News

ILO: “Time for a new era of social justice based on Decent Work”

Geneva. Recent events flashing across the world’s television screens have brought into sharp focus demands that have been brewing in the hearts of people: the desire for a decent life and a decent future based on social justice. The fault lines of the global economy, apparent for a long time, are cracking open to reveal uncertainty and vulnerability, sentiments of exclusion and oppression and a lack of opportunities and jobs, made more painful by the global economic crisis. Women and men without jobs or livelihoods really don’t care if their economies grow at 3, 5 or 10 percent per year if such growth leaves them behind and without protection. They do care whether their leaders and their societies promote policies to provide jobs and justice, bread and dignity, freedom to voice their needs, their hopes and their dreams and the space to forge practical solutions where they are not always squeezed. Synopsis of message of Juan Somavia, General Secretary of International Labour Organisation, ILO, in World Day of Social Justice 2011. Read More>>>

Source: ILO



United States unemployment continue to rise

Chicago. The U.S. unemployment remain high "for some time, partly because changes in the labor market have made it harder for the unemployed find work, said an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. While cyclical factors are responsible for increasing the rate of unemployment, structural factors are largely responsible for their persistence, said economist Cleveland Fed, Murat Tasci. The unemployment rate was 9.4% in December, and economists expect to rise to 9.5% this month. "Even if it is cyclical, as I believe it does not necessarily mean that this high level of unemployment will disappear soon," Tasci said in an interview. Read More>>>

Source: Reuters La Prensa.com



Trinidad and Tobago Unions Protest 5% in State Sector

Port Spain. Workers turned out in their hundreds on Friday 28^th January to protest the 5% limit on salary increases being imposed by the Government on all State Sector negotiations since 2010.The workers demonstration through the streets of the main city, Port of Spain was organised by the NATUC -National Trade Union Centre in direct support of the PSA Public Services Association which represents State Sector employees and included UNI affiliates BIGWU- Banking Insurance and General Workers Union, CWU-Communication Workers Union and TTPWU-Trinidad and Tobago Postal Workers Union. This State imposed limit of 5% on salary increases is also being adopted by many private Sector employers in a situation of over 25% national inflation and continued profitability for many local business enterprises and will directly impact negotiations in all Sectors.

Contact: joanne.defreitas@uniglobalunion.org



ASECOTEL Panama holds meeting with Government’s vice minister

Panama City. During January, the Company Panama Post and Telegraph, COTEL, dismissed 148 workers. ASECOTEL, acting in the capacity of the workers’ representative, requested an urgent meeting with the Vice minister of Government and Justice, Lic. Luis Miguel Hincapié, jointly with COTEL’s Director, Lic Jisslena Vidales del Corro, to inquire about the massive unjustified dismissals in the Post Company. These dismissals have resulted in the closure of several post offices, and many others have visibly decreased their operational capacity. The meeting took place on February 1^st, and in this opportunity ASECOTEL’s representatives Ismael Ruiz and the Labour Advisor Irving Mawell, requested the Vice minister and the Post Director an urgent reconsideration of these dismissals, specially in the cases of colleagues with problems of physical disability or with relatives with physical disabilities who depend on them. They also requested to reconsider the dismissal of union leaders who work for the organisation at the provincial as well as at the national level. Read More>>>

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Radio and TV workers’ Unions sign wage agreement

Mexico D.F. Radio and Television employers signed a legal agreement with their respective unions of this industry which establishes a global wage increase of 5.3%; a direct salary increase of 4.6% and 0,7% in benefits. General Secretaries of the Union of Industrial Workers and Radio and TV Artists (SITATYR), Patricio Flores Sandoval; and from the Union of Workers from the TV and Radio Industry (STIRT), Ricardo Acedo Samaniego signed the agreement. The STIRT leader declared that the agreement mainly benefits Mexico: “In the end, a point of equilibrium has been reached and I want to highlight its real value”. Read More>>>

Source: Noticieros Televisa



UNI stands in solidarity with striking cleaners and security guards

UNI affiliate FGPS, the General Federation of Professional and Service Workers, is demanding fair working conditions for its members in the cleaning and security sectors. UNI Global Union declared its strong support for the strike. The strike comes just as the country has formed a new government after more than 23 year of rule by ousted President Ben Ali. The FGPS says the revolution is starting to bear fruit on the political front and the government has been reconstituted with people independent from the old regime. The union also said that political prisoners are free, exiles have returned to the country and an international arrest warrant has been issued against the president and his family. “We view all of this in a good light but we demand better,” the FGPS said in a statement. “We have many problems, especially in the area of precarious work. We believe the time is right to win workers’ rights for regular salaries, necessary social protection, decent work, labor regulation in the [cleaning and security] sector and better living and working conditions.” Read More>>>

