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Global worker No1 2022

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The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has adopted updated Guidelines for Multinational Companies. The new OECD Guidelines were adopted on 25 May at a signing ceremony led by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and attended by AFL-CIO and TUAC President Richard Trumka. 
 
The update contains a number of positive elements, including a chapter on Human Rights and the unequivocal application of the Guidelines to suppliers and other business relationships. The Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) statement on the update of the guidelines states: &ldquo;These elements significantly increase the relevance of the Guidelines and their potential to raise the standard of responsible business conduct in a global context. The success of the Update now depends on its prompt and full implementation both by adhering governments and by the OECD.&rdquo; 
 
The updated Guidelines have particular relevance to Contract and Agency Labour as the coverage extends to those &ldquo;in an employment relationship with the multinational enterprise.&rdquo; The commentary to Chapter Five on Employment and Industrial Relations clarifies that the terminology is consistent with that used in the ILO Multinational Enterprises&rsquo; Declaration and refers enterprises wishing to understand the scope of their responsibility under Chapter Five to the non-exhaustive list of employment relationship indicators set forth in ILO Recommendation 198 of 2006, paragraphs 13 (a) and (b). 
 
Paragraph 13 of R198 states that the indicators of the existence of an employment relationship might include: 
(a) the fact that the work: is carried out according to the instructions and under the control of another party; involves the integration of the worker in the organization of the enterprise; is performed solely or mainly for the benefit of another person; must be carried out personally by the worker; is carried out within specific working hours or at a workplace specified or agreed by the party requesting the work; is of a particular duration and has a certain continuity; requires the worker's availability; or involves the provision of tools, materials and machinery by the party requesting the work; 
 
(b) periodic payment of remuneration to the worker; the fact that such remuneration constitutes the worker's sole or principal source of income; provision of payment in kind, such as food, lodging or transport; recognition of entitlements such as weekly rest and annual holidays; payment by the party requesting the work for travel undertaken by the worker in order to carry out the work; or absence of financial risk for the worker. 
 
The <a href="http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/43/29/48004323.pdf">OECD MNE Guidelines</a> are available here. 
 
The <a href="/wp-content/migration/icem/TUAC%20Statement%20on%20Revised%20OECD%20Guidelines.pdf">TUAC Statement</a> on the updated Guidelines is available here (PDF)

OECD Guidelines Positively Updated

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A plan of action to combat outsourcing in Latin America was agreed at the regional Contract and Agency Labour (CAL) seminar held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, 6-7 April. The seminar, organised by ICEM CAL Project Latin American Coordinators Rosane Sasse and Elias Soares-Pintado, was attended by 28 union leaders from Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, and Chile. 
 
The event began with participants presenting on the status of outsourcing in their own country. Colleagues from Ecuador shared the findings of research into the impact of legislation introduced by President Rafael Correa to ban the use of outsourcing. A number of participants mentioned how legislation in their countries is being abused and many expressed concern at the gap between law and practice. It was agreed that outsourcing has a detrimental impact in all countries, and that coordinated action is needed to stop its use. 
<img alt="" src="" width="101" height="110" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img alt="" src="" width="113" height="110" />
Elias Soares-Pintado, Rosane Sasse
On 28 July, it was decided, all participating unions will launch an ongoing campaign against outsourcing in Colombia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. To coincide with this, participants will organise activities to raise workers&rsquo; awareness of the issues. 
 
A CAL network was established during the seminar, with each country nominating at least one representative. Representatives will exchange information about challenges and successes. 
 
A detailed plan of action against CAL was agreed, which includes: 
 
- The ICEM will approach Ministries of Labour in particular countries calling for recognition of CAL problems, for respect for trade unions and for concrete actions to be taken against CAL. 
 
- All unions, federations, and confederations should communicate the problems associated with outsourcing and begin a debate on CAL with their governments. 
 
- The ICEM will prepare documents on CAL for the Summit of the President of Latin American countries and the Andean Parliament. 
 
- When a new business is established, unions will immediately start a debate on how production is set out and whether CAL or permanent workers will be employed. 
 
