English

Español

Français

Aerospace

Automotive

Base metals

Chemical, pharmaceutical and bio-science

Energy 

Glass, cement, ceramic and associated industries

ICT, electrical and electronics

Mechanical Engineering

Mining and DGOJP

Pulp and paper

Rubber

Shipbuilding and shipbreaking

Textile, garment, shoes, leather and textile services

Sectors

Action Plan 2021-2025

Action on textile and garment industry

Clean up shipbreaking

Ratify ILO C176

United for a just future - time to pay up!

Disinvest from Myanmar

Campaigns

Global Framework Agreements

Union building

White-collar workers

Health & safety

Industry 4.0

Women

Youth

LGBTQI+

Gender, equality, diversity and inclusion (GEDI)

Just Transition

Organizing with industriALL 

What we do

Affiliates

Statutes

Elected officials

Executive Committee

Geneva head office

South East Asia 

Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus

Latin America and the Caribbean 

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional offices

About us

Global worker No1 2022

Global worker No2 2022

Publications

Resources

Logos of IndustriALL Global Union

Press

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/>
Another methane gas blast inside a Colombian coal mine killed five workers, and seriously injured one. This time it occurred on 1 February at the semi-legal La Escondida colliery in Cunduinamarca department, in a community called Sutatausa, 100 kilometres north of Bogotá. 
 
Last time was only a fortnight ago when 25 miners died 600 metres inside the La Preciosa Ltda. coal mine in Norte de Santander department. That 26 January tragedy now stands as Colombia’s second worst mine disaster in less than a year, behind the San Fernando mine blast on 16 June 2010, where 73 perished in North-West Colombia state. 
 
Following the recent mine deaths, both Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Mines and Energy Minister Carlos Rodado Noreiga admitted the country’s Institute of Geology and Mining (Ingeominas) is ill-equipped to handle mine safety and compliance in the nation’s burgeoning mining industry. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/04miningsafety.jpg" width="200" height="146"/>
Ingeominas has 17 mine inspectors to handle some 6,000 mines that are currently licensed. Roughly 19% are coal operations, with the vast majority of them underground mines operated by small- and medium-sized businesses. The ICEM reminds that Colombia has many illegally operating mines, with estimates that of every 100 mining enterprises, 51 are operated illegally. 
 
The Escondida mine is in an area called Peñas de Boquerón in the central department of Cunduinamarca and was operating under a temporary permit granted by Ingeominas. A day before the tragedy, miners had complained that the ventilation system was not operating adequately and gas levels were rising. 
 
The San Fernando mine blast in June 2010 was Colombia’s worst mining accident in 30 years. A preliminary investigation found breach of existing safety regulations, faulty monitoring and detection devices, lack of training and qualification, and unfamiliar explosives used inside the mine. 
 
The list was even more extensive, with all contributing factors listed as preventable. Colombia’s underground mine safety regulations fall under the out-dated Decree 1335 of 1987, a regulatory code that is easily breached by small- and medium-size companies. The problem is complicated by the fact that Ingeominas has been too quick to award mining licenses without the proper safety culture or safety equipment. 
 
Colombia has become the world’s fifth largest exporter of coal, behind Australia, Russia, South Africa, and Indonesia. There are reported to be 5,800 new mines in various phases of exploration and development and unless the government revamps its internal mine safety structure, and adopts global mine safety standards as outlined in ILO Convention 176, more tragedies are certain to occur.

Colombia’s Second Mine Blast Brings More Alert; 5 More Dead

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/>
Over 400 delegates and guests attended the 5th Congress of the ICEM-affiliated Russian Oil, Gas, and Construction Workers’ Union (ROGWU) 22-23 December 2010, at the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow. 
 
The Congress re-elected Lev Mironov as President in a closely fought three-way election. ROGWU also elected two Vice Presidents, Vladimir Kosovich and Nadezhda Zvyagintseva. 
 
