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Mr. Mikhail E. Fradkov 
Chairman 
Government of the Russian Federation 
 
Fax: +7 495 205 67 70 
 
ICEM, 
Brussels, 
27 June 2007 
 
 
Dear Mr. Prime-Minister, 
 
I am writing you on behalf of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers&rsquo; Unions (ICEM) representing over 20 million workers in 125 countries of the world. 
The Oil, Gas, and Construction Workers&rsquo; Union of RF, our Russian affiliate, has informed me that on June 25, 2007, 30 employees of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise State Institute of Organic Synthesis Technology (FGUP GITOS) began a hunger strike for an indefinite period. The employees were pushed towards this extreme measure by the still unresolved dispute over wage arrears dating back to 2003. 
The ICEM is highly concerned about the unacceptable situation at the FGUP GITOS and appeals to you to use your authority to ensure that the conflict is resolved and the wage arrears are settled in full and without delay. 

Sincerely Yours, 
Manfred Warda 
General Secretary 
ICEM 
 
 
Cc: 
Victor B. Khristenko, Minister of Industry and Energy of the RF 
Lev. A. Mironov, Chairman Russian Oil, Gas and Construction Workers&rsquo; Union

ICEM letter to Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation on FGUP GITOS hunger strike

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A third major methane gas explosion in a Russian coal mine has left 10 miners dead. This latest mine blast occurred on 25 June at the Komsomolskaya mine in Vorkuta, in the Russian region of Komi. 
 
Reports cite a popping noise, resulting in a power failure immediate before the explosion occurred. The miners who died were working in two shafts at depths of 900 metres for the company IAO Vorkutaugol. A total of 150 miners were brought from shafts following the blast, while four others were hospitalised with serious injuries. 
<img height="95" src="" width="100" alt="" />
The Vorkuta mining deaths come after a pair of earlier methane explosions in the Kemerovo Region claimed a total of 149 deaths. On 24 May, 39 miners died at the Yubileynaya mine. And earlier, on 19 March, the worst Russian mine disaster in decades occurred at the Ulyanovskaya mine, with 110 miners perishing. Both of these mines are operated by OAO Yuzhkuzbassugol, owned by Russia&rsquo;s second largest steel and metals company, Evraz Group. 
 
These latest mining deaths come just two weeks after Russia&rsquo;s environmental, technological, and nuclear safety agency, Rostekhnadzor, had asked the government to draft amendments to the Code of Administrative Violations, giving it a definite mandate to close unsafe mines. The workers&rsquo; safety watchdog has temporarily closed mines, but companies have used Russia&rsquo;s courts to immediately reopen such enterprises. 
<img height="110" src="" width="250" alt="" />
Rostekhnadzor, in a press release on the eve of OAO Vorkutaugol&rsquo;s mine disaster, said it has begun drafting a methane safety programme for Russian coal mines for the period 2007 to 2010. The agency said 80% of all coal mines contain high methane levels.

Another Coal Mine Blast in Russia Kills 10

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Some 190 Petrol-İş members in Turkey at the Sanovel İla&ccedil;ları pharmaceutical company, located in Silivri, Istanbul, were sacked after joining the ICEM-affiliated Turkish union. 
 
Petrol-İş started an organising effort at the plant a year ago. Sanovel İla&ccedil;ları, one of the top ten pharmaceutical companies in Turkey, dismissed five union members on 4 April 2007, after all production workers joined the union.
<img height="99" alt="" src="" width="100" />
On the 6 June, the company announced that it had terminated the employment of 190 union members. Management said union status disqualified the workers from being able to continue to perform their jobs. 
 
Protesting the firings, all workers at Sanovel İla&ccedil;ları began a protest in front of the plant. 
<img height="200" alt="" src="" width="348" />
Striking workers at Sanovel
A large majority of the workers are paid only the minimum legal wage at Sanovel. The average wage at the company is YTL 500, the equivalent of &euro; 275. While working under extremely difficult conditions, workers are not paid any social benefits. 
 
Public opinion in Turkey is on the side of the sacked workers, and other trade unions, as well as a number of political parties, are backing efforts to get the 190 workers reinstated. On 27 June, Salih Kilic, President of Turk-Iş, the national centre to which Petrol-İş is affiliated, visited the dismissed workers and offered the federation's support.

190 Petrol-Is members in Turkey Dismissed for Belonging to a Union

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A mid-June conference in Berlin between two of German&rsquo;s most important trade unions, ICEM affiliate IGBCE and IG Metall, put forward an innovative plan for the future of the country&rsquo;s automotive supply industry. 
 
