News

Regional Secretary: Rodolfo Benítez No. 62 – OCTOBER – 2008



“FREEDOM FROM FEAR” MOVES IN COLOMBIA

UNI is stepping up its work in Colombia as part of a global “Freedom from Fear” project aimed at protecting human and labor rights. Colombia is still the most dangerous place to be a trade union activist or leader, with 41 killings so far this year, an increase from 2007. UNI Global Union’s mission in Colombia has called for speedier action to find the killers of victims like banking trade union leader Leonidas Gómez, who was murdered in his own apartment in March. “More needs to be done,” UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings told an end-of-mission press conference. “Trade union rights are human rights and every Colombian worker should have the right to belong to a union and be covered by a collective agreement.”

Contact: rodolfo.benitez@uniglobalunion.org



TWO FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS SIGNED IN BRAZIL

UNI Global Union signed two Framework Agreements with Latin America-based companies. On October 2, in Sao Paulo , Brazil , UNI Global Union and its Brazilian telecommunications affiliate SINTETEL signed agreements with telecommunications companies Ability and ICOMON. More than 1,000 workers will be covered by these agreements, which are based on UNI’s first global agreement signed with the Spanish company Telefónica—the largest telecommunications operator in Europe and the Americas . “This is an important achievement for us, for UNI and, more especially, for Brazil ,” said Almir Munhoz, SINTETEL’s President. “We hope to persuade other companies in Brazil to sign agreements with us.” “Ability and ICOMON are setting an example for other employers with an agreement that is good both for the workers and the companies,” said UNI Deputy General Secretary Philip Bowyer. “The agreements signed in Sao Paulo will be part of the 22 agreements that UNI expects to have signed before the end of this year. Although global agreements don’t solve all problems, they set the stage for civilized dialogue, which benefits the workers,” added Bro. Bowyer.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



MALAKA PARKER FROM ABWU ELECTED SENATOR FOR ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

Recently, Sister Malaka Parker, Member of the Antigua & Barbuda Workers' Union (ABWU) Executive Committee, was elected senator in the Upper House of the Parliament of that country. Senator Parker is a dynamic young woman who has defended workers’ rights in the workplace. As part of the UNI family, she was elected Vice-President of the UNI-Americas Youth Committee, and more recently, 1st Alternate for Area III– Caribbean at the UNI-Americas Women’s Conference. UNI-Americas congratulates this young worker on her achievement and wishes her well in this new legislative undertaking.

Contact: uni-americas@uniglobalunion.org



PERU : NEW MANAGEMENT BOARD AT QUEBECOR’S TRADE UNION

Marvin Largaespada, Regional Director of UNI-Americas Graphical, met in Lima with the new Management Board of the Trade Union of Quebecor World Peru. The meeting, held on October 26, was an opportunity to analyze what has been done so far and to establish new goals. David Ascencio, newly elected General Secretary, highlighted the need to work together in the interest of all affiliated workers. “We have to look ahead and increasingly strengthen the trade union,” he said. We wish the new leaders the very best, for the benefit of those whom they represent.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



CHILE : CONAGRA REJECTS BILL TO TURN MINT HOUSE INTO A CORPORATION

On October 14, the National Graphical Confederation CONAGRA, some of its major affiliated organizations, including Molina y Flores, Edelpa, Quebecor World, Donnelley, Jordán, and Caballero, and the workers’ organizations of the Mint House, convened at the National Congress of the city of Valparaíso to witness the vote on the Bill that intends to turn the Mint House, an important State Institution, into a Corporation. They faced several obstacles when they tried to enter the Congress building, but, in the end, 12 labor representatives of the Mint House and CONAGRA were allowed in. Fortunately, the qualified quorum needed to pass the bill was not reached.

Source: National Graphical Confederation (CONAGRA) http://www.conagra.cl/comunicacion/index.html



ARGENTINA : STANCE OF BANK WORKERS’ UNION ON THE WORLD CRISIS AND THE NATIONAL CONTEXT

The Plenary Meeting of General Secretaries of the Argentine Bank Workers’ Union (Asociación Bancaria) sent us a document informing the national and international public opinion of the organization’s stance on the world financial crisis and on Argentina ’s situation in relation to this crisis. Unfortunately, we do not have an English version of the document; we apologize to our English-speaking readers for that.

