Metalworkers speak out against precarious work

Angola

FISMEQ

The Union produced pamphlets and other material on the subject, the also arranged a seminar which was attended by 160 workers.

Argentina

ASIMRA

Asociación de Supervisores de la Industria Metalmecánica de la Republica Argentina (ASMIRA) held a meeting for members at Mercedes, Bragado, Chivilcoy and Luján in Buenos Aires province on precarious work on October 8.

Australia

AMWU

The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) held a number of meetings at the regional level and with specific groups of workers facing precarious employment issues in different parts of the country as part of the global mobilization against precarious work on October 7. In South Australia, AMWU national president Julius Roe addressed a meeting of trade unions, church and community groups about the precarious work action day in conjunction with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). A Union horse race day was also held, which included the AMWU Precarious Work race. Up to 3,000 people attended and the races where televised around the country.

Bangladesh

BMF & BML

Due to unstable political conditions and restrictions imposed by the Government, only limited activities could be conducted. The Bangladesh Metalworkers' Federation (BMF) and Bangladesh Metalworkers' League (BML) together conducted a workshop at the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) Seminar Hall in Dhaka on October 6, on the theme "Organizing Precarious Workers".

On October 7, a press conference was jointly organized at Dhaka Reporters Unity Hall on the issue of precarious workers. Bro. Nazrul Islam Khan, BMF General Secretary, and Bro. Shahidullah Badal, BML Education Secretary, addressed the conference. It was widely published in print and visual media.

Belarus

In Belarus the action planned by REPAM was not allowed by authorities. State officials argued that such ‘action would cause a hindrance for pedestrians'. Workers were afraid to protest as more than 90 per cent of the work force is employed on short-term, usually one year, contracts and face a high risk of losing their jobs.

Belgium

CSC-Metal

As part of the global campaign on precarious work, the Belgian union CSC-Metal prepare online campaign materials about precarious work, which can bee seen here:

In French: http://csc-metal.csc-en-ligne.be/csc_metal/travailprecair/introprecairwerk.asp

In Dutch: http://acv-metaal.acv-online.be/acv_metaal/precairwerk/introprecairwerk.asp

CSC-Metal also produced a brochure and online information explaining the issue and what principles can be discussed in collective bargaining to minimize the prevalence of precarious work. Workers are also invited to take part in a discussion on what is important to them on this issue.

Bulgaria

Metalicy

On September 10 to 13, Trade Union ‘Metalicy' held meetings of its Coordination council on which the topic ‘precarious work' was discussed. As a result of the discussions the Coordination council adopted a declaration which was submitted to the Government of Republic of Bulgaria, which can be seen here, and the response from the Ministries' council can be seen here.

On October 1 to 5, Trade Union ‘Metalicy' held XIII national metalworkers' sports games. Two hundred metalworkers from all metallurgic plants where Trade Union ‘Metalicy' has members took part in the games. The participants were competing in the following disciplines: mini-football, volley-ball, tennis, table-tennis, chess, bridge, rope towing and swimming. The activity was held under the motto ‘Mobilising globally against precarious work'. All participants received info leaflets and posters.

Federation of Metallurgy

The Federation of Metallurgy a produced poster on decent work, which can be seen here.

Cameroon

FENASIMECAM

The union used the local radio to raise the issues and the debate, they also arranged a general meeting which was attended by around 300 workers as part of the awareness campaign on the issue.

Chile

FTC

Federación de Trabajadores del Cobre (FTC) informed workers in all divisions about precarious work and its consequences as part of the global campaign. Earlier, the IMF held a national seminar for affiliates on precarious work.

Colombia

Metalworker unions UTRAMMICOL and FETRAMECOL join national march through streets of Bogota on October 7.

Curacao

CADMU

Union General Trahado di Korsou (CADMU) will discuss the issue of precarious work at a workers' congress in the second week of October 2008.

