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AUSTRALIA: Attempts by the Federal government and its minister for workplace relations, Peter Reith, to push through new anti-worker and anti-union laws have met with defeat. Australian Democrats' senators rejected Reith's Workplace Relations Amendment Bill 2000, which would have, in fact, outlawed industry-wide or "pattern" bargaining. These amendments were intended to obstruct the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union's Campaign 2000/2001, to win improved wages and conditions through industry-wide bargaining. 
On May 26, in Canberra, a delegation from the AMWU as well as the IMF's assistant general secretary, Brian Fredricks, appeared before the Senate committee to give evidence in opposition to the Bill. The IMF assistant general secretary reminded the committee that Australia had already been found in breach of ILO Conventions on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Rights (which they ratified in 1973) with its Workplace Relations Act of 1996 and that it needed to be amended. Fredricks said it was a misperception in many parts of the world that where collective bargaining was allowed it led to less competiveness. Indeed, the opposite was true in many highly industrialised countries, such as Germany, Finland and Sweden. 
Asked for his reaction to the rejection of the Workplace Relations Amendment Bill 2000, the AMWU national secretary, Doug Cameron, declared that it was a major defeat for Peter Reith and that he should resign.

National secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union calls for minister's resignation.

Defeat for Reith laws

TURKEY: After a first successful court hearing in the process of regaining fundamental trade union rights for workers at the Alaybey and Pendik shipyards, Türkiye Dok, Gemi-Is (TDGI) has now been informed that the judge decided to dismiss the case. The magistrate offered no explanation for his surprise move, although an earlier hearing decided that sectoral definition had to be established by a committee of experts, who would determine which union was suitable to represent the shipyard workers. 
The court's actions go not only against Turkish legislation but are also contrary to proper judicial proceedings, and it is believed that political and military interests wanted the case suppressed. The TDGI will use its right of appeal but says in such circumstances the situation looks hopeless. 
When learning of this most recent breach of law in Turkey, the IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, declared that it was "a blatant violation of human and trade union rights. This must be rejected and it will be rejected." The IMF is filing a strong, official complaint with the International Labour Organisation, whose Conventions Nos. 87 and 98 on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise and Bargain Collectively have been ratified by the Turkish government. The IMF will again inform the European Commission of the shocking conduct of both the Turkish government and military, stating that Turkey, which is presently seeking membership in the European Union, should NOT be admitted as a new member. 
In addition to the problems involving the Alaybey and Pendik shipyards, the government's decision to close two other shipyards, at Haliç and Camialti, remains unchanged. 
Complete background information on the violation of workers' rights in Turkish shipyards can be found on the IMF website.

Following the outright dismissal of a court case concerning trade union recognition in Turkish shipyards, the IMF will go to the ILO.

Background

Strong IMF complaint on Turkey

At the IMF's last Congress it was decided to give high priority to education. Education should also include a great portion of international issues. The IMF Secretariat was instructed to do its best to get all its affiliates to include in their educational programmes at all levels topics dealing with international questions such as globalisation, transnational companies, international organisations/agencies such as the International Labour Organisation, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, etc. 
The goal is to train and educate people and also give to trade union leaders within the IMF an international dimension which is missing today. This can be achieved only if IMF affiliates begin to work hard at getting international questions dealt with at all levels of their structures. 
Honestly, how many of the IMF's affiliates discuss international matters at their ordinary meetings of the Executive and/or decision-making bodies, except when they have to select a delegation to go abroad to represent their own organization? 
There is nothing wrong with this, but we must try to get every trade union leader to deal with the fundamental issue of finding the links between his or her union work at shop-floor level and the ones at another company at the other end of the world. 
And the IMF has to do its own share of the job if we are to succeed. 
This is why I welcome the initiative taken on May 29, 2000, by the general secretary of the FIM/CISL, Giorgio Caprioli, a member of the IMF's Executive Committee. He called together the General Council of his federation and let them discuss international affairs for a full day. 130 trade union leaders from all Italian regions gathered and debated, after an introduction made by Bruno Manghi and the new international secretary of the FIM/CISL, Beppe Lazzaro. 
After the debate, which lasted for more than five hours, I could express my appreciation not just for the quality of the debate but also for some of the concrete proposals made by some of the delegates. 
It shows that international affairs should not be the exclusive property of a few linguistic experts, but everybody should deal with this in his or her daily work. 
This is a great initiative, which should be followed by others. 
I also hope the Italians of the FIM/CISL will not let this remain as just one isolated event. It must be followed up by others and by more intensive discussion at local level. 
Grazie, Compagni !!

An encouraging initiative in Italy

GENEVA: An encouraging and excellent initiative has come from the IMF-affiliated FIM/CISL in Italy. The General Council of the federation, representing 130 trade union leaders from all regions of the country, got together in Brescia to discuss international affairs for a full day. There was not only a very high quality of debate but also of concrete proposals which were made. 
Marcello Malentacchi, in his new opinion column, says that everybody should deal with international affairs in his or her daily work. The IMF's last Congress gave high priority to education and to getting all its affiliates to include in their educational programmes at all levels a large proportion of topics dealing with international questions. 
Read the IMF general secretary's entire opinion on the associated link.