Entitled &ldquo;Future Prospects for the Automotive Support Industry, Innovation, Growth, and Jobs,&rdquo; the blueprint calls on all social partners &ndash; political parties and governmental officials, auto manufacturers and suppliers, banks, all levels of management, as well as works councils and the trade unions &ndash; to overcome the barriers to German-made auto parts, and to develop initiatives that strengthen research, and education and training of staff. 
<img height="83" alt="" src="" width="66" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img height="75" alt="" src="" width="75" />
The plan lists obstacles such as high energy costs, global competition, run-away capital, restrictive credit policies of banks, and an overall lack of commitment for domestic financing that limits innovation in the automotive industry. 
 
The two unions cite a number of changes that must occur, including: more available financing for research and development; a focus on quality and technology-driven innovations that takes precedence over any cost factors; a systematic modernisation of German factories; and an emphasis on creating qualified and highly motivated staff, which will drive the innovative process. 
<img height="200" alt="" src="" width="200" />
And, just as important, IGBCE and IG Metall claim Germany needs a sound financial policy on investors, such as private equity funds and other risk capital ventures, which will stop the closures and plundering of stable domestic auto-supply enterprises. 
 
Germany&rsquo;s auto manufacturing and auto-supply industries provide a total of 5.3 million jobs, the majority of which find workers represented by either IG Metall or IGBCE. The Berlin conference represents an important cooperative milestone for the country&rsquo;s two largest manufacturing unions. 
 
The conference was co-chaired by Michael Vassiliadis, a member of the IGBCE governing board, and Berthold Huber, IG Metall&rsquo;s vice chairman.

Joint German Forum between IGBCE and IG Metall Shapes Future of Auto Supply Industry

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A month-long strike by 660 chromium miners in Albania escalated eight days ago as 30 of the striking miners began a hunger strike. Last Thursday, 26 June, five of them were hospitalised due to dehydration. Another four were brought to hospital yesterday, Sunday July 1st, with doctors describing their condition as critical. 
 
The strike at the Italian-based Darfo SRL's&nbsp;mine and one of two ferrochrome smelters at Bulqiza, in north-eastern Albania, where a massive protest was also organised yesterday, is backed by ICEM affiliate Trade Union Federation of Industrial Workers of Albania, as well as by the region's citizens and civil society, in particular the NGO Mjaft. 
<img height="67" alt="" src="" width="100" />
Also yesterday, the leader of the strikers&rsquo; committee, Mr. Dilaver Perkoxha, was arrested. According to the latest information, he remains in the Police Commissariat. A meeting on Saturday between the Minister of Economy, Mr. Genc Ruli, and representatives of the miners failed. 
 
The strike is over safety -- two miners were killed deep in a mine shaft on 11 June -- pay, life insurance, and a bettering of general working conditions. The miners and KSSH placed the demands before&nbsp;Darfo a full six years ago, but neither the mine and smelter management nor the Albanian government officials acted on the pay request or on the abhorrent safety conditions. 
<img height="115" alt="" src="" width="250" />
&quot;We are seeking more information on this dispute,&quot; said ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda, &quot;but what we have learned is that in tripartite negotiations, both the government and Bulqiza mine management have been indifferent. 
 
The striking miners and the Federation of Industrial Workers deserve and will get our full support and solidarity.&quot; 
 
The ongoing health and safety deficiencies were manifested when two mineworkers, Hysni Lezni and Avni Duri&ccedil;i were killed 1,000 metres underground in Darfo's chromium mine. The pay dispute is over the fact that mine and smelting workers receive sub-standard monthly salaries compared to other industrial workers in the central European country.

Albanian Chrome Miners Strike over Safety, Pay, and Work Conditions

<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
ICEM Workshop on HIV/AIDS and women workers in Latin America and the Caribbean
A workshop to plan activities on HIV/AIDS with special focus on gender issues was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 30-31 May 2007. The meeting opened by identifying the prejudices in connection with HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS has to be taken out of the private sphere. It is easier to tackle if it is discussed in public and in the unions. Women have to stop being victims. 
 
In the Caribbean, the region which is currently most affected by HIV after Africa, the Oil Workers Trade Union (OWTU) of Trinidad and Tobago has been working with the ILO. There is still a stigma about HIV and fear of disclosure and discrimination. The OWTU is currently negotiating a policy with the state-owned oil company Petrotrin. It is more difficult to negotiate with small employers 
 
Two important observations are that deaths have gone down since anti-retroviral drugs have become more affordable and that, still, more women are getting sick than men. 
 
A presentation was made on the correct use of condoms, with special emphasis on the female condom. The suggestion was made that ICEM should campaign with governments and international organisations for female condoms to be made available at more reasonable cost. In addition, Maria Luisa from FEQUIMFAR, Brazil talked about her experiences of being HIV positive in a very moving speech. 
 
