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14 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 31/2004
T he 20-million-member ICEM, the leading global union federation in the chemicals and pharmaceutical sectors, warned the Serbia-Montenegro government of Vojislav Kostunica to halt immediately the holding and interrogation of trade union leaders by the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Between 18-20 May, trade union representatives of the Federation of Chemical, Non-Metal, Energy & Mining Industries, the ICEM-affiliated section of national union NEZAVISNOST, were questioned about the collective agreement and privatisation agenda of Icelandic generic drug-maker Actavis Group HF, formerly known as Pharmaco, and ICEM contends this is blatant intimidation.
"This incident is completely illegitimate and unlawful," stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs in a letter to the Serbian government this week. "We demand an immediate stop to these police activities. This type of action is an open and flagrant violation of human and basic trade union rights."
The ICEM acted in response to a request from the chemical section of NEZAVISNOST. ICEM's letter of protest was also directed to Dragan Jocic, Serbia-Montenegro Minister of Internal Affairs, and Slobodan Lalovic, the minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy.
"The Serbian government puts itself in a very tenuous position by restricting trade union rights," Higgs said today. "The ICEM calls on the government to fully respect, and not to impede trade union activity as Serbia grows in trade and development."
The ICEM's letter to Serbia-Montenegro officials was also sent to trade union leaders in Iceland. Actavis (formerly Pharmaco) is a company that has become a prominent pharmaceutical producer in Eastern and Central Europe's generic drug market. In November 2002, it purchased a 70% stake in Serbian drug-maker Zdravlje, and less than a year later bought a 15% share in Serbian drug distributor Velefarm.
In addition to the ICEM's letter to the Serbian government, the global union federation also has called on all 390 affiliated trade unions globally to register complaints with the Serbia-Montenegro government over its restrictive trade union practices.
Between 18-20 May, trade union representatives of the Federation of Chemical, Non-Metal, Energy & Mining Industries, the ICEM-affiliated section of national union NEZAVISNOST, were questioned about the collective agreement and privatisation agenda of Icelandic generic drug-maker Actavis Group HF, formerly known as Pharmaco, and ICEM contends this is blatant intimidation.
"This incident is completely illegitimate and unlawful," stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs in a letter to the Serbian government this week. "We demand an immediate stop to these police activities. This type of action is an open and flagrant violation of human and basic trade union rights."
The ICEM acted in response to a request from the chemical section of NEZAVISNOST. ICEM's letter of protest was also directed to Dragan Jocic, Serbia-Montenegro Minister of Internal Affairs, and Slobodan Lalovic, the minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy.
"The Serbian government puts itself in a very tenuous position by restricting trade union rights," Higgs said today. "The ICEM calls on the government to fully respect, and not to impede trade union activity as Serbia grows in trade and development."
The ICEM's letter to Serbia-Montenegro officials was also sent to trade union leaders in Iceland. Actavis (formerly Pharmaco) is a company that has become a prominent pharmaceutical producer in Eastern and Central Europe's generic drug market. In November 2002, it purchased a 70% stake in Serbian drug-maker Zdravlje, and less than a year later bought a 15% share in Serbian drug distributor Velefarm.
In addition to the ICEM's letter to the Serbian government, the global union federation also has called on all 390 affiliated trade unions globally to register complaints with the Serbia-Montenegro government over its restrictive trade union practices.