4 September, 2013Unions around the world at Alcoa will hold a global week of action in mid-September. They will demand that the aluminum company provide fair wages, uphold high health and safety standards and respect workers’ fundamental right to organize into unions.
The global week of action was called by the Global Network of Unions at Alcoa. This is a network that includes participation from unions representing thousands of Alcoa employees in over a dozen countries.
Alcoa is the world’s largest producer of primary aluminum.
During the global week of action, workers at Alcoa production sites around the world are participating by holding solidarity events, wearing stickers, circulating flyers and taking other locally appropriate actions.
The Global Network of Unions at Alcoa last met in May. At this meeting, participants recognized that many of the unions will negotiate a new wage agreement with Alcoa over the coming year. They also identified concerns about health and safety at some Alcoa worksites.
The meeting included participation from workers at Alcoa’s aluminum casting site in Hampton, Virginia, USA. They informed the Network about how Alcoa has illegally fought against attempts by Alcoa’s employees in Hampton to join the United Steelworkers.
IndustriALL General Secretary Raina stated:
Workers and their unions at Alcoa are gearing up for challenging negotiations. They are coming together in an unprecedented way to demand that Alcoa negotiate fairly, uphold its stated commitment to health and safety, and end its illegal opposition to union organizing at some of its worksites.