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Mexicano Electrical Workers Dispute

SIGTUR — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:02:51 +0000

SEND A MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY http://tinyurl.com/2u439h9

In what appears to be a breakthrough, the Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME)has lifted its hunger strike based on the government's commitment to engage in negotiations. The union sat down for the first time on Monday, 26 July, and the government has agreed to weekly negotiations. On 27 July there was an assembly which resulted in a plan to send a caravan to Cananea in solidarity with the third anniversary of that strike. SME has asked for international assistance and that we make our concern clear that the Mexican government reinstate the thousands of fired workers, recognize the legally elected union leadership and drop all charges against workers who have been involved in this dispute.

Stop repression against struggling power loom workers in Punjab

Mahesh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:43:16 +0000

Stop repression against struggling power loom workers in Punjab

His Excellency Mr. Asif Ali Zardari President of Pakistan

Excellency Mr.Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani Federal Minister for Human Rights

Honouarable Mr. Salman Taseer Governor of Punjab

Chief Secretary of Government of Punjab :

Minister of Law Government of Punjab

Dr. Faqir Hussain Registrar Supreme Court of Pakistan DCO. Faisalabad

More than 100,000 workers of power loom in Faisalabad district of Punjab province are on strike from today, July 20, 2010 for their demand of wage increase according to the announcement by Government in the budget 2010-11. Government announced 17 % rise in the minimum wage for the private sector workers. The power loom workers in Faisalabad, Jhang and other districts, had been in negotiation with power loom owners since the last three weeks for wage increase. These negotiations were facilitated by the district administrations in both the districts. The power loom bosses are not accepting these just demands and are busy in poisonous propaganda against workers by labeling them as terrorists.

Thousands of workers from different areas of Faisalabad have marched despite a police ban on public gatherings. As the workers began their march, gangsters of power loom owners started straight firing in Sudhar area of Faisalabad. Sudhar is the suburb of Faisalabad where big number of power loom factories is located. This area has been a scuffle ground between workers and owners since last three years as the workers organized themselves effectively in huge number there.

Police have used tear gas and lathi charge in Faizabad and Ghulam Muhammadabad areas of Faisalabad without any provocation. In one such attack on workers in Faizabad area, Rana Tahir, the district president of in Faisalabad, was injured along with score of others. 25 workers have been injured up till now by police tear gas and lathi charge.

In Jhang district, thousands of workers along with their families including women and children have picketed outside the District Administration Officer’s office and are sitting there until the demands of workers are accepted.

Today, the power looms bosses in Jhang district have paid a half page advertisement in Daily Express Faisalabad asking government to suppress the workers’ movement.

The 15 days strike has cost them over 9 billion Rupees and 15,000 power looms factories are closed. They appealed the government to save Jhang becoming another Karachi.

The Executive Board of Pakistan Labour Federation (PLF )has requested your honor to intervene in this matter and solve this problem on priority and Stop workers repression and respect workers right to assemble and strike , Increase the wages as notified by the Government of Punjab, issue social security card to every industrial worker, Lift ban on factory inspection in Punjab, Arrest the murderers of two Labour leaders

An early action will be highly appreciated

With regards

(Haji Muhammad Saeed Arian) (Mrs Atia Saleem)

Founder/Secretary General Chairperson

Pakistan Labour Federation (PLF) Affiliated World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

Website www.plfpk.com

New York State Budget Still Blocked By Push To Privatize Public Higher Ed

Roy Nitzberg — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:33:09 +0000

Last week, progress on a New York State budget continued to be blocked by differences over other issues, especially higher education policy and a property tax cap.

Gov. Paterson and State Senator William Stachowski, a Democrat from Buffalo, are still insisting on adoption of Paterson’s proposed Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act (PHEEIA) as the price of a budget deal. The Democrats’ one-vote margin means even a single Senate Democrat can hold up legislation.

The PSC opposes PHEEIA because it would reduce State support for CUNY and SUNY, privatize their funding, and limit access to public higher education. (More on the union’s position here.) The New York Times has reported one reason top SUNY officials have lobbied so hard for PHEEIA: “one of the world’s wealthiest men” has promised a gift of up to $150 million if they can get PHEEIA passed.

