News

UNI welcomes AT&T offer to buy T Mobile USA

“We welcome this deal, which would give T Mobile USA employees an employer who has long-standing relations with our affiliate the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and already has 42,000 union members in its workforce,” said UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings. “We will continue our global union efforts for Deutsche Telekom to sign a Global Agreement with UNI to ensure all its workers around the world have the right to join a union and bargain collectively.” UNI has been pressing Deutsche Telekom to sign a Global Agreement to protect trade union rights for all of its workers around the world, including the United States. “The sale of T-Mobile USA does not change our position that Deutsche Telekom should sign a global agreement with UNI like its European counterparts France Telecom and Telefonica,” Jennings said. Read More>>>

Click here to read the full statement from CWA on AT&T’s bid for T Mobile USA.



CCL: Lobbies CARICOM Heads of Government

Grenada. President of Caribbean Congress of Labour CCL, Senator the Hon. Comrade David Massiah and CCL General Secretary the Hon. Comrade Chester Humphrey are in Grenada lobbying the Heads of Governments of CARICOM on the urgent need to set up a "Re-Capitalisation Fund" to rescue the insolvent BAICO and the financially troubled CLICO. The CCL readily responded to an initiative from its Grenadian affiliate, Grenada Trade Union Congress GTUC who mounted a picket of placard bearing petitioners consisting of workers led by local trade Unions expressing grave anxiety over losses of Pension Fund investments, Health Insurance and short term CDs investments, property and Life Insurance with the British American Insurance Company. Read More>>>

Contact: joanne.defreitas@uniglobalunion.org



Women of the World Expect Better

Deutsche Telekom-Germany’s wholly–owned subsidiary T-Mobile USA employs more than 16,000 call centre workers in the USA. More than 10,000 are hard- working women. Many are single parents raising kids on low incomes that often qualify them for state support. They face tremendous stress on the job, can be fired at any time and after years of work only see minimum pay increases. Send a message of solidarity and support to the women of T-Mobile USA: http://www.facebook.com/loweringthebar



Canadians organise post workers in pharmacies to fight “cheap labour”

Over 2000 Canada Post counters are now open for business in pharmacies. That number is growing as Canada Post continues to open more counters in pharmacies across the country. That’s why the union representing postal workers has been busy persuading employees working at postal counters in Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix, Familiprix and Uniprix stores to join its 55,000-strong ranks. So far, the organizing drive has resulted in 211 employees in Montreal and Saskatoon joining the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. On February 28, CUPW’s Quebec region filed an application on behalf of 25 more workers at Familiprix. If the application is successful, this will raise the number of unionized postal counters in pharmacies to 51 and counting. “Although they handle mail and do the same work we do, the people working in these outlets earn the minimum wage and have precarious jobs,” pointed out Jacques Valiquette, National Director for the Montreal region of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. “As negotiations between Canada Post and CUPW continue, we want labour standards to improve for all postal workers.” Read More>>>

For more information: http://www.cupw.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/1165/la_id/1.htm



Chile: Prosegur Workers’ Alliance promotes Global Framework Agreement

Santiago. A delegation composed of Spanish union leaders from the private security sector related with the Iberian multinational Prosegur, as well as a team of UNI Global Union officers from the Head Office in Nyon and from UNI America’s Office located in Panama, made a visit to Santiago de Chile on February 21^st with the objective, among others, of promoting the possible signature of a Global Agreement with the above-mentioned company, in order to guarantee the workers’ right to organise themselves in unions; to enable them to collectively negotiate their interests and provide Decent Work conditions in every country where Prosegur operates and develops its activities. Read More>>>

Contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org



UNI celebrates release of Los Mineros leader from Mexican prison

His release came just days after the global trade union movement held solidarity demonstrations in more than 40 countries to demand the Mexican government respect trade union and human rights. During the Mexico Global Days of Action, from February 14 to February 19, unions all over the world organized rallies, demonstrations and meetings with Mexican diplomatic representatives to fight for Mexican trade union rights and to put a stop to the Mexican government’s attacks on unions and trade unionists. In Geneva, UNI held a demonstration in front of the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations along with other Global Union Federations (GUFs). UNI was also part of a GUF meeting with a representative from the Mission. Linares is a prominent leader of Los Mineros, the National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Allied Workers of Mexico (SNTMMSSRM). The charges against him were part of the Mexican government’s campaign of trade union intimidation and continued violations of the right to freedom of association. Read More>>>