The Congress also marked 20 years of the union in its present form, having been established in December 1990 with the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the Russian Federation as an independent state, making it necessary to restructure trade union work. However, the origins of the Oil, Gas, and Construction Workers’ Union dates back to 1906 and the first organisation of workers at the oil plants in the Caspian Sea city of Baku, now Azerbaijan. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.rogwu congress.jpg" width="259" height="182"/>
Today the union represents around 1.4 million members. Functioning in 63 subjects of the Russian Federation are some 2,700 primary union organizations, 28 territorial elective bodies, and six inter-regional trade union organizations of the companies Lukoil, Gazprom, Sibur-Holding, Tatneft, Novatech, and Sodrujestvo. 
The Congress approved the basic directions of activity for ROGWU for 2011-2015 and adopted amendments to the Charter of Oil, Gas, and Russia, as well as a resolution on the institutional strengthening of trade unions, a resolution dealing with the urgent issues of social protection, labour rights, and economic interests of workers, union policies on youth, on information and analytical work regarding gender equality, as well as an appeal to employers organizations of the oil and gas industry. 
 
Jim Catterson and Anatoly Surin represented the ICEM Secretariat at the Congress, with a number of important oil industry affiliated unions, including Norway’s IndustriEnergi (IE) also present. 
 
ROGWU has posted material about the Congress <a href="http://rogwu-center.ru/en/news/detail.php?ID=9584 ">here</a>.

ROGWU Re-Elects Lev Mironov at Fifth Congress in Moscow

Calling for trade union rights in Mexico, the international trade union movement began a week of action by meeting with the Mexican Ambassador to the United Nations and holding a rally in Geneva, Switzerland today. 
 
Similar actions are scheduled to take place in at least 30 countries around the world until February 19, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the deaths of 65 miners at the Pasta de Conchos mine disaster in Mexico on February 19, 2006. 
 
Since this time the Mexican Miners’ Union, the union that called for justice following the disaster, has faced systematic, frequently violent and escalating violations of worker and trade union rights by employers and the Mexican government. 
 
Other independent trade unions in Mexico seeking to improve the rights of working people have also increasingly come under attack in recent years through the tolerance, complicity and, on many occasions, the direct action of the Mexican state. 
 
A delegation of international trade union leaders, accompanied by a representative of the Swiss union UNIA, met with the Mexican Ambassador in Geneva this afternoon and demanded the Mexican government stop violating fundamental trade union rights and start complying with its own laws and international standards on human and trade union rights. 
 
“It is now five years since 65 miners were killed in the February 19, 2006 explosion at the Grupo México Pasta de Conchos coal mine. To this day, bereaved families have not received proper compensation, the miners’ bodies remain buried and violent and illegal attacks perpetrated by the Government and employers against the Mexican Miners’ Union continue,” explained Fernando Lopes, Assistant General Secretary of the International Metalworkers’ Federation, a member of the delegation to the embassy in Geneva today. 
 
“The political persecution of the Mexican Miners’ Unions and others like it must stop,” demanded Lopes. 
 
Independent unions including the Mexican Miners' Union (SNTMMSRM), the Mexican Electrical Workers' Union (SME), the UNTyPP union representing workers in Mexico's state-owned petroleum company PEMEX, the National Union of General Tyre Workers of Mexico (SNTGTM) and the Union of the Autonomous University of Mexico's Workers (SUTUACM), as well as the Mexican Telephone Workers' Union (STRM), Authentic Workers' Front (FAT) and up to thirty other unions affiliated to the National Union of Workers (UNT) have all faced violent attacks, intimidation and repression of trade union rights. 
 
Supporting the campaign, Joe de Bruyn, President of the UNI Global Union explains, "For decades the Mexican government has facilitated low wages and suppressed worker voices through a pervasive web of employer-controlled protection contracts. We want to change the rules of the game in Mexico and ensure all workers can join the free and independent trade union movement.” 
 
“Calderon must begin to understand that trade union freedoms in Mexico will not disappear, no matter how hard he tries to ignore it,” said ICEM President Senzeni Zokwana, also supporting the week of action. “Global trade unions in fact are now keenly united on Mexico as a target for vast improvements on social labour rights. Momentum and pressure now become our tools.” 
 
