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Three French unions will join together on 20 June in a strike aimed at backing the government from its proposed merger of state-operated Gaz de France with Suez, a French-Belgian water and power company. Energy sections of CGT, FO and CFE-CGC have planned work stoppages and mass demonstrations for that day. 
 
The government-brokered merger, proposed by Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin in order to block a hostile takeover of Suez by Italian energy company Enel, would break a pledge contained in a 2004 French law stating that at least 70% of Gaz de France would remain in state hands. If the &euro;72 billion merger with Suez does occur, only 34% of the combined enterprise would remain under state control.
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Trade unions in France received a boost last week in their efforts to block the merger when French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said the proposal was losing support among lawmakers and government leaders. The day-long strike and demonstrations are timed to coincide with debate beginning this week in Parliament over legislation to authorise the merger.

French Unions to Stage 20 June Strike Over Planned Gaz de France, Suez Merger

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Saturday 17 November 2007&nbsp; 
10.00 &ndash; 17.00 Women&rsquo;s Conference 
 
Sunday 18 November 2007 
09.30 &ndash; 17.00 Women&rsquo;s Conference 
 
Monday 19 November 2007&nbsp; 
09.00 &ndash; 17.30 Presidium 
19:00 Dinner for ICEM Presidium Members and accompanying persons 
 
Tuesday 20 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 - 17:00 Executive Committee Meeting 
19.00 Dinner for ICEM Executive Committee Members and accompanying persons 
 
Wednesday 21 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 - 17:00 Contract and Agency Labour Conference 
17.00+ Meeting of Congress Credentials Committee 
 
Thursday 22 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
10.00 Opening of Congress 
17.00 Congress Sessions close 
17:00+ WFIW Integration 
19.30 Dinner 
 
Friday 23 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 Congress Sessions continue 
17:30 Congress Sessions close 
19.00 Dinner 
 
Saturday 24 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 Final Congress Sessions 
14:00 Congress Closure 
15:00-17:00 New ICEM Presidium meets 
<a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2430&amp;la=EN">Click here for the detailed draft 4th World Congress Agenda 
</a> 
Departure of Delegations

Provisional Programme for the Fourth ICEM World Congress

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On 19 May, ICEM&rsquo;s French affiliate F&eacute;d&eacute;chimie CGT-FO elected, unanimously, Herv&eacute; Quillet as its new general secretary at an extraordinary National Committee meeting. 
 
The new general secretary replaces long-serving and popular general secretary Michel Decayeux, who is retiring, but will remain on as a member of the organisation&rsquo;s Bureau F&eacute;d&eacute;ral as well as of its Commission Ex&eacute;cutive Conf&eacute;d&eacute;rale until the union&rsquo;s next congress. He also remains in charge of European and international relations. Decayeux is a former ICEM Materials Section chairman and an Executive Committee Member of the ICEM.

Michel Decayeux Steps Down as GS of Fédéchimie CGT-FO in France

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ICEM Norwegian affiliate NOPEF and other unions achieved a 2006 wage increase of 4.5% in the offshore oil sector. The accord came on 17 May after offshore workers rejected a 2.5% offer from the Oil Industry Association (OLF). 
 
The agreement covers 6,200 workers and also lays a framework for further dialogue on work conditions including the rising demand for skilled workers in Norway&rsquo;s offshore oil sector. A total of 2.4 million barrels of oil daily is pumped from rigs off the Norwegian continental shelf.

Norway’s Offshore Energy Workers Negotiate 4.5% Raise

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Total said it will, between 2006 and 2012, close down several production lines at two different petrochemical sites in France: the TotalPetroChemicals Carling plant in the Lorraine region and the Gonfreville site in Normandy. This announcement by the company, which will result in the loss of another 300 jobs, comes only three months after the Arkema spin off, which already led to a serious reduction in the number of jobs at Total. 
 
In a press communiqu&eacute;, ICEM affiliated FCE-CFDT called the restructuring exercise &ldquo;purely defensive.&rdquo; The company will take a &euro;300 million charge to end the production of Styrene - a colourless toxic liquid used to make, among other products, polymers and rubber - at Carling, with a partial transfer of production to the Gonfreville site. Another &euro;80 million charge on the company&rsquo;s books will go towards a better exchange of products between the two sites. 
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Not only does the union find it difficult to see the economic logic of the plan, it also warns against the environmental dangers for both workers and general public, as Total will have to start traversing France by train to get extra benzene and styrene from one plant to another. 
 
