gives Accord to CGT-FILPAC, SmurfitKappa

Chile: Help on ILO Convention 176
Dear Pulp/Paper Sector Activists: 
 
The ICEM is making a major push, together with the IMF, to get Chile to ratify ILO Convention 176, the Safety and Health in Mines Convention. 
 
We are asking for your participation. The details are in the <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/11.ICEM.IMF.Chile176.1March.pdf">Joint ICEM/IMF Letter</a> that can be found at this link. 
 
The <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/ENGLISH%20ChileModLet%20(2).doc">Letter to Chile&rsquo;s Government</a> can be found here. In this letter are the e-mail addresses, fax numbers and mail address that we are asking unions to send. Please attach this model letter to your union&rsquo;s letterhead, or your personal letterhead, and send. 
 
We are very grateful for your help on this. And please do not forget to send a copy of your letter to the ICEM, at <a href="mailto:tom.grinter@icem.org">tom.grinter@icem.org</a>. 
 
Again, thank you for your help. 
 
In Unity, 
Dick Blin
<hr />
Chili: Pour la ratification de la Convention 176 de l'OIT
Chers Militants du secteur papier poulpe 
 
L&rsquo;ICEM a &eacute;largi ses forces avec le FIOM dans la lutte pour la ratification de la Convention 176, la s&eacute;curit&eacute; et la sante en Chili. 
 
A ce sujet, nous demandons votre active participation. Les d&eacute;tails concernant la ratification se trouvent dans <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/2.ICEM.IMF.Chile176.1MarchFR.pdf">la d&eacute;claration jointe de l'ICEM et du FIOM</a>. 
Vous les trouverez dans le lien suivant. 
 
<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/FR%20ChileModLet.doc">La Lettre au gouvernement du Chili</a> se trouve ici. Dans cette lettre, vous avez les adresses e-mail, num&eacute;ros de fax et la direction postale des syndicats auxquels il faudra envoyer la documentation jointe. Veuillez SVP, joindre et envoyer la lettre mod&egrave;le en ajoutant le logo de votre syndicat, ou votre logo personnel. 
 
Nous vous remercions en avance du support et soutien solidaire a ce sujet. Une copie de votre lettre &agrave; l'ICEM, &agrave; <a href="mailto:tom.grinter@icem.org">tom.grinter@icem.org</a> serait fortement appr&eacute;ci&eacute;e. 
 
Votre soutien ainsi que vos actions sont fraternellement remercies. 
 
Dans l'unit&eacute;, 
 
Dick Blin 
ICEM Responsable Information et Communication 
Secteur Poulpe et Papier
<hr />
Chile, por la ratificaci&oacute;n al Convenio OIT 176 
 
Estimados l&iacute;deres del sector papel y pulpa 
 
ICEM ha unido fuerzas junto al FITIM para luchar por la ratificaci&oacute;n del Convenio OIT 176 en seguridad y salud en las minas. 
 
Estamos solicitando su apoyo y participaci&oacute;n. Por favor, revise los detalles <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/5.ICEM.IMF.Chile176.1March.pdf">en la declaraci&oacute;n conjunta ICEM-FITIM</a> que podr&aacute; encontrar en este enlace. 
 
<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/SpanishChileModLet.doc">La Carta al Gobierno de Chile</a> se puede encontrar aqu&iacute;. En dicho escrito, encontrara las direcciones de correo electr&oacute;nico, n&uacute;meros de fax y direcci&oacute;n postal de los sindicatos para ser enviadas. Por favor, adjunte y env&iacute;e esta carta modelo con el membrete de su sindicato, o su membrete personal. 
 
Agradecemos de antemano su participaci&oacute;n y apoyo solidario en esta iniciativa. M&aacute;ndenos una copia de su carta a ICEM, atte. <a href="mailto:Tom.grinter@icem.org">Tom.grinter@icem.org</a> . 
 
Su acci&oacute;n y soporte son fraternalmente reconocidos. 
 
En la Unidad, 
 
Dick Blin 
ICEM Pulpa y Papel Oficial

Chile: ILO Convention 176/Chili: de la Convention 176 de l&#039;OIT/Chile, Convenio OIT 176

Estimados L&iacute;deres de la Uni&oacute;n del Trabajo de Chile! 
 