The PSC and its state affiliate, NYSUT, continue to press for a budget solution that doesn’t hold CUNY and SUNY hostage – a position that got editorial support in this morning’s New York Times. If you haven't already sent a message urging your representatives to oppose PHEEIA, you can do so here.

The US Congress is considering measures that will have a big impact on New York’s budget, including Medicaid funding and a teachers’ jobs bill. Check the PSC website for future details on how you can urge Congress to do the right thing.

Bowen Re-elected AFT Vice President

At the biennial convention of the PSC’s national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, Barbara Bowen received the highest vote total nationally among AFT’s 43 vice presidents. The PSC as a whole also won a national award for its work on the CUNY and Race project, implementing one of the AFT’s priorities for higher education – working to increase racial and ethnic diversity among faculty and staff.

The PSC’s more than 30 delegates spoke on the floor to 3,500 participants and in committees, winning support for resolutions calling for resistance to austerity budgets for public employees, for changes in CUNY’s proposed community college, for solidarity with teacher unionists who have braved violence and repression in Honduras, and other topics (see the Summer Clarion). The convention also passed a resolution on the war in Afghanistan, after extensive discussion of resolutions on this topic brought by the PSC and two other unions.

Early Retirement Incentive

CUNY’s Trustees approved participation in the State’s Early Retirement Incentive on June 28. Details on terms of the ERI are on the CUNY website. If you have further questions, contact your college’s HR office, or call PSC Director of Pension And Welfare Benefits Clarissa Weiss at (212) 354-1252.

PSC President On The Radio

Tonight, Monday, PSC President Barbara Bowen will be interviewed on the WBAI radio program "Building Bridges." The show broadcasts at 7:00 p.m. at 99.5 FM. Together with two student activists from CUNY, Larry Hales and Terrence Podolsky, she will discuss why Albany's plan to cut CUNY funding while increasing privatization is bad public policy.

San Francisco Labor Council Passed July 12, 2010 Resolution to Support an Immigration Policy based on Labor and Human Rights

Roy Nitzberg — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:24:36 +0000

WHEREAS: Thousands of U.S. union members have been fired as a result of the enforcement of employer sanctions against workers in the workplace, including 1200 janitors in Minneapolis, 300 janitors in Seattle, 475 janitors in San Francisco, as well as workers who have stood up to lead organizing drives into our unions, including 2000 sewing machine operators at American Apparel in Los Angeles, and

WHEREAS: Immigration reform bills in Washington, including the Schumer-Graham proposal, the REPAIR proposal by Senator Schumer and several other senators, and the CIR-ASAP proposal by Congressman Luis Gutierrez, all strengthen employer sanctions, which will cause more of our members to be fired through programs like E-Verify, the national ID card and employment verification, and will make it more difficult for unions to organize non-union workplaces by making immigrant workers even more vulnerable to firings, deportations and the denial of their rights through workplace enforcement, and

WHEREAS: AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has said that that ”we need to make sure every worker in America - documented or undocumented - is protected by our labor laws.” and that we need immigration reform that “allows immigrants to be securely part of our country from day one-able to assert their legal rights, including the right to organize, without fear of retaliation,” and

WHEREAS: the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Central America Free Trade Agreement, and other similar agreements, and structural adjustment policies and other so-called economic reforms continue to boost corporate profits while creating massive poverty in countries like Mexico, El Salvador and others, and that as a result, millions of workers and farmers are displaced and have no alternative but to migrate in search of work, and therefore will continue to come to the United States to work, join our unions and participate in our organizing drives, and

WHEREAS: President Trumka has said that “the failures of our relationship with Mexico ... cannot be solved with guns and soldiers and fences. They must be addressed through an economic strategy for shared prosperity based on rising wages in both countries,” and

