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Click <a href="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/GoodyaerAsia2005.ppt" type="internal">here</a> for an ICEM Powerpoint presentation on the current world situation within the tyre market, the challenges for Goodyear and the regional problems for Goodyear in Asia.

ICEM Powerpoint presentation on Goodyear world-wide and Goodyear in Asia

This is the first issue of the e-bulletin on HIV/AIDS. The e-bulletin will be a regular feature in the ICEM’s information strategy on the pandemic. Emphasis will be on workplace issues. It contains news on international governmental organisation such as the ILO and its Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work, The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS – UNAIDS, the World Health Organisation – WHO and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The e-bulletin features news from the ICEM and other Global Unions as well as business organisations. It also gives links to useful websites and materials for union activists who want to deepen their knowledge and broaden their activities to fight HIV/AIDS. 
 
ICEM affiliates are already engaged in a wide range of activities, some have formal agreements with companies; others run education and awareness programmes at the workplace. To spread the information on new agreements and campaigns and to build on best practices affiliates and project coordinators are invited to send news and information to hiv.aids@icem.org. Any feedback on the format and contents of the e-bulletin is also welcome. 
 
To subscribe to the e-bulletin, send an e-mail to press@icem.org. Please put ‘subscribe ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin’ in the subject line. 
 
Unfortunately, the e-bulletin can only be published in English. For a free automated (non-ICEM) translation of this HIV-AIDS bulletin into other languages, you may want to try http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr or http://www.google.com/language_tools. 
 
 
Revised Statoil Global Agreement Contains HIV/AIDS Clause 
 
The ICEM and its affiliate NOPEF renewed the Global Agreement with the Norwegian gas and oil producer Statoil. The agreement, which was ICEM’s first when signed in 1998 and has since been reviewed and renewed twice, now contains a clause on HIV/AIDS. The clause stipulates that “the company provides a clear and supportive policy on HIV/AIDS and that this policy is effectively implemented throughout Statoil’s operations.” 
 
In the upcoming review of other Global Agreements and in new agreements, the ICEM will strive to include a clause on HIV/AIDS. 
 
 
Crucial Role of Business Fighting HIV/AIDS 
 
In an interview with Newsweek former US ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who is the CEO of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, stressed the vital role of workplace interventions in the prevention and treatment of the disease. He stated that 95% of all the people in the world who are HIV-positive don’t know it and are therefore spreading the virus for the seven or eight years it lies without any symptoms in a person’s body. Without voluntary but highly encouraged testing and prevention, the amounts spent on treatment will be a bottomless pit. Companies have to get heavily engaged in prevention and treatment. 
 
While he conceded that Africa is at the heart of the problem, he emphasised that it is not just an African disease. The fastest growing rates of the disease are in countries such as Russia, the Ukraine and India, which because of its large population has the first or second largest number of victims already although the prevalence rate is still low. 
 
The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS – www.businessfightsaids.org - has a wide range of case studies of the HIV/AIDS policies and interventions of its member companies. 
(Source: Newsweek, 15 August 2005) 
 
 
Global Fund Replenishment Meeting Falls Short of Target 
 
At the replenishment meeting in London at the beginning of September, government donors pledged USD 3.7 billion to the Global Fund. This commitment, which fell short of expectations, will be sufficient to pay for grant renewals during 2006 and 2007 after the two-year review period and also for the 2005 anticipated shortfall, but it will not cover the cost of any new rounds. The total needs, including cost of new rounds, had been estimated at USD 7 billion. It has to be said, however, that some countries could not yet commit themselves because of their budgetary cycles. Such late pledges and a further replenishment meeting in June 2006 might still bring the commitments to a level to allow for another round of financing. With a commitment of USD 600 million so far the US is well below its target of contributing one third of total funds committed. 
 
The relatively low level of support raises questions about the G8 commitment in July to place on antiretroviral treatment by 2010 all HIV patients who need it. In June the WHO reported that one million people received ARV treatment. The target of 3 million people on ART by the end of this year, the 3 by 5 Initiative of the WHO, is unlikely to be reached. 
 
(Source: Global Fund Observer Newsletter, Issue 50 of 7 September 2005) 
The GFO is an independent source of news, analysis and commentary about the Global Fund. The Newsletter is provided free of charge; to receive it send an email to receive-gfo-newsletter@aidspan.org. 
 
 
Mozambique/South Africa: Catastrophic AIDS Death Toll Among Miners 
 
The level of mortality from AIDS among Mozambican miners in South Africa has reached catastrophic levels, according to the Mozambican Deputy Labour Minister. In the last four years at least 2,500 Mozambican miners had died of AIDS. This figure almost certainly understates the true mortality, since it only includes known cases of the disease. There are currently about 46,000 Mozambicans working in South African mines. The article states that some South African mining companies have adopted discriminatory practices, immediately repatriating miners when they are known to have been infected. Miners who suffer this fate die in Mozambique and are thus not included in the South African figures. 
(Source: www.allafrica.com from Agencia de Informaçao de Moçambique, 13 September 2005) 
 
 
ILOAIDS Website 
 
Visit the website of ILOAIDS, which was re-designed in the course of the year. 
www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/trav/aids/index.htm. 
New features include a step-by-step guide to workplace action, a registration facility to keep you informed of events and new materials and a 24-hour news service focusing specifically on HIV/AIDS in the world of work. You can also find the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and World of Work in some 20 languages.

ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin - No. 1

Hundreds of thousands of Australian workers will take to the streets 15 November to protest the Howard government’s proposed reforms to industrial relations, reforms that are expected to be tabled in Parliament by late October. Called a National Day of Community Protest, the event is being coordinated by the Australian Council of Trade Unions and will feature a satellite link-up to hundreds of locations across Australia spelling out the loss of workers’ rights if the reforms are adopted. The nationwide Union Meeting, as it is billed, is expected to become a one-day national strike against the union-smashing measures being put forward by Prime Minister John Howard following the Conservatives new majority in the Parliament’s Senate.

Australians to Protest Labour Reform 15 November

New Zealand’s unions will embark on a third round of stop-work actions at Carter Holt Harvey’s (CHH) wood and paper operations starting tomorrow. ICEM affiliates Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) and the National Distribution Union are protesting the company’s inferior pay offers of 2.8% to 4%. NZ unions have set a minimum pattern of 5% across all sectors. On 12 September, workers at five CHH wood products plants and one paper converting operation engaged in one-day strikes, and subsequent rolling work stoppages occurred at other jobsites. Workers at one of the company’s pulp and paper mills—Kinleith—are also protesting a poor pay offer. A set of three-day talks between CHH and EPMU there concluded on 2 September with the company offering only 4% and less for some job classifications. The labour unrest comes when the 50.5% majority stakeholder of CHH, US based International Paper Co., has received a US$1.5 billion sale offer for sale to NZ’s richest individual, Graeme Hart and his Rank Group Investment Ltd. CHH’s board of directors, however, has recommended shareholders vote down the offer, saying it is 9.1% under the company’s true market value.

Carter Holt Harvey Targeted over Wage Deficiencies

ICEM Jordanian affiliate General Trade Union of Workers in Mining and Metal Industries has promised to strike if their demands are not met for deeds to 100 housing units built near the Shidiyeh Mines in Maan, Jordan. The union is demanding the housing be turned over to miners and their families, as promised by King Abdullah, before Jordan Phosphate Mines Co. (JPMC) is privatised, which is expected by the end of the year. The Jordanian trade union, protecting the rights of the 1,350 JPMC workers, warned it will stand firm on the housing rights issue as a precursor against curtailment of any set of rights or workers’ benefits once the company is privatised.

Jordanian Affiliate Demands Housing for Miners

A start-up gold mining project in Ghana turned to violence on 2 September when three persons were injured by police gunfire. Police were attempting to disperse an angry group of workers who lost their jobs following Newmont Ghana Gold Mining Ltd.’s construction of mine milling plants. The workers along with persons from the town of Yamfo, Northern Brong Ahafo, had blocked a street that prevented Newmont’s buses from carrying workers to jobsites. Newmont, 100% owned by Newmont Mining Corp. of the US, the world’s leading gold miner, purchased a tract of Ghana’s Sefwi gold belt early this decade, and is expected to commence production in 2006 from two sites in northern Ghana of stated gold reserves totaling 16.5 million ounces. The company established a hiring procedure for all new jobs but when existing workers from the construction phase did not immediately re-apply, Newmont closed off the recruitment process and hired new workers.

Violence at Newmont Mining's Start-up Project in Ghana

German ICEM affiliate IGBCE will hold its Congress 9-14 October in Hannover with 391 delegates taking on 150 resolutions under the banner “Strong Enough for New Paths.” The Congress will include some 1,100 guests, and one motion to be considered will be the challenges to trade union cooperation in the greater EU economy and globalisation. IGBCE President Hubertus Schmoldt called recent German elections a mandate against radical reforms to labour law and bargaining regulations, issues brought forth by both the CDU/CSU and neo-liberals. Schmoldt said in a newspaper interview that Germany needs new concepts for it’s energy market, as well as creation of better terms and conditions for employment in high-tech workplaces.