The conclusions for unions to take the work forward varied greatly. In Costa Rica, for example, where work has not started, the union proposed creating awareness and called for a conference to be scheduled in October, where men and women should be invited. World AIDS Day, 1 December, should be a good day for union-company campaigns. Similar suggestions came from Uruguay and Colombia. 
 
CNQ-CUT, Brazil, proposed developing new clauses in collective bargaining agreements to eliminate discrimination and victimisation and guarantee medicines for those at work. 
 
HIV/AIDS should be included in health courses and the FORMAQUIMULHER women&rsquo;s training courses. The gender and health committees should work in partnership and &lsquo;train the trainers&rsquo; programs should include collective bargaining on HIV/AIDS. 
 
The SNQ-FS union, Brazil, suggested continuing the Summer Without AIDS program all year. This programme has been successful since 1995. The programme seeks to check where testing is done and includes HIV tests in preventive treatment. The use of the female condom is also encouraged. 
 
In Chile, women want to check all clauses in collective agreements to see if HIV/AIDS is adequate covered. They want to consult the company&rsquo;s medical services to find out what the company has been doing. And the women unionists would also analyse the company&rsquo;s position and propose common platforms on HIV/AIDS. 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
Women&rsquo;s Rights Key to Africa&rsquo;s AIDS Crisis
Improving women&rsquo;s rights could boost the battle against HIV/AIDS in southern African countries, where women are often forced into risky sexual behaviour by male partners or economic desperation. 
 
Physicians for Human Rights said its study of 2,000 women in Botswana and Swaziland showed that inequality and gender discrimination were major factors behind the pandemic in these countries. 
 
The impact of women&rsquo;s lack of power cannot be underestimated. In Africa, women make up almost 60 percent of HIV-positive people; in the age group 15-25 years, this soars to 75 percent. 
 
Economic dependency on men meant that women often lose control of their sexual choices, including whether or not to use a condom. Social inequality meant that men and women are held to different standards of behaviour when it comes to multiple sexual partners. The report can be accessed at 
<a href="http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/documents/reports/botswana-swaziland-report.pdf">http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/documents/ 
reports/botswana-swaziland-report.pdf</a>
(Source: Reuters World Report, 25 May) 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
China: Infection Rate among Women Increases by 43%
In China, more and more women are infected with the HIV virus. Between 2000 and 2006, their proportion increased from 19.4 percent to 27.8 percent of all infected, an increase of 43 percent. 
 
(Source: NZZ, Switzerland, 6 June &ndash; from Xinhua News Agency) 
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G8 Summit: Unions Condemn Backsliding on AIDS
Trade unions joined HIV/AIDS activists in condemning the Summit in Germany for backsliding on its promise for universal access to prevention, treatment and care by 2010. In the final communiqu&eacute;, the G8 had almost halved its goal by targeting only 5 million in Africa with life-saving antiretroviral drugs. 
 
On the other hand, progress was made towards better G8 monitoring. This year, a first-ever monitoring exercise was undertaken. The Global Union AIDS Programme has lobbied for this provision over the last two years. It must now become an enduring and effective working tool for the G8. 
 
The G8 Summit in Gleneagles in 2005 committed to reaching universal access, which is defined by UNAIDS as 80% coverage. Between 10 and 12 million people will need treatment by 2010, yet the same leaders now have only set a target of 5 million in the &ldquo;next few years&rdquo;. 
 
The G8 has vaguely promised to spend USD 60 billion on AIDS, TB, malaria (for all three diseases, not just for AIDS) as well as to strengthen health systems, without clarifying aims or timelines, specifying only that it will be spent &ldquo;over the coming years&rdquo;. UNAIDS estimates show that, by 2010, USD 23 billion will be needed for AIDS alone, each year. The G8 fair share of this figure would be almost USD 16 billion. 
 
&ldquo;Africa will suffer greatly if the commitment is scaled back&rdquo;, said Elizabeth Mataka, the UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa who is also the Executive Director of the Zambia National AIDS Network and the representative for non-governmental organisations from developing countries on the Board of the Global Fund, where she currently serves as Vice-Chair. 
 
(Source: Global Union AIDS Programme Press Release, 8 June; TUAC Press Release, 8 June; World AIDS Campaign Press Release, 7 June and PR Newswire, Lusaka, 5 June)
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
Global Fund Releases Report on Participation of Civil Society
Civil society (CS) has played a key role in the design and development of the Global Fund, and in the response to AIDS, TB and malaria, but some challenges remain if the contribution of CS is to be maximised. This is the main message of a new report released by the Global Fund, &ldquo;An Evolving Partnership: The Global Fund and Civil Society in the Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.&rdquo; 
 
The 49-page report describes the participation of CS in four main areas: advocacy and resource mobilisation; the Board and governance of the Fund; CCMs; and the implementation of Global Fund grants. The report also describes how the Global Fund Secretariat works with CS. The report summarizes the history of CS involvement in the response to pandemics, and describes the comparative advantages of CS. 
 
