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ICEM Netherlands affiliate FNV Bondgenoten has temporarily suspended talks with the Social Economic Council over policies of the right-wing government. Those include deterioration of social benefits for the unemployed and those sick, and a proposed block on workers seeking to take early retirement. On 20 September, a mass union rally in Rotterdam entitled “This Government Policy is a Bridge Too Far” will occur spanning the Erasmusbridge and Willemsbridge into the center of Coolsingel. And then on 2 October at 12:00 noon, a mass strike expected to draw hundreds of thousands of citizens is set for Amsterdam at Museumplein prior to Parliament’s debate over taxes.

Unions in Netherlands Gear Up to Protect Social System

The ICEM launched an aggressive global campaign to stem the use of contract and agency labour at a conference in Brussels 16-17 September. Trade union leaders of ICEM affiliates were uniform in their consensus that long-term and wide-ranging strategies are needed to protect the community-enriching benefits that permanent employment offers. Central among all strategies developed will be a programme aimed at primary employers in all ICEM sectors.

ICEM Launches Bold Campaign on Contract and Agency Labour

More than 500 protesters joined yesterday's picket, which was organised by the Association of Trade Unions In Basic Industries. 
 
The association groups the Oil, Gas and Construction Workers' Union (ROGWU), Electrounion, the Chemical Industry Workers' Union, the Mining and Metallurgical Industries Workers' Union, the Construction and Building Materials Industry Workers' Union, the Atomic Energy Workers' Union, the coal workers' union Rosugleprof and the Timber Industry Workers' Union. 
 
 

<img height="241" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/rus1.jpg" width="380"/>
 
Most of the demonstrators were members of unions affiliated at the global level to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). Last week, the ICEM strongly criticised the tax plan and urged the Russian government to consult with the unions. 
 
That consultation moved forward yesterday when the Moscow protesters delegated representatives for negotiations with the Vice-Chair of the Russian government, Valentina Matvienko. 

<img height="243" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/rus3.jpg" width="380"/>
TAX CHANGES OPPOSED 
Russian union leaders lobbied the government over the threat of social cuts. Here, ROGWU's Lev Mironov is telling the Moscow demonstrators that the unions will pursue their demands. 
(Photos: ROGWU) 
Heading the union side at the talks was ROGWU President Lev Mironov. He chairs the Association of Trade Unions In Basic Industries and is a member of the ICEM Executive. 
The delegates told the government of their serious concern about cuts in working people's social protection if the new tax were introduced. It was agreed that the consultations will continue. 
 
After the talks, a brief meeting was held on Moscow's Gorbaty Most (Arched Bridge). Pickets expressed their support for their representatives' demands and said they were ready to continue the protest action in defence of working people's rights.

Russian Unions Picket Government Over Tax Plan

US affiliate United Steelworkers took advantage of union-friendly language in last year’s Goodyear tyre contract to win card-check recognition status at a tyre mold plant in Statesville, North Carolina. A vast majority of the 130 workers at the non-union plant expressed a desire for USWA representation through a card signing process, and an independent arbitrator verified that. The union and local management will now negotiate a first collective agreement for the 130. USWA has also submitted a majority of cards to an arbitrator for representation at another Goodyear tyre facility employing 350 workers in Asheboro, North Carolina.

USWA’s Neutrality Language with Goodyear Pays Off

ICEM German affiliate IGBCE entered a second round of bargaining with chemical employers 7 June with hopes of achieving a real wage increase for 550,000 workers, as well as special bonuses for trade union members. IGBCE also seeks to include more mid-level and small chemical employers in mandatory industry pension plans. The union and chemical employers association BAVC, representing 1,900 companies, did make progress in May talks toward increasing the number of trainees in the chemicals sector and establishing a fund to pay special stipends to workers in the event of job displacement.

IGBCE, Employers Continue Efforts to Resolve Chemical Talks

German and French unions are teaming up to block the hostile takeover of German-French pharmaceutical Aventis by French rival Sanofi-Synthelabo. Hubertus Schmoldt, president of German IGBCE and Patrick Pierron, general secretary of the French union FCE-CFDT, oppose the hostile takeover. They fear massive job cuts in both countries will result, and jointly expressed disdain over how the takeover was set up. “A hostile takeover such as this is counter-production to the stock market. There are hardly any winners with such actions, but certainly plenty of losers,” the two unions said.