WHEREAS: the Mexican government fired 44,000 electrical workers and has tried to smash their union, the Mexican Electrical Workers (SME), and brought thousands of heavily armed police into Cananea to try to smash the 3-year strike of the Mineros, in both cases to create better conditions for giant corporations by breaking unions, privatizing workplaces and throwing workers out of their jobs, and that as a result many of those workers will be forced to come to the United States in order to find work and help their families survive, and

WHEREAS: the largest corporations and employer groups in the United States, including WalMart, Marriott, Smithfield, the Associated Building Contractors and others have sought to expand guest worker programs, forcing people to come to the United States only through those schemes that treat them as low wage workers with no rights, in conditions described as “Close to Slavery” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and

WHEREAS: our labor movement has called for basic reform of our immigration laws, and adopted a position at the AFL-CIO convention in Los Angeles in 1999 that demands the repeal of employer sanctions, immediate amnesty for all undocumented workers, protection of the right to organize for all workers, the strengthening of family reunification as the basis of immigration policy, and opposition to guest worker programs, and

WHEREAS: our labor movement believes that solidarity with workers fighting for their rights in Mexico and around the world is an important part of immigration reform,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the San Francisco Labor Council reiterates its support for the immigration position adopted by the AFL-CIO Convention in 1999, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Francisco Labor Council rejects all the proposals in Congress that promote the firing of immigrant workers, open the doors to new guest worker programs, and do not contain a program for the quick and inclusive legalization of undocumented workers, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Francisco Labor Council supports only those proposals for immigration reform that would force the renegotiation of NAFTA, CAFTA and all other trade agreements, in order to stop the enforced poverty that displaces communities abroad and to protect jobs in the United States, and will oppose any new trade agreements that cause such displacement and do not protect jobs, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Francisco Labor Council, supports the proposal for an alternative immigration reform bill made by the Dignity Campaign, because it is based on protecting the labor and human rights for all people, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Francisco Labor Council supports the SME and the Mineros, and calls on union members and working people to defend their rights by picketing the Mexican consulate and taking other supportive actions, and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the San Francisco Labor Council forwards this resolution for adoption to the California Labor Federation, the AFL-CIO, and to other local unions and central labor bodies.

Bauxite Union reiterates calls for Ministry of Labour to intervene NOW to stop injuries, loss of income and life at Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc.

Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:47:15 +0000

GB&GWU grieves with the victims of Manaka accident, demands root cause analysis of accident, and reiterates calls for Ministry of Labour to intervene NOW to stop injuries, loss of income and life at BCGI.

The GB&GWU is deeply grieved and disturbed over the accident involving bauxite workers on June 30 at Manaka, where two died, 15 critically injured and others traumatized. This fatal accident occurred in a company assigned vehicle, on a company road, when workers were being transported to work. This is an industrial accident resulting from negligence and gross occupational safety and health shortcomings which highlights the risk bauxite workers face on a daily basis. We are reminded that accidents do not just happen but are themselves a result of failure to observe measures appropriate to their prevention.

In the case of the Manaka accident this is an accident that happened on the mines property (road) of which the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) is responsible for its maintenance. This road is built from bauxite waste which over the years requires constant maintenance due to its construction materials and the heavy industrial and other traffic that traverses it. Formerly a grader was assigned to maintain the road, making it safe for traffic. This is no longer being done and as such the road has deteriorated to the point where workers’ transportation has to leave much earlier to meet to work on time on a journey that would normally be much shorter. There are times when traversing the road becomes so bad that it takes more than 2 1/2 times what it would normally take from workplace to home and vice versa. The absence of safety signs to forewarn drivers of the dangerous bend in the road and its deteriorating conditions are also a factor of safety that is missing. The Union is reliably informed that the accident resulted from a collision of on-coming vehicles having to navigate an eroded road at a dangerous turn. Compounding the safety issue is the use of an unsuitable minibus for such conditions as opposed to a more rugged terrain vehicle. It is the responsibility of the employer to take into consideration the safety of every employee before and during the contract of service to transport them from one place to another.

As the worst accident in the Kwakwani area, resulting in deaths, critical injuries and traumatized workers, it cannot be swept under the carpet as a simple road accident. While the Union is encouraged at the efforts made to save lives, it will not be satisfied to be told that this is as far as it goes. We need a root cause analysis to determine all factors contributing to this very sad loss of lives and injury and immediate short and long term measures to be implemented so that such situations of hazards are removed or minimized in the daily lives of bauxite workers.

