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サゴ炭坑労災事故：破産で安全と労堃?者の権利が犠牲に 
 
米国に本社を置くInternational Coal Group (ICG)は米国国内に２１の炭坑事業所゠?持っているが、その一つのウエスト㠃?ージニアにある炭坑で起きた労災事 故で１２人の炭坑労働者が死亡した〠?同社の他の炭坑と同様、事故が発生㠁?た炭坑も未組織事業所であるが、ICE M加盟の全米鉱山労組（UMWA、ICEM加盟絠?織）の、当該炭坑の近くに駐在する砷?急事故救援3チームとUMWAの安全衛生報?長が１月２日にガス爆発でICGのサゴ 炭坑の地下構内で逃げ遅れた１３人だ?炭坑労働者の救出作業に駆けつけた㠀? 
 
ICGは石炭の需要が増大し、価格も髠?くなった時期に電力会社に石炭を供砵?する西部アメリカの石炭会社に成長 した。同社は、過去２０年間に破産だ?た鉄鋼、繊維及び石炭産業の会社を蠲?い取り、再建する野心的実業家のウ ィルバー．L．ロスが設置した会社で㠁?る。ロスは米国の裁判所の破産企業 再建手続きを利用し、課税猶予を確俠?し、労働者の団体交渉権、年金制度㠀?退職後の医療保険制度を取り消す形 でビジネスを展開している。 
 
ICGは過去数年間に、Horizon Natural Resources、Anker Coal Group、 CoalQuest Developmentなど破産した企業を買収しだ?。ICG は、２０００年初めにサゴ炭坑の元㠂?ウナー会社であったAnkerの経営権を蠲?い、2002年に同社の経営が悪化し、砠?産手続きに入った際、ロスは持ち株㠂?増やした。 
 
彼は、最近、１億７３００万ドル゠?費やして同社の買収を終了した。そ㠁?結果、ICGにはさらに８つの炭坑と運 搬施設が増えた。また、ロスは2005年栜?、2004年に設置されたばかりのICGの栠?式に２億５０００万ドルを注入し、砵?営権所有率を9.2％から13.7％に上げだ?。ロスが注入した資金と石炭事業か㠂?の利益は炭坑労働者の退職金を含む 社会保険制度や安全には充当されなだ?ことは明らかだ。2004年8月30日、ケン タッキー州ルイスビルの米国破産裁删?所の前で800人のUMWA組合員が抗議集会 をした際、17 名のUMWA組合員が警察に逮捕された。 ロスとICGが破産裁判所でHorizon の経営権を市場価値以下で買い過半栕?経営権を獲得した日だ。その結果、 3000人あまりのUMWA組合員（現職及び退 職者）が雇用保障と医療保険制度を夠?うことになった。 
 
先週の初め、UMWAはサゴ炭坑の救援䠽?業に参加した。同労組のセシル・ロ バーツ会長は、同労組の声明の中で〠?犠牲になった炭坑労働者の家族に対㠁?る哀悼の意を表明すると共に、事故 にあった炭坑労働者生存という事故彠?初の誤報ニュースについて「説明不堏?能な混乱状態」とコメントした。　 また、「サゴ炭坑に働いている炭坑加?働者たちはUMWAの組合員ではないが、 UMWA組合員の近隣の人々であったり、蠦?戚であったりする人たちだ。（救援 活動助勢について）私たち、炭坑に僠?く者は皆兄弟だ。この回のような事栕?の時、私たちは互いに支え合い、皆 で助け合う。」と述べた。 
 
ロバーツ会長は、先週、ウエストム?ージニア州のある新聞に発表した別㠁?声明の中で、エネルギー需要の伸び と石炭価格上昇で経営が悪化してい゠?炭坑において労働安全に影響が出て㠁?る状況を懸念し、「石炭産業が如何 に危険な産業であるかについて留意゠?失わないことを願う。」と述べた。 
 
 
カスピ海石油ガス油田に働く契約労堃?者の組織化 
 
アゼルバイジャンの石油ガス建設甠?業に働く契約労働者は、2005年11月末㠀?米国の請負会社McDermott International に雇われた労働者が組合組織化に成堊?した後、組合組織化の運動をさらに 拡大している。 
 
McDermott、BP、及び国営企業のSOCARの栜?大の下請け業者に働く2, 000人あまりの労働者たちは、ICEM加盟 組織、アゼルバイジャン石油ガス産楠?労働組合 (OGWU) と共に３０％の賃上げ、医療保険制堺?、組合認知を求めて、ストに突入し た。西側石油サービス企業に働くア゠?ルバイジャンの労働者は、カスピ海㠂?ネルギープロジェクトに働く外国人 労働者の賃金と同等の賃金を要求しだ?いる事情を背景に、OGWUのヨハンギル ・アリエフ会長は、現在、５０００亠?から７０００人の契約労働者が組合砵?織化を求めている、と推定する。 
 
