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<img height="40" alt="" src="" width="100" />&nbsp;
Turkish ICEM affiliate Petrol-Iş again successfully dampened Turkey&rsquo;s privatisation attempts of state-run oil refiner Tupras by winning a Council of State judicial decision on 2 February. 
The decision by the Council, Turkey&rsquo;s highest administrative court, suspends the sale of 51% of Tupras to a consortium led by Turkey&rsquo;s Koc Holdings and Royal Dutch Shell. Only a week earlier, the consortium transferred US$4.14 billion to the Privatisation Administration Council for the 51% stake. But the court, acting on an appeal by Petrol-Iş, struck down the sale, saying it had failed to comply with privatisation law. 
<img height="80" alt="" src="" width="120" />
The union has been conducting day-long strikes at the four refineries and at one petrochemical plant of Tupras, as well as holding massive strikes at workplaces on 26 January, the day Koc and the government rushed through the finalisation of the deal. Petrol-Iş has been conducting&mdash;and continues to&mdash;a campaign called &ldquo;Tupras is Our Future, It Cannot Be Sold Off&rdquo; in the form of billboards, print and television announcements, and other medium directed at Turkey&rsquo;s citizens. 
Last week&rsquo;s court decision, according to Platt&rsquo;s Commodity News, provoked panic shares&rsquo; selling of both Tupras and of Koc&rsquo;s liquid petroleum gas subsidiary, Aygaz, on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Petrol-Iş has now won some five court and regulatory agency rulings against gas and oil refinery privatisations using both legal means and public campaigns.

Turkish Petrol-Iş Again Blocks Tupras’s Oil Privatisation

<img height="80" alt="" src="" width="120" />
An ICEM intervention in a Thai glass factory dispute at Saint-Gobain Sekurit produced a victory for 700 workers last week. 
The majority of the workers, members of a plant union affiliated with the Federation of Thailand Automobile Workers&rsquo; Unions, had been locked out since 6 January by hostile local managers. They conducted demonstrations in front of the factory in Thailand&rsquo;s Rayong province and at the Labour Ministry in Bangkok, while the ICEM and French trade unions used a steady stream of facts and data in open-channelled dialogue with senior officials of Saint-Gobain in Paris. 
<img height="225" alt="" src="" width="300" />
The factual matter included the harsh treatment inflicted on trade unionists at the plant, including initiating a court case in order to sack four of them for leading plant-gate protests. The contract dispute was over many issues, including bonus payments for 2005 and management proposals to cut Sunday overtime pay by half. 
After Saint-Gobain Sekurit imposed the lockout on half the workforce and sacked the four, bargaining became regressive as Thai managers dramatically reduced the bonus proposal and said it would be for two years instead of one. 
With front-line information provided by the ICEM, French unions F&eacute;d&eacute;ration Chimie Energie CFDT, CGT Verre C&eacute;ramique and F&eacute;d&eacute;chimie CGT-FO were in daily contact with Saint-Gobain in Paris, putting pressure on top-level decision makers who steered the dispute to a successful conclusion. 
The result is that Thai glass managers reinstated the four and dropped the court cases. Union and local managers also agreed on all collective bargaining issues, including a bonus. The ICEM commends the French unions for delivering a fair and just labour agreement to workers at the productive and growth-filled glass factory.

Saint Gobain Glass Workers in Thailand Gain When ICEM Intervenes

Contents
1. Brazil leads in gender equality in collective bargaining 
2. Chile: Michelle Bachelet elected President 
3. Denmark: Anti-trafficking campaign 
4. Germany: Women in the labour market 
5. Korea: Businesses will recruit more women 
6. Spain: Trade Unions have to change their approach 
7. United Kingdom: One in five firms break law over Women&rsquo;s pay 
8. United States: Women are getting even 
9. Venezuela: World Social Forum condemns the US for patriarchal violence 
10. Resources 
<img height="112" alt="" src="" width="300" /> 
 
1. Brazil leads in gender equality in collective bargaining 
 
According to the ILO, the International Labour Organisation, Brazil ranks first in Latin America in terms of parental provisions obtained through negotiations between employers and trade unions. 
According to the ILO, the International Labour Organisation, Brazil ranks first in Latin America in terms of parental provisions obtained through negotiations between employers and trade unions. 
A new ILO document provides comparative data on collective agreements in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Venezuela. Of these, Brazil is the country which attaches most importance to parental issues, followed by Argentina. 
 
