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From October 3-9, IMF affiliates Bangladesh Metalworkers' Federation (BMF) and Bangladesh Metalworkers' League (BML) jointly conducted gate meetings, area-wise meetings and rallies in different industries and industrial belts all over Bangladesh. On October 9, BMF and BML held a joint press conference in Dhaka on precarious work. Four TV channels and about 25 journalists were present. The unions read out a joint statement that was broadcast on TV news. The unions also printed posters as part of their actions.

BANGLADESH

THE NETHERLANDS: Greater involvement of trade unions and civil society organisations would enable electronics companies to better address human rights and environmental issues, states a new publication on corporate social responsibility in the global electronics sector. The publication Reset. Corporate social responsibility in the global electronics supply chain was released on October 26 by the Dutch CSR Platform and the GoodElectronics network and is available for download here: <a href="http://goodelectronics.org/publications-en/Publication_3248">http://goodelectronics.org/publications-en/Publication_3248</a>The report analyses the electronics sector's failing effectiveness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and provides a sample of progressive initiatives and recommended steps for companies to enhance their social and environmental performance.Reset describes the impact of the global electronics sector on communities, workers and the environment, reporting on problems such as sourcing from conflict zones, gender discrimination, increasing job insecurity, health risks for workers and local communities, wide scale dumping of waste in developing countries and the occurrence of child labour in waste processing. International coordinator of GoodElectronics, Pauline Overeem: &quot;Among the most pressing issues in the production phase is the non-respect for the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, disabling workers to address sub-standard working conditions, including long working hours, forced overtime, low wages, and all kinds of discriminatory practices.&quot; GoodElectronics is an international network for contributing to sustainability and human rights. IMF is a founding member and active participant in the GoodElectronics Network, which bring­s together NGOs, trade unions, labour rights groups, environmental organisations, academics, researchers and activists aimed at common goal to contribute to sustainability and human rights in the global electronics sector.The Dutch CSR Platform is a network of Dutch civil society organisations and trade unions that are working together to promote CSR.For hard copies of the report, please contact the Dutch CSR Platform at <a href="mailto:info@mvoplatform.nl">info@mvoplatform.nl</a>.

A new publication reports on the global electronics sector's failure to be socially responsible and calls for greater involvement of trade unions and civil society organisations in the regulation and control of the industry.

Global electronics sector failing to be socially responsible

SWAZILAND:  In its meeting held on October 22-23, the National Executive of the IMF affiliate Swaziland Amalgamated Trade Union (SATU) took a decision to re-affiliate and begin paying subscription fees to the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions. This decision was first taken by the union's congress in 2007 and further endorsed by the IMF AFREC meeting held in Johannesburg this month.  The IMF believes that this is the correct decision which will strengthen the Federation and the national union. SATU is an important player in the Swaziland economy and the labour moment in the country. The union currently organizes workers in four major sectors which are manufacturing, mining, retail and security industry. Other positive developments are that the union is succeeding in its organizing campaign. While the union lost many workers as result of the impact of world economic crisis the union managed to organized more than 400 workers over the past two months. The Swaziland economy relies heavily on the American market because much of the textile and manufacturing industry are producing for the American export market. Consequently these crises have impacted heavily on the local industry, resulting in many companies closing and moving out of Swaziland.Quick facts about SwazilandIMF Affiliate: Swaziland Amalgamated Trade Union (SATU)Membership:  4500Sectors:  Metal, mining, construction, retail and security industryCountry's Economy:  The country's economy depends largely on farming and forestry, both constituting 60 per cent of the economy. Manufacturing largely depends on farming because of the sugar and textile industry. Political:  The country is still ruled by a Monarch and the King appoints the Prime Minister. All political parties are banned in Swaziland.

SATU set to rejoin the Swaziland Federations of Trade Unions.

SATU to rejoin national federation

1. CGT-FO CGT FO will be holding an International Conference on the 7 October 2009 as part of their National Confederation Committee, which will focus on discussions with foreign unionists about the Economic crisis and International Union Action.   On the 7 October FO will also be preparing for their National Conference that meets end of October. The goal of this conference is to coordinate and reinforce union intervention for the defence of employee rights in the face of the economic crisis. 2.  On 7 October as part of a joint strategy five French IMF affiliates CFDT, &quot;Force Ouvrière&quot; de la Métallurgie - FO, FGMM-CFDT, CGT, CFTC and CFE-CGC, together with FSU, Solidaires and UNSA are going to hold in common meetings, rallies, gatherings and press conferences, industrial actions, debates and meetings with union officials all over France.

FRANCE

Der Metallgewerkschaftsbund in Montenegro druckt eine serbische Version des Posters und der Broschüre und wird diese an die Mitglieder verteilen (vielleicht mit einem Begleitschreiben). Zudem wird anlässlich der Kampagne eine Pressekonferenz organisiert und das Informationsmaterial den Medien vorgestellt. Da der 7. Oktober der Welttag für menschenwürdige Arbeit ist, wird unser Dachverband an diesem Tag etwas organisieren. Die Metallgewerkschaft wird zudem die globale Kampagne des IMB vorstellen.