You can find more information about Juan Linares and the Mexico Days of Action at:

http://www.cope378.ca/mexican-labour-leader-juan-linares-released-prison



Uruguay: UNI-Prosegur Workers’ Alliance

Montevideo. With the aim of achieving the signature of a Global Agreement with the Spanish Multinational Prosegur, which provides private security services, a delegation composed of representatives of the Federación Estatal de Actividades Diversas (State Federation of Diverse Activities) (CC.OO), the Federación de Trabajadores de Seguridad Privada (Private Security Federation of Workers) (FTSP-USO), the Federación de Servicios (Services Federation) (FES, UGT) visited Uruguay and UNI Global Union Property Services joined a series of activities in relation to the roundtable discussions about the new wage scales in the Uruguayan private security industry. Read More>>>

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



March 8^th 2011: Centenary of International Women’s Day

Hundreds of messages were received in UNI Americas Regional Office for the celebration of the International Women’s’ Day. Organisations from Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay, among others, offered their tribute through triptychs, cards, messages, power point presentations, animations, etc. Given the impossibility of showing them all, we will only publish the most outstanding. We express our deepest gratitude and satisfaction to all the organisations for joining us in this imaginary chain, to pay a well-deserved tribute to all our women colleagues. Thank you very much!.

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



Union Set To Fight For FirstCaribbean Worker

Antigua. General Secretary David Massiah is putting the bank on notice that it will not be allowed to get rid of workers without facing the wrath of the union. “We have heard word on the ground that that is going to happen here. So what we did, most of us, we have galvanised ourselves together. We have put ourselves together and we are resolute in what we have said, clearly, that we will take a strong stand against FirstCaribbean.” Massiah was up in arms after FirstCaribbean in St Lucia made three of its workers redundant on Friday, causing workers at three of the island’s branches to stage industrial action. Read More>>>

Complete article can be read: Antigua Observer.com

Contact: joanne.defreitas@uniglobalunion.org



Strike vote for Canadian postal workers

The National Executive Board of CUPW, one of UNI Post & Logistics Canadian affiliates, has unanimously adopted a resolution to conduct a strike vote for the Urban Operations Bargaining unit. The voting period will run from March 25^th to April 17th. The union in a message to their members has said, "A strike vote is necessary because we need a strong strike mandate to show Canada Post that postal workers are determined to see gains, not rollbacks, in this round of bargaining. A high “Yes” vote will send Canada Post a powerful message that they need to negotiate seriously if they want to avoid a strike."

Contact: neil.anderson@uniglobalunion.org



The Word from Wisconsin: This is Not Over!

Tens of thousands of union members and sympathetic supporters’ of Wisconsin’s state and local government employees turned out over the weekend in Madison, the state capital, to protest the union-busting law jammed through the state legislature last week. Backed by the entire U.S. labor movement, their message was simple: “This fight is not over!”. The state’s Republican Party establishment violated the Wisconsin law on public meetings to use a parliamentary trick to overcome the Democrat’s boycott of the Senate, and the public’s overwhelming opposition, in order to pass a law that effectively strips the states’ public employees of their collective bargaining rights. “In a stroke of his pen,” AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka said, “Governor Walkers has wiped civil rights established 60 years ago – this will not stand!”. The new law prohibits unions from negotiating on any matter except wages, and even then limits wage increases to no greater than the rate of inflation. State and local government agencies would be free to set staffing levels, adjust hours and working conditions and alter pension and health care plans unilaterally, without any negotiations with their workers. The new law also prohibits public employers in Wisconsin from collecting dues through payroll deduction and requires unions to hold an annual vote on whether employees’ wish to continue to be represented by a union – and rigging these so-called recertification votes by requiring the support of “50% plus one” of all employees eligible to vote, not just those who choose to vote. Read More>>>

