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Oil workers in southern Iraq conducted a one-day strike 21 February as grievance to the Oil Ministry&rsquo;s neglect for work conditions and the infrastructure of the company. The strike at the Oil Transport Company of Basra was brought by the General Union of Oil Employees (GUOE) in Basra. 
The strike took place due to the deliberate and targeted neglect of the transport company by the ministry and government; for improvements in workers&rsquo; living conditions; and as a demand to pay money promised to workers by the Oil Ministry but never paid.

Iraqi Oil Workers Strike Oil Ministry in Basra

Ron Beaton, President 
CEP Local 972 
323 Reeves Street 
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 2W2 
CANADA 
 
Transmitted by Fax Number +1 902.626.5943 
or E-Mail: <a href="mailto:cep.972@ns.sympatico.ca">cep.972@ns.sympatico.ca</a> 
 
 
Dear Brother Ron Beaton, 
 
We have learned from the ICEM of your courageous struggle to maintain the hard earned working conditions and job security provisions contained in the Paper Sector Pattern Bargaining Agreement for Eastern Canada. We also have been alerted that Stora Enso has locked out members of your local branch union in efforts to undermine the pattern. 
 
On the occasion of your union&rsquo;s rally and march in Port Hawkesbury on 18 March, we extend to Local 972 members our heartfelt Support and Solidarity in resisting Stora Enso&rsquo;s pattern weakening proposals. We stand with you in this dispute against Stora Enso, and urge Local 972 members to remain strong and unified in order to defeat these concessionary proposals. 
 
Your struggle is our struggle, and your determination and resolve to gain a fair and equitable labour agreement has our admiration and support. 
 
In Solidarity, 
 
(signed) 
 
(Name, 
Position, 
Name of the Union)

Model letter to the union in support of striking Canadian Stora Enso workers

ICEMの介入で 、タイのサンゴバンセクリットガラス工場争議、労組側勝利 
 
タイのサンゴバンガラス工場の争議にICEMが介入した結果、先週、同工場に働く７００人の労働者たちが勝利した。同工場の大半はタイ自動車労連に加盟している工場組合の組合員。組合に対し敵対的な現地マネージメントは１月６日以降、これらの労働者をロックアウトしていた。労働者たちがラヨング州にあるサンゴバンのタイ工場の前やバンコクの労働省前でデモ行進を行い、他方で、ICEMとフランスの労働組合はパリのサンゴバンの経営中枢と率直な対話の中で確実な事実やデータを伝えた。 
 
工場の門の前で実施した抗議行動を主導した４人の組合活動家の解雇の目的で、これらの労働者を告訴するなど、工場内で労働組合活動家に対する厳しい処遇の実態等が本社経営中枢に伝えられた。今回の労働争議は２００５年度のボーナスの支払い、日曜日時間外労働の手当ての減額案など多くの問題が争議点となっていた。労働者たちの半分をロックアウトし、４人の組合活動家を解雇した後、サンゴバン・セクリット側はボーナスの提示額を大幅に下げ、これまでの１年１回のボーナスを２年１回にするなど、厳しい協約案を団体交渉において提示した。 
 
ICEMは争議前線ニュースをF&eacute;d&eacute;ration Chimie Energie CFDT、 CGT Verre C&eacute;ramiqueおよび F&eacute;d&eacute;chimie CGT-FO に毎日のように伝え、フランスの３組合も毎日のようにパリのサンゴバン本社と連絡・接触活動を続け、経営中枢にプレッシャーをかけた。その結果、この争議は、タイのガラス工場の経営中枢は４人の解雇を取り消し、告訴状を撤回するに至った。また、タイの労使はボーナスを含め、すべての団体交渉事項について妥結した。ICEMはタイの労働者の公正な労働協約獲得に支援、貢献したフランスの諸労組にこの紙面で感謝の意を表したい。 
 
 
トルコ石油労組、裁判闘争で民営化を阻止 
 
トルコのICEM加盟組織、Petrol-Iş（石油労組）は、２月２日、国家評議会の裁定をえ、再び、国営石油精製企業Tuprasの民営化を阻止することに成功した。トルコの最高行政裁判所に当たる国家評議会はTuprasの経営権51％のトルコのKOC持ち株会社およびシェル石油からなる連合企業体（コンソーシアム）の売却を停止する裁定を下した。その前の週にコンソーシアムは51％の経営権買収のため、民営化行政評議会に41億1000万ドルに相当する金額を支払った。 
 
しかし、最高行政裁判所は、Petrol-Işの控訴に応えて、民営化法違反事項があるとの理由で、売却を無効にした。組合はTuprasの石油精製所4ヵ所と石油化学工場で24時間ストを実施するとともに、KOCとトルコ政府が経営権売却についての最終取り決めを急いでいた1月26日に、大規模な職場ストを行った。Petrol-Iş は「Tuprasは私たちの将来！だから、民営化できない。」とのスローガンを掲げて、ポスター、テレビの宣伝等、報道機関を通じてトルコの世論に民営化反対を訴えるキャンペーンを展開している。 
 
