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Global worker No1 2022

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<p align="center"><img alt="" src="" width="100" height="39" /></p>
<p align="justify">The steering committee of the Repsol Global Workers&rsquo; Network met in Seville, Spain from 16-20 October. It was attended by oil workers&rsquo; unions from Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Spain. There was an 18 October meeting to prepare a session with Repsol management that dealt with industrial policy, health, safety, and environment issues, and subcontracting and outsourcing. </p>
<p align="center"><img alt="" src="" width="60" height="60" /></p>
<p align="justify">Some of the highlights country reporting included: </p>
<ul>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">In Spain, work-time arrangements were ongoing in the wake of the fifth general agreement on working conditions; </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">In Argentina, some work functions were once again in-sourced due to the reorganisation of YPF; </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">In Brazil, new activities are in the pipeline because of the discovery of major offshore reserves; </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">In Colombia, ICEM affiliate Uni&oacute;n Sindical Obrera (USO) is focusing on organizing contract workers. In addition, there is more openness on the part of the government to discuss labour issues. USO scored a victory when workers sacked during a 2004 strike were reinstated. The government is opening new leases for exploration of oil and gas; </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">In Bolivia, employment has become stable due to mobilizations, which led to a consolidation of the situation at YPF.</div>
    </li>
</ul>
<p align="justify">At the meeting with Repsol management on 19 October, the human resources representatives reported on the new drug and alcohol policy, the impacts on the environment and society of oil activities, new practices in subcontracting, and the future industrial outlook.</p>
<p align="center"><img alt="" src="" width="171" height="88" /></p>
<p align="justify">With the new subcontracting policy, trade unions are able to participate in the application of the policy in practice, and can follow up on contract workers&rsquo; work and employment conditions. The main principle that was stressed was that the workers&rsquo; representatives have the right to be consulted, and their proposals must be heard and examined in order for conclusions to be drawn. Regarding the future industrial outlook, the workers&rsquo; network expressed a will to be involved in promoting the development of the company. This involvement should be based on regular social dialogue. <br />
<br />
The network concluded that it needs to do more work to organise full-time Repsol workers, as well as contract workers who work alongside them. The coordination and mutual flow of information between the unions in Latin America and Spain must be improved. And more regular contact has to be established with Repsol workers in Ecuador, Mexico, Cuba, and Trinidad and Tobago. The next meeting of the network is scheduled to be held in Bolivia in July 2011. </p>

Repsol Workers’ Network Meets in Spain

<p align="center"><img src="" width="100" height="39" alt="" /></p>
<p align="justify">The month-long strike by 1,300 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) of South Africa at the Mototolo platinum mine expanded last week, when another 940 miners took sympathies actions at three related enterprises. Mototolo is a joint venture created in 2005 by Swiss mining company Xstrata and AngloPlatinum. <br />
<br />
Workers at Xstrata&rsquo;s Thorncliffe chrome mine, the Mototola concentrator plant, and Xstrata&rsquo;s Lydenburg ferrochrome plant took industrial actions on 27 October in support for NUM Mototola miners. Their strike began on 29 September over wage differences. <br />
<br />
The NUM is seeking salary adjustment between 10% and 14%, while mine management is offering less. The NUM is seeking 14% for miners categorized in the A3 class, or lower paid workers, while it seeks 11% for the A4 category, and 10% for categories B1 to B5. </p>
<p align="center"><img alt="" src="" width="100" height="142" /></p>
<p align="center"><font color="#ff0000">NUM General Secretary Frans Baleni</font></p>
<p align="justify">Management has proposed an increase of 13% for the A3 category workers. &ldquo;There is no turning back, the company has to deliver&rdquo; what the miners demand, stated NUM Regional Secretary Makgabo Mabapa for the North East Region. <br />
<br />
The mine and related processing facilities are located on the eastern limb of the Bushveld complex, near Steelpoort in Mpumalanga province. Xstrata manages the mine and AngloPlatinum manages the concentrator. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the NUM is investigating the loss of three lives in industrial accidents last week. Early on 27 October, a miner employed at a platinum mine owned by Royal Bafokeng Holdings in Rustenburg, a BEE company, was killed in a winch-related accident. Two days earlier, a worker at Rustenburg&rsquo;s Ocon Brick Manufacturing, wholly-owned by the mining contractor Murray &amp; Roberts Holdings, was killed in the workplace when the vehicle he was operating slid off a berm, overturned and fell on top of him. And on the same day, a worker at Copper Slate Pty., another mining contractor, died from a fall from an unsafe vehicle. That accident happened in Swarttuggens near Rustenburg. <br />
<br />
&ldquo;The bloodletting has to stop and it must stop now,&rdquo; said NUM General Secretary Frans Baleni. &ldquo;If it does not stop, then someone must be held accountable. </p>

