CFMEU - Mining and Energy Division
solidarity
Global news
Mexico Days of Action 2012
From the International Metalworkers' Federation, via ICEM
Trade unionists around the world will mobilize during the week of February 19-25, calling on the Mexican government to stop its attack on workers and implement steps to allow for workers to organize independent democratic trade unions of their choosing.
Explicit Trade Union Language Adopted by UN’s Global Compact for Rio+20
13 February 2012
Disappointed with a draft of the UN Global Compact document “Corporate Sustainability Leadership: A Framework for Action at Rio+20 and Beyond,” global labour’s two representatives on the body – ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda and UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings – worked to get stronger trade union language adopted by the Global Compact for the UN’s June 2012 World Summit on Sustainable Development, dubbed “Rio+20.”
That effort succeeded last week when the Global Compact accepted inclusion of a better accounting of the social dimension of sustainability. All UN agencies, including the Global Compact, have been preparing their input to that summit.
At the insistence of Warda and Jennings, the document now calls on businesses fully respect human rights, including the rights of workers. Governments are called on to guarantee a high standard of social protection, and to establish programmes that support a Just Transition to a future with sustainable jobs and decent work in both existing industries and in new and greener ones.
ICEM and UNI worked to get reference to fairness, equity, justice, social dialogue, and Global Framework Agreements in the document.
The document, while a compromise, is a significant step forward that will allow further elaboration on these ideas at future Global Compact meetings. In addition, these words will support and strengthen other trade union inputs for Rio+20.
The Global Compact was started by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the year 2000 to motivate businesses to work towards a sustainable future and now includes ten principles.
Among the ten are two related to basic human rights, four regarding labour rights (freedom of association/right to collective bargaining; abolition of child labour; elimination of forced and compulsory labour; and elimination of employment discrimination), three on environment (businesses supporting a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; undertaking initiatives for greater environmental responsibility; and to encourage the development and diffusion of environmental friendly technologies), and an anti-corruption principle.
The full document can be read here.
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Rio Tinto locks out workers in Quebec
19 January 2011
Workers at Rio Tinto Alcan’s aluminium smelter in Alma, in the Canadian province of Quebec, have been locked out of their jobs since January 1. About 780 workers were thrown off their jobs just after midnight on December 31, when their collective agreement expired.
On December 30 over 88% of workers voted to reject the new contract offer because the company refused to limit subcontracting. The United Steelworkers Union (USW), as members of the bargaining unit, have called for a halt to subcontracting that reduces full time, stable jobs.
Since Rio Tinto purchased Alcan in 2007, management has contracted out more and more work. This represents a shift towards precarious work and casual jobs. Subcontractors can earn substantially less than their unionised counterparts, a violation of the “equal pay for equal work” principle.
USW District Five Director Daniel Roy explained that the move to subcontracting has a negative economic impact. “This is a just and critical battle for decent jobs in this region”, said Mr Roy. The main issue for workers is defending good jobs over the long term. “These workers are fighting to provide our youth with the same working and living standards that they have” he said.
Andrew Vickers, General Secretary of CFMEU Mining and Energy, said that the union will offer whatever support it practically can to the United Steelworkers. "The USW are great friends of ours. Rio Tinto, like the mining giants BHP and Xstrata, is ruthless, and places itself above common decency, without any regard for the workers who produce their enormous wealth. Our union is committed to supporting USW members in their struggle for justice,” he said.
Harper Silent on Foreign Corporate Attack on Alma, Quebec
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Proud Indonesian Miners End Strike with Freeport-McMoRan
14 December 2011
ICEM News release
Indonesia
An agreement was signed in Jakarta today between PT Freeport Indonesia Workers’ Union (SP KEP SPSI) and management of the world’s largest gold and second largest copper mining complex – Grasberg in Papua province – that will end a 94-day strike on Saturday, 17 December. The strike pitted a low-wage but determined and enlightened workforce against a global extractive resource company, US-based Freeport-McMoRan that has Grasberg at top of its massive revenue stream.
