News

Regional Secretary: Rodolfo Benítez N° 60 – AUGUST – 2008



PLASTIC WORKERS’ LIVES AT RISK IN PANAMA

Workers of the company Plásticos Modernos S. A., organized in the Panamanian Plastic Industry Workers’ Union (SITIPP), submitted a list of demands to the Panamanian Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (MITRADEL). Negotiations began on July 15 and came to a halt on August 17, so 80% of male and female workers, pursuant to applicable law, voted in favor of a strike to fight for the following claims: a) Lack of Safety in operations, seriously endangering workers’ lives; b) Inappropriate Working Conditions, such as toxic gas leaks and excessive vibration and noise; c) Moral undermining and lack of respect towards staff by some supervisors, and d) Increased risk of accidents due to extremely long working hours.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



BOLIVIAN KIMBERLY CLARK UNION JOINS THE NETWORK

On August 20, 2008, at the office of the Graphical Workers’ Union of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, members of the Board of the Bolivian Kimberly Clark Union; Roque Flores Condori, General Secretary; Wilfredo Flores Aguilar, Board member, and Alfredo Téllez, trade union leader, had a meeting with Bro. Marvin Largaespada, Regional Director of UNI-Americas Graphical. At this meeting, the trade union leaders expressed Kimberly Clark workers’ interest in joining UNI Graphical and informed that last April they signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement and that they are currently trying to reverse the imposition of Internal Regulations adopted without consulting the union. “We are interested in learning about the situation of Kimberly Clark workers worldwide, as well as the activities carried out by UNI Graphical”, stated Bro. Roque Flores at the opening of the meeting.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



BOLIVIAN GRAPHICAL FEDERATION TO TAKE PART IN EVENTS OF UNI-AMERICAS GRAPHICAL

We need the support of UNI Graphical to help the Bolivian Graphical Federation (FGB) grow and become stronger, said FGB General Secretary Gutemberg Escobar at a meeting held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Trade union leaders made a request to participate in the activities organized by UNI Graphical, expressing their gratitude for having been incorporated into the Regional Collective Bargaining Network and their willingness to become an active player in all other regional activities, especially those related to organizing, collective bargaining, gender mainstreaming and empowerment.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



NEWS SUMMARY ON CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

§ 9.7 million children die worldwide each year, i.e. more than 26,000 children per day.

§ Trade in persons worldwide affects nearly 27 million individuals.

§ Trade in children for sexual and labor exploitation purposes has displaced trade in adults as the third criminal activity worldwide.

§ Trade in persons is the third most profitable criminal activity worldwide after drug and weapons trafficking, with profits estimated at 32 billion dollars, according to the United Nations. However, the UN believes the worst is yet to come.

§ Illegal trade networks have abducted more than 400 women in Argentina to mislead and discourage those that search for missing children.

Source: Google

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



BRAZIL: BANK WORKERS AGREE ON STRATEGIES AND CLAIMS AGENDA

The 10th National Conference of Brazilian Bank Workers ended on July 27, after approving the campaign strategy and claims agenda for the 2008 Wage Campaign, which is aimed at achieving a real wage increase, a higher and simpler Share of Profits and Results (PLR); the end of moral harassment and abusive goals, correct appreciation of positions; Job and Wage Plans (PCS) for all workers, and enhanced security in agencies. After three days of intense debate, with 830 delegates from all over the country in attendance, a proposal was prepared to reflect the expectations of all categories of workers.

Bancarios de Santander y Real exigen conservación de empleo y de conquistas (Santander and Real Bank Workers Demand Preservation of Jobs and Rights)

More information (in Spanish).

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



CONTRAF-CUT AND UNI LAUNCH UNPRECEDENTED TALKS WITH FENABAN

Vagner Freitas, President of the National Confederation of Brazilian Finance Workers, CONTRAF-CUT; Oliver Roethig, UNI Finance Head of Department; and presidents and representatives of CUT and other major national bank workers’ unions met with the National Bank Association FENABAN on July 28, 2008 to launch talks aimed at defining the relationship between trade union members and workers worldwide in order to sign a Framework Agreement. This is a historic moment for Brazilian workers, as it is the first time a meeting of this kind has been held in the country, bringing together workers’ and employers’ representatives of a very important sector of the economy.

CONTRAF-CUT

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



WORKSHOP ON TRADE UNION COORDINATION FOR BINATIONAL STATE-OWNED COMPANIES

As part of the UNI–LO/TCO Project 40059, the “Workshop on Trade Union Coordination for State-Owned and Binational Companies” was held from August 13 to 15, 2008. Participants included trade union representatives from Paraguay, Costa Rica and Honduras, as well as from the binational companies Itaipú (Paraguayan and Brazilian representatives) and Yacyreta (Paraguayan representatives). All in all, 49 colleagues from 11 trade unions attended the workshop.

Contact: fernando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org



CHILE: SEMINAR “ORGANIZING AND FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS IN THE TELECOM SECTOR”

This FES-sponsored seminar was held from August 11 to 13 in the city of Santiago, Chile, and was attended by South-American Telecom affiliates. The purpose of the seminar was to raise awareness about the importance of organizing when seeking to reach new Global Agreements, both with multinationals and with subcontractors working for multinationals. Towards the end, the participants—11 men and 8 women—discussed the issue at length and concluded that works councils should be established to take more action in the field of organizing and to approach unions not yet affiliated to UNI.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



STRIKE AT OCÉANO INDUSTRIA GRÁFICA Y EDITORA OF BRAZIL

Sixty workers dismissed unfairly; twelve-hour working days; non-compliance with collective bargaining agreements, and moral harassment: these are the conditions fought against by the Brazilian graphical workers’ union CONATIG and its affiliate, STIG of Jundaí, which firmly support the strike called by the workers of the company. UNI Graphical strongly rejects the treatment given by Océano Industria Gráfica to its workers and its lack of dialogue with unions, and calls upon the company to fulfill its commitments under the Buenos Aires Agreement and the Declaration of Guaruja. Likewise, UNI Graphical expects the dispute to be settled soon, for not only does it affect striking workers but also the reputation and effective operation of the Escala Group.

