English

Español

Français

Русский

Aerospace

Automotive

Base metals

Chemical, pharmaceutical and bio-science

Energy 

Glass, cement, ceramic and associated industries

ICT, electrical and electronics

Mechanical Engineering

Mining and DGOJP

Pulp and paper

Rubber

Shipbuilding and shipbreaking

Textile, garment, shoes, leather and textile services

Sectors

Action Plan 2021-2025

Action on textile and garment industry

Clean up shipbreaking

Ratify ILO C176

United for a just future - time to pay up!

Disinvest from Myanmar

Campaigns

Global Framework Agreements

Union building

White-collar workers

Health & safety

Industry 4.0

Women

Youth

LGBTQI+

Gender, equality, diversity and inclusion (GEDI)

Just Transition

Organizing with industriALL 

What we do

Affiliates

Statutes

Elected officials

Executive Committee

Geneva head office

South East Asia 

Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus

Latin America and the Caribbean 

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional offices

About us

Global worker No1 2022

Global worker No2 2022

Publications

Resources

Logos of IndustriALL Global Union

Press

<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39" alt=""/>
While the eyes of the world are on legitimate protests for democratic rights in several Arab countries, demonstrations last week in Iraq remind that democracy – or even a government with functioning civil laws and institutions – is still not a reality. 
 
Major clashes erupted in several Iraqi cities on 25 February, a “Day of Rage” in protest to corruption in government and failure by the al-Maliki administration to provide basic public services. 
 
But even before last Friday’s protests, trade unions in Iraq have conducted strikes and protests in demand of a new labour law that gives public-sector trade unions full and universal rights. The most recent strikes started on 13 February when an oil and gas workers’ branch of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW) staged protests at facilities of the North Oil Co. in Kirkuk. 
<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1102.iraq.union leader speaks to reporters.png" width="272" height="154" alt=""/>
Jamal Abdel Jabbar leader of GFIW Branch at North Oil Co.
Workers are demanding improvements in pay, direct employment and pay hikes for temporary employees, and more opportunities for Kurdish workers. North Oil employs some 15,000 workers, of whom 3,700 are casual staff. They ear about US$210 per month, while other regular workers earn up to US$2,000 per month. 
 
The protest actions in northern Iraq were repeated on 24 February. The next day, as part of the “Day of Rage,” GFIW and its affiliates in Basra held protests demanding a labour law that would finally give Iraqi workers and trade unions rights. The demonstration in Basra by the GFIW also called for public policies to reduce unemployment especially among the young, basic services for all citizens, and improvements to ration cards. 
 
Reports state that 11 people were killed in Friday’s “Day of Rage,” mostly in clashes between protesters and policy on entering government buildings in different cities. 
 
One deadly incident occurred in the early morning hours of 26 February when extremists entered a petroleum refinery in Baiji, 170 kilometres north of Baghdad, and detonated a bomb. The bomb killed an engineer and severely wounded three workers. The explosion will severely cripple the largest of Iraq’s three refineries, with output of the 250,000 barrel-per-day refinery forecast to drop by two-thirds for the foreseeable future. Baiji refines crude oil into kerosene and gasoline.

Trade Union Protests in Iraq Signal Continued Political Instability

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/> 
Japan's strongest ever earthquake and consequent tsunami has caused devastation along Japan’s North-eastern coast. The ICEM is shocked and extremely concerned for all those affected, including many union members. Large numbers of messages of support and solidarity are being communicated from unions around the world to Japan. ICEM have offered heartfelt condolences for the loss of life. 
 
ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda wrote to Japanese affiliates, via ICEM-JAF General Secretary Yoshio Sato, and President Ochiai, “It is with deep sadness that I and all in ICEM are receiving ever more news of the disastrous effects of the earthquake and Tsunami. All our solidarity is with the people of Japan. And our special thoughts are now with the comrades of Denryoku Soren. Please convey to them my best and heartfelt wishes that their members will be safe and the dangers that may come from the Fukushima power plant, which was so terribly hit by the earthquake, can be tackled.” 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Ochiai ICEM-JAF President.jpg" width="177" height="156"/>
ICEM-JAF President, Kiyoshi Ochiai
The scale of the devastation and safety of union members and their families is now being assessed, and that process will take some time. Early reports are that all headquarter staff of ICEM affiliates, in Tokyo, are safe but there is much concern for their colleagues and members unaccounted for in the coastal region, especially the Tohoku area and workers in the electric and petroleum industries. ICEM-JAF General Secretary Sato today reported that the death toll in the Tokhoku Region could go well into the tens of thousands, and that the current situation there is desperate, with severe shortage of water, food, electricity, and gas. Train services have been severely disrupted, movement inside Japan is difficult. 
 