ICEM, Federaci&oacute;n Sindical Global de Sindicatos Mineros, junto con nuestra organizaci&oacute;n hermana, la Federaci&oacute;n Internacional de Trabajadores de las Industrias Metal&uacute;rgicas (FITIM), ha puesto en marcha una campa&ntilde;a para la ratificaci&oacute;n del Convenio 176 sobre seguridad y salud en las minas por parte del Gobierno de Chile. 
 
Les pedimos su participaci&oacute;n y apoyo para impulsar esta iniciativa en Chile. Esta campana se ha lanzado tan solo esta semana y la acogida ha sido tan exitosa que hemos recibido 25 cartas en solidaridad y apoyo. No hay duda, el apoyo ha sido incondicional. 
 
Los detalles al respecto est&aacute;n <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/5.ICEM.IMF.Chile176.1March.pdf">en la declaraci&oacute;n conjunta ICEM-FITIM</a> que pueden encontrar en este enlace. 
 
<a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/SpanishChileModLet.doc">La Carta al Gobierno de Chile</a> se puede encontrar aqu&iacute;. En dicho escrito, encontraran las direcciones de correo electr&oacute;nico, n&uacute;meros de fax y direcci&oacute;n postal que les pedimos env&iacute;en a los sindicatos. Por favor, adjunte y env&iacute;e esta carta modelo con el membrete de su sindicato, o su membrete personal. 
 
Agradecemos de antemano su solidario apoyo y su acci&oacute;n en esta iniciativa. Por favor, mande una copia de su carta a ICEM, atte. <a href="mailto:tom.grinter@icem.org">tom.grinter@icem.org</a> . 
 
Muchas Gracias! 

Fraternalmente, 
 
Manfred Warda 
Secretario General ICEM

ICEM necesita su ayuda! Ratificación de  la Convención OIT 176 en Chile!

<img alt="" src="" width="368" height="87" />
Uluslararasi Sendika Federasyonlari IMF, ICEM, ITF ve UNI, &uuml;ye sendikalarını 14 Şubat tarihinden,&nbsp;Pasta de Conchos trajedisinin 5. yıld&ouml;n&uuml;m&uuml; olan 19 Şubat tarihine kadar eyleme davet etmektedir.
T&uuml;m &uuml;ye sendikalarımızdan Meksika H&uuml;k&uuml;meti&rsquo;ne y&ouml;nelik aşağıdaki &ccedil;ağrımıza katılması istemekteyiz: 
 
1. İşverenden ve Meksika h&uuml;k&uuml;meti yetkililerinden 19 Şubat 2009 tarihinde ger&ccedil;ekleşen ve 65 madencinin hayatına malolan Pasta de Conchos patlamasının hesabı sorulmalıdır. 
 
Patlamanın nedenleri bağımsız bir şekilde soruşturulmalıdır. Sorumlular hakkında hukuki kovuşturma başlatılmalıdır. H&uuml;k&uuml;met tarafından kurbanların ailelerinin haklarının adil bir şekilde karşılanması, g&ouml;&ccedil;&uuml;k altında kalan madencilerin cesetlerinin &ccedil;ıkarılması ve cenaze t&ouml;reninin yapılması gerekiyor. Meksika, madenlerdeki iş sağlığı ve g&uuml;venliği mevzuatını geliştirerek İLO S&ouml;zleşmeleri ile uyumlu hale getirmek i&ccedil;in harekete ge&ccedil;melidir. 
 
2. İşveren g&uuml;d&uuml;ml&uuml; &ldquo;koruma s&ouml;zleşmeleri&rdquo; ve sendika se&ccedil;imlerine m&uuml;dahaleyi de i&ccedil;eren &ouml;rg&uuml;tlenmeye y&ouml;nelik sistematik ihlallere son verilmelidir. 
 
