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12 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 65/1998
"Global unionism" is a must for the world's rubber manufacturing workers' unions. To achieve it, they launched a new action plan in Kuala Lumpur today.
Worldwide employment in the rubber manufacturing sectors has been heavily impacted over the past five years by the twin pressures of technology and industry concentration.
ICEM's George Becker:
"We will add a new global - global unionism."
(Photo: USWA)
Unions representing rubber manufacturing workers of all continents met in the Malaysian capital today and yesterday to assess the effects of these trends and to draw up a strategic plan of action. The union leaders were taking part in the World Rubber Industry Conference of the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
"The largest tyre manufacturers all have global strategies," George Becker pointed out. Becker is President of the ICEM-affiliated United Steel Workers of America (USWA), which organises rubber workers. "With the help of the ICEM," he said, "the major unions in the tyre industry are putting together a team to develop our own strategic plan."
Becker chaired the discussions in Kuala Lumpur and was unanimously re-elected as chairman of the ICEM Rubber Industry Section.
Elements of the rubber unions' new worldwide action plan include:
Regular detailed information exchange between unions on company strategies and terms and conditions of employment. This will assist unions' preparations for collective bargaining.
An integrated global support system between unions in the industry. This will uphold and extend the organisation of workers in independent and strong unions.
Where necessary, recourse to the international standards and monitoring mechanisms of the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the protection of basic trade union rights. Special attention will be paid to the concerns of women, who often form the majority of the workforce in the rubber industry's important non-tyre sector.
Strategic planning through a newly established Steering Group which will identify targets and coordinate support and solidarity activities on an ongoing basis.
Intensified work on building trade union networks within key rubber multinationals. These Company Networks involve trade union representatives and officials who negotiate with the company in question.
A higher profile for health, safety and environment issues within the industry. Action will include a campaign to "responsibilise" the various company "Responsible Care" programmes and to ensure trade union involvement in all such initiatives.
Global companies need to be confronted by global unions, the Kuala Lumpur delegates insisted. A key trade union demand must, they said, be the establishment of international agreements guaranteeing basic trade union rights and accepting the principle of universal "best practice" health and safety standards throughout each company's worldwide operations.
"We are constantly reminded of the global economy and global trade," Becker concluded. "Well, we will add a new 'global' - global unionism."