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Trade union members of Amicus, an ICEM affiliate in the UK, staged a second four-hour strike on 30 March at International Paper Co.&rsquo;s Inverurie mill in Scotland. The union and its 231 members at the paper mill will escalate industrial actions this week with two further strikes, tomorrow and Thursday, 4 and 6 April, if the company does not revise a pay offer for 2006 and 2007. 
Management has proposed an unacceptable pay freeze for this year and a minimal one-off payment in 2007. Workers for the past two years have contributed part of their weekly earnings to help fill a gap in the company&rsquo;s pension scheme. The industrial actions have boosted Amicus support inside the printing and writing papers mills, as well as in the nearby community of Aberdeenshire.

Further Strikes at IP Paper Mill in Scotland

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The Government in Mauritania successfully mediated a three-party dispute that ends a six-month union rights battle at an oil-services contractor, in which the ICEM played a direct role. The dispute began in October 2005 when El Majabaat El Koubra Tours (MKT), a transport and logistics provider for Australian-based Woodside Petroleum, sacked 16 union activists of the Energy and Petroleum Workers&rsquo; Union (CGTM) of Mauritania. 
Woodside should now offer permanent employment to qualified MKT contract workers, and to recognise CGTM as union representative. MKT has agreed to pay severance of four months salary to union delegates, three months to long-term employees and two months to others. The ICEM had lobbied both Woodside and the Mauritanian government over the unjust treatment of contract workers. 
In a speech that covered the matter, Mauritania head of state Col. Ely Ould Mohammed Vall said, &ldquo;I appreciate the position of Woodside who has finally chosen to conform to the legitimate expectations of our people.&rdquo; Woodside has both onshore and offshore oil exploration and development contracts in the West African country.

Dispute in Mauritania’s Oil-Services Sector Ends

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Workers at Turkey&rsquo;s state oil company, Tupras, members of ICEM affiliate Petrol-Iş, went on a day-long strike 28 March in protest to the postponement of a definitive ruling that would cancel the 51% sale of the oil company to a private company. 
The union won, on 2 February, a preliminary ruling from Turkey&rsquo;s highest court, the Council of State, which blocked the US$4.14 billion sale to a consortium led by Koc Holdings and Royal Dutch Shell. The final ruling was scheduled to be handed down by the Council of State on 27 March, but is now delayed until 25 April. 
Workers halted production at Tupras&rsquo; four refineries, Izmit, Izmir, Kirikkale and Batman, as well as at a petrochemical plant located next to the Izmit refinery.

Petrol-Iş in Turkey Strikes Tupras Oil Refineries

The ICEM has expressed disgust and dismay over the circumstances in which a Nigerian trade unionist was killed earlier this week in the Niger Delta. Nelson Ujeya, a member of white-collar oil workers&rsquo; union PENGASSAN, was apparently murdered as he was about to be released by a militant youth group in Bayelsa State. 
 
Reports say that Brother Ujeya was killed when troops of Nigeria&rsquo;s Joint Military Task Force ambushed the militants at a time when he was about to be released. In all, 11 people were killed in the ambush that took place on 20 August. 
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On 8 August, Nelson Ujeya, the Community Liaison Officer for Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd., was abducted on an official visit to Letugbene community while he was accompanied by senior Bayelsa State government officials to inspect community projects. 
The ICEM denounces the Bayelsa State government and the federal government of Nigeria for failing to provide timely and relevant information on the abduction and subsequent killing of Nelson Ujeya to his family and to the leadership of PENGASSAN. 
Further, in a <a href="/index.php?id=25&amp;doc=1926&amp;la=EN">letter to PENGASSAN President Peter Esele</a> that was also sent to Nigerian government entities and other organisations, the Brussels-based trade union federation said: 
 
&ldquo;The 20-million-member ICEM, the Global Union Federation for oil and gas workers, finds it reprehensible that such indiscriminate use of force by Nigerian government militia be used in such a situation. The ICEM stands firmly behind PENGASSAN in holding both the government of Bayelsa State initially responsible for the abduction of Brother Ujeya while in the presence of state officials, and the federal government for its new policy of &lsquo;force by force&rsquo; in dealing with kidnappings that occur in the Niger Delta.
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&ldquo;The ICEM calls on all energy companies operating in Nigeria to apply the same effort and resources in securing the release of kidnapped Nigerian workers as they do for their foreign national employees.&rdquo; 
 
PENGASSAN and the blue-collar Nigerian oil workers&rsquo; union, NUPENG, will hold a joint National Executive Council meeting in Benin City, Nigeria, on 30 August to take up the matter of security for oil workers&rsquo; employed in the Niger Delta. The ICEM notes that the combined voice of the two unions, operating under the aegis of NUPENGASSAN, has been one of reason and soundness in efforts to curb the kidnappings and violence of the area. 
 
