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IGBCE, ICEM’s Germany affiliate, achieved mutually-accepted labour terms for the chemicals sector 16 June for workers in western Germany. The agreement with chemical employers’ association BAVC meets IGBCE’s pay goals as a result of recent productivity increases and exceeds German inflation of 1.6%. A general wage increase of 2.7% was won, plus a single payout of 1.2% of a month’s salary multiplied by 19. IGBCE bargains for 550,000 workers in chemicals.
IGBCE achieved an increase in the number of trainee or apprenticeship positions in both 2006 and 2007, and the fixed weekly work-time regulation was held at 37.5 hours. Ongoing discussions will occur on making special improvements for trade union members, and talks covering eastern German chemical workers also are in progress.

IGBCE, Chemical Employers Agree to Terms in Germany

<img height="40" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief 1.gif" width="100" alt=""/>
The devastating seven-week lockout of the Finnish paper sector by Finland’s paper companies is over. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen mediated talks on 27-29 June and ICEM affiliate Paperiliitto’s Delegate Council approved the three-year compromise contract on 1 July. 
Finland’s 25,000 paperworkers gained wage increases similar to the national incomes settlement. They will receive 2.5% this year, 1.9% next year (taking into effect the country’s gender equality allowance), and union and management will negotiate in 2007 for the third year increase. Paperiliitto successfully resisted the worst of the industry’s concessionary proposals, including unpaid sick leave, splitting of holidays, and 12-hour workdays without overtime pay compensation. Christmas and mid-summer shutdown days will be eliminated, but workers will be compensated by reduced working time throughout the year. 
On the all-important issue of contract labour, trade union acceptance must occur on all outsourcing. The two sides agreed to let individual plant negotiating teams reach agreement on the issue locally, but if that fails the issue will be submitted to an arbitration panel composed of the national union, the employers’ federation and an impartial chairman. Introduction of contract labour can then only occur with a unanimous decision. Paperiliitto and the employers will again look at the contract labour issue in mid-term of the contract to review its effectiveness. The lockout by papermaking employers, begun 18 May, was costing €40million per day across all sectors.

Finland's Paper Dispute and Lockout Resolved

In accepting the mediated proposal, Paperiliitto directed especially strong language at one global, Finnish-based paper company, UPM Kymmene: settle the seven-month Canadian paper strike in Miramichi, New Brunswick, with Local 689 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) Union. 
Calling it a “distinguished spot of shame for the Finnish forest industry,” Paperiliitto’s Delegate Council demanded that UPM Kymmene “implement negotiations on an equal basis for a fair and quick solution” in Miramichi. “It is necessary to take into account the local bargaining praxis, the needs of the small local society and the feelings of workers,” the Finnish union’s settlement statement said on the strike in Canada. In New Brunswick, bargaining with a provincial mediator broke off 28 June without any progress, but resumed again last week. The 800 members of CEP Local 689 are striking for the pattern paper-mill agreement in eastern Canada, and they seek also to preserve a host of local mill terms and conditions.

Finnish Paper Union Exhibits Solidarity to CEP in Canada

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A strike over issues seen as a sign of things to come under the Howard government ended in Australia on 4 July. One of those issues included unrestrained use of contract labour. Fifty-five mainly immigrant women began the strike against Kemalex Plastics 27 April backed by their union, ICEM affiliate National Union of Workers. 
The strike was over the employer’s plan to make them all individual contractors, this disallowing protection from unfair dismissal, leaving them without sick leave and holiday pay, and excluding them from the mandatory 9% superannuation guarantee contribution. The strike galvanized Australian labour against Prime Minister John Howard’s industrial reforms. Strikers at the automotive components factory in Dandenong near Melbourne agreed to a compromise deal in which they will receive A$100 weekly in additional wages, and will remain permanent employees under an enterprise labour agreement.

Kemalex Plastics Strike in Australia Ends

Rio Tinto Australian subsidiary Energy Resources may face prosecution in the Northern Territory following a March incident in which contaminated water from uranium processing was connected into workers’ drinking and showering supplies. Some 30 workers took ill. A report by the Northern Territory government identified serious breaches of regulations and NT’s Mines and Energy minister said a “lack of duty of care” by management exists at the Ranger Mine in Kakadu National Park.

Rio Tinto May Be Prosecuted over Australian Water Contamination

ICEM’s Global Agreement, as well as US affiliate PACE’s strategic accord with Swedish paper producer SCA were instrumental in bringing union representation to state of Arizona workers. In a two-day vote 27-28 May conducted by the US government, workers at a tissue plant in Bellemont, Arizona, voted for PACE 88-50. The union and SCA agreed to a “principles of behavior” code during the election campaign, which came as a result of ICEM’s Global Agreement signed with the company in April, as well as PACE’s cooperative accord signed with SCA in October 2003.

PACE in US Wins Union Recognition for SCA Workers

The USW is protesting against the Bush government’s weakening of mine safety regulations regarding underground fumes. Bush’s Department of Labor (DOL) relaxed rules on necessary engineering controls in monitoring metal and non-metal mines in favour of a new standard that expands the use of respirators for workers. 
But DOL’s Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) did not go far enough in requiring employers to medically test workers for their ability to use respirators safely, an obvious slight for miners with undiagnosed heart and lung problems. USW Health, Safety and Environment Director Mike Wright called it “a gift to (Bush administration) supporters in the mining industry. It’s entirely political, and I suspect the decision was made over the objections of MSHA health staff, who certainly know better.” The USW said it would challenge the respiration revisions in court.

Steelworkers Protest Mine Fumes Standard to US Government

Nigerian unions, including ICEM affiliates NUPENG and PENGASSAN, will proceed with wide support from civil society organizations on an indefinite general strike beginning 16 November. The government has refused to rescind a 25% fuel price hike imposed in September. Mass dissent by the Nigerian populace has also shifted to Shell Petroleum Development Corp. due to the company’s support of the government and its decision to take oil workers to the Federal High Court in Lagos in an effort to stop them from joining the strike. The court on 1 November delayed ruling on the matter until two days after the start of the general strike.

Nigerian Unions Brace for General Strike Starting 16 November

ICEM French affiliate FCE-CFDT has voiced its opposition to a report issued last week by the Roulet Commission over recapitalization and partial privatization of Electricité de France (EDF). The commission, headed by former Thomson SA and France Telecom chairman Marcel Roulet, recommends massive cost cutting inside the utility to prepare the way for an IPO to private investors. FCE-CFDT says France should exhibit responsible behaviour to EDF workers and French citizens firstly, and should not reduce the utility’s level of activities to a single field—namely France and Germany. The chemical and energy union has vowed to stand tight with EDF workers to protect their interests.

French Roulet Commission Reports Brings Privatisation Doubts

ICEM Belgian affiliate la Centrale Générale FGTB held its Congress in Blankenberge 17-20 November with a theme entitled “Delegates Without Borders for More Social Justice.” The theme was a call to union activists to go beyond the “borders” of enterprises and conduct union work on international and European levels. The Congress debated global and European issues with emphasis on creating trade union networks. The Congress also marked the retirement of five members of FGTB’s Federal Secretariat with Alain Clauwaert elected new President and Jacques Michiels as General Secretary. Other members of the Secretariat include Werner Van Heetvelde, Paul Lootens, Rik Desmet, Bruno Bachely, Herman Baele and Eric Neuprez.

Belgian Affiliate la Centrale Generale FGTB Holds Congress

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