News

Conference on Decent Work in the Americas

Organisations affiliated to UNI, actively participated in the campaign for Decent Work promoted by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ITUC) and the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA). The following are some activities carried out by UNI affiliates in our region.



The Union of Telecommunication Workers of Guatemala, STTELGUA, delivered a letter to the President of that country in which they express their concern for the prevailing labour conditions, child labour, violence and wage policy, and requesting a pronouncement from the Head of State. Afterwards, the union organisations carried out a parade headed by the indigenous and rural Guatemalan union movement towards the Congress of the Republic.



UNI Colombia Support Centre headed the campaign activities, and participated in the morning at a Forum on Decent Work, carried out by the Union National School, ENS, and then paraded through Bogota streets and they counted with the massive presence of UNI affiliates.



The Graphical National Confederation of Chile, CONAGRA, delivered a letter to the Minster of Labour and Social Security in which they express their support to the Social and Labour Agenda of the CUT presented to the President of the Republic, as well as to the demands of the international labour movement about Decent Work.



For its part, the Argentine Federation of Print Workers, Newspapers and related activities, supported the events organised by the National Union Centrals, in demand for: labour rights; development with distribution, Social Security; fair salary and respect for labour identity and Social Justice.



Workers from the Uruguayan Prosegur Union, SITPRO, carried out flyer distribution activities aimed at calling for the attention of authorities and public opinion so that Decent work should be the central axis of all governments’ actions and of multinational companies, in order to achieve the recovery of economic growth, the development of a new economy which shall give priority to people, and also to achieve the subscription of a global framework agreement with UNI- Prosegur which might guarantee the exercise of union rights in the 13 American countries in which this company is operating.



The National Confederation of Security Guards (CNTV), which gathers workers of private security in Brazil, developed a series of activities aimed at highlighting the meaning and importance of commemoration. In support to UNI’s pronouncement over the subject, the CNTV-CUT distributed bulletins among its members with the following concept: “Decent Work must be the central axis in every government’s actions and in multinational companies so as to recover economic growth and build an new global economy which shall give priority to people”.



In the same way as in Uruguay and Brazil, in Chile, and throughout the national territory, a journey of awareness on Decent Work was developed among workers of the Prosegur multinational. Printed materials were distributed among colleagues, with information about a series of demands the National Union of Prosegur Chile Ltda is promoting so as to improve labour conditions at the company, which has also expressed its support to the proposal of a Global Agreement. “We are willing to assume the commitment with UNI, so that the workers’ rights should be respected”.

Contact: Solidarity and Human Rights Department

marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



DHL employees demand respect as new report shows worker abuses

Workers at Deutsche Post DHL are demanding respect as they roll out a week of actions around the world to call for a global agreement to protect workers’ rights and highlight some of the abuses they face on the job. A new report, compiled by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and UNI Global Union, reveals some of the company's commonly reported tactics to intimidate workers fighting for decent work and the right to unionise. These are alleged to include unjust sackings, harassment and discrimination, problems with subcontracted employees, instances of bad faith from the company and the use of lie detectors. It appears that union members are frequently the targets of these actions. The report includes stories from Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa and the USA. Read More>>>

Contact: neil.anderson@uniglobalunion.org



Now, just one union at G4S Uruguay

Montevideo. Wackenhut-G4S Uruguay workers union (SITWA) and Uruguay Employees Guild G4S (GEURG4S), respectively, approved the formation of a single entity that brings together all unionized workers in G4S Uruguay. The new organization, Workers Trade Union Centre G4S Uruguay, was voted by over 50% of both union members. The newly formed entity is the result of a consultation process that developed over several months to strengthen the workers representation in the company. While serving as private custody of lives and property, the workers at G4S Uruguay have been striving for better working conditions and insisting that each and every one of their duties should be carried out within the framework of internationally recognized labor standards. Read More>>>

Contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org



Chile: Ahumada Pharmacies’ workers call for strike

Santiago. More than 500 unionised workers, men and women, gathered today (October 6^th) at 9.00 hrs at the headquarters of the Unitary Central of Workers (CUT) and paraded from the city’s downtown shouting slogans in favour of the strike towards the company’s Home Office. In other regions of the country, there was a majority support, and the response of the Ahumada Pharmacies’ workers to the call was of massive support to the strike. The movement is headed by N⁰1 National Union of Ahumada Pharmacies’ Workers, which joins 759 workers in this negotiation, of the 3500 at a national level. The unionised workers are distributed in 206 stores of the 350 the company owns in Chile. As the key issue, profit participation is demanded through the payment of a guaranteed bonus. Read More>>>