Contact: philip.jennings@uniglobalunion.org



UNI stands in solidarity with Egyptian workers as they call general strike

UNI Global Union offered its strong support for Egyptian workers on strike today to call for democracy and human rights in the country. The strikers hope to have a million people on the streets in Cairo today. UNI said it stands in solidarity with all the workers participating. There is a clear desire among the Egyptian people for democracy and an end of the Mubarak regime. It is important that the military stay true to their word and do not act violently against the Egyptian population. We are eager to see real progress in the days to come and see the brave people of Egypt achieve justice,” said UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings. Read More>>>

Contact: philip.jennings@uniglobalunion.org



World Trade Union Body to Press DT/T-Mobile on Employee Rights

Brussels. The international trade union movement is launching a global campaign to convince German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom to end anti-union discrimination and allow workers to join their union at its US subsidiary T-Mobile USA following a decision by the ITUC General Council in Brussels today. The move comes after repeated refusals by the German parent company to stop the anti-union campaign being waged by T-Mobile USA. According to Philip Jennings, general secretary of UNI Global Union, which represents workers in telecoms unions around the world, “Deutsche Telekom could improve its international reputation dramatically by simply ensuring that the fundamental human rights of its employees everywhere are respected? We will keep reminding the company of this until such time as it acts responsibly throughout all its operations. Deutsche Telekom should sign up to a global agreement which guarantees organising and collective bargaining rights to all its employees in every country.” Read More>>>

Source: ITUC-CSI



Canadian postal workers face first conciliation meeting

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has faced it's first conciliation meeting in its current collective bargaining process to renew their collective contract. The union reports that CUPW met with the employer and Conciliator on February 2, and it appears that Canada Post may be willing to move on certain issues because of union membership pressure. The union are currently attempting to clarify the employer’s proposals. This meeting occurred after the union representing 54,000 postal workers filed for conciliation under the provisions of the Canada Labour Code. A government-appointed conciliator will now attempt to bring the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Canada Post Corporation to a negotiated settlement. The appointment of a conciliator starts the clock ticking towards a possible strike or lockout by the end of April. Read More>>>

Contact: neil.anderson@uniglobalunion.org



Breaking Through: Sporting history made in Europe

You will recall that, during our World Congress in Nagasaki, we announced the intention to create UNI Sport Pro Global Union. The foundation for this work is taking place in Europe, with the creation of UNI Europa Sport Pro. I am delighted to inform you that, in a short period of time, we have made rapid progress and built a professional alliance with FIFPro, the global body for footballers (see attached article in “related files”). This alliance, which is a real breakthrough for UNI Global Union, was launched at a meeting in Brussels on 31 January. The next step is to take our effort to help athletes worldwide.

Philip J. Jennings philip.jennings@uniglobalunion.org



U.S. State subsidies are terminated unemployment

Washington AP. The White House has proposed that state governments subsidize short-term payments for unemployment compensation, having exhausted many of its reserves for this purpose, while delaying the income level used to transfer the cost of unemployment companies. The Government will include the proposal in the new federal budget to be announced next week. Rising unemployment has placed a heavy burden to the states, to the point that 30 of them due to the federal treasury of $ 42 billion in money borrowed to pay given its citizens the benefits of unemployment insurance. Three of those states have had to increase the unemployment tax return to begin what should the American taxpayer. 20 other states will surely have to do the same. Under federal law, these tax increases are automatic once the money owed reaches a certain limit. Read More>>>

Source: La Prensa.com



Mexico Days of Actions: Letter to the President of Mexico

UNI global union and other Global Union Federations; International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), International Metalworkers Federation (IMF), International Federation of Chemical, Energy and Industry (ICEM), and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), sent a letter to the President of Mexico for the global campaign in support of trade unions and mexicans workers. We invite you to read the full text and if you want to join the campaign please enter the following site:

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=863

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



Tragic Death of a Trade Union Leader from Honduras

Tegucigalpa. Israel Salinas, General Secretary of the CUTH (Confederación Unitaria de Trabajadores de Honduras) tragically died in an airplane accident in the capital city of Honduras, yesterday morning. Mr. Salinas was traveling from San Pedro Sula to Tegucigalpa when the Central American Airways airplane crashed near Toncontín international airport with 20 passengers on board. UNI Americas sends its warmest condolences to workers in Honduras on this terrible loss and extends them to the family and friends of this notable trade union leader who developed strong bonds of friendship and cooperation with UNI during the time he worked in the region. Read More>>>

For more information, contact: raul.requena@uniglobalunion.org



Daniela Candia has been reinstated

Asunción. Last December Daniela Candia, journalist for Channel 9 and trade unionist of the SPP (Union of Journalists of Paraguay ) was fired clearly because of her union activities. Daniela Candia and her colleagues from Canal 9 were demanding payment of the overtime and asked for their seniority to be maintained after the change of Management in Canal 9 TV/ Canal 5. As the negotiations with the Management were unsuccessful the trade union delegation attended a tripartite meeting with the Ministry of Justice and Labour to try to start a dialogue. A few days later, Daniela Candia was fired. After 2 months of negotiations and thanks to national and international solidarity actions, the SPP and the Management of Canal 9 agreed on the reinstatement of Daniela Candia.

Contact: yvette.butoyi@uniglobalunion.org



80% of the World’s Population in Need of Social Protection

New York. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that 80% of the world's population lack access to social protection mechanisms such as pensions or subsidised food and this figure might increase in the months to come. “Social protection is a human right although we seem to have forgotten that for a very long time”. "Only 20% of the global population has actually access to social protection mechanisms”, said Michael Cichon – ILO's Social Security Department Director – during a press conference. In his opinion, what is “most shocking” is that just 2% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would suffice to give basic security systems to the world's most vulnerable population. “Social transfers represent the most powerful tool a country has to redistribute income and combat poverty," Mr. Cichon said. Read More>>>

Source: Cooperativa.cl



Fiscal Reform: Unions called a strike in Costa Rica

San Jose. Costa Rica unions called yesterday for a general strike for March 10 to demand salary increases and show their opposition to tax reform promoted by the Government. "The agenda consists of several control points, but the first specific objective is to achieve a sustained policy of increasing wages for private and public sectors, and thus end the wage freeze," said a statement from the Association of Secondary School Teachers (APSE), representing the "union movement" in the country. Unions are unhappy with the 2.33% wage increase set by the Government for the first half of 2011, arguing that it is a real increase and that does not meet the rising prices of goods and services. Read More>>>

Source: La Prensa.com



CDB-ILO Caribbean Symposium

Barbados. Representatives of ministries of finance, employers and workers organizations found consensus in Barbados at the CDB Caribbean Development Bank and ILO International Labour Organization Tripartite Caribbean Symposium held on 25-26 January 2011. Symposium participants deliberated on the recovery measures necessary to encourage the return to economic and employment growth in the wake of the global economic crisis and the limited fiscal space available in many Caribbean countries. Measures recommended included social protection for the most vulnerable; the development of sustainable enterprises to support the creation of sustainable jobs; closer links between education and training and the requirements of labour markets and the strengthening of labour market information systems for strategic policy-making and planning. Read More>>>

Contact: joanne.defreitas@uniglobalunion.org



Action Days in Mexico: UNI Americas Regional Office

Panama City. As part of the actions developed by UNI Americas’ Regional Office throughout the American continent on the occasion of the “Action Days for Mexico” Campaign carried out between February 14^th and 19^th 2011, on the morning of Thursday 17^th, the responsible for this campaign in the Americas, colleague Jose Molina, together with the Communications Secretary, Mario Sanchez, paid a formal visit to the Mexican Embassy and Consulate General in Panama City, in order to deliver a letter issued by the Regional Secretary to Mexican diplomatic and consular authorities in Panama, as well as the note delivered during this week by the General Secretaries of FITIM, ICEM, ITF, UNI and ITUC, to the President of the Mexican United States of Mexico, Honourable C. Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa, with the aim of expressing that the international labour world offers permanent support to Mexican workers for the full achievement of their union rights. Read More>>>