フランスとアゼルバイジャンのBouyg ues の合弁で進められているボスシェル㠃?事業所に働く1600人の労働者は、スム?の後、2005年12月19日、OGWUの公式に加堅?し、組織化を果たした。 
 
労働者組織化の急激な動きに応え〠?BPアゼルバイジャンのデーヴィッドム?ウッドワードは、「組合結成は彼ら㠁?権利であり、誰もストップすること はできない。従業員が望むならば、因?体交渉権も可能だ。」と労働者の権堈?を認める発言を行った。 
 
カスピ海石油産業の労働運動事情だ?関連し、OGWUとICEMに加盟するロシアだ?石油ガス産業に大きな組織勢力を持㠁?ROGWUは、2005年12月21日&mdash;22日にモ゠?クワで開かれたROGWUの大会において〠?2006年に共同組合構築活動を開始し、 最終的には両組合間の議定書合意の締?結を目指すことを合意した。 
 
 
工業用ガス産業部門の組合代議員、㠃?ルギーで協議 
 
ベルギー、フランス、ドイツ、英因?及びオランダの工業用ガス部門の労砵?担当者が先月、ベルギーのブランケ ンベルグ市で同産業部門の状勢と関造?企業について協議した。 
 
この会議はICEMに加盟するベルギー㠁?全国一般労組とオランダの連帯労組 が共催し、ICEMは当該産業部門につい㠁?のリサーチとプレセンテーションを 担当した。（<a href="/?id=4&amp;doc=1576&amp;la=EN">/?id=4&amp;doc=1576&amp;la=EN</a> （英文）を参照のこと。） 
この会議には３５人の労働組合担彠?者が参加し、今後さらに組合間の協堊?関係を深め、次回の会議は同産業部 門の世界の組合担当者にも参加を仰だ?、工業用がス産業のグローバルネッ㠃?ワークの構築を開始することを決め た。会議で討議された企業はAir Liquide、 Air Products、 BOC、 Linde 及び Praxair。 
 
 
北欧金属労連と北欧化学製紙繊維労頀?合併 
 
北欧５カ国（デンマーク、フィンム?ンド、アイスランド、ノルウェー、㠂?ウェーデン）の金属労組加盟するNor dic Metalと化学、製紙、繊維産業を組織だ?る産別労組が加盟するNIFの２つの産堈?北欧組織が２００６年１月１日に合 併し、新たに、Industrianst&auml;llda I Norden（英語名 Nordic IN）が結成された。合併新組織には＠?２のナショナルレベルの産別組織が堊?盟している。 
Nordic IN は現代に即し、実効ある社会保障制堺?、均等、国内の政治、経済、労使関 係における大きな影響力、ナショナム?レベル及び事業所レベルにおける協破?交渉システムを特徴とする北欧労使 モデルを保守することを目指す。元IC EMオフィサーのユルキ・ライナが書記 長に就任した。 
 
 
チリの銅鉱山の契約労働者スト 
 
チリの世界有数の銅鉱業企業に業勠?を提供する４００社あまりに雇用さ㠂?ている契約労働者は現在、国際市場 で史上最高値を記録し、まだ上昇の氠?配を示している銅の価格の公正な配堈?としてボーナス支給を求めて、スト に中である。 
 
２万８千人の食堂から運輸までの゠?ービス部門に働く契約労働者は、国堖?企業のCodelco の４事業部門内の全職場で２週間前㠁?ら総額９７０米ドルのボーナスを求 めて、ストライキに入った。１月４无?、警察が催涙ガスを使い、スト労働蠀?たちをエルテミエンテ鉱山事業所に 繋がる道路から排除した。同鉱山事楠?所は世界最大の地下銅鉱山事業所で㠀?Codelcoの４事業部門の一つである。 
 
契約労働者たちの給与額はCodelcoの砵?織正規社員の労働者１万５千人の半 分以下の額である。現在、銅価格は叠?上最高で、１トンあたり４５７５ド㠃?で売られており、チリは国営企業の Codelcoの銅の輸出で2005年度５３０億ド ルの利益を上げた。 
 
