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The Communications, Energy, Paperworkers (CEP) Union of Canada launched a national fight-back campaign Friday, 15 May, in front of the Montr&eacute;al headquarters of AbitibiBowater, the world&rsquo;s biggest producer of newsprint. AbitibiBowater is seeking to avoid its pension obligations through bankruptcy filings. 
 
The ICEM affiliate&rsquo;s main target, however, is the Canadian government. The federal government has done too little to protect the jobs of forestry workers, asserts the CEP. 
 
&ldquo;Workers are not responsible for the crisis in the forest industry, but we are the ones facing demands for cuts to our wages and pensions,&rdquo; said CEP President Dave Coles. 
 
&ldquo;It is totally unfair that a company like AbitibiBowater can use bankruptcy protection to avoid paying severance and making payments to the pension plan,&rdquo; he added. 

<img alt="" src="" width="110" height="145" />
CEP President Dave Coles
On 7 May, a Superior Court in the Province of Qu&eacute;bec issued an order that the paper company could suspend pension payments into its unfunded liabilities account for workers, thus shrinking that account and pushing workers&rsquo; pension payments on Abitibi&rsquo;s creditors list. 
 
&ldquo;There is something seriously wrong with a system that puts workers&rsquo; pensions in the same category as hedge fund credit,&rdquo; said CEP Secretary-Treasurer Ga&eacute;tan M&eacute;nard. &ldquo;When workers go to work to earn a living and a pension, they certainly don&rsquo;t see themselves as venture capitalists making a risky investment. 
 
Last Friday&rsquo;s CEP action in Montr&eacute;al was the first in a string of manifestations that the union will do in attempts to shake the Conservative government of Stephen Harper into taking action on behalf of forest industry jobs. CEP is demanding that the Canadian federal government weigh in with loan guarantees to halt paper and wood mill closures, and to protect jobs and pensions. 
 
&ldquo;There will be a lot of pressure,&rdquo; said Coles. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to take to the streets and we&rsquo;re going to make noise until we&rsquo;re heard.&rdquo; Further actions will target Canadian federal cabinet ministers and a mass rally is scheduled in the capital city of Ottawa on 2 June. 
 
Meanwhile, due to AbitibiBowater&rsquo;s bankruptcy filing, the CEP and ICEM American affiliate, the United Steelworkers (USW), have taken a wait-and-see position before entering into bargaining with AbitibiBowater. The CEP and USW have agreed to coordinate bargaining at the newsprint producer&rsquo;s 12 mills in eastern Canada, where the CEP represents 7,000 workers, and at a USW-represented mill in the state of South Carolina. 
 
A pulp and paper collective agreement covering the entire industry in eastern Canada, with AbitibiBowater expected as the lead negotiating company, expired on 30 April, while a labour agreement in Catawba, South Carolina, covering 1,000 workers expired on 24 April for USW branch locals there.

CEP Launches Canadian Forest Jobs Campaign; Demands Canadian Government Support

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The merger of six Finnish unions is down to five, and the effective date has been delayed one year &ndash; to 1 January 2011 &ndash; in order to make the merged union structure, to be called TEAM, fully operational. 
 
A joint project management committee of the unions made that announcement on 5 May, stating the extra time is needed because of the deep economic recession and the demands caused by it on staff. Among those demands is administration of unemployment funds. 

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Meanwhile, an ICEM affiliate, the Electrical Workers&rsquo; Union, has withdrawn from the planned merger. On 6 May, a majority representation group from the union decided to withdraw. As it now stands, merger partners include: Kemianliitto, the ICEM-affiliated Chemical Workers Union; Metalli, the Finnish Metalworkers&rsquo; Union; the Wood and Allied Workers&rsquo; Union; the Finnish Media Union; and the Finnish Railwaymen&rsquo;s Union. 

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The Railwaymen&rsquo;s Union is currently conducting a referendum on the new merger, which will be completed on 20 May, while the Media Union has already adopted the name TEAM as its new moniker. In February 2008, Kemianliitto members passed a binding vote in favour of the merger, while Metalli also saw members give approve to the merger in a consultative vote that same month. 
 
The merged Finnish industrial union would comprise 330,000 members, and would be governed by a Congress occurring five years, with delegates to that Congress electing both a General Council and an Executive Committee.

Finnish Union Merger to be Delayed One Year, Effective Date: 2011

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Last month, an inspiring group of US trade unionists staged a six-day occupation of a manufacturing plant in Chicago, Illinois, a success story that continues to resonate. The sit-in, done by ICEM affiliate United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers&rsquo; Union of America (UE), sent a potent worldwide message on how to defend jobs when a company is foreclosed by banks. (Read more <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/2929-Chicago-Plant-Takeover-Vivid-Reminder-Amidst-American-Banking-Bailout">here</a>.) 
 