先週の裁定の後、Turpas並びにKOCのLPG部門の子会社AYGASの株がイスタンブールの株式市場でパニック売りとなる状況となった、とPlatt&rsquo;s Commodity Newsは報道した。 Petrol-Işは、裁判闘争と世論に向けたキャンペーンを背景に、 ガスおよび石油精製所の民営化問題で5件あまりの裁定を勝ち取った。 
 
 
ナイジェリア石油ガス労組、政府に安全改善を要求 
 
ICEM加盟の石油労組、NUPENG と PENGASSANは先週、政府と協議した後、ニジェールデルタの安全が改善されない場合には、2週間後にストライキに突入する、と通告した。1月30日、拉致から19日後にシェル石油の下請け労働者は解放された。しかし、石油資源が豊富な二ジェールデルタでの若者や武装集団による暴力・武力行為は引き続いて起きている。2週間前、武力集団はポートハーコートにあるイタリアのENIのAgip Mgboshimini社の事務所を襲撃した。この事件で、警察を含め11人の人が亡くなり、数人が負傷した。この襲撃の後、ENIは同市からすべての労働者を引き上げた。1月28日、20人の武装集団が現代エンジニア＆建設会社の事務所を襲撃し、現金30万ドルを強奪した。犯罪グループは外資系のすべての石油会社とその関連下請会社並びにタンカートラックの運転手まで脅迫している。 
 
労働組合は見境のない無法状態に終焉と遂げるよう呼びかけるとともに、政府に対して、ニジェールデルタ地域の貧困問題の解決に向けて対策を取るよう要請した。NUPENG のピーター・アクパタソン委員長は、Vangaurd誌のインタビューに答えて、「現政府の関係当局は若者たちの雇用創設の責務を適切に遂行していない。当該地域の危機、荒廃、貧困の問題は雇用創出なしには解決できない。しかし、石油事業施設への攻撃、特に労働者に対する武力行為については全面的に非難する。」と述べた。 
 
 
米国の地方裁判所、UMWAの立ち入り安全検査を認める 
 
米国の地方裁判所は、1月26日、独自路線を取る石炭会社、International Coal Group (ICG)に対し、全米鉱山労組（UMWA)の事故調査チームのウエストバージニア州にあるサゴ炭鉱への入坑拒否に対し、拒否撤回命令を出した。1月2日、12人の炭鉱労働者が炭鉱内で起きたガス爆発事故で亡くなった。UMWAは同炭鉱に働く150人の炭鉱労働者を組織していない。しかし、その多くが米国鉱業安全衛生法の下で実施される法的に拘束される事故調査チームに入るよう要請していた。ICG社は警備員を使ってUMWAの事故調査担当者らの入坑を阻んでいた。地方裁判所の裁定が出た後すぐ、ICG社は控訴したが、バージニア州リッチモンド地方裁判所は控訴を却下した。 
 
ICG社は現在、UMWAのチームが同社の安全対策とサゴ炭鉱の大変危険な安全対策について調査・査定することを認めている。エネルギーの需要増と石炭価格の高騰を背景に、東部で閉鎖炭鉱の採掘再開の動きが出て来た。このような状況の中で、サゴ炭鉱事故直後、ウエストバージニア州の他の炭鉱でも死亡事後が起きた。1月19日、メルビルのアラコマ石炭のアルマ炭鉱で火災事故が起こり、逃げ遅れた炭鉱労働者が2人死亡した。1月31日、2人の炭鉱労働者が亡くなった。1人はロングブランチエネルギーのワートン炭鉱で崩れた壁の下敷きになって死亡。もう一人はマッセイエネルギーのブラックキャッスルオープン炭鉱でブルドーザーの運転手がガスパイプに挟まれて死亡。2005年に炭鉱事故で亡くなった人の数は3名であったが、今年はすでに、1月2日以降、ウエストバージニアだけでもすでに16名亡くなっている。 
 
上記の死亡事故とは正反対に、同じ1月31日、1000マイル離れたイリノイ州ジャイレッドの近くにあるフリーマンユナイティッド石炭会社の炭鉱では炭鉱内に設置してあるUMWAのガス探知機が高いレベルの一酸化炭素を探知したため、UMWAの組合員の90人の炭鉱労働者とUMWAのチームは坑外に避難した。UMWAチームは坑内に閉じ込められた炭鉱労働者たちを安全に地上に上げた。現在、この炭鉱は調査のため閉鎖されている。 
 
 
カナダの労使合同救援チーム、72人の鉱山労働者を安全に救助 
 
カナダの労使合同救援チームはサスカチェワン州の石灰鉱山で1000メートルの地下の坑内に閉じこまれていた72人の鉱山労働者の救出に成功した。火災事故は1月29日に米国系企業モザイク社（食品巨大企業カーギルが経営権を支配）が所有する世界最大の石灰石鉱山で起きた。890支部と892支部の組合員で構成されたCEP鉱山救援チームは25時間坑内に閉じ込められている72人に労働者を救出するため、週出するため、斬新は方策を試みた。72人は火災が発生したため、シールドされた避難所に留まっていた。火災の原因はトーチが折れ、火がポリエチレンパイプに点火したため。 
 