Finland

On October 7, the Council of Finnish Industrial Unions (TP), comprised of twelve trade unions from industry and various sectors providing services for industry, proposed that all Finnish-based multinationals, in tandem with respective trade union organisations, embark on a process with the aim of negotiating global framework agreements.

According to the Council, decent work means that employees have job security and protection against dismissals, and that they are paid fairly and that working hours are appropriate. In addition, the Council insists that proper vocational training, occupational safety and respect for trade union representation are integral to any concept of decent work.

Germany

IG Metall

IG Metall demanded greater responsibility from politicians and business for decent work. "Ever more jobs are emerging in the low-wage sector. Mini-jobs and temporary work are booming, but the number of full-time employees in Germany has fallen by 1.53 million in the last ten years," said IG Metall Second Chairman Detlef Wetzel at a meeting for the "Action Day against Precarious Employment" on October 7 in Hanover. "Poverty wages are more widespread in the temporary employment than in any other sector." He said that according to figures of the Federal Labour Agency, one in eight full-time temporary workers supplements his income with Unemployment Benefits II.

Wetzel called upon politicians to finally include temporary work in the Posted Workers Act in order to avoid wage dumping. "In our view, it is urgent to have generally binding minimum wages in temporary work." IG Metall opposed the daily violation of the human right to equal pay for equal work, declared Wetzel. He referred to over 380 "Better Agreements" achieved with enterprises in the metalworking and electric industries, in which conditions for temporary workers had been improved - in some cases even including pay equal to that of permanent employees. Another 100 agreements were being prepared. "Our successes have demonstrated that it is possible to have arrange temporary work fairly," said Wetzel. Those successes proved all the businessmen and politicians were liars when they claimed that temporary work was only possible as low-paid precarious employment. "Deregulation of temporary work is and always has been the wrong way to go, and for that reason the politicians must take action," demanded Wetzel.

For further information, see: http://www.gleichearbeit-gleichesgeld.de/

Hungary

Thousands of metalworkers all over Hungary joined and participated in the World's Day for Decent Work action on October 7. Demonstrations were held in the seven regions as well as the capital of the country, where the participants and speakers unanimously demanded that the massive and fast-spreading expansion of precarious work be stopped and job security be guaranteed for everyone.

Hungarian Metalworkers' Federation (VASAS) took an active part in mobilising its members and greatly contributed to the success of the event, which culminated in the demonstration held in front of the building of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour in Budapest. The speakers of the Budapest demonstration made a speech about the fast-spreading tendency of precarious work, the reduction of workers' rights and the decreasing lack of job security. Furthermore, they underlined and emphasized the importance of decent work and living conditions which require decent wages and salaries in Hungary. Finally, a joint declaration signed by the presidents of the six trade union confederations was read out.

India

SMEFI & INMF

A rally and submission of memorandum by BHEL Contract Workers Union was jointly organized by Steel, Metal & Engineering workers' Federation of India (SMEFI) and Indian National Metalworkers' Federation (INMF). The contract workers held a big rally on October 6, where nearly 2,500 workers participated. The rally was held within the company Township and without any permission.

On October 6, contract workers working in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation staged the demonstration. The demonstration was organized by SMEFI.

On October 4, a rally was held by the Contract Workers' Union affiliated to SMEFI Andhra Pradesh Unit at Uppal Industrial Area, Hyderabad. The rally culminated in a meeting.

On October 7, a meeting was organized at Mumbai by SMEFI (Maharashtra)

Indian National Metalworkers' Federation (INMF) conducted a Press Conference on September 30 publicizing various programmes taken up in support of the precarious workers. On October 1, a delegation of INMF leaders, lead by Mr. Rajsekhar Mantri, submitted a Memorandum to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on the issue of demanding abolition of contract labour and improving working conditions. On October 3, a Gate Meeting was organized at Vizag Steel Plant in support of the precarious workers. In the afternoon a meeting was organized in the Auto Nagar area, where there are a large number of unorganized workers working in small units.

