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15 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 45/2004
The 20-million-member ICEM's ExxonMobil Workers' Global Network kicked off with an initial conference 3-4 November in Houston, Texas, with over 80 workers and union leaders from 14 nations gathering to discuss workers' rights and human rights at worksites of the oil super-major globally.
Officially termed Global Network of ExxonMobil Workers' Solidarity, the effort to link workers and their unions of the US-based oil and gas concern was launched at the ICEM's Third Congress in Norway in August 2003. Network participants this week agreed to coordinate activities globally, and will begin with a focus on ExxonMobil's denial and obstruction of workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively.
"ExxonMobil is one of the most difficult companies we deal with," said Vice President Jim Pannell of the US Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical, Energy (PACE) Workers' Union, chief organizer of the conference and the lead union for the network. Added PACE Vice President Gary Beevers, "Mobil Oil was a company a union could deal with but when Exxon swallowed it up, fair dealing was swallowed up with it."
ExxonMobil workers and their union representatives from Albania, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US attended the initial conference in Houston.
"We believe this network is essential to ensure fair dealing with this global company," said Nigerian PENGASSAN President Louis Brown Ogbeifun.
Brian Payne, President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) Union of Canada, said, "ExxonMobil is difficult to deal with everywhere it does business, and so we have to have a global approach to it if we are to be successful."
Added Abdul Rahman Mohammed, president of Malaysian KPPEPMI, a union representing ExxonMobil exploration and production workers, "By working together we will have a very strong network."
"The ICEM promotes Global Networks because we strongly believe workers are the most competent monitors of their company's social and environmental performance," stated ICEM Mines and Energy Officer Gino Govender.
At the close of the conference yesterday, delegates adopted a slogan for the network of "Global Solidarity Today for a Better Tomorrow."
Officially termed Global Network of ExxonMobil Workers' Solidarity, the effort to link workers and their unions of the US-based oil and gas concern was launched at the ICEM's Third Congress in Norway in August 2003. Network participants this week agreed to coordinate activities globally, and will begin with a focus on ExxonMobil's denial and obstruction of workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively.
"ExxonMobil is one of the most difficult companies we deal with," said Vice President Jim Pannell of the US Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical, Energy (PACE) Workers' Union, chief organizer of the conference and the lead union for the network. Added PACE Vice President Gary Beevers, "Mobil Oil was a company a union could deal with but when Exxon swallowed it up, fair dealing was swallowed up with it."
ExxonMobil workers and their union representatives from Albania, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US attended the initial conference in Houston.
"We believe this network is essential to ensure fair dealing with this global company," said Nigerian PENGASSAN President Louis Brown Ogbeifun.
Brian Payne, President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) Union of Canada, said, "ExxonMobil is difficult to deal with everywhere it does business, and so we have to have a global approach to it if we are to be successful."
Added Abdul Rahman Mohammed, president of Malaysian KPPEPMI, a union representing ExxonMobil exploration and production workers, "By working together we will have a very strong network."
"The ICEM promotes Global Networks because we strongly believe workers are the most competent monitors of their company's social and environmental performance," stated ICEM Mines and Energy Officer Gino Govender.
At the close of the conference yesterday, delegates adopted a slogan for the network of "Global Solidarity Today for a Better Tomorrow."