Contact: rachel.cohen@uniglobalunion.org



Solidarity with earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan

Panama City. On behalf of more than 4 million workers from 34 countries of the Americas and the Caribbean, UNI Americas expresses solidarity and support with the people of Japan, in this tragic and dreadful moments they are going through, as a result of the devastating tsunami which struck the north-western coast of the country, on March 11th 2011, causing the death of thousands of people, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure, with an economic loss estimated at around 100 thousand million dollars. The Americas and the Caribbean express solidarity with all Japanese workers, especially with affiliates from UNI Asia & Pacific (UNI APRO) during these terrible moments. We are sure, that as in previous natural disasters, Japan and its people will successfully overcome this adversity. Read More>>>

UNI americas: uni-americas@uniglobalunion.org



Elections in Wal-Mart Store at Lujan city, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Buenos Aires. “After a year of struggling in order to make Wal Mart accomplish the commerce collective agreement, with strikes and public demonstrations, the local management opened negotiations with the Commerce local union which is affiliated to FAECYS and agreed to pay salaries for overtime and other working conditions. The union pushed for shopstewards elections and they took place last week. Two delegates from three were elected and social dialogue will continue. The President of UNI-Americas, Ruben Cortina, was present during the whole day of elections, having meetings together with the Secretary General of the local union, brother Sergio Gauna, with the workers at the working place, the HR manager and the general manager of the store." Read More>>>

Contact: rcortina@faecys.org.ar



The Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action – CAFRA

Port Spain. The Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action – CAFRA, wants to commemorate the significant and memorable date of 8 of March, highlighting the historic achievements of Women in Trinidad &Tobago, and gives a simple brief on the national position of the Women’s Movement in T&T. On this 100^th anniversary of International Women’s Day, CAFRA T&T calls for the adoption of the Trinidad and Tobago National Gender Policy and Action Plan, the development of which was agreed to by Cabinet almost a decade ago in September 2002. To read the complete report please click on "Related Files".

Contact: joanne.defreitas@uniglobalunion.org



APWU, USPS Reach Tentative Agreement on New Contract

The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) reports the following in its News Bulletin 01-2011, March 14, 201: "The American Postal Workers Union and the U.S. Postal Service have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, union President Cliff Guffey announced today. “Despite the fact that the Postal Service is on the edge of insolvency, the union and management have reached an agreement that is a ‘win-win,’ proposition,” he said. “Throughout the bargaining process, the union has sought to negotiate a contract that would be fair to our members and that would enable the USPS to succeed in the future,” he said. “The tentative agreement accomplishes those goals. “The new contract will safeguard jobs, protect retirement and healthcare benefits, and provide a 3.5 percent wage increase over the life of the contract. The first raise will be in November 2012,” Guffey said. Read More>>>

Contact: esther.bares@uniglobalunion.org



Bahamas Unions protest the Sale of 51% BTC to Cable and Wireless

Bahamian Unions, the Bahamas TU Federation and the Bahamian public are protesting the sale of 51% of Bahamas Telecom Company BTC, a traditionally profitable and well run national company, to Cable and Wireless, a well-known Telecoms multinational operating in the Caribbean for nearly a century. The arrangement proposes that 30 % of the jobs at the Company will be lost. UNI Telecom affiliate, BCPOU Bahamas represents BTC workers and is now embroiled in a costly, legal battle initiated by the Company against the Union.