NUM’s Strike Against Xstrata, AngloPlats in South Africa Expands

<ul>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Emphasis to remain on Sustainability and Just Transition work in cooperation with IMF and ITGLWF to ensure that the voice and views of Energy Industry workers continues to be heard in both intergovernmental discussions as well as in the formulation of general trade union policies on these issues. In cooperation with IMF and ITGLWF, ICEM will continue to emphasize the need for social, environmental, and economic sustainability in all energy industries including a &quot;fair, ambitious and binding&quot; agreement on global GHG emissions, accompanied by industrial policies that render existing industrial jobs more sustainable; create new, decent, sustainable industrial jobs; and ensure a Just Transition. </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Promotion of democratic energy policies</div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Focus on the changing energy mix (coal, oil, gas, nuclear, hydro, biofuels, solar, wind, etc.) at national and international levels. </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Solidarity and dialog between unions of exporting and importing countries of energy must be increased. Equally we need to strengthen cooperation at industrial and company level between energy producers and consumers as part of the process of building new international trade union structures for manufacturing industries. </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Expanding contacts and joint work between coal and uranium miners with the Energy Industries section </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Continued work on Global Framework Agreements aimed at both increasing the number of agreements and ensuring that the agreements we have are monitored and implemented more effectively. </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Continued support to the ICEM-INWUN Network of nuclear workers including its focus on the full nuclear &ldquo;chain&rdquo; from uranium mining to power generation and other uses such as medical isotopes. </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">An increased focus on industrial networks at a regional and sub-regional level including Energy Industry-wide forums as well as individual oil, gas electric power and nuclear networks as deemed necessary and useful. Such work must be expanded in both Africa and Latin America. </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Support for Contract &amp; Agency Labor expanded campaign </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Continued support to the ICEM-ITF Oil and Gas Workers Alliance aimed at both continuing and expanding work with the relevant Iraqi trade unions and extending the work to other countries and regions. </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">ICEM to collect and analyze information on refinery expansions and cutbacks as well as refinery construction and closures globally with a view to a future campaign to ensure that any relocation that may be taking place is not to take advantage of reduced environmental and health and safety controls and legislation. In particular a study of refinery accidents causing serious injury or deaths needs to be carried out that also considers the impact of refinery age and use of contract or agency labour. </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Concentrate on women workers in the Energy Industries </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Focus on making work in the Energy Industries more attractive as a career choice for young people </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Mounting effective campaigns in support of affiliated trade unions faced with attacks by governments and employers. Iraq, Colombia and Mexico identified as immediate high priority countries for this work. </div>
    </li>
    <li>
    <div align="justify">Coordinating Global support and solidarity in organising drives in the energy sector and supporting other struggles by our affiliated trade unions against governments and employers. </div>
    </li>
</ul>