The report says that, throughout the development and evolution of the Global Fund, CS has encouraged governments to commit more resources; that CS representatives have played a valuable role on the Fund&rsquo;s Board, on CCMs and in programme implementation; and that CS has proven effective in targeting and delivering services to hard-to-reach communities. 
 
Supporting this view on CS involvement, a recent statistical analysis published in The Lancet found that Global Fund grants where the Principal Recipient (PR) is not a government entity are somewhat more likely to perform well. Grants in which the PR is from civil society, private sector, or a UN agency were 17% more likely to receive an &quot;A&quot; performance rating than grants for which the PR is from government. 
 
The authors note that this is probably because government agencies often have problems with bureaucracy and capacity. This, in turn, helps validate the GF Board's recent decision that countries should be encouraged to assign non-government PRs to operate alongside government ones. 
 
(Source: Global Fund Observer Issue 76, 15 June 2007. GFO is a free service of Aidspan <a href="http://www.aidspan.org">www.aidspan.org</a>. To receive GFO, send an email to <a href="mailto:receive-gfo-newsletter@aidspan.org">receive-gfo-newsletter@aidspan.org</a>).
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
The World Bank&rsquo;s Multi-country HIV/AIDS Programme in Africa
In a report on the activities of the Multi-country HIV/AIDS Programme in Africa (MAP) from 2000 to 2006, released on 14 June, the World Bank notes that &ldquo;mobilisation of empowered grassroots communities, along with delivering condoms and life-saving treatments, are beginning to slow the pace of the continent&rsquo;s epidemic.&rdquo; 
 
At its inception, MAP was the most important source of funds for HIV/AIDS work in Africa, but funding from other sources, notably the Global Fund, has since increased considerably. Almost USD 1.3 billion was invested over six years. 
 
MAP funds were disbursed to around 41,000 different organisations. MAP has also helped to establish 1,512 new Voluntary Counselling and Testing sites in 17 countries. 
 
The full report is available on the World Bank&rsquo;s website <a href="http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21370918~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html">here</a>. 
 
(Source: allAfrica.com News, 18 June) 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
Zimbabwe: HIV/AIDS Policy for the Mining Sector 
The recent launch of an HIV/AIDS policy for the mining sector in Zimbabwe is an important step in the fight against the pandemic, which is wrecking havoc in one of the country&rsquo;s major economic sectors. 
 
The policy, which was formulated after extensive consultations between tripartite partners, aims to guide and direct the process of dealing with HIV and AIDS in the workplace at all levels of the mining sector. 
 
Government departments, the Chamber of Mines and the Associated Mine Workers&rsquo; Union of Zimbabwe, an ICEM affiliate, worked together with the ILO to produce the mining policy. 
 
Key principles of the policy include the recognition that HIV/AIDS is a workplace issue, non-discrimination, non-victimisation and confidentiality. 
 
Implementation strategies require enterprises to put in place their own programmes and allocate time, human and financial resources. Workers must be involved in programme formulation, implantation, monitoring and evaluation. 
 
(Source: The Herald, Harare, 7June 2007) 
 
(Note by the editor of the e-bulletin: The Herald is a newspaper controlled by the Mugabe regime. While the conclusion of an HIV/AIDS policy for the mining sector is very good news, it is difficult to understand how in a country with some 80% unemployment, the collapse of the health system, an ever-increasing inflation rate that has reached more than 4,000% recently and the complete depletion of foreign exchange reserves, effective follow-up measures in prevention, treatment and care can be taken.) 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
News from ILOAIDS 
 
At a meeting in Geneva during the International Labour Conference, Labour ministers from the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) resolved to establish a SAARC Forum on HIV/AIDS and the world of work. 
 
The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) launched its HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme in collaboration with the Namibia Development Foundation. This programme will encourage and support integrated HIV/AIDS interventions including behaviour change, measures for care, support and treatment and the elimination of stigma and discrimination. 
<img height="35" alt="" src="" width="25" />
News from the Global Union Programme and Global Union Federations
The Global Unions AIDS Programme organised a sub-regional HIV/AIDS workshop for Burkina Faso and C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire in Abidjan, 6-8 June. 27 unionists participated in this workshop; the ICEM was represented by the national HIV/AIDS Coordinator in C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, Charlotte Nguessan. 
 
In its most recent HIV/AIDS updates (no. 22 and 23 of 1 and 15 June) the International Transport Workers&rsquo; Federation (ITF - <a href="http://www.itfglobal.org">www.itfglobal.org</a>) reports, among other things, on its workshop on HIV/AIDS in the Arab world; on the HIV/AIDS situation in the Caribbean; on the Jamaican Senate passing a motion to prohibit HIV screening of prospective workers and on the ITF Regional Workshop for the Caribbean in Georgetown, Guyana. 
 
