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<img alt="" height="59" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBriefAlert.jpg" width="120" />

	Just over a year after a People’s Revolution shook Egypt, a glimmer of legislative light regarding trade union freedoms and formation of independent unions has come to the country. On 8 February, the Draft Law on Trade Union Freedoms was submitted to the People’s Assembly, the lower house of Egypt’s Parliament.

	After months of promises to leaders of the Egyptian Democratic Labour Congress (EDLC) and the Centre for Trade Union and Worker Services (CTUWS) for such legislation, it was introduced just over two weeks from the time the People’s Assembly opened its session following elections.

	If enacted, the law would codify many of the core ILO Labour Conventions that Egypt has ratified over the years, but has failed to implement due to draconian laws and decrees by the Mubarak regime, and more recently the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). Continuing Revolution Party Parliamentarian Aboul Ezz Al-Hariry is said to be championing the new law, and the EDLC and CTUWS – as well as the newly formed Independent Union of Workers in Electricity and Energy—are hopeful some provisions of it can still be strengthened.

	The draft law was prepared by Minister of Labour and Migration Ahmed Hassan El-Borai and had been discussed in eight tri-partite meetings of Egypt’s Manpower Committee before it was submitted to SCAF, which was silent on it.

	Now officially in Parliament, it will go before the Committee for Suggestions and Complaints and then to special Committees on Manpower and Legislative in public sessions.

	Foremost, the law would guarantee the right of freedom of association and encourage free and independent trade unions to thrive. It is hoped that other debate in Egypt will also occur on adopting an effective minimum wage policy, giving permanent contracts to temporary employees, and lifting bans and penalties on sit-ins, demonstrations and other forms of freedom of expression.

	“A year has gone by since the people of Egypt – most specifically workers’ groups – have stood and demanded their freedoms,” said ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda. “We are encouraged by the Trade Union Freedoms draft law and fully intend to support an Egyptian labour law that is in full compliance with global labour standards.”

ICEM Encouraged by Draft Labour Law in Egypt

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBriefAlert.jpg" style="width: 130px; height: 63px" width="390" />

	Some 250 European trade union militants turned out today at Unilever's Rotterdam headquarters in the Netherlands to protest the world's third largest consumer products company's unrelenting shut-off of a final salary pension scheme for 5,200 UK workers. 
	 
	The manifestation, under the banner “Unilever, Don’t Make Workers Pay for Your Profits”, saw representatives from no less than 23 European trade union organisations, as well as from the ICEM and the International Union of Food and Agriculture Workers' Association (IUF). 
	 
	For three months now, Unilever has been trying to bully UK's Unite the Union, GMB, and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) into conceding a final salary pension scheme, to replace it with an average career earnings pension plan effective 1 July 2012. Unilever CEO Paul Polman’s 2010-11 salary and bonus pay-out equaled €8 million, while Unilever’s UK employees face a slash of between 20-40% on their pension earnings.

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-unilever-rotterdam-2-web.jpg" style="width: 208px; height: 150px" width="390" />

	At today's manifestation, led by Unilever's European Works Council (EWC), the European Mine, Chemical, Energy Federation (EMCEF), and the European Federation of Food, Agriculture, Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT), rally leaders presented Unilever executive Rupert Chatwin with a declaration. 
	 
	In part, it read: "We are very concerned that Unilever has been pursuing an approach of uncompromising unilateralism in the UK, which may be indicative of a change for the worse in Unilever's corporate culture. 
	 
	"We believe that Unilever workers in Europe and around the world have good reason to fear for their futures. We have noted (CEO) Paul Polman's pledge to double Unilever revenue over the next ten years while promoting 'sustainable living' but that he says nothing about sustainable employment."

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-unilever-rotterdam-1-web.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 150px" width="390" />

	Rally leaders present Declaration 
	From left, Michael Wolters, Simon Cox, Unilever's Rupert Chatwin

	Unilever EWC Chairman Hermann Soggeberg told the gathering, including scores of the company's UK staff, that on behalf of 30,000 European workers, "We stand by your side in this dispute. You are on the front lines of what is just the beginning of bigger problems facing workers in Western Europe. 
	 
