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Global worker No1 2022

Global worker No2 2022

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GENEVA: The International Labour Organisation Bureau for Workers&#039; Activities ACTRAV encourages trade unionists to apply for a new masters program on labour and globalisation launched by Global Labour University in 2009. The trade unionists from all over the globe are invited to participate in four courses, which will take place in Brazil, Germany, India and South Africa.  The deadline for applications for courses organised in Germany and India is April 1, 2009. Unionists who want to enroll to the courses in Brazil and South Africa should submit applications before September 1, 2009.The courses are given in English. Detailed information about the programs and the application forms are  available at <a href="http://www.global-labour-university.org/">http://www.global-labour-university.org/</a>. The Bureau for Workers&#039; Activities and its project partners will award a limited number of scholarships to applicants from developing and transition economies. Applicants need to have the endorsement of a trade union to apply for a scholarship.  Applications for scholarship should be sent to the Global Labour University. Contact details are available at the GLU <a href="http://www.global-labour-university.org/">site</a>.

Global Labour University invites trade unionists of the world to participate in a special masters program on labour and globalisation.

GLU launches new international programs on labour and globalisation

EUROPE: Trade unions, works councils, the European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF) have called for a Day of Action on 26 February demanding a sustainable and viable future for their companies in Europe, which means one:<ul><li>without site/plant closures,</li><li>without forced redundancies,</li><li>with environmentally-friendly, dynamic and innovative vehicles, and</li><li>with the full participation of European governments, trade unions, dealers and employees.</li></ul>The Day of Actions therefore calls for:<ul><li>European government loan guarantees / stakes,</li><li>A search for new partners, investors and shareholders,</li><li>The introduction of a new corporate organization and management structure, and</li><li>Strong European co-ordination by all stakeholders.</li></ul>For more information, contact Tony Murphy, EMF Company Policy Director.

Workers need a sustainable and viable future for Opel/Vauxhall and Saab.

Opel/Vauxhall and Saab European Action Day on 26 February

INDONESIA: Workers at a Batam EPZ  company have succeeded in regaining the majority of their unpaid wages by auctioning all of the factory's moveable assets. Minutes after announcing the abrupt closure of the electronics components company, all of PT Livatec's managing directors absconded by ferry to nearby Singapore. They left owing around US$2.5 million in unpaid wages and severance pay to the 1600 mostly women workers.But with the assistance of IMF Affiliate FSPMI, the workers defied bank claims by occupying the factory and auctioning everything they could, including three Mercedes Benz cars left by the managing directors. While the bank retained ownership of the land and other fixed assets, the workers succeeded in regaining around $1.5 million or 60% of what they were owed."The workers were successful because they stayed united in the face of adversity," said FSPMI President Iqbal Said.IMF South East Asia Representative Arunasalam said the case should serve as a warning for other companies trying to evade paying workers their rightful entitlements.

Workers in Indonesia take things into their own hands after management abscond, leaving US$2.5 million in unpaid entitlements.

Indonesian workers auction factory assets, regain unpaid wages

The core mission of the International Metalworkers' Federation is to improve workers' wages, working and living conditions, and to ensure that workers' rights are respected, particularly in the metal industry. The IMF represents blue- and white-collar workers in industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals and ore mining, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, automobile, aerospace, electrical and electronics.The IMF brings together metalworker trade unions at national and international level to help members challenge the neo-liberal agenda of corporations and conservative governments and to ensure all share in the wealth generated through sustainable economic growth.By working with other organisations, the IMF aims to<ul><li>Build a global metalworkers' movement.</li><li>Organise the unorganised.</li><li>Strengthen international solidarity.</li><li>Engage with trans-national corporations.</li><li>Negotiate international framework agreements.</li><li>Secure workers' rights, including the rights of women workers.</li><li>Fight for sustainable economic development, and</li><li>Promote fair trade, social justice and the elimination of poverty.</li></ul>See our <a href="../index.cfm?n=673">2009-2013 Action Programme</a> for full details.

