News

Ongoing Escalation of Security Guard Murders in Panama

Manuel Adolfo Ríos Rodríguez, aged 63, was the sixteenth security guard to be murdered this year. Manuel died at approximately 1:45 p.m., when two criminals shot at him in order to steal his caliber 12, long barreled rifle, while he was on surveillance duty at the Mecky mini-supermarket, located at the entrance of the Las Mañanitas sector, in the outskirts of the city. Manuel worked for R. B. Corporation S.A., a private security company based in Don Bosco, Juan Díaz. According to early police reports, three criminals were traveling in a car. Two of them got out, approached him and threatened him with a fire arm. Apparently, Manuel resisted the assault and the criminals fired at him three times, thus putting an end to his life.

Source: El Siglo Journal, 22/10/09 issue.

Contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org



FENATTEL Brazil Supports France Telecom Workers

Within the framework of the 3rd UNI americas Post & Logistics Regional Conference, Telecom Regional Director Cenise Monteiro handed over a document drafted by the National Federation of Brazilian Telecommunications Workers to the French delegation made up of Bro. Jacques Lemercier, President of UNI europa Telecom, Sis. Maryse Piotrowski, and Bro. Bernard Duppin, stating the solidarity of Brazilian telecommunications workers with their French colleagues in light of the wave of suicides involving numerous employees from that company―a situation that deeply worries the French trade unionists.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Post & Logistics World Committee Meeting

The UNI Post & Logistics World Committee members from France, Norway, Turkey, Portugal, Korea, Japan, Mexico, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Panama and Switzerland, together with fraternal delegations from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Honduras, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, met in Mexico City on October 1 and 2, 2009. The central issues discussed were the liberalization and regulation of the postal service, the world economic crisis and its effects on the postal service, the relationship between UNI and the Universal Postal Union, campaigns in multinational companies (UNI-ITF DHL campaign), and new technologies and information communication and exchange, among other equally relevant issues. The UNI Post & Logistics policy and the Action Plan supporting it were presented at this meeting.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Another Step Towards Strengthening Social Dialogue in Latin America

The Employers’ Association of the Graphical and Packaging Industry in Latin America, CONLATINGRAF, and UNI americas Graphical are working on a common approach to health and safety and climate change. During the CONLATINGRAF annual meeting, UNI Graphical presented a proposal mainly centered around two key issues: 1) The development of a common position between trade unions and employers regarding environmental sustainability of the graphical and packaging industry, and 2) a common approach to health and safety through the development of a module that can be applied throughout the region.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



Global Framework Agreements Campaign

Continuing with the campaign on Global Framework Agreements in the Electricity Sector, and in order to enhance workers’ knowledge regarding these instruments, information meetings with workers affiliated to SITRADEORSA and SITRAPDEORSA were held on the premises of Distribuidora de Electricidad de Oriente S.A. (DEORSA) in the cities of Guatemala and Peten.

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Official Launching of the Decisions for Life Project in Brazil

Over 50 trade union leaders from various sectors and workers’ organizations affiliated to UNI americas gathered at Praia Grande, Brazil, for the official launching of the Decisions for Life Project, which is aimed at young women aged 15 to 29 working in the services industry. The women leaders spent two days debating on relevant issues related to the decisions that young women must make at this crucial stage of their lives. This project is being implemented by UNI with the collaboration of CIS, the WageIndicator Foundation and Amsterdam University.

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



World Day for Decent Work – October 7, 2009

Each Member shall (...) ensure the application to all workers of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value.

Art. 2 – Equal Remuneration Convention - ILO.

Decent Work is your right. Stand up for it. You have the means to do so.

