Labour related news
Second EMF focus meeting on semiconductors
On 6 September the EMF is arranging a second meeting on the semiconductor industry. The meeting focuses on the European Commission Initiative on Key Enabling Technologies (KET) and the new EMF position on semiconductors.
Collective Bargaining Summer College in Portugal
The Education Department of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) will organise a joint course on collective bargaining with the three European industry federations EMF, ETUF-TCL and EMCEF.
It will be held from 13 to 15 September 2010 in Portugal.
Unions visit steel mills in China
A small delegation from the European and International Metalworkers' Federations (EMF & IMF) recently visited two steel mills in China (Hunan Province). At the request of ArcelorMittal the unions looked at the different production, practice, health and safety and even cultural differences between the way the company operates in China compared to in other parts of the world.
General Strike to be held in Spain on 29 September
Spanish unions UGT and CCOO are staging a general strike in Spain on 29 September against the national labour reforms.
Eramus for full time trade union officers in full swing
EMF ORGANISATIONS SEND AND HOST TRAINEES
As earlier announced, the EMF is giving the opportunity to its affiliated organisations to participate in an EU funded project “Towards an Erasmus for full time trade union officers”.
The idea behind it is to promote mobility and exchange among workers. This exchange allows colleagues of all ages and backgrounds to learn how other trade unions function and develop contact networks abroad while bringing back the benefits of this work experience to their own organisation. Furthermore, this is quite a unique opportunity to work in another cultural environment and to allow EMF affiliated organisations to develop contacts among each other.
1400 to lose their jobs when Delphi closes plant in Česká Lípa (Czech Republic)
According to the announcement from the management of the Delphi plant in Česká Lípa, it should finish its activities by May 2011. The Czech union OS Kovo is fighting for a decent severance pay for the workers.
Up-date: IBM management ignores instruction from Labour Inspector
Following the joint EMF, IMF and UNI letter to IBM management in July concerning violations of labour rights at the global delivery centre (GDC) at IBM in Sofia, Bulgaria, here is a summary of present activities.
EMF Youth Conference: Young people's way to Europe
The EMF, in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and under EU Commission DG Enlargement People to People Programme, is organising its first Youth Conference.
The conference “Young people’s way to Europe - Youth and Organising” is held in Croatia on 17 and 18 September.
The conference is intended for young members of EMF affiliated organisations with the age limit of 35.
FIAT is ordered to reinstate dismissed workers
Up-date on FIAT, Italy:
The judge of the Melfi labour court ordered FIAT on August 11 to reinstate the two FIOM delegates an one FIOM member, who were fired in July for alleged sabotage of the factory during the internal strike agianst work intensification imposed by the management.
The workers could return to work on August 23.
Renewed attacks on JohnsonControls' workers
The EMF and IMF express alarm and calls for urgent letters of condemnation in response to violent attacks on August 16 against union leaders and members at the Johnson Controls Interiors plant in Puebla, Mexico.
Picture of injured worker published in the newspaper.
Hearing on anti-union dismissals of Sinter Metal workers adjourned to October
International human rights lawyer joins IMF and EMF trial monitor to observe hearing. Judge adjourns proceedings to October 22 but also orders police summons for management witnesses. Union response: "Justice Delayed is Justice Denied"
TURKEY: On August 4, the 3rd Labour Court of Uskudar adjourned until October 22 the unfair dismissal hearings of 11 Sinter Metal workers among the 394 workers victimized with retaliatory dismissal for joining IMF affiliate, Birleşik Metal-İş Sendikası.
Dismissed ÇEL-MER workers win reinstatement through sit-in strike
23 dismissed Birlesik Metal IS members reinstated on August 9 after a week long peaceful factory occupation and strike for reinstatement.
Kremikovtzi declares bankruptcy: Bulgarian Trade unions ask for certain Government guarantees
Kremikovtzi, Bulgaria’s largest steel company, has declared bankruptcy and the procedure for sales of company assets is in progress. The EMF affiliate, Trade Union “Metalicy” has jointly organised with its Confederation CITUB, a press conference to voice the trade union demands.
FIOM CGIL to contest in court FIAT's totally unfair dismissal and treatment of four of its workers
In Italy last week, Fiat sacked four workers simply because they had expressed disagreement towards Fiat's new proposals. The proposals, which amount to threats, involve only investing in production provided workers make concessions on conditions and rights.
In response FIOM CGIL organised an action across the FIAT group in Italy and vowed to take on FIAT in court to have these dismissals reversed.