The FIM/CISL holds a full day of discussion on international questions.

Great initiative from Italy

BRAZIL: The Correio Sindical Mercosul reports that a number of metalworkers' unions and federations belonging to the CNM/CUT are organising activities for a "National Day of Mobilization for Metalworkers", to take place on June 2, 2000. The aim of this rally is to carry out a unified country-wide campaign on "Jobs, Wages and Social Rights". Participants will march under two important banners - one for collective agreements, and the other for reduction of working time to 36 hours without reduction in wages. 
Unions belonging to Força Sindical will also take part in the rally.

The CUT Metalworkers are getting ready for their "National Day of Mobilization".

Brazil&#039;s metalworkers on the march

SERBIA: Following the government-ordered police raid on the offices of the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions on May 19, several trade unionists have now been arrested. Branislav Djuric, vice-president of the AFITU and coordinator of Alliance for Change in Nis, was detained on May 26. Earlier, on May 24, police arrested Djordje Pasagic, who is the regional representative for the union and an Alliance for Change coordinator in Kraljevo, and on May 25, Dragan Veselinovic, a leading AFITU activist at Electronic Industry Nis, was taken into custody. 
The AFITU, objecting strongly to the intimidation and harassment of the union and its activists, has pressed for their release and called on the workers and public to help them resist such persecution. The union demands the right for all those living in Serbia today "to live as the rest of the civilised world, in a free, democratic country with a developed economy," and rejects the regime's treatment of its activists as criminals. 
The president of the AFITU, Dragan Milovanovic, has tried to recover the union's archives and equipment from the police after the break-in of May 19, but to no avail. He is also a leader of the Alliance for Change and has faced charges by the Serbian government. "We are determined to continue our work, even in these very difficult conditions," said Milovanovic.

Trade union activists of the AFITU are being treated like common criminals.

Serb police arrest trade unionists

EUROPE: May 25, 2000, has been proclaimed the first joint "Steel Action Day" for European steelworkers, with demonstrations organised in numerous production sites throughout Europe. As the 50-year-old European Coal and Steel Community Treaty expires in July 2002, workers want to see concrete steps taken to safeguard the European steel industry before this date. 
According to the European Metalworkers' Federation, key demands being made by steelworkers are for: 
- creation of binding and representative work structures, in which employers and workers can agree industrial, trade, research and social policy; 
- commitment from the European Commission to consult employees and employers on all questions of industrial, research as well as social policy in the steel sector; 
- inclusion of issues relating to protection of work, health and environment into research work for product and process innovation; 
- retention of the code on subsidies to protect the European steel industry from unfair competition, with binding environment and social standards being enforced; 
- strengthening of the instruments for forecasting future development, with information and consultation through the European Commission becoming more effective; 
- extension of social policy measures to accompany any necessary restructuring steps in the sector and affected regions; 
- increasing the number of skill-raising and training programmes, to ensure development of human resources in this sector.

Europe's steelworkers make demands on the European Commission, Parliament and Member States.

Urgent action needed

GENEVA: Just a reminder of the sculpture exhibition organised by the IMF for metalworker artist Jean-Claude Hug. The show opens today, May 22, in the Hall of the Pillars at the International Labour Organisation, in Geneva. It will run until June 9. An opening party is being given in the Hall of the Pillars tomorrow, May 23, starting at 6:30 p.m., at which the IMF and the artist would be happy to welcome all those wishing to attend. 
Download pictures of Jean-Claude's sculptures by clicking on "Publications" on this website. See associated link for further details.

The IMF is sponsoring exhibition of metalworker artist.

Sculptures on show at ILO

SERBIA: The IMF has just received shocking news from the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions that state authorities have shut down the union. Police stormed into the Belgrade headquarters of the AFITU, confiscating all their materials (documents, archives) plus every piece of office equipment, and has forbidden the union to use its offices. No reports have been made of injuries or arrests. The offices of the AFITU's newspaper, "Worker's Word", were also broken into, and everything from articles for their next issue to a scanner and even their paper clips disappeared. The union's president said that although conditions are very difficult, they are determined to continue their work. 
Marcello Malentacchi, IMF general secretary, condemning these heavy-handed tactics of the state, declared that "such actions are unacceptable for all democratic-thinking people. Milosevic is attempting to silence the voice of workers in order to keep his dictatorship alive. When you start shutting down the independent press and trade unions, you must be running scared." The IMF general secretary believes that Milosevic may think the end of his regime is nearing and is resorting to drastic means to keep it afloat. 
Earlier this week in Belgrade, under the Serbian government's orders, police squads broke into and took over the editorial offices of several independent media.

The government of Serbia ordered the confiscation of union materials and equipment.

Serb police shut down independent union

GERMANY: A meeting of the IMF Action Group on General Motors will take place in Rüsselsheim, Germany, October 1-2, 2000. 
One of the main topics on the group's agenda will be the General Motors-Fiat alliance, with a discussion of its impact and an evaluation from the trade union viewpoint. 
Future auto industry trends, trade union activities in GM and developing the GM Action Group's work will also figure on the programme, along with discussions on collective bargaining, organising, employment, corporate restructuring and working conditions.

Impact and trade union evaluation of the GM-Fiat alliance high on the action group's agenda.

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