Seven weeks after that plant occupation, another, and bigger reward awaits the 300 UE members: they may get their jobs back. A small eco-friendly building materials company that likes the plant, the equipment, but more importantly, likes the grit of the workers, is in serious negotiations to buy the plant, reopen it under a UE collective agreement, and produce energy-efficient building materials. 
 
Serious Materials, a maker of triple-pane windows and soundproof drywall, is attempting to buy the plant&rsquo;s assets from bankruptcy from the creditor, Bank of America. The California-based company, with only three other factories &ndash; all operated non-union &ndash; sees an opportunity with the UE workforce to expand a manufacturing base that likely will flourish in post-Bush America. &ldquo;We saw a great opportunity with a great facility and great workers,&rdquo; said the company&rsquo;s CEO in a published report, who admitted he was inspired by the 5-11 December plant occupation. 

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The good news comes as UE workers from the closed Republic factory travel the US on a &ldquo;Recovery and Resistance&rdquo; tour. They are telling their story and developing a campaign that puts a priority on jobs as the jumpstart to economic recovery. The workers, in hand with their union, are touring some 15 American cities under the broad-based banner of the labour-community coalition group, Jobs with Justice. 
 
An important aspect to the UE&rsquo;s campaigning is its &ldquo;Window of Opportunity Fund&rdquo; for Republic workers, a financial mechanism for the UE that will assure the union a seat at the table to determine the future of the plant. The occupation&rsquo;s success in December rested with the UE winning that seat, forcing a just settlement for Republic workers, who had seen their jobs taken from them with three days notice. 
 
The ICEM commends the UE and Republic workers for their success. The ICEM also recognises the need to grow the &ldquo;Window of Opportunity&rdquo; Fund, and encourages trade unions to take part. 
 
On the UE website, the &ldquo;Recovery and Resistance Tour&rdquo; can be found <a href="http://www.ueunion.org/ue_republicworkerstour.html">here</a>. 
The site has a method for making donations to ensure that as many Americans as possible hear the courageous story on how UE members in Chicago are going about saving their factory. The ICEM encourages unions to make a donation to this deserving effort.

Hope Turns Green: Republic Windows &amp; Doors Factory Might Reopen in Chicago

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In this issue of the ICEM HIV/AIDS newsletter, we report on the changes in the ICEM HIV/AIDS Project in 2009, on the sub-regional HIV/AIDS workshop in Abidjan, C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, and on the latest report from PEPFAR.
The ICEM Calls on its Affiliates to Contribute to this e-bulletin 
 
ICEM affiliates are already engaged in a wide range of HIV/AIDS activities. To spread the information on new agreements, awareness, and prevention campaigns, and educational activities, affiliates and project coordinators are invited to send news and information to <a href="mailto:hiv.aids@icem.org">hiv.aids@icem.org</a>. Any feedback on the format and contents of the e-bulletin is also welcome. 
 
Editor: Hans J Schwass, ICEM HIV/AIDS Consultant 
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The ICEM HIV/AIDS Project in 2009 
 
While the ICEM HIV/AIDS Project will continue in 2009, the management of the project will undergo some changes. The assignment of the Global Coordinator ended on 31 December 2008. During the transition year 2009, he will work as a part-time consultant. The management of regional and national activities in Africa has been fully transferred to the project office in Johannesburg. 
 
The project team and national coordinators have worked hard to achieve concrete results in HIV/AIDS interventions at the workplace over the past four years. We have seen successes and we have had some disappointments. We must build on our achievements. Some countries and ICEM affiliates have emerged as champions and must lead those who have yet to live up to their commitments. 
 
In some countries, steps forward have been made towards sustainability because the leadership sees HIV/AIDS as a union issue and because working relations have been established with organisations which can give technical and material assistance. 
While it is important to achieve universal access, the fight against the pandemic cannot be won by putting more people on treatment alone. When there are five new HIV infections for every two people put on treatment, the importance of prevention is obvious. We have used the workplace as an entry point for prevention measures, and for our advocacy for voluntary counselling and testing. The ICEM has focused its efforts on the workers, their families, and the larger community. 
 
We will continue to do so in 2009 with national programmes in sub-Saharan African countries and sub-regional workshops in Africa, with funding from the LO/TCO and FNV Mondiaal, and new or expanded projects in India with sponsorship from the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. In Tanzania, with the help of the German affiliate IGBCE, in Trinidad and Tobago, with assistance from the Humanity Fund of ICEM&rsquo;s Canadian affiliate CEP, and in Mongolia with the support from Japanese UI Zensen and TPWU of Taiwan, our project work will be expanded. 
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ICEM Sub-regional HIV/AIDS Review Workshop in Abidjan
Unionists from C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Mali came together in Abidjan, C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, from 15-17 December 2008 for a sub-regional workshop to review progress in their HIV/AIDS work. Working groups dealt with constraints in their HIV/AIDS work and possible solutions; considered new proposals; discussed the role of women and young workers and argued in favour of mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in all union activities; and explored the idea of making HIV/AIDS an organising tool for unions. 
 
