29 August, 2011A small group of experts from the ArcelorMittal Joint Global Health and Safety Committee visited the Vinton Steel Works in El Paso, Texas. The group, made up of representatives from the European Metalworkers' Federation, United Steelworkers and International Metalworkers' Federation found that although some examples of best practice existed, in the main safety conditions in the plant were below standard and need urgent attention.
26 August, 2011Hanjin Heavy Industries insists on dismissals in breach of contract, despite huge company profits and payment of generous dividends and bonuses to owners and senior company executives. KMWU continues its fight to protect the interests of workers. A Hope Bus Rally is planned in Seoul on August 27 to 28 under the theme "Another World is Possible!
24 August, 2011On August 18 local Section 309 of the National Miners' and Metalworkers' Union of Mexico (SNTMMSRM) at the mine La Platosa in the state of Durango, Mexico reached an agreement with the management of Excellon de Mexico S.A. de C.V. a subsidiary of the Canadian owned mining company Excellon Resources Inc.
23 September, 2011Workers of the Zaporozhye Ferroalloy Plant in Eastern Ukraine picketed in front of the government office in Kiev protesting against job cuts at the plant. Their union works closely with local and national authorities to find a solution to the acute jobs crisis.
22 September, 2011On September 20 the Swedish metalworkers' union IF Metall filed a bankruptcy petition against the ailing Swedish automaker SAAB at the local district court. The decision was taken unanimously at a video conference meeting of the IF Metall office, the Trollhättan local and the SAAB section.
21 September, 2011ArcelorMittal has announced the idling of its 2nd blast furnace in Florange, France, from October 3, 2011 for an unspecified duration. The IMF affiliates in France, the FGMM-CFDT, FO Métaux, FGM-CGT, and CFE-CGC criticise the decision.
19 September, 2011The ITUC sent a letter to the president of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili protesting rights violations on the part of the Georgian-Indian company Hercules Steel as well as the Georgian authorities. Earlier the workers of the metal plant were forced to go on strike. In response the administration, aided by the government, launched a campaign of repression.
10 September, 2011The well coordinated second annual global week of action for democracy and rights in Swaziland, amongst other things, raised concerns on the bailout offered by South Africa and other planned loans with neoliberal conditionalities that will enslave the Swazi people to debt repayments and block the pursuit of a developmental agenda in the future.
7 September, 2011Civil society organisations in Malawi want to see government action on demands that can be addressed immediately, as a show of commitment to reform otherwise they will go ahead with a planned protest on September 21st. There is growing impatience that little progress has been made by government to address demands despite the UN facilitated dialogue, for which civil society cancelled protest actions planned for August 17th.
7 September, 2011The General Secretary of the National Engineering Workers Union (NEWU) has been elected as the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) at the 7th Congress that was held in Bulawayo on the 19th and 20th August 2011. Despite a tumultuous congress with contestations on several issues, Comrade Japhet Moyo enjoyed wide support to take this position.
