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

	The 26th World Congress of the International Union of Food and Agricultural Workers’ Association (IUF) is now being held in Geneva 15-18 May. A major focus of the Congress is a united condemnation of the appalling behaviour of Swiss-based Nestlé, the largest food company in the world.

	The IUF has a longstanding campaign for the rights of workers throughout Nestlé’s global facilities. Great victories have been won in Pakistan and Indonesia, but serious rights abuses of Nestlé workers in those countries continue, as they do other countries.

	This Congress will see affiliates, representing a combined 2.6 million trade union members, formulate a new plan of action to move Nestlé to act responsibly. The IUF Nespressure Campaign highlights the fast-growing profits of the market leader, CHF 110 billion in sales in 2011, with Nespresso one of the most profitable parts of the company. But even as profits soar for the company, management increases the pressure on its workers everywhere. Wages, conditions, and rights of Nestlé employees are constantly squeezed.

	 <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1205-we-are-the-53.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 120px;" / width="390"> 

	A new part of the global campaign will be launched at this week’s Ccongress, and serves as a clear example of Nestlé’s disregard for workers’ core labour rights. The “We are the 53!” campaign focuses on the vindictive mass-dismissal of 53 workers at a Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia. Those workers were sacked because they organised and attempted to assert their rights.

	The 53 are members of IUF affiliate SBNIP there and the union itself have struggled for years for the right to bargain collectively. When the bargaining deadlock forced workers to strike last year, management signed an agreement with the SBNIP to end the strike and subsequently promptly sacked the 53 key union activists.

	Congress will establish a Nestlé Panjang Justice Fund to assist the workers and their families who now face hardship because of Nestlé’s disturbing actions.

	See more information, and support the online campaign at <a href="http://www.iuf.org/nespressure/en/">IUF’s Nespressure website</a> here.

IUF Congress in Geneva Condemns Nestlé

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

	By the slimmest of vote margins, 2,000 UK petrol-tanker drivers represented by Unite the Union voted to accept a conciliation service’s proposal, ending a months-long dispute between drivers and seven contract carriers involving work terms and conditions, including safety and subcontracting.

	The dispute, dating back to February, drove motorists into fuel-hoarding and panic-buying hysteria, mostly triggered by the over-reaction of Prime Minister David Cameron’s government. The hysteria included a declaration that 1,400 British military personnel were being trained to deliver fuel oil to retail outlets as a strike precaution.

	An accumulated consultative ballot that was counted on 11 May found that 51% of the 69% of drivers who voted accepted the mediated proposal by UK’s Advisory, Conciliation, and Mediation Services (ACAS) after eight days of non-stop bargaining. The vote was a re-ballot of one taken in March following concerns that some drivers were unable to vote.

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/ICEMoil2.JPG" style="width: 130px; height: 130px;" width="390" />

	The ACAS-brokered agreement did introduce an industry-wide accreditation system called “Passport,” which must promptly be implemented to cover health, safety and training. One major concern to drivers was companies using sub-contract workers to deliver fuel, so creation of minimum industry-wide standards is expected to serve as deterrent.

	Unite warned that the overall narrow “yes” vote left no room for employer complacency. The union said the dispute uncovered deep-seated problems in UK’s petrol supply, exacerbated by a mantra of “profits before stability.”

	“This narrow vote in favour lifts the threat of strike action,” said Unite Assistant General Secretary Diana Holland, “but leaves the companies with no room for complacency. We look forward to the rapid implementation of the ACAS proposals which include an industry-wide ‘Passport’.”

	Now, Unite, the seven oil companies, UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and the Department for Energy, Environment and Climate Change – the government entity that threatened to break a strike with the military – must begin implementation of the “Passport” scheme by 1 June.

	The seven fuel distribution companies involved include the largest Hoyer, with 500 drivers, and Wincanton, DHL, BP, Norbert Dentressangle, JW Sucklings and Turners. Majorities of drivers at DHL, Wincanton, Hoyer, and Turners voted against the proposals, while those at BP, Norbert Dentressangle, and JW Sucklings voted in favour. The accumulated vote was 737 for, 711 against.

	The 2,000 drivers deliver 90% of UK’s refined fuel oil products to thousands of retail petrol stations.

UK Truck Drivers Agree to Terms with Seven Fuel Distributing Companies

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

	A deadly coal mine tragedy and two near misses occurred in Ukraine’s eastern coalfields over the past three weeks. The worse came on 6 February when a methane gas explosion rocked the Pivnichna coal mine near the city of Dzerzhynsk.