Above all, participants discussed future sustainability in view of the expiry of the ICEM HIV/AIDS Project. While funding from employers and national and international organisations, and cooperation with NGOs and faith-based organisations are all important, commitment by union leadership is crucial in the fight against the pandemic. This was demonstrated by the active participation of the General Secretaries of the three ICEM affiliates in C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire in the workshop. Unions should also develop technical competence in proposal writing and project management. 
 
Presentations on HIV/AIDS workplace policies, the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work, workers&rsquo; rights and the companies&rsquo; response were made by representatives of government agencies, NGOs and CECI, the business coalition in C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire to fight HIV/AIDS. 
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Assessment Missions Completed
As reported in previous e-bulletins, a series of assessment missions was undertaken in all sub-Saharan project countries. These were successfully completed in November and December with missions to Tanzania by the Project Management Assistant, to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by the Coordinator in C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, and to C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire by the Global Coordinator. 
 
These assessment missions have become an important tool in the ICEM&rsquo;s HIV/AIDS work. The conclusions of all mission reports reveal the strength and weaknesses in the different countries and allow for more focussed interventions in the 2009 programme. This has also been facilitated by the three sub-regional review workshops. 
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ICEM Affiliates and World AIDS Day
More reports have come in from affiliates on their activities on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2008. SITRAPEQUIA, the union organising petroleum and chemical workers in Costa Rica, organised a day of action with its own flyer and information material from UNAIDS. 
 
In India, World AIDS Day activities were lead by master trainers and peer educators trained under the workplace project of the Indian affiliates and the ICEM, with support from the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. Large rallies were organised in Dhanbad, Korba, and Indore on this occasion in India. Exhibitions on HIV/AIDS with photographs, banners and campaign material were also put up. 

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Namibia: Assessment of Chamber of Mines Programme 
The ICEM HIV/AIDS Project funded an assessment of the Occupational Health Education and Awareness Programme (OHEAP) of the Chamber of Mines in Namibia. OHEAP includes a strong HIV/AIDS component. The report, prepared by the Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI), was finalised in December 2008. 
 
One of the objectives of this assessment was also to foster more cooperation on HIV/AIDS activities between the Chamber of Mines and ICEM-affiliated Mineworkers&rsquo; Union of Namibia (MUN), which also contributed funding towards the assessment. The report shows, among other items, that despite good intentions, HIV/AIDS interventions were often not as effective as it could have been with better communication and more involvement of shop stewards and the union in general. 
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African AIDS Conference 
The 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) was held in Dakar, Senegal, from 3-7 December 2008. The ILO organised sessions with a range of UN, donor, and NGO partners and presented good practices from public and private sector workplaces. 
 
The leader of the ILO delegation, Executive Director of the Social Protection Sector, Assane Diop, emphasised that prevention remains the real tool to respond to the HIV epidemic. &ldquo;There needs to be more access to prevention and treatment,&rdquo; he said, adding, &ldquo;We have many examples of how the world of work provides information and delivers a range of services.&rdquo; 
 
The ICEM was represented at ICASA by the Coordinator for C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, Charlotte Nguessan. 
 
(Source: ILO/AIDS website) 

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Latest PEPFAR Results
In 2003, former US President Bush launched the President&rsquo;s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The latest report to the US Congress states that US$18.8 billion were provided in HIV/AIDS funding. The report states that more than two million people were put on treatment in the 15 focus countries; that care was supported for more than 10 million people worldwide; and that community outreach programmes, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and condom distribution has prevented millions of new infections. 
 
The US Congress has authorised up to US$48 billion for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria over the next five years. While the PEPFAR Coordinator has been asked to stay on temporarily, it is hoped that the Obama administration will break with the emphasis on abstinence and favour a broader spectrum of HIV prevention strategies. 
 
PEPFAR was conceived as a public/private partnership with buy-ins from the private sector. From the beginning, programmes have tilted towards business, not least because trade unions have yet to assert their role as workplace partners with credible programmes. The report specifically states that &ldquo;PEPFAR also remains dedicated to expanding workplace programs that provide HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care.&rdquo; 
With a more favourable political environment in Washington, the ball is now in the unions&rsquo; court. 
 
(Source: Information from Robert E. Lovelace, Consultant to the Global Union AIDS Programme and website <a href="http://www.pepfar.gov">www.pepfar.gov</a> where the report and a fact sheet can be found) 
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TUC Launches Projects to Combat HIV/AIDS
To coincide with World AIDS Day, the UK&rsquo;s Trades Union Congress (TUC) launched two new projects in Africa to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the stigma and discrimination associated with it. TUC Aid &ndash; the development arm of the UK trade unions &ndash; will be assisting the Timber Workers&rsquo; Union in Ghana and the national centre, National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTC), in Uganda. 
 