Sato-san also reports that brave members of Denryoku Soren are risking their lives working to contain the difficult situation at the Fukushima Power Plants, following explosions at reactors 1 and 3. They managed to prevent the spread of radiation, but continuing hydrogen explosions have injured operators. Engineers from Toshiba, members of the International Metalworkers’ Federation are working on the Fukushima reactors. The International Atomic Energy Agency and experts from abroad are present and assisting at the Fukushima plant. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/Sato-san ICEM-JAF General Secretary.jpg" width="156" height="222"/>
ICEM-JAF General Secretary, Yoshio Sato
“We are touched with and appreciate from our heart your support and solidarity!” stated ICEM-JAF. 
 
ICEM affiliates can send <a href="mailto:icemjaf@blue.ocn.ne.jp">messages of condolence</a> and support to ICEM-JAF General Secretary Bro. Yoshio Sato here. Sato-san has explained that the ICEM-JAF are very grateful for the numerous offers of assistance, and that they need to first assess the situation and respond once it is known where the help is needed most. 
 
Top-level union officials are meeting today on coordinating volunteer rescue efforts and an aid fund. 
 
Dangerous aftershocks will continue, hindering rescue efforts. And another tsunami has not been ruled out. Damage to energy plants is causing wide reaching power-cuts, beginning today in Tokyo.

ICEM Concern for the People of Japan

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/>
In April, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) will begin searching for union members in the metals and engineering sector who retired between 1980 and 2001. The reason is that NUMSA last month won a long-running battle through arbitration with South Africa’s Steel and Engineering Industry Federation. 
 
The arbitrated judgement is an award for R20 billion (€209 million, US$290 million) in surplus pension funds that had been withheld by the employers’ federation for decades. 
 
NUMSA fought in court and through negotiation channels for the right to disburse the surplus entitlement funds. The money was accumulated in both the Engineering Industries Pension Fund and the Metal Industries Provident Fund since the 1950s. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/SouthAfricaFlag.gif" width="130" height="78"/>
The surplus was accumulated and held when worker contributions to the funds were never paid out to staff who had not reached the vesting scale of ten years employment, or when NUMSA members failed to claim pensions when they retired or resigned. ICEM-affiliated NUMSA began battling for disbursement in 2001, but the case was not resolved because employers imposed many legal entanglements to block any disbursement. 
 
The Steel and Engineering Industry Federation insisted that South Africa’s Labour Relations Act (LRA) apply in settling the issue. NUMSA and the Financial Services Board argued that surplus monies should come under the Pension Fund Act because the LRA had no provision for addressing pension issues. Finally, in 2008, the LRA was amended to address pensions and the two sides began negotiations. It was resolved in February through arbitration in the union’s favour. 
 
Some 1.5 million former and current NUMSA members will now benefit. A total of R11 billion (€115 million, US$160 million) will be paid out to former or retired members, while R9 billion (€94 million, US$130 million) will go into existing funds to buoy those funds for the benefit of current NUMSA members. 
 
Said NUMSA National Benefits Coordinator Samuel Tsiane, “Now it becomes our task to locate former members to deliver what belongs to them.” Tsiane said a small part of the pay-out will go to the union to achieve this and in April, NUMSA will utilise 450 people to conduct an initial ten-day blitz to identify retired or former metal or engineering staff. The pay-outs are expected to start being made in September.

NUMSA Wins 20-Billion-Rand Surplus Pension Case

The ICEM’s Japanese Affiliates Federation (JAF) has been using many of its own resources, and nearly all of its time and energy to deal with the horrible after effects of last Friday’s earthquake and tsunami. The ICEM has been in contact with JAF several times daily in order to determine the federation’s needs. What follows is a Circular Letter from General Secretary Manfred Warda to all ICEM affiliates alerting them on how they can help:
Please Contribute: Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami Relief 

Dear ICEM Affiliated Unions, 
 
Many of you have inquired over the past several days the best means to contribute to Relief Funds handling the horrible disaster in Japan. You should know that we have been in constant touch with JAF, the ICEM’s Japanese Affiliates Federation, and they have been doing the very best they can, under unimaginable circumstances, to come to the assistance of their electric energy, oil and gas, and other union members in North-east Japan, as well as in other areas. 
 