	One 54-year-old pitman died instantly and seven others died from severe burns in the days to follow in the Donetsk burn centre. The Coal Mining Industry Workers’ Union of Ukraine (PRUPA) was taking stock of the gas blast and welcomed a Donetsk regional prosecutor’s criminal investigation of the tragedy.

	The mine, operated with 136 workers at the time of the explosion, is owned by the state-owned Dzerzhynskruhillia company. In August 2010, a methane explosion killed two workers at Pivnichna and trapped several more.

	 <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/ICEMminingsector.JPG" style="width: 120px; height: 120px;" / width="390"> 

	Another mine accident happened a week earlier at a different eastern colliery. This occurred at the Rumaniantseve mine in Horlicka, Donetsk, and it trapped four miners. PRUPA said sound communication was made early with the trapped miners and rescue followed.

	The other near miss came on 2 February at the Kalinin mine of the Donetsk Coal Energy Co. when a fire torched wooden carriages inside the mine. Seventy-three miners were working inside at the time, and the fire immediately trapped 22 of them. They were eventually all rescued from depths of 1,000 metres.

	Ukraine’s government has officially put the number of miners killed on the job in 2011 at 161.

Spate of Mine Deaths Plague Ukraine in February

<h3 style="text-align: justify">
	Packaging Workers Need Support!</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify">
	Des travailleurs de l’emballage ont besoin de votre soutien!</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify">
	¡Trabajadores/as del empaque requieren tu apoyo!</h3>

	After engaging in lawful industrial actions earlier in February, 140 workers represented by Unite the Union in the UK were locked out by Austrian packaging firm Mayr-Melnhof on 20 February. The reason: so management could move product and equipment to another plant in event of a further stoppage. UK workers at this plant are vigilant over this misdeed and they deserve our prompt support.

	The lockout forced 40 workers to occupy the plant on 20 February. Unionised workers of Unite need our immediate support during this acrimonious dispute in the Bootle food packaging plant in Merseyside. Please cut and paste the message below, or write your own message in your own language to <a href="mailto:Tony.burke@unitetheunion.com; ian.tonks@unitetheunion.com; p-potter1@sky.com; mmpcanpaywontpay@unitetheunion.org">these workplace leaders</a>, and be sure to include the name of your union. Subject head: Support to Unite at Mayr Melnhof.

	Dear Comrades,

	We have heard of your dispute and the lockout imposed on you by Mayr-Melnhof. We understand that management has been completely unreasonable regarding a compromise offered over redundancies. It seems that Mayr-Melnhof wants it their way, or the alternative is a harsh lockout. Please know that our union stands with you and we will be watching this dispute very closely in the coming days. Best of luck and we stand with you in winning this dispute!

	(name)

	(union)

	For further information on this lockout, please see this <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4904-UK-Packaging-Workers-Face-Lockout-at-Mayr-Melnhof-Plant-in-Merseyside" type="internal">ICEM report</a> from last week.

	Thank you for your Prompt Action on this.

	In Unity,

	Dick Blin

	ICEM Pulp and Paper Officer/Geneva
<hr />

	Des travailleurs de l’emballage ont besoin de votre soutien!

	Après avoir entrepris des actions syndicales tout à fait légales début février, 140 travailleurs représentés par le syndicat britannique Unite ont été lockoutés par la firme d’emballage autrichienne Mayr-Melnhof ce 20 février. Raison avancée : pour permettre à la direction de déplacer les produits et les équipements vers une autre usine en cas de nouvel arrêt de travail. Les travailleurs britanniques de cette usine font preuve de beaucoup de vigilance par rapport à cette agression et ils méritent notre soutien immédiat.

	Ce lockout a obligé 40 travailleurs à occuper le site le 20 février. Les syndiqués de Unite ont sans délai besoin de notre soutien dans le cadre de cet impitoyable conflit qui se déroule à l’usine d’emballage de Bootle dans le Merseyside. Veuillez faire un copier-coller du message proposé ci-dessous, ou en rédiger un autre de votre cru dans votre langue et le faire parvenir à <a href="mailto:Tony.burke@unitetheunion.com; ian.tonks@unitetheunion.com; p-potter1@sky.com">ceux qui mènent l’action </a>, en prenant soin d’y inclure le nom de votre organisation. Sujet : Soutien à Unite chez Mayr Melnhof.

