News

Bernadette Segol - The next ETUC General Secretary

Bernadette Segol, UNI Europa Regional Secretary, will succeed John Monks as ETUC General Secretary at the conclusion of the ETUC Congress in Athens in May 2011. In the transition period, Bernadette as ETUC General Secretary designate will work in close cooperation with the GS to prepare the next congress. Her immediate duties is to compose the next secretariat team. We are delighted that Bernadette will become the next General Secretary of the ETUC. She has been an outstanding UNI Europa Regional Secretary and we wish her well in this demanding post.

Source: UNI Head Office



World AIDS Day: For better protection of Human Rights

"The international community marks World AIDS Day again this Wednesday. It is almost thirty years since AIDS, caused by the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) first began to have a devastating effect on individual lives, workplaces and societies. Currently, about 33 million people are living with the virus globally. There are another 7,500 new cases of infection every single day. Workplaces can play a key role in the HIV response according to the first international labour standard on HIV and AIDS adopted by the ILO last June". To read the ILO recommendation concerning HIV/AIDS and the World of Work adopted - by an overwhelming majority - by governments, employers’ and workers’ representatives from ILO member States at the International Labour Conference in June 2010 please click here. To download the ILO 2010 World AIDS Day posters click here Read More>>>



Financial Crisis – Causes and cures

The financial crisis has exposed several flaws in the institutional structures, incentive systems, regulations and supervisory structures of financial markets. The European Trade Union Institute, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Bertelsmann Stiftung have teamed up with Re-Define to publish this well-timed book which cuts through the technical jargon of financial reform underway in the EU and US, using easily understood metaphors and explains the working of the financial system, the causes of the crisis and the concepts and justifications for financial reform. The financial system is at the heart of the modern market economy. When the system works well, it allocates resources in a way that maximises productivity of the economy. When it falters, the whole economy seizes up. Because finance is so critical, governments have stepped in repeatedly to rescue and support the system when it has a heart attack. This safety net constitutes one side of the social contract that society has with finance. Regulation is the other side of this contract. Read More>>>

Contact: oliver.roethig@uniglobalunion.org



This month's UFCW publication to Local unions

UFCW hightlights in their local bulletin the job of UNI americas to contribute in the creation of the Wal-Mart alliance. Read More>>>

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



Global Unions Statement to the G20 Seoul Summit

G20 leaders meeting in Pittsburgh in September 2009 committed to putting “quality employment at the heart of the recovery.1” They have not lived up to this promise. It is of deep concern that employment does not figure on the initial G20 Summit agenda. The economic crisis that has wreaked havoc on the lives and livelihoods of working people is far from over. It is now a social crisis. There are currently more than 220 million unemployed in the world, the highest level ever recorded, and an increase of more than 31 million over 2007.2 An extra 100 million people – mainly in developing countries – have been pushed into extreme poverty. Not only is the global recovery fragile and uncertain, but the rise in unemployment is itself sapping confidence and undermining recovery. Fear of the financial markets is pushing many G20 governments into retreating from expansionary policy in favour of austerity programmes, which if implemented will sharply increase the risks of our economies returning to recession, devastate public services, and reduce living standards. Governments should not accept the prospect of a decade of stagnant labour markets in industrialized countries, the entrenchment of poverty in developing countries and a lost generation of youth shut out from productive activity. Read More>>>

Source: TUAC



IKEA furniture manufacturer denies union access in the USA

UNI Commerce supports the colleagues in Swedwood, USA fighting for their right to join a union, and for their right to have a work place which will not endanger the health and safety on a daily basis. The plant in Danville, Virginia have already been fined USD 10.000 and there are reports about 8 workers being injured while doing their job. Even though BWI has been in contact with the management of both IKEA and Swedwood, which IKEA owns 100%, there has been no response from the company. IKEA should respect the proud culture of labour relations which eminates from its home country Sweden and stop denying its workers this simple right. Click on the link below to learn more about the BWI and its struggle to have IKEA respects the rights of its manufacturing staff: Send a Christmas card to the CEO of IKEA - Campaign



