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EUROPE: In a joint submission to the European Commission, the International and European Metalworkers' Federations have called for the establishment of a new independent authority to regulate one of the world's most dangerous industries, ship-breaking.The submission also calls for mandatory legislated standards after the failure of voluntary codes established by the International Labour Organisation, Basel Convention and International Maritime Organisation.At present, ship breaking is concentrated in a few developing countries (mainly in Asia) on account of the low wages and lack of compliance with international standards on safety, health and lack of environmental controls offered in these nations.&quot;It is no longer acceptable that we close our eyes to the daily exploitation of ship breaking workers. Both IMF and EMF demand a safer and greener global system for dismantling ships. Our joint submission aims to give a voice to the affected workers and their concerns&quot; states Jyrki Raina, the newly elected IMF General Secretary.&quot;&quot;By presenting a joint submission we hope that the Commission willrecognise the importance we place on this issue. The EU must not wait for the implementation of a new international instrument in 2015 as this will cost hundreds of lives. The EU must show leadership by creating the conditions for a European ship breaking sector that can set exemplary international standards&quot;, says Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary.In their submission to a public consultation on ship breaking, the IMF and EMF call for immediate implementation of new measures to improve working conditions for ship breakers.The submission calls for:<ul><li>Mandatory, legislated workplace, labour right and environmental standards to be applied for ship breaking employers</li><li>All ship breaking processes to include standard inventories of all hazardous materials on board ships slated for dismantling</li><li>A clear role for trade unions in monitoring and regulation</li><li>Mandatory dismantling of all European military and government vessels with in the EU</li><li>The creation of a European ship breaking sector that can set exemplary international standards by being ecologically and socially responsible as well as economically, industrially and socially innovative.</li></ul>A copy of the submission is published on the IMF website.

IMF and EMF call for a new independent authority to govern ship breaking

IMF and EMF response on dismantling of ships

Stop exploitation of shipbreaking workers

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PROTEST LETTER TEXT (to send)

PROTEST LETTER start info on page

Thank you for taking ACTION!Visit the IMF website for regular updates on the campaign to Stop the Violence Against Russian Unionists or sign up for IMF Action Alerts to be notified of urgent solidarity requests and campaign developments immediately when they arise.This page will reload to the protest letter again in 5 seconds

PROTEST LETTER (thanks)

USA: The IMF Ford Network met the 22nd to the 24th of April in Detroit, bringing together 37 delegates from 12 countries representing all regions, to discuss how to further effective means of solidarity for workers across the company&#039;s production chain. The meeting sought ways to built on efforts underway since 2007.Trade unions agreed to a number of concrete steps. Outcomes included means to furthering the network&#039;s coordination capacities, making progress towards an international framework agreement, exploring ways to support organizing Ford and supplier workers and defending trade union rights, as well as facilitating information exchange. Participants were informed about two important struggles involving workers at Ford suppliers, which were brought directly to the attention of Ford management. Significant gains have been subsequently won by the workers and unions. The first was the dramatic fight for justice for 610 Visteon workers, members of Unite the Union in the UK, who had been sacked with only a minute&#039;s notice, in the process denied their rightful redundancy pay and their pensions hit. Workers&#039; fight-back for just compensation went beyond even the Ford redundancy terms and included as well the right to be considered for jobs at Ford, the former employer of the vast majority of the workforce.In Thailand, workers involved in a two-month dispute at Siam Michelin were strongly supported by the IMF affiliate TEAM and by rubber workers of the Petroleum and Chemical Workers&#039; Federation affiliated to ICEM. The dispute was favourably resolved on 28 April though settlement of a collectively bargained agreement, the release of 20 jailed workers with all charges against them dropped, and required payment of the annual bonus in May.

Trade union network representing Ford workers across all regions emerges stronger.

IMF Ford Network builds cross-border solidarity

In December 2008, Sinter Metal, a Turkish company that supplies components to major auto manufacturers, fired 350 workers for their union activity. Sinter Metal workers are fighting for their jobs and the fundamental right to join unions and bargain collectively. The International Metalworkers' Federation and European Metalworkers' Federation are calling on Sinter Metal Imalat Sanayi A.Ş to immediately reinstate unjustly dismissed workers, stop violations of rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and start negotiations with the union, Birlesik Metal-IS, leading to a fair and just resolution.

Tell Sinter Metal to reinstate all unjustly dismissed workers and respect Turkish labour law and basic trade union rights now.