	Chers Collègues,

	Nous avons eu connaissance du conflit chez Mayr-Melnhof et du lockout qui vous est imposé. Nous savons que la direction s’est montrée totalement déraisonnable par rapport à un compromis qui lui était proposé à propos de licenciements. Il semble bien que Mayr-Melnhof ne veuille rien entendre et que sa seule alternative soit un lockout brutal. Sachez que notre organisation est derrière vous et suivra ce conflit  de très près dans ces prochains jours. Nous vous souhaitons bonne chance et sommes à vos côtés pour emporter cette victoire !

	(nom)

	(organisation)

	Pour davantage d’informations sur ce conflit, nous vous invitons à consulter <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4904-UK-Packaging-Workers-Face-Lockout-at-Mayr-Melnhof-Plant-in-Merseyside" type="internal">l’article que l’ICEM</a> a publié la semaine dernière en anglais.

	Merci de bien vouloir agir rapidement.

	Bien fraternellement.

	Dick Blin

	Responsable Pâte et Papier de l’ICEM/Genève
<hr />

	¡Trabajadores/as del empaque requieren tu apoyo!

	Después de participar en paros legales de protesta durante el mes de febrero, 140 trabajadores/as miembros de Unite the Union en el Reino Unido resultaron víctimas de un cierre patronal impuesto el día 20 de ese mismo mes por la empresa austriaca de empaque Mayr-Melnhof. La administración actuó así para poder trasladar productos y equipos a otra planta en caso de producirse otra huelga. Los trabajadores de esta planta británica están en estado de alerta a consecuencia de esta siniestra maniobra, y merecen nuestro apoyo urgente.

	El cierre patronal obligó a 40 trabajadores/as a ocupar las instalaciones de la planta el 20 de febrero. Los trabajadores/as sindicalizados de Unite necesitan de nuestra ayuda inmediata durante este agrio conflicto en la planta de envasado de Bootle, en la región de Merseyside. Rogamos copiar el mensaje que aparece a continuación, o bien escribir su propio mensaje en su idioma, dirigido a <a href="mailto:Tony.burke@unitetheunion.com; ian.tonks@unitetheunion.com; p-potter1@sky.com">estos dirigentes sindicales</a>, sin olvidar de mencionar el nombre de su propio sindicato. Encabezamiento: Apoyar a Unite en Mayr-Melnhof.

	Estimados compañeros/as:

	Hemos sabido de su conflicto y el cierre patronal que les impusiera Mayr-Melnhof. Entendemos que la administración ha sido completamente irracional con respecto a una solución intermedia que afectaría a los trabajadores despedidos. Parece que Mayr-Melnhof quisiera imponer a la fuerza su intransigencia: la alternativa es un inflexible cierre patronal. Por favor sepan que nuestro sindicato está con ustedes y que en los próximos días vamos a estar vigilantes ante este conflicto. ¡Cuenten con nuestro apoyo para ganar este conflicto!

	(nombre)

	(sindicato)

	Para mayor información sobre este cierre patronal, ver el <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4904-UK-Packaging-Workers-Face-Lockout-at-Mayr-Melnhof-Plant-in-Merseyside" type="internal">informe de la ICEM</a> que se publicó la semana pasada, en inglés.

	Agradecemos su pronta atención a este asunto.

	Unidos en solidaridad,

	Dick Blin

	Encargado del Sector Pulpa y Papel de la ICEM/Ginebra

Packaging Workers Need Support!

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

	If anyone needs further proof to Vale’s global social neglect, it comes in a pair of dirty deeds committed by the Brazilian mining company in and after the bitter 2009-10 strike at a major nickel and copper operation in Sudbury, Ontario.

	One involves circumstances surrounding two deaths inside Vale’s Frood-Stobie Mine on 8 June 2011 and the other is added legal proof that Vale’s strong-arm tactics in firing union activists during the United Steelworkers (USW) strike was meant to hinder legal collective bargaining.

	An extensive report issued 29 February by the USW over the June 2011 deaths of Jordan Fram, 26, an equipment operator, and Jason Chenier, 35, a supervisor, was done because Vale refused the offer of the USW to investigate the accident jointly. USW blames negligent water drainage maintenance directly tied to lax and “little experience or training” of front-line supervisors.

