News

Affiliates Support US Employee Free Choice Act

In May, the UNI americas Human Rights Department launched a campaign in support of the “US Employee Free Choice Act.” This bill is a major step forward for the international trade union movement as it promotes freedom of association. Under the lead of the International Trade Union Confederation, UNI and the National Trade Union Centers, the global trade union movement is organizing visits to US embassies in various countries in order to send a clear message of support to President Barack Obama, who has publicly backed this important legislation. To read our affiliates’ articles, click on this news headline and then on “Related Files.”

UNI global union



Open Letter to the President of Peru

The Board of the Single Workers’ Trade Union of América Móvil Perú SAC (SUTAMP) sent an open letter to the President of Peru requesting that he intercede with the multinational company Claro to guarantee respect for fundamental laws and labor standards, which have been systematically violated by irresponsible companies to the detriment of Peruvian workers. At the same time, they called on the various officials in the Executive branch and in Congress to enact laws that truly safeguard the rights of workers. They also requested that the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion stop playing the role of mere mediator and urgently recover its role as the top authority in labor issues.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



SITRATELH Honduras Holds its 22nd Consultative Council

The National Executive Committee and delegates of the Trade Union of Telephone Workers of Honduras (SITRATELH) led by Orlando Mejía Tercero gathered in La Ceiba to analyze in detail the 2008-2009 trade union management report. Present at the opening session was the Deputy Regional Manager of Hondutel along with national trade union leaders and guests, including the UNI americas Regional Secretary and Regional Director José Molina. The discussion centered on the problems faced by Hondutel, which is in urgent need of financial resources in order to survive in light of the unfair competition of private companies, which have succeeded in increasing their mobile and added services clientele to the detriment of the services rendered by the state-owned company.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Graphical Workers’ Union from Córdoba Demands Reinstatement of Laid Off Workers

The graphical workers’ union Unión Obrera Gráfica Cordobesa (UOGC) has reported that the workers of Vaira Impresiones S.A., domiciled in the city of Córdoba, have halted their usual tasks in demand of the immediate reinstatement of two workers who were laid off for reasons falsely made up by company officials in a move to avoid paying severance. At the same time, members and shop stewards of UOGC have gathered outside the shop to express their repudiation of the behavior of the company, which has continuously failed to pay wages, employs informal workers and ill-treats and persecutes workers.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



ILO Recommends that a Global Jobs Pact be Created Urgently

On June 3, 2009, the 98th ILO International Labour Conference was held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. ILO Director-General Juan Somavía proposed that a Global Jobs Pact be established in order to urgently address the effects of the economic crisis on employment and social protection. Somavía highlighted that these effects resulting from the global crisis could last between six and eight years. In the most developed economies of our continent—Canada and the United States—total employment is expected to fall between 1.3% and 2.7% (very high figures) whereas for the rest of the region open unemployment may climb to 9.2% towards the end of this year. The situation was already serious with 7% unemployment in mid-2008, so with 2 additional percentage points it is expected to be even worse.

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



Eradication of Child Labor in the Americas

The UNI americas Youth Network, the International Labor Organization and social movements promote June 12 as the World Day against Child Labor. To commemorate this day, they have produced a poster that reads “Defending the right of children to be children; their right to smile, to play and to go to school,” which can be viewed by clicking on this news headline.

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



Laid-Off Graphical Workers Reinstated

The graphical workers’ union Unión Obrera Gráfica Cordobesa (UOGC) has reported that the Secretary of Labor of the Province of Córdoba mandated a compulsory reconciliation between Vaira Impresiones S. A. and its workers in view of the company’s failure to come up with a proposal to settle the ongoing dispute at the meeting held at midday on June 3. This includes the reinstatement of laid-off workers. However, UOGC continues to demand that the company pay wages on time and that it cease persecuting and threatening its staff.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



Guatemalan Trade Union Leader Threatened

The Trade Union Federation of Workers of Power and Related Companies of Guatemala and its affiliates have informed that on June 2, 2009, Bro. Miguel Sagastume Lemus, General Secretary of SITRADEORSA, received threats against his physical, labor and economic integrity from Érika Bauer de Gramajo, HR Manager of Unión Fenosa-owned DEORSA-DEOCSA, for the mere fact of taking a stand against harassment aimed at his colleagues and the closure of Commercial Offices. The company official promotes the destruction of trade union organizations in these companies, violating ILO International Conventions 87 and 98―which establish freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining―as well as Section 106 of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala, which speaks of the “unwaivable nature of Labor Rights.”