Action Plan - ICEM World Conference for the Energy Industries

<p align="justify">The ICEM World Energy Conference, meeting in Stavanger Norway approved the following resolution regarding the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria. <br />
<br />
While deploring the visa difficulties which have prevented a delegation of ICEM affiliated trade unions, NUPENG and PENGASSAN of Nigeria attending the Conference delegates discussed the situation in Nigeria. <br />
<br />
Delegates expressed total support to the petitions by our unions to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, and urge him to address the issues and calm the situation to avoid avoidable industrial unrest in the sector. <br />
<br />
In the petition the union listed some of the extensive unfair practices carried out by the industry including casualization/contract staffing, outsourcing and the refusal to allow workers to freely associate and unionise in accordance with Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and International Labour Organisation, ILO, Conventions 87 and 98 of 1948 and 49 respectively. <br />
<br />
The unions have identified Shell Petroleum Producing and Development Company, SPDC, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited , Nigeria Agip Oil Company, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited as the main culprits. <br />
<br />
Increased casualization has resulted in the placement of workers as temporary employees on jobs that are routine and permanent in nature. Multi-nationals and oil service companies in the industry, are contracting out and outsourcing very large portion of their workforce to unlicensed labour contractors to provide support services to the companies notwithstanding that the jobs are continuous, routine and permanent in nature and pay the contractors service handling charges or commission. The principal companies in most cases employ these categories of workers, supervise their conduct and determine their salaries but only transfer payment to the labour contractors.&rdquo; <br />
<br />
This group constitutes over 90% of the workforce of these oil companies. Another new dimension to the casualisation policy in the oil and gas industry is the resistance by some companies to unionization especially by NUPENG and PENGASSAN. <br />
<br />
ICEM and our affiliated trade unions fully support the struggle of our Nigerian brothers and sisters and stand ready to coordinate international solidarity action in their support. </p>

Resolution in Support of ICEM Affiliates in Nigeria

<p align="justify">Dear Mr. Javier Castillo, Secretary of the Union No. 2 of Compania Minera San Esteban <br />
<br />
The ICEM World Energy Conference, meeting in Stavanger, Norway on 6-7 September 2010, unanimously resolved to express our best and most sincere wishes of hope and strength, in solidarity with the 33 miners who remain trapped underground in the San Jose mine. <br />
<br />
It is encouraging to learn that rescue efforts are progressing, albeit slowly. Many of us are ourselves miners, and we can only imagine the circumstances that must prevail for our Chilean brothers, especially knowing that much time will still pass before they return to the light of day. <br />
<br />
Please let them know, on behalf of the ICEM Energy Sector, and indeed all of the ICEM's 20 million members and affiliates in the world, that we wish them courage. We hope they will soon be reunited safely with their families. <br />
<br />
With all of our hopes for a speedy and successful rescue, <br />
<br />
In solidarity, <br />
<br />
<br />
Manfred Warda <br />
Secretary-General </p>

Energy Conference Message of Solidarity with Chilean Coal Miners Trapped Underground

<p align="center"><img alt="" src="" width="100" height="39" /></p>
<p align="justify">A joint information campaign by the European Mine, Chemical, and Energy Workers&rsquo; Federation (EMCEF) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is proving successful in alerting trade unions and workers&rsquo; representatives to coming deadlines of REACH and the Chemical, Labeling, Packaging (CLP) regulation of the EU. The campaign is aimed at workers inside companies that market or use chemicals in their manufacturing. <br />
<br />
REACH is the Registration Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals regulation, an EU statute that took effect in 2007 and which is being phased in over several years. REACH requires industrial operators to register any chemicals they make or import in quantities above one tonne per year with the new European Chemicals Agency. </p>
<p align="center"><img alt="" src="" width="240" height="180" /></p>
<p align="center"><font color="#ff0000">EMCEF General Secretary Reinhard Reibsch</font></p>
<p align="justify">The deadline for employers to register is 30 November 2010, and the EMCEF/ETUC campaign is asking workers to remind employers of this fact. The accompanying CLP regulation says they have to notify the new agency regarding the classification and labeling of all hazardous substances that go on the market, regardless of production volume. <br />
<br />
A 1 December 2010 exists for CLP Reclassification, while a 3 January 2011 deadline looms for CLP notification. <br />
<br />
The two European trade union federations see fulfillment of the requirements as job-saving measures in the European chemicals sector. &ldquo;Workers in this industry are very interested in sustainable development of the sector based on high environmental values, social progress, and economic success,&rdquo; said EMCEF General Secretary Reinhard Reibsch, adding the joint EMCEF/ETUC campaign is an extension of that.</p>