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/0908.usw.canada.png" style="width: 347px; height: 138px" / width="390"> 

	USW Local 6500 Union Meeting

	Fram and Chenier were buried 900 metres underground by an overflow of muck, a term for an avalanche of wet rock, gravel, sand, water washing down a mine shaft. Even though USW Local 6500 is the legitimate bargaining representative, the report notes, “Vale officials refused to be interviewed by members of the USW team” even though union members “cooperated fully in management’s investigation.”

	The <a href="http://www.uswlocal6500.ca/reports/exectsum.pdf">Executive Summary</a> and the full 207-page <a href="http://www.uswlocal6500.ca/reports/dfinvest.doc">USW Report</a> are here.

	The week before USW issued the report, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) ruled that Vale violated provincial labour law by maintaining a “patently unreasonable” stance over nine workers Vale fired for strike activity. The OLRB agreed with the USW that the nine trade unionists were denied rights to third-party arbitration by the company, and further cited Vale for “troubling” labour relations conduct across several areas.

	In January, the OLRB <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4838-Ontario-Labour-Board-Rules-Discharged-USW-Sudbury-Leader-has-Worksite-Access" type="internal">cited Vale with union interference</a> for denying entry onto company property for one of the nine discharged workers is the elected head of Local 6500’s Grievance Committee. The USW is now confident that arbitrated decisions will prevail and the nine workers will return to their rightful jobs.

	The USW District Director for Ontario and the Atlantic Region, Wayne Fraser, said the OLRB’s 24 February ruling “should give Vale pause to consider the hardship inflicted on families,” adding that the unlawful conduct “prolonged the suffering and uncertainty for families in our community.”

	Vale’s safety record in Canada was tarnished again on 29 January 2012 when 47-year-old Stephen Perry, an explosives worker, was crushed to death when a rock face collapsed on him while he was working in a lift basket. This death occurred 1,300 metres inside Vale’s Coleman nickel mine near Sudbury.

	A fourth Canadian Vale death in 2011 occurred on 19 October when 51-year-old scooptram operator Greg Leason was killed when his machine fell 40 metres into a cavern inside the T-3 Mine in Thompson, Manitoba.

	Historically, the four 2011 deaths at Vale in Canada are atypical because the USW is a vigilant proponent of joint labour-management process safety procedures that prevent workplace accidents. But with Vale’s hostile labour relations still simmering some 20 months after the strike, no cooperation with the union over health and safety issues is proving detrimental to workplace safety.

Safety, Union Busting Haunts Vale inside Sudbury, Canada, Mines

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

	Union members, affiliated to Unite the Union in the UK, rejected 5 March a redundancy proposal from Austrian packaging company Mayr-Melnhof that would have ended a 19-day lockout at a plant in Merseyside, near Liverpool. Workers rejected it 138-1 largely because management still insists on its own discretionary powers in disbursing redundancy packages to 49 workers.

	Unite has escalated a campaign against the Vienna-based paper carton and packaging company primarily because Mayr-Melnhof has retracted and reduced buy-out terms in this set of talks, and has substantially broken from redundancy pay-outs and terms commonly established in past consultations.

	In talks on 29 February and again on 3 March, the company proposed a social fund to bridge the difference paid in its 2008 and 2010 layoffs, with lesser packages offered now. But the social fund would be discretionary, based on subjective criteria unilaterally set by the company, which underscores Mayr-Melnhof’s bargaining posture throughout this set of 2012 talks.

	 <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1203-lennie-unite.jpg" style="width: 203px; height: 160px;" width="390" /> 

	Len McClusky (right) Speaks to Unite Strikers at Mayr-Melnhof

	Workers at the Bootle, Merseyside, plant began lawful industrial actions on 10 February over Mayr-Melnhof’s intransigence with six-hour “switch strikes.”  Walkouts rotated from 06h to noon, and from noon to 18h. On 18 February, managers locked workers out and began manoeuvring to move equipment and product out of the factory.

	Workers then entered the factory and staged a shop-floor sit-in to prevent removal. Despite several sets of talks since, Mayr-Melnhof has steadfastly resisted any workable compromise proposed by Unite, and the lockout has continued.

