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“The stronger the union, the safer the mine!” 
 
 
 
We, representing miners’ trade unions from different federations and traditions, meeting in New Delhi from 28-30th October 2009, have examined the status of occupational safety and health in mines in India. We benefited from the presence of the representatives of ICEM, ILO, CIL, DGMS and CII. 
 
 
 
We declare that safety and health of miners is not an issue that divides us. We say: “the stronger the union, the safer the mine!” 
 
 
 
We are firmly of the view that ratification of ILO Convention 176 on safety and health in mines would provide real benefits for miners’ safety and health. The convention is a distillation of global good practice. It is a modern, relevant and achievable standard. 
 
 
 
India has been a member of the ILO since 1919, and is a leading member now. As the second most important mining country in the world, India should set an example by ratifying the convention 176. India was present at the debates in Geneva when the convention was drawn up, and participated in its development and the Indian delegation voted in favour of its adoption. 
 
 
 
The convention has been ratified by 23 countries, which represents more than 10% of the ILO’s membership. 
 
 
 
Since 1995, when the convention was adopted at the International Labour Conference, the Government of India has repeated on several occasions that it is “considering” the convention. We believe that now is the time for action. Fourteen years is long enough. 
 
 
 
We repeat our request to the government of India to ratify the convention forthwith, or engage in a genuine and meaningful tripartite dialogue to identify those articles in the convention that appear to stand in the way of ratifying the convention and seek the advice of the ILO in overcoming them. 
 
 
 
In the absence of any meaningful dialogue, miners’ trade unions will launch a campaign in favour of ratification, and we will seek to negotiate the realization of the standards contained in the convention through collective bargaining with individual mining companies. 
 
 
 
“The stronger the union, the safer the mine!”

Declaration by miners’ trade unions on ILO Convention 176

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With the end of a 42-day strike on 22 November by miners at BHP Billiton’s Spence copper mine, labour peace appears at hand in the copper mines of Chile, the world’s largest supplier of the red metal. Leading up to the close of November, future labour agreements are in place for most copper producers now, including at one of the three sets of mines owned by the Chilean state-run government, Codelco. 
 
The Spence strike will go down in this round of Chilean copper talks as the most contentious. With an expiration of 30 September, it was the second set of negotiations between BHP Billiton and the union at the open cast mine in the Atacama Dessert of Region II of northern Chile. 
 
On 13 October, the 560 miners at the three-year-old facility downed tools. The strike was resolved eight days ago when workers accepted a 4% wage increase, a bonus of US$14,000 per miner, and a loan guarantee from the company of US$4,060. The agreement runs for 41 months. 

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Two days earlier, on 20 November, in less acrimonious bargaining, BHP Billiton workers at the smaller Cerro Colorado copper mine ratified a separate 41-month deal with BHP, the world’s biggest mining house. That deal, to take effect 1 February, gives miners a 4.8% pay increase and a US$15,000 bonus. 
 
Also settling early were miners at the globe’s largest copper mine, Escondida, which is 57.5% owned by BHP Billiton, 30% by Rio Tinto, and supplies five percent of the world’s copper. That settlement came even before the official start date of negotiations. In mid-October, mine management and the union representing 3,400 miners agreed to a pay deal of 5%, with a US$28,000 bonus. 
 
Talks continue, but appear headed to a peaceful resolve between Xstrata and the mining union representing workers at its Altonorte mine and smelter in the Tarapacá region near the city of Antofagasta. An agreement there expires 18 December. 

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At Xstrata’s nearby Lomas Bayas mine, where copper ore is processed at the Altonorte smelter, miners walked off jobs last May for a week to ensure a fair pay package. Xstrata also has a 44% stake in the Collahuasi mine, Chile’s third largest copper mining operation. 
 
Talks are also underway at the copper and gold Candelaria mine, operated by US-based Freeport-McMoRan. 
 
The agreement at state-run Codelco’s Andina mining complex in central Chile came on 21 November, nine days before contract expiration. The wage package was not immediately made known. Three unions are bargaining jointly at Codelco’s Chuguicamata mine, part of Codelco Norte, which has a 31 December expiry. 
 
