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15 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 48/2004
T he 20-million-member ICEM's World Conferences on Mining and on Diamonds, Gems, Ornaments & Jewelry Production concluded last week near Johannesburg, South Africa, with a mandate to merge the two sectoral conferences for cohesion and maximum strength to affiliates. The merged Mining Sector conference also produced a four-year work plan emphasizing greater economic benefits to areas where natural resources and precious minerals are mined, and a commitment to resist efforts by global financial institutions over a "one size fits all" approach to mine privatization and restructuring.
The Diamonds/Gems Conference was held on 22 November with 130 trade union leaders attending. The Mining Conference was held 24-25 November and 190 unionists attended. A joint session of the two conferences was held 23 November.
South African National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) President Senzeni Zokwana was re-elected chair of the Mining Section, while V.R. Jaganathan of the Indian National Diamond and Ornaments Workers' Federation was elected vice chair of the newly-merged sector. The conference concluded with a march of all participants together with NUM members in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa.
"It's a significant occurrence to have these two ICEM sections come together," said ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. "We believe strength will be maximized for all mining affiliates while identities will still be protected.
"For diamonds and gems, workers will now be covered from mine to retailer and we are confident the historic militancy of the Mining Sector will be a major strength for employees in diamonds, gems and precious minerals."
The four-year work plan of the ICEM and mining affiliates will stress keeping more economic benefits of extracted minerals in local hands "by promoting jobs and economic development through diversification." It also calls on trade unions "to explore strategies to engage workers, employers, governments and communities in promoting, developing and implementing local beneficiation policies."
The plan also advocates that the UN International Labour Organization's concept of Decent Work through both ILO Core Conventions and the UN's Global Compact Principles be adhered to by multinational companies. The work plan calls for "meaningful, inclusive and regular social dialogue" with employers at the highest level and with employers' group International Council for Mining and Metals (ICMM) to establish a consultative forum for monitoring such standards.
The work plan also calls for the global union federation to use worker networks and Global Agreements as part of a strategy to unite and organize workers worldwide; for a global campaign for ratification of ILO Convention 176 on Mine Health and Safety; for affiliates to discuss asbestos mining and a way forward to implement ILO Convention 162 on employment and social impact of a ban on asbestos mining; and to continue building local partnerships in mineral extraction areas in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Another part of the work plan calls for the mining industry to meet the human needs of its workers, families and communities. Within that, the ICEM sends a clear message to both private and public financing organisations that the "'one-size-fits-all' mine privatisation and sector restructuring model" is unacceptable. Citing a record of social devastation in countries that have rapidly liberalized mining enterprises, the work plan warns such financing bodies "that the unilateral imposition of any restructuring that is not socially sustainable is bound to fail."
The work plan concludes with a resolve condemning the invasion of Iraq, and a call to the international community for early elections in Iraq and for withdrawal of all occupying forces. The plan also calls for immediate action toward a just settlement of the Palestine-Israel conflict that includes an independent and viable Palestinian State.