労使合同救助チームは近くの組織炭鉱の救援チームの支援を受け、火災を消火し、注意深く有毒ガスと煙を排出し、閉じ込められていた72人鉱山労働者を地上に連れ出した。この鉱山は地下3000マイルの深さで、20マイル幅の地下道やトンネルが多数ある。ある米国の元鉱山会社部長は。「まるで教科書の中の手本のような救助であった。」と感想を述べた。しかし、閉じ込められていた鉱山労働者たちは避難所内に貯蔵されていた食糧については満足した様子ではなかった。 
 
 
IUOEのストライキ終わる 
 
ICEMに加盟する全米オペレーター労組 (IUOE)は、賃上げと給付金のレベルアップを求めて、カナダのノバスコティア州の米国系建材製造会社National Gypsum において2005年8月10日から実施していたストライキを中止した。1月末に同社のミルフォード採石場とバーンサイド積み込み施設に働く90人あまりのIUOE組合員が協約案を批准したためだ。ストライキは州政府が同社に対し6項目の安全基準違反の裁定を下し、IUOE721支部が同社の製品のボイコットキャンペーンを始め、これにノバスコティア州の労働総同盟と建設業業界が同調した後、協約は妥結した。National Gypsum 社は声明を発表し、労使関係の修復と労使信頼の基盤の構築に取り組む、と述べた。 
 
 
ExxonMobilがオーストラリアで直面するジレンマ 
 
エクソンモービルはモービルオーストラリアのポートスタンバック石油精製所の操業を再開するか、多額の環境浄化コストを支払うかの選択を、今、迫られている。モービルオーストラリアはエクソンモービル100％所有の会社。同石油精製所は2003年の半ばに閉鎖され、400人の労働者が失業した。同社はこの石油精製所の今後についての計画案を2006年7月までに発表しなければならないことになっている。最近、サウスオーストラリア州議会の審議会で、1970年代から1990年代にかけて、サウスアデレイドの近郊にあるこの石油精製所からアスベスト廃棄物やその他の有害化学物質を買って陸送、海上輸送していた、と同社の下請け業者が証言した。また、同石油精製所の安全衛生担当者は3000人の労働者がアスベストに暴露した、と述べた。また、「私は安全ではない状況を目撃したが、指摘すると、首になるので何も言えない状態だった。」と証言した。2003年にエクソンモービルが同石油精製所を閉鎖したため、オーストラリアは石油精製品の実質輸入国となった。 
 
 
EPMU、5％賃上げを要求 
 
ニュージーランドのエンジニアリング印刷および製造業労組(EPMU-ICEM加盟)は先週、紙パ会社Carter Holt Harvey (CHH)の事業所において5％賃上げキャンペーンを再開した。同労組はグレーム・ハートが持っているRank Investments がCHHの株式を買い始めた後、CHHとの賃上げ交渉を停止した。EPMUはCHHの３事業所との交渉では5％の賃上げを確保したが、残りの7事業所での交渉は昨年以来中止のままである。ハートは先週、一株あたり2.75ニュージーランドドルの価格で株式の買収を提案し、現在、彼はCHHの経営権86％を持っている。オークランド株式市場の上場を取り下げるためには、ハートはCHHの90％の経営権を持つ必要がある。 
 
 
突然ロックアウトされたEPMU組合員 
 
ニュージーランドの地方自治体が経営するTop Energyは、2月3日、通告なしに EPMU組合員58名をロックアウトした。架線作業に従事するこれらの労働者たちはEPMUが設定した標準 5%の賃上げを求めている。しかし、経営側は時間外なし週45時間労働という非現実的条件を求めている。「私たちは6ヶ月弱交渉を続け、労働協約を現状に合わせて改定することに合意したが、既存の賃金は比較的低いレベルにあり、深刻な要員不足の状態に当面している中で、賃下げには応じられない。」とEPMUのアンドリュー・リトル委員長はニュージーランドの報道機関に語った。同社はニュージーランドのノースアイランドの配電会社。 
 
 
FCE- CFDT、公約違反でソルベを非難 
 
ICEMのフランス加盟組織のFCEは400名の労働者を解雇すると発表したベルギーの化学会社、ソルベに抗議した。同社は2004年3月、フランスのフルニエファーマ社を買収した際、少なくとも、2006年7月までは雇用削減はしない、と公約していた。フランスでは400名あまりの職、イタリア、スペインおよびベルギーでも186名の職が失われることになる。FCE-CFDTは今回の雇用削減は社会的にも無責任であり、これらの職の保持に向けてもっと透明性ある再検討を求めている。 
 
 
セルビア・モンテネグロの加盟組合EPS労組のスト終わる 
 
EPS労組は国営電力公社内の電力および石炭事業の3企業で実施していたストを中止した。未払い賃金の支払いと2006年度の賃上げを求めて段階的スト行為を実施していたが、EPS労組と政府は、労働側が未払い分については1月、2月、3月に分割払いにし、賃上げについては1ヶ月後に交渉に入ることで暫定的に合意した。 EPS労組は1月10日から、労働者の未払い賃金の支払いを要求して、毎日ストやその他の抗議行動を続けていた。 
 
