Monday, March 31, 2014

CANADA:::Union seeks right to represent Toyota plants in Canada

Canada’s largest private-sector union, Unifor, seeks to represent Toyota plant workers in Cambridge and Woodstock.

Members of Unifor, Canada's largest private-sector union, march in Toronto's annual Labour Day Parade in September. Unifor is seeking the right to represent more than 6,500 autoworkers at Toyota's Canadian assembly plants in Cambridge and Woodstock.
COLIN MCCONNELL / TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO
Members of Unifor, Canada's largest private-sector union, march in Toronto's annual Labour Day Parade in September. Unifor is seeking the right to represent more than 6,500 autoworkers at Toyota's Canadian assembly plants in Cambridge and Woodstock.
The country’s largest private-sector union is seeking the right to represent more than 6,500 autoworkers at Toyota’s Canadian assembly plants in Cambridge and Woodstock.
If successful, the plants would become the first Toyota assembly plants in North America to have union representation, a major victory for the labour movement as its traditional base — U.S.-owned auto plants — continues to shrink.

Union opposes legislative action on minimum wage

The head of the state's largest labor union said his organization would oppose any move by lawmakers to raise the minimum wage ahead of a vote by Alaskans, fearing legislators will gut the law like they did 12 years ago.

A-Mart dispute in Melbourne, Australia a possible sign of times to come

A lock-out of 40 workers at a warehouse in the industrial belt of the northern suburbs of Melbourne that has been going on for three weeks might be one of the first signs of an anti worker offensive by the new right wing Australian government. The workers at the A-Mart warehouse were wanting the right to collectively bargain, a modest pay rise after four years and better health and safety conditions. In response the company, locked the entire workforce out. Solidarity from other workers and unions is supporting the locked out workers. This dispute has to be seen in conjunction with moves to destroy the CFMEU, one of Australia’s most powerful unions, and a Royal Commission into union finances. source:::http://www.aawl.org.au

Jordan oil workers win massive pay rise

This week saw the 3,600 members of the General Union of Petroleum & Chemical Workers in Jordan win a new collective agreement. The new contract gives workers a 30% pay rise, improvement to the retirement benefits, health and medical services for all workers and their families including pensioners. This surprising result might have been due to the Government’s fear of ongoing instability in the region influencing workers in Jordan and reigniting mass protests like those of a couple of years ago.
source:::http://www.aawl.org.au

Walmart workers in China fight against dismissals

Earlier this month, Walmart declared that it was going to close five of its stores in China. The company’s offer of compensation and a two week notice period was rejected by its workforce. Defying many people’sexpectations, the local ACFTU representative led the protests against Walmart. Under pressure from Walmart, local authorities sent the police to break the protests, and while some workers were injured,protests are continuing with workers rejecting the company’s offer. See video here. Walmart is one of the biggest companies in the world and is notorious for its anti-union stance. In the USA, workers are finallybeginning to organise.
source:::http://www.aawl.org.au

Nurses in Pakistan achieve historic win

As recently reported, thousands of nurses in Lahore, Pakistan were subjected to a brutal police charge which nearly killed one of the striking nurses. Instead of intimidating the nurses, this action served to galvanise support for the striking workers. Solidarity rallies and events were held all around Pakistan and in Lahore there was great unity among other workers in the health sector. All 2,800 nurses were reinstated by the government on three year contracts, as well as achieving a substantial pay rise. This win shows the importance and power of class solidarity.
source:::http://www.aawl.org.au

Eleven workers killed in another factory fire in China

On Wednesday a fire broke out in a small garment factory in Puning county in southern Guangdong. The factory was situated in a five storey building. The factory only had one exit, there were many hazardous materials stored inside the factory and there were no safety procedures in place. In addition to the deaths, 17 workers were injured. Unfortunately this latest accident underscores the terrible health and safety that many Chinese workers have to endure and that kills and injures thousands every year.

source::http://www.aawl.org.au