INMWF

Indian National Mines Workers' Federation (INMWF) has issued a Circular to all its affiliated unions in the Non-coal Mining Sector to observe the precarious work campaign.

WPTUC & SGCWSU

Working People Trade Union Council and the Simpson and Group Companies' Workers and Staff Union held Gate meetings at all their units in Chennai and surrounding industrial areas. A successful meeting was organized in Raja Annamalai Hall, to which they invited representatives of all the trade unions. The meeting was organized to discuss and decide the course of actions trade unions have to pursue in the cause of the precarious workers.

Indonesia

Lomenik

On October 7, IMF affiliate Lomenik held demonstrations against precarious work in Medan, Bogor, Bandung, Batam, Semarang, and Surabaya. These towns are industrial locations that cater for electronics and metal industries. In Medan about 1,000 members of Lomenik and the SBSI participated in a rally in which they also spoke on the ITUC theme for decent work. Similar rallies and demonstrations were held in the other town mentioned above.

Lomenik General Secretary Eduard said that precarious work is used to exploit workers so that the companies would become richer. He added that precarious workers have no future as they can lose their jobs at any time. He accused the companies for not respecting the minimum wage set by the government.

Later, IMF regional representative Arunasalam spoke at the Lomenik meeting in Medan on the IMF campaign against precarious work. I said that precarious employment would lead to the destruction of local economies and social conditions of workers and their communities.

FSPMI

On August 14, FSPMI held a mass protest in Indonesia of 10,000 workers against precarious work - see here for more details.

Italy

FIOM-CGIL

The National Assembly on precarious work of FIOM-CGIL delegates held in Milan on October 2 was attended by more than 400 delegates. During the meeting, delegates heard from 11 speakers including women workers, migrants workers, delegates of transnational companies and precariously employed workers. Gianni Rinaldini, FIOM-CGIL general secretary opened the meeting, Barty Samyn, vice general secretary of the European Metalworkers' Federation spoke at the meeting, as did Marcello Malentacchi, general secretary of the International Metalworkers' Federation.

Eliana Como gave a presentation on the results relating to precarious employment found in the union's national research project, which surveyed 100,000 metalworkers. A copy of the presentation in Italian can be seen here.

For more details go to:

http://www.fiom-cgil.it/

http://www.fiom.cgil.it/inchiesta/eng_version.pdf

http://www.fiom.cgil.it/inchiesta/08_03_06-summary.pdf

FIOM-CGIL - Bergamo

On October 6, as part of the global mobilization against precarious work, vans were installed in 6 areas near the production sites of major multinationals in the metal industry in Bergamo. IMF campaign materials were distributed, posters, booklets. Leaflets were distributed to workers of all major companies in Bergamo, calling for trade union mobilisation against precarious employment that divides workers, generates unsecurity, reduces salaries, undermines basic rights and H&S, and mostly affects women, young and migrant workers.

Japan

IMF-JC
On the evening of Thursday, October 9, as part of the IMF Global Action Day against Precarious Work, Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO), the IMF-JC and other members of the Global Union Federations' Japan Councils held a Rally at the Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo.

Nearly 2,000 labour union representatives took part, including the IMF-JC Secretariat and representatives of industry-based unions affiliated with the IMF-JC. The main slogan of the Rally was "Bring back humane work for everyone". Calls for "achieving regime change, achieving equal treatment, revising the Worker Dispatch Law, raising overtime pay rates and raising minimum wages" were chosen as the main appeals. Following the meeting, participants held up placards and staged a demonstration near Tokyo Station.

Macedonia

SIER

The Trade Union of Industry, Energy and Mining of Macedonia (SIER) held a public meeting inspired by the Global Action Day against precarious work on October 7.

Warning about the increasing rate of precarious employment in sectors that SIER organize, General Secretary of SIER, Mare Anceva, stressed that it causes a negative influence on the whole society, especially in countries in transition, such as Macedonia.

