[mobglob-discuss] The World of Labor (June 9, 2006)

[Gordon Flett]

The World of Labor (June 9, 2006)
By Harry Kelber

Worldwide Report Details Brutal Suppression of Worker Rights

A total of 115 trade unionists were murdered for defending workers' rights 
in 2005, while more than 1,600 were subject to violent assaults and some 
9,000 arrested, according to the ICFTU's Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights 
violations, published June 6. Nearly 10,000 workers were fired for their 
trade union involvement and almost 1,700 detained.

Latin America remained the most perilous region for trade union activity, 
with Colombia once again topping the list for killings, intimidation and 
death threats. Seventy Colombian unionists paid the ultimate price for 
standing up for fundamental rights at work. Other countries under the 
spotlight for violence and suppression against unionists include Iran, El 
Salvador, Djibouti, China, Cambodia, Guatemala, Zimbabwe and Burma. Some 
Arabian Gulf countries continue to ban trade unions altogether, while in 
several countries, including North Korea, government-controlled "official 
trade unions" are the order of the day.

"This year's report reveals deeply disturbing trends among women, migrant 
workers and those who work in the public sector," said ICFTU General 
Secretary Guy Ryder. "The death toll was slightly lower in 2005 than in the 
previous year, but we are nevertheless witnessing increasingly severe 
violence and hostility against working people who stand up for their 
rights."

Norway Dumps Its Investment in Wal-Mart Stock

The huge fund, that is meant to preserve Norway's oil wealth for future 
generations, is pulling out of investments that don't meet the government's 
ethical standards. Among them is the Wal-Mart discount store chain. The 
Norwegian Finance Ministry reported that it is excluding Wal-Mart Store, 
Inc. from the fund "in line with recommendations from the Council on Ethics 
for the Fund."


Kristin Halvorsen, Norway's Finance Minister, cited "serious" violations of 
human rights and labour rights for pulling out of its Wal-Mart investments. 
Investing in Wal-Mart, Halversen claimed, "entails an unacceptable risk that 
the Fund may be complicit in serious . . . violations of norms."

The Norwegian government's pension fund is worth about $250 billion. It now 
ranks as one of the biggest pension funds in the world.

Landless Rural Workers Occupy Brazilian Congress

More than 1,000 landless rural workers temporarily occupied the Lower House 
of Brazil's Congress on June 6, ransacking part of the building and its 
installations. They were calling for more money and action from the 
government to speed up agrarian reform.

Demonstrators scuffled with security forces, destroying computer terminals 
and temporarily occupying the building's main lobby. Officials said 20 
people were hurt, one seriously.

Protesters say they want the annulment of a law that prohibits land occupied 
by landless rural workers to be redistributed to them by the state.

Kenyan Oil Workers to Strike Over Pension Issue

Unionized staff of the Kenya Pipeline Company may go on strike on June 23 
over a new pension scheme. The workers, who are members of the Kenya 
Petroleum Oil Workers Union, want to stop the firm's management from 
changing the current pension plan to a defined contributory plan.

Under the new scheme, workers will be free to contribute what they can, 
while the employer's contribution will be 12% of the employee's basic salary 
instead of the current 24.5%. Cephas Olala, the union's general secretary, 
said they had given the company management a 21-day notice of the strike, 
claiming that the intended changes were illegal.

The company's deputy managing director, Waithaka Kioni, said the changes to 
be effected were based on a study that found the current pension scheme 
unsustainable in the longer term and places a heavy burden on the company.

Ghana Teachers and Educational Workers on Indefinite Strike

After waiting five years to renew their contract, the Teachers and 
Educational Workers Union says it will strike indefinitely, demanding better 
working conditions. The union has given an ultimatum to Ghana's president, 
John Kufuor, that if demands are not met by next week, teachers in higher 
institutions will join in the strike.

The union has had a collective bargaining agreement with the management of 
the Ghana Education Service, but that agreement expired in 2001. During the 
last five years, there have been only five negotiating sessions. "These 
negotiations have dragged on for five years; members are sick and tired of 
having to wait for the agreement to be reviewed. So as of now, negotiations 
have stalled and our people have withdrawn our labor," said Dan Ayim Antwi, 
the union's general secretary.

Ayim explained some of the union's demands. "Interestingly, while we 
submitted 18 areas of negotiations, management countered with 52, making 
altogether 70 proposals. Out of the 70 proposals, we have dealt with 66. So 
we are now left with four. They are salary review, responsibility allowance, 
risk allowance and end of service benefit."

New Caledonia Union Plans to Strike International Shipping Firm

In a challenge to an international shipping company, MSC, a New Caledonia 
union has called for a general strike next week. The union has been in a 
dispute with MSC over a demand that its freight volume be restricted by a 
quota. One of the company's vessels has been blocked in the port of Noumea.

MSC has already said it will take France to a European court over the way 
its vessel has been treated in Noumea. The union has dismissed concerns that 
Noumea could become a blacklisted port because of the lack of police, with 
its leader saying there is no need to exaggerate, as all other ships can 
move freely.

A union official, Pierre Chauvat, says he regrets the lack of negotiations 
with MSC, but denies that the union is trying to blackmail MSC or the 
government. "We are just saying that we have to take rules [which] has to 
protect everyone in the country, not to destabilize what's existing, that's 
all."

Our weekly columns (LaborTalk and The World of Labor) can be viewed at our 
website: www.laboreducator.org
Harry Kelber's e-mail address is: hkelber at igc.org