Demand Justice for Sinter Metal Workers in Turkey

Thank you for taking ACTION!Visit the IMF website for regular updates on the Sinter Metal campaign or sign up for IMF Action Alerts to be notified of urgent solidarity requests and campaign developments immediately when they arise.<h3>This page will reload to the protest letter again in 5 seconds</h3>

Visit the IMF website for regular updates on the Sinter Metal campaign.

Thank you for taking ACTION!

Dear Mr. Tanberk,I join with the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation, European Metalworkers&#039; Federation and Birlesik Metal-IS in demanding that Sinter Metal immediately stops and remedies violations of worker and trade union rights at its operations located in the Dudullu Organized Industrial Zone in Turkey. I am increasingly alarmed that such violations continue to undermine workers&#039; rights to form and join a union and to collectively bargain, enshrined in ILO conventions 98 and 87, to which Turkey is a signatory. I demand that Sinter Metal management immediately reinstates the dismissed workers, stops violations of fundamental worker and trade union rights, and in good faith considers the workers&#039; demands and starts negotiations to reach a fair and just settlement with the union.Sincerely,

protest letter to send

<img src="" alt="" title="Jyrki Raina" width="120" height="134" align="right" />Jyrki Raina è stato eletto Segretario Generale della Federazione Internazionale dei Sindacati Metalmeccanici al 32esimo Congresso Mondiale della FISM, celebratosi nel maggio 2009.Precedentemente, Jyrki Raina era il Segretario Generale della Nordic IN in Svezia, carica che rivestiva dal 2006.Nato a Helsinki nel 1960, Jyrki Raina ha iniziato a lavorare per il sindacato nel 1985 come avvocato e nelle attività di contrattazione collettiva del sindacato finlandese dei chimici. Sei anni dopo si è trasferito a Bruxelles per svolgere attività di ricerca per conto dell'ICEF (Federazione internazionale dei sindacati dei chimici e dell'energia), per poi divenire responsabile politiche e relazioni sindacali per il settore energia. Nel 2000 è stato nominato Responsabile Organizzazione dell'ICEM (Federazione internazionale dei sindacati dei chimici, dell'energia e delle miniere), affiancando il Segretario Generale nella pianificazione strategica. Tra il 2001 e il 2003 Jyrki ha lavorato per i sindacati finlandesi dell'industria in veste di consulente, con base a Helsinki. Nel 2003 è tornato a Stoccolma, dove è divenuto il Segretario Generale della Nordic Metal nonché membro sostituto del Comitato Esecutivo della FISM e del Comitato Direttivo della FEM.

Jyrki Raina, Segretario Generale della FISM.

Listen UP Cochlear!The AMWU has represented Cochlear workers for over a decade, delivering a high standard of wages and working conditions. This year Cochlear management initiated a union-busting campaign. Despite workers voting for a union-negotiated collective agreement in two separate secret ballots, the company has refused to bargain. Recently Cochlear management moved to use Australia&#039;s unfair workplace laws to force employees into a non-union agreement, conditions the workers have repeatedly rejected. These unfair working conditions will come into effect on the 6th of November. As part of the global campaign to support Cochlear workers&#039; right to union representation, the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation, to which the AMWU is an affiliate, and Public Services International, which represents workers at clinics where Cochlear hearing devices are distributed, are urging affiliates to take action in one or more of the following ways:<ul><li>Unions should contact local clinics that distribute Cochlear hearing devices and urge them to press Cochlear to respect a worker&#039;s right to union representation. </li><li>Pass out flyers at local distribution clinics to educate the public about Cochlear&#039;s refusal to honour its workers&#039; right to union representation. </li><li>Employees at clinics that distribute Cochlear hearing devices can wear badges in solidarity with Cochlear manufacturing workers in Sydney and speak with management about the dispute. </li><li>Send letters of support to Cochlear workers fighting for the right to union representation, and letters of protest to Cochlear CEO Chris Roberts. </li><li>Publicise the campaign in your union publication and on your website. </li></ul>The AMWU has prepared a list of all the locations where Cochlear hearing devices are distributed. It is available on this site for download as well as flyers, protest letters and other solidarity resources. For additional information and news about the campaign, visit: <a href="http://www.amwu.asn.au/">http://www.amwu.asn.au/</a>.

Cochlear Ltd., a world leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art hearing devices, is using Australia's anti-union industrial relations laws to deny 260 workers at its Sydney manufacturing plant the right to be represented by their union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.

Union Representation for Cochlear Workers

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