UNI global union



Reinstatement of 100 C&W Workers in Barbados

Barbados Prime Minister David John Howard Thompson, who is also serving as Labor Minister, ordered the reinstatement of 100 employees of Cable & Wíreless to their job positions after he discovered that the telecommunications multinational had not complied with the Social Dialogue protocol. This decision is not only a trade union victory but also a clear warning to the company. It also shows that it is imperative for all Caribbean unions representing workers at C&W sites to engage in an open and candid dialogue process with company officials with a view to preventing future disputes.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



The Main Newspaper in Peru Supports the Nurses’ Trade Union

El Comercio de Lima newspaper published an editorial on October 7, 2009, in which it emphatically stated that every State institution should value the contributions made by the staff working for them and respect their rights. We invite you to read this article and encourage you to support our affiliate in Peru, the National Trade Union of Health and Social Security Nurses (SINESSS).

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



Youth Celebrated the World Day for Decent Work

The more than 50 delegates and guests attending the Decisions for Life Project Workshop carried out in Praia Grande, Brazil, also participated in the celebrations organized for the World Day for Decent Work. It was a good opportunity to officially launch the “Delegates Toolkit Manual”. As Verónica Fernández Méndez, Head of Equal Opportunities, pointed out, Brazilian women workers were the first to receive this valuable organizing tool. The department is extremely proud of the work that has been carried out to produce and launch this manual.

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



“Black Band” Day in ASECOTEL Panama

Instead of celebrating “Postal Workers’ Day” on October 9, postal workers in Panama decided to hold a protest, which they named “Black Band Day,” for the unfair dismissal of several COTEL employees. The workers refused to participate in the celebrations that the administration held in honor of its employees. To support this action, UNI americas Post & Logistics launched a campaign on its website asking all UNI americas affiliates to send a message of protest to the Minister of Government and Justice of Panama and to the Panamanian Postmaster General, expressing their rejection of the policy of redundancies, which are markedly politically biased. UNI affiliates responded to this call by sending dozens of messages to the Minister and to COTEL Postmaster General.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Brave and Combative Nurses Stand Up for the Truth

“Those of us nurses who work for the Peruvian Social Insurance defend and watch over the health of the insured, because the soundness and credibility of SINESSS is upheld by the good leadership of our leading, glorious and emblematic trade union, which has been fighting for justice and the social welfare of its members for 32 years, a mission that we have always fulfilled driven by truth, transparency and loyalty. These values guide the ethical principles of our profession, which we are bound by law to observe, looking after the individual’s health.” The Peruvian nurses’ union uses this statement to communicate its position on the government’s policy, which seeks to eliminate trade union organizations and privatize Social Security.

Contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunion.org



Progress towards an Alliance with PSI

In response to an invitation by the Public Services International (PSI), we participated in an event organized and sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, FES, aimed at following up on the work plan on strategies for establishing an agreement of understanding among PSI, UNI and ICEM with the aim of developing a closer cooperation to pursue a Global Framework Agreement with ENDESA. At the event we informed participants of the work done and the progress made towards achieving unity and strengthening the electrical sector in Latin America, with the ultimate goal of engaging in a social dialogue with electrical multinationals with a view to signing a Framework Agreement. There was full agreement on the approach, and Bro. Oscar Rodríguez, of PSI, who was in charge of the event, said that it was vitally important to establish a trade union alliance among PSI, UNI and ICEM if that objective was to be met.

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Future Federation of Panamanian Electrical Trade Unions

On Friday October 9, electrical sector unions met at the UNI americas Regional Office headquarters. In attendance were brothers Juan T. Arosemena, of EDECHI; Jorge García Montante, of EDEMET (SITEDEMET); Luis Carlos Méndez, of SITEDEMET, and Rodrigo Batista, of SITIESPA. The main issue discussed was the creation of a Federation of the Electrical Sector of Panama, an initiative that is well under way and which will probably come to fruition before the end of this year.