H&uuml;k&uuml;met, &Ccedil;alışma Bakanlığı yetkililerinin, y&uuml;r&uuml;rl&uuml;ğe girmeden &ouml;nce sendika se&ccedil;imlerinin sonu&ccedil;larını onaylamasını gerekli kılan &ldquo;toma de nota&ldquo; uygulamasını ortadan kaldırmalıdır. Los Mineros ve SME sendikalarının se&ccedil;ilmiş y&ouml;neticileri bir an &ouml;nce tanınmalıdır. İş&ccedil;ilerin kendilerini temsil edecek sendikayı korkusuzca ve &ouml;zg&uuml;rce se&ccedil;ebilmeleri i&ccedil;in işveren g&uuml;d&uuml;ml&uuml; &ldquo;koruma s&ouml;zleşmeleri&rdquo; uygulaması sona erdirilmeli ve iş&ccedil;iler toplu s&ouml;zleşmenin bir kopyasını alma hakkına sahip olmalıdır. 
 
3. İş&ccedil;ilerin kendilerine daha iyi &ccedil;alışma koşulları ve daha y&uuml;ksek &uuml;cret, daha sağlıklı ve g&uuml;venli &ccedil;alışma koşulları sağlayacak olan &ldquo;demokratik sendika&rdquo; meşru talebini baskı altına almak amacıyla devlet veya &ouml;zel hukuk kişileri tarafından kuvvet kullanılmasına son verilmelidir. 
 
H&uuml;k&uuml;met, Federal Polis Kuvvetlerini bir an &ouml;nce Cananea ve diğer b&uuml;t&uuml;n işyerlerinden &ccedil;ekmelidir. 
 
Los Mineros &uuml;yeleri Hector Alvarez Gomez, Mario Alberto Castillo Rodriguez, Reynaldo Hernandez Gonzalez, Juventino Flores Salas, ve FLOC &ouml;rg&uuml;tlenme sorumlusu Santiago Rafael Cruz'un katledilmesinin sorumluları adalete teslim edilmelidir. 
 
4. Meksika Maden İş&ccedil;ileri Sendikası ve Meksika Elektrik İş&ccedil;ileri Sendikası'na y&ouml;nelik sistematik politik baskı kampanyasına son verilmelidir. 
 
H&uuml;k&uuml;met haksız yere cezaevinde tutulan sendika liderleri; Juan Linares Montufar ve Miguel Marguez'i serbest bırakmalı, Genel Sekreter Napoleon Gomez Urrutia ve diğer Los Mineros liderleri hakkındaki ceza kovuşturmalarını d&uuml;ş&uuml;rmeli, sendikanın dondurulan banka hesaplarındaki kaynakları geri vermeli ve SNTMMSRM ve SME'ye y&ouml;nelik sistematik politik baskıya sonlandırmalıdır. 
 
H&uuml;k&uuml;met Mexico City b&ouml;lgesine elektrik enerji dağıtımını yapacak yeni bir kamu şirketi kurmalı. İşe iadelerini talep eden işten atılmış iş&ccedil;ileri yeniden işe almalı ve SME'yi toplu s&ouml;zleşme tarafı olarak tanımalıdır. 
 
Sizleri, bu talepleri desteklemeniz i&ccedil;in diğer sendikalar ile birlikte 14-19 Şubat 2011 tarihleri arasında aşağıdaki eylem bi&ccedil;imlerinden uygun bulduklarınızı uygulamaya &ccedil;ağırmaktayız. 
 
&bull; Meksika H&uuml;k&uuml;meti&rsquo;ne protesto mektubu g&ouml;ndererek, &uuml;lkenizdeki Meksika B&uuml;y&uuml;kel&ccedil;iliği ya da Konsolosluğu &ouml;n&uuml;nde g&ouml;steriler ve toplantılar d&uuml;zenlenebilir. 
&bull; İnsan hakları ve sendikal haklar alanında uluslararası m&uuml;zakereler yoluyla Meksika H&uuml;k&uuml;meti &uuml;zerinde etkili olabilecek politikacılarla toplantı ve brifingler yapılabilir. 
&bull; Temel haklara y&ouml;nelik bu ihlalleri a&ccedil;ıklamak i&ccedil;in ilgili Meksika şirketlerinin m&uuml;şterileri ve yatırımcıları ile toplantılar organize edilebilir. 
&bull; Kamuoyunun dikkatini Meksika'daki duruma &ccedil;ekmek i&ccedil;in basın a&ccedil;ıklamaları yapılarak, medyaya y&ouml;nelik etkinlikler d&uuml;zenleyin, gazete edit&ouml;rlerine mektuplar g&ouml;nderilebilir. 
 