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United Steelworkers (USW) make submission re Freeport-McMoRan
The USW has written to the US Department of Justice to request an investigation into whether Freeport McMoRan has violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by engaging in the likely bribery of security forces in Indonesia.
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Fourth International Mining & Maritime Conference
Durban, South Africa
4-7 October 2011
Decarlation
We the Mining and Maritime Unions assembled here in Durban, South Africa, commit, both as individual Unions and as affiliates of some of the World’s leading Global Union Federations, to continue our struggle for workers rights, and to specifically:
Strive to establish an agenda of global activity by:
- Combining the strengths of ITF/ICEM/IMF to constructively engage and work with each other and ITUC to deliver global action
- Call on the ITF, IMF & ICEM President and/Secretary and the appropriate regional representatives to develop concrete proposals to deliver group action and strategic collaboration to action the below
- Strengthening networks of solidarity in the Maritime and Mining throughout the value chain
- Promote decent jobs recovery in the context of global economic recovery post the global economic crisis which is a reflection of a capitalist crisis.
- To observe and acknowledge 7 October, International day for decent work.
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Indonesian FSP-KEP (SPSI) Miners Extend Freeport-McMoRan Strike, One Shot Dead
On 6 October, leaders of Indonesian FSP-KEP (SPSI), the Trade Union of Chemical, Energy, and Mine Workers (CEMWU), officially extended a 30-day strike at the world’s largest gold and third largest copper mine one more month – until 15 November – because of mine management’s absence at a provincial forum to address issues in the dispute.
Community leaders also formed a committee and visited different locations of the vast mining complex in order to assess the number of outside workers recruited to break the strike. The committee visits were fired upon, with reports today that one protestor was shot dead.
Download ICEM's letter of support
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Another coal mine tragedy in the UK
(As reported in International Longwall News, 29 September 2011)
A miner trapped in a North Yorkshire coal mine in England has died while another man has sustained minor injuries.
The incident happened at UK Coal’s Kellingley Colliery yesterday after a rock fall occurred at the mine trapping both the miners.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service's Hazardous Area Response team and mines recues services were called to the scene and were able to retrieve the miners from underground at about 7:30pm.
While one miner was taken to Pinderfields hospital, the North Yorkshire Police said the other man in his forties was found dead at the scene.
In a statement UK Coal said it would not release the names of the two men until all family members had been notified of the accidents.
A joint investigation into the incident will be carried out by Specialist Mine Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive and North Yorkshire Police.
UK Coal is Britain's biggest producer of coal, employing 2900 people in Central and Northern England.
The coal mine has been plagued by a string of incidents in recent years, with a methane gas explosion at the mine last year reportedly forcing 218 miners to evacuate.
The incident comes less than a month after four miners died at a Welsh coal mine in the Swansea Valley.
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US moves to ensure taxpayers receive fair share of oil, gas and mining dollars
US President Obama has announced that the United States will implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
The Publish What You Pay Australia coalition, of which CFMEU Mining and Energy is a member, welcomed the announcement.
Peter Colley, National Research Director of the CFMEU’s Mining and Energy Division, welcomed Obama’s announcement saying, “Disclosure of all payments made between extractive industry companies and the US Government is the first step to guaranteeing Americans benefit from their country’s finite natural resource wealth which once depleted cannot be replaced. As citizens of a major mining nation, Australians would be well served by our government if it was also to implement the EITI.”
Publish What You Pay Australia is committed to ensuring that citizens of resource rich countries benefit from their natural wealth. We do this by campaigning for the mandatory disclosure of payments made between extractive industry companies and governments on a country-by-country and project-by-project basis. PWYP Australia works as part of the global campaign for greater transparency and accountability in the extractive industries.
Download the full press release.
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Welsh mining disaster
18 September 2011
Our condolences were sent to the South Wales Area Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (UK), Wayne Thomas
On behalf of the members and officers and staff of the CFMEU Mining and Energy Division here in Australia, I wish to extend deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the family and friends of the miners who perished In Gleision Colliery.
