New ITUC Campaign on Organizing Young People

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is initiating a new campaign on March 26 to connect global trade union work to the recruitment and organizing of young people. The new Youth Campaign uses a range of different tools, including video, social networking, posters and websites, as well as a special campaign guide.

Research in many countries has shown that young peoples’ attitudes on the issues that trade unions deal with  have not changed greatly over the years, but that changes in the workforce, technology and society have meant that unions need to reach out to youth in different ways than in the past. This campaign aims to show that by joining a trade union, young people can influence issues and events which they are concerned about at a global level, as well as improving their own working lives.

The campaign offers an additional aspect to the traditional recruitment arguments by focuses on the international features of unionism and  relating this to young peoples’ own personal experiences. For more information, check out the video:  http://www.changetheworld-now.com/.

Iraqi Workers Are Standing Up for Their Rights

Nearly seven years have passed  since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s  regime; yet many of his laws continue to apply, making it impossible for trade unions to organize and bargain on behalf of their members. Workers in the public sector can’t join unions; the government has frozen trade union assets, and key parts of the government have attempted to take over trade unions.

While several versions of a new labor code have been drafted, political opposition and a gridlocked parliament have let the code gather dust. In response, workers and unions from across the country—from Basra to  Iraqi Kurdistan—have come together to demand that the government put in place a fair and just labor law. In the face of often tremendous personal risk, the campaign is also a pioneering effort in bridging religious, political, ethnic and geographic barriers.

With a new government currently being formed, Iraqi trade unions want to raise the profile of the campaign, to make it a top legislative priority, and that’s where international solidarity is critical.  The ITUC has formally endorsed the Iraqi campaign for trade union rights

Japanese Metal Unions Secure Gains in Annual 'Spring Offensive'

IMF-JC, the Japanese metal union, received favorable responses from most major manufacturers to the demands  of 55 designated workplace unions on March 17,  Unified Response Day. Management acknowledged the cooperation and efforts by union members toward improved production but asserted the need to strengthen cost competitiveness “through curbs on overall personnel costs.”

The IMF-JC has given high priority to its ‘Spring Offensive’ as an effort to boost the Japanese economy through “investment in people” that will maintain motivation and protect livelihoods. Its demands include: ensuring the amount of the regular pay raise and bonuses; increases in overtime pay rates; achieving work-life balance through shorter working hours; and a boost in the minimum wage. IMF-JC is the metalworkers’ division of RENGO, the national union.

According to press reports, pay raises will be implemented at Toyota Motor Corp., Sharp Group,  Sanyo Electric Co., Hatachi Ltd., Toshiba Corp., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Nippon Steel Corp. and Kobe Steel Ltd.

Mexico’s Technicians Win at PEMEX, but Face Severe Harassment

The 30,000 technical and professional employees of PEMEX, Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company, finally won the right to unionize on their third attempt. The new union, Union Nacional de Tecnicos y Profesionistas Petroleros (UNTYPP) received its registration on December  26, 2009, and its leadership was officially recognized for the period from March 18, 2008 to March 17, 2012. The first two attempts at unionization were denied registration by the government and the leaders fired.

Following the successful court battle, culminating in registration, members of the new union were informed by the company management that in order to retain their jobs, they would be required to sign two documents: one calling for the cancellation of the registration, the other, a resignation from the union.

 Those who refused, including the organizers, were fired and violently removed from their work stations by paramilitaries, including the entire National Executive Committee of the union. Union organizers have faced continuous intimidation and threats throughout their campaign.

Teachers End Strike as Jordan’s King Expresses Sympathy

Teachers in the four southern governorates of Jordan decided on March 25 to end their nine-day strike, in response to remarks by His Majesty, King  Abdullah, in an interview with the editors of five major newspapers. The teachers’ spokesperson, Wael  Hajjaj, emphasized that the teachers have no political agenda  and seek only to serve the interests of the country.

“No matter what we do, we cannot do the teachers justice,” King Abdullah told the editors. “My directives to governments have always been to do their utmost to improve teachers’ living conditions, provide them with decent housing and better salaries and to respond to their needs, to the best of their ability and within available resources,” the King said.

However, while teachers in the south ended their strike, teachers in other governorates continued  their work stoppage, complaining  that they were not represented at a   meeting with the prime minister, in which he promised  to improve their social and financial status. “We do not believe in promises and we want a decision implemented,”  striking teachers said.

Venezuelan Oil Workers Reach Collective Contract over Wages

The United Federation of Venezuelan Oil Workers and Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, reached a collective bargaining agreement  after factional disputes over union elections delayed negotiations for almost a year. Under the terms of the agreement, oil workers will receive a two-stage 80 percent daily salary increase of 35 Bolivar’s ( about $9) with an immediate  raise of 25 bolivars  ( $6) per day and a further increase of 10 bolivars to kick in from Jan. I, 2011. This will bring workers’ salaries up to 2370 bolivars  (about $590 )  per month.

In addition to the base salary, all workers receive an electronic food card, which will increase in value from 1,300 bolivars to 1,700 bolivars per month, as well as 85 percent coverage of  all health-related costs.  A clause in the agreement  also commits PDVSA  to construct 14,000 new houses for oil workers and other residents in the operational areas  of  the oil company who do not own their own homes.

Under the “Bolivarian Revolution,”  as the process of social change in Venezuela is known and led by the nation’s president, Hugo Chavez, all workers are encouraged to do community work, for which they receive an ,additional 1,000 bolivars ($25). Eudice Girot, a union representative, said that oil workers are 112 percent better off under the new contract.