	"The struggle you face in the UK is a struggle we must all tie into." 
	 
	Other speakers included EMCEF General Secretary Michael Wolters, EFFAT EWC and Transnational Companies' Coordinator Simon Cox, as well as Unite Convenor Bill Hodgson from Unilever's Port Sunlight plant. 
	 
	Among some of the unions taking part: FNV Bondgenoten of the Netherlands, IGBCE of Germany, PRO-GE of Austria, FGA-CFDT of France, NGG of Germany, Petrol-Is of Turkey, FGTA-FO of France, FITAG-UGT of Spain, CGT of France, FLAI-CGIL, FAI-CISL and UILA-UIL, all of Italy, CNV of the Netherlands, and FGTB/ABVV of Belgium.

	  <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-unilever-rotterdam-3-web.jpg" style="width: 95px; height: 160px" width="390" />  

	The Rotterdam manifestation comes just days two weeks after Unilever posted a strong set of financial numbers in its latest results and three weeks after UK workers from several Unilever sites descended on Davos, Switzerland, where Polman served as one of the co-chairs at the World Economic Forum.

	Unilever UK management did finally agree to meet with the unions on 9 February with the assistance of UK’s Advisory, Conciliation and Mediation Services (ACAS), but the company is still adamant on closing the final salary pension scheme effective 1 July 2012.

Spirited Rotterdam Rally Calls on Unilever to Save UK Pensions

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 39px;" width="390" />

	Schlumberger, the world’s largest oil services company, has been scrambling to defend actions of local management in Egypt who sacked the entire leadership of a nascent trade union.  Pressure has been exerted by the ICEM and its affiliated Norwegian and Canadian unions, IndustriEnergi (IE) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP/SCEP), on senior management to intervene and remedy this unacceptable violation of rights in Egypt.

	Schlumberger employs around 2,500 workers in Egypt, 40% of whom are workers of subcontractors at 10 different worksites. 

	In April 2011, the process to establish an independent company-level trade union at Schlumberger Egypt was begun, as part of the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions (EFITU), the trade union centre established during the final days of the Mubarak regime. In May 2011, signatures and required documents were collected to complete the legal process of establishing the union.

	On 11 May, local management was informed of the new union structure, at which time management responded with threats leading to the dismissal of General Secretary Mohamed Abd Elrahman. On 3 July, the day of the union’s general congress, local management dismissed the union’s President, Brother Essam. On 5 July, local management summoned union members to the head office and threatened them with dismissal if they did not leave the union. And then on 7 July, local management followed through on an earlier threat and dismissed the union’s Assistant General Secretary, Ayman Abd Elmonem.

	 <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-egypt-schlumberger-sacked-pres-and-other.jpg" style="width: 195px; height: 161px;" width="390" /> 

	ICEM’s Jim Catterson with Sacked Union President, Brother Essam, at left

	No reason or dismissal letter was given to Abd Elmonem, he was simply blocked from entering the workplace. On 12 July, another union member was dismissed in similar circumstances, Mr. Hossam Al-deed Mostafa, again no written dismissal notice was produced.

	Under Egyptian law, workers can only be dismissed from their employment following a due legal process and a court ruling. The court procedure cannot even be initiated without justifiably serious reasons. Arbitrary unilateral decisions such as these cannot stand. Four sacked workers have been without income for several months now.

	“I write seeking your immediate intervention to remedy shocking violations of labour rights at Schlumberger operations in Egypt. In a vicious attack on workers’ rights to organise and bargain collectively, Schlumberger employees’ nascent trade union has been illegally dismantled through the sacking of its leaders,” stated ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda in a letter to Schlumberger.