That voice has called for both the government of Nigeria and the oil companies operating in the region to provide greater and better employment opportunities to the youth and indigenous of the region through skills training and other social development initiatives.&nbsp;

Abhorrent Circumstances Surround the Killing of PENGASSAN Member in Nigeria

25 August 2006 
 
Comrade Peter Esele 
President 
PENGASSAN 
NIGERIA 
 
 
Dear Comrade Peter, 
 
The ICEM has learned of the tragic and senseless death of one of PENGASSAN&rsquo;s members, Nelson Ujeya, earlier this week in the vicinity of Brass Creek or Biobou Creek, Bayelsa State. We understand that Brother Ujeya had been kidnapped on 8 August 2006 in Letugbene while performing his employment duties for Shell Petroleum Development Corporation. 
 
We also have unconfirmed reports that he died in a violent gun fight between Nigeria&rsquo;s Joint Military Task Force and militant youth groups on 20 August 2006 as he was about to be released after negotiations. 
 
The 20-million-member ICEM, the Global Union Federation for oil and gas workers, finds it reprehensible that such indiscriminate use of force by Nigerian government militia be used in such a situation. The ICEM stands firmly behind PENGASSAN in holding both the government of Bayelsa State initially responsible for the abduction of Brother Ujeya while in the presence of state officials, and the federal government for its new policy of &ldquo;force by force&rdquo; in dealing with kidnappings that occur in the Niger Delta. 
 
The ICEM calls on all energy companies operating in Nigeria to apply the same effort and resources in securing the release of kidnapped Nigerian workers as they do for their foreign national employees. 
 
Next week, on 30 August 2006, PENGASSAN and NUPENG will conduct a joint National Executive Council (NEC) in Benin City to discuss this and other security matters in the Niger Delta. The ICEM recognises that the combined voice of NUPENGASSAN in Nigeria has been one of reason and soundness in stemming the social instability occurring along the Niger Delta. We know that this combined voice has stood for education, skills training and other social development initiatives that will increase employment opportunities in the oil and gas sectors for Nigerians. We commend and fully endorse that stand. 
 
We would look forward to having a report from the NEC&rsquo;s deliberations as soon after 30 August as possible in order to publicise your sensible positions on the global level. 
 
In conclusion, please convey sincere condolences from the ICEM and its family of global trade unions to the family of Wilson Ujeya. We are very distraught on the circumstances of his horrific death. Also, please express our deep concern to all trade union members of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, who are forced to work in such a difficult and terrifying environment. 
 
Fraternally, 
 
 
Fred Higgs 
General Secretary

ICEM letter to Pengassan

The 20-million-member International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine &amp; General Workers Unions (ICEM), the Global Union Federation for oil and gas workers, condemned today the hostile actions of Iran toward a Romanian-owned oil rig in the Persian Gulf. On Tuesday, 22 August, Iranian gunboats fired on the rig Orizont, owned by Grup Servicii Petroliere (GPS), before boarding the vessel and holding 26 workers hostage. 
 
The violent and life-threatening actions by Iran were over a commercial dispute in which GPS had terminated services to a Dubai-based company, Oriental Oil Company, which had sub-leased development and production in the Iranian South Pars gas fields, off Hengam Island, to Petro Iran Development Company (Pedco), a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
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Nineteen of the workers are members of ICEM-affiliated trade union Federatia Sindicatelor Libere si Independente din Industria Petroliera (FSLI Petrom) of Romania, while seven are of Indian descent and working for a catering company. 
 
&ldquo;It is totally unacceptable and reprehensible to place innocent workers&rsquo; physical safety at risk, as Iran&rsquo;s armed forces did in this matter,&rdquo; said ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. &ldquo;We understand that a commercial dispute was in progress between the companies, and this dispute must be settled through negotiation and the civil process.&rdquo; 
 
The Orizont rig was under maintenance at the time, in Iranian waters and a very short distance from international waters. After boarding the vessel, Iranian armed forces kept the crew on the rig&rsquo;s heliport for several hours without food and water. They then allowed the crew to return to other quarters, but cut off all communications between the workers and GPS. 
 
&ldquo;The Iranian forces had no right to threaten our union members in this way,&rdquo; said FSLI Petrom Vice President Florin Bercea. &ldquo;It is an unnecessary demonstration of force by Iran, and our union condemns these hostile actions by the government of Iran.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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Bercea added that workers&rsquo; families are deeply concerned over the safety of their loved ones, and the Romanian trade union has reached out to them in order to facilitate direct communication with the oil workers. 
 
The commercial dispute between GPS and Oriental Oil occurred after the Romanian company terminated a contract in April 2006 after Oriental failed to get a renewed bank letter of credit for work this year. Prior to Iran taking military action on Tuesday, the dispute over the removal of&nbsp;Romanian rigs from Iran&rsquo;s gas fields to maintenance facilities elsewhere had been taken up in Iranian courts, as well as brought before other international bodies. 
 
The ICEM represents the global interests of 379 affiliated trade unions in 123 countries.

Condemnation Towards Iran on Attacking Romanian Oil Rig

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German affiliate IGBCE last week reiterated its call for industrial competitiveness through development of high-tech workplaces. The union was joined by the North Rhine/Westphalia&rsquo;s Ministry of Innovation, Science, Research and Technology in an urgent call to the federal government to establish clear and legal conditions for safe genetic engineering. 
 