	The union has brought the dispute to Mayr-Melnhof’s Packaging Division workers in Germany, and the ICEM has issued a call for <a href="/en/19-Pulp-Paper/4918-Packaging-Workers-Need-Support-" type="internal">Solidarity Action</a>, which can be viewed and acted upon here. Trade unionists inside the company’s Karton Division, led by Austrian affiliate Pro-Ge, have brought attention to the company’s hostile UK labour relations inside Mayr-Melnhof’s eight European paper mills, and Pro-Ge has also protested loudly to CEO Wilhelm Hoermansedar.

	Unite, meanwhile, is preparing an industrial ballot at Mayr-Melnhof’s other UK packaging plant, in Deeside, North Wales, on grounds that the company is worsening redundancy terms and conditions from previously agreed. The Bootle plant produces food packaging from tea bags to breakfast cereal to pet food packaging, with Kellogg’s the plant’s biggest customer.

Mayr-Melnhof Lockout Continues at UK Packaging Plant

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

	A strike by ICEM Indonesian affiliate KSP2KI at one of the world’s largest paper mills last week produced sizeable salary increases for over 13,000 workers. With strike support from nearly all workers at Asia Pulp and Paper’s (APP) PT Pindo Deli’s twin mills in Karawang, West Java, the union achieved substantially more than the minimum government-mandated increase that APP was at first willing to distribute.

	As well, KSP2KI won substantial increases for the lowest paid paperworkers and an APP pledge that it would engage in continuous social dialogue with the union.

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1205-indonesia-paper.jpg" style="width: 212px; height: 159px;" / width="390">

	FSP2KI Strike Leaders

	The two-year accord became retroactive to 1 April and grants workers, in some cases, a doubling of the provincial government minimum. KSP2KI, or  Federasi Serikat Pekerja Pulp Dan Kertas, the Pulp and Paper Union of Indonesia, announced a three-day strike on 7 May but because of the large strike turnout, management resumed talks and agreed to the across-the-board increases on the day the strike started.

	In March, managers of the 900,000-metric-tonnes-per-year paperboard, writing papers and tissue mills had unilaterally decided on the minimum increase while still in bargaining. The strike and immediate return to the table saw wages lifted from 9.14% to 18% for most workers at low-end classifications, with increases to 14.14% and 11.14% in medium- and top-level classifications.

	That translates to an average IDR (Indonesia Rupiah) monthly increase of 139,363 (US$15.12). The minimum monthly pay at PT Pindo Deli in Karawang had been IDR 1,450,000 (US$157), so the pay grid for most workers will climb to above US$180-per-month.

	   <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1205-indonesia-crowd.jpg" style="width: 225px; height: 169px;" / width="390">   

	The ICEM commends the KSP2KI – a union with 7,650 members at the twin Karawang mills – for the well-organised strike action and subsequent result, and encourages all workers at Karawang, including workers of outsource companies operating inside the mills, to take up union membership.

	APP is part of Indonesian Sinar Mas Group and operates some ten paper machines and 14 paper-coating machines in the Karawang No. 1 and No. 2 mills in West Java. It also operates wholly-owned or majority-controlled pulp and paper mills – some nine in total – in other parts of Indonesia.

Indonesian Paperworkers Win Big Pay Gains in Short Strike

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

	The ICEM-affiliated Peruvian Federation of Mine and Metal Workers, FNTMMSP, achieved a significant legislative victory on 12 May that creates a pension fund for miners, funded by corporate profits and worker contributions.

	The law had been passed by the country’s Senate nine months ago, but the government had not approved regulations for its implementation until now, two days prior to a planned two-day national strike.

	FNTMMSP General Secretary Luis Castillo announced the victory and called off the strike. The 75,000-member FNTMMSP had led the campaign for the last four years, against strong conservative forces in government and industry. The four-year campaign has included numerous mobilisations, marches, and three national strikes.

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1205-peruvian-miner.jpg" style="width: 342px; height: 154px;" / width="390">

	Supreme Decree DS 006-2012-TR sets out that the fund will be funded with 0.5% of the corporate annual income of the mining, metal, steel industries, plus 0.5% workers’ monthly gross salaries. The benefits cannot be used for any other benefit than miners’ pensions.

	FNTMMSP reports that the primary beneficiaries of the new law will be mine and metal workers from both primary employers and outsourced contractors.

	The mineworkers’ struggle now continues in other areas, including modification of the legislation on utilities.

	Peru is the world’s second largest producer of copper and silver, and is a major producer of gold, zinc, and tin. A massive 60% of the country’s export revenue comes from mining.

