News

Action Days for Trade Unions Rights in Mexico

In the early hours of February 19, 2006 a fireball exploded in the bowels of Grupo México’s Pasta de Conchos coal mine in the northern state of Coahuila, triggering cave-ins all along the 2.8 km number eight shaft and trapping 65 miners hundreds of meters below the earth. Almost five years later, the bodies of 63 of the 65 miners that died at Pasta de Conchos remain buried and the Mexican government has failed to investigate or prosecute those responsible. Their widows and families have never been properly compensated. This February, the IMF, ICEM, ITF and UNI are calling on affiliates to take action from February 14 until and as close as possible to the fifth anniversary of the Pasta de Conchos tragedy on February 19. Join us in calling on the Mexican government to:

1. Hold employer and government officials accountable for the Pasta de Conchos mine explosion that killed 65 miners on February 19, 2006.

2. Abolish systemic violations of workers’ freedom of association, including employer-dominated “protection contracts” and interference in union elections.

3. End the use of force—by the state or private parties—to repress workers’ legitimate demands for democratic unions, better wages and working conditions, and good health and safety conditions.

4. End the campaign of political persecution against the Mexican Miner’s Union and the Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union.

A joint call from: Jyrki Raina, Manfred Warda, David Cockcroft and Philip Jennings, General Secretary of IMF, ICEM, ITF and UNI. Read More>>>

Contact: olga.vinogradova@uniglobalunion.org



Uruguay: Private Security Guards end 2010 with mobilisation

Montevideo: workers of the Multinationals Prosegur, G4S and Securitas, as well as employees from local companies of the private security of Uruguay, ended 2010 with public actions aimed at giving effect to the country’s labour legislation, in relation to the so-called Salary Councils, a negotiation mechanism which enable workers and employers to agree upon progressive salary increases in a certain activity, in periods established by law. In the case of the private security sector, until the middle of December 2010, the Salary Councils were at a standstill and no negotiations were being carried out. It was just before New Year’s Eve when some progress started to be made in this regard, after some public mobilisations promoted by the unions organising and representing private security workers, mainly joined in the Federation of Employees of Commerce and Services (FUECYS) ascribed to the PIT-CNT. Read More>>>

Contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org



Chile: Channel 13 TV Union “Dreadful massive dismissal of 101 workers”

Santiago. The President of the Union Organisation, Iván Mezzano, confirmed the dismissals and regretted this decision. He pointed out that audience decrease, and having gone down to fourth place in TV ratings is not a problem of the workers, “ it is a problem of the management staff, which makes the decisions in relation to the channel’s programming. The leader also criticised the execution of dismissals in spite of the high level of investments in contracts made by the company. “I don’t want to get into the figures these contracts represent for the company, but that these should be paid by the workers seems deplorable to me”. 101 dismissals “is the number that was given to us and we are supposed to trust their word. The process is closed today with that number”, said Mezzano, quoting the Executive Director of the Channel, David Belmar. Read More>>>

Source: Cooperativa.cl



U.S. unemployment rate down to 9.4 percent

Washington. The U.S. unemployment rate in December dropped to 9.4 percent and the economy created 103,000 jobs, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday. The fall in the rate from November's 9.8 percent represents the lowest figure since August 2009. The unemployment rate hasn't been lower than 9.4 percent since May 2009. That figure was better than economists' expectations but the job-growth data were less than the consensus prediction of about 150,000 jobs. Still, the 103,000 new jobs was better than the revised figure of 71,000 positions created in November but less than the updated 210,000 new job figure for October, the bureau said. The December report said about 8.9 million people were unemployed, an improvement of 548,000 over the previous month. About 6.4 million of those, however, have been without work for more than 26 weeks. The bureau said there are about 1.3 million "discouraged workers," a term defined as those who have stopped looking for work. The new jobs were created in the leisure and hospitality (47,000 positions), healthcare (36,000) and food service and drinking places (25,000) sectors. Read More>>>

Source: United Press International, UPI



Chile: Justice sentences Company Cencosud for unjustified dismissals

Santiago. In a unanimous ruling, Ministers of the Court of Appeals Manuel Silva Ibáñez and Ines Letelier, as well as Judicial Prosecutor Jacqueline Nash, rejected the appeal for annulment presented by the retail chain against the ruling of Valparaiso Labour Court which sentenced the firm to pay the sum of $1.468.500 (US$ 2.937) to Luis Muñoz and $2.326.500 (US$ 4.653) to Julio Pezo Medina. According to the trial’s records, the workers had been employed since 2005 and 2001 respectively, controlling the vehicle’s access to the parking lot reserved for clients; they were also in charge of cleaning the area; they carried out maintenance duties (painting, plant care tasks, they were in charge of keeping the place clean and in order, and washing and moving the supermarket’s cars); putting flags and banners with special offers with the commercial establishment’s logo and were in charge of the premise’s security. However, their only remuneration was the tips they received from the clients. Both were dismissed in February 1^st 2010 alleging “company necessity” and none of the two workers received any compensation, the company’s position in this regard was that they voluntarily performed duties for the firm. Read More>>>

