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Seven trade unions representing Continental AG rubber workers in six countries gathered 18-19 October in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to discuss the German manufacturer’s labour practices. The meeting was hosted by the independent SNTGTM in Mexico. 
 
A declaration resulted from the conference on undertaking future work, including a Day of Action at Continental’s global worksites on 13 December 2006. The declaration includes a call to IGBCE of Germany, as the major trade union of Conti workers there, to conduct a meeting of Continental trade unions in order to work toward creation of a global union network. 
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Continental Tyre unionists 
in front of the San Luis Potosi plant
Trade unionists from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Germany, Mexico and the US attended the meeting in San Luis Potosi. The host union described how management at this plant sacked some union leaders, with SNTGTM taking the matter to court in order to get reinstatements. With that successful, the union has still found it difficult to bargain with the company each year. 
 
Mark Cieslikowski, a local union leader from US affiliate United Steelworkers (USW), told delegates of the harsh manner in which Continental closed a tyre factory in Charlotte, state of North Carolina, this year. Brazilian trade unionists told how, despite a collective agreement in place, managers at a facility in Canaçari block union representatives from entering the plant to speak with or organise workers. 
 
Jörg Schustereit, IGBCE member and member of the works council of ContiTech, called “Euroforum,” spoke about the process and workings of that council, while ICEM’s Rubber Sector Officer, Michael Wolters, reported on Conti’s economic situation, as well as the company’s current business strategy. 
 
The ICEM will update Rubber Sector trade unions about developments at Continental, as well as alert unions at Continental worksites about the Day of Action, 13 December 2006.

Rubber Unions Gather to Discuss Continental; Issue Declaration

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ICEM French affiliate FCE-CFDT is demanding that Bayer Pharmaceutical tend to all its social obligations in the German company’s recent announcement of location changes inside France. After last summer’s purchase by Bayer of Schering Pharma, the company announced last week it was moving the offices of the pharmaceutical division from Puteaux near Paris to the northern French town of Lys-lez-Lannoy, just inside the Belgian border.
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The pharmaceutical branch of FCE-CFDT warns that 500 jobs could be threatened by the move. “Important social consequences” will arise, FCE-CFDT said in a statement, “because not all Puteaux workers will go north. In addition, there might be collateral consequences for staff of other divisions of the company, including Bayer SAS and Bayer Jardin.” 
 
The union is calling on Bayer to commit itself to propose “an acceptable solution to every worker impacted by the decision,” and FCE-CFDT demands that an extraordinary meeting occur to address the social and economic future of the site at Puteaux.

FCE-CFDT in France Warns Bayer on Social Consequences of Move

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Nigeria’s two oil workers’ unions, NUPENG and PENGASSAN, expressed dismay that no representative from either state or federal government institutions attended last month’s funeral of PENGASSAN trade union leader Nelson Ujeya. Ujeya, who was murdered on 20 August 2006, when government forces engaged in a shootout with militants at the time he was to be released, was buried on 16 December in his home town of Uhgelli, Delta State. 
 
Comrade Ujeya was abducted by youth militia on 8 August 2006 in Letugnene, Bayelsa State, and while in the company of senior state authorities. A community liaison officer of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Ujeya and the state officials were inspecting a community development project in Letugnene at the time. 
The circumstances of the kidnapping and murder remain clouded. These circumstances were just one issue in a strike by NUPENG and PENGASSAN last September, a strike that was suspended after two days when, among other promises, the government pledged to conduct a full inquiry into Ujeya’s kidnapping and murder. Such an investigation has not yet commenced. 
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PENGASSAN President Peter Esele
“We are very sad there were no representatives from the government, especially the Bayelsa State government, at the burial,” said PENGASSAN President Peter Esele in a published report. “It confirms our long-held argument that our government does not care about us, the ordinary citizens.” 
 