 
2. Chile: Michelle Bachelet elected President 
 
The election of Michelle Bachelet as President of Chile promises to widen the path to a more equal society as well as bring a sea change in gender relations. Already, Ms Bachelet has appointed women to occupy half of the Cabinet. 
A new women&rsquo;s organization has been created, Women Constructing the Country, made up of women representing Ms Bachelet&rsquo;s party as well as trade union leaders. The point is to have a more democratic, transparent and participative government. The organisation&rsquo;s aim is to support Ms Bachelet&rsquo;s government. 
 
 
3. Denmark: Anti-trafficking campaign 
 
In 2006, the trade union movement will focus on the increasing trade of humans. On 8 March &ndash; Women&rsquo;s International Day &ndash; launch of a campaign against trafficking of humans will start. 
Women all over the world are traded to prostitution and in Denmark, an increased trade of Women from Eastern Europe has been noted. The Danish trade union movement can and will not ignore this crime which is the modern world&rsquo;s slave traffic. 
Among other things, Women in Danish trade unions insist that priority and resources be given police to investigate the illegal prostitution environment. 
The view of human nature that lies behind the trade with women and children, with prostitution, is very far from the view of human nature that the trade union movement stands for. Therefore, more and more organisations elaborate ethical codes for employees about not going to prostitutes. For more information on what is occurring in Denmark on this most important issue, contact <a href="mailto:marianne.bruun@3f.dk">marianne.bruun@3f.dk</a>. 
 
 
4. Germany: Women in the labour market 
 
The number of Women working in Germany has gone up rapidly since 1991, but not the amount of work they do &ndash; that is only divided up among more people. With just under 49%, almost half of those employed in Germany are women &ndash; in 1991 it was only about 44%. However, the number of hours that they work has not gone up to the same degree. 
In 2004, Women&rsquo;s work only made of up 41% of the overall volume of work. That is mostly due to the fact that many Women work part-time. In 2004, 75% of all part-time jobs were done by Women, whereas only about 37% of full-time jobs were occupied by Women. 
<hr />
From our readers: 
 
Patricia Ferreira from Brazil writes that on 25 November they distributed a bulletin to the rubber plants to commemorate &ldquo;International Day to Combat Violence against Women.&rdquo; They also passed out white bands for women workers to put on their wrists in memory of the Women victims of violence. 
 
 
Oluchi Okorie from Nigeria writes that they had the NUPENG Congress in November. Prior to the election, the Women wanted to include in the constitution a review that a woman should be Deputy President. 
 
The National Executive Council of the union decided to make the national chairperson of the NUPENG Women&rsquo;s Committee one of the NEC members. &ldquo;So now we have a woman in the NEC of our union in the person of Mrs Funke Adediran. NUPENG&rsquo;s Constitution now says that every NUPENG national chairperson of the Women&rsquo;s Committee is automatically an NEC member. Our struggles continue until we get the best for Women.&rdquo; 
<hr />
5. Korea: Businesses will recruit more women 
 
Large private and public companies will likely be required to disclose how many female workers they employ as part of governmental efforts to promote the hiring of Women. Domestic firms will also be obliged to come up with action plans to increase the number of female workers if they are found to have employed fewer females than other companies in the same business sector. 
The Ministry of Labor has submitted a revision bill on equal employment opportunities, and if approved, it will become law and go into effect in March. Companies with over 500 workers will be required to make an annual report about the ratio of female workers to their total employees and the types of positions Women hold. 
The aim is to promote more corporate hiring of female workers, as the country is expected to face a labor shortage in the near future due to the falling birthrate and the ageing population. The government plans to provide incentives to companies that show a significant rise in female employment. 
 