Improving workers&#039; wages, conditions and rights

The International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) represents the collective interests of 25 million metalworkers from more than 200 unions in 100 countries. The IMF is a federation of national metalworkers' unions - a 'union of unions' at world level, and one of the oldest Global Union Federations. The IMF aims to improve metalworkers' wages, working and living conditions and defends the rights of metalworkers at a global level.To achieve this, we work with <a href="index.cfm?n=628">national affiliates</a> with the aim of building a strong international labour movement.Worldwide activities of the IMF are co-ordinated from our <a href="index.cfm?n=630">headquarters</a> in Geneva, Switzerland together with our network of <a href="index.cfm?n=631">regional offices</a>.<h3>Solidarity in action</h3>Read about the work of the IMF in action, as showcased in our case studies: <ul><li><a href="index.cfm?c=17919">Global action against precarious work</a></li><li><a href="index.cfm?c=19354">Asking for justice in Mexico!</a></li><li><a href="index.cfm?c=19355">Reducing shipbreaking hazards in India</a></li><li><a href="index.cfm?c=19356">Release Korean Unionists!</a></li><li><a href="index.cfm?c=19357">Organizing women workers in Indonesia</a></li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20712">Building sustainable unions in Africa</a></li></ul>

For a strong international labour movement

Millions of workers throughout the world work in Export Processing Zones or EPZs. Most of them are young women, who may have migrated to find work but are only offered temporary contracts with low levels of pay and substandard working conditions.  Precarious work is endemic in EPZs. Electronics is the principal IMF industry found in EPZs and IMF is working with its affiliates to encourage organising efforts. An important factor in successful organising is to ensure that women are adequately represented in the trade union and play a central role in EPZ organising.

Export Processing Zones

GENEVA: The <a href="../congress2009/files/09042021363279/Report-secretariat-2009-english-FINAL.pdf" title="Report of the Secretariat 2009">Report of the Secretariat</a> report details IMF work against the 2005-2009 Action Programme.Including an introduction from outgoing IMF General Secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, the report provides analysis on successes, and remaining challenges to improving metalworkers&#039; wages, working and living conditions. As well as providing an evaluation of different strategies, the report makes recommendations on future actions required by the IMF and affiliates in order to achieve our goals.Compiling country by country reports in alphabetical order, the <a href="../congress2009/files/09042223270179/Reports_of_Affiliates_2009-EN.pdf" title="Reports of Affiliates">Reports of Affiliates</a> provides a snapshot on the circumstances for metalworkers globally. For the first time IMF affiliates were asked to specifically report on the situation for precarious workers and how unions are responding. Both reports provide crucial information for delegates&#039; preparation for the IMF World Congress. All Congress delegates will receive a printed copy of both reports in their Congress kit when they arrive in Gothenburg and electronic copies have already been circulated. To download copies please visit <a href="../Congress2009">www.imfmetal.org/Congress2009</a>

New reports covering the activities of the IMF Secretariat and affiliates over the last four years are now available to download on the IMF World Congress Website.