Contact: joanne.defreitas@uniglobalunion.org



Postal workers tell Canada Post No, No, No to claw back demands

The Give. Last week the employer presented the Union with a proposal on Unaddressed Admail. CPC proposed some additional time values including a new outside time value for the most affected routes. They proposed to structure Letter Carrier routes using a weight of 30 pounds per relay stop for combined Lettermail and Unaddressed Admail and eliminate the current values for weight. According to management about half of the routes would actually lose values but on average a letter carrier route would gain values of approximately one minute per day for unaddressed admail. Management plans to partially subsidize the cost of this extra minute by lowering the per piece payment to 2.2 cents from 2.3 cents for some sizes. Immediately after their presentation CPC distributed a Team Leader’s Update so that supervisors could inform CUPW members about their offer. Read More>>>

Contact: neil.anderson@uniglobalunion.org



International union movement forces labour reform in Guatemala

On April 2008, the US AFL-CIO and 6 Guatemalan union organisations, jointly filed a complaint before the US Department of Labour against the Guatemalan government for multiple violations of labour legislation and disrespect towards labour fundamental standards. This denouncement was made in the framework of Chapter 16 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), which expressly treats labour issues. Last week, the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton announced that mediation or other processes might be started, due to the unsatisfactory response of Guatemala towards the issue of violation of labour rights. During more than two years, the Guatemalan, North American and international labour movement exerted all possible means of pressure so that Guatemala would appropriately exercise labour rights and should make the necessary changes, but this has not yet been fulfilled since the complaint was filed. Read More>>>

For further information contact: jose.molina@uniglobalunin.org



Wisconsin Prosecutor Challenges Anti-Worker Bill

A Wisconsin prosecutor has filed a lawsuit challenging the recently approved Republican-backed law that strips the collective bargaining rights of most public sector employees. The suit from Dane County Prosecutor Ismael Ozanne accuses Republicans of violating the state’s open meeting laws in pushing the bill through the state legislature. Ozanne is the second Wisconsin public official to file a legal challenge over the anti-union legislation.

Source: Democracy Now! NY, USA





Thousands Protest as Michigan Enacts Emergency Management Laws

Thousands of people rallied at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing Wednesday as Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed a package of anti-worker bills into law. The measures grant appointed emergency financial managers sweeping new powers to break union contracts, dismiss elected officials, and even disincorporate entire municipalities. At least 14 people were arrested after staging a sit-in inside the Capitol. Police used pepper spray to prevent a group of protesters entering the building.

Source: Democracy Now! NY, USA



Study: 800,000 to Contract Cholera in Haiti

A new study is warning up to 800,000 people will contract cholera in Haiti this year. According to the medical journal The Lancet, the figure is double the predictions of United Nations agencies on the ground.

Source: Democracy Now! NY, USA



FedEx benefits observed with caution

EFE. Nueva York, USA. FedEx earned $ 894 million (2.82 per share) in the first nine months of its fiscal year, representing an increase of 17% year it achieved although in recent months was affected by higher crude oil and unusual weather in the U.S. The second largest courier company in the world explained yesterday, before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange, its revenue increased 14% over the first nine months of last year and reached 28 thousand 752 million dollars. "The progressive growth of the global economy is generating solid revenue increases in our transportation business," concluded the president and CEO of FedEx, Frederick Smith, in a statement presenting the results. However, only in the third fiscal quarter (December-February), the company saw its profit fell 3% year on year to $ 231 million (73 cents per share), although its quarterly revenue rose by 11% and reached 9.663 million dollars. Read More>>>

Source: La Prensa.com



AT&T will buy T-Mobile USA for about US$ 39 billion

New York (Reuters). AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will buy T-Mobile USA of Deutsche Telekom AG in a cash and stock transaction valued at close to 39 billion dollars. The purchase price includes a cash payment of 25 billion dollars. The balance will be paid with shares of AT&T. AT&T has the right to increase the portion of the purchase price in cash, up to 4 billion 200 million dollars. AT&T may increase the cash component provided Deutsche Telekom received at least 5% equity for it. The agreement was approved by the boards of both companies.

Source: La Prensa.com



Brazil: Concluded Vivo buying process

Río de Janeiro, Brazil. Telefónica completed the takeover bid on the shares of minority shareholders of Vivo, Brazil's largest mobile operator, an operation by U.S. $ 757.4 million, announced the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange. With this operation, the Brazilian subsidiary of Spanish multinational bought 10.63 million shares with voting rights, a total of 15.22 million that were placed in the tender and amount to almost 70% of the auction, as reported by the square São Paulo. The Spanish company ran last year with the entire stock of 10 000 Brasilcel after paying $ 600 million to Portugal Telecom for their participation. Both halves of the property shared by Brasilcel, which controls 60% of Vivo.