Bu k&uuml;resel eylem haftasının koordine edilmesinde bize destek olmak i&ccedil;in &uuml;yesi olduğunuz ilgili K&uuml;resel Federasyonu ne t&uuml;r eylem planladığınıza ilişkin en kısa sure i&ccedil;erisinde bilgilendirmenizi istirham etmekteyiz. 
 
IMF (E-posta: <a href="mailto:unionrights@imfmetal.org">unionrights@imfmetal.org</a>) 
ICEM (E-posta: <a href="mailto:tom.grinter@icem.org">tom.grinter@icem.org</a>) 
ITF (E-posta: <a href="mailto:cortes_isabel@itf.org.uk">cortes_isabel@itf.org.uk</a>) 
UNI (<a href="mailto:Olga.Vinogradova@uniglobalunion.org">Olga.Vinogradova@uniglobalunion.org</a>)

Meksika`da Sendikal Haklar icin Eylem Haftasi - 14/19 Subat 2011

<img alt="" src="" width="100" height="49" />
The global trade union for the mining industry, the ICEM, congratulates the miners of Carbones del Cerrejon and their union, Sintracarb&oacute;n, as well as management of the coal enterprise in la Guajira state in reaching contract terms early this week in Colombia. In a statement, ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda noted that through respectful social dialogue &ndash; a process instituted with the assistance of the ICEM seven years ago &ndash; the two parties reached a mutually acceptable collective agreement, thus abandoning a planned strike. 
 
The two-year labour accord between the 4,000-member ICEM-affiliated mining union and the company operating the world&rsquo;s largest set of open pit coal mines, owned jointly by AngloAmerican, BHP Billiton, and Xstrata, was reached with the assistance of Colombia Vice President Angelino Garz&oacute;n and Vice Minister of Labour Relations Ricardo Echeverry late last week. That mediation illuminates the importance of social dialogue at the highest level in a country usually devoid of such labour-management tools. It also averts a costly strike that would have placed a heavy toll both on union members of Sintracarb&oacute;n and Cerrejon. 
 
&ldquo;We have witnessed both sides reach the brink of negotiations in the past several sets of two-year talks,&rdquo; said Warda. &ldquo;The fact that Sintracarb&oacute;n and Cerrejon have not had a strike in over 20 years is testament to mutual respect and shared responsibility by both the union and management in looking after the welfare of communities, workers, and their families.&rdquo;
<img alt="" src="" width="220" height="185" />
The 2011-2012 labour agreement calls for a first-year wage increase of 6.5% and a 2012 increase of two percent over next year&rsquo;s Consumer Price Index. But more importantly, the ICEM noted, Sintracarb&oacute;n continued to make improvements at the bargaining table for the communities surrounding the massive coal complex in north-east Colombia, improvements in health benefits for workers and their families, and education benefits for family members. 
 
The ICEM commends the involvement of Vice President Garz&oacute;n, Vice Minister Echeverry, and the Cerrejon management for recognizing in this set of talks that contract workers not directly employed by Cerrejon have the right of association and the right to form a union of their own choosing without interference from sub-contracting companies of Cerrejon, or the mining enterprise itself. 
 
The ICEM congratulates the bargaining committee of Sintracarb&oacute;n for achieving a deserved 2011 pay increase of 6.5%, better than double Colombia&rsquo;s current 3.19% CPI. The ICEM&rsquo;s notes that Cerrejon is a highly profitable enterprise for the parent companies, as well as for Colombia, the world&rsquo;s fifth biggest exporter of coal. 
 
&ldquo;The union&rsquo;s organised process of collective negotiations and it&rsquo;s method of mobilising 4,000 workers behind the bargaining team is an example to all unions worldwide,&rdquo; said Warda. &ldquo;In this set of bargaining, they succeeded in raising the bar on work standards inside Colombia that should be an aspiration to all workers.&rdquo;

Sintracarbón, Cerrejon Reach Commendable Contract in Colombia

Rhodia and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers&rsquo; Unions (ICEM) today announced the renewal of the <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/ICEM%20AGREEMENT_17%20FEB%202011.pdf">&ldquo;Social Responsibility&rdquo; agreement</a> first signed in 2005. This agreement, designed to drive continuous improvement and the only one of its type signed with a chemical company, confirms Rhodia&rsquo;s commitment to sustainable development and its determination to ensure that high labor standards are maintained on all its sites. 
 