Peru’s Mineworkers Achieve Legislative Victory on Pensions, Avoid Strike

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

	Some 200 delegates and international guests gathered 11 May in the Serbian city of Kragujevac for the founding Congress of Industrija, Energija, Rudarstvo, or IER Nezavisnost, the new 35,000-member industrial front of UGS Nezavisnost that brings together the ICEM-affiliated Chemicals, Non-Metals and Mining Trade Union, or GSHNER Nezavisnost, with the federation’s metalworking union (GSM Nezavisnost), and the Trade Union of Textile, Leather and Shoe Industries (GSTKO Nezavisnost), an affiliate of the International Federation of Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF).

	The merger marked the first time in Serbia that trade unions combined to gain greater strength, rather than past trends of pulling apart.

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Serbia-Nezavisnost-UGS.jpg" style="width: 221px; height: 79px;" / width="390">

	Guest speaker, ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda, made note of this fact and drew the parallel of this historic achievement to what is now occurring on the global level with the creation of IndustriALL.

	The founding Congress was held in Serbia’s fourth largest city, a community now gearing up with production of a 2,500-worker Fiat automotive plant in which union recruitment will be essential. The Congress saw guests come from the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF), the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF), IndustriEnergi (IE) of Norway, FIM-CISL of Italy, FNME-CGT of France, Petrom of Romania, EKN of Croatia and KNG of Slovenia.

	Also in attendance were several representatives from regional-based companies, which signal realistic expectations that tri-partite and bi-lateral social dialogue is on the horizon.

	The Congress elected former GSHNER Nezavisnost President Milorad Panović as President and Dragon Vesić of that former union as General Secretary. Elected as Vice Presidents were former GSM Nezavisnost President Nenard Matić and former GSHNER Nezavisnost Vice President Zoran Pantelić. GSTKO Nezavisnost is represented on the eight-member Executive Committee by Boško Karalić.

Serbian Branches of UGS Nezavisnost Merge Into Single Industry, Energy, Mine Union

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

	Workers in Germany’s chemicals sector won 4.5% wage gains over the next 19 months in national talks concluded on 24 May in Schönefeld near Berlin. The 2012-13 negotiations between ICEM affiliate IGBCE and the chemical employers’ association, BAVC, began on 17 April.

	Perhaps more significant last week than another high round of industrial wage increases that will provide further growth to Europe’s largest economy, the IGBCE achieved reduction in work time for older workers and more opportunities for younger ones through continuation of a “demographic fund” that will see even higher payments made by employers.

	The new pact, with the wage hikes to take effect between 1 July and 1 September, covers 550,000 chemical workers employed at some 1,900 companies. The 14-month 2011-12 social pact expires either at the end of May or June this year, depending on the region.

	<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1205 igbce crowd vote.jpg" style="width: 285px; height: 160px;" width="390" />

	The tough yet peaceful resolve to chemical sector talks came two days before IG Metall and the employers’ association Gesamtmetall reached 4.3% wage terms over 13 months for 800,000 metal and electronics workers in Baden-Württemberg state. That settlement set a pattern for other metal negotiations across Germany covering another two million workers.

	The IGBCE agreement continues a trend in the German chemicals industry that provides financial incentives for older workers to reduce their weekly work hours or opt to take early retirement at age 55, thus opening sustainable careers for young workers.

	IGBCE Head of Collective Bargaining Peter Hausmann said this agreement creates an even better “age-friendly work environment.” This is accomplished through the “demographic fund,” created in national talks in 2008.

	<img alt="" height="132" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1004.peter.hausmann.igbce.jpg" width="175" /> 

	Peter Hausmann

	Between the years 2013 and 2015, employers will pay an additional €200 per annum per worker into the fund, raising – in most cases – the yearly amount to €600 and lifting the fund’s reservoir by €200 million. The fund can be tapped for early retirement at full pension benefits, reduced work week for staff over age 55 at full salary, or more workers eligible for semi-retirement, meaning a combination of reduced working hours with partial payment of pension benefits.

	In addition to the wage hikes, apprentices will realise an added €50-a-month increase.

	IGBCE President Michael Vassiliadis called the 2012-13 social charter “a good result for all workers in the chemicals industry.” He said the union accomplished a hefty pay increase and in particular achieved more comprehensive work-time savings for older workers, adding that the agreement meets the demographic changes occurring in the industry.

IGBCE Chemical Talks: Union Stays Course of Growth, Reinforces Worker Age Transition

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