David Cockroft, ITF General Secretary, added, "We have witnessed at first hand the deep running desire of Mexicans for representation and just and safe workplaces. The will and the need are there; it is actions like these ones that now take this struggle forward." 
 
“Mexico must fulfill its international obligations to respect fundamental workers’ rights. The treatment of the Mexican Miners’ Union is a symptom of a much broader problem of violation of ILO standards in Mexico, and the fact that proper compensation still has not been paid is simply unacceptable,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. 
 
Trade unions in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kosovo, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the U.S. are calling on the Mexican government to respect trade union rights in a series of actions from 14 to 19 February 2011. 
 
In Mexico itself, the independent trade union movement will be holding various actions across the country throughout the week to highlight the systematic abuse of trade union rights by the Mexican government. 
 
Together the trade unions are holding rallies, meeting with Mexican government representatives, and sending letters and thousands of emails all calling on the Mexican government to: 
1. Hold employer and government officials accountable for the Pasta de Conchos mine explosion that killed 65 miners on February 19, 2006. 
2. Abolish systemic violations of workers’ freedom of association, including employer-dominated “protection contracts” and interference in union elections. 
3. End the use of force—by the state or private parties—to repress workers’ legitimate demands for democratic unions, better wages and working conditions, and good health and safety conditions. 
4. End the campaign of political persecution against the Mexican Miners’ Union and the Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union. 
The action to support the democratic and independent unions in Mexico is being taken by trade unions around the world affiliated to the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF), the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), UNI Global Union and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). 
 
NOTES TO EDITORS: 
 
1. For additional information about trade union rights violations in Mexico please see: 
<a href="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Fact%20sheet_en.pdf">/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Fact%20sheet_en.pdf</a>   
 
2. For addition information about the actions taking place around the world this week, go to: 
• IMF website at: <a href="http://www.imfmetal.org/mexico2011">www.imfmetal.org/mexico2011</a>   
• ICEM website at: <a href="/en/5-Mining-DGOJP" type="internal">www.icem.org/en/5-Mining-DGOJP</a>   
• UNI Global Union website at: <a href="http://www.uniglobalunion.org/MexicoAction">www.uniglobalunion.org/MexicoAction</a>   
• Twitter hashtag #mexicoaction 
 
3. The International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and represents the interests of 25 million metalworkers in over 100 countries around the world. <a href="http://www.imfmetal.org">www.imfmetal.org</a>   
 
4. The International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) also based in Geneva, represents 20 million workers worldwide. <a href="http://www.icem.org" type="internal">www.icem.org</a>   
 
5. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) represents 4.6 million transport workers in 781 unions in 155 countries. <a href="http://www.itfglobal.org">www.itfglobal.org</a>   
 
6. UNI Global Union represents 20 million workers belonging to 900 skills and services trade unions worldwide. <a href="http://www.uniglobalunion.org">www.uniglobalunion.org</a>   
 
7. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) represents the interests of working people worldwide. It has 301 affiliated member organizations in 151 countries and territories, with a total membership of 176 million workers. <a href="http://www.ituc-csi.org">www.ituc-csi.org</a>   
 
________________________________ 
For further information on the actions being taken, please contact: Tom Grinter, ICEM, +41 22 304 1853. <a href="mailto:tom.grinter@icem.org">tom.grinter@icem.org</a>, Anita Gardner, IMF, +41 22 308 5032. <a href="mailto:agardner@imfmetal.org">agardner@imfmetal.org</a>, Olga Vinogradova, UNI Global Union, +4179 4462703. <a href="mailto:olga.vinogradova@uniglobalunion.org">olga.vinogradova@uniglobalunion.org</a>, Sam Dawson, ITF. Tel: +44 (0)20 7940 9260. <a href="mailto:dawson_sam@itf.org.uk">dawson_sam@itf.org.uk</a>

Global Days of Action On Workers’ Rights in Mexico

Dear Sisters, Brothers and Comrades: 
 
You may have heard that I am departing the ICEM and returning to North America and my union, the United Steelworkers (USW). This was a very difficult decision for me, which was determined largely by personal factors. Manfred and the USW have worked out an arrangement for me to assist the ICEM in the transition with replacement staff, so feel free to contact me at jdrexler@usw.ca if I can be of assistance. 
 