 
USWのCognisスト、1年経過 
 
2月7日、全米鉄鋼労連（USW）第4349支部はオハヨー州シンシナティにあるドイツの化学企業Cognisでスト実施中である。同支部労組は環境リスクと労働安全衛生対策の遅延が発覚している同工場の所有者であるCognisとそのジョイントベンチャーパートナーの動きに注目しながら、スト突入一周年記念を見守っている。 
労働者たちがストに入ったのは、CognisとMalaysian Golden Hope Plantations が同工場の油脂化学事業でジョイントベンチャー会社を設置した時にCognisが組合認知に関する継続認知条項を認めなかったため。現在、経営側はストが終わったとしても労働者の職場復帰を認めない、としている。これに対し、フレッド・ヒッグスICEM書記長はCognisのトルシ・オリバ代表取締役に出した書簡の中で、この行為は容認できない、とし、希望するUSWのすべての労働者が職場復帰することができるようになることが、スト終焉の条件である。従って、代表取締役としての新会社に対し影響力を行使してほしい、と強く要請した。 
 
 
2月3日付　ICEM 記者発表 
 
ICEMの2月3日付記者発表はベルギーの労働組合の法的地位についてコメントした。スウェーデン/フィンランド系の製紙会社、ストーラ・エンゾーはベルギーの労働組合の法的地位に関する論議で保守諸政党側に付いた。ゲント近郊のランガーブルッゲ工場では今、基本的労働組合権が問題化している。経営側は、嫌がらせや分断戦略を使って、意図的に工場に働く労働者の権利の低減を試みている。同社は工場の300人の労働者の内、70人の職責を下請けに出し、従来からの権利を放棄し、労働条件を低下してフレキシビリティを図ろうとしている。これに抗議して、労働組合は2月7日午後19時からゲントでデモ行進を計画している。ICEMの記者発表は次のリンクでお読みください。/?id=77&amp;doc=1638.

ICEM InBrief

International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers 
 
On 28 April, the trade union movement remembers over two million workers who die and millions more who are injured, or who fall sick each year due to unsafe, unhealthy or unsustainable work and workplaces. 
The slogan for this year&rsquo;s 28 April Commemoration Day is &ldquo;Union Workplaces &ndash; Safe Workplaces&rdquo; and the selected themes are: The Global Union Ban Asbestos Campaign, HIV/AIDS &ndash; workplace aspects and implementation of programme response, and ILO Conventions and Instruments that relate to Occupational Health and Safety. 
 
Unions the world over are called upon to mobilise workers to seek government and employer support of a total ban of asbestos; to promote action on HIV/ADS as a workplace issue and to convince the next G8 summit to establish a permanent working party on HIV/AIDS; and to encourage governments to ratify key ILO occupational health and safety instruments. 
 
A 28 April guide, issued by the Global Unions, can be accessed <a href="http://www.global-unions.org/pdf/ohsewpH_3d.EN.pdf">here</a>. The backgrounder provides a history of 28 April and points to a wide variety of activities that trade unions can implement on the day itself. Specifically on HIV/AIDS, we draw your attention to the trade union country profiles. these can be found <a href="http://www.global-unions.org/pdf/ohsewpT_4a.EN.pdf">here</a>. 
 
 
New UNAIDS Website 
 
UNAIDS has launched a new version of its website complete with a new navigation, branding and logo <a href="http://www.unaids.org/">www.unaids.org</a>. The website, which will also be available in French, Spanish and Russian, provides content specifically chosen for each audience group: business and labour; civil society; donors; media; people living with HIV/AIDS; policy-makers; researchers; the UN family; and women, as well as an easier more intuitive navigation structure. 
 
The new focus of the website is to include all the relevant documentation and publications but also to highlight the impact of UNAIDS&rsquo; work through its cosponsors and partners. Each of the new sections provides additional background information, relevant publications and links to outside sources. 
 
At <a href="http://www.unaids.org/en/mediacentre/newsletter">www.unaids.org/en/mediacentre/newsletter</a>&nbsp;you can find the new UNAIDS quarterly newsletter. The first issue features a letter from the UNAIDS Executive Director, information on a regional consultation on universal access in Latin America and UNAIDS support to Kenya. Future issues will be available in French, Spanish and Russian. Subscriber information is available online at <a href="http://www.unaids.org/Services/Subscribe.aspx">www.unaids.org/Services/Subscribe.aspx</a>. 
 
 
World AIDS Campaign Calls for Greater Accountability 
 
Governments and international agencies are coming under pressure to answer for the specific HIV and AIDS commitments and promises they have made. In a new report, the World AIDS Campaign (WAC) closely examines statements, commitments and declarations made by governments and intergovernmental organisations in the past five years, and asks how they hold up under scrutiny as genuine promises. 
 