Source: La Prensa.com



Wisconsin Judge Blocks Union-Busting Bill

A Wisconsin state judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking implementation of Gov. Scott Walker’s union-busting bill. Judge Maryann Sumi ruled that Republican lawmakers were likely in violation of the state open meeting laws when it pushed through the legislation two weeks ago.

Source: Democracy Now! NY-USA



What Canada Post "forgot" to tell workers says the union

Recently Canada Post management sent a six-page brochure to all members’ homes, which claims to provide details of their Global Offer. The Canadian Postal Workers Union says here are some of the details that they did not tell workers about.

For current employees:

1. Elimination of the 7th week of vacation leave if you do not already receive it.

For employees hired after the date of signing:

17. PO2s, PO4s, letter carriers and MSCs will start at an hourly rate of $17.50 and only be paid for 37.5 hours per week instead of 40 hours. This would result in an annual income of $34,240.50. The current starting annual income of a PO4 is $49,513.13. The difference is $15,272.63.

Read More>>>

Contact: neil.anderson@uniglobalunion.org



America Movil lower debt issuance

Mexico D.F. America Movil SAB, the largest debt issuer in Latin America last year, will reduce bond sales in 2011, after having satisfied their needs for long-term financing and an acquisition by 23 billion, said Chief Financial Officer the company. "I do not foresee such exceptional operations," said CFO Carlos Garcia Moreno in a telephone interview. "Today we have a good liquidity position." America Móvil, the largest mobile telephony throughout the Americas, will pay a thousand dollars 200 million in dividends this year and split its shares 2 for 1. The Mexico-based company issued 8.500 million in bonds last year in Mexico and abroad, surpassing the total debt sold by state oil producer Petroleos Mexicanos, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Read More>>>

Source: La Prensa.com



AT&T and T-Mobile merger means better broadband

"The acquisition of T-Mobile USA by AT&T is good news for everyone who realizes that the United States needs to catch up to the rest of the world when it comes to broadband speed and buildout. It presents a real opportunity to expand true high speed broadband in this country that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. AT&T and T-Mobile use the same GSM technology. With the benefit of shared spectrum, that’s a big advantage for customers over other U.S. wireless companies that were looking to buy T-Mobile. Initially, the deal means that T-Mobile customers will get quick access to the AT&T network, with data speeds of at least 10 megabits downstream. It means that AT&T customers will benefit from expanded spectrum and a bigger network. Maybe even more important, with AT&T’s commitment to build out high speed broadband service to 95 percent of the country, the U.S. will begin to close the digital divide that affects so many American families, especially those in rural communities..."

More Information



Wal-Mart Sues

AP. Washington U.S. Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday from the arguments of the parties to decide whether to proceed with the largest class action ever, alleged employment discrimination by women against Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer. The lawsuit could cover between 500,000 and one million 600 thousand women, according to various estimates, and could cost Wal-Mart compensation for the billions of dollars. One of the applicants is Christine Kwapnoski, who has had anything bad income in almost 25 years he has worked at Wal-Mart. Kwapnoski earns just over 60 thousand dollars a year in a job he enjoys most of the day. Read More>>>

Source: La Prensa.com



Supreme Court must rule to ensure equality in the workplace

Jennifer Stapleton, Assistant Director of the United Food and Commercial Worker’s Making Change at Walmart campaign, issued the following statement in response to this morning’s Supreme Court proceedings in the Walmart Stores v. Dukes case: “This morning, before the U.S. Supreme Court, legal representatives for the more than one million women of Dukes v. Walmart Stores stood up for the right to fairly challenge the years of inequality these women experienced in the workplace. “Making Change at Walmart stands with all Walmart associates as they strive to secure the respect in the workplace they deserve. However, Walmart’s response to this case – that the company is too big for justice – threatens not only the rights of the women of Dukes, but the rights of all workers, male and female, who seek fair treatment and respect at work. Read More>>>

Contact: Casie Yoder cyoder@ufcw.org



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.