EMCEF, ETUC Alert European Workers to REACH Deadlines

<p align="center"><img src="" width="100" height="39" alt="" /></p>
<p align="justify"><em>from the International Metalworkers&rsquo; Federation (IMF)</em> <br />
<br />
The meeting is the first joint activity on the organization of trade union networks in Latin American companies organized by the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) and the Building and Woodworkers' International (BWI) to develop new strategies together with their affiliates. <br />
<br />
On 23-24 September, an international seminar on forming union networks in Latin American trans-national companies (TNCs) took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, representatives of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), the Building and Woodworkers' International (BWI), and the ICEM representing workers in metallurgical, chemical, construction and wood sectors took part. <br />
<br />
Supported by the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation (FES), the aim of the meeting was to exchange experiences on existing networking activities and joint planning of actions in these companies. GUFs and unions provided information on several companies, as well as on the relationship (or lack thereof) that currently exists between companies and unions. </p>
<p align="center"><img src="" width="331" height="189" alt="" /></p>
<p align="justify"><font color="#ff0000">Photo: IMF</font><br />
<br />
The companies reviewed were Vale, WEG, Votorantim, Petrobras, and Arauco Odebrecht. All of the companies are involved in more than one sector, and some engage in unacceptable anti-union practices. <br />
<br />
&ldquo;Unfortunately, we have suffered so much abuse by foreign TNCs. But today we see that the Latin American TNCs are no different. Our experience also shows that the anti-union practices and disregard of workers' rights by some companies are even fiercer in the countries where the company has opened new operations than in their home countries,&rdquo; said IMF Assistant General Secretary Fernando Lopes. <br />
<br />
During the meeting, all participants decided to support the workers struggle at Brazilian Vale's operations in Voiseys Bay, Canada, where 230 workers have been on strike since 1 August 2009, after the company would only accept to renew the collective agreement if the workers represented by USW agreed to a drastic reduction in conditions and increased job insecurity. <br />
<br />
The IMF Regional Representative for Latin America and Caribbean, Jorge Almeida said, &quot;This meeting was also a first step in the region. In a few years, we will work on a global scale with the merger of three confederations overall: IMF (metalworkers), ICEM (chemical) and ITGLWF (textiles).&rdquo; <br />
<br />
The meeting included affiliates from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru affiliated to IMF, ICEM, and BWI, and also included were representatives from IG Metall, Germany, and the US Solidarity Center, AFL-CIO. </p>

FES Sponsors Tri-GUF Multinationals Seminar in Brazil

<p align="center"><img src="" width="100" height="39" alt="" /></p>
<p align="justify">A new slate of officers won election at the Congress of ICEM-affiliated Mineworkers&rsquo; Union of Namibia (MUN), held 17-19 September in Swakopmund, Namibia. The Congress met under the banner of stronger enforcement of safety and health regulations in all workplaces. <br />
<br />
Elected to the position of General Secretary was Jonas Lumbu, who replaces Joseph Hengari. Elected President was John Ndawedapo, replacing Andres Eiseb. The Congress elected Michael Heita as Vice President, Eben Zarondo as Assistant General Secretary, Eliphas Iita as National Secretary, Gerson Max as Vice National Secretary, Paul Rooi as Treasurer, and Phillip Muninguni as Vice Treasurer. </p>
<p align="center"><img src="" width="200" height="92" alt="" /></p>
<p align="justify">The theme of the Congress comes at a time when the Namibian mining sector is experiencing its worst fatal and serious injury accident rate in ten years. The MUN has witnessed mass retrenchments due to the financial crisis, but delegates to the Congress said a recovery is underway. The MUN has been frustrated by an American company that holds uranium mining rights because the company hinders union representation rights. <br />
<br />
Debate at the Congress also took place over a recurring issue inside Namibia&rsquo;s trade unions, that of union leaders holding decision-making positions inside enterprises or on boards. This issue has spawned conflict-of-interest charges inside many unions affiliated to the National Unions of Namibian Workers (NUNW). </p>