Source: Terra.cl



Suicidal Wave among French Postmen

France. Worsening working conditions seem to be driving French workers to depression and suicide. CGT, the main trade union center in France, has revealed alarming figures. A few days ago a postman committed suicide at the Vitrolles office, in the Bouches-du-Rhone region. According to the trade union organization, this is the fifth case reported in that area since the beginning of 2011.”We are caught in the middle of continuous restructuring. Working conditions have considerably worsened. Employees are exposed to unprecedented pressure by management,” said Regis Blanchot of SUD-PTT. “We are subjected to practices similar to those of France Telecom,” she assured. “We will end in the same manner.” It must be noted that 58 employees of the telecommunications company committed suicide between 2008 and 2010. Read More>>>

Source: www.publimetro.cl



Chile: CUT and ANEF establish an agenda and "assign tasks" to Minister

Santiago. The change of cabinet made last weekend gives a more political twist to Sebastián Piñera’s administration in his second year in power. The arrival of the former senator of Unión Demócrata Independiente (UDI), Evelyn Matthei, at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security is likely to establish a new relationship between the government and the trade unions, following the Minister’s words that they would “start from scratch”. The president of Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), Arturo Martínez, told Terra.cl that with Matthei’s assumption of office they hope the government will start fulfilling “the promises made by President Piñera during his campaign.” According to the trade union leader, there are four outstanding issues: “1) the submission of the multirut bill, which has been announced but has not yet been completed; 2) the fulfillment of the promise to eliminate the pensioners’ 7% health benefit deduction; 3) the issue of the six-month postnatal leave for women, and 4) the strengthening of the law for better control and prevention of accidents at work." Martínez stated that this was a good starting point since "these are issues that were proposed by the government itself but there are still no signs of any work in this regard." Read More>>>

Note: The term “multirut” means that the same organization operates under different company names.

Author: Carlos Agurto López Terra.cl



Wal-Mart Considers Opening Banks in Argentina and Chile

Mexico D.F. Wal-Mart is currently looking into the possibility of expanding its financial business in Latin America and is allegedly considering opening new banks in Chile and Argentina. Reportedly, Wal-Mart has been carrying out feasibility studies to open new banks in South America from Mexico, the market where it started its retail banking operations in late 2007. Thus, the announcements made that year saying that Wal-Mart hoped to boost its financial business have revived. Part of the original plan was entering the credit business in Argentina and Chile. But in order to do that, Wal-Mart had to wait until the necessary business platform had been created, something the company has already achieved in Chile through the Presto card. The world’s largest retailer in terms of sales is reported to have its own consultants already working in Chile and in Argentina to develop the project which, if it is to materialize, will start in 2012. Read More>>>

Source: America Economía Terra.cl



Circular number UNI 005/GS, dated 17 January 2011, entitled "Tunisia"

UNI Global Union has been closely following the ground-breaking developments in Tunisia in the course of the last week. We have been in daily contact with our affiliates. There have been many acts of courage and sacrifice by trade union members. The unions intend to maintain the pressure for change. The trade union movement is determined to change the destiny of the country so that it can join the democratic family of nations. Our affiliates are integral to that struggle. The Tunisian trade union centre UGTT is pushing for the formation of a national unity government and has called for the creation of several emergency commissions, including one to revise the constitution. The trade unions are the most organized force in civil society and they intend to play a leading role in building a new future for the country. I am sure that you will join me in offering our support and solidarity with our Tunisian unions in their historic work for democracy, human rights and social justice. We will keep all of our affiliates updated as events unfold.