Source: Bank workers’ union prensabaires@bancaria.org.ar



BRAZIL : MORE ROOM FOR WOMEN IN SINTETEL

As women continue to conquer new spaces, their capacity becomes increasingly notorious. SINTETEL, the Brazilian telecommunications trade union, is making room for women and has elected 31 women workers to hold positions in different areas, such as the Executive Committee and the Workplace Organizing Board. SINTETEL’s recently elected Management Committee will include five women, who will work full-time for the trade union. One of them will hold office as executive member; the remaining four will work in the secretariats. It is also worth mentioning that there are 21 women representatives from call center companies including Atento, Dedic, Mobitel, Contax, Brasil Center , and Action Line.

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org / maria.edna@sintetel.org.br



PANAMA : PROTEST ACTION IN SUPPORT OF POLISH SECURITY GUARDS

Starting early in the morning of October 22, and under persistent rain, members of the National Union of Security Agency Workers (UNTAS) and the Industrial Union of Security Workers (SITUS) distributed fliers at the entrance of Citigroup’s headquarters in the city of Panama in support of workers providing security services to this banking multinational company in Poland. Members of the UNI-Americas Regional Office team also participated in the solidarity action organized by Panamanian security guards’ trade unions.

Contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org



PANAMA: CALL CENTER ACTION MONTH CAMPAIGN

Under the theme “It’s YOUR call!” and as part of the activities of the Action Month for Customer Service Workers, the Panamanian Cable & Wireless Workers’ Trade Union (SINTCAWIPSA), the Luis Anderson Foundation, and UNI-Americas staff members distributed copies of the UNI Call Center Charter along with triptychs outside the building of the Panamanian company “Language Line Services”. The three-page leaflets explained the reasons why a worker should join a union. Unsurprisingly, the company, which does not recognize its workers’ right to organize, called security guards to impede the action, but the objective of giving out the printed material was nevertheless achieved.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



MEXICO : SEMINAR ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR GRAPHICAL WORKERS

A training seminar entitled “Building a Labor World” was held on October 17-18, 2008 in Mexico City to discuss national and international experiences on collective bargaining. The seminar was attended by members of the Mexican Industrial Trade Union of Graphical Workers (SITAG). Renowned panelists were present at the event: Inés González, Mexican representative of the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and Mercedes Rodríguez, representative of the Communication and Transport Federation (FCT) and UNI Graphical Vice President.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



UNI-AMERICAS OPPOSES DISMISSALS OF UNIONISTS AT PARAGUAYAN CASINO

UNI-Americas Regional Secretary Rodolfo Benítez sent a letter to the Paraguayan Labor and Social Security Deputy Minister, Mr. Raúl Mongelós, expressing his deep concern for the dismissal of several workers of the gaming company Casino Asunción. Indeed, on September 30, 2008, thirteen workers were dismissed by the company’s management for having created a trade union. Formal notice of this situation was given to the Deputy Minister and the Lower House Justice, Labor and Social Security, and Human Rights Committees. The claim was filed by leaders Laura Argüello, General Secretary; César Ayala, Deputy General Secretary, and Lourdes Duarte, Recording Secretary of the Workers’ Trade Union of Casino Asunción (SECAS).

Contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org



FTA: DIM PROSPECTS FOR WORKERS IN THE AMERICAS

Representatives of major trade union centers affiliated to TUCA and ITUC, all of them from the Andean Region, met in the city of Bogotá , Colombia , on October 15 and 16. The meeting was held in response to a regional and international call made by these organizations, with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, to inform, discuss and identify strategies to work on different aspects of the development of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and bilateral or multilateral free trade and investment agreements being implemented or put forward in Andean countries. Given the strong impact of these issues on the world of labor and the huge progress made in this respect in the region, TUCA and ITUC deemed it appropriate to invite the Global Union Federations to share two days of work with Trade Union Centers. Hence, delegates of UNI-Americas, the Public Services International (PSI) and the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) were present at the event and played an active role in it.