Contact: adriana.rosenzvaig@uniglobalunion.org



QUEBECOR PERU: POSITIVE RESULTS FOR WORKERS IN NEW CBA

The Global Agreement and the Networks implemented by UNI Graphical have resulted in a clear quantum leap for the relationship between the graphical workers’ union Quebecor Peru and the company, and in concrete improvements for the standard of living of workers. “None of this would have been possible without the Peruvian union’s commitment to enforce the Agreement for the benefit of the workers it represents,” said Adriana Rosenzvaig. “It is very encouraging to see that the Agreement is not only a declaration of goodwill between the parties but also a specific tool to build effective and legitimate social dialogue.” Additionally, the process of collective bargaining carried out at the Quebecor plant in Peru helped consolidate networks among workers of the Chilean and Peruvian plants, and make progress in the building of legitimate dialogue with the company.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



ORGANIZING AT MOVISTAR: KICK-OFF OF NATIONAL SEMINARS

The First National Seminar on Organizing at MOVISTAR was held in the city of Santiago, Chile, on August 8-9, 2008. The event was attended by representatives of our Chilean affiliates SINTELFI (Chilean Telecom Union) and SINATE (National Inter-Company Telecom Union). The purpose of these seminars is to draft an action plan to organize workers at the mega operator MOVISTAR. With this goal in mind, the personal experiences of each participant are being considered in relation to the organizing processes generated.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



NATIONAL PLENARY MEETING OF SINESSS PERU: CONCLUSIONS

The National Union of Nurses of Social Health Insurance, SINESSS, sent us the Conclusions of the Ordinary Plenary Meeting of Delegates, which took place on July 16-18, 2008. The document informs Peruvian authorities and the general public about the union’s position regarding the problems faced by the nursing sector, as well as the demands submitted by the CEN (National Executive Board) and the Bargaining Committee of SINESSS to the authorities of the sector. It also declares a State of Alert and holds said authorities accountable for the imminent mobilization of the union. Detailed information (in Spanish) can be found in the attached document by clicking on this news headline.

Source: SINESSS, www.sinesss.com



UNION STRATEGIES OF THE COMMERCE SECTOR IN THE SOUTHERN CONE

The International Affairs Secretariat of the Argentine commercial workers’ federation FAECYS, led by Bro. Rubén Cortina, organized the 2nd Meeting of Commerce Sector Unions of the Southern Cone. The issue of Multinational Companies was analyzed thoroughly and the diagnosis of the Cencosud Group—which has operations in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Colombia—was completed.

Source: Eduardo San Román FAECyS eduardosanroman@faecys.org.ar



CHILE: SANTANDER BANK 30-DAY LABOR DISPUTE COMES TO AN END

On August 1, after a long, complex and controversial collective bargaining process and a strike, the workers of Banco Santander (BANEFE) finally obtained a number of benefits, thanks to their undivided conviction, relentless willingness to fight, and the spirit of dignity they showed at all general meetings of workers. The final proposal made by the company’s financial management, strongly pressured by workers and their leaders, was approved by a large majority of those present at the union meeting, through secret voting. Immediately after finishing the metropolitan and regional vote count, workers’ representatives met with the employers and signed the agreement.

Source: CSTEBA Communication Department sec_tecnico@123.cl

SANTANDER y el aumento de la injusticia (Santander and the Rise of Injustice) (Article written by the Bank Workers’ Union of São Paulo, in Spanish).



CHILE: VARIABLE BASE PAY EQUALS MINIMUM MONTHLY INCOME UNDER NEW LAW

On July 22, 2008, Law No. 20,281 was published in the Official Gazette. Under this law, the base pay is kept level with the minimum income a worker should earn. The law assumes that workers have to comply with a number of working hours and extends the “full week” pay system to all workers who earn a base monthly salary and variable compensation. In other words, employers who are paying their workers a variable base salary lower than the minimum monthly income plus commissions, bonuses and benefits to make the salary level with said income will have to conform to the law in force within six months.

Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org



NICARAGUA: TRAINING ON TRADE UNION ACTION CONTINUES

From July 28 to August 1, 2008, the “Second Course for Trainers in Health and Safety at Work” was held in Managua, Nicaragua. This event forms part of the Project to Promote Health at Work in Central America, implemented by the Trade Union Institute for Central America and the Caribbean (ISACC) in cooperation with Comisiones Obreras and Fundació Pau i Solidaritat de la Generalitat Valenciana and with the support of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Trade Union Institute of Labour, Environment and Health (ISTAS) of Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO.) of Spain. The event was attended by 26 participants, including 4 women representing trade union centers of Central America and the Dominican Republic. UNI-Americas was represented by Regional Director Marvin Largaespada.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



CONTRIBUTIONS

We encourage our readers to send their comments, suggestions and contributions to the editor of UNI-Info via email mario.sanchez@uniglobalunion.org, by fax ++ (507) 317-0170, and by post to Apartado Postal 0819-06290, Panama, Republic of Panama.