 
停戦と民主主義を求める運動を主導㠁?るネパールの労働組合 
 
GEFONTは他の労働組合連盟並びにネム?ール教員組合と共にネパールの毛沢栝?派共産党に停戦を呼びかけた。 諸労組はまた、王政政権に対しても堐?じ要請を行った。毛沢東派側の４ヶ 月間の休戦は１月１日に終わった。 
 
民主主義社会への復興の呼びかけだ?主導勢力となっているのはネパール㠁?労働組合運動だ。専制主義のギャネ ンドラ国王はこの呼びかけに全く耳゠?傾ける様子は見せていない。逆に、堁?戦と民主主義の復興を求めている７ 政党連盟のイニシアチブに背を向けだ?いる。ネパールの諸労組は、その声栘?の中で、「私たちは国と国民を再び 流血と殺戮のゲームに陥れないよう覠?求する。」と述べている。 
 
 
海員組合を鼻であしらったConocoPhillips 
 
US の石油スパーメージャー、ConocoPhillip sはオーストラリアから日本へのLNGが㠂?輸送に 便宜置籍船を使い、オーストラリア㠁?東チモールの石油労働者と海員を無 視した。チモール海にあるバユウンム?ンガス油田の６４％持っている同社㠁?、先週、初めてオーストラリア北部 のダーウィンから日本の電力会社向だ?にLNGを輸出した。 
 
同社はガスを輸送する船舶にはチ゠?ールあるいはオースオラリアの船員㠁?乗っていない。ConocoPhillips は新しい油田のガスの加工施設を東㠃?モールに建設しようという同国政府 のイニシアチブを無視し、ダーウィム?まで５００kmの区間にパイプライン゠?建設した。 
 
バユウンダンガス油田は内戦が続だ?ていた東チモールの南部海岸沖合に㠁?る。オーストラリア海員組合はバユ ウンダンガス油田新規生産事業に東ム?モールの労働者の参与を公約した。䠸?労組はConocoPhillipsに対し国際キャン㠃?ンを展開することを決めた。この問 題は最近結成されたICEM&minus;ITF石油ガ ス労働組合アライアンスの議題とな゠?予定だ。 
 
 
BPオーストラリアの契約労働者のスム?ライキ 
 
ICEM加盟のオーストラリア製造産業堊?組 (AMWU) の組合員の、BPクウィンナナ製油所だ?保守作業に従事する下請け業者United㠀?Group社の契約労働者８６名は、2005年 １２月に５週間のストを行使し、今徠?３年間にわたり、時間あたり１０豪㠃?ルの賃上げ要求全額の回答をえ、BP㠁?正規雇用の保守作業員と同等の賃金 を確保した。 
 
ウェイガーアップのアルコア製油扠?とラヴァンソープのニッケル事業所㠁?働く他のUnited Groupの契約労働者は政府のアグレシム?な新法規、建設業改善法の下、ハワ㠃?ド政権の建設業委員会の監視機関の ターゲットにされた。 
 
 
AMWU、企業レベルの協約改定に取り組 む 
 
オースラリア製造産業労組（AMWU ）は国内の製造業の協約改定の早期堦?結に向けて争議行為をすることを公 約した。この３月と４月に約７００礠?あまりの企業と締結している労働協破?の発効期限が切れる。AMWUは賃上げ玠?の目標を5.5%に設定し、労働生産性向 上対策と訓練教育の改善策も要求す゠?ことにしている。 
AMWUはまた、ハワード政権が提案し㠁?いる現行労働法の改正が実行に打つ sれる場合、抗議の争議行為を実施す㠂?ことを公約した。製造業の労働協約 交渉は企業レベル団体交渉の法改正だ?今年初めにオーストラリア議会で通頁?した場合、最初の大きなテストケー スとなる。 
 
カナダ通信エネルギー製紙労組（CE P）、Stora Ensoと協約交渉中 
CEPとStora　Ensoは1月11日まで協約交渠?期間を延長することで合意した。660䠺?の製紙労働者が働くポートホークス バリーにあるNova Scotia の紙パ工場でのロックアウトを回避㠁?るためだ。 
 
スウェーデン･フィンランド系の吠?社は2005年12月24日に始まったクリスム?ス/正月休暇のための操業停止期間を 9日に延長した。12月30日、Stora Ensoの北米マネージメントは州労働法 規則に添って48時間のロックアウト通 告を出した。12月の初旬、労働者たち の98%の賛成をえ、スト権が確立した〠?妥結の最後の試みは1月3日に始まり〠?土曜日も含め1週間交渉を継続し、1朠?11日に再開する予定だ。 
現在、交渉の焦点は下請け/アウト㠂?ーシングの問題である。雑誌用上質 紙、新聞用紙工場で働いているCEP972攠?部労組の組合員は2004年6月で協約の癠?効期限が切れたため、協約なしで働㠁?ている。 
 