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said, &ldquo;We will help unions in Ghana and Uganda help their members by making the workplace the frontline in the battle against the AIDS pandemic. Workplaces have the infrastructure for training and education campaigns on HIV/AIDS and &ndash; where unions are recognised &ndash; can help to eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.&rdquo; 
 
(Source: TUC Press Release, 28 November 2008) 

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Colombia: Most Vulnerable Fall Through Health System Gaps
Although the Colombian government mandates that private health companies provide essential services, including those related to HIV/AIDS treatment, care, and prevention, many have refused to comply. The UNAIDS Country Coordinator said that companies receive federal funding, but are not using it to do interventions. There is no national HIV prevention strategy or budget to target high-risk groups &ndash; such as men who have sex with men, commercial sex workers, and displaced people. 
 
According to UNAIDS estimates, about 170,000 people in Colombia are living with HIV/AIDS. The testing rate is very low. Of the 25,000 people who have tested and found in need of treatment, around 18,000 are currently accessing treatment. 
 
(Source: IRIN, 12 January 2009, as reported in Medical News Today, 15 January) 

<img height="57" alt="" src="" width="40" />
New UNAIDS Executive Director
Michel Sidib&eacute;, previously Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS and an Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, was appointed Executive Director of UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. 
 
Accepting his appointment, Mr Sidib&eacute; said, &ldquo;I am indeed honoured to serve UNAIDS. The AIDS epidemic is not over in any part of the world. We have to ensure that there is strong and long term leadership and financial commitment to respond to AIDS that is grounded in evidence and human rights.&rdquo; 
 
(Source: UNAIDS Press Release, 1 December 2008) 

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Global Fund Becomes Autonomous Institution&nbsp; 
 
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria announced that effective 1 January 2009 it will become an administratively autonomous international financing institution, separating from the World Health Organization (WHO). 
 
When the Global Fund was established in 2002, it entered into an Administrative Services Agreement (ASA) with the WHO to provide a range of administrative and financial services to the Global Fund. This arrangement enabled the Global Fund to start operations quickly and to fund programmes delivering life-saving services less than a year after it was established in January 2002. 
 
The arrangement with WHO was intended to be temporary, and in November 2007, the Global Fund Board decided that it should be terminated on 31 December 2008. Becoming administratively autonomous allows the Global Fund greater flexibility as an institution. The Global Fund retains a status as an international institution with privileges and immunities similar to UN organisations that are headquartered in Switzerland. 
 
(Source: Global Fund Press Release, 19 December 2008)&nbsp;
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This ICEM HIV-AIDS Newsletter &ndash; How to Subscribe or Translate? 
 
To subscribe to the e-bulletin, send an email to <a href="mailto:press@icem.org">press@icem.org</a>. Please put &ldquo;subscribe ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin&rdquo; in the subject line. 
 
Unfortunately, the e-bulletin can only be published in English. 
For a free automated (non-ICEM) translation of this HIV-AIDS bulletin into other languages, you may want to try <a href="http://www.google.com/language_tools">http://www.google.com/language_tools</a> and insert the following URL into the window &ldquo;Translate a Web page&ldquo;: 
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Cette traduction est faite automatiquement par un logiciel internet gratuit. L&rsquo;ICEM n&rsquo;assume aucune responsabilit&eacute; &agrave; cet &eacute;gard. Elle est approximative, mais peut n&eacute;anmoins vous donner une id&eacute;e g&eacute;n&eacute;rale du contenu de l&rsquo;article. 
 
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ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin No. 40 January 2009

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Some 125 trade union leaders from the pulp and paper sector of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers&rsquo; Unions (ICEM) conclude deliberations today in Uruguay toward shaping strategies for the sector. In the final session of day two of the 8-10 December conference in Piri&aacute;polis yesterday, delegates from 35 countries embarked on a four-point work plan focusing on national collective bargaining schedules in 2009. 
 
Delegates received a thorough mapping of the different trade unions representing pulp and paper workers in the sprawling Brazilian pulp and paper sector, as well as those in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. Day two also featured a trade union panel that probed the consequences on workers of the current global recession. 
 
The theme of the conference is &ldquo;North Meets South: Global Unity, Global Strength,&rdquo; and ICEM Pulp and Paper Chairman Jouko Ahonen said networking between trade unions of the North and the burgeoning South &ndash; even with project curtailments brought on by the sudden economic collapse &ndash; is essential. &ldquo;This strategic plan is ambitious and we did get commitment that unions in South America, Asia, and the traditional pulp and paper-producing of the North will come together to forge common a programme,&rdquo; said Ahonen, who serves the ICEM sector as President of Paperiliitto Union of Finland. 

<img height="91" alt="" src="" width="150" />
The work plan, which can be found <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/EN%20PulpPaper2009WkPl.pdf">here</a>, centers on establishment of a global communications and support network for the many national unions that have bargains in 2009. Sector-wide negotiations will occur in the Nordic countries, as well as eastern Canada and several European countries. Major agreements also come due at mills in Australia, the US, and Argentina and union leaders pledged to monitor talks and take global action when requested. 
 