The official data show that more than a half of all contracts for employment in the last year and in the first eight mounts of this year are on temporary basis or by agencies for temporary employment. With the highest rate of unemployment in Europe, Macedonian workers are forced to accept any job, even in difficult conditions. They work in fear for their future, under the pressure of possibility for loosing the job. Normally, they hesitate to take action for protection of the rights guaranteed by the Labour Law, hence the employers are stimulated to offer more and more precarious jobs.

SIER calls on the workers to join trade unions for better protection of rights and decent work for all. Since the organising of precarious workers began, there are positive movements in SIER, as Peco Risteski, President of SIER said. "For the first time workers engaged through an agency for temporary work at ArcelorMittal showed an interest in joining SIER and we got 20 new members," explained Risteski.

Malaysia

The IMF-Malaysia Council held a rally together with the Malaysian Trade Union Congress on October 7, 2008. Held in a field in Petaling Jaya, about 1,000 people participated in the three hour rally that focused on the effects of precarious work and the need for decent work. The president of MTUC Bro. Syed Shahir, who is also the IMF-MC representative, spoke on the need to protect precarious workers. He said that these groups of workers are the most exploited and vulnerable as they do not enjoy fair wages, conditions of employment and tenure of employment. He also said that Malaysia is one of those countries that are heavily dependent on migrant workers and these workers have no future as their employment contract is on a short-term basis and precarious in nature.

Representatives from the International Metalworkers' Federation, Building Workers' International and Union Network International also spoke at the rally. Arunasalam, speaking on behalf of the IMF spoke about the global campaign against precarious employment. "On this day, metalworkers around the world are rallying against precarious employment. The most affected of these workers are women," said Arunasalum. He also highlighted the political, economic and social implications of such non-permanent employment that is slowly but surely eroding regular gainful employment. "Exploitation of precarious workers under the pretext of flexible labour is destroying the working community," he said.

The MTUC submitted a memorandum to the government calling on the government to take cognizance of the various International Labour Organization's declarations and conventions and protect workers from exploitation. The MTUC also demands that the government amend the relevant labour laws to provide minimum wage for workers, employers should seek permission from the Director General of Labour before terminating workers on grounds of redundancy and or restructuring, act on complaints of abuse of contract system and outsourcing to convert regular and permanent jobs to irregular and precarious work thus denying decent work. The memorandum also calls upon the government to protect migrant workers and allow union and collective bargaining rights for these workers.

Mexico

Members of the IMF's National Council of Metalworkers in Mexico organised a workshop on 7 October as part of the Campaign against Precarious Work.

Everardo Fimbres, Coordinator of IMF Projects in Mexico, described the activities organised by affiliates throughout the world as part of the IMF's global day of action. Anselmo García, an ILO consultant, spoke on the Reality of Precarious Work and presented the results of a study on outsourcing's role in promoting precarious work. Finally, Alejandro Rangel, of SITIMM, spoke on the theme of Yes to Social Development - No to Precarious Work in Mexico, in which he highlighted the role of precarious work in manufacturing, using the auto industry, in which outsourcing continues to increase, as an example.

A debate followed on how precarious work affects workers. Participants then went on to reach agreement on how to take the campaign forward. They agreed to summarise the document Precarious Work Affects Us All and include it in the record of the day's meeting, which they also agreed to distribute to the media, as part of the Mexican IMF affiliates' contribution to the campaign.

Finally, members of the Council were interviewed by journalists who had attended the event.

Mozambique

SINTIME

The union organized a seminar for workers, the seminar focused mainly on the effects of precarious work and how to organize these workers. The important part on this seminar is the fact that other unions from other sectors like the domestic sector and transport participated. The union produced its own material and with IMF assistance produced and translated the IMF material and T-Shirts.