While my original leave of absence to work at the ICEM was for two years, the leave was extended and I am finishing with almost 3 ½ years of service to the ICEM. I had an extraordinary opportunity that few trade unionists ever have. I was able to see the world through the eyes of wonderful colleagues and comrades in the many unions I came in contact with. Working together, we were able to build a stronger and more vibrant ICEM North America Region and make important strides in building power against greedy and sometimes brutal multinational employers. 
 
Serving as the ICEM Mining Sector Officer was particularly rewarding. Mining trade unions in much of the Global South play a pivotal role in the broader trade union movements and may well determine the future of civil society in many countries. The struggle to ensure responsible mining investment and sustainable development, the right to organize trade unions without employer interference, improved health and safety of miners, and stopping the scourge of tragic mining accidents remain major challenges. 
 
I express special thanks and appreciation to Manfred Warda, ICEM General Secretary; Senzeni Zokwana, ICEM President; Andrew Vickers, Chair of the ICEM Mining Sector; Ken Neumann and Dave Coles, Co-Chairs of ICEM North America; and the ICEM staff for their support and counsel throughout my tenure at the ICEM. 
 
I wish all the ICEM affiliates the very best in the future. I know with continued hard work and perseverance that we will build a new and better life for working people throughout the world. 
 
In solidarity, 
 
 
 
Joe Drexler 
 
ICEM - Director of Industry & Corporate Affairs, Mining Secretary and North American Coordinator

Joe Drexler's Letter to ICEM affiliates on his departure

Paperworkers across Spain, belonging to the two major national labour federations, began strike action today in frustration to futile year-long bargaining that has left them nothing. They will repeat the 24-hour action on 3 March. The bargaining between ICEM affiliates FIA-UGT and FSC-CCOO and the employers’ grouping, Aspapel, is for 2010-2012 national sector talks and covers 17,500 workers at some 120 mills and plants. 
 
The dispute is not just over salaries, but adverse salary structures that employers are trying to impose that will prove detrimental to workers in the long term. The dispute also is over Aspapel’s aggressive methods to liberalise work rules, a pivotal factor in worker frustration and not getting a pay increase in 2010. Spanish paperworkers need to hear from us. 
 
Please cut and paste this message, and send to the e-mails below: 
 
Dear Spanish Comrades, 
 
We have heard through the ICEM of your current strike actions and we support you. We are appalled that pulp and paper bosses under Aspapel have stalled bargaining since 2009. Please inform all FIA-UGT and FSC-CCOO paperworkers in Spain of our Solidarity toward their courageous industrial actions. 
 
(Signed) 
 
<a href="mailto:internacional@fsc.ccoo.es">internacional@fsc.ccoo.es</a> 
<a href="mailto:jrodriguez@fct.ccoo.es">jrodriguez@fct.ccoo.es</a> 
<a href="mailto:jcruiz@fia.ugt.org">jcruiz@fia.ugt.org</a> 
 
Early this week, the two unions conducted a picket at the headquarters of Spanish paper company SAICA. Other companies met with strike action today include Torraspapel, Iberpapel, SmurfitKappa, Holmen, SCA, Newark, Papertech, and several others. Paperworkers at one company have pledged to carry out day-long strikes once every week until April. 
 
The two sides are not widely apart on wages, but it is the rabid flexibility changes and revisionist consumer price index (CPI) re-structuring demands that are anti-social. Employers have been very outspoken in their demand of this as a consequence to Spain’s economic situation. Worker frustration over this injustice is very evident in this dispute. 
 
Entering a mediation session at Servico Interconfederal de Mediación y Arbitraje (SIMA) in Madrid yesterday, paperworkers through their unions are seeking a retroactive I January 2010 increase of 3%, with a 1 January 2011 increase of between 1.5 and 2%. In 2012, the unions seek 2-2.5% increases, depending on pay scale structures. Employers are offering one percent less. Please do your part by sending the above message.

