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16 November, 2009
As a priority, the ICEM has been building union networks within major multinational companies and sectors at global, regional, and national levels. These networks engage in exchange of information and experiences, organizing strategies, occupational health/safety, as well as building cross-border trade union solidarity through joint actions and campaigns.
Some networks have provided valuable social dialogue lessons, with participation by various managements of companies. This is particularly the case in Latin America, where ICEM-affiliated unions have established a number of workers’ networks, with several of them operating quite well.
With this, the ICEM held a 9-10 November conference called “Latin American Regional Company Networks in the Chemical Industry” in São Paulo, Brazil with the support of the German Friedrich-Ebert Foundation (FES). The main objective was to make an evaluation on activities, and to harmonise and coordinate the activities of these networks.
FES Workshop in São Paulo last week
In communication with the Latin American affiliates, ten multinational companies were included, namely Bayer, BASF, Akzo Nobel, Novartis, Sanofi Aventis, Lanxess, Solvay, Dupont, Dow Chemicals, and Bunge.
Chaired by ICEM Latin America/Caribbean Regional Vice President Sérgio Novais, some 70 trade union representatives attended the two-day meetings from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. The conference also welcomed Kemal Özkan, ICEM Chemicals and Rubber Industries Officer; Michael Wolters, International Secretary of Germany’s IGBCE; Isidor Boix, International Secretary of Spain’s FITEQA-CC.OO; Kent Holsing, a local union president of the United Steelworkers (USW) in the US; Brian Finnegan of the US Solidarity Centre; and Fons Welters, Chairman of the Works Council of Akzo Nobel, representing FNV Bondgenoten of the Netherlands.
Participants received solidarity messages from Belgian Centrale Générale, French FCE-CFDT, and Switzerland’s UNIA.
"Our confederation supports and encourages conferences like this, because this is fundamental to strengthening our activities around multinationals,” said Silvan Antonio Oliveira, president of CNTQ, the National Confederation of Chemical Workers of Brazil. “Through these kinds of events, we know these companies better and we have a full explanation of the problems that affect workers in the industry.”
ICEM’s Özkan made two presentations, “The Global Chemical Industry’s Main Developments and Global Challenges, “ and “Global Dimension of Labour Relations Through International Mechanisms – Social Dialogue, Global Agreements, and Workers’ Networks.”
Later, BASF and Repsol were examined as successful examples of regional network and social dialogue, while Bayer, Akzo Nobel, and Solvay were presented as successful examples of national networks.
On 11-12 November, six different networks, including BASF, Bayer, Lanxess, Akzo Nobel, Solvay, and Dow Chemicals met individually and discussed how to move forward successfully. The ICEM was also represented in these individual meetings through Özkan.
Related to US-based Dow Chemicals, both Força Sindical and CUT unions of Brazil, the Argentine unions, and the USW shared their learning experiences from the ICEM seminar, and agreed to compile the contributions into a DOW network bulletin within the next 30 days. The Solidarity Centre agreed to support another meeting of the present members of the network in the first quarter of 2010.
On Belgium-based Solvay, this meeting thanked the ICEM for making possible the conference which did much to improve communication and exchange of information necessary for the expansion of the network in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
The follow-up 11-12 November sessions served to evaluate recent activities, as well as to analyze the challenges that will be faced in 2010 regarding expanding the network and pursuing social dialogue with managements.
For BASF, the final meeting discussed deeply the actions needed to promote decent work for contract employees. This network is completing a survey on Contract and Agency Labour in Latin America that will enable participating organisations to identify problems and promote decent work. The parties have major differences on how to use new technologies, such as the internet during work hours, and BASF has been neglecting to involve workers’ representatives in this process. The network will invite management of BASF to accompany workers on a visit to BASF Colombia, scheduled for March 2010, and also report on how BASF workers in Peru are creating a union there.