4 April, 2012
The ICEM this week protested the unfair dismissal of 14 employees of Molds Medellin in Sabaneta La Estrella, Colombia. The members of Colombian affiliate Sintravidricol were informed on 22 March of the immediate cancelation of their contracts with no prior discussion with union representatives and with no reason given.
Writing to the new CEO of Ross International, Tom Lusk, ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda stressed the international attention and expectation on the company’s management following the recent passing of Mr Larry Ross, the company founder.
Similar damaging downsizing inside Ross International’s operations is affecting ICEM members of the United Steelworkers in the US. Since 2008 the closures of Ross’s Penn Mold facility in Washington, Pennsylvania and the OMCO Mold facility in Winchester, Indiana have ended employment of approximately 150 mould makers. Currently the workforce at Brockway Mold in Brockway, Pennsylvania has been reduced by 50 percent to 44 mould makers with a further 12 slated for layoff.
Reminding Ross International that their conduct in Colombia was in breach of international labour law, Warda insisted on the company’s respect for the fundamental principle of dialogue with workers, which the unions are sure, could lead to alternative solutions to downsizing and shop closures.