Esele added that leaders of the two unions were surprised that not a single representative from either the petroleum or labour ministry paid their respects to Comrade Ujeya. Such absence, Esele continued, reflects the true feelings of top-level governmental officials regarding the promises made to end the September strike. 
Esele did recognise the respect given by SPDC during the aftermath of the murder, in which 10 others were killed, as well as at the funeral. “SPDC has provided a lot of assistance, financially, morally, and otherwise to the family to ensure that things are all right,” Esele said. “So, to SPDC, we appreciate what they have done, but to the government of Bayelsa in whose delegation he was with when abducted and eventually killed, we are very disappointed.” 
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Esele delivered a moving eulogy at Comrade Ujeya’s funeral: “You were, indeed, courageous both in your official duties as a Shell staff member and as a vibrant PENGASSAN activist. Who will ever forget your contributions to the contract staff unionisation and benefits enhancement struggle? Under thick and thin, and under unfriendly and hostile elements, you stood firm with other comrades in 2001 at the height of the contract staff struggle until success was achieved. Today, the lives of contract staff have been improved as a result of the struggle for which you stood firm.” 
 
Comrade Ujeye was a Pengassan committee member during a six-week strike that began on 10 May 2001. The strike gave contract staff for SPDC regularised employment with full and vested benefits.

Nigerian Government Ignores Funeral of Nelson Ujeya

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Last month, North American ICEM affiliate United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) negotiated the biggest pay and benefit increase in the US coal industry since 1974, winning a 32% wage and pension increase over a five-year period. The union negotiated the agreement with the Bituminous Coal Operators Association (BCOA), which will establish the pattern for several US coal operators in the coming months. 
 
UMWA membership of some 20,000 miners ratified the contract with 80% approval on 21 December. The contract took effect for 3,200 actives miners and 10,000 retirees in six US states at Consol Energy Inc. on 1 January. It includes a 20% across-the-board wage increase over the five-year period, and a future retiree benefit hike of $10-per-month for every year of service. In addition, UMWA’s members at Consol received a US$1,000 bonus at the first of the year. 
 
“There are no concessions, no givebacks in this agreement,” stated UMWA President Cecil Roberts. “There are only gains for current members, retirees, and their families.” 
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“This is the largest wage increase we’ve negotiated since 1974. Over the life of the agreement, a miner working at the top rate will see over US$32,000 more in his paycheck for just working straight time,” said Roberts in a statement. A mineworker represented by the UMWA had been averaging US$20.42-per-hour prior to this contract taking effect. 
 
Coupled with funds guaranteed through the US government’s renewal of the federal Abandoned Mine Land Fund, the new contract assures that health care coverage, with all benefits included, will be maintained with no cost increases to workers for co-payments. Roberts said that other coal companies will be bound to the new BCOA contract’s pension provisions, since they are part of the UMWA’s 1974 Pension Fund.

UMWA in US Negotiates Highest Gains with Coal Companies since 1994

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Polish mining unions stood their ground with the country’s Economic Ministry over total privatisation of two coal mining companies, as well as the sale of several mines of Europe’s largest coal producer, Kompania Weglowa (KW). A compromise agreement was reached late on 22 January between 12 miners’ unions and Economy Minister Piotr Wozniak, an agreement which halted a planned 24-hour warning strike, scheduled to start on 24 January. 
 
Coal miners balloted to strike on 18 January after 62% of the country’s 122,000 affected miners voted by 97% in favour of industrial action. A general strike was to follow the warning strike on 1 February if the privatisations and a plan to link miners’ salaries with production were not reached. 
 <img height="53" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Polandsolidarnosc.jpg" width="100" alt=""/>
The compromised consensus agreement states that the privatisation of mines will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and on condition that the government retain a majority stake in the coal sector. The Economic Ministry last September proposed the sale of state-run companies Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa (JSW) and Katowicki Holding Weglowy (KHW), as well as selling some of KW’s 17 pits, as part of the government’s mining sector reorganisation strategy for the years 2007 to 2015. 
 
The trade unions, including the ICEM affiliate Miners’ and Energy Workers’ Section of Solidarnosc, have been critical of the government’s minimum investment programme for coal mining, and feel that partial privatisation or management buy-ups of some mines could inject the necessary capital. 
 
The issue of the remuneration-to-productivity ratio is still unresolved, and the mineworkers’ unions are hopeful that continued dialogue with the government will solve this important issue.

Strike Threat Curbs Polish Government’s Privatisation of Coal Sector

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The ICEM has a new Norwegian affiliate, the result of a merger between oil and gas union NOPEF and chemicals union Norsk Kjemisk. On 4 September in Oslo, the two unions officially merged during a day-long joint Congress to form Industri Energi. 
 