CAL Americas network &ndash; list of representatives 
 
The list of representatives for the CAL Latin America Network includes: German Paplecino, SUTNA, and Marcelo Sotosca, STI Black River Gas, Argentina; Ricardo Rodrigues Vera, Fenatrapech, Chile; Moises Ochoa Berrocal, FENUPETROL, Peru; Walter Silva, CUOPYC, Uruguay; Marcelo Solozano, Link, Ecuador; Rodrigues Manuel Acevedo, SITRAPEQUIA, Costa Rica; Carlos Bustos Pati&ntilde;o, ICEM Project Coordinator, Colombia; and Elias Soares-Pintado, ICEM Project Coordinator, Brazil.

Latin America Seminar Agrees Regional Action Plan and Launches CAL network

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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. 
 
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. 
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EMCEF General Secretary Reinhard Reibsch
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. 
 
A 1 December 2010 exists for CLP Reclassification, while a 3 January 2011 deadline looms for CLP notification. 
 
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.

EMCEF, ETUC Alert European Workers to REACH Deadlines

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from the International Metalworkers&rsquo; Federation (IMF) 
 
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. 
 
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. 
 
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. 
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Photo: IMF 
 
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. 
 
&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. 
 
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. 
 
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; 
 
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.

FES Sponsors Tri-GUF Multinationals Seminar in Brazil

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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. 
 
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. 
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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. 
 
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).

Mineworkers in Namibia Elect New Leaders

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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. 
 
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). 
 
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. 
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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. 
 
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. 
 
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. 
 
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.

Nigerian Oil Unions Threaten Strike over PIB Implementation

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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. 
 
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. 
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UAW President Bob King
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. 
 
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. 
 
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;

US Auto Workers’ Pull Money from Bank over Home Foreclosures

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Some 1,000 union leaders from across Canada in the energy, paper, media, and telecomms sectors met 19-23 September in Toronto for the Communications, Energy, Paperworkers (CEP) Union&rsquo;s biennial convention. Delegates denounced the Canadian federal government&rsquo;s ineptitude in handling forestry and pension crises, and they heard from noted economists that the greed of a few has caused grave financial damage to millions of workers worldwide. 
<img alt="" src="" width="249" height="187" />
CEP President Dave Coles at offices of Brookfield Asset Management 
The Convention also saw the re-election by acclamation of President Dave Coles and Secretary-Treasurer Ga&eacute;tan M&eacute;nard. Delegates to the convention also took to the streets of Toronto in protest, directing it at one culprit responsible for the financial collapse. CEPers marched on the downtown Toronto offices of Brookfield Asset Management, a US-based equity firm that took over and then led Fraser Paper into bankruptcy. 
CEP delegates passed a number of resolutions, including a continued CEP policy to press forward on a national pharmacy plan. They also heard about the structural economic flows in the existing financial system from US economist James Galbraith and Haitian economist Camille Chalmers. And the Canadian political landscape was also covered by NDP leader Jack Layton, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) President Ken Georgetti, and Toronto Star columnist Thomas Walkom. 
<img alt="" src="" width="140" height="93" />
CEP Secretary-Treasurer Ga&eacute;tan M&eacute;nard
In opening the convention, Coles leveled harsh criticism at the federal government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper for its inaction in the face of many crises, including the forest industry one, pensions, and foreign control of traditional Canadian-owned industries. &ldquo;These idealogues have failed to lift a finger to aid forest communities, and if they win the next election, other sectors will meet the same fate,&rdquo; stated Coles. 
 
Delegates to the convention displayed their generosity by raising and donating more that C$100,000 to the union&rsquo;s Canadian charity of choice, the Spina Bifada and Hydrocephalus Association, an organization focused on spinal birth defects and abnormal brain fluids. The CEP&rsquo;s Woman of Distinction Award was given to Joy Langan, an activist, proud trade unionist, former Member of Parliament, and tireless advocate for women&rsquo;s rights who passed away on 30 July 2009. She received the award posthumously, with the CEP honouring her by changing the name of the award to the Joy Langan Women of Distinction Award.

