9 February, 2012The European Works Council (EWC) of Rio Tinto joins with unions from around the world in condemning the company for its lockout of 780 Canadian members of Syndicat des Métallos d'Alma, an affiliate of the United Steelworkers (USW) in Alma, Québec.
CANADA: The European Works Council (EWC) of Rio Tinto condemned the global minerals and metals producer for its unwarranted lockout of 780 Canadian members of Syndicat des Métallos d'Alma, an affiliate of the United Steelworkers (USW) in Alma, Québec.
In a letter sent on February 2 to the CEO of Rio Tinto, Tom Albanese, the Rio Tinto European Works Council asked him to urge the local managers of Rio Tinto Alcan to "negotiate in good faith" in order to put an end to the lockout of 780 workers at Alma, which started on December 30.
Rio Tinto displays "a lack of vision that can only lead to the destruction of the social fabric of the community," wrote European Works Council Secretary Véronique Roche, warning, "Our European organization will stand alongside the USW in every effort organized in Europe and elsewhere and will participate in the USW's fight to repel such anti-social attacks."
The intervention made by Rio's EWC is part of an international solidarity campaign of the USW, the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions and the IMF to support the workers at Rio Tinto Alcan's Alma aluminium smelter. Eleven days ago ICEM and IMF global affiliates began sending protest letters to Rio Tinto's President and CEO Tom Albanese resulting in: the company turning off its fax machines.
A mass protest of Canadian and global trade unionists will take place in Alma on March 31. That will come a day after the ICEM North America Region holds its committee meeting in the region as a show of support for the victimised members of Syndicat des Métallos d'Alma, USW Local 9490.
The chief issue behind the lockout is Rio Tinto Alcan's desire to have unlimited outsourcing rights, something that would eventually half the wage base of the Saguenay-lac-Saint-Jean region. Since Rio Tinto purchased Alcan in 2007 for US$39 billion, Alma management has replaced each worker taking retirement, or in other reductions in force, by outsourcing to sub-contractors who use low-wage staff without full social benefits.
Syndicat des Métallos d'Alma tried to set a floor on full-time, direct employees in collective negotiations. Alcan refused and immediately locked out the unionized workforce on expiration of a prior five-year agreement.
For more information go to:
USW ENGLISH: http://www.usw.ca/workplace/campaigns/campaigns/rio
USW FRENCH: http://www.usw.ca/travail/campagnes/campagnes/rio
ICEM: http://www.icem.org//files/PDF/lettre%20TOM%20ALBANESE%20ALMA%20FEV%202012%20engx.pdf
To take action go to: http://www.imfmetal.org/index.cfm?c=28626&l=2