Occupational Health and Safety breaches present a threat to labour's safety and is not a matter to be taken lightly nor can it be compromised. The safety of BCGI workers has been compromised for some time now and efforts made by the Union to have the Ministry of Labour address concerns have been ignored. In May 2009 workers were forced to protest unsafe working conditions when the company had them working with malfunctioning vehicles. Some workers fell ill and one is now permanently disabled. The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 98:10 (OSHA) Section 56 (1) (a) and (b) expressly state “A worker may refuse to work or do particular work where he has reasonable justification to believe that any equipment, machine, device, or article the worker is to use or operate presents an imminent and serious danger to the life or health of himself, or another worker; or the physical condition of the workplace or the part thereof within which he works or is to work presents an imminent and serious danger to his life or health.” When workers took action consistent with this law BCGI suspended some in clear violation of Section 58 (1) (b) that says “no employer or person acting on behalf of an employer shall discipline or suspend or threaten to discipline or suspend a worker.” The company has since taken legal actions against the Union leaders.

The Ministry of Labour's continued refusal to meet with the union and company to resolve these grave matters sends a signal to the union and bauxite workers that BCGI treatment of them has the support of the Government of Guyana, in as much as the Ministry knows that their rights are being transgressed and the OSHA laws violated; even as they know the serious risk to life and limb and consequential social effects on families and communities. As recent as May 2010 the Union again wrote Chief Labour Officer, Yoganand Persaud seeking his involvement to conciliate in the occupational safety and health dispute to undo the wrong done to workers in accordance with OSHA laws and bring about an improvement in working conditions at the workplace. To date there has not been an acknowledgment much less any move to set up a meeting. It is clear that bauxite workers are not in the eyes of this government deserving of justice, safe work conditions and protection of their rights. Even with continued injuries and the loss of life bauxite workers are being ignored.

Working conditions at BCGI is of critical concern and GB&GWU asks the Minister of Labour Mr. Manzoor Nadir and Chief Labour Officer Mr. Yoganand Persaud, as well as civic society how long can you continue to turn a blind eye or give tactic support to practices that violate workers’ rights, threaten their lives, limbs and livelihood. How long can you ignore the endangerment of bauxite workers? Like sugar workers and every worker of this country bauxite workers must be treated with respect. Workers are not inanimate resources; they are human and the most essential element in the line of production. The GB&GWU warns that unless strong action is taken NOW the situation will get worse and more lives will be loss and injuries sustained.

Meanwhile, the union sends its condolences to the families of the workers who died as a result and to the injured and those who remain traumatized know that we feel your pain and suffering. The union urges all workers of BCGI, all those who consider their lives and health important to stand up and speak out for without health and life you and your family's are doomed.

GB&GWU calls on the Ministry to do its job and conciliate the dispute with BCGI and to ensure that OSH standards are met immediately. We call for an urgent root cause analysis of the conditions creating the accident at Manaka and the subsequent injuries and loss of life.

Special Event to Commemorate the St Louis General Strike of 1877

Roy Nitzberg — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:53:51 +0000

Special Event to Commemorate the General Strike of 1877

Contact: Gary Gaines
618-931-6609 (home)
618-304-6715 (cell – Do Not Distribute)
Email: 1union2win@charter.net
Website: http://www.gsluf.org/

To commemorate the 1877 Saint Louis general strike, a group of labor activists and other regional
community activist organizations are planning an observance on July 10, 2010, from 1:00 to 5:00
p.m. The event will take place at Wilson Park in Granite City near the corner of 29th and State
Streets (across from Niedringhaus Grade School.

The event will include nationally known Labor Historians, Jeremy Brecher (Connecticut Public
Television and Radio) and Rosemary Feurer (Northern IL Univ.). They bring their knowledge of
the rich history of labor unions and social progress for minorities on both sides of the river
surrounding St. Louis. Plans also include music of labor and social activism, refreshments,
information booths, book sales, and much more.