Nepal

NFLC

On September 30 a Rally was held by the Nepal Factory Labour Congress (NFLC) from Baneshwar Chowk to Tinkune in Kathmandu demanding a better deal for precarious workers. The rally was attended by about 300 workers. On October 4, a regional workshop was held in the press hall at Birganj in which representatives of the NFLC attended. The meeting was addressed by leaders of NFLC in support of precarious workers.

Norway

Fellesforbundet

On September 30, Fellesforbundet held a seminar on Decent Work. One hundred participants, mostly trade unionists, from all over Norway attended the event, which focussed especially on the hotel and restaurant sector, which experiences extensive use of day-to-day hiring of workers and other labour market challenges.

In his presentation the president of Fellesforbundet, Arve Bakke, demanded the government reverse the need for documentation to secure fixed-term contracts. Today a worker has to document that the work he or she does justifies a fixed term contract. Instead, the union demands that the employer should document why he/she uses on-call contracts instead of fixed term contracts. The union also made demands for regional safety representatives in the restaurant sector as currently exists in the construction sector.

The labour minister Dag Terje Andersen, who is a member of Fellesforbundet and attended the seminar, did not make any guarantees but did indicate that we would be pleased with some of the proposals put forward in the State Budget on social dumping and more particularly regarding regional safety reps in the hotel and restaurant sector.

Pakistan

PWF

The Pakistan Workers' Federation (PWF) held a rally in Karachi on October 7 in which more than 200 members participated. The PWF also conducted meetings at Peshawar, Multan, Quetta and Rawalpindi.

Philippines

MWAP (not affiliated to the IMF)

The Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP) participated in the global day of action against precarious work, called by the IMF. MWAP spearheaded a "Week of Action Against Precarious Work" that started from October 2 to 10.

The week of action was characterized by protest rallies, general membership meetings, discussion groups, coming up with statements and putting of posters inside the plants and on union offices.

On October 2, MWAP members in Cebu in Visayas brought the issue of precarious work in a rally in the city. The rally was in coordination with the AMA-Sugbo, regional chapter of KMU. MWAP members carried their own placards calling for the regularization of jobs and for the abolition of the labour laws on contractualization.

On October 5, the union in Dole Philippines in Mindanao held a general membership meeting where one of their major discussions is the issue of precarious work.

On October 7, MWAP members in Baguio City in Northern Luzon coordinated with the KMU chapter and came up with a press statement on the issue of precarious work. In Manila, MWAP spearheaded a whole day action characterized by trooping to different government agencies as well as on the Japan Embassy. Protest actions were held in front of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Philippine Senate, Japan Embassy, Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Supreme Court. MWAP members were joined by KMU members, Workers Action (a broad alliance of workers) and Anakpawis Party List in bringing forth the issue of precarious work to concerned agencies. The issue was also raised in the media.

For more details see:

http://www.arkibongbayan.org/

or

http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2008-10Oct07-mwap/mwap.htm

On October 8, Toyota workers held an action inside the plant and displayed the IMF precarious work posters.

On October 10, MWAP members in Manila participated in a forum about labour export policy. The forum highlighted the issue of migration and the plight of overseas contract workers (OCWs) which is considered precarious work. The forum was part of build-up preparations for the upcoming 2^nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) on Oct 29-30, 2008 which the Philippine government will host.

For more details, see the report from the MWAP here.

Poland

NSZZ "Solidarność"

NSZZ "Solidarność" reports that the booklets Precarious work affects us all! and posters were distributed to the union's plant level structures with information about the campaign. Members were also encouraged to write letters to government officials and the employers' association on the issue.

Romania

IMF Romanian affiliate Solidaritatea Metal participated in activities organised by the national confederations Cartel Alfa, CNRL-Fratia, BNS and CSDR, all affiliated to International Trade Union Confederation.

The Romanian confederations organized three events aimed to attract the attention of policy makers on the importance of long-term decent work.

