9 December, 2014Mining giant Glencore claims to respect collective bargaining and the right of employees to freely choose a union. But Glencore’s practice is way different to its rhetoric. In response to the company's disrepect for workers' rights, unions are holding a day of action on 10 December.
A Glencore global network was launched at an IndustriALL Global Union mining sector meeting in Sao Paolo in November. With a clear plan of action, the network supports the activities planned by affiliate United Steelworkers (USW) for the Glencore investor day on 10 December. The day ironically coincides with international human rights day.
USW workers at Glencore's Sherwin Alumina site in Texas have been locked out for refusing to accept a substandard contract that would take away health care benefits from retired workers.
IndustriALL director of mining Glen Mpufane says that the solidarity support for USW’s action is the start of IndustriALL’s global campaign against Glencore:
“We are especially alarmed about safety issues. In the United States, the Sherwin Alumina plant already had an injury rate twice the national average, and now inexperienced replacement workers operate the facility. It is a reckless approach which could have catastrophic consequences for the workers.
“We are calling on Glencore to resolve labour and community conflicts extending around the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America and North America.”
Show your support - a USW delegation representing 450 locked out Texan miners will be protesting outside mining multinational Glencore’s HQ (50 Berkeley St, London) in London on 10 December at 12 pm.