The WAC Report, entitled &ldquo;Promises, Promises &hellip;.&rdquo; reveals the growing gap between what governments say they will do about HIV and AIDS and what is actually achieved. It argues that the most significant promises were made during the special session of the UN General Assembly in June 2001 when the Declaration of Commitment was solemnly adopted by all member states of the UN. 
A review of the progress on the Declaration will be made at a special session in June 2006 (see e-bulletin No. 5, February 2006). For the full WAC report, go to <a href="http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/">www.worldaidscampaign.org</a>. 
 
 
Pakistan Labour Federation Holds Seminar 
 
The Pakistan Labour Federation organised a one-day seminar in collaboration with UNAIDS on the responsibilities of trade union leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Atia Saleem, Chairperson of PFL&rsquo;s Women&rsquo;s Wing, stressed that HIV/AIDS should not be an issue discussed only once a year. 
From the first cases reported in 1987, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS has soared. Trade unions, with their presence at the workplace, have an important role to play in implementing anti-discrimination policies and they can contribute to home and community care. 
(Source: PLF News Release) 
 
 
Generic Drugs 
 
A deal between Bristol-Myers Squibb and two generic drug makers (Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa and Emcure Pharmaceuticals in India) will allow cheaper versions of its newest AIDS drug to be made available in sub-Saharan Africa and India. The agreement includes the transfer of technology covering manufacture, testing, packaging, storage and handling of the drug&rsquo;s active ingredient. 
(Source: Business Day, Johannesburg, 17 February 2006) 
 
 
Product RED to Fight AIDS in Africa 
 
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Bono announced Product RED, an economic initiative designed to deliver a sustainable flow of private sector money to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). Leading brands have made a commitment to channel a portion of profits from sales of specially-designed RED products to the GFATM to support AIDS programmes in Africa with a focus on women and children. 
 
The GFATM has welcomed this new initiative. Through RED and other initiatives it hopes to increase the private sector share of income from less than one percent currently to ten percent or more in the long term. Nelson Mandela added, &ldquo;We must all come together in supporting the Global Fund and the fight against AIDS. RED carries the promise of capturing the world&rsquo;s attention to do just that and I applaud RED and its partners for their vision and commitment.&rdquo; 
 
Go to <a href="http://www.joinred.com/">www.joinred.com</a>&nbsp;to find out more. 
 
 
Joint publication on co-investment and public-private partnerships (PPP) 
 
The Deutsche Gesellschaft f&uuml;r Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), the Global Business Coalition on AIDS (GBC), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), the ILO and the World Bank have joined forces to produce &ldquo;Making Co-investment a Reality &ndash; Strategies and Experiences.&rdquo; The publication explains how co-investment can strengthen HIV/AIDS workplace programmes and extend them into the community. It gives examples and lessons learned on PPP and co-investment. 
The publication can be accessed at 
<a href="http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/trav/aids/publ/gtzgbccoinvest.pdf">http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/trav/aids 
/publ/gtzgbccoinvest.pdf</a>. 
 
 
Update from ILOAIDS 
 
At the beginning of the year, ILOAIDS has released a number of new publications. Most important of these is the booklet &ldquo;Workplace Action on HIV/AIDS &ndash; How to Access Funds at the National Level,&rdquo; which you can find at <a href="http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/trav/aids/publ/resmob.pdf">http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/trav 
/aids/publ/resmob.pdf</a>. 
The booklet contains a set of fact sheets to help workers&rsquo; and employers&rsquo; organisations identify sources of funding and understand the mechanisms necessary in order to apply for them. 
A complementary guidance note for proposal writing is in preparation. This will be posted on the ILOAIDS website <a href="http://www.ilo.org/aids">www.ilo.org/aids</a>, where you can also find the other recently released publications such as &ldquo;The Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Labour Force in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Preliminary Assessment,&rdquo; and &ldquo;ILO/AIDS Brief on Women, Girls, HIV/AIDS and the World of Work,&rdquo; which is now also available in French and Spanish. 
 
Reminder: In the first issue of our e-bulletin, October 2005, we drew your attention to the ILOAIDS 24-hour News Service. You can register under <a href="http://campo.ilo.org/cmdb-access">http://campo.ilo.org/cmdb-access</a> and indicate your language preference. For up-to-date daily news on HIV/AIDS and the world of work this new website is highly recommended (it will take you no more than 3 minutes to register). 
 
 
This ICEM HIV-AIDS Newsletter &ndash; How to Subscribe or Translate? 
 
To subscribe to the e-bulletin, send an email to <a href="mailto:press@icem.org">press@icem.org</a>. Please put &ldquo;subscribe ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin&rdquo; in the subject line. 
 
Unfortunately, the e-bulletin can only be published in English. For a free automated (non-ICEM) translation of this HIV-AIDS bulletin into other languages, you may want to try <a href="http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr">http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr</a>&nbsp;or <a href="http://www.google.com/language_tools">http://www.google.com/language_tools</a> and insert the following URL into the window &ldquo;Translate a Web page&ldquo;: <a href="/?id=72&amp;doc=1673">/?id=72&amp;doc=1673</a>.

ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin - No. 6

&ldquo;The ICEM (International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers&rsquo; Unions) expresses, on behalf of its 20 million members throughout the world, deep concern over the increasing news of numerous cases of silicosis among jewellery migrant workers in China and&nbsp;India, who are slowly dying of an illness that they contracted through a poor working environment, compounded by a failure to provide adequate medical care. 
We express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Deng Wenping, a chinese migrant worker at a Hong Kong-invested jewellery factory in Southern China who has recently died and is one of the latest victims of silicosis in the sector. 
 
ICEM urges all employers in the jewellery industries, as well as the competent authorities in China, to pay immediate attention to the serious health and safety problems in the industry, to eliminate present dangerous conditions, and to urgently improve both medical care and the social security system. 
 
ICEM believes that only effective and genuine trade union representation of jewellery workers in China can lead to an adequate improvement of working conditions as well as contribute to meaningful industrial relations and social dialogue.&rdquo; 
<hr />
<a href="http://www.china-labour.org.hk/public/contents/article?revision%5fid=19186&amp;item%5fid=19182">Click here</a> for a China Labour Bulletin background&nbsp;document on silicosis in China, entitled 'Deadly dust'.

ICEM statement on silicosis in China and India

<img height="93" alt="" src="" width="70" />
While Nepal&rsquo;s King Gyanendra took the unprecedented decision to call for talks with the Nepalese opposition parties this past weekend, the ICEM believes he must go much further. His request for talks has already been ruled out by the pro-democracy political coalition, and they have vowed to make their protests even stronger.
All through last week, and again on 20 February, the King was forced to release a number of political prisoners after the country&rsquo;s courts abolished the powerful anti-corruption commission that had imprisoned many of them. Among the dozens released were trade union leaders, political activists and students. All of them had been arrested at different stages of the now year-long wave of royal dictatorial repression in Nepal. 
Amid the released trade union leaders was General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) Secretary-General Binod Shrestha. Many of the other detained GEFONT leaders, in total 33, were also set free. 
Upon his release, Binod Shrestha thanked the many international organisations that helped make his release possible. &ldquo;Our freedom became possible because of continuous fight of you comrades in the home and broad support &amp; strong solidarity by the international working class family from the aboard.&quot; By way of a special press release, GEFONT thanked the international community again on 20 February. 
Many Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) leaders were also released. 
<img height="159" alt="" src="" width="139" />
Gefont's Secretary-General Binod Shrestha
Despite these releases, dozens of other trade unionists, along with hundreds of political activists, remain in detention or under house arrest. And today, the monarchist regime proved it would push-back against the courts system by re-arresting a top leader of one of the political parties, Krishna Sitaula. 
The series of releases came shortly after the 8 February municipal elections in Nepal, which were a dismal failure with virtually no candidates registered and few voters showing up. The lack of participation was the result of a boycott from all sides, including the alliance of seven major political parties. These elections were widely seen, nationally and internationally, as attempts by the king to legitimise his autocratic rule and elect municipal loyalists in preparation for possible national elections next year. 
 
In order to install himself as the supreme leader, King Gyanendra swept aside democracy in February 2005. Since then, hundreds of opposition members, a term potentially applying to virtually everyone in today&rsquo;s Nepal, have been imprisoned. With many now locked up for months, others have been released within days or weeks, and still others&mdash;like Krishna Sitaula&mdash;are being re-arrested. After nearly 13 months, civil and political rights are still non-existent in Nepal, states the ICEM, and the despotic Gyanendra must make meaningful retreats from autocratic rule in order for democratic institutions such as trade unions to function. 
 
 

<img height="185" alt="" src="" width="350" />
 
Together with the Nepalese trade union confederations GEFONT, NTUC, and the Democratic Confederation of Nepalese Trade Unions (DECONT), the ICEM calls for all trade union leaders and members to be released. The ICEM also supports the national Charter of Demands that was presented last week by the three Nepalese confederations to the Nepalese Labour Minister, in an important demonstration of trade union unity. 
 
In an effort to counter the regime&rsquo;s attempts to amend the labour law by decree and ignore labour rights, this charter includes demands on, among other issues, basic trade union rights, wages and an end to all discrimination. 
 
At a press conference last week, GEFONT Chairman Mukunda Neupane said the regime&rsquo;s only real option to avoid bitter labour unrest was not to derail social dialogue. He further warned that the &quot;unions request to fulfil the demands within a period of 35 days.&quot;

Nepal’s GEFONT Secretary General Among Recent Releases, Others Remain Imprisoned

The ICEM&rsquo;s two-day World Conference for the Materials Sector, covering the cement, glass and ceramics industries, discussed several labour disputes plaguing these industries, and took definitive action to build global trade union unity around these disputes. 
 
&ldquo;We call on all our affiliates to take note of the companies that have brought adverse labour relations to these workplaces,&rdquo; said ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs, &ldquo;and we also call on trade unions worldwide within these companies to bring these disputes to the attention of their own managements.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<img height="265" alt="" src="" width="350" />
From left to right: ICEM Materials officer Phee Jungsun, ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs, vice-chairperson of the Materials conference Michel Decayeux and the newly elected chairperson Jim Hickenbotham.
Three of the ongoing disputes are in the US and involve two French-based companies, in addition to a Spanish concern. The fourth dispute happened in Belgium earlier this year, and was instigated by a glass company from Japan. 
 