Pledge Support to Paperworkers’ Strike Actions in Spain

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/>
Turkish union leaders and militants of the Thrace region convened in early February for solidarity and support in a number of cases of industrial discord occurring in the rapidly-growing manufacturing zone. Five affiliates of the ICEM, the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) and the International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF) met and organized a demonstration at the Free Trade Zone of Corlu. 
 
The protest was in support of a two-month strike by ICEM affiliate Petrol-İş and dismissal of trade unionists by India-base Polyplex company, a plastics and polyester company. (The ICEM has launched a LabourStart campaign on this dispute; please join the <a href="http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=868">protest</a> now.)  
 
The demonstration also centered on other trade union infringements, particularly at worksites where organising is underway, and as well on the Turkish government’s recent efforts to modify labour legislation regarding casual, temporary, and precarious work. Thrace is an area of Turkey experiencing a high of foreign industrial investments, ranging from metals to textiles to natural gas, chemicals, and rubber development. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.turkey.ICEM-ITGLWF-IMF.jpg" width="280" height="186"/>
Petrol-İş President Mustafa Öztaşkın (center) Speaks at Joint Demonstration
Attended the formation of this regional coalition of trade unions were union Petrol-İş President Mustafa Öztaşkın, Birleşik Metal-İş President Adnan Serdaroğlu, TEKSTIL President President Ridvan Budak, a member of the ITGLWF, Deri-İş President Musa Servi, also of the ITGLWF, representing leather and shoe workers, and the President of ICEM-affiliated Kristal-İş, Bilal Çetintaş, the Glass Workers’ Union of Turkey. These leaders were also accompanied by local branch union leaders of several unions, political party representatives, and NGO representatives. 
 
The five unions cited above pledge to support each other in the Thrace region in ongoing strikes and recruitment drives. 
 
Nearby to Corlu, 12 factories have been targeted for union organizing, but many union activists have been dismissed from their jobs because of their union membership. Besides Polyplex (a prior <a href="/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4212-Organising-Campaigns-of-Petrol-İş-of-Turkey-continue-but-with-Pain-" type="internal">ICEM report</a> can be found here), factories of Yeşil Kundura (shoes), Disa Otomotiv (an auto supplier), Anakonda (metal fabrication), Astaş Alüminyum (aluminum), and Grup Suni Deri (leather) have been targeted for unionisation, and evidence of that can be found with several tents of picketers to be found in front of the plants. In some workplaces, achievements have been made while solidarity and support activities continue, as does several court cases. 
 
“For many days we have been striking at workplaces individually,” said Petrol-İş President Öztaşkın. “But today all the unions striking in the regional come together. We have unified our powers. We have decided to walk together and to organize joint demonstrations and actions. Our hope is that this bond now starting in Thrace will spread to the whole of the country.” 
 
“Regardless of distinction or which confederation the union belongs,” added Birleşik Metal-İş President Serdaroğlu, “we will defend the rights of dismissed workers.” 
 
Musa Servi, President of the ITGLWF affiliate Deri-İş, said, “Employers will try to exploit by establishing factories in free trade zones where union rights are weak. If we act together, we can change this.” 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.KEMAL BEY TEKSIF KONGRE 2.JPG" width="263" height="167"/>
ICEM’s Kemal Özkan Addresses TEKSIF Congress
To cement this bond between ICEM in its sectors, and metals and textiles, ICEM Chemicals and Rubber Industries Officer Kemal Özkan spoke at the 18th Congress of the Turkish Textile, Knitting, and Clothing Industry Workers’ Union (TEKSIF), an ITGLWF affiliate, on 19-20 February 2011 in Ankara. 
 
The Congress was attended and addressed by the President of ITGLWF, Hisanobu Shimada, and one agenda item was to conduct an intensive organizing campaign in textiles and related industries where over two million Turkish workers are employed. The campaign will also include a large support and solidarity with Turkish and international unions. 
 
In his letter of congratulations addressed to Nazmi Irgat, unanimously re-elected President of TEKSIF, ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda said: “We are thankful for active support of the Turkish unions to the work toward creating a joint manufacturing and energy workers’ international. We know Turkish affiliates affiliated to all three organisations will play an effective role and take important responsibilities through support and solidarity.”

