25 January, 2012On January 1, 2012, Rio Tinto's aluminium subsidiary Alcan locked out 780 members of United Steelworkers at its smelter and refinery in Alma, Québec. The company refuses to negotiate limits on contract work.
11 January, 2012Workers at the Caterpillar-owned Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) plant in Ontario, Canada were locked out on New Year's Eve when the union contract expired, after they overwhelmingly voted to authorize strike action unless management withdrew drastic concession demands.
11 January, 2012At the end of December 170 IF Metall union reps from working sites across Sweden agreed to a new 14 month contract with employers' associations, starting February 1, 2012, and running up to March 31, 2013. Salaries will be increased by 3 per cent.
8 December, 2011Trade union leaders from Australia, India, Great Britain, New Zealand and North America continue to develop their strategy to organize and promote workers rights through a Tata Steel Network. The unions, meeting in Jakarta on December 7, agreed to an action plan that will see increasing cooperation before a Network meeting in 2012.
8 December, 2011The strike against US-based Freeport-McMoRan by the ICEM-affiliated PT Freeport Workers' Union runs into its 11th week. The union plans another notice to extend the strike to January 15, 2012.
8 December, 2011Members of the International Association of Machinists voted on December 8 to accept an agreement with Boeing that includes a firm commitment to future manufacturing in Puget Sound and Portland.
8 November, 2011The IMF Automotive Working Group met in Chennai and in Pune in India October 31 to November 4. 91 union representatives discussed strategy to win trade union rights across the globe, how to strengthen global trade union networks and cooperation with Indian auto workers.
8 November, 2011Leaders of the seven Australian and New Zealand affiliates of the IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF met in Auckland, New Zealand on October 28 and resolved to create a new Council of the affiliates of the future new Federation in the two countries.
28 November, 201162 workers at a Turkish subsidiary of German-owned GEA have been locked out since July. An international delegation of some 60 representatives from 20 countries visited the plant and called on the company to reinstate the workers immediately.
25 November, 2011The month long strike by members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) at Xstrata smelters in Rustenburg ended on November 25 with an agreement that a joint task team would investigate wage disparities and address these with immediate effect once the investigation is complete.