	Register your protest to Schlumberger Chairman Andrew Gould, CEO Paal Kibsgaard, and Egypt Area Manager Amr Essawy by clicking <a href="mailto:gould1@exchange.slb.com; pkibsgaard@exchange.slb.com; AEssawi2@exchange.slb.com">here</a>.

	    <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/NorwayIE.jpg" style="width: 80px; height: 107px;" width="390" />    

	The company has responded to ICEM and IE calls with an investigation into the sackings.  ICEM will continue to monitor the situation closely and will mobilise the next phase of the campaign with Schlumberger’s clients, the oil and gas multinationals that use Schlumberger’s services, if positive action by the company is not taken soon.

	IE of Norway organises Schlumberger employees, and those workers registered their protest with Norwegian national management and local managers over the last ten days. Local Schlumberger union reps in Norway are meeting today with the ICEM.

	Egyptian activists in Paris on 18 February conducted a picket at Schlumberger headquarters and met with the manager of Schlumberger France, who has also now been mobilised to intervene into the case.

Oil Services Giant Schlumberger Pressured over Egyptian Union Busting

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 39px;" width="390" />

	Swiss-based cement multinational giant Holcim continues to anger the ICEM with its illegal treatment of contract workers in India. Attempts by contract and agency workers employed at Holcim’s subsidiaries, ACC Ltd. and Ambuja Cement Ltd., to organise and establish collective bargaining with management are being crushed with intimidation, coercion, and dismissal.

	On 12 January, the ICEM joined a complaint to the OECD submitted by the local union Pragatisheel Cement Shramik Sangh (PCSS).  PCSS is a member of the ICEM global family and represents 1,500 contract workers in the state of Chhattisgarh.

	The complaint focuses on a number of breaches of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises at Holcim’s cement companies. Other than the clear violation of the contract workers’ right to organise and bargain collectively, Holcim is also cited for refusing to engage in collective bargaining with PCSS, which is officially registered as the trade union representing workers at the cement installations.  Further violations are outlined in the complaint with respect to the surrounding communities around the Holcim plants.  The companies acquired land from local farmers and went on to destroy living conditions in local communities, namely shoddy water management and destruction of homes by blasting and mining. The subsidiaries also refuse to give permanent jobs to locals.

	 <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-holcim-india-press-conference.jpg" style="width: 245px; height: 160px;" width="390" /> 

	Today in New Delhi, ICEM participated in a press conference with the Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI) and PCSS and their national federation, New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI).  ICEM Asia-Pacific Representative Phee Jungsun said at the press conference, “It is through such practices as these that clearly violate workers’ basic rights to representation of their choice, as guaranteed by the UN, OECD and ILO, as well as the Indian constitution. That Holcim has doubled its profit margins through Indian operations stand as further disrepute in terms of the rights’ abuses of contract and agency workers.”

	Holcim celebrates its 100th anniversary this week and claims “We have placed Sustainable Development at the heart of our business strategy for many years, because we believe it contributes in adding value and ensuring continued success.”

	Holcim is in breach of Indian legislation, namely the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act that stipulates that contract workers may only be hired to perform non-core functions, and that those who perform the same or similar kinds of work as regular workers must receive equal treatment in terms of wages and conditions.

	However, contract workers in both plants are employed to carry out tasks which are fundamental to production, but receive only one third of permanent workers’ wages. 

	Holcim-ACC last year refused to respect a Chhattisgarh State High Court ruling that it is using “sham and bogus” contracts, and should regularise 27 contract workers. It was proven that contract workers at the plant do not have basic personal protective equipment, such as gloves, boots and masks, and are denied access to medical facilities, including basic first aid, in the factory.

	Between September 2010 and March 2011, 80 members of PCSS were dismissed by Holcim-Ambuja. Management of the plant repeatedly refused to participate in conciliation efforts by the Regional Labour Commissioner in Raipur.

	The Chapters and Paragraphs of the OECD Guidelines in violation are: Chapter II ( General Policies) specifically paragraphs A (1), (4),(9); Chapter IV (Human rights) specifically paragraphs 1, 2; and Chapter V specifically paragraphs 1 (a), (b), (d), (e), 3, 5.