Contact: philip.jennings@uniglobalunion.org



Colombia: Comptroller’s Office to Enable Mothers to Leave Earlier

Bogota. As from next Monday, the National Comptroller’s Office will introduce a revolutionary change in favor of striking a balance in the increasingly difficult “work-family” relationship: all women working in that Office who have children under 18 will be able to return home at 3 in the afternoon in order to spend more time with their children. This is no gift, but rather a way of reorganizing time, since they will all complete their 40 weekly hours of work as stipulated by the Colombian Labor Code. How? By starting work at 7 in the morning. According to several experts, the measure taken by Comptroller Sandra Morelli will have an enormous impact not only on the future of those children and their homes, but also on labor productivity. Read More>>>

Source: El Tiempo Newspaper www.eltiempo.com

Contact: UNI Colombia Solidarity Center leonor.sierra@uniglobalunion.org



Empresas Públicas de Medellín Group Acquires DELSUR

San Salvador. While workers are preparing to go on strike against DELSUR’s management for violating labor rights, the Empresas Públicas de Medellín Group (EPM), the largest consortium of public utilities in Colombia involved in the energy, water (aqueduct and sewage systems) and telecommunications sectors, bought 86.4% of the assets of Distribuidora de Electricidad del Sur, S.A. de C.V. Recently, in October 2010, the same group had acquired 100% of Sociedad Guatemalteca de Distribución Eléctrica Centroamericana II S.A. - DECA II for US$ 605 million. That company is in charge of the distribution, transmission and commercialization of electricity and is the controlling shareholder of Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala S.A. – EEGSA - the largest distribution company in Central America with over 930,000 customers - and of COMEGSA, the main power comercialization company in the region. Read More>>>

Source: sindicato SIES misindicato@sies.org



Saieh Group Acquires 100% of Alvi Supermarkets and Arrives in Peru

Santiago. Supermercados Unimarc (SMU), controlled by businessman Álvaro Saieh, finalized today the acquisition of 100% of Alvi Supermercados Mayoristas, previously owned by the Villablanca family in partnership with Wal-Mart Chile, with 65% and 35% of the company shares, respectively. "This acquisition not only strengthens our group in the wholesale sector, but also marks our arrival in Peru, a market offering great opportunities for development," said the company in a press release. In Peru, Alvi had 11 stores under the Mayorsa brand, now part of the Saieh Group. With this transaction, the group that owns CorpBanca and SMU has become the main player in the wholesale segment, where it already has a presence through the Mayorista 10 groceries stores. Read More>>>

Source: Terra/América Economía - EMOL



Union leaders denounce persecution in Brinks Colombia

Bogota. A National Assembly of delegates from the National Union of Workers of Brinks Colombia S.A. (SINTRABRINKS) affiliated to UNI Global Union in the Private Security Sector was carried out on Sunday January 23^rd 2011. The event took place at the Colombian Worker’s Confederation/ CTC’s Conference Hall, and its key objective was the National Management Committee and the Union Branch’s rendering of accounts. An issue highlighted in the report was related to the legal and union actions taken by the organisation to face the multinational’s anti-union attack, which has carried out a series of unjustified dismissals. Moreover, the company has disregarded several union leaders’ trade union inmunity; exerts pressure on unionised employees; makes intimidating home visits to workers and imposes excessive working hours, with the aim of weakening the labour organisation. These actions on the part of Brinks Colombia’s management, S.A. has derived in formal complaints before the Ministry of Social Protection, which has ordered inspection visits to the company’s premises. The Public Ministry has also been forced to intervene as a result of the union organisation’s complaints. Read More>>>

For further information contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org



EC Investigates Non-Aggression Pact between Telefónica and Portugal Telecom

Brussels. Informed sources confirmed to this newspaper that European Commissioner for Competition Joaquín Almunia initiated last September an informal investigation into the agreements signed two months before by the Spanish and Portuguese operators Telefónica and Portugal Telecom (PT) in relation to the sale of Vivo. Almunia’s department had doubted at the time that those agreements were consistent with the European rules on competition. Brussels seems to have confirmed such doubts and, according to consulted sources, could open an official inquiry this week. The European Commission questions the legality of a pact that implies a commitment by the two companies to refrain from competing in their respective markets. According to that pact, Telefónica will not invest or participate in any activity in the Portuguese telecommunications market, while PT promises to do the same on Spanish terrain. The pact only excludes previous investments, such as Telefónica’s interest in a former PT subsidiary, and will be valid until the end of this year. The Spanish company agreed to the above in order to smooth out PT’s resistance to the offer made to acquire Vivo. Read More>>>

Source: CincoDías.com



Human Rights Change of Tone in Colombia, but Situation still Critical

Bogota. In its annual report, the NGO stated that violence against trade unionists in Colombia, one of the main obstacles for the approval of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States, is still a serious problem. In fact, the situation has gradually worsened since 2007, as indicated by Human Rights Watch in its annual report on Human Rights around the world, which was presented today in Washington. The NGO also voiced its concern for the attacks against those who defend Human Rights and the so called “false positives,” which, according to the NGO, still exist. The report was issued the day Vice President Angelino Garzón initiated his visit to Washington, where he will stay for a week. One of the purposes of his visit is to show Congress and other authorities that the situation in Colombia has changed and push for the approval of the FTA. Along these lines, Vivanco warned that Human Rights Watch will continue opposing the ratification of the Treaty as long as it does not fulfill two conditions: that the reduction of violence against trade unionism be verified, and that investigations to clear up the cases improve. HRW holds that Colombia is still the country with the highest number of murders around the world, mostly attributed to the paramilitary and their successors. Read More>>>

