News

Conference on the Packaging and Paper Conversion Sector in Asia-Pacific (Hanoi, November 20)



The composition and richness of the debate that took place at this meeting show the positive development of the presence of our sector in Asia-Pacific. In less than five years, UNI Graphical has achieved significant advances in the packaging and paper conversion sector, gaining new unions and more members. We still have a long road ahead, especially in countries like India, where we are taking our first steps to organize in multinationals, or in Malaysia or Thailand where we face serious problems with regard to respect for the right to organize.



“The victimization of workers that aspire to become members of a union; subcontracting; the lack of union rights for migrant workers: this is the situation we confront in our countries every time we attempt to organize a union”, reported one of the working groups, thus giving us complete picture of the problems they face. “More workshops, more networks, more union organizers, more study visits”, proposed the working groups. “We union leaders must know more about the companies, know more about the regional and global situation of each of them, and establish clear objectives”, concluded another group.



The Conference listened carefully to the report by the Vietnamese delegation." The multinationals that come to produce in Vietnam have to respect union laws, as they do in other countries”, they indicated. They also reported that their union is carrying out an active organizing campaign through the distribution of leaflets, flyers and holding social activities to which workers come with their families.



The extended debate concluded with the formulation of a work plan in which priorities for organizing and the development of networks were established. The Group welcomed the decision by UNI G to hold a Global Conference on Packaging and Paper Conversion in 2009.



“Grafiska is very proud of the work we, together with UNI Graphical, have been carrying out in this region”, declared Leif Mettavainio, from Grafiska. “We have set out new objectives for ourselves now, and will continue working to achieve them”, he emphasized.





Leif Mettavainio and Madan Talwar, talking during a break



Delegation from Vietnam



November 21: Preparatory Workshop for the Global Conference on Packaging and Paper Conversion (Berlin, April 2009)



Unions from Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Africa were present at the preparatory workshop to the Global Conference on Packaging and Paper Conversion.



Tran Van Ly, Adrana Rosenzvaig, Peter Ellis, Alice Chan and Olga Vinogrodova.



Tran Van Ly, member of the VGCL Presidium, opened the workshop expressing his satisfaction on the affiliation of the Postal and Communication Union of Vietnam (VNUPTW) to UNI. Ly stated that the paper conversion and packaging sector is growing ceaselessly and that there is a need for us to strengthen international cooperation to ensure respect for worker rights.



The leaders had the opportunity to analyze the research proposal presented by Rob Lambert and to indicate the main elements it should contain. They also established the content of the Agenda and the mechanics of the Conference. “We want the Global Conference of Berlin to conclude with clear proposals that can be actively adopted by the unions”, underscored Peter Ellis (UNITE, United Kingdom), who presided the meeting. “We have to encourage the unions to come to Berlin with delegates and union representatives of the companies, as this is the only guarantee for the true development of networks.”



The processes of concentration in the industry, along with the eruption of the global economic crisis, were the focus of special attention, together with the expansion of packaging and paper conversion in the countries of Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe. “The Berlin Conference has to express its strong commitment to decent work”, stated Peter Ellis upon listening to the report by Alice Chang (UNI APRO) on the exploitation migrant workers are subjected to. “Through the strategies we are carrying out in UNI APRO, we are striving for workers to recover their voice in order to be able to denounce this dramatic form of abuse”, expressed Alice.



Through their interventions, the leaders analyzed the future sustainability of the industry and its relation to climate change. “We should reflect on the possibilities of a great alliance among industrial workers and environmental defense groups”, pointed out Leenan Anderson, from USW, the United States. The participants agreed that this should be one of the focus points of the analysis done at the conference in Berlin.



For more information about the Conference, please contact Adriana.rosenzvaig@uniglobalunion.org



Meeting of the Management Committee of the Kimberly Clark Working Group, November 22









The meeting was chair by Leenan Anderson, of the USW, United States. The main objective was to analyze the development of the Network in Kimberley Clark and future actions with regard to the organizing of new members.



The Committee received the report by Antonio Sánchez (FCT-CCOO Spain, and Coordinator of the Kimberly Clark European Works Council) on the last meeting of the Information and Consultation Forum. His report on the initiatives of the company to open up an ample discussion on the occupational health and safety of its plants in Europe awoke great enthusiasm on the possibility of carrying out a similar initiative at the global level.



The Committee was informed about the first meeting held with the company. “On October 24, UNI and USW leaders met with representatives of Kimberly Clark. It is a positive first step toward the construction of the global dialogue we are all awaiting”, reported Leenan. She also reported that they expect that a next meeting should take place in January 2009.



“The network is growing and getting stronger”, pointed out Adriana Rosenzvaig. “In December we will meet with the Kimberly Clark Union in Bolivia and with their peers in Argentina, and we can talk about the problems and expectations we share.”



For more information, contact: Adriana.rosenzvaig@uniglobalunion.org