The union calls for an independent expert to look into the social and environmental risks. It will also approach the industry minister to present an alternative industrial project.

Total Announces It Will Do Away with another 300 Jobs in France

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French ICEM affiliate CGT Verre et C&eacute;ramique calls for a day of action on 9 October, following the withdrawal by MEDEF, the French employers&rsquo; association, from the &lsquo;hazardous jobs&rsquo; dialogue in the glass and ceramics sector. 
 
A 2003 French law calls for negotiations on the recognition of &lsquo;hazardous jobs&rsquo; to be finished by 31 December 2006. Ongoing negotiations between unions and employers so far have not yielded results. Worse still, MEDEF has now decided to leave the bargaining table, stating it will push back the whole effort until after the elections of 2007. According to the CGT, this is clearly an attempt to postpone discussions indefinitely, and therefore unacceptable. 
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The CGT Verre et C&eacute;ramique wants to keep the early retirement age at 55 and considers the recognition of &lsquo;hazardous jobs&rsquo; in the glass and ceramics industries to be one of its priorities. Several studies have indicated a critical reduction in workers&rsquo; life expectancies when operating in hazardous environments. 
 
The CGT calls upon its members to organise, together with the other professional Federations of the CGT, as well as with other unions in France, actions necessary on 9 October, ranging from petitions to strikes.

‘Hazardous Jobs’ Action Day in the French Glass and Ceramics Sector

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Some 7,000 demonstrators marched through Paris on 12 September, with many more demonstrating in other cities throughout France, all responding to a joint call for action by French unions CGT, FO, CGC, and CFTC. 
 
The manifestations, held to protest the government sponsored merger between state-owned Gaz de France (GDF) and privately-held Suez, came a week after the CGT and FO unions held a referendum among workers at GDF. The referendum, at which 60% of all 53,000 GDF workers took part, showed a very clear hostility towards the merger plans, with 94% voting against the privatisation idea. 
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The State of France currently holds an 80% stake in GdF, with a current law setting a minimum of 70%. The merger would automatically reduce the state&rsquo;s stake in GDF to about 34%. 
 
Whereas CGT, FO, CGC, and CFTC would prefer closer cooperation between Electricit&eacute; de France (EDF) and GDF, the FCE-CFDT union forwarded its own proposal to the government on 13 September. Equally opposed to the privatisation of GDF, FCE-CFDT sees possible advantages in developing partnerships between Suez and GDF. The union&rsquo;s increased cooperation project would, however, keep GDF in the public sector. 
 
The French government finds itself more and more isolated, with an increasing number of individuals and organisations joining the anti-privatisation call. French Labour representatives, currently in opposition, are also fiercely contesting the privatisation plan at the special parliamentary session on the subject.

Protests in France against Gaz de France – Suez Merger

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE JOINT NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF THE PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (PENGASSAN) AND THE NATIONAL UNION OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS WORKERS (NUPENG) AT ROYAL MARBLE HOTEL BENIN CITY AUGUST 30, 2006. 
The Joint National Executive Council (NEC) of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) met on Wednesday August 30, 2006 in Royal Marble Hotel, Benin City. After an exhaustive deliberation on major national, industry, labour and industrial relations issues, the Joint NEC-in-Session resolves as follows: 
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VIOLENT DIMENSION TO THE NIGER DELTA CRISIS 
 
The Joint NEC-in-Session frowns at the heightening and unabating spate of abduction, hostage-taking and violent attacks in the Niger Delta by restive youths under banner of continued deprivation and neglects of the area by successive governments. 
 
The Joint NEC notes with dismay and apprehension that the genuine agitation of the Niger Delta people has been criminalised, and made an avenue for ransom seeking activities, and disruption of economic life and welfare of the people in the region. 
 
The Joint NEC-in-Session notes with concern the incessant abduction of expatriate workers even from night-clubs in the center of the township which has now resulted in most firms threatening to pull out of the Niger Delta &ndash; a situation that will compound employment problems, increase crime rate and compromise the much sought investment drive to the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general. 
 