There will also be musical performances by David Rovics, a nationally known indie singersongwriter
and local musician Wayne Schell who is well known to local bluegrass fans as a
member of the Lodge Brothers Band.

This event remembers when a nation-wide railroad strike made it’s way into the St. Louis area
and evolved locally into a complete stoppage of labor and commerce on both sides of the river.
Locally, the strike started as a spontaneous action by small groups of workers that expanded to
affect the entire Metro area. Despite the fact that violence and vandalism were almost
nonexistent, the strike was ended when some 3,000 federal troops and 5,000 deputized
special police killed at least eighteen people in skirmishes around the city.

The history of organized labor in the St. Louis Metro Area is rich and well established. The very
low unit numbers assigned to so many unions in the region are proof of that. Steelworkers 16, 30,
67, 68. Cement Masons 90, Laborers 44, 53, 100, 218. Fitters 101 and 360. Teamsters 50,
Bakers 4, Boilermakers 27, Elevator Constructors 3, Gasworkers 5-6, IBEW 1 and 2, Roofers 2,
SEIU 1, Firefighters 73, Sheet Metal 36, Typographical 8, Stagehands 6, Autoworkers 110 and
136, Asbestos 1, Bricklayers 1. The list, and the history, goes on and on. Perhaps only New York
and Chicago can boast such a rich past.

This is a family-oriented day of learning, fun, music and remembering of events that are seldom
taught in our schools – but played such a large role in the future of labor and commerce in the St.
Louis Metro area.

Guyana Govt and RUSAL threaten workers and families with starvation from inaction

Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:47:06 +0000

Workers who were fired from the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) are calling on the company to pay them their retrenchment packages since they have no interest in returning to work with the company.

Fifty workers from the Aroaima-based bauxite company, BCGI, were fired following an impasse between the workers’ union, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) and the company while the union was negotiating for improved wages for its members. This situation resulted in unionized workers taking industrial action, bringing the operations at the company to a complete standstill for a number of days.

As days went by, efforts at negotiation yielded no fruit and workers refused to return to work, resulting in the company suspending the services of some of the workers claiming that they had ceased work without permission.

This had put another issue on the agenda for negotiations but at this point the Russian-owned company refused to continue discussions with the union, saying that they were not recognizing the union because of an alleged breach of their recognition agreement.

The company then said that it had suffered great losses and could no longer carry the full workforce. Although most workers were still on strike, fifty of them were served letters indicating that the company no longer required their services. Company officials could not be reached on the question of the retrenchment packages.

Speaking with Stabroek News some of the fired employees had said they were told that they were accused of damaging the company’s property and were the key players in instigating the protest action.

This newspaper spoke with some of those who were fired and most of them said that they were not interested in returning to work with the company but needed their retrenchment packages which they note they are legally entitled to.

“I worked honestly with the company since they took over and now that they don’t want me anymore by right they have to pay me my dues,” Wayne Coppin stated, adding that they were made to withdraw from the insurance agreement and were refunded their contributions.

“Life is very hard for me at this time, really hard and I didn’t deserve to be fired for something I don’t know of, all we were doing was standing up for our rights,” said Richie James. The father of seven children said that he has not been fortunate to secure a job despite desperate efforts. He said that there were some workers who didn’t mind being laid off because they were assured of another job but he was willing to continue working with the company.

He said that they have been in constant contact with the union representative who had been briefing them on the situation. They were told that the issue of retrenchment packages could not have been dealt with in isolation from the other issues that were pending with the company.

“This is not the government I helped put in power. I voted for a government which I had the confidence would have stood up for the people of this country. I feel let down to know the government is more on the side of the Russians and not their own people,” exclaimed one of the former employees.

The workers said that it was a sad state of affairs to learn that senior members of the government reportedly believed the company’s claims that they had damaged their property and had coerced other workers into taking industrial action.
God could take me…

“I am going through a really hard time, me being out of work is causing so much pain and suffering for my family at times I does just wish God could take me how things rough,” said another man who has a family of six.

