Solidarity
In the section Solidarity, the EMF posts letters of solidarity from trade unions in Europe and around the world.
SKEI and management come to an agreement leading to cancellation of planned strike
Folowing the EMF's call to its affiliates to show solidarity with Slovenian member organisation, SKEI regarding the tough situation faced by workers at Palfinger d.o.o. in Maribor, Slovenia, SKEI and management have come to an agreement. Consequently, SKEI called off the planned strike scheduled for March 11th.
The employer and the strike committee were able to agree on a joint proposal which is detailed in a letter below sent by SKEI to the EMF. SKEI thanks the EMF, the IMF and their affiliates for all the solidairty they have expressed.
Update on Alcatel Lucent, Battipaglia, Italy
In the evening of 8 March, after 29 days of plant occupatiion, the three workers came out of the plant.
The decision to leave the plant was taken after a long period of non official negotiations between unions and the Italian government.
In the afternoon of 8 March, a letter from the Italian vice minister of telecommunications was sent stating the engagement and the restart of a new negotiation round between management, unions and government to define a new industrial project.
In the next days a date of the meeting for the new negotiation will be scheduled. Now starts the very difficult phase of defining an agreement.
Solidarity with workers at Mahle Mopisan, Turkey
Mahle Mopisan is a company located in Izmir, Turkey and produces motor componenets. There are 510 workers in the factory and Birlesik Metal-Is organises the majority of them. Currently the workers are intimidated by management to in stead join the yellow union Turk Metal.
European Action Day at Bosch Europe
Metalworkers call for a coherent and consistent industrial policy and for consequent social responsibility of Bosch.
Bosch workers in seven countries (more than 21 production sites) participate on Monday, 22nd February 2010 in protest actions to defend employment.
European action day at Bosch Europe
Metalworkers call for a coherent and consistent industrial policy and for consequent social responsibility of Bosch.
Bosch workers in seven countries (more than 21 production sites) participate on Monday, 22nd February 2010 in protest actions to defend employment.
Violation of association rights at DY-SK Metal in Turkey
Information from Birlesik Metal-Is
6 workers are fired, DY-SK METAL Management threatens workers one by one
DY-SK Metal is a joint venture of Daiyang Metal Korea Co (%70) and SK Networks (%30). The company produces stainless steel and is located in Corlu European Free Zone. There are 140 workers in the factory and 26 of them are from South Korea. 90% of the workers in the factory are members of Birlesik Metal-Is.
Violation of trade union rights at Ecoendustri in Turkey
The EMF affiliate, Birlesik Metal-Is informed of the violation of workers’ right to join a union in Ecoendustri company in Turkey.
Following the workers' application for trade union representation at Ecoendustri, the company fired 15 trade unionists, while putting constant pressure on other members to resign from the trade union. Birlesik Metal-Is is demanding management reinstates the dismissed workers and enters fair negotiation with the union.
4 hour strike for all workers of Italian plants of FIAT Group
Italian trade unions FIM, FIOM, UILM and FISMIC have decided to start an action in order to bring FIAT and Italian Government to take decisions for the re-launch of Italian automotive sector.
EMF supports Belgian confederation call for demonstration
Demonstration on 29 January 2010
For employment and respecting workers and social justice!
Main demands: stop social dumping, maintain and create employment, more jobs for the young and unemployed, regulate government aid supporting job creation, safeguard jobs in public services, support for unemployed.
Strike in Automotive Lightening Reutlingen and call for solidarity
Message of support for German workers’ strike for a Transfer- and Social Collective Agreement for Automotive Lightening (AL), Reutlingen (D) and call for solidarity to avoid relocation of work affected by the strike.
ICEM and IMF condemn Mittal's failure to pay wages owed to chemical workers in Bosnia-Herzegovina
The ICEM and IMF are demanding that the government of Bosnia-Herzegovina intervene on behalf of 1,250 workers in the northern city of Lukavac. The workers have had their pay slashed and are owed wage arrears by India-based Global Infrastructure Holdings Ltd., a subsidiary of the Ispat Group, owned by the Mittal steel-making family.