The Joint Meeting regrets that government&rsquo;s poor response has not helped matters leading to deepening insecurity in the region as the nation continues to witness more abduction of oil workers, hostage-taking and overrunning of oil installations and pollution of the environment in the region. 
 
The Meeting notes the hypocritical and non-challant attitude of the Niger Delta State Governments and their apparatus in the deteriorating state of insecurity and criminality which now pervades the entire region. 
 
The Joint NEC-in-Session views in very strong terms and with heavy heart that apathy on the part of government in dealing decisively with the Niger Delta agitations which has resulted in the killing of Comrade Nelson Ujeya &ndash; a grievous fratricidal sacrifice that arose from applying a negative approach to a genuine cause and concerted vanguard for justice in Niger Delta Region. 
 
The Joint NEC-in-Session is appalled that our communities in the Niger Delta known for hospitality and communal discipline have now lent their once peaceful domains for criminal activities and lawlessness 
 
 
VIOLATION OF DUE PROCES ON THE SALE OF ELEME PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY LIMITED (EPCL) 
 
The Joint NEC-in-Session expresses shock on the flagrant abuse and manipulation of the Memorandum of Understanding reached with the stakeholders on the sale and equity participation of Core Investor and Government at 51% : 49% which without consultation was reversed to 75% : 25% respectively. 
 
The Meeting noted that due diligence was not conducted on the Core Investor &ndash; Indorama Company which was why a Company that was registered in Thailand in 2003 was allowed to bid for a company of the magnitude of EPCL for a ridiculous offer of $225 million for an asset of $1.8 billion. 
 
Consequently, Joint NEC-in-Session demands that the sale of EPCL should be repudiated and Indorama should be made to forfeit all payments fraudulently made in this regard. 
 
 
STATE OF REFINERIES/PIPELINE VANDALISATION 
 
The Joint NEC-in-Session notes with regrets the adverse effect of pipeline vandalisation on the flow of crude and petroleum products to our Refineries and depots all over the Federation which had affected supply and distribution of petroleum products. 
 
The Meeting expresses displeasure on Government&rsquo;s reluctance to secure and maintain the pipelines, thereby abdicating its responsibility to other stakeholders in the industry. 
 
The Meeting believes that the current posture of Government in this respect negates the essence of Deregulation Policy to localise the production of petroleum products. 
 
The Meeting vehemently condemns the massive importation of refined petroleum products instead of emphasizing on local refining. 
 
The Meeting notes that the Refineries now serve as conduit for transportation and sale of imported petroleum products. 
 
 
PURPORTED CONVERSION OF PETROLEUM TRAINING INSTITUTE (PTI) TO A CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN 
 
The Joint NEC-in-Session frowns at the violation of the Extant Act that established the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) to provide middle level manpower to the Oil and Gas Industry. 
 
The Meeting notes the current move to rather affiliate the Institute to UNIBEN instead of providing it with adequate funding, staffing, and equipment to meet the manpower demand of the Industry. 
 
The Meeting calls on Government to retain the current status of PTI as an autonomous specialised Institute and should upgrade it to International Standard as enshrined in the Act that established it. 
 
 
ENABLING ACT FOR DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES (DPR) AS AN AUTONOMOUS PETROLEUM INSPECTORATE COMMISSION 
 
The Joint NEC-in-Session hereby calls on Government to urgently grant autonomy to the Department of Petroleum Resources to enable it play its role effectively as Oil and Gas Industry Regulator. 
 
 
RESOLUTION: 
 
From the foregoing therefore, the Joint NEC-in-Session hereby resolves that it can no longer fold its hands and watch the viable industry in Nigeria slide into a state of anomie. 
 
Consequently, the Joint NEC-in-Session henceforth agrees to undertake the following measures to protect its members&rsquo; interest as follows: 
 
1. The Joint NEC-in-Session directs that with effect from Wednesday 13th September 2006, all members of NUPENG and PENGASSAN should embark on a 3-day Warning Strike. 
 
