14 March, 2011
The ICEM has been joined by Global Union Federations, national unions, and trade union activists the world over in pressing the government of Chile the ratify ILO Convention 176, the Safety and Health in Mines Convention.
Since ICEM and the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) delivered a joint call.
to their respective affiliates on 2 March to write Chile President Sebastián Piñera demanding he begin mine-safety reforms, some 70 affiliates have responded with letters like this.
The International Union of Food, Agricultural Workers' Association (IUF) picked up the call, sending an action alert that generated over 1,000 messages to Piñera. And then last week LabourStart initiated a campaign and 2,500 messages so far have been sent to Chile Mine Minister Laurence Golborne. Join the LabourStart campaign with a message to Golborne, who during the Michele Bachelet administration was a supermarket chain manager.
Hazards, the vibrant safety and health newsletter of UK’s Trades Union Congress (TUC), then sent a Chile mine safety message through its listserv of hundreds of global health/safety specialists at unions, NGOs, and educational institutions, many of whom responded with their own pointed message to the Piñera government.
It didn’t stop there. The global campaign was joined simultaneously by unions affiliated with Chile’s two main mine union federations, representing workers at both state-run copper company Codelco and at the major mining companies that own large-scale copper and gold operations. Leaders of branch leaders at both federations were versed on what the ICEM was doing globally in pressing Piñera and Golborne and it is those Chilean mine union leaders that know more than anybody the frailties of the country’s mine safety culture.
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary Sharon Burrow wrote to Piñera stating, “It is our belief that Chile’s sustainable development must start from a cohesive and coherent mine safety culture, that includes representation by mineworkers and their trade unions and the respect of their rights, and is composed of necessary components of monitoring, technical expertise, and judicial powers”.
Late last week the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) sent a release, stating, “After soaking up the publicity, the government is now backing away from its commitments. Journalists groups in Latin America and around the world are shocked by this cynical behaviour and we fully support the trade union demand that Chile cleans up its act and gets into line with international mining standards.
The ICEM’s decision targeting Chile to overhaul its mine regulations and to ratify Convention 176 stems from a brash world statement made by Piñera to the world while basking in the success of the rescue of 33 miners on 13 October 2010. While in London five days later, he told the world that Chile had learned its lesson; it would amend its mine safety laws and adopt global standards enshrined in Convention 176 “within 90 days.”
In mid-January, ICEM President Senzeni Zokwana and General Secretary Manfred Warda met with then Chilean Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Camila Merino over that pledge. The ICEM was told Convention 176 is not on Chile’s agenda, but that it might consider the more general ILO Convention 187, the Promotional Framework for Occupational Health and Safety Convention.
The ICEM reminded that just as Piñera and Golborne lifted the nation’s world status during the San José copper mine rescue, Chile is of major global consequence because it is a rich exporter of basic metals and minerals. If it is to be world-class in any way, it must implement world-class safe mining practices for Chilean workers who dig those riches.
An example is in the commission Piñera appointed to investigate the cause of the 5 August San José accident. There were no workers’ representatives invited to join that commission. Chile’s mine unions do sound the alarm frequently over safety deficiencies and on the reasons why accidents happen. But they are told from government and industry alike that it is the union’s duty to negotiate economic issues, not to involve itself in safety or health.
Chile Mine Minister Laurence Golborne
Chile has over 8,000 mines from north to south. It has a total of 16 mine inspectors to cover those operations. It has an archaic system of overlapping safety agencies covering all sectors of work, including mining, that reside in six different ministries. And none of the agencies have judicial powers to enforce the few regulations in place or the technical capabilities to inspect and prevent accidents before they happen.
Regarding mining in Chile, all the prerequisites contained in Convention 176 are missing: regular inspections, set procedures to report and investigate dangerous occurrences and accidents, trade union consultation, regulatory bodies with the authority to shut and keep shut dangerous mines, a miner’s right to refuse unsafe work, workers’ rights to select their own health and safety representatives, and employer obligations to provide safety training and safety programmes.
That is why the ICEM and the IMF – and now unions everywhere – have targeted Chile for reformation of internal mine safety laws and for ratification, implementation, and adherence to standards set down in ILO Convention 176. Do your part. Contact Chile’s political leaders and insist in change.