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22 September, 2008
The ICEM has adopted the issue of Contract and Agency Labour (CAL) as the main theme for activities on the Global Day of Action for Decent Work, 7 October 2008. Several other Global Union Federations have also decided to focus their activities on the issue of precarious work.
As part of its ongoing campaign, the ICEM is asking affiliates around the world to centre activities on organising contract or agency workers in their respective countries. The Geneva-based federation is calling on trade unions to use 7 October as a starting date for union organising campaigns of such workers.
Past, as well as soon to be released ICEM research material shows that precarious workers - including those employed through subcontracting companies, or working on an individual subcontracted basis, or working with a temporary contract, often through a private employment agency - need strong trade unions to protect their interests in an era when the growth of “new ways of employment” is fast becoming the norm.
In addition, there is an obvious necessity for trade unions to specifically target such workers as future union members in order to remain representative and strong, and to better defend existing members’ interests.
Many ICEM affiliates have already undertaken efforts in this regard, often with good results. Examples of this have been gathered and will soon be published in the upcoming "ICEM Guide on Contract and Agency Labour". The manual was written not only to provide useful examples from various countries, but also to give useful background information on CAL, complete with statistics and strategy suggestions.
The ICEM will also soon launch a new campaign website on the issue.
Materials already available include the newly-published “ICEM Short Guide for Negotiators on How to Deal with Contracting Out, Outsourcing and Agency Labour,” which serves as a valuable tool for trade unionists at the company level. It provides practical suggestions on what to do when - or even before - a company plans to brings in outside staff on to a jobsite. It can be found on the ICEM website in English, French, Spanish, and Russian.
Whereas the main focus of the ICEM’s actions for 7 October is on organising CAL workers, the ICEM also encourages affiliates and their members to participate in the national and/or local trade union activities that are being organised around the world on October 7th. More information on national demonstrations and other activities can be found on the Global Day’s web-site http://www.wddw.org.