[mobglob-discuss] The World of Labor (September 15, 2006)

[Gordon Flett]

The World of Labor (September 15, 2006)

By Harry Kelber

Nigeria's Continuing Violence Causes Oil Workers to Strike

Nigerian oil workers have made good on a promise to wage a strike in light 
of the continuing violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta. The strike in the 
West African nation began Sept. 13, with blue-collar and white-collar 
workers banding together to protest a lack of effort on the government's 
part to combat the military groups in the region.

Labor leader Peter Akpatason, head of the blue-collar union, called the 
three-day strike by an estimated 20,000 workers a comprehensive warning 
strike, that he hoped would allow some time for reasoning. Oil workers first 
raised the specter of an impending strike last month when Peter Essele, 
president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, said 
that his union had lost confidence in the government's ability to rein in 
military groups that have wreaked havoc with production in the region.

The crux of the Nigeria oil controversy is the distribution of its revenue. 
Despite being among the world's top, oil exporters, most residents of the 
Niger Delta live in poverty, existing on $1 or less a day. Militants are 
seeking a large share of the multibillion annual oil revenue, demanding that 
at least 50% of the profits go toward social, health and infrastructure 
spending in the region.

African and Chinese Labor Leaders Pledge Close Cooperation

Twenty-six union leaders from 17 African countries met with high-ranking 
officers of the All China Federation of Trade Unions to discuss ways to 
strengthen their ties. Their visit will further a "comprehensive development 
of the partnership between China and African trade unions," said Wang 
Zhaoguo, president of the Chinese labor federation.

The African labor leaders, who have been attending a seminar in Beijing on 
the subject of economic globalization, expressed their gratitude for the 
generous support they have received from the Chinese government and trade 
unions.

Alphaus Vehonga Muheus, president of the National Union of Namibian Workers, 
said that China is engaged in African countries' infrastructure construction 
or providing loans according to their real needs.

Unions Mobilize World-Wide in Support of Philippines Toyota Workers

Workers and their unions from more than a dozen countries took a variety of 
actions in behalf of Toyota Philippines workers who have been wrongly fired, 
arrested and denied union recognition. These affiliates of the International 
Metal Workers' Federation (IMF) coordinated a "Day of Action" on Sept. 12 in 
front of Japanese embassies around the world to call on the Japanese 
government to use its influence in settling a dispute that has grown more 
bitter.

Just weeks ago, government security officers shot at and arrested 21 Toyota 
Philippines workers during a peaceful demonstration in front of the 
Department of Labour and Employment. Although all were released the 
following day, many suffered serious injuries from the police violence. The 
workers have been struggling for the reinstatement of 136 illegally 
dismissed co-workers and company recognition of their union.

Participating in a variety of protests in front of their Japanese embassies 
were union members from Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, France, India, 
Kenya, South Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and other countries.

Russian Union Battles for Recognition at GM-AvtoVAZ

A group of auto workers of GM-AvtoVAZ, a joint venture between General 
Motors and AvtoVAZ, Russia's biggest automaker, came together on July 28 and 
organized an independent union. Their aim was to give workers in the plant a 
voice in the workplace and an opportunity to negotiate with the employer for 
a living wage and safe working conditions, they said.

Wages of workers at the plant currently start at about $1.25 an hour, which 
is insufficient to maintain a worker and his family. There has never been a 
collective agreement or even the semblance of worker participation in 
decision-making in the plant's operation. The workers hope to change that 
with their new union. In August, in accordance with Russian labor 
legislation, the union notified the employer of its existence, naming five 
elected activists, including a president. Employees were also informed about 
the union through leaflets and a plant-wide e-mail message.

The reaction of the management was fast and harsh. On the next day, the 
office phone and e-mail access of the union's president were cut off by 
management's order. Three male activists were subjected to search's at the 
plant's gates every day for three days without explanation. At the same 
time, management has ignored the union's request to meet because the union 
"has no registration as a legal entity."

107 Australian Construction Workers Face Heavy Fines and Jail Sentences

Because they were involved in a strike last February over the firing of a 
union delegate on the Perth to Mandurah Railway, 107 construction workers 
are now facing fines of up to $28,600 each and possible jail sentences. The 
prosecutions were brought by the government-appointed and funded Australian 
Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

"We find it completely incomprehensible that such a case should have been 
brought months after the dispute between the workers and their employers was 
settled," said a letter sent by Guy Ryder, General Secretary of the 
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), to Australian 
Prime Minister John Howard. "This case fully confirms the fears expressed 
about the pernicious effects your latest laws can have and is more 
disturbing in the light of other cases of a similar nature now emerging, 
notably the decision by Total Corrosion Controls to sue 40 employees for a 
union meeting that ran 15 minutes too long."

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has campaigned strongly 
against the government's industrial relations laws, with widespread support 
both from the Australian people and the international community. The laws 
that these prosecutions have been brought under have already been the 
subject of criticism by the ILO as being in clear breach of the fundamental 
labor standards that Australia has an obligation to uphold.

Zimbabwe Trade Unionists Are Tortured by Mugabe Regime

More than a dozen members of the Zimbabwean Council of Trade Unions (ZCTU) 
have been tortured and injured, following their arrest on Sept. 13 by the 
authorities. They were among 250 trade unionists and other civilians, 
including about 100 women and several infants, arrested nationwide during a 
peaceful protest calling for decent wages, action on Zimbabwe's 1,000% 
inflation rate and better access to life-saving anti-viral drugs for AIDS 
sufferers.

At the latest count, 92 trade unionists remain in custody. They finally 
received access to medical attention, despite the fact that some of them 
have eating and hearing problems resulting from their injuries of the past 
two days. Colleagues from the ZCTU and the ILO in Zimbabwe attempted to 
visit the prisoners but were denied access.

"These latest reports of brutality must be condemned by the entire 
international community, and the world trade union movement will do 
everything within its power to mobilize international pressure to put a stop 
to this reign of terror," said Guy Ryder, ICFTU General Secretary.

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