The work plan also addresses strategies aimed at renewal talks of Global Framework Agreements with Norske Skog of Norway and SCA of Sweden, which occur in 2009. And in line with the conference&rsquo;s theme, the plan includes intensive work toward greater harmony and association between trade unions inside Brazil, together with unions in the other Mercosur countries of Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. That effort will occur through a proposed project undertaken by Finnish trade unions of the sector and the global solidarity arm SASK, part of Finland&rsquo;s national labour centre. 
 
On Monday, 8 December, delegates heard presentations from Ilkka H&auml;m&auml;l&auml;, President and CEO of Metsa-Botni&auml; Oy, and Jeronimo Ruiz, Director of Pulp and Paper for BRACELPA in S&atilde;o Paulo State and also the head of Collective Bargaining for Brazil&rsquo;s employers&rsquo; association. Workers&rsquo; representatives queried the industry leaders on the delivered cost of pulp from the South to the North, and on wood supply issues. 
The conference also heard on day one from Uruguay Industry and Energy Minister Daniel Martinez and Labour and Social Security Minister Eduardo Bonomi. Both spoke on issues related to the country&rsquo;s developing pulp and forestry sectors, and efforts by the left-leaning government to balance environmental and social standards of common Uruguayans with that agenda. 
 
The three-day ICEM forum was preceded by a two-day conference, 6-7 December, on forest certification programmes sponsored by the global union federation, Building and Woodworkers&rsquo; International (BWI). 
 
Delegates to the ICEM conference also stepped out of their sector and passed a resolution supporting American trade unionists of affiliated union United Electrical, Radio, Machine Workers (UE) for its occupation of the shuttered Republic Windows and Doors factory in Chicago. The resolution specifically commended US President-Elect Barack Obama for his published support of the action. The resolution can be found <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/Emergency%20Resolution.pdf">here</a>. 
 
The 20-million-member ICEM, the dominant global union federation representing workers in the pulp, paper, and paper converting sector, represents 467 affiliated trade unions in 132 countries on the global level. 
 
For further information, contact Dick Blin, ICEM Information and Pulp and Paper Officer, +41 79 734 8994, or +41 79 734 9052.

ICEM Pulp/Paper Conference in Uruguay Focuses on 2009 Collective Negotiations

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ILO ile k&uuml;resel sendikaların ortak araştırma forumu niteliğindeki K&uuml;resel Sendikal Araştırma Ağı (GURN), d&ouml;rt yıllık faaliyet d&ouml;neminin sonunda, kullanıcıların daha rahat yararlanabileceği yeni bir web sitesi a&ccedil;tı. Kullanıcılar yeni sitede daha kolaylıkla dolaşabilecekler ve bir&ccedil;ok konuda belge ve bilgi arayabilecekler. 
 
Yenilenen site GURN'un şu on bir &ouml;nemli araştırma alanında bilgi sağlamasına olanak veriyor: Şirket Y&ouml;netimi; Ekonomik Se&ccedil;enekler ve Yoksulluğun Ortadan Kaldırılması; K&uuml;resel Sendikal Stratejiler (Sendikal Yenilenme); Sağlık Siyaseti ve Sendikalar; G&ouml;&ccedil;; OECD'nin &Ccedil;okuluslu İşletmelerle İlgili Kuralları; Yoksulluğun Azaltılması Stratejisi Raporları ve Uluslararası Finans Kurumları; Kamu-&Ouml;zel Ortaklıkları; S&uuml;rd&uuml;r&uuml;lebilir Gelişme; Ticaret; &Uuml;cretler ve Toplu Pazarlık. 
 
GURN, k&uuml;reselleşmenin yol a&ccedil;tığı sorunlarla sendikal a&ccedil;ıdan ilgilenen sendikacılara ve araştırmacılara y&ouml;nelik bir platform. GURN'un girişimcileri arasında şu &ouml;rg&uuml;tler yer alıyor: Uluslararası Sendikalar Konfederasyonu (ITUC), OECD'ye bağlı Sendikal Danışma Komitesi (TUAC), k&uuml;resel sendika federasyonları, ILO'nun İş&ccedil;i &Ccedil;alışmaları B&uuml;rosu (ACTRAV) ve ILO'nun Emek İncelemeleri Enstit&uuml;s&uuml;. 
 
Yeni siteye erişmek i&ccedil;in burayı <a href="http://www.gurn.info/en/">tıklayın</a>.

GURN Yeni Web Sitesi Açtı

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Avustralya'nın Victoria eyaletinde, 29 Kasım'da, temel sendikal hakları kullanması nedeniyle altı ay hapis cezasıyla karşı karşıya kalan bir inşaat sendikasının y&ouml;neticisi hakkındaki su&ccedil;lamaları eyalet savcısı geri aldı. İnşaat, Orman, Maden, Enerji Sendikası'nın (CFMEU) Victoria Şubesi'nin Başkan Yardımcısı Noel Washington 2 Aralık'ta Melbourne Sulh Mahkemesi'nde yargılanacaktı. Y&ouml;neltilen su&ccedil;lama ise eski Başbakan John Howard'ın kurduğu devlet denetleme kurulunun sorgulama &ccedil;ağrısına gitmemesiydi. 
 