In its most recent newsletter on EFA and HIV/AIDS Prevention at Schools, the Education International (EI) has published, among other, articles on a new television programme in Botswana aired in schools across the country and on the meeting of the Inter Agency Task Team on Education and HIV/AIDS - <a href="http://www.ei-ie.org/efaids">www.ei-ie.org/efaids</a>.

ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin - No. 21

PREAMBLE 
 
In this era of globalization, there is an undeniable need for unions to build alliances across the borders with each other to better protect workers from the escalating aggressions of corporate transnationals. 
This is especially so for unions with members employed at Goodyear Tire &amp; Rubber Co., which operates in many countries around the world and is one of the world`s largest tire manufacturer. For the workers` and their unions` mutual defence and advancement, it is needed to share information and experiences and unite each other for common goals. 
It is affirmed the age-old labour movement adage that &ldquo;an injury, to one of us is an injury to all of us&rdquo; and pledge our unions` full support to help other Goodyear unions in need of our solidarity. 
 
To carry out this mission it is committed to create the ICEM Global Network of Goodyear Unions. The global network will be the means to carry out communications and solidarity efforts on behalf of the networks&rsquo; member unions. 
 
The network shall operate as follows: 
 
A - MEMBERSHIP OF NETWORK 
 
1. All democratic unions with members employed at Goodyear shall be entitled to participate in the network. All network participants are strongly encouraged to affiliate to the ICEM. 
 
B - STEERING COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONING 
 
2. The Network shall have a Steering Committee, which will guide the work of the network. The Steering Committee shall consist of one representative from each of the following regions : 
 
a. Africa 
b. Asia and Pacific 
c. Europe 
d. Latin America and Caribbean 
e. North America 
 
In the event that Goodyear expands to other regions, the Steering Committee can and should be expanded to include those regions. 
 
3. Steering Committee members shall be chosen at the Network Meeting by the respective regional sub-groups from the unions which are affiliates in good standing of the ICEM. 
 
4. The North American regional representative shall serve as chairperson of the Steering Committee and the Network. 
 
5. S/he shall convene steering committee meetings on an as-needed bases, but not less than biannually. Meetings will be primarily held by tele-conference. 
 
6. The Steering Committee shall also include as an ex-officio member a designated person from the ICEM Secretariat, who shall assist in staffing the network 
 
7. Steering Committee members shall serve until the next meeting of the Network, at any rate no longer than a period of 4 years. 
 
8. In case that a Steering Committee position becomes vacant, a replacement for that region will be selected by mutual agreement of unions participating in the network in that region. 
 
C - DUTIES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS 
 
9. Steering Committee members shall commit to consulting with the other unions in their respective regions and reporting back to them about the work of the steering committee between the meetings, and activating unions in their region when there is a need for action. Steering Committee members will help to organize participation in the Network activities within their respective regions. 
 
10. The Steering Committee shall also serve as a negotiating body in the event that negotiations at global level with Goodyear management are possible beginning immediately with Occupational Health, Safety and Environment. 
 
11. Steering Committee members shall gather information relevant to the Network in their respective regions and forward this information to the Network Chairperson. 
 
D - COLLECT, DISSEMINATE AND PUBLICIZE INFORMATION 
 
12. Goodyear Global Union Network shall strive to produce a Network Newsletter at least biannually. The Network Chairperson shall take a lead role in producing this newsletter. 
 
13. Goodyear Global Union Network shall explore other media instruments, including online communications tools to communicate the Network news to union members and other audiences. 
 
14. Goodyear Global Union Network shall establish a database of contacts to facilitate communication of network news and events. Steering Committee members shall work to build this database through gathering contact information for appropriate union representatives in their respective regions, and forwarding this contact information to the Network Chairperson. 
 
E - OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTICIPATING UNIONS 
 
15. Unions participating in the Network shall gather and communicate news pertaining to Goodyear and relevant to the Network to their regional Steering Committee member. 
 
16. Unions participating in the Network shall share Network news, including the Network Newsletter, to their members employed by Goodyear. 
 
17. Unions participating in the Network shall seek the full support and solidarity of their members in the Network activities, including support actions for the unions in disputes with Goodyear.