	See the full text of the PCSS OECD complaint <a href="http://cal.icem.org/images/documents/OECD%20Complaint%207%201%202012.pdf">here</a>.

	See more information on the BWI Company Monitor webpage <a href="http://blogs.bwint.org/mnc/category/mnc-info/holcim/">here</a>.

Holcim’s Violations in India Taken to OECD

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 39px;" width="390" />

	The Australian High Court recently refused to hear an appeal by Rio Tinto over the company’s illegal non-union collective agreements imposed on iron ore miners in West Australia. The denial is a victory for ICEM affiliate Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), which took the case forward, and a victory for legitimate collective bargaining rights.

	It also stands as a rebuke to Rio Tinto in its efforts to avoid 2009 changes in Australian labour law.

	The 10 February ruling not to hear Rio’s appeal to a 25 July 2011 determination by the full bench of the country’s Federal Court means Rio’s sham labour agreement from July 2008 is not a genuine collective agreement. (See <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4571-Australia-s-CFMEU-Wins-Major-Bargaining-Ruling-Against-Rio-Tinto" type="internal">ICEM report</a> on Federal Court decision from 1 August 2011.)

	 <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-cfmeu-iron-ore-mining.jpg" style="width: 145px; height: 160px;" width="390" /> 

	It also serves as an invitation for iron ore miners – and others – in West Australia’s rich Pilbara region to take membership in the CFMEU, with the aim to negotiate real enterprise labour agreements through the union.  The High Court ruling will also negate other mining firms such as BHP Billiton, which also converted individual work agreements into non-union labour agreements that were intended to keep trade unions away from workers and workers without a union voice.

	In Rio Tinto’s case, it brought ten new hires of its Pilbara Iron Company Pty. Ltd. subsidiary into a bogus Pilbara Iron Employee Agreement for a five-year duration that was meant to include all other new hires during that time. The ploy was done to avoid changes in law that took effect with the July 2009 effective date of the Fair Work Australia law.

	Some 20 such delusionary labour agreements are said to have been put in place to avoid the Fair Work law, and Rio Tinto’s legal failure last week is expected to strike the ones that are still in effect null and void.

	“Rio Tinto made a cynical attempt to circumvent their obligations under the Fair Work laws,” said CFMEU Mining General Secretary Andrew Vickers. “It has tried to dodge its obligation to recognise the rights of its workers to genuinely collectively bargain for future pay increases and improved conditions.

	“It has been a long legal battle, but it’s been worth it to safeguard the rights of our members in the Pilbara and demonstrate that Rio Tinto is not above the law,” added Vickers.

Australian High Court Denies Rio Tinto’s Appeal to Evade Union Contracts

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 39px;" width="390" />

	Some 250 European trade union militants turned out today at Unilever's Rotterdam headquarters in the Netherlands to protest the world's third largest consumer products company's unrelenting shut-off of a final salary pension scheme for 5,200 UK workers. 
	 
	The manifestation, under the banner “Unilever, Don’t Make Workers Pay for Your Profits”, saw representatives from no less than 23 European trade union organisations, as well as from the ICEM and the International Union of Food and Agriculture Workers' Association (IUF). 
	 
	For three months now, Unilever has been trying to bully UK's Unite the Union, GMB, and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) into conceding a final salary pension scheme, to replace it with an average career earnings pension plan effective 1 July 2012. Unilever CEO Paul Polman’s 2010-11 salary and bonus pay-out equaled €8 million, while Unilever’s UK employees face a slash of between 20-40% on their pension earnings.

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-unilever-rotterdam-2-web.jpg" style="width: 208px; height: 150px;" width="390" />

	At today's manifestation, led by Unilever's European Works Council (EWC), the European Mine, Chemical, Energy Federation (EMCEF), and the European Federation of Food, Agriculture, Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT), rally leaders presented Unilever executive Rupert Chatwin with a declaration. 
	 