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



Colombia: National union mobilisation in defence of Health

Bogota. The “Inter sectorial working group for the defence of Health as a fundamental right”, of which our affiliate, the National Union of Health and Social Security (SINDESS) is a member, carried out a massive parade of health workers through Bogota streets on October 6^th with the support of the CUT-Colombia and other 7 union organisations of the health sector and Users’ Leagues. More than 3 thousand workers joined this parade (administrative staff, nursing staff, medical staff and even specialists), which proved the country’s public opinion, that the situation of Colombian Health System is really serious. Read More>>>

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



First Meeting of Argentine and Brazilian UNI Americas Women’s Networks

Buenos Aires. More than forty women leaders from different union organisations from Argentina and Brazil carried out the First Meeting of Argentine and Brazilian UNI Americas Women’s Networks in Buenos Aires, on October 7^th and 8^th. Colleagues from the two strongest women union leaders’ networks of UNI Americas gathered to exchange their experiences in terms of women’s organisation and training. “This first meeting is an accomplished utopia, and is achieved through the effort of all of us”, expressed the union leaders, and pointed out that they expected this to be the beginning of a long journey of joint activity which might reinforce the work of both networks, and be the driving force for the creation of new networks in the region. Read More>>>

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



Mexico: Evaluating unionisation in Graphical & Packaging

Mexico D.F. The Evaluation meetings of unionisation actions carried out by the Industrial Union of Workers of Graphic Arts of the Mexican Republic took place on October 8^th; the meetings were in the first instance held with a group of women union leaders and in the second instance with members of the Executive Committee of that organisation. Astrid Kaag, Representative of the FNV Holland, and Miriam Berlak, Consultant, chaired the meetings; Marvin Largaespada, Regional Director of UNI Americas Graphics and Packaging also attended these meetings. Read More>>>

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



And… they came back to life

Copiapó. The first of the 33 miners, who were trapped at a depth of 700 meters underground in San Jose Mine, after it’s collapse on August 5^th, was rescued around 00.10 hours on October 13^th, Thursday. The meticulous work of location and the successful rescue operation put an end to two months of entrapment, suffering, anguish and uncertainty, and made it possible for them to be reunited with their families and to come back to life. UNI Americas celebrates with joy and true happiness as all the Chilean country rejoices. We also congratulate the courage and integrity of these 33 men who fought for their lives under such extreme conditions. At the same time, UNI Americas makes a call so that International Labour Standards should be respected as well as the functioning of Paritary Committees of Security and Health. Read More>>>

Contact: uni-americas@uniglobalunion.org



Peru: Supreme Court of Justice orders reinstatement of union leader

Lima. After seven years of a long judicial fight, the Supreme Court of Justice of Peru has ordered through Labour Annulment N⁰ 4939-2009, dated October 11^th 2010, the nullity of the dismissal of the ex General Secretary of the Unified Union of Electricity Workers and Related Activities from Lima and Callao, SUTREL, Luis Martín del Río Reátegui, ordered by the company Luz del Sur S.A.A. on September 2^nd, 2003. This unappealable ruling was possible due to the unbreakable will in the struggle to defend the interests of the workers employed by Electricity Companies derived from Electrolima S.A., to which various union organisations joined in solidarity as well as Peruvian civil society, together with the international Labour Movement, which caused the Supreme Court of the Republic to accept the grounds of unjustified dismissal presented by colleague Luis Del Río, ordering his immediate reinstatement in his job, and in the ordinary duties he had carried out in the Company Luz del Sur. S.A.A. Read More>>>

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Meeting with young workers from Argentina and Uruguay