Washington hakkındaki su&ccedil;lamayı işkoluyla ilgili konularda geniş ve kapsamlı soruşturmalar y&uuml;r&uuml;tme yetkisine sahip Avustralya Yapı ve İnşaat Komisyonu (ABCC) y&ouml;neltmişti. Washington, bir sendika toplantısıyla ilgili olarak ABCC'nin Haziran ayında yaptığı bir sorgulama &ccedil;ağrısına uymayı reddetmekle su&ccedil;lanıyordu. 
 

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Noel Washington
Washington, sendikadaki g&ouml;revi gereği, 2007'de &ouml;ğlen tatilinde iş saatleri dışında iş&ccedil;ilerle toplantı d&uuml;zenlemişti. ABCC bu toplantıda belirtilen g&ouml;r&uuml;şlerle ilgili olarak Washington'un ifadesini almak istiyordu. 
 
ICEM'in de i&ccedil;inde yer aldığı bir&ccedil;ok sendika Washington hakkındaki soruşturma konusunda şimdiki Avustralya Başbakanı Kevin Rudd'a ağır protesto mektupları g&ouml;nderdi. Sendikalar, Rudd'a, &ldquo;Howard h&uuml;k&uuml;metinin ABCC'ye verdiği yetkinin k&ouml;t&uuml;ye kullanılmasını&rdquo; kamuoyu &ouml;n&uuml;nde d&uuml;zeltmesi &ccedil;ağrısı yaptı ve s&ouml;z konusu su&ccedil;lamanın ILO'nun 87 ve 98 sayılı &ouml;rg&uuml;tlenme &ouml;zg&uuml;rl&uuml;ğ&uuml; ve toplu pazarlık hakkı s&ouml;zleşmelerinin a&ccedil;ık ihlali olduğunu belirtiyordu. İnşaat ve Ağa&ccedil; İş&ccedil;ileri Sendikası (BWI) da her &uuml;lkedeki sendikaları Washington hakkındaki su&ccedil;lamaları protesto etmeye &ccedil;ağıran k&uuml;resel bir a&ccedil;ıklama yayımladı. 
 
CFMEU yaygın olarak kabul edilen sendikal hakların savunulmasında Washington'un yalnız olmadığını belirtiyor. Son zamanlarda inşaat sekt&ouml;r&uuml;nden 100 kadar kişi ABCC'nin benzer su&ccedil;lamalarına maruz kaldı. Washington'un ilk duruşmasının yapılacağı 12 Eyl&uuml;l g&uuml;n&uuml;, CFMEU, Geelong'daki mahkemede ve Avustralya'nın d&ouml;rt bir yanında g&ouml;steriler d&uuml;zenledi. Sendika ve Avustralya Sendikalar Konseyi (ACTU) ABCC'nin geniş yetkilerine televizyonda kampanya başlatmıştı. 
 
Bug&uuml;nlerde Avustralya parlamentosunun g&uuml;ndeminde olan Adil &Ccedil;alışma yasasının denetleme kuruluşunun yetkilerini elinden alması ve kuruluşu yeniden d&uuml;zenlemesi bekleniyor.

Dava karşı Düştüğünü CFMEU&#039;nin Noel Washington, suçlanan Yaptığı Savunmada Kanuni Birliği Hakları

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ICEM T&uuml;rkiye Koordinasyon Kurulu'nu oluşturan on d&ouml;rt sekt&ouml;r sendikası 20 Kasım g&uuml;n&uuml; Ankara'da toplandı ve sendikal &ouml;rg&uuml;tlenmenin g&uuml;&ccedil;lendirilmesine y&ouml;nelik &ccedil;alışmalar yapılmasını g&uuml;ndemine aldı. 
 
T&uuml;rkiye'nin sekt&ouml;rdeki başlıca sendikaları, ICEM Sekretaryası'nın y&ouml;netiminde, Hollanda ulusal sendikal merkezi'nin k&uuml;resel birimi FNV Mondiaal'in desteklediği bir &ouml;rg&uuml;tlenme projesini kabul etti. Toplantıda, ayrıca, ICEM'in y&ouml;nlendirmesi altında Irak sendikalarıyla dayanışma başlatılması ve ILO'nun 176 sayılı Madenlerde İş Sağlığı ve G&uuml;venliği S&ouml;zleşmesi'ni T&uuml;rkiye'nin onaylamasını sağlamaya y&ouml;nelik bir kampanya başlatılması kararlaştırıldı. 
 