17th ILO American Regional Meeting: Santiago of Chile, December 2010

The Seventeenth American Regional Meeting convened by the International Labour Organization will take place in Santiago, Chile, from Tuesday 14 to Friday 17 December 2010. This Regional Meeting is intended to provide a forum for tripartite delegations to express their opinions on the themes addressed by the Report prepared by the Director-General of the ILO for this meeting. This web page provides useful information for the delegations invited to attend the Seventeenth American Regional Meeting of the ILO. The Reports of the Director General for the 17th American Regional Meeting are now available in the ILO website. Read More>>>

Source: ILO



Global Framework Agreement facilitates collective bargaining

UNI affiliate the Union of Communications Workers of Colombia, USTC, has managed to reach a final agreement in the collective bargaining process with the Telebucaramanga Company, a subsidiary of Telefonica. The most remarkable aspect of the agreement is the inclusion of the Global Framework Agreement signed between UNI and Telefonica. USTC leaders recalled that they came from an earlier bargaining process which had been settled by an arbitration tribunal, and are pleased that today the organisation has regained bargaining power, even reaching the agreement on the last day of the direct settlement stage. Read More>>>

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



OECD Secretary General at the OAS

A report by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Latin America’s economic outlook for 2011 after the global crisis, and the impact of that crisis on the middle class in Latin America, was presented today at the XLIII Lecture Series of the Americas of the Organization of American States (OAS). In his presentation, the Secretary-General of the OECD, Angel Gurría, explained the main points of the report, which states that, despite the growing Latin American middle class, this group in large part continues to be economically very vulnerable. "In the region we have the worst income distribution of all continents,” he said. “More than half the people in this group belong to the informal sector, which represents a very serious problem, as they do not have access to health services, unemployment benefits or pensions, and therefore they are at risk of falling below the mean, which is what we call the most vulnerable or deprived group. This indicates to us that the middle class is closer to the vulnerable groups than to the affluent.” Read More>>>

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org



What the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement means for postal workers

Canada and the European Union (EU) are currently negotiating a trade agreement (CETA) which threatens many aspects of workers lives, from public services, to jobs, the environment, food, local cultures, telecommunications, water and resources – even the postal service. There have been five rounds of talks to date. The next round is in Brussels during the week of January 17, 2011 and the seventh round will be in Ottawa in April 2010. Trade negotiators for Canada and the EU are hoping to conclude an agreement by mid 2011. The UNI Post & Logistics affiliate, CUPW, has been working with the Canadian Labour Congress and the Trade Justice Network (TJN), a coalition of groups and unions, to oppose this unjust trade agreement and demand that the Canadian government take a variety of measures to protect the public interest. These measures are outlined in Open Civil Society Declaration on a proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union (See Open Declaration at http://tradejustice.ca). Read More>>>



UN officials hail climate change deal reached at Cancún Conference

Cancún. 11 December 2010 – The United Nations climate change talks in Cancún have concluded with a package of decisions to help countries advance towards a low-emissions future, delivering what the world body's top officials have hailed as a victory in the battle against one of today's biggest challenges. The outcome is an “important success for a world much in need of it,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement issued on Saturday, following the conclusion of the two-week meeting. “Governments came together in common cause, for the common good, and agreed on a way forward to meet the defining challenge of our time.” Dubbed the “Cancún Agreements,” the decisions include formalizing mitigation pledges and ensuring increased accountability for them, as well as taking concrete action to protect the world's forests, which account for nearly one-fifth of global carbon emissions. Read More>>>

Source: United Nations



Update on Stations Casinos

UNI Global Union has already published some information about the illegal actions of Station Casinos. UNITE HERE (UNI's affiliate in the US) has reported the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) began to prosecute its Unfair Labor Practice case against Station Casinos, Inc. in front of Administrative Law Judge Geoffrey Carter. The NLRB's complaint against the dominant Las Vegas locals casino operator and the third-largest private employer in Las Vegas has grown to include more than 165 charges, the most ever against a Nevada gaming company. The NLRB alleges that, from February 19 through August 31, the company has illegally used threats, intimidation, interrogation, surveillance, bribery, discouragement, discrimination, discipline and physical assault against employees engaged in lawfully protected union activities. The hearing is expected to last several weeks as Station workers testify in the government’s case against the company. Read More>>>