Buenos Aires. More than twenty young workers from different union organisations affiliated to UNI Americas which are part of the Argentine Young Workers’ Network, held a meeting on October 12^th with the new Inter Professional Group Regional Coordinator, colleague Briceida Gonzalez, who was visiting Argentina and Uruguay with the aim of getting involved with the activities of young workers in the region. The Argentine meeting took place at the Office of UNI Americas for the Southern Cone, and dealt with the multiple activities the Network carries out in the region, which are: annual campaigns, young workers training seminars, decent work. These activities are being developed with the support and collaboration of all the Argentine unions. A group of young workers joined together at the premises of the Association of bank Employees of Uruguay, AEBU. Fernando Gambera, President of the organisation expressed his satisfaction for the initiative of UNI Americas to consolidate its presence in Uruguay through the impulse for the creation of young and women’s work networks. Young workers from ALPU, AEBU and FUECYS (the last one recently affiliated to UNI), participated at the meeting. Gambera pointed out that AEBU and FUECYS have an immediate challenge of coordination and joint action in the Uruguayan labour movement. Read More>>>

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



Agreement puts an end to Brazilian Bank Workers’ strike action

São Paulo. Workers form the main private banks in Brazil put an end to a two-week strike after accepting a salary proposal made by the major group of the finance industry in the country. According to the agreement, those workers from the private sector who earn up to 5250 Reais (Us Dollars 3.174) per month will receive a raise of a 7,5 per cent, with the exception of minimum wages which will be increased by a 16,7 per cent, which constitutes a historical achievement because never before the employers had accepted such a significant minimum wage increase, asserted the union leaders. In the case of higher salaries, an additional payment of 393,75 Reais was agreed (Us dollars 238, 06) per month; otherwise the increase of a 4,29 per cent, whatever shall be most favourable for the worker. The state employees of the Banco do Brasil and Caixa Economica Federal also put an end to their strike after accepting the proposal of the bank group Fenaban to raise the salaries by a 7,5 per cent, with exception of minimum wages which will be increased by a 13 per cent. Read More>>>

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



Union Alliance Gas Natural-FENOSA holds meeting in Panama

Panama City. With the aim of fulfilling the programme’s objectives of the Project UNI-LO/TCO 40059 established for the current year, twelve representatives, men and women from different union organisations of Latin America which are part of the Union Alliance Gas Natural-FENOSA, held a meeting in Panama, on October 14^th and 15^th, 2010 to carry out an analysis of the labour relationship with the company and coordinate a common action plan which might contribute to the achievement of a signature of a framework agreement to regulate and improve the relationship company-union. The group elaborated an action plan based in UNI Americas global project Breaking Through which aims, among other objectives, to promote the Strategic Alliances with other GUFs which might have common affiliates in multinational companies to achieve the subscription of a global framework agreement. Read More>>>

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Cencosud fulfils acquisition of supermarket chain in Brazil

Santiago de Chile. Cencosud retailer – related to the businessman Horts Paulmann – reported the acquisition of a supermarket chain and gas stations Bretas – related to the Brazilian family Duarte -, which operate in the States of Minas Gerais, Bahia and Goiás, in Brazil. The operation, valued at around US$ 812 millions, will enable Cencosud to operate 62 new supermarkets, 10 gasoline stations and 3 distribution centres. According to what was reported to us, Cencosud will pay a total of US$ 602 millions at the moment of closing the transaction. Another US$ 60 millions will be paid on December 30th, 2011, while U$S 151 millions will be liquidated on December 30th, 2014. The agreement with the current owners of the Bretas chain also includes the commitment on the part of the sellers to inaugurate other eight new supermarkets before December 31st, 2013. Read More>>>

Source: newspaper La Tercera



Chile: Falabella Bank union votes for strike

Santiago. The National Union of Falabella Bank, affiliated to the Union Confederation of Bank Company Workers and related activities of Chile, CSTEBA, which gathers 600 hundred workers throughout the country, decided to go on strike, in the framework of the collective negotiation being developed with the company. On October 15^th, Friday, and after hard efforts on the part of the union management to try to reach an agreement, the workers had to vote to strike. A 98, 40% gave a conclusive support to the decision, and expressed its deepest rejection towards the company’s policy, which has revealed an unyielding attitude as regards the responsible demands of the workers. The President of this union, Luis Saavedra, informed that on October 8^th, Falabella delivered a draft agreement “which is worst than the current collective agreement. They offer us nothing, and besides the company wants us to negotiate a four year agreement, and we want a two-year one”. Bank officers demand a real wage increase of a 10%, an ethical minimum wage of 220 thousand pesos (U$S 440,00), a thirteenth salary for vacations and the benefit of coverage for kindergarten of 6 UF (monetary unit in a fixed dollar system) on a monthly basis (US$ 252,00). Currently, workers have an average wage between 250 thousand to 280 thousand pesos per month (U$S 500,00 to US$ 560,00). The company managers have completely refused to accept these petitions in spite of having perceived profits of US$ 300 millions in the first semester of 2010, a 53% more in relation to the same period the previous year. Read More>>>