As miners ourselves, we understand the danger that constantly lurks below ground, but nonetheless when tragedy strikes, the pain is felt around the World in mining communities.
Would you kindly pass our on our thoughts to the family and friends of the deceased.
Regards,
Andrew Vickers, General Secretary
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USW Joins Mexican Labor Representatives at U.S. Congressional Briefing
From the United Steelworkers (USA)
Washington, D.C. (September 13, 2011) - Mexico's independent unions, which are facing ongoing repression from authorities and corporations while the working people they represent are being driven deeper into poverty through the erosion of their wages and human rights, today took their plight to the U.S. Congress.
Read the full story on the USW website.
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ICEM Solidarity, Condolence Visit to Japan
14 September 2011
General Secretary Andrew Vickers was among the ICEM Presidium members who recently visited Japan. Andrew was impressed by the stoicism and solidarity displayed by the officers and members of the Japanese Unions. He was overwhelmed by the determination of the workers and their representatives at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station to continue to undertake very dangerous work to attempt to completely stabilise the plant.
Desipite all of their problems and travails, the Japanese Unions still found time to welcome the ICEM delegation and to offer outstanding friendship and hospitality.
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Immediate action needed to protect Fijian workers' rights
30 August 2011
Unions around the world are increasingly concerned about the restrictions on human and workers' rights in Fiji.
Fiji's workers need our help to restore their rights.
The military regime under Commodore Frank Bainimarama has issued a decree that severely restricts trade unions' activity. The decree also strips away basic workers' rights like collective bargaining, minimum wages, and penalty rates.
In Melbourne recently, the General Secretary of Fiji’s Trade Unions Congress, Felix Anthony painted a horrific picture of the abuse that goes hand in hand with the decimation of workers’ rights by Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s military regime.
Mr Anthony, himself detained and assaulted by the military on several occasions, refuses to accept the regime’s attempts to curtail basic human and workers’ rights.
He presented the harsh and sobering truth of life in Fiji to the ACTU’s international committee on 12 July, before addressing the ACTU Executive on 14 July.
Read the rest of the ACTU report here.
Australian unions are rallying on September 2 - YourRights@Work has details.
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Jack Layton: A Powerful Legacy of Hope and Optimism for a Brighter Future
23 August 2011
Statement by the United Steelworkers on the Passing of Jack Layton:
The United Steelworkers and our 225,000 members across Canada offer our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Jack Layton.
While we mourn the loss of a treasured friend and great Canadian, we are comforted by Jack Layton's incredible legacy - one of unbridled hope and optimism for a brighter future for our country.
With incomparable leadership and integrity, unwavering enthusiasm and an abiding love for his country, Jack Layton has been a lifelong champion of the values and dreams shared by most Canadians.
Jack's enduring legacy will be his success in engaging and inspiring so many Canadians, from all walks of life, to embrace his vision that together we can build a more equal society and a better country.
"Together we can do this," Jack told us repeatedly during the recent federal election campaign. And millions of us agreed.
Jack reawakened Canadians to the reality that government can - and must - play a positive role in ensuring the economic and social wellbeing of its citizens.
We share Jack's vision for a Canada where life is more fair and affordable for workers, families and pensioners, where government is more open, accountable and democratic, where progressive policies help create good, sustainable jobs and protect the environment, where our immense collective wealth is invested to strengthen our health care, education, transit and other public services that benefit us all.
In his final message to Canadians, in a letter released today, Jack continues to inspire us.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one - a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity," Jack tells us.
"Don't let them tell you it can't be done."
Steelworkers will help lead the way in honouring Jack's legacy by carrying on his fight to build a better Canada and a better world.
Ken Neumann
National Director for Canada
United Steelworkers
Read the letter that Jack Layton wrote to his fellow Canadians in the days before he died.
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Condolences to Norway
27 July 2011
General Secretary, Andrew Vickers, has written to the General Secretary of ICEM, Manfred Warda, to ask that our condolences be passed to our Norwegian brothers and sisters.