 
カナダのオペレーター労組はまだス㠃?中 
 
ICEM加盟組織の全米オペレーター技堸?労組（IUOE）は1月2日に米国に本社を 置くNational Gypsum社のノバスコティア州 (カナダ) で５ヶ月間実施しているストライキ㠁?継続を投票で決めた。IUOE７２１B支頃?の90名の組合員が年金制度の低下、䠸?請け発注問題、先任権の弱化に抗議 し、同社のミルフォード採掘事業所だ?バーンサイドの荷揚げドックでスト䠸?である。 
 
2005年末に州の斡旋調停者が提出し㠁?案は経営側の当初の案と大筋で同じ であった。ストは協約発効期限が切゠?る約5ヶ月あまり前の2005年8月10日に姠?まった。当該採石場は米国の住宅用㠁?石材を生産している。National Gypsum は現在、2ヶ所の事業所で代替要員を 使って操業を継続している。 
 
 
GMB組合員、ブリティッシュガス事業栉?での争議行為を停止 
 
英国のGMB組合員のブリティッシュガ㠂?の技師と技術工は 年金問題で争議中であったが、予定㠁?れている争議行為の一つを実施に移 した後、暫定的に妥結した。6000名のG MB組合員は12月19日のＣｅｎｔｒｉｃ｠?所有の発電所で投票を行い、暫定妥砵?に至った。 
 
妥結案では2003年1月1日以降に雇用さ㠂?た1700名の労働者に最終賃金をベー゠?にした既存の年金制度が適用される㠁?とになる。労働組合は新採用者を適 用される掛け金ベースの年金制度の尠?入に反対し、その代わりに2006年3月31 日以降に採用されたすべての新採用耠?にはキャリア平均賃金の年金制度の栎?用を求めていた。組合員に対する妥 結協約条項説明会は先週始まった。占?約批准投票の結果は1月23日に出る予堮?。 
 
ノルウェーのFellesforbundet と印刷労組の合併 
ICEMのノルウェーの加盟組織はノル㠂?ェーの印刷労組と合併することにな った。この合併の結果、同労組はノム?ウェーの印刷、板紙、包装紙産業部頖?における勢力が拡大する。合併は１ 月１日に公式に成立した。 
 
 
南ア労働運動リーダー、ムジ．ブテ㠃?ジを偲ぶ 
 
１２月下旬、ICEMの元執行委員で、南 アフリカの労働組合リーダー、 ムジ．ブテレジが５３歳の若さで、砪?然、亡くなったニュースがICEMに伝だ?られた。ブテレジは 化学産業労連 (CWIU)と化学エネルギー製紙印刷木材頖?連産業 (CEPPWAWU)の書記長を務めた人だ。 
 
ムジ．ブテレジは１９９９年２月〠?PPWAWUとCWIUが合併し、９万２０００人 の組合勢力を持つCEPPWAWUが結成された 時、書記長に就任した。2002年に書記頕?を退任した後、 組合の共済組合、CEPPWAWU Investmentsの理事長に就任した。彼は黠?人地位向上プロジェクトで有名にな㠁?た人。 
 
彼は COSATU （ナショナルセンター）の重鎮的存堜?だった。また、前向きな労働法制定 を目指した三者公正組織である南ア兠?国経済発展及び労働審議会 (NEDLAC)も務めた。彼はCEPPWAWU　Investmen tsが経営権を持つ南ア最大のジェネリ ック薬の製造会社、Aspen製薬内の黒人 の地位向上協議会の議長も務め、Aspen の取締役も務めた人だ。

ICEM InBrief

(Date) 
 
Mr Jukka H&auml;rm&auml;l&auml; 
Chief Executive Officer 
Stora Enso Oyj 
Kanavaranta 1, PO Box 309 
FIN-00160 Helsinki 
FINLAND 
 
Transmitted to Fax Number +358 2046 21206 
or to E-Mail <a href="mailto:info@storaenso.com">info@storaenso.com</a> 

Dear Mr. H&auml;rm&auml;l&auml;: 
 
We have been informed by the ICEM, the Global Union Federation, of the lockout that your company has imposed on the workers of the Port Hawkesbury Mill in Nova Scotia who are members of the Communications, Energy, Paperworkers (CEP) Union of Canada. 
 
