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Trade Union Rights Flash
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This issue is focussing on :
- IFBWW involvement to support affiliates in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia following the Tsunami;
- IFBWW affiliates contributions to ICFTU survey 2004 on trade union rights
- IFBWW call for the immediate release of Chinese Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang on medical grounds
- Solidarity campaign against Latvian construction company L & P Baltic Bygg AB
- Kolon Engineering and construction company finally recognizes union
- Workers still on strike at Hanil cement
- Spanish FECOMA Comisiones Obreras set to win new controls over subcontractors
- Explosion at the public cement plant Chelf in Algeria and
- Encouraging steps regarding asbestos in Egypt.
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India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia: Few contributions for IFBWW members following Tsunami disaster
Following IFBWW solidarity appeal, the IFBWW has received contributions from FNV Bouw (Netherlands), BAT-Kartellet (Denmark), USWA and individuals. Your solidarity funds can still be channeled through: BANQUE COOP 6-8 Place Longemalle Case Postale 3828 1211 Genève 3 Switzerland,
SWIFT CODE ( = BIC) COOPCHBB12A
FITBB / FED. INTERNATIONALE DES TRAVAILL. DU BATIMENT ET DU BOIS, 54, route des Acacias, 1227 Carouge SWITZERLAND
No 246606.290190-6 (CHF) IBAN CH4108440246606290190
Ref for payment: ASIAN TSUNAMI (OR ASIAN DISASTER)
These funds will support a more long-term restoration work. This will be discussed and coordinated with our affiliates in the affected countries through our regional office for Asia Pacific. In this regard, the IFBWW will be holding an extraordinary regional committee in February. Since the disaster, the IFBWW has been in touch with its affiliates. The most affected are located in the Aceh Province of Indonesia, the state of Tamil Nadu in India and Sri Lanka. More details regarding affiliates www.ifbww.org/index.cfm?n=44&l=2&c=1398&on=26
Contribute to ICFTU survey 2004 on trade union rights!
You are urged to send the Secretariat information on trade union rights violations for 2004. Kindly let us know if anything in these two sections needs to be amended or up-dated www.icftu.org/survey2004.asp?language=EN If your country is not included, but its legislation or practices violate fundamental workers’ rights, please inform us, with details. Any act that goes against the two key ILO Conventions 87 on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise, and 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining should be reported. This includes, for example, interference in union affairs, refusal to recognise a union or the arbitrary dissolution of a union, as well as cases in which trade unionists have been harassed, dismissed, arrested, imprisoned or otherwise persecuted for the legitimate exercise of their rights. In addition, we would appreciate it if you could also include the rights and treatment of migrant workers in your country.
China: Immediate release of Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang on medical grounds
In a protest message to the Minister of Justice, the IFBWW expressed its deep concern at the continued imprisonment of these two seriously ill labour activists from Liaoyang and called for their immediate release on medical grounds. Despite repeated requests and the clear legal basis for their release, medical parole has been denied to Yao and Xiao. Neither men are able to receive the full and proper medical treatment needed for their illnesses while in prison, and their condition is rapidly deteriorating. The ILO Governing Body called for their immediate release in March 2003 and 2004 but no action was taken by the government. www.ifbww.org/index.cfm?n=155&on=41&l=2&trad=1414&detail=true
Sweden: Solidarity campaign against Latvian construction company L & P Baltic Bygg AB
IFBWW launched a solidarity campaign at the end of 2004 to support its Swedish affiliate Byggnads as the Latvian company refused to sign a collective agreement in order to pay workers low wages, whereas for present EU legislation, foreign workers coming from other EU countries should not be discriminated against. Sadly, the responses to this appeal have been low: Building, construction and Wood (Algeria); CITUB (Bulgaria); GTUBWW (Egypt); FNCB-CFDT (France); IFBWW-JAC (Japan); KFCITU (Korea); KPPPSM (Malaysia); CAWUN (Nepal); EL & IT (Norway); NUBWW (Palestine); FGS Familia (Romania); FGBB-UGTT (Tunisia); Construction and Building (Ukraine); Building and Construction Trades Department (AFL-CIO, USA). See www.ifbww.org/index.cfm?n=155&on=41&l=2&trad=1397&detail=true
South Korea: Kolon Engineering and construction company finally recognizes union
At the end of 2004, the company finally signed a collective agreement with the union and recognized the elected workers' union. IFBWW provided solidarity assistance to the union from its International Solidarity Fund as workers' wages were not paid. The union thanked the IFBWW and its affiliates for their support. Once again, IFBWW solidarity campaign only received few protest messages from affiliates www.ifbww.org/index.cfm?n=155&on=41&l=2&trad=1371&detail=true
South Korea: Workers still on strike at Hanil cement
Workers have successfully organised at Inhceon plant in 2001. But the new management refuses to recognise the union since August 2004 and continues to threaten workers with the shut down of the plant if it does not dissolve. The union has been struggling for several months. From 24 members, it now only has 12 who continue the sit-in. Workers wages are not being paid and this situation has tremendous impact on the lives of the members and their families. Against this background, the IFBWW provided solidarity assistance from its International Solidarity Fund.
Spain: FECOMA Comisiones Obreras set to win new controls over subcontractors
After six years of solid campaigning, IFBWW Spanish building affiliate FECOMA, has succeeded in getting their proposed legislation into Congress for debate and subsequently onto the statute books. In the year 2000, after two widely supported general strikes in construction, FECOMA gathered more than 600,000 signatories to support their Popular Legislative Initiative, which proposed legislation to control subcontractors. See www.ifbww.org/index.cfm?n=44&l=2&c=1400&on=26
Algeria: Explosion at the public cement plant Chelf
The IFBWW extended its solidarity to the members and families of its affiliate, Fédération des Travailleurs du Bâtiment, Matériaux de Construction et Bois - building, construction and wood - affected by the explosion which has taken place on the 22 January 2005 at the cement public plant Chlef. The explosion has killed two workers and injured twelve including two very seriously. An investigation is being carried out.
Egypt: Encouraging steps regarding asbestos
The IFBWW welcomes a decision taken by the Prime Minister of Egypt in November 2004 to stop the manufacture, production and use of any type of asbestos and asbestos by-products because of their health and environmental hazards. Factories manufacturing, producing or using asbestos will have to either close down or convert into a different activity. This is a very encouraging step for the country.
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| (02/02/2005) |
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