Turkish Coalition of ICEM, IMF, ITGLWF Unions Forms in Thrace

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/>
The 55th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women is running in New York City at UN headquarters. The annual Commissions runs from 22 February to 4 March and some 2,000 delegates from 27 nations are in attendance. On opening day, they heard former Chile President and current UN Under-Secretary General for Women Michele Bachelet. 
 
Nearly 200 trade union women are participating in the annual conference, which this year has as its theme access and participation for girls and women in education, training, science, and technology. 
 
The trade union women, behind their union banners and in step with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Education International (EI), and Public Services International (PSI), also used opening day to join New York area trade unionists at Fox News broadcast offices in Manhattan to protest legislative attacks on public-sector collective bargaining rights in the state of Wisconsin. “We are Wisconsin” was the unified chant protesters shouted at America’s right-wing mouthpiece. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.michelle bachelet.jpg" width="132" height="188"/>
Michele Bachelet
Inside the 55th UN Women’s Commission, trade union women called for full rights and protections for domestic workers by adoption of a Domestic Workers’ Convention. The Convention is to be considered at this June’s 100th Labour Conference of the ILO. EI Deputy General Secretary Jan Eastman delivered a statement on the subject in a plenary calling for “full opportunities for education and training for girls and women … leading to productive employment and decent work.” 
 
This year’s Commission on the Status of Women sees the merger of four UN gender institutions into one, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. Bachelet said in her opening remarks this “has a unique and clear mandate to help ensure a seamless relationship” between Member States and UN activities on overcoming gender imbalances. 
 
Bachelet warned not to postpone actions for women’s empowerment on account of the global jobs crisis, stating that progress to date has been “uneven and fragile.”
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.women UN.jpg" width="320" height="153"/>
Canadian Trade Unionists Surround Rona Ambrose 
 
photo: CAW Women’s Programs, Canada
Bachelet said: “As we sit in this room today, there are still too many women and children being trafficked; too many domestic workers who left their families to live in new places, unprotected by labour laws or policies; too many girls forced to leave school or marry too early; too many women and girls who lack access to services. And worldwide,” she added, “there are too few women who are at decision-making tables where peace, trade or climate change agreements are being negotiated.” 
 
Canadian trade union women attending the Commission got a chance to question Rona Ambrose, Canada’s Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women. She spoke at the Commission on 24 February. The union representatives questioned Canada over lack of action and lack of outrage over 800 Canadian women being killed by men, on lax gun registry laws that perpetuate violence, and Canada’s misuse of federal funds for programmes and work on missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

UN Commission on Status of Women Underway in New York City

<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39" alt=""/>
In a powerful display of international solidarity, the “Global Days of Action for Trade Union Rights in Mexico,” 14-19 February, were marked by events in over 40 countries, on five continents, including 17 cities in the US and Canada. 
 
The International Textile, Garment, & Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF) called for fundamental rights in the Mexican garment sector, where “protection contracts” deny workers of their basic labour rights, as is the case throughout Mexico. 
 
