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America&rsquo;s second and fourth largest industrial unions merged 12 April, creating North America&rsquo;s largest industrial union. ICEM affiliates United Steelworkers and PACE are officially one following a resounding voice vote of approval from delegates representing PACE local unions at a special convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Steelworkers&rsquo; Executive Board had already approved the merger in January. The merged union now has 850,000 members and is called the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied-Industrial and Service Workers International Union, or simply USW.

PACE and USWA in US Officially Merge

Progress was made in the 10-month dispute between Argentine affiliate SUTNA and Bridgestone/Firestone. Last October, the firm sacked 90 workers at a tyre factory near Buenos Aires when it illegally imposed a rationalization plan without bargaining with SUTNA. Following an eight-day blockade of the plant in late June and early July preventing suppliers from delivering raw materials, BS/FS agreed to talks through efforts of the provincial labour minister. A handful of the 90 workers have been so far recalled and negotiations not only continue for reinstatement of the remaining, but on a new collective agreement for which the company refused to discuss last year.

Argentine Affiliate Continuing to Pressure Bridgestone Tyre

<p>Canadian Steelworkers will be in a position to strike Rio Tinto subsidiary Iron Ore Company of Canada in mid-July after rejecting harsh concessionary proposals at operations in Newfoundland and Quebec. Mediated negotiations broke off 25 June and following the conciliator&rsquo;s report to the Labour Ministry, three branches of the USWA representing 1,400 workers can legally strike 15 days hence. Despite peak demand and booming market for iron ore, Rio Tinto is seeking concessions that amount to C$7-an-hour per worker. A prior labour agreement expired 1 March.</p>

USWA Members in Canada Set to Strike Rio Tinto

The ICEM has protested ExxonMobil&rsquo;s decision in C&ocirc;te d&rsquo; Ivoire to sack oil workers without dialogue and negotiations with affiliate SYNTEP-CI. The US-based firm is unilaterally moving on a plan called &ldquo;functional alignment&rdquo; that closes workstations and produces collective redundancies. Since ExxonMobil did negotiate with unions in neighbouring countries, the ICEM called it &ldquo;the highest level of discrimination,&rdquo; as well as &ldquo;violations of workers&rsquo; and union rights.&rdquo;

ICEM Calls Attention to ExxonMobil’s Harsh Côte d’ Ivoire Actions

The initial conference of ICEM&rsquo;s ExxonMobil Workers&rsquo; Global Network has been set for 3-4 November 2004 in the US city of Houston, Texas. US affiliate PACE is the lead union of the network. Unions representing ExxonMobil workforces are encouraged to attend. A call letter went out last month and trade union leaders can contact Gino Govender at ICEM or Keith Romig at PACE for further information.

First Global Meeting of ExxonMobil Network to Meet in US

Australian affiliate CFMEU criticized building firm Kavernar Clough for reprehensible conduct following an accident in which a crane dropped a 75-tonne steel vessel through a smelting tower. The accident occurred 1 June at Rio Tinto&rsquo;s Hi Smelt nickel plant in Kwinana, West Australia. The CFMEU halted work for 48 hours to insure the smelting tower was fully inspected and certified safe. The construction firm, however, instructed its men to continue with a concrete pour just minutes after the accident directly beneath the tower.

Union Critical of Firm’s Safety Procedures at Rio Tinto Jobsite

ICEM&rsquo;s Global Agreement, as well as US affiliate PACE&rsquo;s strategic accord with Swedish paper producer SCA were instrumental in bringing union representation to state of Arizona workers. In a two-day vote 27-28 May conducted by the US government, workers at a tissue plant in Bellemont, Arizona, voted for PACE 88-50. The union and SCA agreed to a &ldquo;principles of behavior&rdquo; code during the election campaign, which came as a result of ICEM&rsquo;s Global Agreement signed with the company in April, as well as PACE&rsquo;s cooperative accord signed with SCA in October 2003.

PACE in US Wins Union Recognition for SCA Workers

Rio Tinto Australian subsidiary Energy Resources may face prosecution in the Northern Territory following a March incident in which contaminated water from uranium processing was connected into workers&rsquo; drinking and showering supplies. Some 30 workers took ill. A report by the Northern Territory government identified serious breaches of regulations and NT&rsquo;s Mines and Energy minister said a &ldquo;lack of duty of care&rdquo; by management exists at the Ranger Mine in Kakadu National Park.

Rio Tinto May Be Prosecuted over Australian Water Contamination

Australian oil workers are battling the world&rsquo;s largest energy concern to preserve a family&rsquo;s way of life. Members of ICEM affiliates Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and Communication, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) were informed by Esso, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, and its contractors working the Bass Straight oil rigs off Victoria that it would shift to a two-week on, two-week off schedule, replacing the current seven-day roster. The unions are resisting the change. Contractors are seeking to terminate the enterprise bargaining agreement through Australia&rsquo;s Industrial Relations Commission. The contract for oil rig workers expired last year and contractors backed by ExxonMobil refuse to discuss issues until workers agree to the 14 continuous days away from families.

Australian Affiliates Resist ExxonMobil’s Shift Changes

As InBrief reported on 1 March that USWA was about to win its second card check organization with Goodyear, a majority of 350 workers at a plant in Asheboro, North Carolina, did choose the US&rsquo;s leading steel and rubber union for representation. Per terms of the collective agreement between USWA and Goodyear, an independent arbitrator ruled 12 March that a majority did want the union. Goodyear manufactures steel wire for truck tyres at the plant.

USWA Wins Unionisation for Goodyear Workers through Accord

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