17 May, 2010In solidarity with Canadian workers on strike against demands by Vale for deep concessions in their contract, a Liberian union is urging its government to deny the company a rail passage through Liberia from an ore deposit in Guinea to the coast.
LIBERIA: A Liberian industrial workers' union called on its government to examine Brazilan-based Vale SA's record before granting a transportation link and mining concession in the country.
The Forestry, Logging, and Industry Workers of Liberia (FLIWUL) is protesting a proposed rail passage through the West African nation by the company in support of sriking Vale workers in Canada.
Recently, Vale purchased a 51 per cent stake from BSG Resources of iron ore blocks near Simandou in eastern Guinea. The mining house intends to create a rail and logistics corridor from Guinea through Liberia to the Atlantic Ocean coast.
In the letter, dated May 13, the Forestry, Logging, and Industry Workers of Liberia (FLIWUL) calls on President Johnson-Sirleaf to fully examine Vale's global social record before her government grants the rail concession. Among several irresponsible social acts, Vale has a forced a bitter strike, now in its eleventh month, on 3,500 nickel and copper miners in Canada.
"We are aware of many serious issues surrounding Vale and its mistreatment of workers and communities where it operates around the world," writes FLIWUL Secretary-General David D. Sackoh.
"Organizations in Mozambique, Brazil, Canada, Peru, Chile, Germany, Italy, and New Caledonia have declared that Vale 'infringes human rights, exploits both male and female workers, imposes precarious working conditions, destroys nature and disrespects traditional communities.' It appears that every place where Vale operates, communities are displaced, the environment is harmed and workers' rights are not respected.
"We are disturbed at the treatment that Vale has given to its workforce in Canada. The company provoked a strike through its demands for deep concessions from its workers despite the fact that the company has made billions of dollars in profit in recent years.
"Madame President, following many years of civil war and turmoil the Liberian people finally enjoy peace and has a promising future under your leadership. This behemoth Vale with its suspect actions could potentially destroy our fragile economy for the benefit of a greedy few. As key stakeholder in the infrastructural and economic development of Liberia, FLIWUL wishes to urge the government to carefully study the situation and ensure that transitional companies investing in Liberia do so responsibly."
The IMF and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers' Union (ICEM) have joined forces with the United Steelworkers (USW) in a global campaign to prevent Brazilian mining giant Vale from eroding working conditions and denying basic labour rights at Vale operations worldwide