Activities included two public debates, which were open to the press, representatives of trade unions, employers, Romanian academia and political parties. In addition on October 5 a press conference was held announcing a mass demonstration on October 7, which was held at La Place de la Constitution de Bucharest, opposite the Parliament Building. During the demonstration the four trade union confederations supported initiatives that would help achieve decent work in Romania.

Russia

Trade unions in Russia prepared for the Global Action Day on October 7 under increasing pressure from the authorities and were subject to anti-union attacks in the mass media.

Nevertheless, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR) and other unions, including IMF affiliates, held a protest featuring slogans on decent work, precarious work and pensions. Demands to support the government policy on Abkhazia and South Ossetia were later added.

The trade union action in Moscow was ‘guarded' by divisions of ordinary militia and special forces of the police (OMON). A total of 2,000 trade union leaders and activists took part in accordance with quotas of the numbers allowed to protest given by authorities. To reach the place of the meeting the participants had to pass policemen who were staying along a pavement as a live chain every ten meters. During the meeting itself some policemen were approaching trade union activists holding placards.

Mikhail Tarasenko, President of MMWU, in his speech at the meeting focused on global crisis and its consequences for ordinary workers. He expressed a protest against precarious work as a slavery of 21^st century.

After the meeting the organizers met the government representatives to hand in a subscription list with trade union demands.

Unfortunately, the rally was misrepresented by the mass media in reports on the event, which stated that Russian trade unions organized the "un-Russian" rally demanding recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. No mention was made of the trade union demands on decent work, precarious work and demands to increase pensions.

Despite the obstacles trade unions run their actions in 85 regions of Russia. Regional mass media published and broadcasted more objective information about demands of trade unions.

Saint-Petersburg

ITUA organised a picket of the Adecco company in Saint-Petersburg. Union activists were handing out to passer-bys leaflets against precarious work.

A detailed report (in English) on actions taken across Russia can be seen here.

South Korea

KMWU

The Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU) took part in the global day of action by carrying out mobilisation efforts at the local, regional and national level. On October 1, KMWU members distributed information about precarious work to workers at industrial complex locations and key subway and bus stations in cities throughout the country. On October 7, KMWU branch offices held rallies in front of offices of the Ministry of Labour in all seven regions. On October 10, the KMWU held a large-scale demonstration in Seoul, protesting precarious employment and demanding that the International labour Organisation's recommendations be put into place by the government.

Sri Lanka

JSS

From September 30 to October 7, a signature campaign was undertaken in all the units of Jathika Sewaka Sangamaya Metalworkers' Federation on the issue of precarious workers. On October 5, a meeting was organized at the JSS Head Office regarding issues of precarious workers in which more than 300 workers participated. A Health Camp was organized for precarious workers on October 6, in the EPZ Area. On October 7, a Workshop was organized in the EPZ Area on the issue of precarious workers.

SLNSS

It is good to note that bowing to the pressure of the trade unions the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC), which is a Tripartite Body consisting of Labour, Employer and Government representatives, has passed a resolution banning contract workers in core areas of work. The resolution will be placed in the Parliament for Approval and enactment.

Sri Lanka Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) held a press conference on October 3 and announced the favourable resolution of NLAC in front of the visual and print media. This is a big victory for precarious workers.

Swaziland

SATU

A women's workshop was arranged as part of the campaign and this issue was also raised in the workshop.IMF materials were distributed.

Sweden

Unionen

At its first Congress, Unionen adopted a declaration in support of the World Day for Decent Work and expressed strong support for the international cooperation to safeguard workers' rights through good and secure working conditions irrespective of the type of employment. A copy of the statement can be seen here.

Tanzania

TUICO

The union arranged meetings and workshops on October 7 in 22 regions, including three large meeting in Dar es Salaam, targeting those companies were precarious employment is common.

The union arrived a five recommendations on precarious work including calling on the government for proper inspection and compliance on occupational health and safety, for the union to actively engage in collective bargaining agreements to address the issue, that the Global Unions campaign on precarious work should intensify, and that the union should hold additional meetings and supply campaign materials on the subject to members. For more details see the union's report (in English) here.