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



SUTREL DENOUNCES ANTI-UNION PRACTICES IN PERU

The Unified Trade Union of Electricity and Related Activities Workers of Lima and Callao (SUTREL) denounced anti-union practices at Compañía Americana de Multiservicios (CAM PERU), a subsidiary of Chile-based Enersis Group (Enersis - Endesa), currently controlled by the Spanish multinational Endesa. This company, unionists say, does not respect fundamental labor rights, such as freedom of association, the right to organize, trade union dues and leaves, and the right to collective bargaining. The trade union denounced these practices within the context of the World Day for Decent Work, joining the National Day of Protest held in Peru on October 7.

For further information, please contact: Alejandro Rodríguez uniperu@hotmail.com



WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK IN PANAMA

More than 200 trade unionists gathered in Panama City for a half-day seminar on the campaign for decent work as a human right. The seminar was organized by UNI-Americas, ITUC (Trade Union Confederation of the Americas – TUCA), and Panamanian trade unions for the purpose of supporting the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW). Many of those attending were young workers, who too often face insecure job opportunities without union rights. “Decent work for a decent life” was the slogan chosen by the youth for this event.

Contact: uni-americas@uniglobalunion.org



MEXICO : POSITIVE MEETING BETWEEN GRAPHICAL COMPANIES AND TRADE UNIONS

The meeting was held in Mexico City on October 16. CANAGRAF, the national business chamber of the graphical industry, is among the organizations that have signed the Buenos Aires Declaration, whereby Latin American employers and trade unions committed themselves to improving social dialogue and upholding decent work. Vocational training was one of the central topics of the meeting. Marco Antonio Suárez, President of CANAGRAF, underlined that employers and trade unions “have been walking along different paths”. “It is high time”, he said, “we began to follow the same road towards the common goal of an efficient and competitive Mexican graphical industry”. “We are all on the same boat, and we need it to sail calm waters,” he added.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



SIESTA, NEW TRADE UNION IN EL SALVADOR

In furtherance of the goals set by UNI Global Union, the Electric Industry Trade Union of El Salvador (SIES) continues to work strenuously and permanently in pursuit of decent work. Thus, it has organized workers of three large outsourcing companies in the country and recently succeeded in creating the Technical and Administrative Services Industrial Trade Union (SIESTA). It is worth noting that it has been many years since the last successful attempt to create an industrial trade union. SIESTA will make it possible to organize subcontracted workers of the electric industry, telephony technicians, street light technicians, and call center operators, among others.

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



SINTETEL BRAZIL : UNIDAD Y LUCHA CONFIRMED IN BALLOT

Voters at the SINTETEL election held on October 7, 8 and 9 confirmed the “Unidad y Lucha” ticket. Incumbent President Almir Munhoz, who headed the ticket, was reelected to this position by an overwhelming number of workers who sanctioned his work and track record of struggle. “We received many votes in the election. This is just the beginning of our work. We have to prepare for the next term of office, since we have many activities in mind for the companies in the sector. It is a huge responsibility. The number of voters at SINTETEL is quite large in many cities. We are glad that workers have placed their trust in us for one more term,” he affirmed. The victory of the “Unidad y Lucha” ticket—the only one that participated in the election—implies the renewal of 60% of members, with 30% women representation.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org

DECENT WORK IN PERU

On October 7, the Peruvian telephone workers’ union SUTTP enthusiastically joined the celebration of the World Day for Decent Work in Peru , marching through the streets of Lima to call upon the Peruvian government to respect basic labor rights in the country. SUTTP officials, mostly young leaders, participated in the event.

Source: SUTTP suttp@suttp.org.pe



3rd AMERICAS SOCIAL FORUM, A REAL OUTLET FOR HEMISPHERIC TRADE UNIONISM

UNI-Americas and the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) were represented at the 3rd Americas Social Forum held in the City of Guatemala from October 7 to 12. The Forum focused on “Freedom of Association and Decent Work for All”. Activities began with a multitudinous march along the streets of the San Marcos University campus within the context of the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW). UNI-Americas had an opportunity to describe its proposals and the work it carries out in this field with its affiliates.