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Global Unions Participate in Expologística Panama

Global unions ITF and UNI participated in Expologística Panamá (International Logistic and Multimodal Transportation Exhibition), which took place on October 14 and 15, 2009. “Trade unions are part of the industry,” said Edgar Díaz, General Secretary of the National Trade Union of Workers in Civil Aviation and Related Industries of Panama (SIELAS). “We have the experience and the capability because we are the ones who do the work; that is why we want to be recognized as valid interlocutors in a social dialogue,” stated José Arturo Ruíz, General Secretary of the Civil Aviation Workers’ Trade Union of Guatemala, (USTAC).

Contact: ivonne.jackelen@uniglobalunion.org



Meeting With DHL Workers

On October 14, 2009, at Expologística, a meeting was held among trade union representatives of SIELAS and ASECOTEL of Panama; USTAC of Guatemala; UNI; ITF, and a group of DHL workers. The trade union delegation expressed their solidarity to DHL workers stating that the main objective was to maintain a social dialogue with representatives of that multinational company. We asked the workers to support our request to have a meeting with the Director of DHL Global Forwarding in Panama, Mr Kurt Schosinsky, to introduce ourselves and tell him of our interest in sitting at the dialogue table to talk about labor relations with the workers. We expect to hold this meeting on October 15 this year.

Contact: ivonne.jackelen@uniglobalunion.org



Mexico: Government Closes Down Luz y Fuerza del Centro

Last Tuesday, the National Workers’ Union of Mexico (UNT) announced that it would call on workers throughout Mexico to mobilize and that it did not rule out the possibility of calling a general strike in support of the Mexican Electricians’ Trade Union (SME), which declared a state of emergency following the Government’s decision to close down the company Luz y Fuerza del Centro. A large demonstration is scheduled for October 15 in Mexico City, which could gather over 100.000 people. If this state-run company is actually closed down, there will be more than 40,000 job losses.

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



Conclusions from Expologística Panama 2009

The purpose of the presence of UNI and ITF at the Expo was to show the numerous participating companies that we are part of the logistics and transportation industry. Our active participation in the conference series clearly demonstrated the significant help provided by the labor sector in shaping the future and the development of the companies in which work. Many speakers raised the need to have competent and qualified staff motivated to work to the best of their abilities for the optimal development of this important sector of the economy, and stated that human resources are decisive and irreplaceable in this endeavor. In other words, the companies recognize that they depend on their workers to be efficient and effective and satisfy their users. Therefore we, as global unions, believe that a direct dialogue between businesspeople and workers should be established in order to create the necessary conditions for the attainment of the development goals of both companies and their workers.

Contact: ivonne.jackelen@uniglobalunion.org



3^rd UNI americas Commerce Regional Conference

With the launch of the UNI – Wal-Mart Trade Union Network, the 3^rd UNI americas Commerce Regional Conference was opened. This conference was held in Santiago de Chile on October 14, 15 and 16, and was attended by representatives of eight unions from the region, as well as of FECOHT-CC.OO. from Spain, the United Labor Center of Chile (CUT), and trade union representatives from Peru and Paraguay. The following four topics of interest to the sector were discussed during the conference: social dialogue; the main challenges faced by the global union movement during the crisis; global framework agreements, and global union networks.

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



Ricardo Patah, New President of UNI americas Commerce

Ricardo Patah, from SENTRACOS, president of the General Workers’ Union (UGT) of Brazil, is now also the new president of the UNI americas Commerce Steering Committee The new Committee is also made up of trade unionists from the United States, Argentina, Panama, Chile and Peru, and quotas for new affiliates from Mexico and for affiliates from the Caribbean have been provided for. Ricardo Patah takes office committed to building unity of action in the American continent vis-à-vis the advance of multinationals by representing all the workers in the sector and ensuring that the actions taken by UNI have a positive impact on their lives. "As part of UNI, we want each worker in the commerce sector to enjoy the rights to citizenship and decent work,” said Patah in his inaugural speech.

