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<img height="55" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief 1.gif" width="138" alt=""/>
Colombian trade unions, together with NGOs and indigenous people’s groups convened the largest general strike in over a decade in the South American country on 12 October. 
The strike, called by the national trade union federation CUT, was over the proposed free trade agreement with the US, and a proposed amendment now before Colombia’s Constitutional Court that would allow President Alvaro Uribe to stand for a second four-year term next May. 
Strikers also called for an end to consistent trade union repression by the Uribe government, and for the government to take decisive action against paramilitaries, who killed 99 trade union leaders in 2004. Thousands of Colombian judicial, transport and education workers walked off their jobs to join the strike, which forced closure of schools and government offices.

Colombia's Unions Wage Successful General Strike

<img height="300" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/0510IGBCEKongress1.jpg" width="225"/>
IGBCE’s Third Congress in Hannover concluded last week, and ICEM’s German affiliate passed a strong call for global trade union solidarity. 
 
In a resolution spelling out both the roles of ICEM in the world and EMCEF in greater Europe, the union said the global trade union movement must prove its structures and methods to meet new challenges brought forth by globalisation. The resolution asks ICEM to maximize its efforts to achieve Global Framework Agreements, particularly with IGBCE for such pacts with German multinationals. 
 

<img height="225" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/0510IGBCEKongress2.jpg" width="300"/>
Hubertus Schmoldt was re-elected president and a resounding moment to this IGBCE quadrennial Congress came with a moving and emotional farewell speech on 12 October by outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a close friend of Schmoldt’s.

IGBCE's Congress Pays Fond Farewell to Schröder

The ICEM is sharply critical of labour practices being carried out by Goodyear Thailand Ltd., a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. of the United States. Local management at the 600-worker factory in Bangkok has systematically denied basic trade union rights to members and officers of ICEM affiliate Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Federation of Thailand (PCFT). 
<img height="188" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/MrAnan1.JPG" width="239"/>
PCFT Branch Chairman Anan Pol-ung 
In March, managers fired the chairman of the Goodyear Thailand branch of the PCFT, Anan Pol-ung, for merely carrying out his lawful responsibilities in attempting to achieve social benefits for workers in the factory's rubber stock division. Many of these employees have worked at the plant for over ten years, but are employed under one-year, fixed-term contracts that deny them the same benefits as permanent employees. 
 
"We call on the company to immediately reinstate Brother Anan," stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. "His dismissal by local managers was a blatant attempt to remove an effective voice for workers." 
 
Anan's dismissal was followed by Goodyear Thailand management denying him access to the plant in order to perform legitimate trade union functions. More recently, another union member in the plant's Quality Assurance Department has been dismissed without union consultation and the PCFT branch secretary has been given a "last chance" warning for merely taking sick leave. 
<img height="182" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/goodyear1.jpg" width="300"/>
Trade unionists at Goodyear Thailand 
support Anan at the Bangkok plant 
The ICEM also protests discriminatory pay practices at Goodyear Thailand in which workers employed in the same position, performing similar work, receive disparate wage rates. It was such practices that Anan and other leaders in the branch brought attention to that earned them disciplinary action. 
 
In an early April letter to Goodyear President, Chairman and CEO Robert Keegan at US headquarters in Akron, Ohio, Higgs wrote: "The ICEM, a global union federation with 20 million members and 425 affiliates, believes these grievance matters are very serious, and in direct violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and Thai labour law. We also believe these labour relations practices are contrary to several ILO Core Conventions and, as well, do not conform to the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)." 
 
Goodyear has failed to respond to the letter, which asked senior leadership of the company to intervene and put a halt to the negative labour practices. 
 
Since, Thai management has unilaterally reduced wages and social benefits for some employees who perform the same work as others, a move that has created even more disparity between workers. 
 
The PCFT has taken the unfair violations to its collective agreement-including the illegal dismissal of Anan Pol-ung-before a Thai labour court. The matter of the employment status of the contract workers also was brought by the union before the labour court, and further hearings on both matters will occur in late July. 
 