In the US, Imerys, a French building materials company, continues to victimize members of the United Steelworkers (USW) at a calcium carbonate operation in Sylacauga, Alabama. Despite a vote by the 500 workers at the mine and processing plant to retain the union in a US government-conducted election, local managers discriminate against union members and violate terms of the collective agreement. 
 
At another workplace in the American South, a strike at Giant Cement in Harleyville, South Carolina, in August and September by the USW was met by local managers permanently replacing the strikers. This action was done by the company - a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cementos Portland Valderrivas of Madrid, Spain - on the eve of strikers abandoning the strike on 23 September 2005. 
 
Delegates to the ICEM&rsquo;s Materials Sector conference also discussed the reprehensible actions by American managers of French-based Saint Gobain at an abrasives factory in Worcester, Massachusetts. A majority of 770 workers voted for representation by the United Auto Workers (UAW) in August 2001 and despite nearly four years and some 140 collective bargaining sessions, Saint Gobain managers refused to enter into an agreement. In January of this year, in a decertification vote against the union, the US government found management had used illegal means to influence the vote. 
 
The fourth dispute also was a strike, and involved a unilateral decision by Japanese management of Asahi Glass to shift production and make redundant over a quarter of 840 workers at Glaverbel&rsquo;s AGC Automotive glass plant in Fleurus, Belgium. The company initially refused social dialogue with ICEM affiliates CG-FGTB and SETCa-FGTB. 
 
The Materials Conference&nbsp;elected a new chairperson for the coming four-year period. Jim Hickenbotham, an officer for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) from the US, was elected by acclamation, while Michel Decayeux, general secretary of CGT-FO F&eacute;d&eacute;chimie in France was elected vice chairperson. 
<hr />
To read the Declaration that&nbsp;was adopted at the conference, click <a href="/?id=77&amp;doc=1511">here</a>.
<hr />
For more information on this conference, including background documents and presentations, click <a href="?id=148">here</a>.
<hr />

Materials Conference Takes Global Approach in Countering Local Disputes

<img height="86" alt="" src="" width="100" />
Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on 17-18 November 2005, trade union delegates at the ICEM&rsquo;s World Conference for the Materials Sector, encompassing the Cement, Glass, and Ceramics Industries, adopted the following statement: 
 
The state of the business scenario in the Cement, Glass, and Ceramics Industries has been one of mergers, acquisitions and re-location of production. The ICEM&rsquo;s World Conference for the Materials Sector recognized the disruption such business conditions cause to workers and their families. The Conference adopted measures to safeguard the trade union members and their families from the uncertainty caused by the consolidation of companies and the economic consequences brought to workers and their families. The Conference resolved to take all necessary steps to protect the interests of workers in the Materials Sector. 
 
The Conference adopted the following proposals: 
<ul>
 <li>During the next four-year period until the next ICEM World Conference for the Materials Sector, affiliates will seek to initiate dialogue and achieve further Global Framework Agreements with companies associated with the Materials Sector; 
 </li>
 <li>Affiliated Trade Unions will adopt new and innovative networking methods between themselves to further enhance Global Trade Union Solidarity; 
 </li>
 <li>Affiliated Trade Unions fully joined the ICEM&rsquo;s campaign on the abusive use of Contract and Agency Labour in all facets of work; 
 </li>
 <li>Affiliated Trade Unions moved to become more vigilant in monitoring and ensuring responsible behaviour by global companies in cement, glass and ceramics industries regarding health, safety and the environment. Specifically, unions will fully monitor and engage with employers, as well as campaign against the menace of asbestos and silicosis caused by hazardous materials used in these industries; 
 </li>
 <li>ICEM membership within this sector will engage effective workplace measures to educate and raise awareness of the risk of HIV/AIDS infection, and to ensure that meaningful programmes for anti-discrimination of those living with HIV/AIDS be put in place. 
 </li>
 <li>Affiliated Trade Unions will undertake to increase their efforts regarding the all-important Gender Issue of Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value, and to ensure that any and all gender-based discrimination is eliminated from workplaces. </li>
</ul>
It is the determination and commitment of the ICEM-affiliated Trade Unions in the Materials Sector to take sufficient and meaningful action to meet this agenda and produce a full report on the progress of these initiatives at the next World Conference for the Materials Sector. 
 
Adopted 18 November 2005 
Brussels, Belgium 
 
For more information on this conference, including background documents and presentations, click <a href="?id=148">here</a>.

ICEM Declaration on the Materials Sector

Trade Union delegates to the ICEM&rsquo;s quadrennial World Conference for the Pulp and Paper Industries vowed to continue building links of solidarity between unions in this sector. 
 
The conference, held in Brussels, Belgium, from 15 to16 November, was attended by 65 trade union leaders from pulp and paper unions in 17 countries, and produced a five-point action plan to be implemented over the next four years. 
 