(Modified by the Goodyear Global Union Network Meeting held on March 19 – 20, 2007 in Akron, Ohio, USA)

Rules of the Goodyear Global Union Network

<img height="285" alt="" src="" width="380" />
FETIESC Women march at Itapema on 25 March for equality and dignity
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
1. Australia &ndash; Professional Women Are Remaining Childless 
2. Brazil &ndash; Sao Paulo Electricity Workers Commemorate Women&rsquo;s Day 
3. Peru &ndash; Adoption of Equal Opportunities Law 
4. Russia &ndash; ILO/FNPR Seminar Held on Gender Audits in Russian Unions 
5. Senegal &ndash; Parliament Passes Bill on Gender Balance in the Legislature 
6. Spain &ndash; Guidelines are Proposed for Company Equality Plans 
7. Venezuela &ndash; New Law Defends Women&rsquo;s Rights 
8. Resources
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
1. Australia &ndash; Professional Women Are Remaining Childless
A recent study by the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists, and Managers of Australia found that many working women are not having children because it would be detrimental to their careers. 
 
A full 34% of women with children had not taken any maternity leave, and 26% more would not be paid for time they might take off. And more than half claimed that by taking time off, it would be detrimental to their careers. 
 
In addition, women are leaving their careers faster than men. Women cite the difficulty of balancing work and life, workplace culture and lack of senior job roles for them as being the most common obstacles they face in their career paths. 
 
In spite of the fact that there is a skills shortage in many areas, women are not able to fill the gap because of work-life difficulties. Moreover, women are still earning about 40% less than men for the same work. The OECD ranks Australia 45th out of 115 countries in terms of wage equality. 
 
This research shows that many women are still being forced to choose between children and a career. 
&nbsp;<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
2. Brazil &ndash; Sao Paulo Electricity Workers Commemorate Women&rsquo;s Day 
On 7 March, the Sao Paulo Electricity Workers celebrated International Women&rsquo;s Day with the slogan, &ldquo;Women and Agenda 21, a Commitment to a Better World.&rdquo; Agenda 21 was the commitment signed by 170 countries in the UN framework to promote sustainable development. 
 
The event stressed the importance of guaranteeing youth representation, both women and men, in labour and environmental fora, and youth representatives from the union in international bodies were present. 
 
Questions that concerned the conservation of the Amazon were also discussed at the meeting. It was said that women have a historic role to play in conservation and preservation of forests, biological diversity, and maintaining ecosystems. 
 
At the meeting, the Sao Paulo Electricity Workers endorsed the Manifest for the Protection of the Amazon, an initiative also promoted by many Brazilian artists. 
&nbsp;<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
3. Peru &ndash; Adoption of Equal Opportunities Law 
On 8 March, the Congress of Peru adopted the law on equal opportunities between women and men, after a number of debates in various areas. The law establishes public policies to guarantee the right to gender equality. 
 
It also guarantees the respect of the pluricultural and multilingual character of the Peruvian nation. The Executive is also called upon to carry out programmes to eliminate poverty and extreme marginalization. 
 
On 8 March, women in the three trade union national labour centres participated in a rally in Lima to demand effective policies to guarantee the real implementation of their rights. Article 7 of the law contains work-related guarantees such as the following: 
<ul>
 <li>
 <div>Guarantee of the right to productive work exercised in freedom, equity, security and human dignity; measures to avoid all kinds of work-related discrimination between women and men in access to employment, training, promotion, working conditions and the same pay for work of equal value. These guarantees also include protection against sexual harassment and the promotion of compatibility between family and work-related responsibilities. </div>
 </li>
 <li>
 <div>Guarantee of the protection of men and women workers in the informal economy, in urban and rural areas, in order to promote the formalization of the economy, as well as the protection of those who are in an unprotected and excluded situation. </div>
 </li>
 <li>
 <div>Guarantee of non-discriminatory treatment for men and women domestic workers. </div>
 </li>
 <li>
 <div>Recognition of reproductive work done at home and in the community to generate the conditions to improve the situation of those doing the work and to promote shared family responsibilities. </div>
 </li>
</ul>
Now the trade union centres are starting their work to ensure that the law is applied. 
&nbsp;<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
4. Russia &ndash; ILO/FNPR Seminar Held on Gender Audits in Russian Unions 
<img height="172" alt="" src="" width="230" /> 
 
ICEM women&rsquo;s chair Genia Esenina, front row, at left 
From 26-28 March FNPR, the Russian trade union central organisation, held a workshop together with the ILO on gender audits in Russian trade unions. A total of 23 participants and members of the gender equality commission were trained in the theory and methodology of gender audits in this first seminar, which served as the pilot project covering gender audits. 
&nbsp;<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
5. Senegal &ndash; Parliament Passes Bill on Gender Balance in the Legislature
On 27 March, the Senegalese Parliament adopted a bill that introduced gender parity on election lists that political parties present for elections on the basis of proportional representation. 
 
The passing of the bill will mean that more women will be elected to parliament in Senegal in the future. 
 
Religious leaders, however, were concerned that this bill was out of step with a Muslim country. 
 