Source: CSTEBA Chile confederacionbancaria@gmail.com

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



Greetings to Workers on the Salvadoran Union Leader Day

UNI americas and its affiliates salute Salvadoran workers, in particular unionised workers, on the commemoration of the Salvadoran Union Leader Day, on October 31^st. Febe Elizabeth Velásquez is one of the martyrs for which decree N⁰ 589 of October 15^th 1990 was issued. Among other important aspects, this decree recognises that unions are the suitable means for organised workers to defend their rights. UNI Americas joins the commemoration events and expresses our solidarity to all the Salvadoran workers; we express our hope for unity and we wish that their fight and reason should enable them to solve their problems and start moving to a fairer society.

Contact: uni-americas@uniglobalunion.org



Chile: FASA workers on strike “Executives are the worst”

Santiago de Chile. Workers from Ahumada Pharmacies, FASA, who have been carrying out mobilisations to demand wage increase, accuse the company’s executives of not willing to resolve the conflict and to “turn a deaf ear” to their demands.

“(Executives) are the worst, the company refused to make contact with us until day 15, they did not utter a word and now they do not give us economic arguments, they just say no” expressed the union leader Imarú Martínez. The leader asserted that they seeded to improve their minimum wage of 32 thousand pesos (U$S 65.00) and they even resorted to mediation through the Ministry of Labour and the Catholic Church which was rejected by the company in an inaccessible attitude that nobody can understand, because every day they loose their profits”, he added. Read More>>>

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



Costa Rica SITET in Global Campaign: A company, a standard!

San José. In the framework of the Global Campaign “One company, one standard!” the Industrial Union of Electricity, Telecommunications and Post from Costa Rica has carried out an important Seminar on the Reality and Perspectives in Call Centres. Juan Ignacio Castillo from ILO Costa Rica attended the event, and dealt with the subject of outsourcing in the global scenario and the different ways of outsourcing in various different sectors. Read More>>>

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



National Organising Campaign in AES Corp. Chile

Santiago de Chile. In the framework of the Seminar “Work in Thermal Generation Plants – Regulatory Aspects of Industrial Security”, of the Project UNI-LO/TCO 400959, 13 members of the different unions representing workers of AES Corp. in Chile, held a meeting on October 21^st to carry out an analysis on the situation of the multinational in the country, and at the same time, to reinforce and promote the work of the Federation of AES Workers (FENTRAES). After analysing and debating about different subjects, the necessity of working organically was strongly established, and as a result of this, affiliating to UNI was considered a possibility; the issue will soon be decided. Read More>>>

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Costa Rica - DHL Management brand unions "liars"

San José. SITET activists leafleted DHL employees on 7th October as part of the "Respect and Safety" Week of Action. In response, a rattled local DHL management in Costa Rica organised a workers' meeting on 11th October that DHL employees should not pay any attention to what any trade unionist says and to avoid speaking to us as we would only be lying to them anyway. SITET's only request, which has been made repeatedly, is to try to organise a meeting with Costa Rican DHL Management in order to discuss improvements to the working conditions of DHL employees there. To date there has been no reply from DHL's side. Read More>>>

More information: www.respect4workers.org www.sitet.or.cr



Iberdrola sells participation in electricity companies in Guatemala

Guatemala City. Spanish Iberdrola will stop being the shareholder operator of the Electricity Company of Guatemala Ltd. (EEGSA), after subscribing, an agreement in New York through which it sells an 80 % of the shares of the Guatemalan company to the Medellin Group of Public Companies (EPM) for U$S 605 million. Iberdrola Energy from Spain, Teco Energy from USA; and Energías from Portugal, a consortium owner of an 80% of EEGSA shares under the Central American Society of Electricity Distribution II (Deca II), agreed the sale of the distribution operations and commercialization in Guatemala to the EPM Group, property of the Municipality of Medellín, Colombia. Read More>>>

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Americas present in Proposal for Union promotion in Mexico