"We hope that corporate leadership of Goodyear in the United States recognizes the problems created by management," stated the ICEM's Higgs, "and acts in a diligent and forthright manner to correct such ill-will toward our affiliate in Thailand. Such behaviour can only harm the company's reputation globally." 
 
The 40-year-old Bangkok factory produces tyres for automobiles, light trucks and larger vehicles, including heavy trucks and construction equipment, and can manufacture 6,500 units per day.

Goodyear Engaged in Union-Busting in Thailand

An ICEM project to inject issue-based Social Dialogue between the Global Union Federation’s Colombian affiliates and enterprises of multinational enterprises—a first for Colombia—met with continued success late in June. ICEM and affiliates achieved commitments from several companies and the Colombian government to enter Social Dialogue and make improvements in three major areas—HIV/AIDS, contract labour, and the horrendous security problem faced by trade unionists inside Colombia. 
 
“I feel we made a breakthrough in defining a set of issues that will make an impact on working life in Colombia,” said Fred Higgs, ICEM General Secretary. “There are certain issues that unions and companies must discuss, and HIV/AIDS, short-term contract labour, and security are three in Colombia. If real dialogue can start over issues this major, then dialogue can certainly occur on other workplace issues.” 
 
The ICEM’s effort to launch a Social Dialogue programme between affiliates and multinationals doing business in Colombia began in October 2004 when a number of corporations accepted the global federation’s invite to join. Then, a series of meetings over several days produced a commitment on a timetable through 2006. 
 
That included last week’s meetings in which six major companies in ICEM industrial sectors agreed to engage in the three issues, as well as the Colombia’s Ministry for Social Protection supporting the initiative. 
 
Regarding HIV/AIDS, recognition was made that negotiation of anti-discrimination and anti-victimization agreements must occur; the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS must be promoted; prevention and peer education programmes must start; voluntary counseling and testing programmes which workers trust must commence; and health care facilities for victims, their families and the broader community must be expanded. 
 
On contract labour, the ICEM proposed dialogue on setting limits to the use of contract and agency labour; negotiations toward consulting the trade unions prior to contracts being tendered; negotiating minimum standards for contract and agency workers; and securing freedom of association for such workers and access to trade unions be guaranteed. 
 
On security, the ICEM and its Colombian partners agreed to continue highlighting, at the international level, threats and assassinations by paramilitaries of Colombian trade unionists. 
 
“Security of trade union activists,” stated Higgs, “must be a shared responsibility with both the state and employers taking the necessary steps to maximize individual protections in such cases.” 
 
Companies that participated in late June’s discussions include AngloAmerican, BHP Billiton and Glencore, the three shareholders in the massive Carbones de Cerrejon mining company; Linde, a German refrigeration, gases, and materials handling company; Union Fenosa, electrical distributor from Spain; Endesa, a Spanish energy company; and Owens Illinois, a US glass maker. The Colombian unions involved with the ICEM on the project include: Sindicato de Trabajadores (SINTRAELECOL), Sindicato de la Industria Química (SINTRAQUIM), Sincato Nacional de los Trabajores de la Industria del Carbon (SINTRACARBON), Federacion Nacional de Tecnicos Electricistas Y Afines de Colombia (FENATEC), and Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Del Vidrio Y Afines de Colombia (SINTRAVIDRICOL). 
 
The ICEM-initiated Social Dialogue project is part of a programme adopted at the 20-million-member global federation’s 2003 Congress in Norway, and is supported by ICEM’s Swedish affiliates.

Union/Management Social Dialogue in Colombia on Track

Further action on Rio Tinto, the world's biggest mining company, was mapped out by international trade unionists and parliamentarians meeting in London today. 
The strategy talks were called by the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). The unions are part of a broad international alliance of organisations campaigning for big improvements in Rio Tinto's environmental performance and in its respect for human rights, including trade union rights and the rights of indigenous peoples. 
 
As the London meeting got underway, a tense stand-off continued at Rio Tinto's Gordonstone mine in Australia, where the ICEM-affiliated miners' union CFMEU is pressing for the reinstatement of miners illegally sacked by the previous owner of the site. 
 