The Minister of the Interior defended the legislation with the argument that women, as the majority in the country, should be adequately represented in Parliament. At present, 23 women old seats in Parliament out of a total of 120, and new women members are certain to be added at the next election because of this legislation. 
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
6. Spain &ndash; Guidelines are Proposed for Company Equality Plans 
Ramon Parra from FITEQA CCOO has drafted the following guidelines for company equality plans in the wake of new legislation in Spain that requires companies to draw up such plans: 
 
1. Create a commission for real equality between women and men. 
 
2. The commission should be made up of the company and the signatory trade unions. 
 
3. This commission will do a diagnosis of the situation on the basis of all data that a company provides, which will always be broken down by sex: 
<blockquote dir="ltr">
&bull; Work site, fixed employees, casuals, type of contract; 
&bull; Departments; 
&bull; Work groups, seniority; 
&bull; Wages and salaries; 
&bull; Schedules, shifts (night), working time; 
&bull; Reductions in working time, flexibility; 
&bull; Leave time; 
&bull; Training, continuous, how much training per year; 
&bull; Content of risk assessment; 
&bull; Is the mutual society elected in consent with trade union consent?; 
&bull; Are there agreements with the mutual society for more benefits?; 
&bull; Are examinations extended with specific proof?; 
&bull; Are there suitable jobs for pregnant women? 
 
and also
</blockquote>
<ul>
 <li>
 <div align="justify">Composition of the Works Council; </div>
 </li>
 <li>Composition of the Health and Safety Committee; 
 Composition of the Environmental Protection Committee; </li>
 <li>Composition of the Equality Committee. 
 </li>
 <li>What sector does the company belong to? </li>
 <li>What agreement is applied? </li>
 <li>How many sites does it have? </li>
 <li>If it is a multinational, in what countries is it present? </li>
 <li>Does it have a committee to coordinate the different sites and how is it made up? </li>
 <li>Do trade unions participate? </li>
 <li>Do they meet regularly? </li>
 <li>Is there some plan or equality project? </li>
</ul>
A company must provide this data to the commission, and once it has studied it, the commission will define a work plan for each site to follow. Then, as a result, the objectives must be fixed to eliminate inequalities. 
 
For that purpose, deadlines, measures, and resources must be identified, both human and financial resources. 
 
On the basis of this diagnosis, the commission can decide what steps it needs to take and what advice it requires in order to establish measures, such as establishing a code of good practice, which, among other criteria, will explain the kinds of conduct and abuse that would be punishable, or even lead to dismissal in case of sexual harassment or sex discrimination. 
 
These are the two types of discrimination that violate the integrity of the person. The commission will ensure that these situations do not happen, and if they do, that they are punishable. 
<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
7. Venezuela &ndash; New Law Defends Women&rsquo;s Rights 
A recent law passed in Venezuela calls for jail terms from 6 to 18 months for those who offend, humiliate, or threaten women. The law, called the Law on Women&rsquo;s Right to a Life Free of Violence, punishes all those who attack women&rsquo;s emotional and psychological stability. 
 
The law also condemns to prison terms for 20 months those who harass, threaten, insult women, and establishes more severe punishments for lascivious acts, such as forced prostitution, sex slavery, and work-related violence. 
 
Thus, the protection of the dignity, physical, psychological, sexual integrity, property, and legal rights of women is established in public and private. 
&nbsp;<img height="31" alt="" src="" width="25" />
8. Resources
A toolkit has been published by EMCEF and EPSU on equal opportunities in the electricity sector in Europe, and is available at 
<a href="http://www.eurelectric.org/equalitydiversity">http://www.eurelectric.org/equalitydiversity</a>
The ILO has compiled links to ILO publications and sources for statistics and standards. It and can be found at 
<a href="http://www.ilo.org/public/spanish/support/lib/resource/subject/gender.htm">http://www.ilo.org/public/spanish/support/lib/ 
resource/subject/gender.htm</a> (in Spanish) 
 
The ILO has published trends in women&rsquo;s employment in 2007, and can be found at 
<a href="http://www.ilo.org/public/french/employment/strat/download/getw07.pdf">http://www.ilo.org/public/french/employment/ 
strat/download/getw07.pdf</a> (in French) 
 
The WHO has published a document on the relationship between gender and health and safety problems, which can be found at 
<a href="http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/genderwork/en/index.html">http://www.who.int/occupational_health/ 
publications/genderwork/en/index.html</a> 
 