In Mexico, the independent labour movement conducted over 27 actions throughout the country, including visits to embassies of 23 countries, a march and demonstration in Mexico City from the Angel of Independence to the offices of Grupo México, seminars, and a protest rally at the Monument of the Revolution. Each day of action was marked inside Mexico. The leaders of Los Mineros and the SME signed a pact of national unity. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.Mexico City.JPG" width="368" height="163"/>
Mexico City
An agreement was reached with the US embassy in Mexico City to begin regular discussions on the complaints presented, in particular the cases of Los Mineros and SME.
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.Mex Toronto.jpg" width="200" height="150"/>
Toronto, Canada
In Canada, high-level trade union delegations met with Mexican ambassadors and consuls in four cities, while pickets continued outside. The Vancouver action was marked by speeches from Los Mineros General Secretary Napoleón Gómez, SME General Secretary Martin Esparanza, and Jorge Castillo Magaña, Assistant General Secretary of the Telefonistas union. See video footage of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/D3Steel#p/a/u/0/Bu_BPIrvlaA">Vancouver, Canada, action</a> here. 
<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex washington dc.jpg" width="250" height="175" alt=""/>
Washington DC, USA
In the US, rallies, meetings with ambassadors and consuls, and pickets, sent the clear message to the Mexican Calderón government that pressure is building inside the country’s largest trading partner that labour rights abuses must end. See video footage of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usyexGRbDgI&feature=player_embedded">Washington DC rally</a> in front of the Mexican Embassy here. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu83ni7mQHM&feature=player_embedded">San Francisco</a>, <a href="http://www.fox11az.com/news/local/Mexican-consulate-picketed-by-angry-miners-116483178.html">Tucson Arizona</a>, <a href="http://www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/press-conference/player/?ram=1102181PCB&id=98&session=82 ">Austin Texas</a>. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex geneva.jpg" width="336" height="185"/>
Geneva, Switzerland
In Switzerland, the office of the Ambassador to the United Nations was targeted by a rally, while ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda, IMF Assistant General Secretary Fernando Lopes, and UNI SCORE Director Adriana Rosenzvaig met with the ambassador to convey the demands of the action. Ambassadors around the world expressed some concern, but generally denied wrongdoing by the Mexican government. Many made promises to follow-up on the demands. The dialogue and pressure will continue. 
<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex australia.jpg" width="220" height="148" alt=""/>
100 unionists rallied on the lawn in front of Parliament House in Canberra
See a video of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoImqEw00_M&feature=player_embedded">Australia action</a> here, where a high-level, cross-sector delegation met with the Mexican Ambassador, and a large rally was organised in front of Parliament House in Canberra. 
 
Some of the other events around the world during the Global Days of Action included: 
<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex japan.jpg" width="281" height="183" alt=""/>
Mexico Embassy, Tokyo: meeting with the Japan Councils of the four GUFs, along with JTUC-RENGO 
<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex sweden.jpg" width="220" height="147" alt=""/>
Sweden: IF Metall met with the Mexican Ambassador in Stokholm
Letters and press releases in Turkey 
 
Meetings and letters in Spain with Mexican Ambassador, Spanish Government, European Parliament. 
<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex bangkok.jpg" width="365" height="179" alt=""/>
A joint rally in Bangkok, Thailand, Ministry of Labour, as well as letters to the Mexican Ambassador. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.Embassy of Mexico Moscow.jpg" width="252" height="192"/>
A picket was conducted in front of the Mexican Embassy in Moscow, in temperatures of -25°C, demands were transferred to the Ambassador
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex brussels.jpg" width="242" height="203"/>
In Brussels, the Mexican embassy was picketed, with a union delegation meeting the Ambassador, a meeting was conducted with the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee
<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex peru.png" width="280" height="186" alt=""/>
The Mexican Embassy in Peru was picketed
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex Jakarta Indonesia.JPG" width="279" height="210"/>
Picket of the Mexican Embassy in Indonesia
<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.mex new zealand.jpg" width="261" height="169" alt=""/>
Picket of the Mexican Embassy in New Zealand
Letters were sent from affiliated trade unions from Poland to Puerto Rico, from Norway and Germany to Bangladesh, and many others. 
 
Join the <a href="http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=863">LabourStart campaign</a> here and join thousands of protestors in writing to Calderón. 3,000 messages were sent via the campaign in the first week, and the numbers are growing every day. 
 
The actions took place around the fifth anniversary of the Pasta de Conchos mine explosion, where the continued failure to exhume and recover the bodies of 63 of the 65 miners who died there, or to take responsibility for the “industrial homicide” of those workers, and properly compensate their families continues to anger the international labour movement. 
 
The action in support of the democratic and independent trade unions in Mexico was initiated by unions from around the world affiliated to the ICEM, International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), UNI Global Union, and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Mexico Days of Action Occur Worldwide in Over 40 Countries

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/>
The ICEM has joining with sister Global Union Federations, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), in supporting the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) in its pivotal role in the peaceful uprising in Bahrain. 
 
On Saturday, 19 February, the GFBTU called for a general strike in protest to the violent put-down of peaceful protests inside Manama's Pearl Square. The strike was called off when their demands were met, namely that tanks be withdrawn from the square and peaceful protests allowed to continue. 
 