The merged union, with a combined membership of 45,000 members, will have its headquarters in Oslo. 
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NOPEF President Leif Sande was elected Industri Energi’s first president, while Liv Undheim, former Deputy President of Norsk Kjemisk, won election as Vice President. After a long and successful career as Norsk Kjemisk President, Olav Stoylen took a well deserved retirement, effective with the 4 September Congress. 
 
The union marriage marks the second such merger this year among Norway’s trade unions. Last January, ICEM affiliate Fellesforbundet took in the Norwegian Graphical Workers’ Union, creating one big union for the pulp, paper, graphical and cardboard industry.

Industri Energi the Result of NOPEF, Norsk Kjemisk Merger in Norway

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Following a fire in the first and second generation stations of the El-Missaub electrical heat generation station, the Federation of Works Councils Unions of Iraq (FWCUI) calls for improved safety equipment at the facility. Two workers needed to be taken to a hospital as they suffered from suffocation after trying to extinguish the fire. 
 
The union is asking the administration of the station for increased safety measures, such as supplying the different units with personal fire protection devices, organising training on safety issues and repairing broken down safety equipment. The union also points towards the non-existence of insurance for workers in case they become the victim of an industrial accident.

Fire In Iraq’s el-Missuab Power Generation Station.

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Justice was finally delivered last week for Australians after shareholders of building materials company James Hardie on 7 February voted by over 99% to fund a A$4 billion asbestos compensation fund. The vote, and the 9 February transfer by the company of the first A$184 million into the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund, is the final victory in a six-year fight that will assure victims of asbestos are adequately compensated. 
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The James Hardie asbestos saga has become one of Australia’s greatest corporate fights, with trade unions, victim rights’ groups, and the state government of New South Wales taking on an arrogant company. In 2001, James Hardie announced plans to shift its headquarters from Sydney to The Netherlands in a move designed to avoid its legal obligations to thousands of people diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. In 2003, it made the move. 
That was after James Hardie CEO Peter Macdonald created an underfunded Medical Research and Compensation Fund, and declared to investors, “There will be no future provisions required,” adding that future liability will not impact company profits. In 2004, with revelations of deceptive stock market practices, including misleading investors, Macdonald departed the company. 
<img height="100" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/AUSTRALIAAMWU.jpg" width="100"/>        <img height="103" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/AUSTRALIACFMEU.gif" width="100"/>
This came as part of a comprehensive campaign by Australian labour unions, particularly AMWU and CFMEU, organisations such as Australia’s Asbestos Diseases Association, and hundreds of other civil society groups. The coalition staged shareholder protests, launched a global boycott on James Hardie’s products, and brought such intense public pressure to the company, that it was forced to acquiesce to a fair settlement. 
 
The settlement, A$4 billion into the fund over 40 years, was negotiated with James Hardie by Australia’s trade unions, the asbestos victims’ groups, and the government of New South Wales, which did exemplary work to bring the case to a successful close. 
 
"The pressure of unions, along with the NSW Government and the tireless work of the victim support groups and the community has been crucial to the success of this campaign,” said Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Greg Combet.

James Hardie Asbestos Case Finally Concludes Successfully

Trade unions from ten Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern and North African countries gathered in Amman, Jordan, on 2-3 September, and the result was a loud cry for global union solidarity from the unions of the politically troubled region. The event was an ICEM regional conference, and the Global Union Federation has now received 11 requests for affiliation from unions that attended. 
 
Jordanian Labour Ministry official Majeed-el Hbachena opened the conference, and said it is important that states offer constitutional and legal rights to trade unions so that they may fulfil their obligations. He also said governments must engage trade unions in developing education and training strategies for workers. 
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Key items in discussions over the two days included efforts by Iraqi unions to defeat the proposed oil law in that country, and winning respect and fair treatment for Palestinian workers from Israel and the global community. The 35 trade union leaders that attended stood united behind the position that Iraq’s natural resources belong to all Iraqi people! 
 
Trade unions from Kuwait, Yemen, Algeria, Egypt, and Iraq seek affiliation with the ICEM. “We have an important role to play in the region,” said ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda. “It is oil and gas, but electrical power, mining, and chemicals are also of major importance. Faced with increased levels of privatisation and contract and agency labour, unions in MENA face the same attacks as unions everywhere,” said Warda. 
 