It is expected that the government, similarly as it has done at the Andean division mines, will extend fair wage offers to other workers of Codelco, which the supplies the world with 11% of its copper.

Copper Contracts Being Settled in Chile’s Mining Industry

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Since late 1997, dating from the merger between BP and Mobil the ICEM affiliated trade union in Greece, the Pan Hellenic Federation of Employees in Petroleum Products, refineries and Chemical Industry has faced a series of challenges from the company regarding increased outsourcing. 
 
Over the last ten years the outsourcing and transferring of the Accounting and Technical departments has taken place with numerous changes in the contracted company. In the initial instances the social plans offered to the workers were identical to those applied by BP Greece SA Oil Trading and Mobil Oil Hellas. 

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The latest conflict concerning the outsourcing of the Accounting and Technical departments and the intention to terminate the contract by BP Hellas is however different. This time it is clear that BP Hellas intends to end the contracts and new people will be employed on inferior terms and conditions of employment to circumvent the original conditions and to deny the workers their rights. Obviously this is completely unacceptable to our Greek affiliate. 
The union has the full support of our sister organization, EMCEF at European level in their claim that the proposed changes would be contrary to various European directives that give protection to the workers in question. EMCEF has already raised the issue with the relevant European Union structures. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/EMCEF.gif" width="146" height="46"/>
ICEM is also fully behind our affiliate’s claim and add our voice to their demand that there must be complete application of the directives to ensure that any structural changes in the business that impact on labour relation continue to benefit from the protection given by European Social Law. 
 
BP would be clearly violating both legal and ethical obligations, should it continue with its present proposals. It is essential that the company changes track and safeguards the legitimate rights of the relevant employees.

Outsourcing struggle at BP in Greece

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The ICEM fully supports the ‘Justice for Colombia’ campaign against the signing of an EU-Colombia free trade agreement (FTA). The trade agreement is currently being negotiated, despite strong opposition when it first appeared on the agenda, five months ago. 
 
Justice for Colombia is a coalition of trade unions in Europe, especially the UK, and is backed by the TUC. The coalition supports the Colombian trade union movement and Colombian people, in their struggle for social justice, decent work, and respect for trade union rights. EMCEF (European Mine, Chemical and Energy workers' Federation) has also expressed strong support for the campaign, the ICEM and EMCEF call upon affiliates and supporters to take action in support of this campaign. Visit the campaign website <a href="http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/?link=3_0_3">here</a>.  

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The human rights concerns in Colombia are extreme. The murder of trade unionists is becoming more and more common, with the country’s security forces consistently involved in the crimes. Those security forces act with the support of the government, who often publically label trade unionists as terrorists and never chase convictions for those responsible for the murders. These concerns have moved the US and Canada to delay their FTAs with Colombia, and the EU should also refuse to reward the Colombian government, until the human rights situation improves.

ICEM Backs Trade Union Campaign against EU-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

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ICEM’s Spanish affiliate FITEQA-CC.OO., 1st May Foundation, Trade Union Study Center of CC.OO and Observatory of Trade Unionism in Globalisation jointly organised a seminar on new trade union internationalism, in Barcelona on 26 November 2009. 
 
The ICEM was represented at the seminar through its Chemical and Rubber Industries Officer Kemal Özkan along with other speakers Philippe Pochet, Director of the European Trade Union Institute, Tomas Nieber, Industrial policy officer of the IGBCE of Germany and Chairman of the ICEM’s Chemical Industries Division, Javier Doz, International Secretary, CCOO (Comisiones Obreras) and Isidor Boix, Director, Observatory on “Trade Unionism in Globalisation”, 1st May Foundation, CCOO; Secretary for International Trade Union Action of FITEQA-CCOO. The seminar was moderated by Rodolfo Benito, Chairman of the 1st May Foundation, and Confederation Research Secretary, CCOO. 

