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22 October, 2001The International Metalworkers' Federation has protested to both the government of Mozambique and to Billiton.
MOZAMBIQUE: On October 3, 2001, the IMF reported on a serious situation at Billiton's Mozal aluminium plant near Maputo, where 700 workers -- members of the IMF-affiliated SINTIME trade union -- were immediately fired by the company when they started strike action and then chased from the premises by police and dogs.
Previously, the Mozal management had coerced its workers to accept a "no-strike" clause in their collective agreement as a condition for the recognition of their trade union. When SINTIME sought to negotiate an increase in wages and other benefits, the company not only refused their modest demands, but even to discuss them.
On October 19, when the Mozal union committee met with the minister of labour and minister of industry and business, the trade unionists were told that if the workers wanted to be reemployed at the smelter, they would first have to face a disciplinary hearing. Although the SINTIME tried to negotiate against such a procedure and the likelihood of victimisation, the combined intimidation from the company and government resulted in half of the striking workers returning to the plant. During the disciplinary hearings, these workers are being pressured to sign a statement declaring they "observed an illegal strike".
The IMF has written protest letters to the president of Mozambique, Joaquím Chissano, and other top government officials, and to Billiton management at local, regional and international headquarters level, reminding them that the "no-strike" clause in Mozal's collective agreement is in contravention of the core International Labour Organisation Conventions No. 87 on the Right to Freedom of Association and No. 98 on the Right to Collective Bargaining, which the government of Mozambique has ratified and is required to uphold in order to protect the rights of workers. The IMF warns that it will, if necessary, "seek to utilise all avenues, including those provided by certain international bodies, to protect the fundamental rights of its members to trade union membership and collective representation, including the right to take industrial action."
Previously, the Mozal management had coerced its workers to accept a "no-strike" clause in their collective agreement as a condition for the recognition of their trade union. When SINTIME sought to negotiate an increase in wages and other benefits, the company not only refused their modest demands, but even to discuss them.
On October 19, when the Mozal union committee met with the minister of labour and minister of industry and business, the trade unionists were told that if the workers wanted to be reemployed at the smelter, they would first have to face a disciplinary hearing. Although the SINTIME tried to negotiate against such a procedure and the likelihood of victimisation, the combined intimidation from the company and government resulted in half of the striking workers returning to the plant. During the disciplinary hearings, these workers are being pressured to sign a statement declaring they "observed an illegal strike".
The IMF has written protest letters to the president of Mozambique, Joaquím Chissano, and other top government officials, and to Billiton management at local, regional and international headquarters level, reminding them that the "no-strike" clause in Mozal's collective agreement is in contravention of the core International Labour Organisation Conventions No. 87 on the Right to Freedom of Association and No. 98 on the Right to Collective Bargaining, which the government of Mozambique has ratified and is required to uphold in order to protect the rights of workers. The IMF warns that it will, if necessary, "seek to utilise all avenues, including those provided by certain international bodies, to protect the fundamental rights of its members to trade union membership and collective representation, including the right to take industrial action."