"It is with enormous sadness that the CFMEU Mining and Energy Division joins with trade unions across the world to send a message of sympathy to the people of Norway who are suffering greatly in the aftermath of the bombings in Oslo and the shootings on the island of Utoya.
The attacks on the Norwegian people, their democratic institutions and on the Norwegian Labour Party are shocking. That a prime target of the massacre was a Labour Youth Organisation makes it even more barbaric.
Among those attending the youth camp on the island of Utoya there were trade unionists. As a trade union we stand in solidarity with our affiliates in Norway to condemn the attacks on the people and on the values of trade unionism, which we all hold dear.
On behalf of the Executive and members, I wish to extend our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to all relatives and friends of the victims of this most heinous crime, and respectfully request that ICEM arrange to have this message passed on to our Norwegian affiliates."
The response from our Norwegian affiliate, Fellesforbundet, is available for download.
ICEM's message is available here.
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Request for assistance from union members at Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, Canada
25 July 2011
Today we received this request from locked out union members in Canada:
I am writing to you to ask for your support for the 104 unionized members of Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, Vancouver, Canada. We believe it is very important to inform the Australian trade unions what is happening on the train, as each year we get tens of thousands of visitors from down under and we feel a real kinship with the Aussies. You are probably not aware that the onboard staff have been locked-out by the company and replaced by scab labour for 4 weeks now. We want to let our Australian friends know about this before they decide to book the train.
In an effort to encourage the company to return to bargaining in good faith, one of our members has produced a you tube video that explains our situation.
We are trying to get as many hits on this video as possible to get some publicity, as to date we have struggled to get our story in the mainstream media.
Is it possible to send this out to your members and ask them to watch and share it? It would be such a great help to us.
Many thanks.
In solidarity,
Your Brothers and Sisters at Rocky Mountaineer.
For further information on what has happened is available
rockylockout.com
and
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/news/2011/07/05/rocky-mountaineer-locks-out-employees
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Chilean miners sue over ordeal
18 July 2011
As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, thirty one miners wo endured 69 days trapped underground when a mine in northern Chile collapsed, are suing the government for negligence, saying there was lack of security.
"We want what we went through at the bottom of that mine to be recognised. We are here to say that the 31 of us wish that all our suffering, and the suffering of our families, is recognised," miner Luis Urzua said.
Read the rest of the article in the SMH.
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ICEM supports our members engaged in negotiations with BHP.
22 June 2011
ICEM has written to the three unions (CFMEU, ETU, AMWU) comprising the Single Bargaining Unit who are engaged in negotiations with BHP (BMA) in pursuit of a new Enterprise Agreement in Queensland. Workers are currently taking protected industrial action, including rolling stoppages and bans on unrostered overtime.
Download copy of letter__________________________________________________________________
Global Unions to Hold Chile Accountable on Mine Safety
29 March 2011
Read ICEM's special report on Mine Safety in Chile.
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Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami Relief
17 March 2011
The General Secretary of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), Manfred Warda, has sent a letter to affiliates about how they can contribute to the relief effort in Japan.
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Mexican Trade Unionist released from Jail
24 February 2011
Juan Linares Montufar was released from jail today, in what trade unionists around the world are calling a victory for international solidarity against the repressive Mexican government.
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Australian Unions Join Global Action On Workers’ Rights in Mexico
February 2011
Trade unions around the world affiliated to the International Metalworkers Federation (IMF), the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), UNI Global Union and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) are taking action in support of the Mexican Miners' Union and the other independent unions in Mexico.
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South African mining leader hammers Xstrata in Australia
October 2010
The entrenched anti-Union antics of Xstrata in Australia have been handed a hammering by a visiting leader, Paris Mashego, from the National Union of Mine Workers in South Africa. The visitors have reported that while Xstrata management in South African coal operations is bending over backwards to avoid offending the pro-worker ANC Government, it is trying to take a wrecking ball to organised labour in Australia.
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