 
6. Spain: Trade Unions have to change their approach 
 
The trade union confederation CCOO calls itself a union for Women and Men, but that is hard if the trade unions do not change their approach inside companies. In industry, it is hard to find more than 30% Women in production, and most companies do not even reach that many. 
True, companies make their own hiring decisions, but trade unions can intervene in how these decisions are taken. Hiring is discriminatory almost all over industry. Many companies are multinationals, and in other countries they do hire Women in production. 
CCOO has sections comprised of companies which have European Works Councils. European Works Councils should be asking questions about how Spanish women can have the same opportunities that Women have in other countries. 
 
7. United Kingdom: One in five firms break law over Women&rsquo;s pay 
 
Almost one in five of the country&rsquo;s biggest employers are breaking the law by paying Women significantly lower wages than their male colleagues, according to research by the Equal Opportunities Commission. 
A study by the commission of 870 employers, all of whom have reviewed their pay structures to check if they are paying equally, found that 16% are unlawfully discriminating against female workers by paying them less than Men to do the same job. 
The EOC said the true proportion was likely to be higher as these organizations were among the more enlightened employers, having voluntarily undertaken pay reviews. The 16% of companies which were breaking the law were found to have a gap between Men and Women&rsquo;s salaries which could only be explained by the workers&rsquo; gender. 
The survey also revealed that Women were routinely missing out on senior jobs, starting on lower salaries and taking longer to get promoted, largely because they were more likely to take career breaks to have children. 
 
 
8. United States: Women are getting even 
 
The WAGE Project is an organization established for one purpose: to end discrimination against Women in the US workplace in the near future. WAGE means Women Are Getting Even. You can calculate your wage gap by visiting the site <a href="http://www.wageproject.org">www.wageproject.org</a>. 
 
Caught in the Storm: The Impact of Natural Disasters on Women by the Global Fund for Women indicates how Women and children suffer most from natural disasters, of which there were too many in 2005 &ndash; tsunamis in Asia and Africa, Hurricane Katrina in the US, Hurricane Stan in Guatemala, the massive earthquake in Kashmir. 
During and after natural disasters, women face effects in a variety of ways. Women are far more likely to die than men; Women are at increased risk of violence; Women do not receive necessary health care in many cases; Women may be denied adequate relief aid or compensation for their losses; Women experience ongoing economic vulnerability; Women are excluded from a say in rebuilding and reconstruction efforts. For the report, see: <a href="http://www.globalfundforwomen.org">www.globalfundforwomen.org</a>. 
 
The US organization CODEPINK launched a campaign in January to bring US women together with women worldwide to put a stop to the war in Iraq. Working Women are encouraged to sign the Global Women&rsquo;s Call for Peace in Iraq. The global call will be delivered to the White House on 8 March. To sign the call, see <a href="http://www.womensaynotowar.org">www.womensaynotowar.org</a>. 
 
9. Venezuela: World Social Forum condemns the US for patriarchal violence 
 
The United States was one of the main targets of condemnation by the International Court of Women Against the Patriarchal Violence of Neoliberalism, held on 27 January in Caracas, Venezuela. The court was organized by diverse feminist movements as part of the Sixth World Social Forum. 
The interference by the US in other countries&rsquo; policies, the constant attempts to destabilize Venezuela, the extraditions of Colombian political prisoners, the manipulation of the press, the perverse economic embargo of Cuba, the violation of human rights inside and outside the country, the invasion of Iraq and the genocide of the Iraqi population, all bring great suffering to millions of Women, who are the first victims of the numerous forms of violence caused by these acts. 
 
10. Resources 
 
EI/PSI Action Tool on Pay Equity for Union Activists at <a href="http://www.world-psi.org">www.world-psi.org</a>. 
 
Five reasons why equal pay can add value to your workplace, by the European Commission is available at <a href="http://www.equalpay.nu/it_fakta.html">www.equalpay.nu/it_fakta.html</a>&nbsp;together with the link between gender equality and profitability by the Swedish Business Development Agency. 
 