After going 20 months without a current collective labour agreement and working during that period for the betterment of Stora Enso, we find it appalling that your company has locked out these 600 workers in efforts to deviate from the pattern labour agreement in Eastern Canada that has already been negotiated with all other paper companies doing business there. 
 
We call on you to use your offices to immediately resume negotiations with the union and to negotiate a fair and just agreement that meets the pattern for the pulp and paper sector in Eastern Canada. 
 
Sincerely Yours, 
 
(signed) 
 
(Name, 
Position, 
Name of the Union)

Model letter to Stora Enso in support of striking Canadian Stora Enso workers

The 20-million-member ICEM, the Global Union Federation for electric power industry trade unions, is calling on state-run Swedish utility Vattenfall AB to intervene with its German subsidiary to resolve a labour dispute with three German unions affecting 20,000 workers. 
 
The unions, ICEM affiliate IGBCE, and IG Metall and Ver.di, are seeking a common collective agreement with Germany&rsquo;s third largest utility in order to remove wage disparities and harmonise all terms and conditions. The three unions will stage a mass protest tomorrow, 1 March, in Berlin at the annual general meeting of Vattenfall Europe AG, the German subsidiary. (Smaller rallies by the three unions have been held at three sites since 21 February in protest to the deadlock in negotiations.) 
 
 

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21 February 2006 : rally in Cottbus, Germany 
&ldquo;We feel the time is now that the Swedish parent step in and grant equitable wages and conditions to all its German employees,&rdquo; stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. &ldquo;Vattenfall has integrated its acquisitions throughout Germany over the past few years, now it must harmonise wages and conditions.&rdquo; 
 
The three unions have been negotiating for a common accord with the Swedish subsidiary for two years. Besides bringing pay equity and uniform work conditions to workers, the unions are seeking an agreement from Vattenfall Europe AG that sale of any operations to another company will include the common collective agreement. 
 
IGBCE&rsquo;s Jobst Weissenborn, the union&rsquo;s chief negotiator in the energy sector, said the company&rsquo;s bargaining posture has provoked the rallies. He said the unions are prepared to take whatever steps necessary to ensure that the social standards of all Vattenfall workers in Germany come under a common agreement. 
 
 

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21 February 2006 : rally in Cottbus, Germany 
 
ICEM affiliate IGBCE is the dominant union in east Germany&rsquo;s power generation and distribution units, including the company&rsquo;s lignite mines and the former LAUBAG enterprise, now held by Vattenfall. In the 1990s, Ost-Bewag came under control of Bewag, which has been 90% owned Vattenfall since 2002. 
 
In 2001, Vattenfall acquired a majority stake in HEW, the Hamburg electric company that had previously been held by E.ON&rsquo;s Bewag subsidiary. IG Metall is the primary union in Hamburg. Vattenfall also acquired its Berlin operations through buy-up of Bewag, giving it control of over 80% of the power market in Berlin, as well as 30% of the heating market. The company also has telecommunications, water and gas interests in Berlin, and public-service union Ver.di is the dominant union there. 
 
Vattenfall&rsquo;s Europe division also includes utility holdings in Poland and&nbsp;The Netherlands. The company is a major electric and power producer and provider in the Nordic countries. 
 
Protests last week leading up to tomorrow&rsquo;s major demonstration in Berlin saw 2,000 workers take to the streets on 21 February. Anther demonstration was held in the east German mining community of Cottbus on the same day, while on 23 February, over a thousand protested in Hamburg.

ICEM Supports Common German Contract for Vattenfall Utility Workers

World AIDS Day 2005 - Keep the Promise 
 
The global theme of World AIDS Day, 1 December 2005, was Stop AIDS &ndash; Keep the Promise. This refers in particular to the commitments made by Heads of State at the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) in June 2001. 
Global unions appealed to their affiliates and the millions of members organised by them to take &ldquo;3 Minutes of Their Time&rdquo; to make their promise. Governments and political leaders must be reminded of their forgotten promises and efforts must be reinvigorated to keep them.
At UNGASS, four years ago, 189 countries made the most significant AIDS promises and agreed, among other things, to stop mother-to-child transmission and to provide treatment to all those who need it. In most countries the targets will not be met. 
At Gleneagles, in July 2005, the G8 leaders pledged &ldquo;to develop and implement a package of HIV prevention, treatment and care, with the aim of as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all those who need it by 2010.&rdquo; This must not remain a rhetorical statement. Action must follow so that the promise is not broken. 
 
Organisations and individuals are urged to make their own promise at <a href="http://www.worldaidscampaign.org">www.worldaidscampaign.org</a>&nbsp;or <a href="http://www.worldaidscampaign.net/community">www.worldaidscampaign.net/community</a>. Make your promise now! 
 