<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/0911.spain.fiteqa.jpg" width="288" height="191" alt=""/>
Opened by Joan Carles Gallego, Secretary General, CONC, discussions took place around some basic questions such as “Internationalism as opposed to nationalism? Does this involve any aspects that are specific to trade unionism?”, “Does ‘globalisation’ offer anything new in line with trade union interests? “New trade union internationalism and the rules of world trade. Protectionism?”, “Multinationals as a possible specific framework for these concepts – codes of conduct, international framework agreements, trade union networks, EWC, worldwide committees”. 
 
“Under the circumstances of a globalised economy using outsourcing, privatisation, capital mobility and destruction of the welfare state resulting in mass unemployment and income insecurity, we, trade unions, are not passing through easy times. We need to be able to wage efforts to reshape our organisations and policies, to overcome the challenges arising from changing circumstances” stated ICEM’s Kemal Özkan. International level industrial relations through Global/regional framework agreeements, union networking at different level and campaigning, particularly against companies that insist not to respect trade union rights and freedoms, were all important tactics for the international labour movement, concluded the seminar. 
 
Discussions will be published soon at <a href="http://www.1mayo.ccoo.es">www.1mayo.ccoo.es</a>

Spanish Trade Unions Discuss Trade Union Internationalism

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ICEM participated in the 4th Congress of the Industrial Workers Union of Albania (FSPISH) on 14 November. The Congress took place in the Museum of History of Albania. The ICEM affiliate represents 22,000 members in the mining, oil, communication, metallurgy, and energy industries. It was the first time the ICEM had been involved with a Congress of the union. 

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The ICEM affiliate used the Congress to illustrate its increased focus on international work and solidarity. The FSPISH President, Br. Taf Koleci, outlined the current challenges and activities of the union and explained the main priorities of the union, moving forward. These include: increased priority given to relationship-building with other trade unions in Europe; increased cooperation especially with Mediterranean and Balkan trade unions through higher contributions to regional trade union bodies in energy, mining, chemicals, gas and petro-chemicals; continued solidarity work with foreign unions where cooperation already exists, through bipartite relationships and through the union’s membership in ICEM, EMCEF, PSI, EPSU, ETUC, and RETUNSEE; FSPISH will ‘fight’ for further development of its relationship with the ILO, seeking to build the foundations for strong tripartite social dialogue in Albania.

Albania’s FSPISH Congress Places Emphasis on International Solidarity

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As part of the monitoring of implementation of their global framework agreement, ICEM and central management of French-based chemicals multinational Rhodia carried out a joint mission in the USA from 6-11 December. A similar joint mission occurred first in China in 2007 and in Brasil last year. The principal objective was to ensure that the global agreement is properly implemented at specific workplaces. 
ICEM was represented by its General Secretary Manfred Warda and Chemicals and Rubber Officer Kemal Özkan, while Group Vice-President, Human Resources, Yolene Coppin and Vice President, Sustainable Development, Jacques Kheliff from Rhodia were present. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/0912.rhodia.jpg" width="248" height="164"/>
ICEM delegation with plant management
At the first day of the meeting at the headquarters of the North American zone, headed by Jim Harton, Rhodia’s North American business was introduced to the mission. Following ICEM’s presentation on its general activities and particular efforts on global agreements, there was a special discussion on the US economic and legal situation. Employing around 1600 workers in 18 manufacturing units, the North American section of Rhodia has four categories of operations which are Novacare, Eco Services, Silcea and Polyamide. The majority of the production workers of Rhodia in North America are organised by ICEM-affiliated trade unions, USW, IBT and LIUNA. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/0912.rhodia.2.jpg" width="236" height="152"/>
ICEM delegation with plant union reps
The mission visited the headquarters of the USW at Pittsburgh and met International President Leo Gerard and his Assistant Jerry Fernandez. President Gerard introduced USW and its activities, particularly the drives to secure manufacturing and industrial employment in the US. The mission later travelled to Houston where Rhodia has a plant of Eco Services, organised by the USW. After the meeting with the factory union committee and local officers of the USW, the local management team briefed the group on the plant’s activities and labour relations, followed by a site tour. The Rhodia North American team also informed the ICEM about the company’s policies and programmes on human resources, employee benefits, and community relations. 
“Between 2007 and 2009, in the framework of our global agreement, we have realised various missions in all the zones where Rhodia has business. This clearly demonstrates our engagement with a multinational company at a global scale, and it works very well,” commented ICEM General Secretary Warda. “We believe that that global agreements can and should play a meaningful and constructive role in labour relations, and our recent visit has shown this.”