As is ICEM policy in such natural disasters, we ask that you consider contributions to your local or national Red Cross or UNICEF agencies, with the earmark of Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami Fund. 
 
But we also have been informed by JAF General Secretary Yoshio Sato that JAF has set up an account in its Tokyo Bank to handle relief efforts undertaken by the unions. The bank transfer coordinates there: 
 
Bank Name: Mizuho Bank, Ltd. 
Swift Code: MHBKJPJT 
Branch name: Shiba Branch 
Branch Address: 5-34-7, Shiba, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-0014, Japan 
Account Name: Nihon Kagaku Enerugi-Kouzan Roudoukumiai Kyougikai 
Account Number: 054-3316103 
 
Please state in the transfer “Earthquake.” 
 
Obviously, ICEM and ICEM JAF are very grateful for any and all contributions. And messages of Support and Solidarity can still be sent, addressed to <a href="mailto:icemjaf@blue.ocn.ne.jaf">Yoshio Sato</a>.
Lastly, please take a moment to reflect on the safety and health of the courageous workers, members of JAF affiliate Denryoku Soren, who are working non-stop on the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. These and other JAF members who are working around the clock on Japanese security, relief efforts, and tending in so many ways to abate this disaster are the real heroes in the world today. They deserve our Support and Solidarity. 
 
Again, thank you for your efforts. 
 
In Solidarity, 
 
Manfred Warda 
General Secretary

ICEM’s Japanese Affiliates Identify Earthquake Relief

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/en-header.jpg" width="160" height="49"/>
Welcome to this first issue of a quarterly newsletter in 2011 of IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF aimed at providing information on the creation of a new International uniting industrial workers. 
 
Trade unions around the world affiliated to the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), and the International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF) have a common interest in becoming a stronger voice for industrial workers. 
 
A joint IMF-ICEM-ITGLWF task force met in Japan in February to continue its examination of how to unify the world's industrial workers into one global union federation. 
 
Task force members of the three Global Union Federations (GUFs) from five continents confirmed the rationale of creating a united voice of the industrial workers of the world, and a strong counter-power to major transnational corporations. Unions want to underline the role of manufacturing industry as the locomotive of national economies and as a creator of good quality jobs with decent working conditions and trade union rights. 
 
The task force heard the reports from the working groups on statutes and finances, and discussed in detail the decision-making, regional and sectoral structures of a possible new GUF. The task force decided to meet again on May 5 in Frankfurt, Germany, to finalize a proposal to the Executive Committees of the three organizations at the end of May. 
 
Already the three GUFs work together on a number of joint areas and through joint initiatives in trade union rights and campaigns, precarious work, climate change, sustainable trade and development, networking and union building, and have demonstrated the advantages of greater unity. 
 
By creating a new International and combining our strengths we believe we can do more to mobilize workers, defend trade union rights, and organize unorganized workers throughout supply chains into strong and self-reliant unions. Together we can create a powerful counterpart to transnational corporations and fight more forcefully for good quality industrial jobs and against precarious forms of employment. 
 
By combining resources we can achieve greater visibility and impact, better service to affiliates, and find synergies through a reduction of overlapping activities. 
 
In this and future issues of our joint newsletter in 2011, we hope to show just how industrial workers around the world are Stronger Together! 
 
Jyrki Raina 
Manfred Warda 
Patrick Itschert

IMF, ICEM, ITGLWF Move Towards Creating a New International

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/en-header.jpg" width="160" height="49"/>
Global tools help solve local problems. That was the motto at a recent joint mission by ICEM and IMF to ease labour relations at Umicore’s operations in South Africa. This mission was part of activities done in connection with the Global Framework Agreement (GFA) between the Belgium-based company and ICEM and IMF. Umicore is a chemicals, metal technology, and catalyst systems company. 
 
The South African visit was the third such joint mission since the GFA was signed in September 2007. The two previous ones were to China in 2009 and Brazil in 2010. The main objective of the missions, as a regular exercise in accord with the relevant provisions of the agreement, is to monitor compliance. 
 
Umicore’s two South African plants are located in the city of Port Elizabeth and are called UACSA and UCPE. They are part of the company’s automotive catalysts business segment, one of four business units of Umicore. The area is a leading producer for automobiles and auto parts. 
 