Contact: giedre.lelyte@uniglobalunion.org



Chile: Overhaul Prison System

Santiago. In a sequence of events on December 8, 2010, in the San Miguel prison in Santiago, a fire broke out after a riot, leaving 81 prisoners dead. In addition, 15 inmates, 5 guards, and a firefighter were treated for burns, according to press accounts. The San Miguel prison housed 1,900 inmates, despite the fact that it was built to accommodate only 1,000. President Sebastian Piñera and Justice Minister Felipe Bulnes called the fire a “tragedy” and said that the events in the prison on that day would be thoroughly investigated. “The tragic deaths of 81 inmates are essentially the result of overcrowding and poor prison conditions, two longstanding problems in Chile,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “It is critically important for the Chilean government to make overhauling the prison system a priority.” Read More>>>

Source: Human Rights Watch



Breaking Throught AT-T Mobile is Focus of International Union Movement

Nagasaki. The international union community is standing strong with T-Mobile workers worldwide who want a union voice and want parent company Deutsche Telekom (DT) to end its double standard when it comes to workers' organizing and bargaining rights.

At the UNI Congress in Nagasaki, Japan, CWA President Larry Cohen and ver.di National Executive Board member Lothar Schröder together described the joint activities that ver.di, which represents T-Mobile workers in Germany, and CWA have put together. T-Mobile workers on both sides of the Atlantic are joining TU, a new global union formed by ver.di and CWA. Schröder said Deutsche Telekom has a close and productive relationship with ver.di but so far the company has been refusing dialogue in the United States. Cohen said that by working with ver.di, "we will break through at T-Mobile." Read More>>>

Source: Communications Workers of Americas, CWA



UNI-MEI PANARTES elects new leadership

The UNI MEI affiliates of the Americas met in Santiago de Chile, 8 and 9 December for the 6^th PANARTES General Assembly. Delegates discussed the key challenges in the region, adopted a work programme and elected the leadership for the next for years. Horacio Arreceygor, SATSAID - Argentina stepped down as President of PANARTES after leading the region during the last four years. Delegates from the entire Americas region expressed their thanks to Horacio for his commitment and leadership.

The Assembly elected Nascimento Silva, FITERT – Brazil to succeed Horacio as PANARTES President. During the last term Nascimento has served on the PANARTES Executive Committee as General Vice President. Read More>>>

Contact: johannes.studinger@uniglobalunion.org



What freedom of association are they talking about?

Buenos Aires. Since September 2004 at the Buenos Aires plant of Artes Gráficas Rioplatense (owned by the Clarin Group) 6 shop stewards have been striving to get their jobs back. In 2004 there was a dispute by the Union members in support of their legitimate labour rights. 119 workers, including all the shop stewards of the plant, were dismissed. The workers were reinstated with the exception of the 6 union delegates. Despite a ruling in favour of the reinstatement of the shop stewards the Clarin Group have used the court system to their advantage and avoided complying with that decision for the last 6 years. Because of their activities as shop stewards Nicolás Rivero, Javier Alfonzo, Luis Siri y Cristian Quiróz, Pablo Viñas and Víctor López, were not reinstated by Artes Gráficas Rioplatense for defending the rights of their members. The Criminal Justice declared them free of any charge made by the company. The Labour Justice ordered the reinstatement of the workers to the plant. Read More>>>

Further details contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



Union declares victory over Wal-Mart in free speech battle

Canada. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada) is declaring victory in an 18-month free speech battle with Wal-Mart that concentrated on the labour rights website www.walmartworkerscanada.ca. In June 2009, the world’s largest retailer filed a motion with the Quebec Superior Court for an injunction against the popular and long-standing website maintained by UFCW Canada citing trade-mark infringement. On Dec. 15 a confidential settlement was achieved that does not affect the continued existence of www.walmartworkerscanada.ca and its long-established commitment to communicating with Wal-Mart workers in Canada about their rights. “This is a huge victory for Wal-Mart workers and their ability to freely communicate on the internet,” said UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley from the Superior Court house within moments of the settlement win for www.walmartworkerscanada.ca, which will continue to be dedicated to helping Wal-Mart workers to empower themselves and improve their lives through collective bargaining. Read More>>>

Contact: Wayne E. Hanley National President www.walmartworkerscanada.ca



Why Speed Matters, US FCC Chairman Genachowski on Broadband Report

USA. Speaking at the release event for the fourth annual Communications Workers of America Speed Matters Report on Internet Speeds in all 50 States, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski highlighted the role of the report in bringing awareness to critical broadband issues and praised the role of the CWA in highlighting these issues.