CEP Holds Biennial Convention in Toronto, Canada

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The Council of Global Unions (CGU) sponsored the &lsquo;Quality Public Services&rsquo; Conference in Geneva 12-14 October, bringing together leaders of trade unions, municipal governments, and civil society, to take a strong stand in unity against further cuts to public services. 
 
Public services are under threat throughout the world as many governments look to cut spending and follow austerity measures encouraged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The members of the CGU, who represent 176 million working men and women, reject this and last week pledged to work together with civil society to promote investment in quality public services as the key solution to the global economic crisis. 
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The 400 conference delegates announced a global campaign, guided by a charter and action plan. 
 
CGU chair Aidan White said, &ldquo;This is a call to the trade union movement to advance its historic responsibility to work in broad social coalitions and act as a force for social change that improves the quality of life for all citizens. We don&rsquo;t have time to lose.&rdquo; 
 
Susan Hopgood, president of Education International, said, &ldquo;We are conveying a powerful message in uniting as advocates for strong schools, decent health services and social services, clean water and proper sanitation, effective fire and security services, affordable housing and utilities, accessible communications and transport, public media and culture, and good public administration and municipal services. Quality public services provide the foundation for sustainable growth, equitable redistribution of wealth, and the means for justice, good governance, and the exercise of democracy.&rdquo; 
 
Kumi Naidoo, executive director of Greenpeace International and council member of Global Call to Action Against Poverty, called for &ldquo;a new activism&rdquo; to back demands for quality public services as the foundation for social justice policies. 
 
Visit <a href="http://www.RadioLabour.org">www.RadioLabour.org</a>&nbsp;for audio links to daily and summary reports of the conference.

Quality Public Services Conference Offers Alternative to Austerity

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The ICEM World Conference for the Chemical Industries will take place on 27-28 October in Istanbul, Turkey, upon invitation of affiliate Petrol-İş, Turkey&rsquo;s Petroleum, Chemical and Rubber Workers&rsquo; Union. Tomas Nieber, Chair of the ICEM Chemicals Sector and trade union leader of Germany&rsquo;s IGBCE, will chair of the sector and will welcome an estimated 250 delegates and guests. 
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Tomas Nieber, Chair of the ICEM Chemicals Sector
The Conference will be composed of six major presentations and panel discussions: 
 
* Presentation on &ldquo;Global Chemical Industries &ndash; An Overview,&rdquo; followed by a panel discussion entitled &ldquo;Global Crisis, Restructuring and Challenges for Trade Unions in the Chemical Industries.&rdquo; 
 
* Presentation on &ldquo;Pharmaceutical Industry: Recent Trends,&rdquo; followed by a panel discussion entitled &ldquo;Opportunities and Challenges for Trade Unions in the Pharmaceutical Industry.&rdquo; 
 
* Presentation on &ldquo;Recent Trends on Employment and Working Conditions and Social Dialogue in the Chemical Industry,&rdquo; followed by a panel discussion entitled &ldquo;Trade Union Rights, Industrial Relations and Social Dialogue in Chemical Industries: Sharing Experiences.&rdquo; 
 
* Presentation on &ldquo;Health, Safety and Sustainability in the Chemical Industries: Trade Union Approach and Response,&rdquo; followed by a panel discussion entitled &ldquo;Global Level Chemical Safety Initiatives and Workers&rsquo; Health.&rdquo; 
 
* Presentation on Changing &ldquo;Work Relationships: ICEM&rsquo;s Campaign on Contract and Agency Labour,&rdquo; followed by a panel discussion entitled &ldquo;Precarious Employment and Trade Union Policies and Actions.&rdquo; 
 
* Presentation on &ldquo;Global Trade Union Response Against Challenges: Global Framework Agreements, Global/Regional Company &amp; Sector Networks, and Campaigns,&rdquo; followed by a panel discussion called &ldquo;Creation of Global Trade Union Power through Solidarity, Support and Cooperation.&rdquo; 
 
Following discussions, ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda will summarize the panel discussions and present the future action plan for the chemicals industry for the coming four years.

ICEM’s Quadrennial Chemicals Conference in Istanbul Next Week

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