Representatives from the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers Union (CEPPWAWU) from both Umicore plants participated in the mission, as did the Regional Secretary and an Educator from ICEM- and IMF-affiliated National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). 
 
The CEPPWAWU representatives included Skhumbuzo Phakathi, Clement Chitja, David Nzanzeka, Khaya Mkefe, Lindelwa Gxavu, Ncedile Boyce, Sindiswa Silotile, Xola Dlova, and Camagu Mzinyati. NUMSA participants were Vuyo Bikitsha and Mziyanda Twani. 
 
Considering recent issues between local management and trade unions in the Port Elizabeth plants, the visit by ICEM and IMF representatives resulted in positive and constructive evaluations. The plant visits also assisted workers in resolving some outstanding local issues. 
 
The mission resulted in a number of concrete results, including a conclusion to improve local communication on a number of issues, including recruitment procedures, structure of employment, integration of both plants, and training and education. It was agreed that the latter would benefit from greater engagement by both parties. In doing this, the mission’s results are in line with objectives of the GFA to create mutually beneficial relations and dialogue between the partners. 
 
The ICEM and IMF representatives were impressed by the excellent work of the local trade union representatives, and also recognized that local and corporate managers play a crucial role in creating better social dialogue throughout the company. This visit will be evaluated in April 2011 at the next GFA Monitoring Committee with management.

ICEM, IMF Complete Third Umicore Mission

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/en-header.jpg" width="160" height="49"/>
Showcasing unions fighting back against austerity cuts will be featured in the line-up for the Global Labour Film Shorts in 2011. Affiliates are invited to submit their films for possible inclusion in the one hour line-up of the best short films from around the world by April 1. 
 
Since the beginning of the global economic crisis, trade unions internationally have denounced its fast and increasing negative impact on workers. Some of this action has been captured on film, an essential platform for communication in many union campaigns and actions today. 
 
Over the last four years, the Geneva Labour Film Shorts Festival has taken place in downtown Geneva enabling unions and working people worldwide to share their stories. This year, in order to reach a wider international audience, the festival is refocusing to an on-line and DVD presentation that will be submitted to over 36 labour related film festivals around the world. The line-up will also be available on DVD for affiliates of all Global Union Federations and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to use in their own events and activities. 
 
The one-hour DVD will focus on short films that are excellent examples of communicating labour stories and messages and the selection will include a range of different films from different parts of the world. The launch of the Global Labour Film Shorts 2011 will take place at the European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF) “Unions in Motion” film festival, coming up on June 10-11 at Landschaftspark Nord in Duisburg, Germany. 
 
Please send copies of your films on DVD with a short paragraph describing the film, why it was produced and how it was used. The IMF, coordinating the work, will need unfettered rights to show the film and publish it online, of course with full acknowledgement of who created the material. Due to resource constraints for interpretation, the IMF is only able to accept films in English language or with English subtitles. 
 
We need to receive copies of all possible films by April 1, 2011. 
 
Please send to: 
Cherisse Fredricks 
International Metalworkers' Federation 
Case Postale 1516 
CH1227 Geneva 
Switerland

Fight Back on Film!

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/>
The governing body of Metalliliitto, Finland’s Metalworkers’ Union, gave leadership of the union authority to establish a blockade of construction at Olkiluoto III, the country’s long-delayed fifth nuclear power reactor now underway on the southwestern coast. The approval for industrial action was given because of wage arrears and noncompliance of Finnish social standards by a Polish subcontractor, KMW Engineering. 
 
The blockade could come as early as this week and will largely depend on an audit report by a regional state agency, and on further negotiations between the union and contractors. The blockade has the support of Finland’s Construction Trades Union, the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union, and Pro, the union for salaried workers in Finland. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1103.finnish nuclear power plant.jpg" width="337" height="190"/>
Photo: YLE/Termonen Tapio
The Polish company is hundreds of thousands of euros in wage arrears, has failed to keep overtime pay records, and reportedly has been negligent over health and safety matters. Metalliliitto has asked for pay records for all of 2009 and 2010. The union also claims that KMW’s employment practices are substandard to those established in the national metal sector collective agreement. 
 