Pay equity is good for the economy, by the Business and Professional Women&rsquo;s Clubs of Ontario <a href="http://www.web.net/~equalpay/economy.html">www.web.net/~equalpay/economy.html</a>. 
 
The International Herald Tribune article, &ldquo;In Scandinavia&rsquo;s equality central, an antifeminist backlash?&rdquo; contains an interview by ex-ICEM women&rsquo;s committee member Lilian Knudsen, <a href="http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/12/06/style/feminists.php">www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/12/06/style/feminists.php</a>. 
 
Austrian Metalworkers and Textile Union women&rsquo;s site: <a href="http://www.metallerfrauen.at">www.metallerfrauen.at</a> - in German. 
 
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) Manual on Women in the Global Economy: <a href="http://www.icftu.org">www.icftu.org</a>. 
Human and labor rights for women workers in the maquilas of Mexico: <a href="http://www.cfomaquiladoras.org">www.cfomaquiladoras.org</a>. 
 
European Women&rsquo;s Lobby, <a href="http://www.womenlobby.org">www.womenlobby.org</a>. 
 
&ldquo;Women, Work and Health Congress on Safety and Health at Work,&rdquo; 27-30 November 2005 in India: <a href="http://www.swl-delhi.org/wwh/wwh_2005_conference.html">www.swl-delhi.org/wwh/wwh_2005_conference.html</a>. 
 
International Campaign on Women Human Rights Defenders, 
<a href="http://www.defendingwomen-defendingrights.org">www.defendingwomen-defendingrights.org</a>. 
 
Human Rights Watch World Report 2006: <a href="http://www.hrw.org">www.hrw.org</a>. 
 
The World&rsquo;s Women 2005, Progress in Statistics, critical for making crucial development decisions: <a href="http://unstats.un.org/unsd/Demographic/products/indwm/wwpub.htm">http://unstats.un.org/unsd/Demographic/products/ 
indwm/wwpub.htm</a>. 
 
World Health Organization&rsquo;s (WHO) &ldquo;Multi-country Study on Women&rsquo;s Health and Domestic Violence against Women&rdquo; at <a href="http://www.who.int/gender/violence/who_multicountry_study/en/index.html">www.who.int/gender/violence/who_multicountry_study 
/en/index.html</a>. 
 
State of the World&rsquo;s Children 2006: <a href="http://www.unicef.org/sowc06">www.unicef.org/sowc06</a>. 
<hr />
 
&bull; For a free automated (non-ICEM) translation of this bulletin into other languages, you may want to try <a href="http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr">http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr</a>&nbsp;or <a href="http://www.google.com/language_tools">http://www.google.com/language_tools</a>&nbsp;and insert the following URL into the window &ldquo;Translate a Web page&ldquo;: <a href="/index.php?id=71&amp;doc=1639">www.icem.org/index.php?id=71&amp;doc=1639</a>.&nbsp; 
 
&bull; To add a colleague or a friend to this distribution list, send her or his e-mail address to <a href="mailto:carol.bruce@icem.org">carol.bruce@icem.org</a>, mentioning &quot;Add to ICEM women's news list&quot; in the subject line. 
 
&bull; To unsubscribe from the ICEM news list, send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:carol.bruce@icem.org">carol.bruce@icem.org</a>, mentioning &quot;Unsubscribe ICEM women's news list&quot; in the subject line.

ICEM WOMEN’S BULLETIN NO. 8: January/February 2006

Mr. Jukka H&auml;rm&auml;l&auml; 
CEO 
Stora Enso Oyj 
Kanavaranta 1 
FIN-00160 Helsinki 
FINLAND 
 
Sent Via Fax +358 2046 21471 
 
 
Dear Mr. H&auml;rm&auml;l&auml;, 
 
The ICEM, a 20-million-member Global Union Federation with affiliates in 122 countries of the world, has been informed by our Canadian affiliate, the Communications, Energy and Paper Workers&rsquo; Union (CEP) of Canada, that the North American management of your company&rsquo;s Port Hawkesbury mill in Nova Scotia locked out 600 workers with crippling effect on the whole of the local economy in that Canadian province. 
 
