Attack on Trade Unionists on the rise world wide
GAMA workers and Joe Higgins fighting exploitation
Recent reports indicate that trade union activists are coming under increasing attack and in some cases these attacks are deadly. As globalisation and far right wing capitalism increases, so the attacks on trade unions and their members increase. Below is a ICFTU report which highlights the extent of the problem
Related Links: Classroom Assistants struggle | Assassination Attempts against Labour Activists in Iran | Cultural Workers Take on Property Tycoon in Galway | IWU exposes Abuse of Migrant Workers | Wildcat strike in Musgrave Warehouse | Coke Trade Unionists in the firing line in Colombia | GAMA workers
115 trade unionists were murdered for defending workers’ rights, while more than 1,600 were subjected to violent assaults and some 9,000 arrested. Nearly 10,000 workers were sacked 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. 70 Colombian unionists paid the ultimate price for standing up for fundamental rights at work. Other countries under the spotlight for violence and repression against unionists include Burma, Iran, El Salvador, Djibouti, China, Cambodia, Guatemala, Zimbabwe and Saudi arabia. Other Arabian Gulf countries continue to ban trade unions altogether, while in several other countries including North Korea, government-controlled “official trade unions” are the order of the day. In Australia, the government rushed through new laws depriving the country’s workforce of the most fundamental protections.
Alongside the 70 killings, 260 Colombian trade unionists received death threats, in a climate of continuing impunity for the assassins, and deliberate targeting of trade unions by armed groups. The education sector was a particular focus for repression, contributing to a growing phenomenon of violence against women workers.
Elsewhere in the Americas, eight rural worker’s rights supporters were killed in Brazil, and in Honduras, regional trade union coordinator Francisco Cruz Galeano was slain last December. In Guatemala the pervasive climate of violence and fear, especially against women workers, continued with workers in education, banking and agriculture amongst the primary targets.
The Bush Administration continued its efforts to undermine freedom of association and collective bargaining in the USA, helping to ensure that union-busting remained rife. One of the most notorious anti-union employers in the US, WalMart, spread its practices into Canada. In common with other regions, systematic violations of workers’ rights in export processing zones was a prominent feature in Mexico and the Dominican Republic in particular, with multinational companies profiting from low wages and exploitative working conditions, especially in supply chains in the textiles and metals sectors.
Export processing zones in several Asian countries, notably Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka were highlighted for anti-union action by employers, often with government complicity, as part of the relentless drive by many global companies to undercut their competitors.
Dozens of Chinese trade union activists remained in prison, and the authorities brutally repressed protests by workers in many different locations, with unconfirmed reports of the deaths of two demonstrators.
The Australian government rushed a new wave of anti-union laws through the country’s parliament at the end of the year, including heavy restrictions on workers’ rights to trade union representation. Protection from unfair dismissal was removed from most Australian workers, and provisions were introduced for heavy fines against union officials and workers for even asking employers to provide paid leave for union-delivered training or to guarantee not to sack workers without good reason.
Migrant workers suffered extreme exploitation in several Middle-East countries, including Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Jordan. In a number of these countries, unions were still totally outlawed, or subject to heavy legal restrictions. In the United Arab Emirates, 130 construction workers were violently attacked for going on strike, and some migrant workers remained unpaid for up to 16 months. In Bahrain, hopes that the government would take some positive steps towards bringing the law further into line with international standards were dashed with the promulgation of a new legal disposition which is in fact more restrictive. A positive move was made in Qatar, where a new labour code, although deficient in several respects, allowed for the creation of free trade unions.
The Ethiopian authorities targeted the journalists union for repression and maintained their ban on the country’s teachers’ union, several of whose members were detained and accused of high treason, and further anti-union action in the education sector occurred in Algeria and Cameroon. In Sudan, Egypt and Libya, only government-controlled national trade union centres were permitted.