The French nuclear company Areva is the main contractor for Olkiluoto III , which is being built alongside two other nuclear reactors by the private-sector Finnish energy company Teollisuuden Voima Oy (TVO). Metalliliitto has attempted to negotiate with all parties connected to the 1.6 gigawatt (1,600 megawatt) nuclear project but none have been willing to hold KMW responsible for its social dumping. KMW is building cooling units at Olkiluoto III. 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1103.Metalliliitto President Riku Aalto.jpg" width="96" height="128"/>
Metalliliitto President Riku Aalto
Metalliliitto President Riku Aalto said the union has consistently been denied even the bare minimum of data on its information requests. He said social dumping continues at Olkiluoto III, in part, because unions in Finland are restricted from filing legal cases to stop such practices. Aalto said that is not the case in countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Germany. 
 
Olkiluoto III is already three years behind schedule, with construction now scheduled to end late in 2012. Commissioning of the reactor would then happen late in 2013. The original €3.95 billion project is reported to be €1.5 billion over budget and has been marked by litigation among contractors and between contractors and TVO.

Finland’s Metalworkers close in on Blockade of Nuclear Plant Work

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39"/>
The beginning of a Latin American network for Vale workers took root in Peru from 9-11 March, when 35 trade union representatives from six countries met in the city of Piura to discuss common problems and joint strategies to combat the anti-social policies of the Brazilian mining company. 
 
The meeting was sponsored by the US Solidarity Center and its Peruvian and Brazilian offices, and hosted by the ICEM Latin American/Caribbean Region and the ICEM affiliate, the Peruvian National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union (FNTMMSP). 
<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1103.cnq cut meeting.jpg" width="220" height="143"/>
The Piura department in northern Peru is where Vale intends to supply its entry into agri-business following last year’s purchase of Bunge’s Fosfertil subsidiary in Brazil, a manufacturer of fertiliser. Vale has recently begun production at the Bayóvar mine, a phosphate development that is under its Peruvian subsidiary, Minera Miski Mayo. 
 
Union representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Peru, and the US were present, and serious discussion occurred over Vale’s social conduct throughout the world. The Canadian representative was from United Steelworkers Local 6500 in Sudbury, Ontario, and he told of Vale’s anti-people policies following the purchase of Inco nickel mining and smelting assets in 2006 and a subsequent 360-day strike by 3,500 steelworkers in 2009-2010. 
 
ICEM Regional Vice President Sergio Novais chaired the meeting, and besides several FNTMMSP delegates attending, participants also included Brazilian union leaders from CNQ/CUT, the chemical workers’ union; SINDIMINA, a Brazilian mineworkers’ union representing Vale miners; STEFAM, a union of railway workers at Vale mines and other workplaces; and STIQUIFAR, a chemical, pharmaceutical, and agri-chem union.

Workers’ Network Meeting of Vale Convenes in Peru

<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/InBrief100.jpg" width="100" height="39" alt=""/>
Labour strife broke out late last week at Kumho tyre plants Korea. Members of the Kumho Tyre Workers’ Union, affiliated to the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), staged a one-day warning strike on 25 March at two of three Kumho plants in Korea – Gwungju and Gokseong. 
 
Management immediately retaliated that day and on 26 March with a lockout. When some 3,400 workers at the two plants in southwestern Korea tried to return to their jobs, Kumho managers insisted they sign individual agreements pledging not to strike. 
 
The KMWU branch unit issued a statement calling on Kumho to negotiate over a set of disputed issues, and said, “The company forced union workers to confirm that they would not take part in (further) strikes.” The Kumho Tyre Workers’ Union is strongly encouraging workers not to sign the statement and not to return to work while the lockout is in force. 
<img src="/sites/default/files/migration/icem/1103.korea metal.jpg" width="252" height="189" alt=""/>
Kumho’s Gwungju Tyre Plant, 25 March
By a 72% vote count, rubber workers on 10 March voted to launch the warning strike. Central among issues is management’s refusal to negotiate paid time-off inside the factories for KMWU branch leaders to handle grievances and perform other union business. The union also seeks labour-management dialogue in order to cut excessive noise pollution in the factories, and wants revisions to severance packages. 
 
Kumho, a subsidiary of the Kumho Asiana Group, has shed a great number of jobs over the past two years due to a heavy debt burden and shifting of work to start-up plants in China. Earlier last week, Kumho was hit by a massive recall of tyres made in those Chinese plants because recycled content exceeded the allowable requirements. 
 
Kumho is Korea’s second largest tyre manufacturer and the world’s tenth biggest. Workers at the company’s third tyre plant in Korea, in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi province, where the KMWU also represents staff, are not affected by the current labour strife.

Warning Strike Leads to Lockout at Kumho Tyre Factories in Korea

Archive