EMF supports the 2000 protesting workers of the Montenegrin Nikšićka Željezara steel company
Around 2000 workers of the Montenegrin Nikšićka Željezara steel company are protesting in opposition to unpaid wages and the termination of production at the company. The company, Montenegro Speciality Steels MNSS (British majority-owner), has been experiencing financial difficulties since October 2009, when production was halted. Since then wages have not been paid.
Saab manifestation today
Today around 4 000 employees at Saab stopped working and held a manifestation at the plant in Trollhättan, Sweden in protest of GM.
Fatal accidents and extremely precarious conditions continue in Turkish shipyards
The EMF sent a letter of condolences to Limter-Is President, Cem Dinc and Limter-Is General Secretary Karber Saygili (with a copy to Birlesik Metal-Is) concerning the further fatal accidents and precarious working conditions in Tuzla Shipyards.
Trade union protest against new labour law in Croatia stopped by police barricades
Trade union confederations in Croatia: Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (UATUC), Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (NHS), Croatian Association of Trade Unions (HUS) and Worker’s Trade Union Association of Croatia (URSH) organized today public debate on the final draft of the new Labour law which has not taken into account trade union demands, on Ban Jelacic square in Zagreb. The debate continued with the protest action. The protestors who marched towards Marko’s square, where Croatian Parliament is situated were stopped by police barricades.
Turkish court suspends decision on Sinter Metal case until March
Sinter Metal workers who have been fighting for reinstatement since December 2008 after they were fired for joining the union, Birlesik Metal - IS, attended yet another unsuccessful court session in Istanbul on November 13th 2009. The decision on the legality of their dismissals is postponed for another four months.
One day general warning strike in Slovenia
A one day warning strike was announced on 13 November 2009 by SKEI, Slovenia.
For Alcatel-Lucent jobs in Europe
For a European industrial policy in information and communication technologies
European Action Day on 10 November 2009
EMF and IMF launch solidarity campaign for financial support to Turkish Sinter Metal workers
Metalworkers across Europe and globally are called on to donate funds in support of 350 struggling Sinter Metal workers, fighting for reinstatement since December 2008.
Workers of Sinter Metal in Turkey have been fighting for their jobs and their rights since December 2008 after being fired for joining the union, Birlesik Metal-IS, an affiliate of the European Metalworkers’ Federation and International Metalworkers’ Federation.
EMF fully supports AREVA EWC views on proposed AREVA T&G sale
Areva EWC Press Conference, Paris 3 November 2009
The Areva EWC is holding a press conference in Paris on 3 November. It will set out the various social, industrial and financial issues involved in the proposed sale of AREVA T&D on the basis of the expert report commissioned by the AREVA EWC. In this somewhat unclear dossier, the very principle of the sale will be questioned since Areva’s EWC considers that the sale places T&D at risk, nor is the sale essential as far as the Group’s finances are concerned.
The Areva EWC view of the proposed T&D sale is fully supported by the EMF
International trade union support for workers in shipyards
During today’s discussion with Vedran Dragičević, SMH Acting President, the General Secretary of the European Metalworkers’ Federation, Peter Scherrer, supported all trade union activities undertaken by the Metalworkers’ Trade Union of Croatia (SMH) towards the Croatian Government with the aim of saving Croatian shipyards.
CGT national demonstration in Paris today
CGT is organising a national demonstration today in Paris against changes to work organisation, introduction of short-time, job lossese among temporary workers, relocation strategies to low-cost countries of companies in the aeronatuics and space companies.
A petition will be handed to the French aerospace industries association GIFAS.
Federal Mogul EWC expresses solidarity with Italian workers in Desenzano
See text below in French.
GM workers across Europe mobilise in Antwerp today
Today 23 September 2009 between 3,000 and 5,000 European workers are present at the Opel plant in Antwerp in response to the EMF call for mobilisation and solidarity in the light of the current restructuring of GM Europe and the threat of closure of the Antwerp plant.