Trade unionists and British and European parliamentarians at the London talks declared their solidarity with the CFMEU and with the Gordonstone miners, and called upon Rio Tinto to rehire the miners without further delay. 
 
Meanwhile, Labor Party members of both chambers of the Australian federal parliament today issued a statement backing the CFMEU and the miners in their current disputes with Rio Tinto at Gordonstone and at other Australian mines. The Labor legislators said they would join a rally at Gordonstone next week. 
 
Rio Tinto, which recently bought Gordonstone from Arco, has been attempting to restart the mine with a group of hand-picked employees on a non-union contract. 
 
This has sparked daily confrontations over the past week on the Gordonstone picket line, which has been in place for 17 months following Arco's sacking of the miners. 
 
More than 50 pickets were arrested at Gordonstone today, including a member of the Queensland state parliament, after they prevented a bus from leaving the mine. Inside the bus were some of the hand-picked workers who have been preparing the mine for production. 
 
The Australian Federal Court today began hearing a CFMEU application to urgently bring forward the union's case to have the sacked miners rehired. 
 
The meeting in London today concentrated particularly on strategies regarding Rio Tinto's two Annual General Meetings this May. The dual-listed company holds yearly shareholder assemblies in both London and Melbourne. 
 
ICEM-affiliated British unions the AEEU, MSF and BACM organise within the UK operations of Rio Tinto, which is headquartered in London. 
 
Taking part in the London talks today were, among others: 
 
Richard Howitt, Labour Member of the European Parliament and the prime mover behind European legislators' call for a binding EU code of conduct for European enterprises operating in developing countries; British legislator Michael Clapham, who is prominent in the House of Commons all-party Occupational Health and Safety Group and who last year tabled highly critical parliamentary motions about Rio Tinto; Fred Higgs, ICEM Vice-President and National Officer of British ICEM affiliate the TGWU; John Maitland, ICEM Vice-President and National Secretary of the CFMEU; James Motlatsi, ICEM Vice-President and President of South Africa's ICEM-affiliated National Union of Miners; Bob Shannon, National Officer of ICEM British affiliate the AEEU; Simon Steyne from the International Department of the TUC, Britain's national union confederation; ICEM General Secretary Vic Thorpe and ICEM Mines Officer Damien Roland.

Rio Tinto Campaign: World's Unions In Strategy Talks

<img height="67" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Mauritaniaflag.gif" width="100"/>
The ICEM calls attention to grave injustices involving labour violations that are occurring in the fledging oil and gas sector in Mauritania. Energy and Petroleum Workers Union (CGTM) of Mauritania has been on strike against El Majabaat El Koubra Tours (MKT), a travel, transport and logistics provider to Woodside Petroleum Ltd. of Australia, since 14 October. 
 
The strike is over MKT’s sacking of 16 trade union activists just days after the company signed a protocol agreement with the union that included a first of November date for election of union delegates to the MKT unit of Energy and Petroleum Workers Union. Ten of the 16 workers were set to stand for union elections in that vote. The ICEM is calling for immediate reinstatement of the workers. 
 
The firings are a blatant violation of Mauritania labour law, as well as in violation of ILO Core Conventions 87 and 98, universally accepted labour standards involving Freedom of Association and the Right to Bargain Collectively. 
 
The Energy and Petroleum Workers Union, which is receiving strong support in its quest for justice from its national labour center, the General Confederation of Workers of Mauritania (CGTM), has lodged complaints with the Labour Minister, who has investigated the matter. 
 
He reported to leaders of CGTM and the Energy and Petroleum Workers Union on 18 October that MKT’s response to the inquiry was the Mauritania-based travel company realizes the firings are illegal, but is willing to face the consequences of its action “even if it comes to social unrest.” 
 
“The actions and subsequent attitude of this oil services contractor are appalling, and this is something we will not tolerate,” said ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. “We will not stand idly by while a contractor in one of our primary industry sectors blatantly breaks the law and then flaunts it,” added Higgs. 
 