Source: El Tiempo.com Contact: leonor.sierra@uniglobalunion.org



15th Meeting of the UNI Telefónica Alliance Ends

São Paulo. The 15^th Meeting of the UNI Telefónica Alliance was held on January 20 and 21, 2011. Trade union leaders from seven Latin American countries and three European countries were able to raise the various problems they face in their respective countries with Mr. Oscar Maraver, Grupo Telefónica’s Human Resources Vice President. One of the main issues raised was noncompliance with the UNI Telefónica Global Framework Agreement by Telefónica’s call center company Atento, which operates mainly in Mexico and El Salvador. The issue of outsourcing was also brought up. Almir Munhoz, of SINTETEL Brazil, pointed out that “contracts with outsourced companies are always subjected to reductions that are ultimately paid by the workers, who see their wages drop with each contract reduction.” Read More>>>

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Panama Polymer workers engaged in economic strike

Panama City. Workers of the company Polymer Group from Panama joined to the Plastic Products Worker’s Union (SITPPLAS) and affiliated to UNI, initiated a strike on January 25^th 2011 after the company’s refusal to reach an agreement with the union in relation to economic issues, due to problems in relation to working hours’ payment and the unfulfilment of article number 137 of the Labour Code, which establishes the company’s obligation to grant salary increments for seniority and efficiency, among others. When this article was delivered, the Ministry of Work and Labour Development was carrying out a headcount of striking workers, to determine if the majority of them supported the action. Read More>>>

For further information contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



How far can the World Bank and IMF defend workers' rights?

In the last few months the international financial institutions have expressed deep concern about the social impact of the recession and announced their commitment to tackling the unemployment, advocating an income-led growth, based on decent work and social protections. On the other hand, the International Labour Organisation's latest report on global employment trends leaves little room for optimism and draws an alarming picture of joblessness that is threatening social cohesion and political stability, posing risks to recovery. Last week the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and the World Bank president, Robert Zoellick, met a delegation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in Washington, confirming their desire to broaden the distribution of economic growth while extending social protections. However, beyond declarations of intent, it remains to be seen how concrete this commitment will be. For decades, the Bretton Woods institutions have promoted a market-driven development policy and conditional lending to developing countries based on public sector cuts. Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the ITUC, said that "action to regulate the financial sector must be taken at once". Nevertheless, a financial transactions tax would better provide the necessary resources for development, climate action and quality public services. Read More>>>

Source: guardian.co.uk



UNI americas’ Staff revises objectives and commitments for 2011

Panama city. UNI americas’ Annual Staff Meeting was carried out on January 27^th and 28^th in Panama, and was attended in this opportunity by Adriana Rosenzvaig, Head of World UNI SCORE. The Head of UNI SCORE referred in detail to the Congress’ resolutions and emphasised on the responsibility assigned to UNI Americas for this new period. For his part, the Regional Secretary Raul Requena made observations on the situation of the Regional Office and highlighted the challenges and commitments for the 2011 period. The relevance attributed in this occasion to the situation of the U.S.A. affiliates must be especially highlighted. The Regional Secretary and Jim Sauber agreed on the development of a new project of sustained work with the aim of increasing UNI Americas’ visibility and importance in Canada as well as in the U.S.A. As a part of this agreement, a mission to Washington D.C. will be carried out within the first days of March, with the participation of Deputy General Secretary Christy Hoffman, Jim Sauber and Raul Requena. Issues related to organising campaigns in relation to Global or Regional Framework Agreements, in which UNI Americas is involved, were broadly discussed. The situation of Ripley, Cencosud, Banco Do Brazil, Banco Itaú, Tetrapak, DHl and Prosegur were also subjected to analysis. In relation to campaigns and projects, Adriana Rosenzvaig, Head of UNI Score, delivered a detailed report on UNI SCORE’s procedures, objectives and challenges. She highlighted the realization of the Unionisation Regional Forum to be shortly carried out in Bogota. Read More>>>

For more information contact: raul.requena@uniglobalunion.org



UNI americas Gamming Sector Electronic Bulletin

It is a pleasure for us to inform you that the 23^th edition of the Electronic UNI americas Gamming Bulletin, January 2010, is available. Link>>>



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.