Gerdau Global Workers' Committee protests at Chile factory

CHILE: Trade union leaders representing Gerdau workers in Argentina (UOM),  Brazil (CNTM and CNM), Canada (USW), Colombia (UTRAMMICOL), Chile (CONSTRAMET), the United States (USW), Spain (Comisiones Obreras and UGT) and Peru (Sindicato de obreros y de empleados Siderperu), and led by the IMF, have handed in a letter to the company president, André Gerdau Johannpeter, at Gerdau Aza factory gates in Santiago, Chile, repudiating the company's decision to deny them entry to the Chilean plant. The letter also included a list of demands from the Gerdau Global Workers' Committee.

The protest took place after a trade union delegation, visiting the country for a meeting of the Gerdau Global Workers' Committee, was denied entry to the Gerdau Aza factory. Chilean union leaders had taken appropriate steps to prepare the delegation's visit but management refused to let the delegation into the plant and gave no clear reason as to why they took such action.

At the end of the Global Committee meeting on October 15, at 2 p.m., the committee went to the Gerdau Aza factory and IMF Assistant General Secretary Fernando Lopes handed in a letter to the human resources department, addressed to André Gerdau J. and repudiating the company's refusal to allow the delegation into the factory.

The letter also requested a rapid and effective solution to the strike in Cambridge, Canada; a negotiated solution with the SINTRAMETAL union in Tuta on the renewal of their collective agreement; and, reopening of the Duitama factory in Colombia.

As on other occasions, the letter also requested a meeting with Gerdau management in Brazil to discuss the following points:

• Company recognition of the Gerdau Global Workers' Committee
• Negotiation of an International Framework Agreement
• Implementation of a joint global health and safety committee