IGBCE and the agency stressed that Germany is the global leader in developing green genetic engineering technologies, and the government must take assertive action in order to retain that global reputation. 
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ICEM President and 
ICEM Vice-President Hubertus Schmoldt
In a joint statement, IGBCE President Hubertus Schmoldt and Professor Andreas Pinkwart from the Ministry said Germany, globally, cannot afford to fall into a &ldquo;competitive disadvantage&rdquo; because the government has failed to put a concise plan in place for technological development. They demanded that the federal government open research and technology possibilities in the life sciences so that both employment opportunities and growth could take hold. 
 
In Germany, IGBCE has been the main social partner demanding renewed emphasis on technology and development of bio-sciences. The union has also been at the forefront in achieving better and more flexible terms and conditions at high-tech worksites.

IGBCE Calls on German Government to Take a Stand on Genetic Engineering

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Trade union members of SIPTU, ICEM Irish affiliate Services, Industrial, Professional &amp; Technical Union, began industrial action at a Smurfit Kappa paper converting plant in Togher, Cork, a week ago. The 130 paperworkers staged a one-day work stoppage on 14 August in protest to management&rsquo;s refusal to introduce a non-contributory sick pay scheme. 
 
Further strikes were scheduled for today, and again next Monday, if the issue is not resolved. 
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Workers took industrial action after rejecting a recommendation from a Labour Court that would double the contribution they make toward sick leave and impose a sliding scale of payments down to just &euro;100 a week for workers with long-term sicknesses. On average, under the court recommendation that is favoured by Smurfit Kappa, workers on sick leave would receive only a weekly payment of &euro;127, half of which they would contribute themselves. 
 
A SIPTU representative said workers at the corrugated box plant have been fighting for a proper sick pay scheme for years. &ldquo;As far as we are concerned, the Smurfit plant can well afford a non-contributory sick pay scheme,&rdquo; stated Bill Mulcahy of SIPTU&rsquo;s Cork No. 7 Branch. &ldquo;The local plant is doing well &ndash; making profits of around &euro;2 million last year &ndash; and the Smurfit Group as a whole has turnover in the billions.&rdquo; Paperworkers at the Togher plant are also conducting a work-to-rule campaign, which includes a refusal to perform overtime work.

SIPTU Paperworkers in Ireland Take Action Against Smurfit Kappa

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Nigeria&rsquo;s two oil and gas workers&rsquo; unions, ICEM affiliates NUPENG and PENGASSAN, condemned the country&rsquo;s privatisation of Eleme Petro Chemical Ltd. to a Thailand-based investment concern. At a joint news conference in Lagos on 10 August, the two unions called the sale of an olefins refinery at Port Harcourt to Indorama Petrochem Co. Ltd. lacking in transparency. 
 
NUPENG and PENGASSAN made documents available proving that Nigeria&rsquo;s privatisation arm, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), had undersold the state&rsquo;s 75% stake in the polyethylene and polypropylene refinery and that Indorama could not secure adequate financing for the privatisation deal. The unions said BPE gave the plant to Indorama after it paid only 30% of the US$250 million selling price. Also, the government still holds a US$300 million liability on the plant. 
<img height="109" alt="" src="" width="105" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; <img height="105" alt="" src="" width="100" />
The unions charged that Indorama has no proven track record in petrochemicals. Indorama, based in Bangkok, is a three-year old company that is owned by Indorama International Finance Co. Ltd. of the UK. 
 
The two oil workers&rsquo; unions, cooperating effectively under the aegis of NUPENGASSAN again, &ldquo;condemns in its entirety, the whole transaction, as this action is capable of jeopardizing the future of our members and is not in the interests of Nigerians and the economy.&rdquo; The statement added that state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. had &ldquo;the technical know-how and competence to run and manage&rdquo; the petrochemical operations.

NUPENG, PENGASSAN in Nigeria Condemn Petrochemicals Privatisation

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ICEM Canadian affiliate Power Workers&rsquo; Union (PWU) supports the efforts of a Canadian company to build more nuclear power capability in the province of Ontario. Bruce Power, a privately held electric generating company based in Ontario, announced recently that it would begin the licensing process with federal and provincial regulators to construct more nuclear reactors. 
&ldquo;The government of Ontario is clear on its direction to keep nuclear generation in Ontario&rsquo;s electricity mix,&rdquo; said PWU President Don MacKinnon. &ldquo;We support any actions that begin the process of planning for the future of nuclear power.&rdquo; 
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Bruce Power currently operates six nuclear reactors, with two other units currently under re-construction and expected back on line in 2009. The company is the source of 20% of Ontario&rsquo;s power supply and has the capability to generate 6,200 megawatts. Bruce Power is seeking regulatory and licensing approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission under the country&rsquo;s Environmental Assessment Act to conduct more reactors that would begin operation after 2015. 
PWU is the largest electricity union in Ontario, and has union membership in all of the provinces nuclear and coal-fired power plants. The PWU also represents workers in hydroelectric, gas, oil, and biomass generation plants, as well as in regulatory and research aspects of the industry.

PWU in Canada Supports Efforts to Build More Nuclear Reactors

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