The man explained that he has been doing odd jobs although he is a professional heavy duty vehicle operator. He said that if the matter has to reach the level of the court of justice he is willing to stand 100% behind the GB&GWU since it is clear that BCGI is in violation of many clauses of the labour laws of Guyana.

On the other hand family members of some persons who managed to secure other jobs are finding it very challenging to keep the families together. According to most of the wives, while their husbands were working with BCGI maintaining contact with their families was much more structured. “Despite they use to be in there (Aroaima) we could have depended on hearing from our husbands almost every day. There were times that we even could have gone up there to visit and spend time,” one woman explained.

She said further that now the men are working in the interior there is not an assured salary, neither is there a fixed time that they can communicate or travel in or out to be with their families.

“All I am wishing for is for the company to pay those people and let it be done with once and for all,” she added.

The GB&GWU and BCGI have been at loggerheads for about 18 months, but the dispute intensified last November when the workers at the company engaged in strike action which was subsequently terminated. However, following the strike, more than 50 workers were dismissed. Since then, the union and prominent trade union leaders like Lincoln Lewis and Norris Witter have argued that Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir has failed to discharge his duties in protecting the rights of the dismissed workers and the union. The matter was the subject of a no-confidence motion on June 3rd brought by the PNCR-1G against Nadir in Parliament. The government used its parliamentary majority to defeat the motion.

http://www.stabroeknews.com/2010/stories/06/28/fired-bauxite-workers-calling-for-retrenchment-packages/

FREED Press Release 6.27.2010

TEA-KOR — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:29:23 +0000

June 27, 2010

FIRST RESPONSE ENGLISH EDUCATORS

Press Release

FREED has just submitted a “wish list” for legislative changes to a division of the civic government in Metro Busan. Two weeks ago, an employee of the Busan Foundation for International Activities, which provides supports including counseling to foreigners, invited FREED to submit suggestions for the development of legislative proposals.

We were happy to do that and we created a comprehensive “wish list.” It is available upon request.

Let us provide a summary here. This summary identifies the three themes of our recommendations: raising the status of teachers, monitoring and enforcement, and streamlining documentation.

(1)Raise the status of foreign teachers. We think that the status of foreign teachers as qualified active teachers could be raised and solidified. The most important measure would be to change the current visa classification from the E visa that is dependent on a single contract with a single employer to a general open teaching visa. Such a change would likely save money, labour and time for all involved. Also, the MOE could adjust the roles of public school teachers and the co-teaching relationship. Furthermore, we think that all contract teachers (and other migrants) should be registered as regular full-time employees, and we support the proposed Higher Education Act.

(2)Monitor, enforce and mediate. We are glad of the increasingly available services and information in English and other languages for foreign residents. What is more, we feel that many aspects of the prevailing labour and immigration laws are satisfactory, although lacking in enforcement. Therefore, we recommend measures to increase monitoring and carry out enforcement of laws and regulations for the protection of employees, especially as regards basic and overtime hours and pay. As well, we think that more extensive mediation would be helpful, and we therefore suggest the placement of regional Ombudsmen, restored support to the Human Rights Commission, more accessible legal aid, and additional troubleshooting staff within each district of the Ministry of Education.

(3)Streamline immigration documentation. We applaud what appears to be the new practices of "visa transfers" and "termination meetings," although we would like clarity about them. Also, we find that the request for new copies of official documents that are already on file with immigration unnecessary in cases when the employee continues to live in Korea and applies for a new visa. In such instances in which the employee has not resumed residence, study or employment in the home or some third country, but has rather continued a presence in Korea, there could not possibly be any addtional information on record in the home country. Reducing documentation in this way would reduce time, money and labour for all involved. Here, we would like to add a point about the crackdown on undocumented workers. We strongly discourage illegal employment, but we share concerns about the tactics and extent of the crackdown with other advocates. We recommend an amnesty and a process to give employers and employees a chance to get documented or choose to part ways.

That is our summary of recommendations. We are very grateful for the opportunity to discuss legislative changes, and we hope to be included in further discussions on legislative changes pertaining to the circumstances and status of foreigners and teaching in the Republic of Korea.

