What’s on?
On this page we will shortly inform about things that has been done in order to fulfill the objects of the Work Programme.
Nordic representation in EMF
An important part of the work of Nordic IN is to coordinate the Nordic trade unions, in order to unite their forces for a stronger influence in Europe and the world.
Therefore Nordic IN has put togehter a list of the Nordic representation in committes and working parties of EMF.
Enforcement of the international trade union organizations
Nordic IN wants to develop the international trade union organizations, in order to make them better adapted for the working life of today. Discussions are being held about increased cooperation - and eventually also a merger - between the European trade union federations EMCEF, EMF and ETUF-TCL. On the global level similar discussions are being held concerning the global unions ICEM, IMF and ITGLWF.
Below document about these plans from some of these organizations.
Increased
Cooperation between European Industry Federations (EMF)
GUF's
cooperation (ICEM)
Facing
the Future (ITGLWF)
Play fair at the Olympics
Products made to the Olympics in Beijing 2008 in the name of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) must be produced with respect for the rights of workers.
The report “No medal for the Olympics an Workers’ Rights”, that was released in June 2007, shows however that workers rights are violated in factories manufacturing products to the Olympics under license from the International Olympic Committee. A new report "Clearing the Hurdles", published in April 2008, confirms that the exploitation of workers in sportswear industry continues. Trade unions of Nordic IN have therefore been in contact with the national Olympic committees on this matter.
Below the report, a draft of a letter to the national representatives in the International Olympic Committee as well as to the president of the Committee, and also a compilation of the planned Play fair activities in different countries.
No
Medal for the Olympics on Workers’ Rights
Clearing
the Hurdles
Draft
of a letter to the national representative in IOC
Draft
of a letter to the president of IOC
Planned
Play fair activities (updated dec 07)
The campaign Catch the Flame
As a part of “Play fair at the Olympics”, the campaign Catch the Flame has been initiated. The aim of this campaign is to mobilize organizations and individuals to continue putting pressure on the International Olympic Committee, by sending text messages and e-mail. The plan is that the campaign shall move from country to country, as a parallell to the relay race of the olympic torch.
Below more information about the campaign. More information can also be found at www.catchtheflame.org
Information
on the campaign from ITGLWF
Timetable
for the Catch the Flame campaign
Indian companies and trade unions in a global economy
The Nordic companies compete on a market which becomes more and more global. One of the countries which has developed strongly, both economically and socially, is India. In India the companies have access to an abundance of work force, the wage levels are low, the education system is good and fluency in English is common. Many multinational companies and even many Nordic companies, have therefore established themselves in India.
But at the same time as the prosperity has grown, there exists a great poverty in India. A lot ot people live under unsecure conditions. They work in the informal sector, for very low wages and under miserable working conditions.
How will India develop? What will happen when it comes to women and equality, class structures, competence levels, wages? What can Indian trade unions do? How can Nordic and European trade unions contribute?
Read more in the Nordic IN report A look at incredible India
Solidarity actions
Nordic IN supports trade unions in other countries when necessary. One way of doing it is to send letters of solidarity to trade unions that are having problems, as well as protest letters to employers that do not respect the trade unions rights - often effective, as the companies are sensitive to negative attention.
Below some examples of recent solidarity actions.
Belarus
In Belarus the trade unions are harassed and workers are denied their right to organize them selves. ILO and the European Union have therefore decided to withdraw their economic support to the country, in order to put pressure on the regime. Also the Nordic trade unions and the international trade union movement support the trade unions in Belarus.
Letter
from ITUC and ETUC to commissioner Mandelson
Letter
from Nordic IN
Cochlear
The Australian company Cochlear, which produces hearing aids, refuses to enter an collective agreement with the trade unions AMWU, despite the fact that 95 percent of the employees want collective agreements in stead of individual agreements.
Nordic IN has written to the managers of the company and has also recommended the affiliates to inform hospitals and clinics using Cochlear products, that the company is violating trade unions rights of the workers.
Nokia
In Januari 2008 the management of the Nokia group announced that the factory in Bochum was to be shut down, without consultation with the trade unions.
EMF and the concerned Finnish and German trade unions demanded in the Helsinki Declaration that Nokia should live up to the European Social Model. Nordic IN has written a letter with the same message to the management of the Nokia group.
Stora Enso
Stora Enso, a company in which the Finnish state is the principal owner, is planning closures in both Finland and Sweden. This will affect not only the workers, but also the villages that are dependant upon the jobs at Stora Enso for their existence. Nordic IN urges Stora Enso to take its social responsibility for the workers as well as for the affected villages.
Shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey
At the shipyard in Tuzla 18 workers have been killed during a period of 8 months, because of a bad working environment and insufficient working security. In February 2008 the Turkish confederation Disk organized a sit-down strike in order to force the employer and the government to do something about this intolerable situation.
Nordic IN has written a letter of solidarity to Disk and Limter-Is.
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