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Graphical Calls for the Restoration of Democracy in Honduras

The UNI Graphical World Executive Committee, meeting in Madrid, Spain, on October 13 and 14, 2009, welcomed the resolution put forward by Tony Burke from UNITE-England in support of the restoration of democracy in Honduras. After its approval, the resolution was read in a large public demonstration that took place in London. Some excerpts from the resolution are as follows: - UNI Graphical welcomes the return to Honduras of the country’s democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya following his expulsion imposed by the military coup on June 28 and the installation of a regime led by Roberto Micheletti. UNI Graphical condemns the violent attacks and human rights abuses (including attacks that have cost the lives of 12 trade unionists) on trade unions that have taken place by the coup regime against peaceful protestors supporting President Zelaya. - UNI Graphical notes with serious concern the widespread military and police repression that has occurred under the coup as reported by Amnesty International among others.

UNI global union



Another Security Guard Killed in Panama

Lorenzo Barco Roos, 52, who worked for the company Dragon Security, S.A., became the latest victim in the private security industry of Panama. As was the case with the more than 200 workers killed in the last years, security guard Barco Roos was murdered in order to steal his service weapon, according to the preliminary investigation. At the time he was shot, he was on duty outside the Carlton Hotel, in the city of Colón. The unfortunate incident occurred on Saturday, October 17, during the night. Witnesses claim that Lorenzo Barco had no time to pull out his service weapon but would not allow it to be taken away from him, defending it with his life.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Evaluation of Graphical Union Actions in Mexico

On October 13, on the premises of the Mexican Industrial Trade Union of Graphical Workers (SITAG), located in Mexico City, a meeting was held by representatives from SITAG and from FNV from the Netherlands, in order to evaluate the progress made regarding the strengthening and organizing activities of SITAG and UNI Graphical in Mexico. The delegation from FNV was chaired by Astrid Kaag and accompanied by Miriam Berlak. SITAG was represented by Porfirio Cruz, Organizing Secretary, and leaders from the trade unions of Transcontinental, Smurfit and Quebecor, three graphic arts and packaging multinational companies. The meeting focused on the work carried out by SITAG in relation to the strengthening of UNI Graphical trade union networks and to union organizing activities.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



Tell Telefónica Panama Campaign

Within the framework of the “Tell Telefónica” campaign of the Call Center Action Month, Regional Director Cenise Monteiro distributed material about this campaign in one of the Movistar branches located in Panama City. This year, the campaign is intended to attract the attention of the Telefónica Group worldwide since some of its companies do not comply with the Framework Agreement signed with UNI. In Panama, Telefónica operates though its mobile telephony subsidiaries, Movistar and Atento Call Center, its customer service center. The campaign has been very successful not only in Panama but also in Brazil and Colombia.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.callcentreaction.org

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



Trade Union Leader Killed in Guatemala

Víctor Gálvez, a trade union leader of the Guatemalan agricultural sector, was brutally murdered by unknown assailants as he was getting into a red pick-up truck (see picture) after attending a meeting at the Civil Society Office in Malacatán, San Marcos. The killers shot him several times until he died. The victim, 45, was a leader of the Natural Resources Protection and Resistance Front, FRENA, and led demonstrations demanding that the power distribution company Distribuidora de Energía Eléctrica S.A. (DEOCSA), a subsidiary of the multinational Unión FENOSA, now Gas Natural, leave the country on account of the high prices it charges for its services and of its abusive behavior towards customers, forging a common front with other organizations against the company.

Contact: uni-americas@uniglobalunion.org



‘NEWS Aleara’s Newsletter

We are pleased to present to you the Newsletter of the UNI americas Gaming sector administered by ALEARA. You can access the October 2009 issue of the publication entitled “News” by clicking on this news headline.

Contact: infointernacionales@aleara.com.ar



Contributions

Please, send your comments, suggestions, and contributions to the editor of Americas info via e-mail: mario.sanchez@uniglobalunion.org; via Fax (507) 317-0170; and by traditional post to P.O. Box 0819-06290, El Dorado, Panama, Republic of Panama.