News

For the life of Security Guards

In Panama City, with the presence of the main mass media of the country, the launching of the Campaign for the Life of Security Guards was carried out, an initiative of UNI Global Union through its Americas Regional Office. In the presence of union leaders of the private security sector, UNI Americas Regional Secretary Raul Requena made the opening of the campaign, which is essentially aimed at protecting the life of men and women who work in this activity, through the implementation of a substantial improvement of their working conditions. This campaign seeks for the authorities to appropriately regulate the private security activity. “This is a call for governments which overlook this issue, immersed in the utmost idleness, while hundreds of lives of workers of the private security sector are being taken away, and thousands of relatives who survive them, wander about in hopelessness, before the indulgence of the companies which do not assume responsibilities” said Raul Requena.

Contact: alberto.barrow@uniglobalunion.org



Evaluation of strategies of Collective Bargaining

During October 29^th and 30^th, a Seminar of Collective Bargaining for affiliates and fellow organisations of the Graphical & Packaging Sector of Panama was carried out. This Seminar was part of the programme of implementation of a Regional Network on Collective Bargaining that UNI Graphics has been developing for three years, in which various successful actions have been brought about. “We succeeded in incorporating the name UNI Global Union in the definitions inside the Collective Agreement as one of the settlements we achieved last year”, expressed Pedro Hurtado, General Secretary of the Union of Graphic workers, SITGRAF.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Americas Telecom Regional Committee Meeting.

With the presence of Marcus Courtney, UNI Telecom Global Head of Department; Raul Requena, UNI Americas' Regional Secretary, Rubén Cortina, UNI americas' President and Cenise Monteiro, Regional Director of the Sector, along with union representatives of the Telecom organisations of Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, USA, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and Surinam, , the annual Regional Committee Meeting took place in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, with the aim of making a revision on the situation of the sector in the Americas. During the meeting, several debates on important issues were held, like carrying out a mega organisation campaign in companies like América Móvil and Telmex, and also the merging of UNI Europe’s IBITS and Telecom sectors. In this regard, Marcus Courtney elaborated a report which contains valuable information on the importance of this merging for the growth of these two UNI sectors.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org



DHL Workers in Colombia can Count on ITF and UNI

Representatives of the Trade Union of Postal Workers in Colombia, STPC distributed flyers and postcards to DHL workers in Bogota as part of the global week of action. “We are coming on behalf of DHL workers in Germany. At this moment activities are realized throughout the world so that all DHL workers get to know their rights and they want you to know that you are not alone.” Eight STPC colleagues showed up at the entrance and exit of the main DHL Express building in Bogotá in the morning on 9 November. DHL workers received the material and were interviewed on their working conditions. Some asked for more information and embarked on a longer conversation about “Who are UNI and ITF”, “What is the global campaign about”, “What is a Global Agreement” or “How do unions improve working conditions”. In the afternoon the team went to the DHL Global side with the same mission. Some DHL workers were afraid of talking to the union representatives, they were obviously nervous to be seen by DHL management or to be recorder by the security cameras. However, Colombian DHL workers have been encouraged to contact a union if they feel that their rights are violated by the company.

Contact: ivonne.jackelen@uniglobalunion.org



Historic Event in Guatemalan Society

On 12 November, the Guatemalan unions USTAC (Trade Union of Civil Aviation Workers) and SITRADGTMICIVI (Union of Department of Transport, Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing) carried out a protest march not only demanding "Respect DHL workers" but “Respect for Workers’ Rights” in general because in Guatemala, it is not only multinational companies that disregard workers’ rights but also national ones. A group of 70 activists gathered in front of and inside the Air Terminal Building La Aurora in Guatemala City where most companies operate, including DHL. By distributing flyers and postcards people got involved in conversations about the objective of the campaign and the issue of workers’ rights in general. Fellow workers who have shown interest in joining USTAC joined into the protest thus showing their support and agreement with the union demands. Various speeches altered with music, all together creating a positive atmosphere of workers reaching out to other workers informing them about their rights and about what unions can do for them. Not a single negative reaction could be observed, no critical comment was made but the contrary as it was seen as a great action more than necessary in a country like Guatemala where workers’ rights are not respected.