Background

FREED (First Response for English Educators) is a support network of teachers set up in 2010 primarily to assist English teachers who are new to South Korea with employment and settlement issues. We hold to the values of human rights and peace for all.

Our “wish list” for legislative change is based on the experience of teachers and other foreigners we have known and the problems they encounter in this country, which mostly tend to be related to employment. Should a process develop and proposals get initiated, FREED would like to take part in that process.

We do not wish to pit foreigners against Koreans; rather, our wish list addresses issues concerning all teachers and working people in general, foreigners or citizens, in the Republic of Korea. FREED supports and encourages work for peace and democracy, and therefore advocates cultural sharing and understanding between different peoples. We oppose discrimination on any basis. At the same time, we recognize that we are not all the same. We advocate appreciation of Korea’s history and culture, which has borne out the most dramatic patriotic and democratic struggles during its startling industrial development, and brought about incredible changes in a very few decades. Today, most foreigners come to Korea at the invitation of Koreans to make contributions to Korean society in a fair exchange and not to undermine Korean culture and language. We believe that a migrant worker migrates mostly for economic advantage and also to see and experience new places, while we realize that changing global structures and activities bring forth accelerated profound changes to us all, not all in a balanced or helpful way, and not all according to our preferences. It is necessary for us all to address fundamental problems of society together. FREED wishes to be part of socially positive transformations that respect and celebrate culture together with rights and peace.

Contact: freed3.15@live.com, www.freedteachers.org

National Day of Action at Sacramento Hilton!

Roy Nitzberg — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 12:25:22 +0000

National Day of Action at the Hilton!

We are boycotting the owner of the Hilton, Columbia Sussex. Wednesday June 30th there will be rallies and actions against Columbia Sussex all

over the country! Join us in Sacramento at the Hilton

Wednesday June 30th at

4:30 pm!

Hilton Arden West, 2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento CA

UNITEHERE Local 49

GB&GWU holds Labour Minister Nadir accountable to his June 15 agreement with ICEM

Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:53:15 +0000

Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union

Press Release

June 25, 2010

GB&GWU holds Labour Minister Nadir accountable to his June 15 agreement with ICEM, consistent with his responsibility under Section 4 (1) of the Labour Law 98:01, to resolve the eight-month old dispute with the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc.

The GB&GWU today (June 25) dispatched a letter to Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir as a reminder to him of his commitment made on June 15 to Mr. Manfred Warda, General Secretary, International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), of his willingness to facilitate dialogue between GB&GWU and the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI). This commitment was made at a meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland at the head office of ICEM, the world federation that represents mining trade unions in some 100 countries with over 20 million workers. ICEM also reminded the Minister of its readiness and willingness to participate in dialogue in Guyana to successfully resolve the dispute.

The Union has taken note that the Minister in his June 16 media release on the ICEM meeting failed to mention or acknowledge his commitment to facilitate talks between the Union and BCGI. Neither has the Minister to date informed the Union of the time for the talks between the parties as he agreed to with ICEM. The Union hopes that consistent with the principle of agreement the Minister would put systems in place as soon as possible to initiate talks. In our letter to him he was also informed that we stand ready to proceed with an engagement with BCGI as soon as possible and if we do not hear from him we will be calling his office on Tuesday 29^th June, 2010 to follow up.

The dispute between the GB&GWU and BCGI is eight-month and counting. 57 workers were wrongfully dismissed and are being denied justice. Also these workers and their families are being denied a living through no fault of theirs.

It is now hope that with the Minister having received letters today (June 25) from ICEM’s General Secretary and the GB&GWU General Secretary (ag.) as a reminder of the June 15 engagement and his agreement that efforts would be made to initiate a process that can bring an end to the dispute. The Union looks forward to the Minister proceeding consistent with his responsibility as vested in the 'Powers of the Minister in the case of a dispute' Section 4 (1) of the Labour Law 98:01.

In the meanwhile the Union wishes to communicate to its members that it shall pursue this issue until justice is served.