ICEM and Rhodia in joint mission of monitoring in the USA 

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The joint publication of the Global Union Federations (GUFs) on climate change and other issues addressed at COP15, Copenhagen, is now available via the Council of Global Unions website <a href="http://www.global-unions.org/spip.php?article306">here</a>.  Print copies are being distributed to the trade union delegation to the climate conference 

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The joint publication, entitled “Getting the World to Work: Green Growth for Jobs and Social Justice,” includes sectoral perspectives from each GUF, with a joint article published from ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda and International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) General Secretary Jyrki Raina. The publication also includes explanation of union consensus positions on climate debate issues from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). 
 
The publication follows the success of a similar Council of Global Unions’ publication called “Getting the World to WORK: Global Union Strategies for Recovery,” in which global trade union federations, together with the ITUC and TUAC of the OECD, came together to present strategies in response to the global economic crisis.

GUFs’ Magazine on Climate Change Available Through Council of Global Unions

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The founding congress of PRO.GE was held 26 November in Vienna, a union that is the result of a merger of the former Chemical Workers´Union (GdC) and the GMTN (metal, textile, food, energy, and mining union). Rainer Wimmer, originally from the foodworkers, was elected President, while Alfred Artmäuer (former President of the chemical workers), Karl Hass, Franz Riepl (metalworkers) and 6 others were elected vice-presidents. Peter Schissler (former General Secretary of the chemical workers and Executive Committee member of the ICEM) and Manfred Anderle were elected new executive federal secretaries. Manfred Anderle will remain as contact to the European and International Trade Union organizations. 

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The Congress was held under the motto "Self-confident, combative, solidary", and brings together over 250,000 blue collar members in Austria. The new union will be negotiating some 140 sectoral collective agreements in 16 different sectors. 
 
ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda addressed the congress and congratulated delegates on the successful merger which, he said, sets a good example to those at the international level, who also seek to unite unions in the manufacturing industries.

Founding Congress Takes Place of New Austrian Manufacturing Union PRO.GE

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Seventy-seven Russian electric utility workers are dead following a massive explosion at a hydroelectric plant 17 August in the Khakassia Region of south Siberia. Workers at the site, Sayano-Shushenskaya, owned by the 60% state-run company RusHydro, are organised by ICEM affiliate Electroprofsoyuz. 
 
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry warned in 1998 that the country’s largest hydroelectric plant was desperately in need of major repairs, but little work had been done. The explosion occurred in the turbine hall of the dam, reportedly when a faulty turbine combined with a rise in pressure inside pipes caused the horrific explosion. 
 
On Saturday, 22 August, rescuers recovered 19 more bodies, bringing the death count to 66. Another 11 workers are thought to have perished, perhaps swept down the Yenisei River. 

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A day earlier, on 21 August, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the scene and announced families of the dead will each receive one million rubles (US$31,450) in compensation from RusHydro. Putin said the Russian government will match that amount. 
 
Workers were killed by drowning and crushed by crumbling debris. Some 40 tonnes of transformer oil spilled into the Yenisei. Five of ten turbines were destroyed as the explosion blew out walls and flooded the turbine hall. It is expected that reconstruction will take up to four years, at a cost of US$1.2 billion. 
 
The accident is expected to hike energy prices in the region by as much as 30%. The facility generates one-fourth of RusHydro’s total power output and the plant supplies power to two aluminium smelters of RusAl. The company’s director of corporate strategy said that 500,000 tons of annual aluminium production capacity is under threat, bringing expected production this year down from 4.4 million tonnes to 3.9 million. 
 
Last Wednesday, 19 August, was designated as an official day of mourning in the Khakassia region, some 3,000 km east of Moscow.

Blast at Russian Electric-Power Dam Kills 77

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