For further details contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



Global solidarity with US workers fighting for union rights

UNI Global Union is supporting its sisters and brothers in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and across the US whose union rights are under attack by Republican politicians who want to destroy unions in the public sector. Bills proposed by Republicans in state legislatures in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana would strip workers employed by state or local government of most of their collective bargaining rights if passed into law. UNI’s US affiliates are fighting back against this attack on workers and the American middle class with massive protests in Wisconsin, Ohio and around the US in support of the public employees and their unions. UNI and its members around the world are standing in global solidarity with the US workers and their families. Read More>>>

Contact: rachel.cohen@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Guatemala Liaison Committee reactivated

Guatemala City. As part of the agreements of UNI Americas 2010 Human Rights’ Network, and with the support of the project for the Defence of Human, Labour and Union Rights, organisations affiliated to UNI in Guatemala held a meeting on February 17th 2011, with the aim of reactivating the Liaison Committee in that country. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Union of Free Press and Related Companies STEPLEA; Union of Workers of Telecommunications in Guatemala, STTELGUA; Union of Workers of Electricity from Deorsa Company, SITRADEORSA, and the Union Federation of Bank Workers of Guatemala, FESEBS, which designated colleague Ángel Rafael Segura from the telecommunications union as the Coordinator of the Committee for one year term from that date. Read More>>>

For further information contact: steguatel@yahoo.com



UNI – Prosegur Delegation to South America

UNI Affiliates formed a network among unions representing Prosegur workers around the world in 2010 and have now begun reaching across borders to meet each other, in person, and to learn first-and about the working conditions of Prosegur security guards in countries outside their own. These trade unionists are committed to seeing that the rights of all employees to form and join trade unions is recognised, that country laws around the world are followed and that pay, benefits and working conditions are as good everywhere as they are in Spain. Now our delegation is reaching out to unionists in Chile, Uruguay and Brazil to broaden and deepen relationships. Although discussions were encouraging when the parties met last year, UNI was told that the company encountered opposition from country managers in Latin America. Read More>>>

Contact: raquel.mora@uniglobalunion.org



Wisconsin Assembly passes bill taking away union rights

Madison, Wisconsin. Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly took the first significant action on their plan to strip collective bargaining rights from most public workers, abruptly passing the measure early Friday morning before sleep-deprived Democrats realized what was happening. The vote ended three straight days of punishing debate in the Assembly. But the political standoff over the bill — and the monumental protests at the state Capitol against it — appear far from over. The Assembly's vote sent the bill on to the Senate, but minority Democrats in that house have fled to Illinois to prevent a vote. No one knows when they will return from hiding. Republicans who control the chamber sent state troopers out looking for them at their homes on Thursday, but they turned up nothing. Read More>>>

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Americas Women’s Committee President hospitalized

Washington. Joyce Robinson, President of UNI Americas Women’s Regional Committee was operated on in emergency on Wednesday February 23^rd, 2011. She remains hospitalised so far, and she is recovering satisfactorily from surgery.

Joyce is a member of the American Postal Workers’ Union, APWU, from the USA. We kindly request colleagues to send messages of support for her quick recovery to her Assistant Secretary Yvonne Clark’s e-mail address yclark@apwu.org. UNI America’s Regional Secretary and the whole staff, fervently wish for the quick recovery of our beloved friend and colleague in the struggle, and express the utmost solidarity with her Union.

Contact: raul.requena@uniglobalunion.org briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



We want to change the rules of the game in Mexico!

Calling for trade union rights in Mexico, UNI Global Union together with UNIA, IMF, ICEM, ITUC and IUF began a week of action this week by meeting with the Mexican Ambassador to the United Nations and holding a rally in Geneva, Switzerland. In June 2009, call center workers at Telefonica/Atento Mexicana tried to escape a “protection contract” by joining the independent Mexican Telephone Workers’ Union (STRM). Call center workers who tried to vote for real representation in the July 2, 2010 ballot faced intimidation by thugs carrying brass knuckles. UNI Global Union want to change the rules of the game in Mexico. We are demanding the Mexican government stop violating fundamental trade union rights and start complying with its own laws and international standards on human and trade union rights. Our affiliates all around the globe - in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kosovo, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the U.S. are calling on the Mexican government to respect trade union rights in a series of actions from 14 to 19 February 2011. Read More>>>

Contact: uniglobalunion.org



Contribution

We thank our readers for sending their comments, suggestions and collaborations to the editorship of UNI americas info, through e-mail mario.sanchez@uniglobalunion.org; Fax (507) 317-0170, and/or by mail, to: Apartado Postal 0819-06290, El Dorado, Panamá, República de Panamá.