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Gas Natural Interested in Buying Subsidiaries of Unión Fenosa in Colombia

The Spanish energy corporate group Gas Natural made a public bid for the purchase of Colombian power companies EPSA and CETSA–two subsidiaries of the recently acquired Unión Fenosa–after getting the approval of the regulator. Gas Natural will offer US$ 3.00 for each share of Empresa de Energía del Pacifico (EPSA) and US$168.47 for each share of Compañía de Electricidad de Tuluá (CETSA), company sources said. Unión Fenosa has a 63.82% interest in EPSA and an 86.29% controlling interest in CETSA through EPSA.

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Proposal for an ILO Convention on the rights of domestic workers

The international domestic workers' network (www.domesticworkerrights.org) is working to ensure that domestic/household workers’ representatives are included in the standard setting process, resulting in an ILO Convention that incorporates their needs and concerns. The network also provides assistance in the organisation of domestic workers' unions, allows workers to share experiences and information, represents workers at international level, and offers support to all domestic workers. The network has published materials that may help domestic workers' unions support the domestic workers' initiative at the ILO, and get involved in the process. The website also includes ideas for action for domestic workers' unions that would like to contribute to the initiative at national level. UNI would like to support this initiative and encourage its affiliates to get involved.

For more information on this topic please click on: http://en.domesticworkerrights.org



Successful Signing of Collective Agreement in Quebecor Chile

The collective bargaining process between the Quebecor Chile Trade Union―which is affiliated to the National Graphical Confederation of Chile (CONAGRA)―and Quebecor World Chile S.A. ended successfully on June 2, 2009. The collective agreement will be in force for the following four years. It should be noted that the union was able not only to maintain the previous conditions but also to achieve improvements for the benefit of all its workers.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



UOGC’s Commitment to World Day against Child Labor

With June 12 having been designated World Day against Child Labor and with our country fully adhering to this cause, the graphical workers’ union Unión Obrera Gráfica Cordobesa of Argentina considers it very important to always bear this date in mind. It is the duty of all of us who aspire to live in a better world to raise awareness of the dramatic situation faced by hundreds of millions of children who are forced to work and exploited all over the world and are often subjected to various forms of humiliation that turn their young lives into an endless horror story. We deem it necessary for trade union organizations not only to support the efforts made by governments and numerous social organizations but also to commit to undertaking firm action against this scourge that should make us feel ashamed and collectively responsible. Promoting respect for the rights of the child is promoting a future of dignity and justice.

Source: Unión Obrera Gráfica Cordobesa- FATIDA fatida@fatida.org.ar



June 15th,International Justice Day: decent work, equality and justice

UNI wants to encourage employer to adopt policies wich promote decent work and equal opportunities. To commemorate International Justice Day, UNI Property Services has launched a campaign asking global banks to sign is Responsible Contractor Policy whereby they commit to ensuring the rights contracted security workers and cleaners. As more employers sign this policy, the labour market will become fairer for all of us. Please forward this email to your contacts and help us with de campaign. Participate Justice is equality. It is everybody’s responsibility.

UNI Equal Opportunities Department.

UNI global union



ASECOTEL Panama Opens New Office

One of the commitments undertaken by the new Board of the Association of Post and Telegraph Employees of Panama (ASECOTEL) was to search for a space to set up its own office. Thus, on Friday June 12, their wish came true as they officially opened the headquarters of the Panamanian postal workers’ union. Present at the ceremony were Cenise Monteiro and Rodolfo Benítez from UNI americas, COTEL Deputy Director Ms. Ilka Basil Sanjur, all ASECOTEL Board members, and invited workers.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Lula Calls for a New Economic Order at the ILO

At the 98th International Labour Conference, the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, called on trade unions and workers to take advantage of the financial crisis to help forge a new world economic order. “Now I am addressing trade union leaders,” he said in his speech to the summit. “This is an exceptional opportunity for you all to think and come up with proposals together with employers and business leaders so that we can definitely change State-civil society relations and build countries with more justice and solidarity”, he said.