MONTENEGRO

Medlemsförbunden i Indonesien samarbetar för att anordna stora demonstrationer den 4 oktober (söndag). Indonesiska versioner av IMFs material håller på att tas fram.

INDONESIEN

VASAS plant derzeit in einigen großen Städten sowie in Budapest die Durchführung von Flashmob-Aktionen. Junge Gewerkschaftsmitglieder sollen dabei etwas Außergewöhnliches durchführen, um die Passanten auf das Problem aufmerksam zumachen. Diese jungen ‚Darsteller' sollen T-Shirts und Mützen mit dem Logo des IMB bzw. der Gewerkschaft (VASAS) tragen.Die IMB-Broschüren sind ins Ungarische übersetzt worden und werden vor Ort gedruckt und verteilt.

UNGARN

<a href="../index.cfm?c=19957&amp;ol=2">3.3.1. Fight for trade union rights</a> <a href="../index.cfm?c=19958&amp;ol=2">3.3.2. Fight for Equal Rights</a> <a href="../index.cfm?c=19959&amp;ol=2">3.3.3. Fight for safe workplaces</a>

Preface

3. GLOBAL SOLIDARITY IN ACTION

3.3 Defend and protect workers rights

1. OUR MISSION

2. THE WORLD TODAY

2.1 Profits over people

2.2 Unemployment and job insecurity

2.3 Unions under attack

2.4 Fundamental workers´ rights denied

2.5 Spreading influence of Transnational Corporations

2.6 World trade system in disarray

2.7 An unsustainable future

2.8 Alliances, resistance and opportunities

3.1 Build strong national trade unions

3.1.1 Organise the unorganised

3.1.2 Strive for trade union unity at the national level

3.1.3 Build unions through education, training and effective exchange of information

3.2 Strengthening collective bargaining

3.3.1 Fight for trade union rights

3.3.2 Fight for Equal Rights

3.3.3 Fight for safe workplaces

3.4 Build a counterweight to the power of transnational corporations

3.4.1 Strengthening union solidarity and cooperation across sectors and TNCs

3.4.2 Advance fundamental rights through International Framework Agreements

ITALY: On September 9, 2009 at the Ministry of Labour, an agreement was reached by the Italian metalworker trade unions about the CNH plant, avoiding closure of the plant in Imola that the Fiat group had announced a few months ago.The workers, organized by FIM, FIOM and UILM, assembled and approved the collective agreement, which was reached after 81 days of picketing the plant and eleven days of hunger strike by an employee.The agreement was reached in co-operation with the local union structures and the regional government. The Agreement provides for:<ul><li>keeping in Italy all the productions for construction equipment machines. CNH in Lecce will build backhoe loaders and wheel loaders,</li><li>use of &quot;Cassa Integrazione (public subsidy) for crisis&quot; (12 months). Imola workers will not be dismissed,</li><li>establishing a working group with the participation of CNH-Fiat Group at the Ministry of economic development, in order to find industrial solutions for Imola plant.</li></ul>Through the action of the unions the closure of the Imola plant was prevented and Fiat was obliged to take social responsibility towards the workers and their community. Now, a new phase will start, when there still will be a need of workers' participation and unity.

Italian metalworkers reach an agreement securing the future of the Fiat CNH plant in Imola.

Jobs saved at Fiat plant

BRAZIL: As in many parts of the world, subcontracting in Brazil has resulted in widespread precarious work. Although described as modern and competitive, in practical terms subcontracting has meant a reduction of wages and benefits, an increase in the hours of work and has created job instability. Terceitização en Brasil (Subcontracting in Brazil), a recent publication of the national trade union centre CUT, brings to light all the consequences of subcontracting in Brazil. Written by university professors and trade union activists, the publication explores the impact of subcontracting in eight sectors of the Brazilian economy and also looks at the important contribution Brazilian unions are playing in responding to the practical reality of subcontracting.In a section on the metal sector, Valter Sanches General Secretary of IMF affiliate CNM-CUT, speaks of the a historical changes caused by the implementation of subcontracting in the sector, citing examples of how metalworkers are trying to prevent subcontracting through collective bargaining agreements. Sanches also explains how international framework agreements can be important instruments in the fight against precarious work.The book also sets out the project of regulating subcontracting through the law, elaborated for CUT after a vigorous internal debate, and recommends a debate in the National Congress, making it obligatory reading for all that are fighting for a better life.

A new publication on subcontracting in Brazil explains how it is a fundamental cause of lower wages, conditions and job insecurity and explores how trade unions are responding to subcontracting and precarious employment in Brazil.

Subcontracting in Brazil

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