15 September, 2011On August 27-28 the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) and the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW) held a workshop in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, for union activists from an array of plants in the region.
RUSSIA: On August 27-28 the IMF and the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW) held a workshop for union activists from GM, Ford, Nissan, Faurecia, Toyota, Jura Corp. operations in Saint-Petersburg and the surrounding area.
Union building and daily union work was discussed, as well as the cases of employer pressure and strategies of recruiting new members.
The participants agreed that a union is first and foremost a group of people who choose to stand up for the oppressed, decide for themselves, defend each other. The strongest motivation for joining the union is the personal experience of collective workplace action. Thus the main question is, what kind of collective action the workers are ready for here and now.
Specific problems at various plants were also discussed, such as the changes in work schedule, shift to hourly rates, worsening of work and life conditions of workers.
Since February 2011 the IMF and the CAW have supported ITUA organizing efforts at a number of plants in Saint-Petersburg and the surrounding area, including Nissan, General Motors, Nokian Tires, Hyundai и Faurecia, aimed at establishing sufficient membership level for collective bargaining and signing CBAs to protect workers' interests.