The region also elected its nominees for ICEM statutory positions, posts that will be endorsed at ICEM’s November Congress. Some positions were designated on a yearly rotation system in order to bring more Middle East and North African (MENA) unions to the global front. Selected as the ICEM Vice President and Presidium member, in a rotating role, was Mohamed el-Sayed Morsi of Egypt’s Public Syndicate of Public Utilities. Current Executive Committee member Abdeslam Mansour of UMT, Morocco, was confirmed to retain that seat, and the substitute post will rotate between a delegate from Jordan’s General Union of Petrol and Chemicals Workers’ Union, and the General Union of Petroleum, Mining, and Chemicals Workers in Palestine (GUPMCWP). 
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Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein, president of Iraq’s General Union of Electricity Workers and Technicians (GUEWT), a member union of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW) and ICEM’s first affiliate from the occupied country, was nominated as the future Women’s representative on the Executive Committee. 
 
ICEM’s work in the region was strongly supported in Amman by the presence and voices of ICEM President Senzeni Zokwana, the president of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in South Africa, and Welile Nolingo, the general secretary of South Africa’s Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (CEPPWAWU), who also is an ICEM Presidium Member. 
 
The conference had the support and expertise of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES). FES’s Britta Kähler, from the Jordan office, played a major role in developing and carrying out the conference. It also benefited through involvement from the US Solidarity Center.

ICEM’s Middle East-North Africa Region Surges with New Growth

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At an ICEM Latin American meeting, several South American unions involved in labour-energy strategies, met in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 29-30 August. 
 
The ICEM invited two other Global Union Federations (GUFs), Public Services International (PSI), and Union Network International (UNI), as well to participate. Unions from the oil, gas, and electricity sectors attended, as did Uruguay’s paperworkers’ union. The major theme across the two days of discussions was discerning differences between a solely Latin-focused social plan and union network, and a more far-reaching, global network of energy and manufacturing unions. 
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From left to right: Fernando Berasain, coordinadora Mercosur unions, Achim Wachendorfer, FES Mercosur Office, and Manfred Warda, ICEM General Secretary
The ICEM stressed the number of multinationals operating in the region, including ones from Spain, Italy, Germany, France, and Russia. “With the high number of progressive changes coming politically in many Latin countries,” said ICEM Gen. Sec. Manfred Warda, “we can expect multinationals to be more open about entering dialogue toward global agreements.” The ICEM already is partner with companies in countries above in global framework agreements. 
 
Warda invited all Latin American trade unions to join the ICEM, or one or another of the GUFs, in order to support the current trend of cooperation among global trade unions and federations. “The ICEM calls on all unions in the region to build a strong movement, not just in Latin America but in energy sectors across the world,” said Warda. “The ICEM asks Latin trade unions not to formally establish a separate organisation, but give support to the existing organisations and strong influence on the global issues that matter, especially energy.” 
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Trade unions from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela attended the meeting, including representatives from national centres from several countries. 
 
For the ICEM, the conference served to advance a recently started project in Brazil on social dialogue with several multinationals, a project similar to the ICEM project launched in Colombia in 2004. The ICEM also opened the debate on Contract and Agency Labour (CAL). Contributions on this topic came from nearly all participants, and many had positive examples that shed new light on the issue. The union delegates discussed the ICEM’s CAL Project, and agreed that a priority must be on organising contract workers. They also pledged to write letters to respective energy ministers on the dangers of sub-contracting. 
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And also from the ICEM, Vice President Sergio Novais, Latin America/Caribbean Region chairman of the ICEM, presented a training and leadership programme, which would start with 30 trade union leaders doing a residential course. In between, the 30 would be engaged in an intense, 200-hour training in distance and e-learning, with the union leaders expected to each train 20 other union members. 
 
The formal meeting adopted two resolutions, one on the continuing threats and deaths of Colombian trade unionists. The other one extended support to workers in Peru, who experienced death and destruction from the recent earthquake in the country. The <a href="/en/26-Latin-America-Caribbean/2384-ICEM-resolution-on-Colombia-ICEM-Latin-America-energy-meeting-in-Montevideo-Uruguay " type="internal">Colombian resolution can be found here</a>. The <a href="/en/26-Latin-America-Caribbean/2383-ICEM-Resolution-on-Peruvian-earthquakes-ICEM-Latin-America-energy-meeting-in-Montevideo-Uruguay" type="internal">Peruvian one is here</a>. 
 
The meeting was aided by help from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES).

Latin American Energy Conference in Uruguay Gets Sound Footings

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