At the main ILO event in Geneva, which the ICEM Global HIV/AIDS Coordinator attended and at which the ICEM leaflet was distributed, the ILO Director General, Juan Somavia, said that the workplace must play a strategic role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. &ldquo;It is a fight not only against the ravages of the disease but also against discrimination, intolerance, misconception and fear&rdquo;. 
 
 
C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire Workers and Management Fight the HIV/AIDS Epidemic 
 
Charlotte Nguessan, the President of the Shell C.I. HIV/AIDS committee and the ICEM National HIV/AIDS Coordinator, reports on initiatives within this company. Most of the people infected with HIV virus are between 15 and 49 &ndash; the economically active population. As a response Shell set up a joint committee with the union to fight HIV/AIDS by heightening awareness among workers, their families and the communities. 
 
This takes place at all levels of the company and reaches out into the community. Examples include campaigns for the families of Shell employees, campaigns for petrol attendants and Shell shops throughout the country, for other partners such as fuel and gas contractors, campaigns for religious communities and the establishment of the Yamoussoukro Shell Institute to promote awareness primarily among youth. Recognising the specific vulnerability of women, a conference for Shell&rsquo;s Women Workers was organised with the theme &ldquo;Women and HIV: we are more vulnerable&rdquo;. 
 
The campaign consistently targets its constituencies through posters, leaflets, and flyers in canteen trays. It utilises mail message and video screening. Condoms are distributed in pay-slips and public toilets. The message is reinforced through bags and tee shirts distributed at the annual party. 
 
 
Global Unions&rsquo; Action Against HIV/AIDS in 2006 
 
On World AIDS Day, the global trade union movement announced a series of initiatives for 2006 in the fight against HIV/AIDS, ranging from campaigns and mobilisation action to activities in workplaces and lobbying of governments to get them to implement pledges they have made. Trade unions will focus on a series of global gatherings in 2006, including the G8, WHO, UN Commission on Sustainable Development and the UN General Assembly. 
 
2006 will see the rollout of a series of workplace initiatives in countries, which are severely hit by the pandemic, following agreements with the International Employers&rsquo; Organisation and the WHO. A new leaflet &ldquo;HIV/AIDS is a Human Rights Issue, Human Rights are Trade Union Issues&rdquo; was launched on World AIDS Day and is available at <a href="http://www.global-unions.org">www.global-unions.org</a>. 
 
 
UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa Calls on Companies to Contribute 
 
In a statement issued on World AIDS Day, Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa and former Canadian Ambassador to the UN, called on companies to contribute 0.7% of pre-tax profits annually to the Global Fund. He said that big multinational companies that have exacted such huge wealth from Africa&rsquo;s mineral, diamond, gold, oil and other resources over decades and the pharmaceutical industry, which resisted the lowering of drug prices for an unconscionable length of time, should be targeted first.
He also addressed his call to the more than 200 companies that are members of the Global Business Coalition. Many of these companies provide antiretroviral drugs and make in-kind contributions or investments in research and training centres but the true expression of corporate social responsibility would be a 0.7% contribution to the Global Fund. 
(Source: Global Fund Observer, Issue 53, 11 December 2005 &ndash; <a href="http://www.aidspan.org/gfo">www.aidspan.org/gfo</a>) 
Stephen Lewis is also the author of the book Race Against Time. 
 
 
Global Fund &ndash; Continuation of Services 
 
In its December meeting the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria decided to develop a policy to ensure continued funding for treatment-based grants when they are denied Phase 2 funding or they are approaching the end of their term. (Global Fund grants are approved for five years but can be suspended on the basis of a review after two years). 
Concern had earlier been raised over the fate of the people on treatment when a grant is suspended. Comment: While this is an overdue commitment it has to be seen whether funds are available to implement such a policy. 
(Source: Global Fund Observer, Issue 54, 18 December 2005 &ndash; <a href="http://www.aidspan.org/gfo">www.aidspan.org/gfo</a>) 
 
 
COSATU Joins TAC to Push for Treatment 
 
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joined activist group Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) to push for a new approach to AIDS in the country worst hit by the worldwide pandemic. In a joint statement with TAC and the South African Council of Churches COSATU said, &ldquo;We lament the continued refusal of our national government to declare the seriousness of the epidemic and to mobilise a response on the scale that is needed&rdquo;.
The new campaign, which was launched on World AIDS Day, is designed to more deeply involve unions, employers and churches in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The organisations demand that by the end of 2006 at least 200,000 AIDS patients are enrolled for anti-retroviral treatment &ndash; currently the figure is just over 70,000 people who receive treatment at government health facilities. 
 