Contact: ivonne.jackelen@uniglobalunion.org



Decisions for Life – Global Partner gathered in Brussels

Over 40 participants from different countries around the world were present in the life decision - Global Partner Meeting, held in Brussels, Belgium, on 22 and 23 October. The meeting served to assess the achievements of each country involved in DFL project. As part of the activities, delegates exchanged information on the actions that each organization is committed to develop to meet the objectives of the project and share new ideas to promote formal employment and equal opportunities for young women in the labor market. At this meeting, UNI was represented by the Head of Department for Equal Opportunities Veronica Fernandez Mendez, along with Raquel Mora Department Assistant in Nyon, Rosangela da Silva from FETIGESP Brazil and the Responsible of UNI Women's Group in the Americas, Kathy Gonzalez.

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



Meeting with the Argentinean Women’s Network

On November 2, during a visit of Kathy Gonzalez to the UNI Americas Sub-regional Office in Buenos Aires, the Vice President of the Women's Committee, Sister Gladys Zamponi organized a meeting with the Argentinean Women’s Network. Delegates from trade union of: La Bancaria, ALEARA, FUVA, FAECYS, and FATSA took part of the meeting. The meeting served to exchange valuable information. The delegates were informed about the official designation of Kathy Gonzalez as Responsible of the Women’s Group of in UNI americas, and also Liaison Person with UNI for Hair & Beauty Sector. The news was greatly welcomed by the delegates who expressed satisfaction for this appointment, and committed their support and collaboration so that the task is successfully achieved.

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



Respect for DHL Workers in Panama

On 10 November, 188 years of independence of Panama from Spain was commemorated by the Panamanian union and ITF affiliate SIELAS together with other organizations in honor of the heroes who gave their lives for the independence. At the same occasion, SIELAS expressed their solidarity with DHL workers and their support for the UNI and ITF campaign for a global and social pact. The activists reinforced their call for respect with protests at the Tocumen airport and in front of the DHL in Costa del Este on 13 November. DHL workers in Panama say, the company prohibits to get organized and to speak about "union" and recent redundancies force them to work overtime to replace the fired workers. The workers were obviously frightened when the union addressed the issue of the intimidation policy the company has in place in its four work centers.

Contact: ivonne.jackelen@uniglobalunion.org



Stop the violence against women: Break the circle!

Beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign

It started in 1991 when participants in the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute chose the dates November 25 and December 10—International Human Rights Day—to symbolically show that violence against women is a violation of human rights. In 1999, the UN officially joined the campaign after designating November 25 as the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women

International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women

Since 1981, women activists for women’s rights have observed November 25 as the day for elimination of violence against women. This date was chosen to mark the brutal assassination, in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters (political activists in the Dominican Republic) by order of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961). The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women following a petition from the Dominican Republic, which was endorsed by over sixty governments.

Gender inequality causes gender violence. And violence only increases inequality.

Break the circle! Join us!

UNI global union



Outsourced Telmex workers protest

On November 18^th, in Bogota, Colombia, 120 ex workers of the company TV-SAT S.A., protested in front of Telmex’s offices, their rights damaged as a result of the fact that neither the company nor Telmex, co responsible of the outsourcing, should assume the payment of their labour guarantees. In this act, the iniquity of outsourcing for the workers affected by this modality was denounced. Both companies refuse to assume their labour responsibilities offloading it to one another, and this is the reason why this contracting modality was rejected. It is worth mentioning that the representative of TELMEX, Mr. Mario Cuartas, conditioned the negotiation, to the absence of the Worker’s Centrals, the Ministry of Social Protection or the unions, that is to say, he also disallowed the presence of UNI. Finally, a written compromise was reached with TELMEX to make the payment of labour obligations to its outsourced ex workers from December 7^th, 2009.

Contact: cenise.monteiro@uniglobalunion.org leonor.sierra@uniglobalunion.org



Caribbean MNC Targeted by UNI Unions

Over 30 participants from 13 Caribbean countries participated in a seminar focused on “Organising and Global Framework Agreements in Multinationals” held in Trinidad and Tobago from 9-12 November 2009, sponsored by the FES and organised for UNI Affiliates by the UNI americas Caribbean Support Center located in Trinidad and Tobago. Among the various Multinationals operating in the Caribbean discussed during the Seminar, a few were singled out for “special mention” based on their anti-worker and anti-Union tactics, while others were highlighted as strategic potential organising targets for regional Unions. Issues of concerns regarding workers rights and conditions of work arose in RBTT/Royal Bank of Canada, FCIB, G4Securicor, KFC, Western Union, Cable and Wireless, DHL, Digicel, CLICO and others.

