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13 November, 2001Congress vows international trade union action against the transnational metals and mining company.
SYDNEY: Today (November 14) the IMF Congress unanimously passed a statement on the giant mining and metals transnational BHP-Billiton, vowing to join in the international action against the TNC, and condemning the company for its worldwide attempts to eliminate trade union rights.
Speaking to the situation at BHP-Billiton, Doug Cameron, national secretary of the IMF-affiliated Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, said: "We thought it was tough for workers in Australia, but horror stories are coming from everywhere." A few examples were from Mozambique, South Africa, Peru and Colombia.
As for Australia, he said that workers had struggled for the right to collectively bargain at the company's operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia for two and a half years. To entice workers to accept individual contracts and drop the union, the company was offering workers entitlements and annual wages worth as much as A$76,000 more than for those on collective contracts. 56 per cent of the workers, however, have stayed with the union, rejecting the individual contracts. On November 2, the workers and their unions won a great victory when Western Australia's Industrial Relations Commission handed down a decision requiring equal pay for equal work.
Below is the full text of the statement on BHP-Billiton:
30th IMF World Congress Statement on BHP-Billiton The 30th IMF World Congress notes the report from the affiliates' meeting in relation to the anti-worker (union) activities of the transnational mining conglomerate BHP Billiton.
The Congress condemns BHP-Billiton for its callous disregard for workers' collective rights and the destructive record of environmental vandalism.
The attacks by BHP-Billiton on collective rights and their attempt to marginalise or eliminate trade union activity by aggressively promoting individual contracts is a breach of core labour standards and is rejected and opposed by the IMF.
The Congress condemns and deplores the sacking of Mozambique unionists by BHP-Billiton and determines to challenge these actions. Congress expresses its solidarity with SINTIME and the Mozambique workers in their struggle to regain their jobs.
Consistent with our mission statement to:
1. An IMF International Action Committee on BHP-Billiton will be established.
2. The International Action Committee will meet once each year and be charged with the responsibility to build the strength of organised labour in BHP-Billiton.
3. Regional Committees will be established in each area where BHP-Billiton operates and will be required to report to the International Action Committee.
4. The IMF Secretariat will organise a joint meeting of the IMF and ICEM to consider joint campaign activities against BHP-Billiton.
5. Steps will be taken to improve communication, coordination and industrial activities across all BHP-Billiton operations.
6. The International Action Committee will provide regular reports to the IMF Executive.
The IMF calls on BHP-Billiton to meet with the IMF to discuss appropriate steps designed to ensure the recognition of trade union rights and core labour standards across all BHP-Billiton establishments. Failure to respond will result in increased industrial activity designed to protect and advance the working rights and conditions of BHP-Billiton workers around the world.
Speaking to the situation at BHP-Billiton, Doug Cameron, national secretary of the IMF-affiliated Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, said: "We thought it was tough for workers in Australia, but horror stories are coming from everywhere." A few examples were from Mozambique, South Africa, Peru and Colombia.
As for Australia, he said that workers had struggled for the right to collectively bargain at the company's operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia for two and a half years. To entice workers to accept individual contracts and drop the union, the company was offering workers entitlements and annual wages worth as much as A$76,000 more than for those on collective contracts. 56 per cent of the workers, however, have stayed with the union, rejecting the individual contracts. On November 2, the workers and their unions won a great victory when Western Australia's Industrial Relations Commission handed down a decision requiring equal pay for equal work.
Below is the full text of the statement on BHP-Billiton:
30th IMF World Congress Statement on BHP-Billiton The 30th IMF World Congress notes the report from the affiliates' meeting in relation to the anti-worker (union) activities of the transnational mining conglomerate BHP Billiton.
The Congress condemns BHP-Billiton for its callous disregard for workers' collective rights and the destructive record of environmental vandalism.
The attacks by BHP-Billiton on collective rights and their attempt to marginalise or eliminate trade union activity by aggressively promoting individual contracts is a breach of core labour standards and is rejected and opposed by the IMF.
The Congress condemns and deplores the sacking of Mozambique unionists by BHP-Billiton and determines to challenge these actions. Congress expresses its solidarity with SINTIME and the Mozambique workers in their struggle to regain their jobs.
Consistent with our mission statement to:
- develop global structures;
- improve our communication and understanding of critical issues;
- organise new members and democratic workers' unions throughout the world;
- strengthen existing trade unions;
- create a more unified metalworkers' movement;
- strengthen workers' rights,
1. An IMF International Action Committee on BHP-Billiton will be established.
2. The International Action Committee will meet once each year and be charged with the responsibility to build the strength of organised labour in BHP-Billiton.
3. Regional Committees will be established in each area where BHP-Billiton operates and will be required to report to the International Action Committee.
4. The IMF Secretariat will organise a joint meeting of the IMF and ICEM to consider joint campaign activities against BHP-Billiton.
5. Steps will be taken to improve communication, coordination and industrial activities across all BHP-Billiton operations.
6. The International Action Committee will provide regular reports to the IMF Executive.
The IMF calls on BHP-Billiton to meet with the IMF to discuss appropriate steps designed to ensure the recognition of trade union rights and core labour standards across all BHP-Billiton establishments. Failure to respond will result in increased industrial activity designed to protect and advance the working rights and conditions of BHP-Billiton workers around the world.