UNI-Americas Info Bulletin for September 2008
Regional Secretary: Rodolfo Benítez N° 61 – SEPTEMBER – 2008
UNION ALLIANCE U. FENOSA GUATEMALA: COORDINATION WORKSHOP
Organized within the context of the UNI-LO/TCO Project 40059 for the Electricity Sector, the “Coordination Workshop Alianza Unión Fenosa” was held on September 24-26, 2008, in the city of Guatemala. Its main goal was to develop initiatives for social dialogue with electricity multinationals. The event was attended by trade union representatives from Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia and Guatemala. Additionally, Guatemalan trade unions SITRAPDEORSA and SITRADEORSA requested their affiliation to UNI.
Contact: fenando.mcmaster@uniglobalunion.org
UNI-AMERICAS GAMING MAKES PROGRESS AT ITS FIRST ANNUAL MEETING
To hold its first Annual Meeting, UNI-Americas Gaming gathered on September 15-16, 2008, in São Paulo, Brazil. Twenty trade union representatives from six Latin American countries and Spain attended the event. Led by Alke Boessiger, Head of the UNI Gaming Global Union Department, and Daniel Amoroso, President of the sector in the Americas, the work carried out during the two days covered the wide rage of factors that strengthen the organizing effort of UNI Global Union in Panama, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay and Brazil in relation to bingo and casino workers.
For more information: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org
URIBE DENOUNCED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN COLOMBIA
An International Opinion Court sitting in Brussels accused the Colombian Administration of Álvaro Uribe for human rights violations, and held other Europeans responsible for providing “political and moral support” to the South-American president. Filings during the sessions included “documents with conclusive evidence that the Colombian government was involved in crimes against humanity” such as “forced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, forced displacements and torture”, according to Court coordinator Lilia Solano. When enquired about concrete cases involving President Uribe, Solano mentioned the so-called "Massacre of El Aro", occurred in 1997 in the region of Antioquia, at that time ruled by the now Head of the Colombian State.
Source: Agency France Presse – Contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org
WORLD ACTION DAY FOR DECENT WORK
The International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC, and the Global Union Federations, GUFs – of which UNI is a member -, have launched a World Day for Decent Work - October 7 – an action which is to last for two years starting in 2008. The World Day, an unprecedented experience, is aimed at mobilizing the international trade union movement in relation to three major themes:
1. Rights at work – promoting increased knowledge about fundamental labor rights around the world.
2. Solidarity – practical action involving worldwide cooperation among trade unions.
3. Putting an end to poverty and inequality – a new, economically fair globalization.
For more information about activities organized by UNI in connection with this Day, please visit: http://www.uniglobalunion.org/wddw. For more information about worldwide trade union activities, please visit: http://www.wddw.org Contact: rodolfo.benitez@uniglobalunion.org
THIRD UNI-AMERICAS TELECOM REGIONAL CONFERENCE
On November 18-19, 2008, the Third UNI-Americas Telecom Regional Conference will be held in the City of Panama. The relevant Invitation, Agenda and Registration Form are already available for organizations and members of the Regional Committee of this Sector interested in participating in the event. To see the documents, please click on the title of this article.
Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org
CONTACT WITH GRAPHICAL TRADE UNIONS OF CARACAS-BASED MULTINATIONALS
Trade unions of multinational companies affiliated to the Venezuelan Federation of Graphical Industry Workers (FETIG) met on September 8, 2008 in Caracas, at the headquarters of the Unified Trade Union of Graphical Workers (SUTAG). The gathering was attended by trade union members and shop stewards of the companies Smurfit-Kappa Cartón de Venezuela (Caracas branch), Mercantil Provincial (MERPRO) of the business group CARVAJAL, and AKTA Manufactu. Trade union leaders reported on the repression and harassment perpetrated by the companies, their strategy to weaken trade unions and the negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement. They expressed their satisfaction and interest in maintaining contact with an international organization like UNI Graphical, as well as in working to strengthen and enlarge their organizations.
Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org
VENEZUELA: PACKAGING, CARDBOARD AND PAPER MULTINATIONALS SHARPEN STRATEGIES
A Workshop on Collective Bargaining, aimed at trade unions of the graphical, packaging, cardboard and paper sector, was held on September 6, 2008, in the city of Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela. The event, organized by FEUTRAGRAPC (Single Federation of Graphical, Paper and Cardboard Workers), was attended by workers of graphical trade unions from the States of Lara, Maracay, Yaracuy, Maracay and Valencia. Other workers represented the trade unions of the multinationals Kimberly Clark, Moore-Donnelley, Smurfit-Kappa, Thomas Greg and Son, and Manpa. Discussions involved the problem of Collective Bargaining, the process to report on it, negotiators’ characteristics, and the incorporation of Common Bargaining Guidelines related to non-discrimination and access to the workplace.
Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org
VISIT TO VENEZUELAN GRAPHICAL MULTINATIONALS
Amidst a complicated context generated by discussions that lasted for five months, a Collective Bargaining Agreement was finally signed at Kimberly Clark. It is worth remembering that on May 23 a strike paralyzed the whole company for 24 hours. Bro. Marvin Largaespada, UNI-Americas Graphical Regional Director, visited Kimberly Clark’s plant in Venezuela on September 4, 2008. The company’s management expressed its willingness to hold a meeting with the trade union.