 
News from other Global Union Federations 
 
The Education International (EI) marked World AIDS Day with an information session for the staff at its Brussels Head Office. EI affiliates all over the world organised events on issues of education and HIV/AIDS. Demands included a greater commitment of governments to distribute antiretrovirals. 
(Source: EI AIDS Newsletter &ndash; <a href="http://www.ei-ie.org/aids">www.ei-ie.org/aids</a>) 
 
The UNI Global Union graphical sector in southern and East Africa will use collective bargaining to tackle HIV/AIDS. Unions agreed to include a clause in future negotiations to establish a joint worker-employer response to improve education and prevention, to end discrimination and to upscale access to treatment. Access to treatment at work has also been negotiated by unions with employers in several other sectors in Burkina Faso, Guinea and C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire. 
(Source: UNI Global Union &ndash; <a href="http://www.uniglobalunion.org">www.uniglobalunion.org</a>&nbsp;- eBulletin December 2005) 
 
 
Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Stories &ndash; Faces of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic 
 
In collaboration with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and Christian AID, the WHO has released on its HIV/AIDS website <a href="http://www.who.int/hiv">www.who.int/hiv</a>&nbsp;&ldquo;Voices of Hope&rdquo; - photo stories of communities affected by HIV/AIDS. The photo stories of people living with HIV and AIDS in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America represent some of the real faces of the epidemic that, by the end of 2005, had infected an estimated 40.3 million people. 
 
 
Update from ILOAIDS 
 
There are two new titles (the last two) in the series of workplace action menus that the ILO has produced with UNAIDS and the World Economic Forum's Global Health Initiative. To complement Africa (in English and French) and Asia <a href="http://www.unaids.org/en/about+unaids/partnerships/partnership+menus.asp">http://www.unaids.org/en/about+unaids/ 
partnerships/partnership+menus.asp</a>), ILOAIDS now has Action against AIDS in the workplace for Latin America and the Caribbean (shortly also in Spanish), and a final global version with an overview of all regions, including North America and Europe. 
 
 
This ICEM HIV-AIDS Newsletter &ndash; How to Subscribe or Translate? 
 
To subscribe to the e-bulletin, send an email to <a href="mailto:press@icem.org">press@icem.org</a>. Please put &ldquo;subscribe ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin&rdquo; in the subject line. 
 
Unfortunately, the e-bulletin can only be published in English. For a free automated (non-ICEM) translation of this HIV-AIDS bulletin into other languages, you may want to try <a href="http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr">http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr</a>&nbsp;or <a href="http://www.google.com/language_tools">http://www.google.com/language_tools</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;and insert the following URL into the window &ldquo;Translate a Web page&ldquo;: 
<a href="/index.php?id=72&amp;la=EN&amp;doc=1578">/index.php?id=72&amp;la=EN&amp;doc=1578</a>.

ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin - No. 4

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The ICEM is fully supportive of French affiliates Filpac-CGT and FCE-CFDT, and the French paper workers, in their manifestation Saturday, 17 December, in Lille, France. The unions are protesting against the actions of several multinational paper companies, who are firing workers and closing mill and paper converters, or have plans to do so, in the Nord/Pas-de-Calais area of northern France. 
<img height="67" alt="" src="" width="100" />
According to Filpac-CGT, paper companies are creating &ldquo;a genuine social earthquake&rdquo; with job losses and closures in the region. 
Paper companies Stora Enso of Sweden and Finland, International Paper of the US, Cascades of Canada and Smurfit-Kappa of Ireland and The Netherlands have all announced harmful restructurings in the Nord/Pas-de-Calais area. Over 1,000 jobs might be lost in total. 
Companies are ignoring their social responsibilities and cite external causes, such as surplus capacity, the overall economic situation or global energy costs. 
 
According to the unions, however, the real reasons lie elsewhere. Stora Enso is pursuing its Profit 2007 initiative aimed at adding another &euro;300 million to its annual pre-tax profit in 2007. FCE-CFDT reminds us that Stora Enso, as part of this initiative,&nbsp;intends to&nbsp;get rid of 2,500 work places world-wide, with 500 of them in France,&nbsp;for the sole purpose of making more profit.&nbsp;
Cascades is equally seeking improved profitability of its boxboard unit, while pointing to capacity build-up in China and the pressures of Asian exports as the reason for the possible closure. 
International Paper (IP) first refused to sell its Maresquel mill to a potential buyer earlier in the year and then gave local managers just two months to find investors, demonstrating that it is more interested in closing this operation than having to live with a potential competitor. Lastly, the closure of a paper converter in Gravelines, along with another converting plant in Cevennes, was announced by a Smurfit subsidiary immediately after the merger between Smurfit and Kappa Packaging. 

