ICEM Solidarity Checklist

Requesting solidarity from the ICEM

If you are requesting solidarity from the ICEM, take a look at this checklist so that we can give you the best help we can.

Is there an international dimension?

Before contacting the ICEM your union needs to make a decision whether the problem you are facing or anticipating has an international dimension.

This could be the case if:

• The company you are having problems with is a MNC or has clients abroad
• The problem you are facing involves the violation of a fundamental principle e.g. the right to organize or bargain
• The problem you are facing involves an issue that you think the ICEM has particular expertise in e.g. health, safety or the environment

Give early notice

If it is anticipated that a dispute will arise send complete background information to ICEM, before the crisis begins.

Too often requests for action are made after the conflict is so advanced that possibilities for effective international intervention are limited. In principle, the ICEM should be informed of any serious problem in any company or subsidiary and related problems with governments. Such information may be useful to other affiliates.

Provide complete information on the company and the dispute

Tell us as much as you know about the company. Where possible, this should include:

• Full name of the company or subsidiary
• Name and title of senior managers in the dispute
• Full address, telephone, fax numbers and email addresses of these managers
• If the company is a subsidiary tell us anything you know about the precise relationship with the parent company. Is it a wholly-owned subsidiary, a franchise, a joint venture or does it have another relationship with the parent company?
• What does the company produce?
• Who are its major suppliers?
• Who are its major customers?

Tell us everything you know about the dispute. This should include:

• Number of employees and how many are engaged in the conflict?
• What is the background to the conflict?

It is of particular importance that ICEM is provided with accurate and full information. If an intervention is made and some aspect of the information is wrong or incomplete, it is likely to undermine the credibility of the trade union and the ICEM. If, for example, during a dispute, a company has found to be in violation of the law, but the union has also been found at fault, both pieces of information must be supplied and explained.

Even if information is accurate, it may not be of much use if it is not well documented. Data must contain details that are convincing and make a conflict come alive to trade unionists in another country. The same good practice for trade union work at home, posing and answering all the right questions starting with who, what, where, when, why.

Equally important to the information provided is the speed in which things can get done. For instance, If fax numbers or email addresses of the company or in some cases government departments can be provided action can sometimes be taken almost instantly. As some actions will be urgent, this may improve the chances for success.

Indicate what do you want the ICEM and its affiliates to do? 

Solidarity actions may require a variety of tactics. What works in one situation may not work in another. It is important to have a clear idea of what you think will be effective. In general, ICEM affiliates are more likely to respond forcefully to requests for intervention when the dispute concerns basic trade union principles such as the right to organise, than if it is over a collective bargaining dispute that is not an issue of fundamental rights.

Make regular reports of developments

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of solidarity actions and to keep unions that provide assistance fully informed at all stages, the ICEM must receive regular reports from the union requesting the intervention. The ICEM needs to be informed promptly to any significant changes or escalation in any dispute. The ICEM must know if and when a dispute has been resolved, and should be advised of the terms of settlement. Win or lose, solidarity partners in other countries should be thanked for their help.

Appoint a coordinator

It is good practice to designate a single person or contact point in your union to coordinate communications with the ICEM concerning a dispute and to make all communications as efficient and direct as possible.

Responding to requests

If you are responding to a call for solidarity from ICEM, look at this checklist first so that coordinated action can best be developed.

Respond on a routine basis

The most frequent request for solidarity is a request for a letter, fax or email message. In many situations, the timely arrival of a sizeable number of protest or support messages can have a positive impact.

Try to meet specific requests

There may be times when your union will be the only good source for specific information on a particular company or subsidiary in your country. The ICEM may receive many requests from affiliates for information on trade union organisations within a MNC for example. Sometimes the ICEM will not have that information on file. In other cases, one affiliate may ask the ICEM to transmit a request to another affiliate in the company’s home country for intervention.

While it is not always possible to meet such requests, the ICEM must be able to report back as to what, if any, action is being taken. Thus it is imperative that affiliates being asked respond in one manner or another.

Advise the ICEM on what it can do to facilitate your responses to requests for Solidarity Actions

If you need assistance in responding to a request for solidarity action just contact the relevant ICEM industrial officer. You may need to provide more information to get an update on the dispute, or you may need assistance with language or preparing letters or publications.

Send copies of messages, and information on any other action taken, to the ICEM

This helps the ICEM provide updated information on actions, and to evaluate the status of a specific action. This also includes forwarding press releases.

This checklist is an adapted version of a checklist produced in the ICFTU publication