German Affiliate IGBCE to Hold Congress

You can direct all information and requests to the general e-mail address of the ICEM: <a href="mailto:info@icem.org">info@icem.org</a>. Please also use this address in case you have a specific request, but are unsure about whom to contact directly. The ICEM’s general phone number in Geneva is ++41-22-304-1840.
Please also take into account that, in case you try to contact a staff member directly, he or she may not be in the office for a period of time while traveling. In those cases, the staff member concerned may not answer your e-mail as quickly as you would have hoped. 
All ICEM staff can be reached by e-mail as follows: 
<a href="mailto:firstname.lastname@icem.org">firstname.lastname@icem.org</a> 

 Management team
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Manfred Warda PREFERRED.jpg" width="210" height="208"/> 
 
Manfred Warda 
ICEM General Secretary  

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Jimcatterson.jpg" width="100" height="136"/>  
Jim Catterson  
ICEM Director of Organisation 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Kemal Ozkan NEW.jpg" width="110" height="134"/>
Kemal Ozkan 
ICEM Director of Industry and Corporate Affairs
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/marie.france.JPG" width="108" height="156"/>
Marie France Sarfati 
ICEM Finance & Human Resources Officer 
 
<a name="I"></a><a name="industry"></a> 
Industry Officers<a name="Industry"></a>
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1105.Dick Blin - Staff foto list.JPG" width="100" height="152"/>
Dick Blin 
ICEM Pulp and Paper Section Officer  
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Kemal Ozkan NEW.jpg" width="110" height="134"/>
Kemal Ozkan  
ICEM Chemical / Pharmaceuticals / Rubber Section Officer 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Phee.JPG" width="100" height="150"/>
Phee Jung-sun 
ICEM Materials 
(Cement, Glass, Ceramics) Section Officer 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Jimcatterson.jpg" width="100" height="136"/>
Jim Catterson 
ICEM Energy Section Officer 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Glen Mpufane.jpg" width="152" height="140"/>
Glen Mpufane 
ICEM Mining & DGOJP Section Officer 
Functional Officers<a name="Functional"></a>
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/carolbruce.jpg.JPG" width="100" height="150"/>
Carol Bruce 
ICEM Gender Issues Officer 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1105.Dick Blin - Staff foto list.JPG" width="100" height="152"/>
Dick Blin 
ICEM Information and Publications, Campaigns Officer 
 <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Fons.JPG" width="100" height="134"/>
Kurt (Fons) Vannieuwenhuyse 
ICEM Projects Officer 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Brian.Kohler.b.JPG" width="104" height="156"/>
Brian Kohler 
ICEM Health, Safety & Sustainability Officer 
 
Regional Contact Persons <a name="Regional"></a>
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Anatoly.JPG" width="100" height="134"/>
Anatoly Surin 
Regional contact person for Central and Eastern Europe
Carol Bruce 
Regional contact person for Latin America/Caribbean 
Brian Kohler 
Regional contact person for North America 
Kurt (Fons) Vannieuwenhuyse 
Regional contact person for Western, Nordic and Central Europe  
Jim Catterson  
Regional contact person for North Africa & Middle East
Phee Jung-sun 
Regional contact person for Asia-Pacific <a href="mailto:phee.jungsun@icem.org"> 
 
</a>Support Staff<a name="Support"></a>
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Fanja100.jpg" width="100" height="115"/>
 Fanja Rasolomanana 
Personal Assistant to the General Secretary 
and Conference Coordinator 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/steeve.latte.b.JPG" width="111" height="166"/>
Steeve Latté 
Finance & Administration Assistant
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/tom.g.JPG" width="101" height="138"/>
Tom Grinter 
Communications & Campaigns Assistant
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/0809MariaPaula100.jpg" width="100" height="120"/>
Maria Paula Davidson 
Travel & General Administrative Assistant 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Maita Wyss.2.jpg" width="97" height="132"/> 
Maita Wyss 
Receptionist & Database Assistant

ICEM Staff

<img height="55" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief 1.gif" width="138"/>
Some 1,300 members of United Steel Workers (USW) in Canada are back to work at Teck Cominco Ltd. following ratification 5 October of a new three-year collective agreement. Steelworkers had been on strike at the company’s zinc and lead operations in Trail, British Colombia, since 19 July. 
The strike had been called in order to re-gain wage and pension ground given the company in the 1990s during economic hard times. The new contract has wage increases totaling 10% over the three years, pension gains of 12%, and a C$3,500 cash payment to each worker.

Strike Settled in Canada with Wage, Benefit Gains

<img height="83" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/canadacep.gif" width="100" alt=""/>
History was made in the North American offshore oil industry 30 September. Some 120 members of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) of Canada won the continent’s first offshore oil collective agreement at Terra Nova, a platform 350 kilometers off Newfoundland that is a consortium of seven oil companies led by Petro Canada. 
The agreement came through first contract arbitration in accord with labour law in Newfoundland, which prohibits strikes or lockouts in an initial contract period. “It has taken years of patience and solidarity to get to this point,” said CEP President Brian Payne. “We had hoped for a freely bargained collective agreement but this legally imposed arbitrated settlement is an important stepping stone in improving working conditions.” 
The platform workers chose CEP representation by an 84% vote in April 2003, 19 months after workers at another North Atlantic installation called Hibernia voted for CEP, becoming the first NA offshore group to unionise. 
A contract for the 430 workers there is currently before the same arbitration process. Besides Petro Canada, companies with a stake in Terra Nova include ExxonMobil, Norske Hydro, Husky Oil, Murphy Oil, Mosbacher Operating, and Chevron.

First Collective Agreement in NA Offshore Sector

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