New Congress reports now available

BRAZIL:  More than 50 delegates participated in the International Metalworkers' Federation's Women's Workshop on Precarious Work in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil on November 26.Delegates considered a report on activities of the IMF Equal Rights Department regarding Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and women workers in the electronics manufacturing industry. The meeting put a focus on the issue of precarious work in Brazil, where Brazilian women represent the majority of precarious workers in the country.Carol Landry from the United Steelworkers Canada, Hyewon Chong of the Korean Metal Workers Union and Francia Sosa of the National Federation of Miners and Metalworkers (FENATRAMIN) in the Dominican Republic were part of a panel reporting on precarious work in their respective countries and strategies their unions have taken to address this important problem. Hyewon reminded delegates of the enormous challenge precarious workers face to improve their situation. "Once you fall in, it's almost impossible to climb out and get permanent work," she said, noting that precarious workers are by definition robbed of the tools to change their lot, the right to strike and the right to collectively bargain.The workshop examined why women are more likely to be in precarious work and possible union approaches to improve conditions for women precarious workers specifically. Delegates put forth list of recommendations to be considered at the IMF Central Committee meeting taking place in the following days. Proposals to be considered include:<ul><li>Unions should take action to reduce the double burden of domestic work on women, one of the reasons for women's over-representation in precarious employment.</li><li>Actions should be taken to improve the work-life balance in regular employment, to reduce precarious employment.</li><li>Unions should do their own gender analysis of precarious work. Strategies on precarious work should emphasize Decent Work and incorporate gender and race.</li><li>Since women are often employed in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that lack capacity to implement gains for women, union need to insist on bargaining with the principal company.</li><li>All Central Committee proposals must take into account gender.</li><li>IMF should develop a women's manifesto pointing out the various ways that neo-liberalism has affected women in the metal industry.</li><li>Precarious labour has a feminine face and all IMF documents need to show that understanding.</li><li>Precarious work means precarious lives and social insecurity leading to increasing violence against women. This must be emphasized in the IMF's campaign against precarious work.</li></ul>

IMF delegates put forth proposals on precarious work for consideration at IMF Central Committee taking place November 28-29.

Proposals of women's workshop to the CC

IMF holds Women&#039;s Workshop on Precarious Work

USA: Schweitzer-Mauduit paper mill in central New Jersey has invested $700,000 to change over from using deadly bulk chlorine to bleach their paper, to a safer process thanks to the United Steelworkers (USW).The union's success protects 240 members in the plant, and the surrounding communities where dangerous 90-ton railcars of chlorine rolled through town to the plant. According to the company's own "worst case scenario" report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a terrorist attack or major accident releasing the chlorine could have endangered up to 1.1 million people within a 14 mile radius.Chlorine exposure burns the eyes and skin, and breathing chlorine can be fatal. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory estimates that should a mass chlorine release take place in a populated area, up to 100,000 people could be killed or injured within the first 30 minutes.Steve Green, President of USW local 1482 commented in the press that the union worked closely with community residents to push for safer technology in the plant. "Both the union and community had concerns. The union repeatedly urged the company to eliminate the hazard. Fortunately, they responded positively," he said.

Up to 1.1 million workers and residents are safer thanks to the union's efforts.

US Steelworkers get paper mill to end bulk chlorine

SOUTH AFRICA: The International Metalworkers&#039; Federation hosted a regional workshop in South Africa in June to bring together African affiliates, trade experts and IMF secretariat and regional staff to discuss the impact of Chinese trade and investment in southern Africa.The workshop&#039;s aim: to provide metalworker unions, especially those in SADC countries, with an opportunity to learn from experts about the reality of China&#039;s expansion, particularly, though not exclusively, in Africa; compare trade union experiences in different regions; and collect information on and analyse the fast growing Chinese presence in SADC countries with attention to the repercussions on the regional integration process and the impact of Chinese investments on employment, workers&#039; rights and development.The meeting served as an opportunity for trade union leaders in the region to share their experiences and better understand an increasingly complex situation of foreign investments and trade that have direct repercussions on the working and living conditions of their members. Major points of discussion included:<ul><li><div>Violations of fundamental democratic rights - human, workers&#039;, and trade union rights in China and by Chinese investors abroad.</div></li><li>Cross-sector and cross-regional strategies and case studies.</li><li>Precarisation of employment conditions. Are Chinese employers accelerating this problem?</li></ul>Delegates put forth the recommendation that affiliates must commit to organizing all kinds of casual workers for the survival of the trade union movement, recognizing that the increasing phenomenon of casualisation of work will erode their membership unless they are able to reach out to these workers.

Affiliates discuss cross-sector and cross-regional case studies and strategies.

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