The lock-out came as workers predictably rejected North American management&rsquo;s contract proposal, which would have given managers unprecedented rights to outsource unionised work. Such a proposal regarding the use of contract labour is in total contradiction to the norms now in place regarding contract labour in the paper industry&rsquo;s pattern agreement for Eastern Canada. 
 
The ICEM strongly urges you to personally intervene to amicably resolve this dispute. We believe attitudes demonstrated by Stora Enso&rsquo;s North American managers are contrary to your publicly-declared international principles of sustainability. 
 
We appeal to you to apply the principled custom of Nordic fairness and to direct your North American managers to immediately reopen dialogue with the CEP to resolve this dispute. 
 
The ICEM will closely monitor this dispute and we will bring it to the attention of our global affiliates who represent Stora Enso workers across the world. We look forward to an early and just settlement of this lockout. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Fred Higgs 
General Secretary

ICEM letter to Stora Enso

Global Labour Forum to be organised at International AIDS Conference 
 
As Canada prepares itself to host the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, 13-18 August, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the impact and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS policies and actions on workers and workplace at national and international levels. The review will form the foundation of a Global Labour Forum on HIV/AIDS organised by the CLC in conjunction with the Conference. 
 
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Labour Fund, launched by the CLC, works closely with unions that actively promote the rights of workers to fair treatment and provide workplace-based information on protection against the disease and prevention of its spread. Canadian unions, in cooperation with the Canadian International Development Agency, pioneer innovative and gender-sensitive AIDS prevention and advocacy campaigns in a number of developing countries. 
 
(Source: CLC Press Release) 
 
Information on the International AIDS Conference can be accessed at <a href="http://www.aids2006.org">www.aids2006.org</a>. 
 
Second Line ARVs Too Costly for Patients Warns MSF
Now that first-line treatment has come down to less than US$200 per patient per year, concern is rising that an increasing number of HIV patients does not respond to first-line treatment anymore and has to move to second-line drugs, which are much more expensive and therefore harder to access. 
 
Taking the example of Kenya, the international humanitarian organisation M&eacute;decins sans Fronti&egrave;res (MSF) says that for second-line drugs it has to pay US$ 1,400 per patient per year. In a clinic in South Africa, MSF is treating 58 patients on second-line drugs at the same cost as 550 on first-line drugs. 
 
Expanding relatively affordable first-line treatment will inevitably lead to a higher demand for more expensive second-line treatment in the years to come. Failing to switch from first-line treatment, which has become ineffective due to side effects and growing drug resistance, to second-line drugs is a death sentence for the patient. 
 
According to MSF, part of the problem lies in the continuing insistence of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on adherence to strict patent protection, as well as cumbersome regulations that developing countries have to follow to take advantage of concessions. 
In early 2005, the WTO&rsquo;s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) was implemented in India and other developing countries that had not yet granted full pharmaceutical patents. This widespread patent protection is stifling the production of much-needed cheaper generics, which are as effective. 
 
(Source: The East African, Nairobi, posted on <a href="http://www.allafrica.com">www.allafrica.com</a>&nbsp;on 4 January) 
 
Half of Companies See Future AIDS Impact 
 
Companies around the world are becoming increasingly concerned about AIDS, with 46% now expecting some impact in the next five years, as compared to 37% in the same study a year ago. The survey was released on 11 January by the Global Health Initiative of the World Economic Forum prior to the meeting of the WEF in Davos, Switzerland. 
Although nearly half of the almost 11,000 corporate leaders in 117 countries surveyed recognised that HIV/AIDS would hurt their business in future, only 9% had conducted a quantitative risk assessment. Furthermore, it is only in regions where HIV prevalence exceeds 20% that the majority of firms have formal HIV/AIDS policies in place. Where the incidence is lower only a small proportion of companies have enacted policies. 
 