See enclosed GB&GWU and ICEM’s letters

__________________________

Leslie Gonsalves
General Secretary (ag)
Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union
262 Bulletwood Street
Mc Kenzie
Linden
GUYANA

Hon. Minister Mr. Manzoor Nadir
Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security
1Water & Cornhill Streets
Stabroek
Georgetown
GUYANA

25th June, 2010

Minister:

Re: Conciliation meeting between the Guyana Bauxite and General Working Union (GB&GWU) and the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI)

Reference the above.

As per your engagement with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) on 15th June, 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland and your committed willingness to facilitate dialogue between GB&GWU and BCGI, the Union wishes to state that it stands ready to proceed with this engagement as soon as possible. As such it would be appreciated that we hear from the ministry on the time and modalities for the meeting. I shall be calling your office on Tuesday 29th June, 2010 to follow up, should we not hear before.

Yours sincerely,

Leslie Gonsalves

General Secretary (ag)
Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union.

Cc: Manfred Warda, General Secretary, ICEM

Dick Blin, Information Officer, ICEM

________________________

Ref: ICEM10/EN LT70

25 June 2010

Mr Manzoor Nadir

Minister of Labor, Human Services and Social Security

Co-operative Republic of Guyana

1 Water and Cornhill Streets

Georgetown,

Guyana

Dear Honourable Minister Nadir,

I write to recap our meeting of 15 June 2010 in the offices of the ICEM in Geneva, Switzerland. Firstly, the ICEM Secretariat is grateful to you for initiating the meeting while you were in Geneva for the 99th gathering of the ILO’s International Labour Conference. We agree with the assessment in your subsequent News Release that the meeting was cordial in nature and for the ICEM’s part, we believe it could serve as an initial starting point to resolve the now seven-month dispute between the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) and the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI).

The hard work of engagement through tripartite voluntary dialogue must now commence, and we were happy to hear of your willingness to facilitate this dialogue between GB&GWU and BCGI. Therefore, as you agreed to in our 15 June meeting, we call on you to immediately call both parties together to start open and honest talks.

As we mentioned in the meeting, ICEM is troubled by what we believe has been undue pressure by BCGI management to intimidate and coerce workers of the mining company to de-authorize the GB&GWU from their legitimate role as workers’ representative. We sincerely feel it is the role of the Labour Ministry to ensure that this does not happen, and if the matter of union representation does go to a poll of workers, we insist that the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board uphold global labour standards as set forth by the ILO, meaning that management of BCGI must not interfere in workers’ free choice for or against union representation.

Besides attempting to reconcile the past difficulties between the two parties, ICEM stands

hopeful that a facilitated meeting by you between GB&GWU and BCGI can establish voluntary and mutually acceptable ground rules to be used in any recognition poll. For this, the ICEM sees unimpeded access to the workplace by GB&GWU representatives to speak one-on-one with workers, as well as assuring that the 57 discharged workers, all union activists, have an opportunity to address fellow workers to tell their side of the firings. Since the government of Guyana retains 10% of this enterprise, we are hopeful that this can be guaranteed.

As we told you in our meeting, the ICEM is ready and willing to participate in dialogue in

Guyana to successfully resolve this dispute, or even to play the role of observer in a poll. I look forward to your response on this, and your follow-up to our meeting.

Lastly, and as a separate issue from the GB&GWU/BCGI dispute, we are encouraged by your willingness to introduce ILO Convention 176, the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, in your country, and to begin the internal process toward ratification. As we told you in our 15 June meeting, Guyana has much to gain on the international level by ratifying this important ILO Convention, particularly at a time when mining accidents and resulting deaths are escalating due to demand and rapid extraction of mineral resources.

The ICEM stands ready to assist the government of Guyana in any possible way in this regard to make Guyana the 25th country worldwide to ratify ILO Convention 176.

Again, we are grateful to you for initiating the 15 June meeting, and we are hopeful this will be a harbinger of better tripartite relations between your government, BCGI, and GB&GWU.

Sincerely,

Manfred Warda

General Secretary

Cc: Leslie Gonsalves, GB&GWU