Mexico D.F. UNI Americas attended the meeting organised by The International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF): the “Strategic Meeting on Union Promotion in Mexico” celebrated in Mexico City on October 13^th and 14^th. The immediate objectives of the meeting were: 1. To jointly analyse experiences achieved and lessons learnt through the projects of union promotion in Mexico. 2. Exchange of information as regards current solidarity campaigns, as well as previous campaigns in which violations of labour and human rights, were highlighted. Regardless of the previous issues, the growing existence of the so-called Protection Contracts in Mexico was to a great extent a subject for discussion during those days. Read More>>>

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Americas Young Workers’ Committee prepared for Breaking Through

São Paulo. In fulfilment of the expectations of the delegates of the Americas, the 3^rd Encounter and the 8^th Annual Meeting of UNI Americas Young Workers Regional Committee, was carried out in the City of São Paulo, Brazil. Actually, on October 20^th and 21^st, participants of the Americas and the Caribbean gathered at CONTRAF’s union premises to develop a wide agenda among other subjects of equal importance; the agenda included issues as training of young union leaders, and adapting UNI Americas Young Workers’ Action Plan to UNI Breaking Through objectives and strategies. The meeting was presided over by colleague Adriana Oliveira Magalhaes from CONTRAF-CUT, and in the opening ceremony counted with the presence of Ruben Cortina, President of UNI Americas, who together with representatives of Brazilian Union Centrals, Luis Carlos Mota from Força Sindical and Wagner Freitas from CUT, saluted the participants and expressed that they had been honoured by the invitation to this important event. Read More>>>

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



SITET in Call Center Cup Soccer

San José. Costa Rican union SITET organised the first Call Center Cup with male and female soccer teams as part of the celebration of UNI’s global campaign for call center workers. The tournament on Saturday, 23 October was less about competition but rather used for the integration of the participants establishing contacts and new relationships. In addition, it served to show solidarity with T-Mobile workers by signing the postcards of the global campaign. Read More>>>

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Ex Argentine President Nestor Kirchner’s death

Santa Cruz. According to official sources of the government headed by his wife, Cristina Fernandez, Nestor Kirchner passed away some minutes after 10.00 hours on the morning of October 27^th, at José Formenti Hospital in the city of Santa Cruz, victim of a fatal cardio respiratory arrest. Kirchner and his wife were taking a rest in their Calafate house since last weekend.

Kirchner belonged to the Partido Justicialista (Justicialista Party), headed the “Casa Rosada” (“Pink House”, equivalent to the White House) between May and December 2007, and handed the power over to his wife, Cristina Fernandez. Before being elected President in 2003, Kirchner had been Mayor of Rio Gallegos, Capital of Santa Cruz (1987-1991) and governor of that province (1991-2003). In 2009 he was elected National Deputy for Buenos Aires Province, for the term ending in 2013. ­ On May 4^th of the current year was appointed General Secretary of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). His name strongly echoed as his wife’s successor in 2011.

UNI Americas expresses its deepest condolences to Argentine affiliates, to Mrs. President Cristina Fernandez, to his co-partisan colleagues, and the ex President’s supporters, for this irreparable loss that beyond doubt must have profoundly affected all democrats in America and throughout the world.

Contact: uni-americas@uniglobalunion.org



Walmart workers gain collective agreement Gatineau, Ottawa, Canada

CTV News brought the following story on7th October, which coinsided with the World Day of Decent Work: Wal-Mart employees in Gatineau have their first collective agreement, several years after starting the union certification process. An arbitrator imposed the store's first contract for about 150 Wal-Mart employees at the Plateau Boulevard location in Hull. The employees are members of Workers Union United Food and Commercial. The contract reportedly gives employees a raise of 30 cents per hour this year, and 30 cents next year. The agreement gives workers more protection when it comes to seniority, distributing working hours, wages and benefits, according to the union. One employee told CTV Ottawa the deal is a good thing for workers and gives them a bit of a raise. Read More>>>

Source: CTV’s Website: http://ottawa.ctv.ca



Canadian Postal Workers Day of Action

On October 13, 2010, CUPW’s national day of action, postal workers and their allies demonstrated creativity, determination and solidarity. There were public events, work floor actions and information sessions from coast to coast. At a time when we are all under attack, it is inspiring to see such collective strength. CUPW thanks its members so much for all the energy they put into this day – the union says; together we will make a difference in protecting OUR post office.

For more information: http://www.cupw.ca/index.cfm?ci_id=12506&la_id=1



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.