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



ILO Committee on the Application of Standards Examines Colombian Case

The National Trade Union School of Colombia (ENS) has reported that the 98th ILO International Labour Conference has just finished in Geneva, Switzerland, with a rather unsatisfactory outcome for the Colombian government. The Committee on the Application of Standards presented the conclusions drawn after listening to the speeches of government officials, trade union center leaders and business representatives attending the session at which the Colombian case was discussed. Colombia is one of the 25 countries in the world that most frequently violate ILO conventions.

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



Brazil: Bill to Regulate Bingo Activities Passed

Last June 17, the Finance and Taxes Committee of the House of Representatives of Brazil passed a bill with the aim of making bingo activities legal in the country. The bill, introduced by Rep. Carlos Mendes Thame, initially put an end to bingo operations but was then modified by the Committee’s Rapporteur, Joao Dado, who thoroughly and carefully suggested properly regulating bingo activities in Brazil, where they are currently banned. This initiative was closely connected with multiple efforts made by the National Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality Workers (CONTRATUH), with the support of the New Trade Union Labor Center (NCST), which has always highlighted the importance of bingo activities for the tourism and hospitality business in Brazil.

Contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Graphical Americas Supports Free Choice Act

Unions of Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Spain, meeting in Buenos Aires on June 23 and 24, met with the Labor Representative of the Embassy of the United States in Argentina, Mrs. Heidi Gomez, to express their support for the Free Choice Act and for the struggle of our affiliates in the United States to achieve its approval. Mrs. Heidi Gomez spoke for more than an hour with the participants at a workshop on collective bargaining coordination organized by UNI Graphical Global Union. Ruben Cortina, President of UNI Americas, underscored the task UNI is carrying out to enable beginning the implementation of a globalization that focuses on the men and women who work. “We are deeply committed to this struggle that our colleagues in the United States are undertaking,” said Ruben. “The administration of President Obama is deeply concerned about broadening and deepening the dialogue and implementing policies that minimize the impact of the crisis,”· assured Heidi Gomez. Adriana Rosenzvaig, Head of the new UNI Department of Campaigns and Organizing, underscored that unions are essential for building solid democracies. “We fight for the full right of workers to establish unions and bargain collectively because we know that this is one of the essential expressions that define truly democratic societies.

For more information: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



Decisions for Life: a new UNI Women's project

The overall objective of the Decisions for Life project is to raise awareness amongst young female workers about their employment opportunities and career possibilities, family building and the work-family balance. The lifetime decisions adolescent women face, determine not only their individual future, but also that of society: their choices are key to the demographic and workforce development of the nation. The project focuses on 14 developing countries and it targets adolescent women in the service industries because these industries employ the majority of working women aged 15-29 and because these industries are growing in (almost) all 14 countries. It is estimated that in the 14 countries selected 10 to 12 million female adolescents aged 15-29 work in the services industries concentrated in urban areas.

The partners:

UNI Equal Opportunities: http://www.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/iportal.nsf/pages/thm_20090123_khn4En

ITUC Equality: http://www.ituc-csi.org/spip.php?rubrique8

Wage Indicator Foundation: http://www.wageindicator.org/main

University of Amsterdam: http://www.uva-aias.net/39

Decisions for Life: http://dfl.wageindicator.org/home

UNI global union



Professional and Managerial Staff from Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and Colombia Define Strategies

Within the framework of UNI’s trade union cooperation program with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation from Germany, the sub-regional seminar “Multinational Companies, New Codes of Conduct and Organizing of Offshored Workers” was held from June 23 to 25 in San José, Costa Rica. First, participants reviewed the serious situation prevailing in the region as regards the non-observance of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, which is, admittedly, a limiting factor for the effective development of trade unionism in the region and may dangerously undermine the true representation of workers. According to the seminar’s final resolution, all the commitments raised during the work discussions will be pursued and UNI will support the future work of the P&MS Group in the region for the remainder of the year, which is expected to serve as the basis for intense work in the short term.

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



SITAG Mexico Representatives Support US Unions

A delegation of members of the Directiva Nacional del Sindicato Industrial de Trabajadores de las Artes Gráficas de México (SITAG),(National Board of the Industrial Union of Graphical Arts Workers of Mexico) sent out the UNI letter supporting the “Employee Free Choice Act “ (EFCA) for workers of the United States on June 26, 2009. The delegation was comprised of Ignacio Labra Herreguin of Section 22, Porfirio Cruz, Section 15, Angela María Martínez de la Rosa and María Valdes, SITAG members. “We are here to support the workers of the United States who seek union representation and to enter into collective bargaining,” said Porfirio, who is actively working to organize US multinationals located in Mexico. SITAG is a member of UNI Graphical Global Union and is in the midst of a period of intense efforts to organize new members.