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



GLOBAL UNIONS URGE IFIs TO RESPOND TO FOOD AND FINANCIAL CRISES

Global Unions drafted a statement for the annual ministerial meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund held in Washington on October 11-13, 2008. Under the title “Achieving Effective Responses to Food and Financial Crises and Increasing Developing Country Representation”, the statement calls upon International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to adopt any necessary measures to counter the impact of higher food and fuel surges. To read the statement in full, please click on your preferred language:

Source: ITUC Spanish version English version French version



PERU : TRADE UNIONS DEMAND DECENT WORK

On October 7, Peruvian UNI affiliates of the postal; telecommunications; banking and finance; electricity; social insurance and health care sectors joined the commemoration of the World Day for Decent Work promoted by the international trade union movement for the purpose of raising worldwide awareness of the need to ask rulers and businesspeople to build a new global economy where everybody may have access to jobs that enable them to lead a decent life and meet their basic needs. Within the context of a nationwide protest, thousands of people marched peacefully in downtown Lima to repudiate government economic policies and a recent corruption scandal. Amid tight security measures, demonstrators headed for the Congress, where they submitted a list of demands.

Source: Liaison Committee uniperu@hotmail.com



BRAZIL : IN THE ABSENCE OF PROPOSALS, BANKING SECTOR CALLS INDEFINITE NATIONAL STRIKE

The Assemblies of the National Bank Workers’ Command, held simultaneously in Brazil on October 7, approved a national call for indefinite strike action starting October 8. The measure comes as a response to the lack of proposals from banks after workers came out on strike for 24 hours last week to reject the 7.5% pay rise proposed by FENABAN (National Bank Federation). Bank workers demand a 5% real increase (FENABAN is offering only 0.35% over the inflation rate); wage scale review; increased and simplified Share in Earnings and Profits (PLR by its Spanish acronym), and the elimination of abusive goals and labor harassment. “They sought conflict but bank workers reacted with an indefinite strike,” said Vagner Freitas, President of the National Confederation of Finance Workers (CONTRAF-CUT) and Coordinator of the National Command.

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



SOCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTH TRADE UNIONS MAKE PROGRESS IN THE REGION

UNI affiliates of the Social Insurance and Health Care sector met in the City of Bogotá, on September 30 and October 1 and 2, at the Regional Workshop-Seminar “Organizing and New Forms of Work in the Social Insurance and Health Care Sectors” convened by UNI-Americas within the framework of the 2008 UNI-FES Program—an initiative aimed at specific UNI sectors and interprofessional groups. Participants emphasized the need to influence governments and relevant authorities directly, so that the voice of workers may be heard and steps may be taken to stop the unrelenting process that threatens to eliminate social protection from the Americas .

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



COLOMBIA: EMPLOYERS’ ROLE IN PROMOTING LABOR RELATIONS

With threats and killings of Colombian trade unionists again on the rise, UNI Global Union is urging US-based banking giant Citibank to join in an initiative to promote labor rights in the country. Bank leader Leonidas Gómez—who was murdered last March—worked for Citibank in Bogotá and led collective bargaining negotiations between his union UNEB and the bank for over eight years. In a country where 41 trade unionists have been killed so far this year, where unions are regularly demonized and union rights systematically undermined, labor relations at Citibank have been historically positive. “We want to show there is another way,” said UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings. “We want something good to come from the sad loss of Leonidas.”

Contact: rodolfo.benitez@uniglobalunion.org



S.O.S. CALL FROM COLOMBIAN UNIONS

UNI’s mission to Colombia heard an appeal for global solidarity to save the trade union movement in that country and condemned moves by the Colombian government to end funding for a project launched with the collaboration of the International Labor Organization. Tarsicio Mora Godoy, President of the trade union center CUT, warned that government-driven moves to weaken Colombian unions seem to have no end. “We need the solidarity of the rest of the world. We want this government to respect freedom of association,” said Tarsicio after briefing the UNI group. The mission—led by General Secretary Philip Jennings and UNI-Americas Regional Secretary Rodolfo Benitez—follows a call from UNI’s Management Committee earlier this year to ensure respect for human and trade union rights in Colombia and elsewhere.

Contact: rodolfo.benitez@uniglobalunion.org



CONTRIBUTIONS

We encourage our readers to send their comments, suggestions and contributions to the editor of UNI-Info, via e-mail mario.sanchez@uniglobalunion.org; Fax (507) 317-0170, or by mail to Apartado Postal 0819-06290, El Dorado, Panama, Republic of Panama.