Thailand

TEAM

On the October 5, the Confederation of Thai Electrical Appliances, Electronic Automobile & Metalworkers (TEAM) held a rally, demonstration and forum on the effects of precarious employment. The rally and demonstration started in front of the Democracy Monument in Bangkok and the more than 1,500 members of TEAM marched about 3km to the hotel where the forum was later held. Some of the TEAM members had traveled about 150km from the Eastern Seaboard Area in Chonburi to participate in this campaign. The protest against precarious work went on peacefully without any hindrance. The protesters carried banners and IMF posters. The police were helpful in guiding traffic on this busy stretch of the main highway.

Several TEAM leaders including its General Secretary Bro. Yongyuth Mantapau spoke on the need to abolish temporary, casual contract and other form of non-regular employment that is affecting regular and permanent employment. He called on the government to act on these problems. He said that in most companies regular employment is systematically being replaced by precarious employment and this situation not only affects workers but also trade union membership. With low wages, lack of social security and tenure of employment these workers are the most exploited. IMF regional representative Arunasalum also spoke at the rally, highlighting how precarious employment in what ever form or nature affects workers and their community.

Following the rally, about 300 shop-stewards and members of TEAM participated in a forum on the problems and effects of precarious employment. Representative from the International Labour Oraganization Bangkok office spoke on decent work and the effects of precarious employment on workers. Arunasalam spoke on the IMF global campaign against precarious employment and the need to protect precarious workers from exploitation by organising them. Other speakers are from the university, Labour Ministry and also a representative from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Labour. Bro. Challee, President of TEAM, condemned the exploitation of workers employed under precarious employment. He said that TEAM would continue to resist precarious employment. He called on all the plant union leaders attending the forum to act in solidarity so that workers at present as well in the future would not be affected by such non-regular employment that only profits employers.

Copies of the IMF booklet on precarious employment in Thai language and posters were distributed to all the participants. TEAM then presented a memorandum against precarious employment to the government through the senior labour ministry officer who also spoke at the forum.

http://www.thaiunionist.org/

Turkey

Birlesik Metal Is

In Turkey, Birlesik Metal Is organized a demonstration and a press statement on October 6, 2008 in front of the ISUZU, a company organized by Birlesik and located in the industrial area Gebze, Istanbul. The workers of Isuzu were joined by other union members from other companies with a total of around 500 workers participating in the demonstration.

During the demonstration, the Birlesik General Secretary declared the importance of the unity of the world's working class and fighting against to the precarious work was mentioned.

The union members responded with slogans: "No to precarious work!", "Let's organize, to put an end to the precarious work for our collective rights". The target of the action was to show our resolution in the fight against precarious work and also against to the flexibility impositions of the employers' organization, MESS, during the collective bargaining process.

The union reports that its actions against precarious work and flexibility will continue, especially in October, as long as employers continue to insist to impose them.

Ukraine

The IMF affiliates took part in a public hearing on ‘Decent work - a base for decent life' organized by Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine. Trade union young activists organized action of protest under slogan ‘No to ‘shadow' wages!' that was held at Square of Independence in Kiev.

ASMU published a special issue of its newspaper with an article by IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi on precarious work.

According to Vasilii Dudnik, President of ASMU and IMF coordinator in Ukraine, all events organized in the framework of the Global Action Day focused on providing information as "the majority of Ukrainian workers, fortunately, do not face such phenomenon as precarious work yet".

Uruguay

UNTMRA

Unión Nacional de Trabajadores del Metal y Ramas Afines (UNTMRA) organised a mobilisation and strike on 9 October, which included the fight against precarious work.

Zambia

NUBEGW

They used the national television through the national centre to issue statements and they arranged general meetings.Oct 10, 2008 – Anita Gardner