IndustriALL Auto Group Meeting: laying out strategy for the sector13 September, 2012More than 60 delegates of the IndustriALL Automotive Working Group met in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, on 11-13 September. In an industry slowly recovering from the crisis, organizing, global framework agreements, precarious work, and trade union rights violations are key issues.
Dangerous Xstrata-Glencore merger close to reality13 September, 2012Six months after the mining giant Xstrata and the commodities trading giant Glencore first announced their merger, the US$36 billion deal now seems close. A new and final offer has an approval deadline of 24 September.
Siemens anti-union campaign bullies workers out of organizing13 September, 2012IndustriALL-affiliated United Steelworkers (USW) was not surprised by an unsuccessful workplace election at Siemens in North East, Maryland, USA, on 7 September. Siemens management had employed harsh bullying tactics pressuring workers to vote against the union, besmirching the international reputation of the company weeks after it became a global framework agreement partner with IndustriALL.
Alcoa union network supports Italian workers’ fight against plant closure6 September, 2012IndustriALL’s Alcoa global union network has pledged support to workers in Portovesme in Italy fighting for the future of their plant. Unions representing workers in the plant have been working around the clock to find ways to keep the workers’ jobs.
IndustriALL Global Union urges a no vote to the Glencore – Xstrata merger5 September, 2012The Glencore-Xstrata merger is on a knife edge. IndustriALL Global Union warns of the threat posed to workers by the new behemoth should the deal go through, and tells Xstrata of the reputational damage Glencore will bring them.
GM Colmotores workers suspend hunger strike30 August, 2012The dispute over the dismissal of workers with occupational diseases still continues but the workers have decided to suspend their hunger strike after an agreement on mediation.
Mexican armed forces used against peaceful protest at Excellon mine30 August, 2012Approximately 100 soldiers and officers of the Mexican Army and Federal and state police agencies used force on 29 August to break through the peaceful protest taking place, in front of the La Platosa mine, owned by a subsidiary of Excellon Resources, Inc. in Durango.
Siemens GFA put to early test in the US28 August, 2012The new Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with electronics multinational Siemens is being put to the test in a USW organizing drive at a plant in Maryland, USA. Join the LabourStart campaign to support workers threatened by company-hired union busters ahead of a 6 September vote.
Bridgestone workers in Bahia remain mobilized24 August, 2012Bridgestone workers have ended one of the longest strikes in the history of Brazilian manufacturing industry but remain mobilised after mediation by the Ministry of Labour leads to further negotiations.
Conflict at Merck Serono, Switzerland ends with a Social Plan13 August, 2012Merck Serono employees in Geneva, Switzerland voted last week to accept a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that brings to a close the long struggle by IndustriALL Global Union’s Swiss affiliate UNIA to put “Workers before Shareholders!”