Philips workers from Plauen on strike in front of HQ in Eindhoven over announced job cuts
Philips workers travelled 700 km from their site in Plauen, Germany to the Headquarters of Philips Lighting to protest against job cuts.
The Plauen site where they make automotive lighting is in existence for 62 years and was taken over by Philips in 1991. Philips wants to relocate the production of H4 lamps from Plauen to Pabianice in Poland the cost of which will be 150 of the 400 jobs in Plauen. Philips is one of the largest employers in Plauen and these job cuts will have a severe impact on this economically weak region.
Photos of the action available here.
EMF General Secretary on a 'real European Industrial Policy'
In the Global Labour Column, EMF General Secretary, Peter Scherrer gives the lowdown on a real European Industrial Policy - read the full article here.
Global solidarity and communications conference
On 7-11 July more than two hundred trade unionists from around the globe gathered in sweltering heat in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada for the first public Labour Start Conference.
Violations of workers' rights at IBM Bulgaria
Joint letter to IBM management from EMF, IMF and UNI Global Union
The three federations have been contacted by the affiliated organisation NFTINI Podkrepa with regard to serious violations of the freedrom of association, an internationally recognized basic right of all workers.
Wie gut hält Europa?
Article written by Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary in IG Metall’s Metall Zeitung (July 2010) entitled Wie gut hält Europa?.
Article in German only.
Violations of Workers’ Rights at Winkelman Renewable Duzce plant in Turkey
The EMF and IMF are extremely concerned about serious violations of internationally recognized labour rights at Winkelman Renewable Duzce plant in Turkey.
Violations of trade union association rights at TI Otomotiv in Turkey
The EMF and IMF write to management of TI Automotive after being informed by affiliated organisation Birlesik Metal-Is about serious violations of freedom of association at TI Otomotiv company located in Nilufer Organized Industrial Zone in Bursa, Turkey.
Up-date: Labour law in Croatia
Croatian trade unions gathered 720 078 signatures until now for the referendum against announced changes in the Labour Law, which would abrogate the extension of application of collective agreements and give possibility for cancellation of collective agreements signed for a limited time-period.
EMF supports Serbian Gradac factory workers
The EMF has been informed by Serbian affiliate, GSM Nezavisnost, of the very difficult situation faced by workers of Gradac screws factory in Valjevo, Serbia.
Solidarity with the colleagues at Indesit Italy
The EMF expresses its full support of the workers at the Indesit plants in Brembante and Regront (Italy) in their current strike action and struggle against the closure of the two plants.
Future Forum Agricultural Machinery
10th and 11th June 2010 in Brussels.
After the successful completion of the second project phase, the EMF is organising a “Future Forum Agricultural Machinery”.
Training seminar on collective bargaining skills
On 10-11 June 2010 the European Metalworkers’ Federation, in cooperation with International Metalworkers’ Federation and with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation, is organising a training seminar on collective bargaining skills/techniques for the affiliates from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.
The training seminar will take place in Podgorica, Montenegro.
Demonstrations in Copenhagen against the governments recovery plan
According to the two Danish central organisations LO and FTF, more than 50.000 people attended the big demonstration against the government's recovery plan at Christiansborg Castle Square, location of the Danish Parliament on Tuesday 9th June.
Mobiljobs: Labour and business mobility between equality and solidarity
Final conference on 9 June 2010 in Rome.
The Mobile Jobs Project aims at strengthening the capacity of the trade union organisations to manage labour mobility in connection with the free movement of businesses within the European Union and their establishment in Member States.
Protests across Romania
From June 1st, 2010, between 12H00-14H00, the five major trade union confederations in Romania: National Trade Union Confederation „Cartel ALFA”, the National Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Romania – FRATIA, the Democratic Trade Union Confederation of Romania, The National Trade Union Bloc and the National Trade Union Confederation "Meridian, have organized protests across the all country.
Cat out of the bag at Vaillant
Information from the European Works Council of the Vaillant Group on the MP3 Project.
The management let the cat out of the bag in the middle of April. It revealed its ideas regarding the renewed restructuring of production in a presentation of the MP3 Project.
Resolution of the trade union coordination group on JohnsonControls
Meeting in Brussels, 7th June 2010
The EMF, EMCEF, ETUF-TCL and UNI European JohnsonControls Trade Union Coordination meeting in Brussels on 7 June, attended by 24 representatives of JohnsonControls workers and trade unions from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Poland and Slovakia, urges JohnsonControls to respect the rights of workers at the JohnsonControls FINSA plant in Puebla, Mexico to affiliate to the union of their choice.