The ICEM has lodged an official complaint with the government of Mauritania over MKT, specifically citing the breach of ILO Conventions. “We call on the unconditional reinstatement of workers abusively dismissed and urge you to use your good offices to have the fundamental labour rights as defined by the ILO respected,” said the ICEM’s letter to the chairman of the military council that is now ruling the west African country. 
 
MKT provides transport and other logistical support to Woodside Energy’s offshore and onshore oil and gas exploration and development in Mauritania. Woodside is the lead company in several separate offshore joint ventures for deepwater drilling off Mauritania in which reserves of 700 million barrels of oil exist. It also has tenders with the Mauritania government to explore onshore blocks of the Taodeni Basin along the border with Mali. 

Read the <a href="/index.php?id=3&doc=1463&la=FR" type="internal">ICEM's letter to the Chairman</a> of the Military Council in Mauritania (In French)
Click <a href="http://www.cgtm.org">here</a> to go directly to the web site of the CGTM in Mauritania (in French): <a href="http://www.cgtm.org">http://www.cgtm.org</a>

ICEM News release No. 23/2005

ICEM Supports Mauritanian Union in Strike Against Contractor

Trouble in Mauritania’s Oil Sector

<img height="55" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief1.gif" width="138"/>
Spanish affiliate FITEQA-CCOO conducted a meeting 24-26 October in Brazil of workers employed for Repsol YPF, the world’s tenth largest private oil company headquartered in Spain. 
The meeting, coordinated by FITEQA-CCOO’s Isidor Boix and Helio Seidel of FUP Brazil, served as a start for making concrete improvements for workers of Repsol in Latin America. A second such meeting will be held next year in Argentina, the country with the second highest number of Repsol employees after Spain. 
The conclusions of the meeting can be found <a href="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/0511conclusionesBrazil.pdf" type="internal">here</a> (in Spanish and Portuguese only).

Spanish Union Aids Repsol Networking in South America

USW in the US expressed more concern over BP’s safety inside American refineries after a 28 July explosion and fire at the company’s Amoco refinery in Texas City, Texas. The incident, which caused no deaths or injuries, comes four months after a BP explosion on 23 March that killed 15 and injured 170 in Texas City. The most recent accident occurred along hydrogen lines in one of the refinery’s Resid Hydrotesting Units, an area that removes sulphur from heavy crude. USW has been critical of the investigation in the aftermath of the 23 March blast, specifically placement of blame on workers and flawed information that was disclosed. USW Region Six Director Gary Beevers asked, “How many accidents is it going to take for BP to get off the dime and start cooperating with us to make this plant safer?” BP is the leading company when it comes to refinery deaths in America over the past ten years with 22. In 2003-04 alone, BP recorded over 100 accidental releases of illegal air emissions at its Texas City refinery.

More Safety Woes at BP-Amoco's Texas Refinery

<img height="40" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief 1.gif" width="100" alt=""/>
North American’s offshore oil and gas industry now has its second collective agreement in place after a Newfoundland-Labrador provincial arbitrator issued a 38-month labour contract between employers on the Hibernia platform and the Communications, Energy, Paperworkers (CEP) Union of Canada. Some 450 workers at Hibernia, whose managing company is US supermajor ExxonMobil, will receive yearly wage increases, plus backpay to 1 July 2004 totalling, on average, C$9,168. 
 
CEP won a guarantee that workplace certification of the platform and terms of the agreement apply to all successor companies or oil-service firms at Hibernia. The interest arbitration award lays out a three-week on, three-week off work rotation schedule. That includes 84 paid hours each workweek, divided into seven 12-hour days while on the platform. 
Hibernia workers were the first offshore oil workers anywhere in North America to organise a union, voting for the CEP in 2001. Workers at the Terra Nova platform, an oil rig also in the North Atlantic that is managed by Petro-Canada, voted for CEP representation in 2003 and the 120 workers there received a first collective agreement through an interest arbitration award issued on 30 September 2005. Legislation in several Canadian provinces provides for such a process in achieving first collective agreements, and also prohibits strikes or lockouts during that period.

Labour Agreement in Place at Hibernia’s Offshore Platform

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