	In part, it read: "We are very concerned that Unilever has been pursuing an approach of uncompromising unilateralism in the UK, which may be indicative of a change for the worse in Unilever's corporate culture. 
	 
	"We believe that Unilever workers in Europe and around the world have good reason to fear for their futures. We have noted (CEO) Paul Polman's pledge to double Unilever revenue over the next ten years while promoting 'sustainable living' but that he says nothing about sustainable employment."

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-unilever-rotterdam-1-web.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 150px;" width="390" />

	Rally leaders present Declaration 
	From left, Michael Wolters, Simon Cox, Unilever's Rupert Chatwin

	Unilever EWC Chairman Hermann Soggeberg told the gathering, including scores of the company's UK staff, that on behalf of 30,000 European workers, "We stand by your side in this dispute. You are on the front lines of what is just the beginning of bigger problems facing workers in Western Europe. 
	 
	"The struggle you face in the UK is a struggle we must all tie into." 
	 
	Other speakers included EMCEF General Secretary Michael Wolters, EFFAT EWC and Transnational Companies' Coordinator Simon Cox, as well as Unite Convenor Bill Hodgson from Unilever's Port Sunlight plant. 
	 
	Among some of the unions taking part: FNV Bondgenoten of the Netherlands, IGBCE of Germany, PRO-GE of Austria, FGA-CFDT of France, NGG of Germany, Petrol-Is of Turkey, FGTA-FO of France, FITAG-UGT of Spain, CGT of France, FLAI-CGIL, FAI-CISL and UILA-UIL, all of Italy, CNV of the Netherlands, and FGTB/ABVV of Belgium.

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-unilever-rotterdam-3-web.jpg" style="width: 95px; height: 160px;" width="390" /> 

	The Rotterdam manifestation comes just days two weeks after Unilever posted a strong set of financial numbers in its latest results and three weeks after UK workers from several Unilever sites descended on Davos, Switzerland, where Polman served as one of the co-chairs at the World Economic Forum.

	Unilever UK management did finally agree to meet with the unions on 9 February with the assistance of UK’s Advisory, Conciliation and Mediation Services (ACAS), but the company is still adamant on closing the final salary pension scheme effective 1 July 2012.

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 39px;" width="390" />

	Somyot Pruksakasemsuk was once again denied bail on 20 February by the Thai Criminal Court and is still incarcerated at the Bangkok Remand Prison. Somyot, a long-time labour activist in Thailand, was arrested on 30 April 2011 for his activities as a journalist in the run-up to the Thai elections last July.

	He is charged with violating Section 112, or the lèse majesté law, a charge of defaming, insulting and threatening the King, Queen and heir apparent. Somyot is also alleged to have resisted arrest.  He denies all charges.

	Now working as the prison librarian, the Court ruled against bail on the following grounds: 
	- The trial is high profile and evokes strong reactions from the public; 
	- That Somyot is likely to escape Thailand if he is released; and 
	- That Somyot would interfere with the prosecution witnesses if released. 
	These reasons are not credible to Somyot’s supporters.

	 <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1202-somyot-in-chains.jpg" style="width: 88px; height: 178px;" width="390" /> 

	Somyot Pruksakasemsuk

	Somyot’s son, Panithan Pruksakasemsuk, conducted a well-publicised 112-hour hunger strike that ended on 16 February, to protest against the order of the Criminal Court to deny his father’s bail. The request for bail has been made seven times and sufficient deposit has been offered. His protest is aimed at demanding the right to temporary release of his father.

	Prosecutors have relocated Somyot to various provinces of Thailand for hearings by the prosecutor’s witnesses.  This has been described as a form of persecution of Somyot as several witnesses live in or near to Bangkok.

Thai Trade Unionist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk Still in Prison

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBriefAlert.jpg" style="width: 140px; height: 68px" width="390" />

	The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) is demanding that labour and regulatory law in the province of Ontario be toughened in the wake of the social calamity perpetrated by Caterpillar Inc. in the recent lockout/closure of a rail electric diesel factory in the south-western provincial city of London.

