20 October, 2009The Gerdau Workers' Committee decided on action to seek recognition from the company and in solidarity with colleagues in Canada and Colombia suffering violation of their labour rights in this time of crisis.
CHILE: The meeting of the Gerdau Global Workers' Committee, held October 13-15 in Santiago, Chile has ended after three days of analysis and discussion about the demands of unions representing Gerdau workers throughout the world.
The Gerdau Workers' Committee, composed of trade union representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, the U.S., Spain and Peru decided on action to strengthen the committee and to seek company recognition of the committee.
The meeting discussed the most serious disputes currently affecting Gerdau workers, including the United Steelworkers strike in Cambridge, Canada to maintain workers rights and the union campaign in Colombia against plant closures that have left hundreds of workers unemployed. The committee is working on an Action Plan covering the next few months.
It was agreed to continue writing to Gerdau management in Brazil about the disputes in Canada and Colombia and to organise an International Day of Struggle in all Gerdau factories on November 18. The meeting also discussed the different arrangements in Gerdau factories for negotiating health and safety agreements.
The Gerdau Workers' Committee will focus mainly on demanding company recognition of the committee; negotiating an International Framework Agreement; and negotiating a health and safety committee.
The meeting began with a visit to one of Gerdau's factories in Chile (Gerdau Aza). However, company management refused to allow a delegation of leaders into the plant. The committee responded by writing to André Gerdau J., repudiating the company's stance.
The committee decided to meet again in October 2010 in Spain. Leaders agreed to continue strengthening the Gerdau Workers' Committee and to continue the fight, especially on behalf of colleagues most affected by violations of their rights.