Tes-İş sendikasının evsahipliğini yaptığı toplantıyı Tes-İş ve T&uuml;rk-İş Genel Başkanı ve ICEM Y&ouml;netim Kurulu &uuml;yesi Mustafa Kumlu y&ouml;netti. Kumlu k&uuml;resel mali krizin T&uuml;rkiye'deki sekt&ouml;rler &uuml;zerinde yarattığı olumsuz etkileri ele aldı. 

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Tes-İş Genel Başkanı Mustafa Kumlu
ICEM Genel Sekreteri Manfred Warda ile Kimya ve Lastik Sekt&ouml;r&uuml; Sorumlusu Kemal &Ouml;zkan ICEM'in iki yıl s&uuml;reli projesini ve 176 sayılı s&ouml;zleşmenin onaylanmasıyla ilgili kampanyayı a&ccedil;ıkladılar. Daha sonra, T&uuml;rkiye'deki en b&uuml;y&uuml;k maden sendikası T&uuml;rkiye Maden-İş ILO s&ouml;zleşmesinin onaylanması kampanyasını y&ouml;netmeyi kabul etti. 
 
Temel hedefi &ouml;rg&uuml;tlenme olan proje sendikal kadrolardan toplam 500 katılımcının yer alacağı sekiz toplantıdan oluşacak. &Ouml;rg&uuml;tlenme temel hedefi bağlamında, proje, T&uuml;rkiye'de faaliyet g&ouml;steren &ccedil;okuluslu şirketleri &ouml;rg&uuml;tlemeyi, işyerlerinde ger&ccedil;ek anlamda iş&ccedil;i-sendika temsili sistemlerinin oluşturulmasını ve yapıcı toplu pazarlık mekanizmalarının yerleştirilmesini ama&ccedil;lıyor. 
Koordinasyon Kurulu'nun toplantısında, T&uuml;rkiye'deki sekt&ouml;r sendikalarının y&ouml;neticileri, Kurul &ccedil;alışmalarının gerektirdiği bilgi ve belgelerin hazırlanması amacıyla, sendika uzmanlarından oluşan bir teknik komite kurulmasını kararlaştırdı. 
ICEM T&uuml;rkiye Koordinasyon Kurulu'nun &ccedil;alışmalarına şu sendikalar katılıyor: Tes-İş, T&uuml;rkiye Maden-İş, &Ccedil;imse-İş, Belediye- İş, Petrol-İş, Genel Maden-İş, Dev Maden-Sen, Lastik-İş, ESM (kamu kesimindeki enerji iş&ccedil;ilerinin sendikası), Sel&uuml;loz-İş, Kristal-İş, T&uuml;rk-Enerji-Sen, T&uuml;mka-İş ve T&uuml;rk Tarım Orman-Sen. 

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ICEM Koordinasyon Kurulu &uuml;yeleri 
ICEM Sekretaryası, ayrıca, ICEM'in 2009'da yapılacak Malzeme ve Cam İşkolu D&uuml;nya Konferansı'nın evsahipliğini &Ccedil;imse-İş ile Kristal-İş'in yapması &ouml;nerisini kabul etti. Koordinasyon Kurulu'nun toplantısına Almanya kimya ve maden sendikası IGBCE'nin Uluslararası İlişkiler B&ouml;l&uuml;m&uuml;'n&uuml;n y&ouml;neticisi Michael Mersmann da katıldı.

ICEM&#039;in Türkiye Koordinasyon Kurulu ICEM Örgütlenme Projesini Kabul Etti

The leading trade union federation covering the social interests of Pulp and Paper Workers world-wide will convene a global conference outside Montevideo, Uruguay, from 8-10 December. The conference will have 120 trade-union leaders participating from some 35 major pulp and paper-producing countries. 
 
The conference of Geneva-based International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers&rsquo; Unions (ICEM) is entitled: &ldquo;North Meets South, Global Unity/Global Strength.&rdquo; The sector-based conference will include participants from Finland, Sweden, Norway, United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, France, Romania, Turkey, Spain, Canada, United States, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, as well as paper industry union leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and elsewhere in Latin America. 
 
The venue is the Argentino Hotel in Peri&aacute;polis, Uruguay. The host union is ICEM Uruguay affiliate CUOPYC. 
 
&ldquo;We think we will have a good conference, with good discussion,&rdquo; said ICEM Pulp and Paper Chairman Jouko Ahonen, also President of Paperiliitto Union of Finland. &ldquo;With the financial collapse, if there is any industry that has seen the storms and the economic swings, it is this one. It is this industry that must have new and fresh ideas for the future.&rdquo; 
 
Uruguay Cabinet Ministers from Finance and Labour and Social Security will open the conference, and then the programme will feature two paper industry executives, Mets&auml;-Botnia Oy President/CEO Ilkka H&auml;m&auml;l&auml; and Bracelpa S&atilde;o Paulo State Director Jeronimo Ruiz. They will speak, field questions, and hear discussion from workers of the industry on Monday, December 8. Day two will include a trade union panel, discussing network potential and collective bargaining issues. That discussion will develop a work plan, which includes a major project to enhance north-south trade union networking. Uruguay President Tabar&eacute; V&aacute;zquez is expected to speak to the trade unionists on day two, December 9. 
 