Mineworkers in Namibia Elect New Leaders

<p align="center"><img src="" width="100" height="39" alt="" /></p>
<p align="justify">The ICEM affiliated oil and gas workers&rsquo; trade unions in Nigeria, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), are threatening mass strike action if the Nigerian government continues efforts to pass a new legislation without their consultation that will deregulate the sector. <br />
<br />
NUPENG and PENGASSAN have the power to shut down all oil and gas installations in the West African country, and are threatening to do so if the government continues unwise implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). <br />
<br />
Workers have been frustrated at being excluded from the drafting process, while global oil corporations have been at the centre of negotiations. Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, relies heavily on its oil resources. Although the predominately state-owned company is guilty of inefficiency, NUPENG and PENGASSAN oppose the sell-off of the industry to foreign investors without proper protections for the Nigerian economy and for protection of labour rights in this sector. </p>
<p align="center"><img src="" width="100" height="103" alt="" /></p>
<p align="justify">NUPENG and PENGASSAN has issued appeals and demands to the Joint Committee on Petroleum, the Inter-Governmental Committee, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Petroleum and Labour Ministers, and also in writing to President Goodluck Jonathan. These appeals call attention to the ambiguity in areas of the legislation that could easily be exploited by corporations. <br />
<br />
The new legislation stands to cancel existing protections set up to rollback casualisation and the outsourcing of labour, already a dramatically growing problem in the sector. <br />
<br />
PENGASSAN and NUPENG National Presidents, Babatunde Ogun and Achese Igwe, made a joint statement last week expressing shared concerns and demands. Also co-signing the statement were General Secretaries Bayo Olowoshile of PENGASSAN and Elijah Okougbo of NUPENG. <br />
<br />
The ICEM supports the demands of both its affiliates, that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill should be halted at least until it is made available for scrutiny by all affected parties. The progress of such a strategically important law must be transparent. The Joint Committee of the National Assembly and the Petroleum Minister must include oil workers&rsquo; trade unions in all deliberations and all legislation drafting. </p>

Nigerian Oil Unions Threaten Strike over PIB Implementation

<p align="center"><img alt="" src="" width="100" height="39" /></p>
<p align="justify">The US United Autoworkers&rsquo; Union (UAW) will divest hundreds of millions of dollars from JPMorgan Chase over the bank&rsquo;s refusal to implement a two-year moratorium on housing foreclosures in the state of Michigan. The divestiture of pension, health care, and other union-managed funds from the New York-based bank is also due to Chase&rsquo;s ties to the RJ Reynolds Group, and that company&rsquo;s treatment of low-wage farm workers in the US state of North Carolina. <br />
<br />
At a press conference on 24 September in Detroit, UAW President Bob King was joined by church and American farm-labour leaders in calling for a full citizens&rsquo; boycott of JPMorgan Chase. King and a coalition of civil society leaders from Michigan met with bank officials in June following a protest and requested a moratorium on home foreclosures of unemployed workers. </p>
<p align="center"><img alt="" src="" width="100" height="141" /></p>
<p align="center"><font color="#ff0000">UAW President Bob King</font></p>
<p align="justify">At a follow up meeting, UAW and religious leaders called on Chase to join President Barack Obama&rsquo;s Hardest Hit Homeowners programme and declare a temporary freeze on foreclosures. Although the bank made a good-faith promise to continue the dialogue with the social partners, the bank &ldquo;has since failed to communicate its intentions regarding any of the issues raised,&rdquo; said the UAW. <br />
<br />
At the press conference ten days ago, US Farm Labour Organising Committee President Baldemar Velasquez detailed low wages, unsanitary conditions, and the Reynolds Group&rsquo;s hindrance of trade union organizing rights for tobacco workers. <br />
<br />
King said Americans &ldquo;have a moral responsibility to step up&rdquo; and join the boycott. &ldquo;Chase needs to help unemployed homeowners in Michigan and underpaid farm workers in the Carolinas,&rdquo; stated King. &ldquo;The bank could make a huge difference by suspending foreclosures and pressuring RJ Reynolds to do the right thing.&rdquo; </p>

US Auto Workers’ Pull Money from Bank over Home Foreclosures

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