The Social Watch Gender Equity Index has been published, and can be found at 
<a href="http://www.socialwatch.org/en/avancesyRetrocesos/IEG/index.htm">http://www.socialwatch.org/en/avancesyRetrocesos/ 
IEG/index.htm</a>
The European Union has published a report on Equality and non-discrimination in the framework of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. 
<a href="http://web20.s112.typo3server.com/fileadmin/pdfs/Reports/Annual_Reports_2006/annualrep06_en.pdf">http://web20.s112.typo3server.com/fileadmin/pdfs/ 
Reports/Annual_Reports_2006/annualrep06_en.pdf</a>
On 13 March, the European Parliament adopted a roadmap on equality between women and men, which can be found at 
<a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?Type=TA&amp;Reference=P6-TA-2007-0063&amp;language=EN">http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?Type=TA&amp;Reference=P6-TA-2007-0063&amp;language=EN</a>
IRIN has launched a new book on sexual violence against women and girls in conflict. 
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/pdf/sow/IRIN-TheShameofWar-fullreport-Mar07.pdf">http://www.irinnews.org/pdf/sow/IRIN-TheShameofWar-fullreport-Mar07.pdf</a>&nbsp; 
 
CLADEM has published a report on the killings of women in Central American and Mexico. 
<a href="http://www.cladem.org/espanol/regionales/Violenciadegenero/Docs/Estudio%20Feminicidio%20en%20centroamerica%20y%20méxico.asp">http://www.cladem.org/espanol/regionales/ 
Violenciadegenero/Docs/Estudio%20Feminicidio%20en%20centroamerica%20y%20m&eacute;xico.asp</a> (in Spanish) 
 
CLADEM has another study on sexual violence and armed conflict in Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru. 
<a href="http://www.cladem.org/espanol/regionales/Violenciadegenero/Docs/CLADEM%20Estudio%20Conflicto%20Armado.asp">http://www.cladem.org/espanol/regionales/ 
Violenciadegenero/Docs/CLADEM%20Estudio%20Conflicto%20Armado.asp</a>
The Inter-Parliamentary Union has done a survey on women in parliament worldwide. 
<a href="http://www.ipu.org/pdf/publications/wmn06-e.pdf">http://www.ipu.org/pdf/publications/wmn06-e.pdf</a>&nbsp; 
 
The Belgian Union FGTB organised a meeting on work-life balance on 8-9 March, the results of which can be found at 
<a href="http://www.fgtb.be/code/fr/c18_0000.htm">http://www.fgtb.be/code/fr/c18_0000.htm</a> (in French and Dutch)

ICEM WOMEN’S BULLETIN 21

<img height="48" src="" width="120" alt="" />
ICEM Turkish affiliate CIMSE-Iş, the Cement, Ceramic, Soil, and Glass Workers&rsquo; Union, signed a successful collective agreement on 29 March for 6,000 ceramics workers at 11 factories. The agreement was signed with the employers&rsquo; association for ceramics. 
 
Retroactive to 1 January, workers will receive monthly salary increases of 5%, plus a bonus of new TRL55, effective also on 1 January 2007. 
 
Regarding social benefits, a press release issued by CIMSE-Iş on 3 April reports that, on average, a 25% increase was won for all union members.

CIMSE-Iş in Turkey Wins 5% Pay Gains, Benefit Increases for 6,000 Ceramics Workers

<img height="48" src="" width="120" alt="" />
ICEM affiliate United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (UE) Union won a decision by an ILO committee in favour of public-sector bargaining rights in the US state of North Carolina. The Freedom of Association case is now passed on to the ILO&rsquo;s Governing Body with a recommendation that it monitor progress. 
 
State statutes in North Carolina, as well as in some other US states, prohibit public employees from having collective bargaining rights. The UE, on behalf of municipal and state workers in North Carolina, filed the ILO complaint, and the committee requested that certain sections of the state statute be repealed. It also asked that the government promote the establishment of a collective bargaining framework.
<img height="114" src="" width="260" alt="" />
The committee noted that ILO Conventions 87, 98 and 151 are being violated. &ldquo;Although these Conventions have not been ratified by the United States, the complainants rely on the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in support of the argument that the government is obligated to respect, promote and realize the principles embodied in these Conventions regardless of ratification.&rdquo; 
 
The committee&rsquo;s conclusions cited, &ldquo;&hellip; the failure to assure compliance with freedom of association principles in North Carolina has resulted in grievous working conditions for many public sector workers who report health and safety violations in their workplace, unconscionable wages, unreasonable and unsafe hours of work, extreme under-staffing, unreasonable forced overtime, favouritism, and disrespectful treatment from supervisors, as well as inconsistent grievance procedures devoid of any notion of due process.&rdquo; 
 
The UE took the international action on behalf of members of its Local 150 in North Carolina. That branch union is comprised of low-wage, public-sector workers such as janitors, garbage haulers, housekeepers, groundskeepers, medical helpers, and bus drivers.

US Union Gets Affirmation that Public Sector Bargaining Applies in North Carolina

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