“We have succeeded in developing a mature and growing relationship, and we have paved the way for progress”, said Jamileth Salerno, Head of Organizational Culture and Leadership. “We promote repeated pauses which has resulted in fewer accidents.” Bro. Largaespada also visited Smurfit-Kappa, the Smurfit-Kappa Graphical Union, and TETRAPAK, Montana Gráfica and Corrugadora Latina, Mariara, Carabobo.
Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org
APWU SUPPORTS BARACK OBAMA FOR U.S. PRESIDENT
Before more than 3,200 delegates present at the XIX Convention of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) recently held in Las Vegas, Nevada, APWU President William Burrus introduced U.S. presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, remarking that the convention was about to listen to the “candidate of change”, a comment that was received with an ovation by the audience, which also cried “Yes, we can!” During his speech, video broadcast via satellite, Senator Obama told delegates present at the Convention that it was time to introduce the change US working families needed, and he added that “it is high time we chose a government that does not choke on hearing the words ‘trade union’; a president that will allow trade unions to do what they can do best, that is, organize our workers. A president who, once and for all, will make of the Employee Free Choice Act the law of the nation”.
Contact: rodolfo.benitez@uniglobalunion.org
INTERNATIONAL LABOR FORUM: PRIVATIZATION A WORLDWIDE MENACE
Within the context of the XIX Biannual Convention of the American Postal Workers Union held in Las Vegas, Nevada, a Labor Forum on the Privatization/Liberalization of the Universal Postal Service was also organized, with a panel of trade union experts and the presence of hundreds of delegates, who concluded that the power of companies – the driving force of globalization – is forcing governments to privatize postal and other public services. In this regard, Dave Ward, Deputy General Secretary of the British Communications Workers Union, recalled the disastrous privatization experience of postal services in his country. Meanwhile, British consumers are left with an undermined universal postal service as 50 private postal companies “select” the most profitable services of the Royal Mail. Neil Anderson, Head of UNI Post & Logistics Global Union, and Rodolfo Benítez, UNI-Americas Regional Secretary, joined the debate to decide on the best strategies to fight corporate efforts aimed at making business agreements that are against the interest of workers.
Contact: rodolfo.benitez@uniglobalunion.org
“THE VERY EXISTENCE OF OUR JOBS IS AT STAKE”
In the face of difficult challenges, APWU President William Burrus told delegates to the XIX Union Convention, “We have two invaluable weapons: the men and women members of the American Postal Workers Union and the millions of Americans who will fight for what we consider a national treasure - the United States Postal Service.” “In past conventions, we focused our attention on improving conditions for the employees we represent,” Burrus said in his key address in Las Vegas. “This year, it is not the quality of our jobs that is at stake, but their very existence. In 2008, the future of the Postal Service is in imminent danger.” Contact: rodolfo.benitez@uniglobalunion.org
MOVISTAR PROJECT: NATIONAL SEMINARS
As a continuation of UNI-SASK Project 388 to Coordinate and Organize Latin American MOVISTAR Workers, three National Seminars were held in September, in the following Central American countries: Guatemala, 3-4; El Salvador, 6-7 and Nicaragua, 12-13. In all the seminars, strategies were devised to organize said workers.
Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org
QUEBECOR PERU WORKERS WELCOME COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
The trade union and UNI-Americas Graphical distributed the Agreement among workers, and discussed with them its content and scope. Meanwhile, the company quickly began to fulfill agreed commitments involving wage adjustments and the payment of a closing bonus. Both the Board and the Negotiation Committee underlined the importance of this document to maintain a mutually understanding and respectful relationship with the company.
Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org
MEXICO: SITAG RELAUNCHED
On August 29, 2008 the Mexican Industrial Trade Union of Graphical Workers, SITAG, was relaunched with the presence of members of the National Committee, including Eligio Valencia, General Secretary, and Porfirio Cruz, Organization Secretary, and shop stewards from different regions, such as San Luís Potosí, Toluca, Tijuana and the State of Mexico. “The situation is not easy”, stated the General Secretary. “Multinationals are pressing trade unions to prevent them from having international connections, which hinders our move to create networks”, he added.
Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org
GREETINGS FROM FOECYT TO ARGENTINE POSTMEN
“In this new celebration, the big postal family of FOECYT wishes to give a symbolic fraternal embrace to all our colleagues who walk along the streets of our country, and to congratulate them on the work they perform, at times, in unfavorable conditions. They not only fulfill clear goals but also exalt one of the oldest institutions in the country and contribute to the development of the Nation”. Thus, the National Board of the Argentine Postal and Telecommunications Workers Federation, FOECYT, greeted all Argentine Postmen on September 14.
Source: FOECYT prensa@foecytargentina.org
REPRISALS AGAINST BANEFE CHILE WORKERS
Less than a month since the end of the strike called by BANEFE and after workers resumed their normal activities, the company’s management started an anti union action by retaliating against those workers who adhered to the strike called by trade union leaders. This maneuver is aimed at destroying the trade union by offering money to workers who did not go on strike, thus disheartening employees and encouraging them to leave their trade union. The Banking Confederation will denounce these practices against trade unions to the relevant administrative authority, for their only objective is to punish those who were brave enough to fight for better pay and working conditions.
Source: CSTEBA confederacionbancaria@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTIONS
We encourage our readers to send their comments, suggestions and contributions to the editor of UNI-Info, via e-mail mario.sanchez@uniglobalunion.org; Fax (507) 317-0170, or by mail to Apartado Postal 0819-06290, El Dorado, Panama, Republic of Panama.