Genachowski outlined the need for increased broadband access in America, stressing its global economic impact: "I agree with CWA that the great infrastructure challenge of our generation is high-speed broadband Internet. Broadband enables businesses to start and grow, and jobs to be created, anywhere in America, from the biggest urban city to the smallest rural town. Broadband opens new markets, allowing businesses - small and large - to reach customers in the next neighborhood, the next city, the next state, and even overseas. And broadband allows the smallest business to have cutting edge products and services that increase productivity and efficiency, reduce costs, and boost revenue." The annual Speed Matters Report on Internet Speeds details broadband performance state-by-state and serves as a resource for policymakers and consumers alike. Read More>>>

Source: Speed Matters Blog



SATSAID signs agreement with Turner

Argentina. UNI affiliate SATSAID, has been working for some time in the company I-SAT, part of the group Turner and that produces and distributes programs like Space Combat, the newspaper's special Lanata and Much Music, trying to achieve better wages for more than 450 workers. In November elections were held for delegates and a group of four union activists, Romina Garatea, Alejandro Saenz, Claudio Sartor and Eduardo Salinas were elected. Thanks to the efforts of these colleagues and due to the assistance of Fabiana Orellano, Sergio Conesa, Gerardo González and Horacio Dri, the National Board SATSAID, managed to sign a new collective agreement providing for substantial improvements with respect to working hours and pay, which resulted in many cases in a salary increase of up to 40%. The agreement also secures that more employees of the company are now being represented by the union. Read More>>>

Contact: Gerardo González ggonzalez@satv.org.ar



ILO highlights call for a “Just Transition” with green jobs and Decent Work

Cancún. The International Labour Office (ILO) praised the 16^th Conference of Parties (COP16) on climate change for including social and decent work dimensions in the outcome document, signaling broad recognition for a “just transition” to a low-carbon economy with decent work and greener jobs. “We are glad to see that countries recognize that it is not necessary to choose between emissions reduction and sustainable development,” said Peter Poschen, Director of the ILO Enterprise Department and head of the delegation to Cancun. “In fact, well designed climate policies and measures can promote social protection, food security, decent work opportunities and create new income. By including social and decent work dimensions into the outcome of these negotiations we create the right environment for a just transition from a carbon-intensive economy to a low-carbon one. The Cancun Agreement is a first step to achieve it”. The ILO organized a series of side events involving other UN agencies to discuss decent work and the social dimensions of climate change, showcasing progress made by countries with the ILO Green Jobs Programme, such as Brazil, China, India and Costa Rica. Read More>>>

Source: ILO



Happy New Year from UNI

Nyon. 2010 was a big year for UNI Global Union as we celebrated our 10^th birthday, held a remarkable world Congress in Nagasaki and started Breaking Through with all of you all over the world. We thank all members for their participation in the work of the organisation in 2010 and wish you a Happy New Year!. In 2011, UNI will be “Breaking Through” to change the rules of the game in the global economy and in the global labour market. We have a fast-changing workforce; services are the new powerhouse for jobs. Our aim is to organize that new workforce and bring dignity to the workplace.

The financial crisis has wreaked havoc on the world’s working people: we have record unemployment and savings and homes lost. We have to build a new global economy that is fair and sustainable and meets the needs of working people and their families, not just CEOs and bankers. In 2011, we will work with you to rebuild a global economy that is sustainable and based on values of solidarity and social responsibility and not the greed that brought the world financial system to disaster. We are faced with a new global economic reality and a new services workforce. In 2011 we will work creatively to find new solutions for our members. We will work with you to achieve peace and ensure equal opportunities for all workers. We look forward to Breaking Through with you in 2011. Together, we can change the rules of the game.

Source: UNI Head Office



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.