Commitment of Latin American Unions to Building Strategic Power
The participation of rank and file members, shop stewards and leaders in the networks UNI Graphical is implementing in the main multinationals of the print and packing sectors in the Americas is growing.
Shop stewards from Kimberly Clark, Donnelley, Quebecor, TetraPak and other leading edge technology companies congregated at the meeting of the UNI Graphical Americas Multinationals Working Group that took place in Mexico on August 29th and 30th.
The participants discussed their proposals with great zest and enthusiasm. The conclusions were unanimous: strengthen organizing, create unions where there are none, intensify the networks, effectively coordinate regional and global solidarity.
“When we gathered for the first time in Santiago, almost ten years ago, what we have built seemed an almost unachievable dream,” said Juan Palma, President of CONAGRA Chile and the Quebecor Union in that country.
Leif Mettavainio, Coordinator of International Relations of GS-Sweden, motivated participants to take ownership of information technologies. “The implementation of different social networks strengthens our ties and helps us disseminate our work,” said Leif.
“We have learned to work together and put our common, shared interests before personal ones,” said Duncan Brown of CEP-Canada and President of the UNI Graphical Working Group on Multinationals. He announced that the next meeting of the group will take place in Madrid, Spain this October 15th. “We will evaluate our action plans there and analyze the priorities we have for the next two years,” he reported.
“Some companies warn their workers and activists about participating in our global networks,” said Adriana Rosenzvaig, Head of Campaigns and Organizing of UNI Global Union. “What are they afraid of? Why don’t they want the workers to get together? What information do they want to hide?” she asked. Fortunately, not all companies react this way. Many companies know that mature dialogue with unions contributes to a better and more productive work environment,” she concluded.
The Group analyzed the situation in each company and established priorities. “We are going to articulate our work at the national, regional and global level and we are going to achieve the establishment of unions in the big companies that are investing in our country,” emphasized Carlos Torres, FGP-Peru.
The situation of Donnelley, which closed one of its plants in Brazil without prior notice to the union or the workers merited special concern. “This does not surprise us,” said Leonardo del Roy, President of UNI Graphical Americas. “UNI has been requesting a meeting with this company for more than three years and have never had an answer. As always, they want the workers to pay for the crisis,” he denounced.
For more information: Marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org