	With that nearly all labour law in Canada is governed by the provinces, CAW demanded in a 29 February letter to Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey that Ontario toughen its labour statutes as remedy to lax investment regulations. Specifically, the CAW demands that more powers be granted the Ontario Labour Relations Board to stamp out bad-faith bargaining strategies.

	The CAW is campaigning for a stronger and more modernized labour code in Ontario because of Caterpillar’s subsidiary, Electro-Motive Diesel, blackmailing workers and a community in choosing between non-liveable wages and a major plant closure. (See prior <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4876-Raging-Insult-to-Final-Injury:-Caterpillar-to-Close-Canadian-Train-Locomotive-Plant" type="internal">ICEM report</a> here.)

	 <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Ken.Lewenza.CAW.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 145px" / width="390"> 

	Ken Lewenza

	In the letter, CAW President Ken Lewenza said, “The company’s unjustifiable behaviour – and the resulting devastation now being brought to bear on workers and the community – has touched a nerve with Canadians and triggered broad public support.”

	The CAW is proposing powers of expedited interest arbitration in pitched labour disputes, as well as new provisions to prevent employers from evading collective agreements by using a lockout.

	Also put forward is a ban on scab replacement workers during a dispute, and restoring workers’ plant closing rights to negotiate adjustment plans. The CAW also says fairness demands the lengthening of time for giving plant closing notice, and a minimum two weeks’ pay for each year of service, with elimination of the five-year service tie-in.

	The CAW letter also calls for an Industrial Inquiry Commission, as stipulated in Section 37, Ontario Labour Relations Act, in order to investigate Caterpillar carnage on workers in the province and the city of London.

	“The Caterpillar debacle demonstrates all too well the ease with which an employer can stall out the negotiation process, bargain in bad faith with impunity and manufacture a dispute in an attempt to evade contractual obligations,” Lewenza stated.

	“Caterpillar did not misjudge or misinterpret Ontario’s labour laws; rather, they understood them all too well, and exploited the laws’ weaknesses as a key part of their overall strategy.”

Update Labour Laws, CAW Tells Ontario in Caterpillar Aftermath

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/>
International pressure – both inside and out of Georgia – caused a change of course last week by police and political authorities in the aftermath of the belligerent 15 September strike-breaking at Euroasian Steels in Kutaisi. Not only were over 30 sacked workers offered their jobs back, but police questioned the Indian managing director and two aides at Euroasian, also known as Hercules Steel, on 29 September. 
 
The next day the top boss was sacked. An ongoing police investigation is underway over his conduct inside the steel mill. 
 
In the midst of this positive reversal, the ICEM, however, took deep exception to remarks made last week by the Georgian business ombudsman, George Pertaia. On 6 October, Pertaia said the September strike by workers was manipulated and instigated by ICEM affiliate Metallurgical, Mining, and Chemical Workers’ Trade Union “to justify its existence.” 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1110.georgia.jpg" width="125" height="166"/>
Polish Solidarnoşç Union Members and ICEM Meet with Hercules Steel Workers, 28 September
Pertaia said that workers at Hercules have individual contracts and had no right to strike. “If the contract is signed, and you have already agreed with certain conditions, then you have no right to refuse those conditions,” he said. 
 
The ICEM reminds Pertaia that global labour standards do exist, including the right to join a union and to bargain collectively. Considering that Euroasian Steels, or Hercules, has no wage schedule in place, no health and safety plan, it pays no overtime, and workers are forced to work mandatory and long work days, industrial action was justified. 
 
The ICEM also invites Mr. Pertaia to examine the working conditions of 130 Indian workers employed at Hercules. They live eight to a room in a dormitory adjacent to the mill, their passports were being head by the managing director, Raji Kumar Sureika, their salaries are sent back to India, and they are given a miniscule stipend to support themselves off the job. 
 