AREVA - Rally on 15 September in Paris
For jobs and a future at AREVA
NO to the dismantling of AREVA by its shareholders
Shipbuilding - That is us
Shipbuilding action day in Bremerhaven on 10-11 September 2009.
At the event of the LeaderSHIP 2015 High Level Group meeting on 11 September 2009 in Bremerhaven, Germany IG Metall and the EMF are organising an action day to demand a common European strategy to overcome the crisis in shipbuilding and to fend off employment losses in the sector.
Sympathy with Serbian workers following tragic accident at Prvi Partizan factory
Seven workers of Prvi partizan ammunition factory in Uzice, Serbia, six women and one man, have lost their lives yesterday evening in a tragic accident. Additionally 14 workers are injured and have been released home after short hospitalisation.
Aktionstag der IG Metall am 5. September 2009 in Frankfurt
die IG Metall führt am 5. September 2009 unter dem Motto „Macht Politik für die Mehrheit der Menschen“ einen Aktionstag in Frankfurt am Main durch.
International solidarity for Sinter demonstration
Yesterday Sinter Metal workers were in Taksim Square to protest against the lengthy court procedure in the Sinter case. Sinter Metal workers, who exercised their fundamental rights and organised in Birlesik Metal were fired for being a trade union member. For over 7 months now, 350 workers of the Sinter Metal company have been struggling to get their jobs back.
International Delagation Came To Support Sinter Metal Workers
Today it is the 208th day of Sinter Metal Workers’ Struggle. We are resisting in front of the company since December 2008 because we are fired by the Sinter Metal employer because of being a trade union member.
202 DAY OF STRUGGLE AT SINTER METAL TURKEY
Sinter Metal workers still need the solidarity and support of their brother and sisters on the 202nd day of struggle.
Affiliates increase pressure on Sinter Metal
IMF and EMF seek an end to the violation of workers’ rights at Sinter Metal in Turkey as affiliates reach out to first tier companies that use Sinter Metal components.
Support for AEES (Alcoa) protest demonstration on 1st July 2009
The EMF expresses support for the OS Kovo workers at the AEES plant in Stříbro (Czech Republic), who are faced with a sudden and unexpected management decision to close the plant and transfer production to Romania following Alcoa’s sale of the business to Platinum Equity (PE).
Support for the strike of EDS-OS workers (Germany)
At the beginning of December 2008, management was asked to enter into negotiations in respect of a collective agreement for EDS-OS covering the following three main issues:
European Days of Action
European Days of Action on 14, 15 and 16 May.
The crisis and its disastrous effects on thousands of people have triggered social discontent that is finding expression mainly in protest movements (Greece, Latvia, Iceland, France, Ireland, etc.).
The ETUC is supporting the demonstrations that will be held in the context of the European Action Days:
- Madrid, Spain, on 14 May 2009;
- Brussels, Belgium, on 15 May 2009;
- Berlin, Germany, and Prague, Czech Republic, on 16 May 2009.
Pictures from Brussels now available here and in the database for download.
Demonstration in Austria on 13 May
On 13 May a large demonstration is taking place organised by five Austrian trade unions.
The demonstration is a result of no progress in diverse collective bargainings.
15.000 people are expected to take part in this demonstration, which aims to receive fair income and fair bargaining processes.
ThyssenKrupp Action Day on 11 May 2009
Yes: Employment security and site guarantees
No: Continual group restructuring
The ThyssenKrupp Executive Board wants to completely reorganise the whole group. Just two weeks ago top management wanted to reduce the five divisions to two, and now they want to directly manage the entire group.
(Link to other Information on previous actions on ThyssenKrupp)
EMF call for solidarity with Turkish workers in their May Day action
The European Metalworkers’ Federation fully supports the May Day action which will take place in the Taksim Square in Istanbul, and would like to express firm solidarity with the Turkish workers and their struggle to create a democratic country where workers’ rights and trade union freedom are in place and respected.
General Workers Union in Malta needs support
After a conciliation meeting held this morning between the Malta Freeport and the GWU chaired by the Minister of Social Policy, an agreement was finally reached.