The Turkish authorities were also responsible for acts of violence against education sector workers, and more than 500 Turkish workers were dismissed for their union involvement. Within the European Union, interference in and surveillance of trade unions was reported in Poland, while the German government refused to lift a ban on strikes by civil servants. The Lidl supermarket chain in Germany remained virulently anti-union, while the Gate Gourmet catering company was also singled out for its actions in Germany as well as in the UK.
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Wednesday October 24, 2007 23:37
by Jim O'Sullivan
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Comments (16 of 16)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16And lest we think that we here are immuine, the signs are mounting that the government is encouraging a hard line to be taken against trade unions. The recent off hand dismissal of nurses at a time when people are waiting for treatment is most probably an act of provocation. Recently the CEO of Chambers Ireland launched an attack on Irish Trade Unions and specifically singled out the Health Services and the Postal Services. Vigilance and solidarity is a must
Vigilance is good and necessary but somewhat toothless in the face of blind governance that confuses repression with broader freedom.
Remember the shabby, dismissive treatment of ILDA (the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association) in its early months by government, employer and mainstream media alike? Independent journalism eventually blew away the smoke screen and forced the mainstream media into fairer coverage of events.
The capitalist in Ireland are assisted by the
trade unions who have become the third
party in government. First the unions got the
bosses to collect the union subs for them,
then they were having lunch with the bosses.
Next they were in the pockets of the government
who turn a blind eye to how they run the unions
like a business and take the profits for
themselves buying fleets of cars and big
expenses for all their staff. The unions know
that migrant workers are being exploited in
Ireland and only in cases like the GAMA
workers , where they were shamed by Mick
Murphy of the Socialist party into taking action
do they do anything about the workers rights.
Years ago if your union didn't protect you from
exploitation or unfair dismissal you didn't
give them your hard earned money.Now they
don't have to worry about that. Bosses now
like you to be in a union, it gives the
impression that you will get your rights.
The bosses know that the unions don't
give a fig about workers or their rights.
"Bosses now like you to be in a union, it gives the impression that you will get your rights.
The bosses know that the unions don't give a fig about workers or their rights."
Yes, the country is full of bosses inviting unions in to organise their staff. IBEC and the American Chamber of Commerce are already proposing that Irish workers be given the right to union representation, so that they can increase their exploitation. Grow up, 'part of the union'.
It only a matter of time until the employers around the world take their lead from trade unions in Ireland.
Once the despots realise that union leaders can be bought, the suppression of ordinary members will cease and the union leaders will earn their big houses, big cars and big salaries.
Unfortunately Trade Union corruption is here to stay - aided and abetted by their partners - the employers and government.
Just wondering, the farmers are in the Dail now protesting with their union leader, something to do with Europe and no money (hedge I think)
Q/ 1 Would they be serious, well the Leader of that union or will he do a U turn?
The farmers are in the EU Commission offices in Molesworth Street. They are demanding the publication of an EU report into Argentinian cattle. The farmers claim that there are no proper tests in modst of the Argentine for TB, Foot & Mouth etc.
I'm not exactly in love with farmers but I think they have a good case this time.
Having had experience in both non-union and union jobs, I know which I prefer. Even if SIPTU is full of salaried jobsworths (apologies to all grass roots activists and shop stewards) , any union is better than none at all.
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=184NTV2CE_c&NR=1
The Public Order Act Is ideal for use against Trades Unions. It will be used to suppress marching, picketing and any other form of 'militant, action. It is a bosses' charter. The Unions were sleep-walking when it was introduced and many union members don't yet realise what a nasty piece of legislation awaits them if things ever turn sour.
How about 10 years in prison for picketing? -
14.—(1) Where—
( a ) 12 or more persons who are present together at any place (whether that place is a public place or a private place or both) use or threaten to use unlawful violence for a common purpose, and
( b ) the conduct of those persons, taken together, is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at that place to fear for his or another person's safety,
then, each of the persons using unlawful violence for the common purpose shall be guilty of the offence of riot.