In fact, it is believed that the managing director was sacked and is under police investigation because of treatment of the Indian workers. 
 
On 18 September, three strike leaders – Emilo Gumberidze, Irakli Iobidze, and Malkhaz Gogiava – were rounded up and jailed by police on bogus charges. They were given ten day jail sentences. (A <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4673-Georgian-Trade-Union-Leaders-Jailed-for-Passing-Drug-Test" type="internal">prior ICEM article</a> is here.)  
 
Upon release from the Kutaisi jail on 28 September, the three immediately called Metallurgical, Mining, and Chemical Workers’ Union President Tamazi Dolaberidze and pledged their continued support to the union. On 30 September, the new acting managing director of Hercules personally called each of the three to offer them their jobs back. The reversal gave Hercules metalworkers renewed momentum following the strike’s crushing and that registered both with Georgian workers and with Indian workers. 
 
Several points of global and internal civil pressure caused deep embarrassment to the Georgian government. There was high-level diplomatic pressure involved, especially after an international delegation that included the ICEM and top leaders from Poland’s Solidarnoşç union exposed the fact that the Indian workers at Hercules might just be treated worse than Georgian workers. 
 
The strike last month by 200 Hercules metalworkers was sparked after the Metallurgical, Mining, Chemical Union gained written support from a majority of the Georgian workers and then requested labour-management dialogue. After several weeks, the request was ignored and the strike started, including hunger strikes by four workers in front of the mill.

ICEM Rebuts Georgian Business Ombudsman for Remarks over Steel Mill Dispute

<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39" alt=""/>
Former ICEM Sub-Sahara Africa Regional Organisation (SSARO) Chairman Rayford Mbulu was named on 1 October to be Deputy Minister for Labour, Sport, Youth and Gender in Zambia. He enters the new government of Michael Sata and the Patriotic Front Party (PF), which won Zambian elections on 23 September. 
 
Mbulu takes the government posting along with the head of the reconstituted Labour Ministry, Fackson Shamenda, former President of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and once the African Regional Secretary of Global Union Federation Uni. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/0707ICEMAFConf1.jpg" width="180" height="169"/>
Rayford Mbulu
Mbulu is past President of the Mineworkers’ Union of Zambia (MUZ), a position he was elected to in 2005 after serving as MUZ Deputy General Secretary in 2004. He left the MUZ late last year after challenging for the presidency of ZCTU. On the day of the election, he was disqualified by the Labour Minister under the previous Movement for Multiparty Democracy Party after his mining employer, state-owned Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM), terminated his employment. 
 
Mbulu worked for many years at ZCCM’s Nkana Division. He served as ICEM’s SSARO Chairman from 2007 until his resignation in March 2011. Mbulu also becomes a Member of Zambia’s Parliament from the Kalululushi constituency in the Copperbelt. 
 
On his swearing-in, Labour, Sports, Culture and Gender Minister Shamenda said the PF leadership would work to raise the minimum wage, reduce casualisation of employment, and strive to get better working conditions for all Zambians. President Sata reduced the number of government ministries from 23 to 19, combining some ministries including Sports, Culture and Gender with Labour.

Rayford Mbulu Named Deputy Labour Minister in Zambia

Archive

ICEM Encouraged by Draft Labour Law in Egypt

Spirited Rotterdam Rally Calls on Unilever to Save UK Pensions

Oil Services Giant Schlumberger Pressured over Egyptian Union Busting

Holcim’s Violations in India Taken to OECD

Australian High Court Denies Rio Tinto’s Appeal to Evade Union Contracts

Spirited Rotterdam Rally Calls on Unilever to Save UK Pensions

Thai Trade Unionist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk Still in Prison

Update Labour Laws, CAW Tells Ontario in Caterpillar Aftermath

ICEM Rebuts Georgian Business Ombudsman for Remarks over Steel Mill Dispute

Rayford Mbulu Named Deputy Labour Minister in Zambia

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