2. The Joint NEC-in-Session agrees that if after the 3-day Warning Strike, Government fails to address the issues raised in this Communique and provide a peaceful and safe environment in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country for Oil Workers in particular and Nigerians in general to go about their lawful duties, NUPENG and PENGASSAN will have no other option but to withdraw their services indefinitely.

NUPENGASSAN Communiqué

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At a parliamentary session of South Korea&rsquo;s National Assembly last week, the government, along with the ruling Uri Party, vowed that approval of the so-called irregular workers&rsquo; bill will be a priority. The measure was temporarily stopped in the Assembly by procedural manoeuvres last April by the Democratic Labor Party and the Grand National Party. 
 
The legislation, on the government&rsquo;s agenda now for two years, would grant all temporary workers permanent status after two years. But the bill is opposed by South Korea&rsquo;s two labour federations because the necessary safeguards and protections do not exist in the proposed legislation. The bill would create a massive pool of temporary workers for the benefit of businesses. Both the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) say the bill does nothing to defend the basic rights of contract and agency workers and, as it now stands, threatens permanent jobs with a flood of two-year temporary jobs. 
 
The KCTU withdrew from South Korea&rsquo;s Tripartite Commission over workplace governance issues last April because of the irregular workers&rsquo; bill. The federation has since re-joined the official state commission, which has conducted social discussions lately on the legislation. The Tripartite Commission also has on its agenda some 40 other labour reform measures, including a single negotiations vehicle for multi-union workplaces and cutting company salaries to trade union leaders. 
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The government and Uri Party leaders say they will push ahead with the reform measures even if agreement is not reached in the Tripartite Commission. 
 
Leaders of both KCTU and FKTU met with ILO Director-General Juan Somavia on 26 August in Seoul on the irregular workers&rsquo; bill and other contentious labour problems. The federations are seeking ILO support to help resolve the issues fairly. The occasion for the meeting with Somavia was the ILO&rsquo;s Asian Regional Meeting, which was held last week in Busan, South Korea&rsquo;s largest port city.

South Korea’s Irregular Workers’ Bill Again Before Parliament

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In New Zealand, protest and resistance became the formula to beat back a piece of proposed legislation that would have made it easy for employers to hire and then sack temporary workers during their first 90 days of employment. Last week, on 23 August, just as 5,000 trade unionists assembled in Auckland&rsquo;s Aotea Square to protest the National Party&rsquo;s anti-worker bill, Members of Parliament from the Maori Party announced they were shifting course and would not support the measure. 
 
For the past three months, trade unionists of ICEM affiliates Engineering, Printing &amp; Manufacturing Union (EPMU) and the National Distribution Union (NDU), have been leading the opposition against the business-friendly proposal under the banner &ldquo;Work Rights &hellip;Our Right!&rdquo; The campaign generated mass support among New Zealanders. 
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The bill had cleared a first reading in Parliament earlier this year with a 63-58 vote, with three of the four Maori MPs supporting the measure. With those four votes now opposing the measure, the ruling Labour Party, Green Party and Maoris now have the leverage to stop the anti-worker bill during a second reading. 
 
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said the minority Maori people, with an 18% jobless rate, have too many low-end jobs on the employment ladder. &ldquo;So, it&rsquo;s really important that, one, Maori get employed, and two, that Maori are protected,&rdquo; Sharples said. &ldquo;The bill was solely to encourage employers to employ like hell in the knowledge that they could get rid of their workers if it didn&rsquo;t work out.&rdquo; 
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EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little rejoiced with the workers&rsquo; victory. &ldquo;This bill has been beaten by workers acting together through their unions. It just goes to show the power of collective action.&rdquo; 
 
Little added, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve done more than just defeat this vicious piece of legislation. We&rsquo;ve demonstrated our strength as a movement and we&rsquo;ve made it clear to the National Party that &lsquo;Work Rights are Our Rights,&rsquo; and that they are not up for negotiation.&rdquo; Trade unions will now ask MPs of the NZ First and United Future Parties to examine their working-class priorities in order to stop any future reappearance of the National party bill. 
 
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions estimates that, had the bill gone into law, a class of disposable workers numbering 300,000 would have been at risk of losing their jobs in each 90-day period.

New Zealand’s Trade Unions Block 90-day Temporary Workers Bill

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