&ldquo;This conference came at the right time in an industry facing difficult business conditions,&rdquo; said ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. &ldquo;Unions in the paper industry this year have responded with resounding solidarity to each other when faced with employer attacks. We intend to build and strengthen these efforts.&rdquo; 
 
The conference opened with reports on the unprecedented solidarity actions across the industry this year. First and foremost were product blockades and sympathy strikes in Nordic countries as well as across Europe in defence of Finnish paperworkers, some 25,000 of whom were locked out by Finland&rsquo;s paper companies for six weeks in May and June. Another dispute&mdash;entwined with the lockout in Finland&mdash;occurred in the Canadian province of New Brunswick where 700 members of Communications, Energy, Paperworkers Union there struck the global Finnish company UPM Kymmene in order to achieve the paper industry pattern agreement for eastern Canada. 
 
Both disputes were won, in part due to the quick and efficient networking between trade unions within the same multinational companies in different countries. This networking was coordinated by ICEM and its sister federation, the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Federation (EMCEF). 
 
The Brussels Declaration on the Pulp and Paper Sector states: &ldquo;We recognise the current business difficulties in the global paper sector and the inevitable restructuring, affecting workers and their families.&rdquo; But, the declaration added, pulp and paper companies must be advised &ldquo;that continued International Trade Union Solidarity will be utilised to protect the interests of workers and their families in this difficult time in the global paper sector.&rdquo; 
 
This year&rsquo;s Solidarity actions &ldquo;lay the ground for further international networking in the Pulp and Paper Industry. Such actions clearly demonstrate the will of ICEM global trade union affiliates &hellip; to use International Solidarity to resist harsh and inhumane attacks on workers and their collective bargaining agreements to achieve business goals.&rdquo; 
 
The five-point action plan for the next four years includes affiliates initiating dialogue and attempting to sign new Global Framework Agreements with companies in the sector, and adopting new and innovative networking methods to enhance Solidarity efforts. Affiliated trade unions in the sector will also fully join ICEM&rsquo;s campaign against the abusive use on contract and agency labour, use vigilance to ensure responsible behaviour by companies on health, safety and the environment, and ensure that Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value is achieved, in addition to ending all gender-based discrimination in workplaces. 
<img height="265" alt="" src="" width="350" />
Jouko Ahonen (left) congratulated by Walter Zwierschutz, international secretary of&nbsp;Austria's Chemiegewerkschaft 
 
Jouko Ahonen, president of Finland&rsquo;s paperworkers&rsquo; union Paperiliitto, was elected on 16 November as chairman of ICEM&rsquo;s Pulp and Paper Sector to a four-year term. 
<hr />
For the text of the adopted declaration, <a href="/?id=19&amp;doc=1509&amp;la=EN">click here</a>
<hr />
For more information on this conference, including background documents and presentations, click <a href="/index.php?id=147 ">here</a>.
<hr />

ICEM’s World Pulp and Paper Conference Builds Bonds of Solidarity

<img width="100" height="99" src="" alt="" />
Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on 15-16 November 2005, 65 global trade union delegates from 17 countries at the ICEM World Conference for Pulp and Paper Industries, adopted the following statement: 
 
We recognise the current business difficulties in the global paper industry and inevitable restructuring, affecting workers and their families. However, the conference adopted a Resolution, making it clear to the Pulp/Paper Industry that continued International Trade Union Solidarity will be utilised to protect the interests of workers and their families at this difficult time in the global paper sector. 
 
The Conference also took note of the recent unprecedented international solidarity actions. This lays the ground for further international networking in the Pulp and Paper Industry. 
 
Such actions clearly demonstrate the will of ICEM global trade union affiliates in the Pulp and Paper Sector to use International Solidarity to resist harsh and inhumane attacks on workers and their collective bargaining agreements to achieve business goals. 
 
The conference adopted the following proposals: 
<ul>
 <li>During the next four-year period until the next ICEM World Conference for the Pulp and Paper Industries, affiliates will seek to initiate dialogue and achieve further ICEM Global Framework Agreements with pulp and paper companies; 
 </li>
 <li>Affiliated Trade Unions will adopt new and innovative international networking methods to further enhance Global Trade Union Solidarity; 
 </li>
 <li>Trade Unions in the industry will be fully joined to the ICEM&rsquo;s campaign against the abusive use of Contract and Agency Labour in all facets of work; 
 </li>
 <li>Affiliates will exercise greater vigilance in monitoring and ensuring responsible behaviour by global pulp and paper companies with regard to health, safety and the environment; 
 </li>
 <li>Affiliated Trade Unions will undertake to increase their efforts regarding the all-important gender issue, and seek to ensure Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value, and the elimination of all gender-based discrimination at workplaces. </li>
</ul>
It is the determination of all Affiliates and the ICEM to ensure that they are able to report real achievements on the above agenda at the next World Conference for the Pulp and Paper Industries. 
 
Adopted on 16 November 2005 
Brussels, Belgium 

For more information on this conference, including background documents and presentations, click <a href="/index.php?id=147">here</a>.

ICEM Declaration on the Pulp and Paper Sector

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