The GFBTU joined a social alliance on 24 February, pushing the autocracy of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa to place constitutional limits on the king’s power. The alliance called for the immediate release of all political prisoners, for electoral reforms, and for an immediate investigation to find those guilty for the deaths of seven protestors when they were attacked by government forces. Some 308 political prisoners have been freed. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.bahrain gfbtu gs mahfoodh.jpg" width="195" height="155"/>
GFBTU General Secretary Salman Mahfoodh 
But the king refuses to meet other preconditions of dialogue with the opposition alliance, to dismiss his ministers, or to amend the constitution. 
 
GFBTU General Secretary Salman Mahfoodh warned last week, "We also want the government to know that if the police force or army comes again to suppress the protest that we will strike. And we would also strike if we find that a political solution is not forthcoming or if sides aren't negotiating genuinely." 
 
Workers and trade unionists from numerous sectors announced their readiness to back a national strike. Many of those workers are now fighting against punishment over their involvement in the protests. Some have been threatened with job loss, while the majority face docked wages for the days out on strike or protest. The GFBTU is calling for absolutely no disciplinary action taken against workers using their right to protest. The federation contacted the Labour Ministry to inform them of this. 
 
The GFBTU is associated with close to 70 unions, representing more than 20,000 workers. 
 
Bahrain declares itself a constitutional monarchy, but the Parliament gives the royal family, which is Sunni, absolute authority in the Shiite majority nation.

Bahrain’s Trade Unions Key in Popular Uprising for Rights

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBriefAlert.jpg" width="150" height="73"/>
The ICEM, as the global trade union federation representing 20 million workers in the mining, energy, chemicals, and materials industries, together with EMCEF, the European Mine, Chemical, Energy Workers’ Federation, are following with concern present discussions towards establishing a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Colombia. 
 
Free Trade Agreements represent opportunities to improve labour and human rights in more countries around the world, and can increase access to international markets for developing countries. An FTA between the European Union (EU) and Colombia would, however, symbolically endorse the appalling labour rights violations in the most dangerous country in the world for a trade unionist, and also significantly weaken the pressure on the Colombian government to fulfill its human rights obligations. 
 
The EU signing one of its very first FTAs with a government that has been so clearly complicit in the abuse of labour and human rights is an insult to workers everywhere, and to the core principles of freedom and justice. The effect of this FTA on Europe would be political, not economic, as only 0.3% of EU trade is with Colombia.  
 
Norway, and initially the US, blocked their own FTAs with Colombia, citing human and labour rights concerns. The EU must follow this example. 
 
It is important to note that Colombia is already bound by strong language requiring adherence to key UN and ILO human and trade union rights conventions, under the EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+). This agreement instructs the European Commission to mount an investigation and ultimately suspend GSP+ status where key UN and ILO rights conventions are breached. Disregarding repeated UN and ILO recommendations, the European Commission renews Colombia’s GSP+ status without investigation. 
 
So replacing current “binding” labour standard provisions with weaker, “non-binding” provisions in an FTA is not reasonable. Labour rights in the FTA’s Sustainable Development chapter are not subject to the FTA’s dispute settlement mechanism. If Colombia were to breach a central clause on human rights, there would be no mechanism available to suspend the agreement. 
 
There have been 200 trade unionists killed in Colombia in the past three years, simply for exercising their basic rights. The murders are carried out by the army, police, and paramilitaries. Perpetrators are not being brought to justice, and are free continue to act 
 
with impunity. The death tally this year is already over 30. Activists are also silenced by imprisonment on false charges. 
 
The ICEM and EMCEF are absolutely opposed to the EU-Colombia FTA while our sisters and brothers in Colombia continue to be brutally murdered and violently intimidated. 
 
We support and will work closely together with all trade union initiatives of our affiliates all over the world. 
 
One source to take action against the EU-Colombia FTA, or to learn more about the situation facing workers in Colombia is <a href="http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/?link=3_0_3">Justice for Colombia</a>.

ICEM, EMCEF Totally Oppose EU-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

Archive