By renewing its partnership with ICEM for the second time, Rhodia is reasserting its commitment to apply worldwide: 
&bull; The international labor standards defined by the International Labor Organization, 
&bull; The principles of the UN Global Compact, 
&bull; Its labor standards in the fields of health and safety at work, managing occupational hazards and protection of environment. 
 
In order to verify the correct implementation of the commitments specified in the agreement and to continuously improve its content, annual assessments will be conducted at a local level by representatives of Rhodia and ICEM. 
<img src="" width="339" height="185" alt="" />
For 2011, the main amendments to the text of the agreement are: 
&bull; The creation of an innovative body &ndash; the &ldquo;Global Safety Panel&rdquo; &ndash; to ensure that the dialogue between management and employee representatives is firmly anchored in the realities of the Group&rsquo;s industrial activities. Comprised of ICEM members representing each of the Group&rsquo;s different geographical regions in addition to members of Rhodia&rsquo;s General Management team and a delegation of ICEM representatives, this panel is responsible for monitoring the Group&rsquo;s safety policies and results worldwide, 
&bull; The adoption of monitoring indicators to follow the situation regarding employment and the subcontracting policy of the Group, 
&bull; The extension of the validity of the agreement by increasing it from three to five years. 
Lastly, both parties agree to continue to reflect on the terms and conditions making it possible to develop a worldwide social dialogue within the Group. 
 
&ldquo;Rhodia is the only chemical group to have signed a global social and environmental responsibility agreement with ICEM. Since it was first signed in 2005, the assessments conducted regularly on the ground by ICEM and Rhodia have made us progress and the agreement has been broaden each time it has been renewed. Through this exacting partnership, Rhodia is confirming its social commitments and submitting its practices to vigilant appraisal by the ICEM. It shows our determination to foster an innovative culture of social dialogue within Rhodia,&rdquo; said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, Chairman and CEO of Rhodia. 
 
&ldquo;The Rhodia framework agreement is an effective, working document for the ICEM and its affiliates,&rdquo; said ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda. &ldquo;Rhodia has proven to be a responsive and responsible social partner and ICEM looks forward to many further renewals with the Group.&rdquo; 
 
Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers&rsquo; performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, electronics, flavors and fragrances, health, personal and home care markets, consumer goods and industrial markets. The Group employs around 13,600 people worldwide and generated sales of &euro;4.03 billion in 2009. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
ICEM, a federation of trade unions representing a number of industries around the world, was comprised of 467 unions in 132 different countries. It is the largest federation of trade unions in the chemicals industry. 
 
Contacts Rhodia 
Relations Media 
Roxanne Diarra +33 (01) 53 56 59 62 <a href="mailto:roxanne.diarra@eu.rhodia.com">roxanne.diarra@eu.rhodia.com</a> &nbsp; 
 
Investor Relations 
Maria Alcon  +33 (0)1 53 56 64 89 <a href="mailto:maria.alcon-hidalgo@eu.rhodia.com">maria.alcon-hidalgo@eu.rhodia.com</a> &nbsp; 
Benjamin Bruneau  +33 (0)1 53 56 64 42 <a href="mailto:benjamin.bruneau@eu.rhodia.com">benjamin.bruneau@eu.rhodia.com</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Contact ICEM 
Dick Blin  +41 79 734 8994 <a href="mailto:Dick.Blin@icem.org">Dick.Blin@icem.org</a> &nbsp;

Rhodia and ICEM Reinforce Global Social and Environmental Responsibility Agreement

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Meksika`da Sendikal Haklar icin Eylem Haftasi - 14/19 Subat 2011

Sintracarbón, Cerrejon Reach Commendable Contract in Colombia

Rhodia and ICEM Reinforce Global Social and Environmental Responsibility Agreement

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