French, German Unions Resist Aventis, Sanofi Chemical Merger

Two US ICEM affiliates—USWA and PACE—have been jointly working on legislative and member mobilization projects for several years. The two unions have now officially consummated that bond by entering into a formal strategic alliance with each other. The cooperative bond “recognizes that it is in each union’s mutual interest to coordinate their activities and share with each other the knowledge, techniques and experiences each has gained in areas in which they excel.”

US Unions USWA, PACE Form Strategic Accord

An announcement by the Canadian government to sell off its remaining 19% stake in Petro-Canada was denounced by the country’s leading energy union, Communications, Energy, Paperworkers of Canada. The Calgary-based company was established in 1975 to promote domestic supply of oil and gas and as a counter to the US-based oil giants. Petrocan is involved in Arctic gas, oil sands in western provinces, exploration and production of eastern seacoast reserves. It also operates a chain of petrol stations across Canada. “Canadians want and need a role in our oil and gas industry, and now is not the time to sell off Canada’s station,” said CEP President Brian Payne. “There are more than six million Canadians who drive up to Petro Canada regularly, believing that this company in part belongs to them. I can’t think of a better way to alienate Petro Canada’s loyal customers than by selling out.”

CEP Resisting Canadian Petro-Canada Sell-Off

IGBCE in Germany has warned employers in the chemical industry not to deviate from their social responsibilities in bargaining that begins in April for 580,000 chemical workers. Emphasizing that only some employers are stating the industry needs to “catch its breath” free of any wage increases, IGBCE said in a statement it would not change directions in upcoming talks. The union maintains that only through meaningful increases can the consumer economy in Germany improve.

German IGBCE Warns Chemical Industry Ahead of Bargaining

Workers at Chernobyl and Ukraine's four other nuclear power stations will launch an indefinite strike on 22 March over unpaid wages. 
 
Their union, the ATU, confirmed this in a message received today by the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). The ATU is an ICEM affiliate. 
 
The nuclear workers are now owed more than 15 million US dollars' worth of back pay. They have repeatedly warned that serious underfunding of the sector poses a threat to nuclear safety. 
 
The strike decision was taken after an arbitration board ruled that the nuclear power utility Energoatom is in breach of its collective agreement with the workers. Subsequent attempts at conciliation failed. 
 
The number of protesting workers in the "tent villages" around the power stations has now grown to more than 2,000. They launched a hunger strike on 6 March, and workers in various other Ukrainian sectors have demonstrated in support. 
 
Strikes and underground sit-ins are also continuing in Ukraine's coalmines, where miners are owed pay totalling more than 700 million US dollars. The ICEM-affiliated miners' union MITU has said the strikes will continue indefinitely. 
 
Cash-flow has slowed to a trickle in most parts of the Ukrainian economy. In consequence, most bills go unpaid - or are part-settled with bartered produce. This also applies to the energy bills run up by industrial and other consumers. 
 
After repeated appeals from the nuclear workers' leaders, a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Valery Pustovoitenko finally took place on 5 March. He was informed about the escalation of the union action, and was told that the campaign had gained international support through the ICEM. 
 
It was agreed to set up a special commission, which was due to begin work today. The commission will examine the non-payment of electricity, heating, coal and gas bills and has the authority to cut off supplies to major defaulters. 
 
Further talks are scheduled for tomorrow. 
 
The Ukrainian miners and nuclear workers can count on full international union support, ICEM General Secretary Vic Thorpe repeated today. 
 
"The situation in Ukraine gives cause for real concern by the world community as a whole," Thorpe said. "The world must insist that these wage debts be paid off without further delay. Major international funding has been pledged for the modernisation of the Ukrainian nuclear sector and the restructuring of Ukrainian mining. As large a proportion of that funding as is necessary must now be earmarked for settling the wage debts in those industries. The workers' wages must have first call on the finances available. Natural justice - and international safety - demands this."

Chernobyl Strike Starts 22 March

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