Third day activities will be taken up with festivities commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, December 10, 1948. 
The ICEM is a global union federation that represents 20 million workers in the Oil, Gas, Energy, Chemicals, Rubber, Pulp/Papermaking, Mining, Cement, and other manufacturing sectors. It has 467 national trade-union affiliates in 132 countries. 
 
For more: Dick Blin, ICEM Pulp and Paper Officer, +41 22 304 1840, or +41 79 734 8994 (mobile), or <a href="mailto:dick.blin@icem.org">dick.blin@icem.org</a>.

Global Pulp, Paper Trade Unionists Convene in Uruguay

Statement of Xstrata Union Leaders 
 
We as leaders of unions representing workers at Xstrata have met in Montreal, Quebec on October 15 and 16, 2008. 
 
We have exchanged information and discussed our experiences. 
 
We are concerned that Xstrata&rsquo;s actions are having a negative impact on workers and communities around the world. We expect Xstrata to operate at the highest labour and environmental standards around the world. 
 
We agreed as follows: 
&bull; To support members of CAW 599 in their struggle in Timmins, Ontario, Canada with the company. 
&bull; To find concrete ways to offer stronger support to each other during collective bargaining, especially for unions entering into bargaining in 2008 and 2009 (including among others: the Falconbridge Workers Union in the Dominican Republic; Altonorte Smelter Workers Union, in Chile, and Antamina Workers Union, in Peru). 
&bull; To promote worker exchanges to promote solidarity and build awareness on workers&rsquo; issues. 
&bull; To improve communication between us. We need fast and effective communication as the foundation of our work. We will establish a communications network through the internet. 
&bull; To consult with and educate our members in our local unions. 
&bull; To endorse the campaign of the CFMEU in Australia on workers&rsquo; right to be represented by trade unions. We will participate in that campaign through coordinated action. 
&bull; To meet again and bring together more unions representing Xstrata workers. To work with the ICEM and its affiliates. 
&bull; To develop strategies, including media strategies, to advance union campaigns. 
&bull; To establishing an International Solidarity Fund that would provide us with the resources to undertake joint projects and support each other at the appropriate times 
&bull; To work toward: 
&bull; establishing a Workers&rsquo; World Council 
&bull; engaging the company in the establishment of common international minimum standards on occupational health, safety and environment. 
 
The following unions and union federations participated in the meeting and endorse this statement. 
 
ICEM - International Federation of Chemical, Energy, and Mining and General Workers&rsquo; Unions 
 
From Australia &ndash; 
Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) &ndash; Australia, including: CFMEU branches at: 
&bull; Xstrata Newlands Coal 
&bull; Xstrata Oaky North Coal 
&bull; Northern District Branches 
 
From Germany - 
IG Metal, Nordenham, Germany 
 
From Canada &ndash; 
United Steelworkers (USW), including: 
&bull; USW Local 2020 &ndash; Xstrata Nickel, Sudbury, Ontario 
&bull; USW Local 4614 - Fonderie Generale &ndash; Montreal, Quebec 
&bull; USW Local 5385 &ndash; Brunswick Mining &amp; Smelting, Bathurst, New Brunswick 
&bull; USW Local 6887 &ndash; CCR, Montreal, Quebec 
&bull; USW Local 6486 &ndash; CEZinc, Montreal, Quebec 
&bull; USW Local 9449 - Raglan, Qu&eacute;bec 
&bull; USW Local 7085 &ndash; Brunswick Mining &amp; Smelting, Bathurst, New Brunswick 
 
From Chile &ndash; 
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Fundidora Altonorte, Antofagasta, Chile 
 
From the Dominican Republic &ndash; 
SUTRAFADO, Falconbridge Workers Union, Dominican Republic 
 
From Peru &ndash; 
FNTMMSP, National Federation of Mine and Metalworkers of Peru 
SUTRACOMASA, Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Compa&ntilde;&iacute;a Minera Antamina, Peru

XSTRATA UNIONS GLOBAL NETWORK - October, 2008

Archive

CEP Launches Canadian Forest Jobs Campaign; Demands Canadian Government Support

Finnish Union Merger to be Delayed One Year, Effective Date: 2011

Hope Turns Green: Republic Windows & Doors Factory Might Reopen in Chicago

ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin No. 40 January 2009

ICEM Pulp/Paper Conference in Uruguay Focuses on 2009 Collective Negotiations

GURN Yeni Web Sitesi Açtı

Dava karşı Düştüğünü CFMEU'nin Noel Washington, suçlanan Yaptığı Savunmada Kanuni Birliği Hakları

ICEM'in Türkiye Koordinasyon Kurulu ICEM Örgütlenme Projesini Kabul Etti

Global Pulp, Paper Trade Unionists Convene in Uruguay

XSTRATA UNIONS GLOBAL NETWORK - October, 2008

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