Contact: joanne.defreitas@uniglobalunion.org



International Day of Non-Violence against Women – November 25^th

FATIDA- Argentina

….we must fight against silence, discrimination, impunity, dependence and theoretical justifications of any kind, which tolerate and seek to absolve violence towards women. And also against neoliberal policies, which strengthen any form of attack against rights especially those of women’s.

CONAGRA - Chile

….Violence does not only manifest itself at home, but women suffer violence at work, in society, due to unjust and discriminatory laws, which only deepen inequality between men and women.

Women’s Network - Brazil

….The fight for the suppression of violence against women and girls will only be successful if we count with the participation of the society as a whole.

Meeting - Panama

More than 60 union delegates were gathered at the Soloy Hotel in Panama City to commemorate the International Day of Non – violence Against Women and Girls. Union Organisations affiliated to National Centrals and UNI Americas shared a one- day work meeting which included several activities with workshops on domestic violence at work.

Contact: uni-americas@uniglobalunion.org



Mexican women in the Circle of Violence

The State of Mexico is the federative entity registering an index of women’s deaths higher in terms of statistics r than the Municipality of Ciudad Juárez, Chichuahua. “It surpasses the deaths by violence. There are also states as Chiapas, Oaxaca, where aggression against women is statistically high in comparison to other States of the Mexican Republic”, Lic. Eva Munguía Paz made known in her masterly speech Violence against Women, presented at the site of the National Union of Workers of Mexican Postal Service, SEPOMEX. Furthermore, she pointed out that “a world statistics establishes that more of a 90% of women’s mortality who suffer violence was caused by men with whom they have held an emotional relationship.”

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Graphical delegation visit Kimberly Clark plant in Brazil

A delegation of UNI Graphic Americas, CEP of Canada and SINAP visited the plant of Kimberly Clark in the city of Mogi das Cruzes. The delegation consisited of Leonardo del Roy, President of UNI Graphic Americas and CONATIG, Marvin Largaespada Regional Director, Dave Coles, President of CEP and Duncan Brown, CEP (who is also the president of the Multinationals Working Group of UNI Graphic Global Union) and Iduigues Ferreira Martins, president of the National Union of Paper of Brazil.

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



Historic milestone between Graphics and Paper workers in Brazil

Under the motto “Fights, Work and Conquests”, the Third Congress of the National Union of Paper Workers of Brazil, SINAP was opened. This congress took place in San Sebastián, a city near São Paulo, and was developed during November 27^th 28^th and 29^th, 2009. 150 participants attended the meeting, including delegates from 12 States of the county apart from national and international guests. In the opening ceremony, the President of SINAP, colleague Iduigues Ferreira Martins expressed: “While employers try to divide us up, we are working together, we are joined together now graphic and paper workers of Brazil in the UNI Global Union”

Contact: marvin.largaespada@uniglobalunion.org



Parade for women’s life in Panama

As a part of various activities carried out in commemoration of the International day of the eradication of violence, social and labour organisations paraded along the streets of Panama City to make their voices heard in protest against gender violence. The parade for women’s life in Panama was summoned by the Women’s Meeting Space of the General Central of Workers, CGTP, and UNI Americas Global Union was invited to participate together with union organisations affiliated to UNI in the country. The male and female demonstrators were holding female cardboard figures with the names of more than 60 murdered women that had been victims of domestic violence so far this year. When reaching the Supreme Court of Justice, the multitude claimed for the presence of the President of the Court, Dr. Harley Mitchell, who came out in the company of the magistrate Vìctor Benavides, to receive from the hands of the demonstrators a list of requests in which the application of more severe laws to stop violence was demanded.

Contact: briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org



UNI Campaign arises interest to organise Private Security in Panama

In the framework of the Campaign For the Life of Security Guards, an initiative of UNI Americas Regional Office launched in Panama City recently, a series of meetings have been held with different social actors in the country, aimed at finding a consented way out towards the organisation of the private security industry, which presently develops in completely adverse conditions for near 17.000 men and women employed in the activity. With that purpose, a call made some days ago by the Honourable Congressman José Blandón Figueroa must be highlighted. He expressed his political will to adopt a draft law regulating the activity of private security in Panama, in the face of the situation of extreme vulnerability in which these workers develop their work, and taking into account that so far this year in less than 10 months, the murder of 19 colleagues has taken place while performing their duties.

Contact: alberto.barrow@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 November 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.