The manifestation on 17 December begins at 9h00. For more information, visit Filpac-CGT&rsquo;s website at <a href="http://www.filpac.cgt.fr">http://www.filpac.cgt.fr</a>&nbsp;or FCE-CFDT's site: <a href="http://www.fce.cfdt.fr/n1/2005/12/bra%5Fpacart%5F97.doc">http://www.fce.cfdt.fr/n1/2005/12/bra%5Fpacart%5F97.doc</a>.

Paper Multinationals plan to eliminate jobs in France

The ICEM expresses sadness and grief on news of the death of PENGASSAN President Uche Okoro in an airline crash Saturday, 10 December, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Comrade Okoro was one of the 108 passengers killed when a commercial airliner crashed on approach to the Port Harcourt airport. 
 
Having the distinction of serving as president of both Nigeria&rsquo;s white-collar oil and gas workers&rsquo; union, PENGASSAN, and the blue-collar union, NUPENG, Okora was a grass-roots organizer and activist who stood for free and democratic trade unions in Nigeria. His life-long dedication to democratic principles and fairness to workers, particularly during the Abacha military regime, proved invaluable in building Nigeria&rsquo;s oil unions, as well as today&rsquo;s Nigerian labour movement.
<img width="120" height="126" src="" alt="" />
He became president of PENGASSAN in 2005. He left the blue-collar ranks of NUPENG when he was promoted to senior staff of the oil company employing him. He was seen as a unifying force between PENGASSAN and NUPENG, as well as all of labour in Nigeria. 
 
ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs, in a letter to PENGASSAN, called Okora a &ldquo;fierce defender of workers&rsquo; interests in Nigeria and all of Africa. I am sure that both (PENGASSAN and NUPENG), and civil society as a whole in Nigeria, will miss Comrade Okora&rsquo;s presence.&rdquo;

ICEM Mourns Tragic Death of PENGASSAN Leader in Nigeria

EPS Trade Union of Serbia-Montenegro elected new officers last week. Elected president was Miroslav Veličković, and elected to serve as vice president was Žikica Đorđević.
<img height="267" alt="" src="" width="200" />
Veličković had been a union vice president who got his start in union matters shortly after EPS Trade Union was founded in 1992. He served as president of the Ni&scaron; branch of the union, and began working in the Electric Power Distribution Co. of Ni&scaron; in 1977. 
He has a background in electrical engineering. Veličković is a founder and acting president of a democratic and free trade union confederation of unions serving public enterprises in the Balkan country.

EPS Trade Union in Serbia Elects New Officers

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A study commissioned by the Swedish Employment Ministry states that companies with ten or more employees should be limited to hiring only full-time workers.
The study also says that part-time or temporary workers employed for three years should be given the right to demand a full-time job from their employer. At least 200,000 Swedes&mdash;75% of whom are women&mdash;are stuck in part-time jobs but seek full-time employment, according to the study.
&nbsp;

Swedish Government Study Calls for More Full-time Jobs

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The General Confederation of Labour in Greece (GSEE) has called for national strikes this week, on 14 and 15 December, over the conservative government&rsquo;s planned revisions to public sector employment.
One such revision is to phase out permanent jobs for DEKO workers employed at public utilities, and replace them with employees on private-sector contracts. The strikes have been called together with ADEDY, the public sector union of civil servants.
The proposed changes, crafted by the government of Premier Costas Kamanlis, also would affect collective bargaining. This week&rsquo;s strikes will get a prelude today when all public transport will stop between the hours of 11 AM and 4 PM.

Strikes in Greece This Week over Cuts to Permanent Jobs

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French affiliate FCE-CFDT has grown impatient with progress in wage negotiations in France&rsquo;s chemicals sector. 
The union refused last week to sign a memorandum on the chemicals sector wage policy. FCE-CFDT termed results of a joint committee meeting on 18 November as unacceptable. In 11 months of futile bargaining on the wage issue, FCE-CFDT&rsquo;s agenda and goals have not been realized.
The union expressed dissatisfaction with that in a letter to the chemical employers&rsquo; federation and to the Minister of Employment. FCE-CFDT week is meeting this week with the other French trade unions in the sector to formulate future action.

French FCE-CFDT Union Expresses Chemicals Bargaining Concerns

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