(2) For the purposes of this section—
( a ) it shall be immaterial whether or not the 12 or more persons use or threaten to use unlawful violence simultaneously at any place;
( b ) the common purpose may be inferred from conduct;
( c ) no person of reasonable firmness need actually be, or be likely to be, present at that place.
(3) A person guilty of an offence of riot shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both.
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1994/en/act/pub/0002/ind....html
Does this mean an effective ban on Strike and the right to assembly?
My reading of that statute is that it is sufficiently vague to be use for all activist action including strike. (A strike without a picket to deter scabbery renders that strike pretty inneffective)
If this is the case then this is a backdoor assault on civil liberties and an outragious repeal of trade union rights and workers rights.
Will this have to be tested in the courts?
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
Oh Yes!
Dear Red, you seem to think that present day unions are in existence to fight for workers. That sort of behaviour was ended when ITGWU expelled Jim Larkin from the union he founded.
The unions were not sleeping they were in a state of euphoria.
The leaders - of SIPTU in particular - are delighted that the law will deal with any pesky trade unionists who want workers rights.
Every anti worker practice, or legislation, including Partnership, was imposed and tried out at the Belfast Docks by ITGWU over 30 years ago.
So far, SIPTU has not fined its members large sums of money and forced them to money lenders to pay the union before being allowed to return to work.
Or, fining someone Ten pounds for speaking back to the union chairman.
Or, made men discharge asbestos without protection to save the employers money.
Or, sacked over one hundred young dockers at the advent of Decasulisation because the employers said there were too many men.
Or, after Decasulisation formed a Joint Disciplinary Committee for sacking any docker who wanted working such outlandish things as a First Aid Post and washing facilities. These things were fought for by the union chairman, but once he changed sides and became an employer he refused them. AND he remained {to this day} an estemed union member.
Obviously Red, an inquiry is needed into this corrupt Trade Union, so instead of thinking that belonging to a Trade Union is a panacea for fighting employers and government - who are now one and the same thing - you should be demanding that the union you belong to is fighting for YOUR RIGHTS and not those of the employers.
A word of advice: if you attempt to investigate any pro government union you will be ostracised and vilified and the truth you find out will not be listened to or believed.
This is because of the Trickle Down Effect, ie the corruption trickles down from the leaders and anyone who wants to be anyone in the union has to go along with anti-worker practices to placate employers and government.
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (PUBLIC ORDER) ACT 1994
The ICCL expresses its regret that the President has not referred this Act to the Supreme Court, on its constitutionality, especially with regard to: its restrictions on the citizen's rights of free expression, assembly and movement; the vagueness of some of the offences, ; and the extremely wide powers of the Gardai to enforce the Public Order provisions.
Who would think that this law was introduced primarily at the behest of a Labour minister with the collaboration of a FF minister?
Dear Red,
Instead of asking "Who would think," etc - every time you see a well paid pro government, pro employer and anti-working class Union Leader - just think JUDAS.
They've not licked and sucked their way to the top to spoil their chances on ICTU - by actually doing the job you pay them to do.
Like the ITGWU chairman at the Belfast Docks who was bought off by the employers AND became an employer, the union leaders down here don't want to represent workers - they want POWER, but well-paid power. Power to tell workers what to do, power to sell-out when required - and the power to LAUGH at the working class fools in the union who believe they are anything only parasites, AND allow them to remain union members.
JUST LIKE ICTU.
You may well ask, why do they wish to remain union members? Because, like the Belfast Docks chairman they GLORY in how intelligent they are - and how stupid the working class is.
IS UNION LEADERS SITTING DOWN WITH EMPLOYERS AND GOVERNMENT, NOT JUST A MORE REFINED BETRAYAL THAN OUR ITGWU CHAIRMAN / EMPLOYER.
Red, you will never change anything until you rid the Trade Union Movement of the JUDAS'S.
Videos about the Gama Struggle
www.youtube.com/brennan1979