(Source: WEF-GHI website. The survey entitled, &ldquo;Business and HIV/AIDS: A Healthier Partnership?&rdquo; can be accessed at <a href="http://www.weforum.org">www.weforum.org</a>) 
 
Once-a-Day AIDS Pill Shows Promise 
 
A once-a-day AIDS treatment, the first of its kind, has been jointly developed by multinational drug firms Gilead and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and could soon outrun three-times-a-day regimens. According to research published in the latest New England Journal of Medicine, the manufacturers found the new drug especially effective in suppressing HIV viral loads and having fewer side effects than commonly used antiretrovirals. It is hoped to obtain approval by the end of 2006. 
 
No cost of the treatment is yet available. AIDS treatment activists have demanded that the drug be marketed at an affordable price for developing countries where simplified regimens are most needed. 
 
(Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, posted on <a href="http://www.allafrica.com">www.allafrica.com</a>&nbsp;on 20 January) 
 
China: Number of People Living with HIV/AIDS Down 
 
Figures jointly released by China&rsquo;s Ministry of Health, the WHO and UNAIDS on 25 January, estimated the number of people living with HIV/AIDS at 630,000 in 2005, down form an estimate of 840,000 in 2003. This is not a success story in prevention but rather due to errors in estimates of people getting infected by blood donations in previous years. 
The survey therefore cautioned against complacency, saying the figure was still rising and the virus is spreading from high-risk groups to the general population. Experts have warned that China&rsquo;s increasingly mobile population faces a broader risk as more infections occur through drug injection and sexual contact. 
 
(Source: Reuters World Report, 25 January) 
 
UNGASS Review 
 
This year, the United Nations General Assembly will undertake a comprehensive review of the progress made in achieving the targets agreed by member states at the 2001 General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS, and set in place the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. The review will take place during a high-level meeting at the UN Head Office in New York from 31 May to 2 June. 
 
Update from ILOAIDS 
 
You can access news from around the world on HIV/AIDS and the world of work on the ILOAIDS website <a href="http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/trav/aids/index.htm">http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/trav/ 
aids/index.htm</a>&nbsp;and click on News from around the world or go directly to <a href="http://www.newsnow.co.uk/clients/ilo/results.html?keyword=AIDS">http://www.newsnow.co.uk/clients/ilo/results.html?keyword=AIDS</a>&nbsp; 
 
Under Core Documents on the ILOAIDS website, you find the ILO Code of Practice and the Education and Training Manual implementing the ILO Code of Practice and the world of work. 

REMINDER TO ICEM AFFILIATES 
 
This is your newsletter &ndash; contribute to it! 
 
ICEM affiliates are already engaged in a wide range of activities, some have formal agreements with companies; others run education and awareness programmes at the workplace. To spread the information on new agreements and campaigns and to build on best practices, affiliates and project coordinators are invited to send news and information to hiv.aids@icem.org. Any feedback on the format and contents of the e-bulletin is also welcome. 
 
This ICEM HIV-AIDS Newsletter &ndash; How to Subscribe or Translate? 
 
To subscribe to the e-bulletin, send an email to <a href="mailto:press@icem.org">press@icem.org</a>. Please put &ldquo;subscribe ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin&rdquo; in the subject line. 
 
Unfortunately, the e-bulletin can only be published in English. For a free automated (non-ICEM) translation of this HIV-AIDS bulletin into other languages, you may want to try <a href="http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr">http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr</a> or <a href="http://www.google.com/language_tools">http://www.google.com/language_tools</a> and insert the following URL into the window &ldquo;Translate a Web page&ldquo;: 
<a href="/index.php?id=72&amp;la=EN&amp;doc=1634">/index.php?id=72&amp;la=EN&amp;doc=1634</a>.

ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin - No. 5

<img height="61" alt="" src="" width="125" />
The ICEM learned today that one of the two top leaders of the Nepalese trade union federation GEFONT was released from police custody in Kathmandu. 
<img height="129" alt="" src="" width="100" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img height="127" alt="" src="" width="111" /> 
Left: Chairman Mukunda Neupane (released) 
Right: Gefont's Secretary General Binod Shrestha 
(still&nbsp;under arrest) 
Chairman Mukanda Neupane was released Tuesday evening, 24 January, but GEFONT Secretary-General Binod Shrestha was still being detained. Both had been arrested early on 19 January. Also released were two trade union leaders of another trade union federation, NTUC, as well as a number of pro-democracy political leaders. 
 
Upon his release, Brother Neupane thanked the international community&mdash;particularly the global trade union family&mdash;for its strong support, and urged the people of Nepal to continue efforts to bring democracy to the Himalayan country. Neupane, however, also expressed dismay that other detainees, including Brother Shrestha, are still being held. 
 
Further information can be found at the GEFONT website: <a href="http://www.gefont.org">http://www.gefont.org</a>.

GEFONT Chairman Mukanda Neupane Released in Nepal

Another mining disaster happened 10 January in South Africa at AngloGold Ashanti&rsquo;s TauTona gold mine near Carletonville, just outside of Johannesburg.
A rock slide caused by an earth tremor killed three workers, and injured five others, two of them seriously. An investigation into the accident is being jointly conducted by the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, ICEM affiliate National Union of Mineworkers, and AngloGold Ashanti South African Mines. 
<img height="103" src="" width="100" alt="" />
A similar earth tremor at the TauTona Mine last July killed two miners, while a rock fall at AngloGold&rsquo;s Mponeny Mine in South Africa in October also killed two miners.

Earth Tremor Kills Three at AngloGold South African Mine

The worst Romanian mining catastrophe in 20 years occurred on 14 January when a methane gas explosion occurred at the Anina Mine in the southwestern part of the country.
Seven miners were killed and five seriously injured by the blast at the 200-year-old mine owned by state-run Benat Mining Co. The mine was scheduled to be closed in October 2006, but Romanian President Traian Basescu&mdash;upon visiting the site a day after the disaster&mdash;ordered immediate closure.
<img height="67" src="" width="100" alt="" />
Records show that some 1,000 miners have died at the Anina Mine since it opened in 1792, with the worst tragedy happening in 1920 when 270 miners perished from an underground explosion.

Gas Blast in Romanian Colliery Closes 214-Year-Old Mine

<img height="100" src="" width="100" alt="" />
A 17-day strike by some 28,000 contract workers of Chilean state-run copper producer Codelco ended over the weekend.
Contract workers did not receive the bonus payment they were seeking, but did achieve a pre-agreement to end the strike for alternative financial compensation and improvements in working conditions. Codelco&rsquo;s contract workers are unionised and are members of divisional unions aligned with the Copper Workers Federation (FTC). 
The non-ICEM-affiliated FTC&rsquo;s strike actions centered at Codelco&rsquo;s El Teniente mining area and at the company&rsquo;s Andina Division. Codelco is the world&rsquo;s largest producer of copper. The strike caused copper prices to hit a record high on 19 January.

Contract Workers End Strike at Chile’s Codelco Mines

Miners at a uranium mine in Namibia won a 2006 salary agreement from R&ouml;ssing Uranium after interrupting work for four hours on 10 January to deliver a petition to company management.
<img height="66" src="" width="100" alt="" />
Some 450 miners of the R&ouml;ssing Branch of ICEM affiliate Mineworkers&rsquo; Union of Namibia won an 8% pay hike from the mining concern that is 68.6% owned by Rio Tinto, plus a one-off bonus of N$1,000 and substantial housing allowances. When senior managers at the mine where unavailable to accept the petition at the mine&rsquo;s main entrance, miners boarded buses to Swakopmund, some 70 kilometers away, to present the petition to senior management.
Rio Tinto announced in December that it was investing US$112 million in R&ouml;ssing Uranium, a move that would extend the life of the mine from 2009 to 2016.

Rio Tinto Miners in Namibia Win Pay Gains

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