For more information: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



SINTETEL will not Accept Layoffs due to Speedy’s Sale Suspension

The Trade Union of Workers of Telecommunications Companies of the State of São Paulo (SINTETEL) will not accept layoffs as a result of the suspension of the sale of Telefónica-owned broadband provider Speedy. The decision was made by ANATEL (National Communications Agency) and has been in force since June 23. Our trade union rejects any kind of retaliation against the workers due to eventual problems with Telefónica broadband services as we believe that all institutions must fulfill their role in society. Therefore, we agree to ANATEL’s effectively overseeing the Brazilian telecommunications sector in compliance with its duties. However, we do not agree with the decision made by the regulatory agency of justifying penalization of workers.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Electrical Workers Hold Organizing Campaigns Seminar

Within the framework of UNI – LO/TCO Project No. 40059, a National Seminar was held on June 25 and 26, 2009, in Santiago, Chile, to support organizing campaigns in Chile. In attendance were leaders of the Endesa and AES Corp. trade unions. The program focused on the importance of establishing Global Framework Agreements with multinational companies of the sector, specifically with ENDESA and AES Corp. Campaign supporting printed material was distributed and participants analyzed the actions that should be taken in Chile to include the ENDESA unions that are not yet part of the alliance.

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Meeting with ENDESA’s HR Regional Director

On June 26, 2009, a trade union delegation made up by Aquiles Bazáes, President of CONFETECH; Walter Van Battenburg and José Meneses, SINTEF President and Treasurer, respectively; and Fernando Mc Master, UNI americas Regional Director, met with Mr. Mateo Pizá Aulet, Organizing and Human Resources Regional Director for Endesa Latin America. The meeting was held at ENDESA headquarters in Santiago in an atmosphere of cordiality. The trade union representatives raised the need to step up negotiations with a view to signing a Global Framework Agreement so that workers’ fundamental rights are respected wherever there is an Endesa S.A. worker.

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Peruvian Unions Join in the MOVISTAR Project

On June 24 and 25, 2009, a seminar was held in Lima, Peru, within the framework of the Organizing and Coordination at MOVISTAR project coordinated by UNI americas Telecom and sponsored by SASK Finland. The seminar was attended by representatives of workers’ unions of Atento, Movistar, Multimedia and Unitarios de Telefónica del Perú. It was very gratifying to see participants so interested in becoming actively involved in the project, especially considering that the MOVISTAR Workers’ Union was created only 9 months ago and that the ATENTO Workers’ Union is also a young organization made up by indirect MOVISTAR employees. Both unions need the support of UNI americas Telecom to overcome the hurdles they encounter every day in their struggle to defend the interests of their members.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



UNI americas’ Vigorous Condemnation of the Coup d’état in Honduras

UNI americas, the regional organization of UNI Global Union, a global organization that represents over 20 million members around the world, adds its voice to those of governments and social organizations that condemn the Coup d’état that took place in Honduras on June 28 overthrowing President Manuel Zelaya, and demands the prompt restoration of the constitutional order by reinstating the legitimately elected President in his position. Likewise UNI americas calls for respect for the physical integrity of all the people who do not agree with the actions of military men and civilians who, by means of implausible arguments, have illegally ousted President Zelaya. In particular, UNI americas demands that no repressive actions be taken against trade union and popular leaders or those who in one way or another oppose the coup d’état.

Contact: rodolfo.benitez@uniglobalunion.org



‘NEWS’ ALEARA’S Newsletter

We are pleased to present to you the Newsletter of the Gaming sector of the Americas administered by ALEARA. You can access the June 2009 issue of the publication entitled “News” by clicking on this news headline.

Contact: infointernacionales@aleara.com.ar



Contributions

Please, send your comments, suggestions, and contributions to the editor of Americas info via e-mail: mario.sanchez@uniglobalunion.org; via Fax (507) 317-0170; and by traditional post to P.O. Box 0819-06290, El Dorado, Panamá, Republic of Panamá.