Thursday, February 21, 2008

Please Tell Congress to Say 'NO' to Colombia Trade Deal!

Colombia's unionists operate in a climate of fear in their country. In 2007 alone, 40 Colombian trade unionists were murdered.
And the Colombian government continues to systematically undermine union members' rights--their freedom to form unions, bargain collectively, go on strike and criticize the government.
Tell your representative to oppose a trade deal with Colombia until their government makes real progress in protecting the lives and rights of union members.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Tell the Senate: Get a Jolt to the Jobless

The U.S. Senate will vote soon on whether to include unemployment benefits in the final economic stimulus package.
Not only would this help the jobless who are struggling in the Bush economy, it is one of the most efficient ways to stimulate the economy.
Tell your senators to support including unemployment benefit extensions in the final stimulus package.


Online petition:


Saturday, February 2, 2008

This is urgent - please act and pass this message on to friends, co-workers and colleagues.


Labour rights groups around the world are calling for the immediate release of Mehedi Hasan, a Bangladeshi field investigator for the US-based Workers Rights Consortium. Mr Hasan was arrested on Thursday 24th January by the Bangladesh security forces as part of a crackdown on labour rights activists in Bangladesh. He is being held in detention at a police station in Dhaka and we have serious concerns for his safety. Please send an urgent messages to the Bangladesh authorities calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Nov 27th Strike Deadline Set at Ruby Weston Manor

Ruby Weston Manor, a 240-bed nursing home the heart of East New York, Brooklyn, reaps a considerable amount of profit due to the hard work of its loyal and dedicated 1199SEIU caregivers. The workers of Ruby Weston voted to join 1199SEIU in 1998 but have never obtained their “first contract.”
The owner, Ms. Ruby Weston, has refused to negotiate with the union in good faith and workers have been fighting for a contract for nine years. Yet the home’s 200 workers continue to provide quality care to nursing home residents although they work under short-staffed and unsafe conditions. Without a signed contract, the workers receive inferior wages and benefits and are subject to harassment and intimidation by management without proper recourse.
Ruby Weston workers earn $3-4 an hour less than their 1199SEIU sisters and brothers in the nursing home industry. Now they are seeking parity, including family healthcare coverage under the Union’s benefit fund. Currently, they are covered only for themselves and one child. They must pay a premium of over $100 every two weeks for each spouse and additional children every two weeks.
On November 14, over 200 members held an informational picket to inform the nursing home residents, residents’ families and the community of these abuses. A strike deadline has been set for Tuesday, November 27.
1199SEIU represents CNAs, LPNs, dietary, maintenance, housekeeping and rehabilitation workers at Ruby Weston.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Urgent medical treatment needed for jailed Iranian trade union leader


Mansour Osanloo, the jailed leader of the bus workers' union in Tehran, faces the possible loss of his eyesight unless he receives urgent medical attention -- which the Iranian authorities are denying him.

Amnesty International has just now launched an online campaign calling on the Iranian government to allow Osanloo to receive medical attention. I urge all of you to sent off your messages today. The Iranian government must be made aware that the world is watching.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), which has spearheaded the international campaign in defense of Osanloo, has now produced a short film entitled "Freedom Will Come" which tells his story. It can be viewed online on YouTube, and will shortly be available as a DVD as well.

If every reader of this message passes it on to a few friends and colleagues, we can flood the Iranian government with email messages -- but we must do this quickly, before Osanloo loses his vision.

Thanks -- I know that I can count on you.

Eric Lee

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Auto workers get shafted


After a two-day strike, the 73,000 members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) at General Motors (GM) will vote by Oct 10 to ratify a contract that radically changes the future of the auto industry. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and GM executives call the contract a landmark agreement and say that it protects union jobs in America and will help GM compete with Japanese carmaker Toyota.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Killings of trade unionists up by 25%


144 trade unionists were murdered for defending workers' rights in 2006, while more than 800 suffered beatings or torture, according to the Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations, published by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The report details nearly 5,000 arrests and more than 8,000 dismissals of workers due to their trade union activities. 484 new cases of trade unionists held in detention by governments are also documented in the report.You can read the full report online, country by country, in English, Spanish, French and German, here.

This report is required reading for all trade unionists - please spread the word.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Fosters Must Respect Yatala Worker's Right to a Union Agreement


Since July, management of the Australian brewer Foster's has refused to recognize or engage in negotiations with the unions representing workers at its Yatala brewery near Brisbane. Local Human Resource manager John Saliba told workers Even if there was 200 percent support for a union collective agreement there would never be a union collective agreement on the Yatala site. Foster's called for a vote on its proposed non-union contract, and on September 3 workers voted overwhelmingly to reject it. The Yatala workers want union representation and a union agreement! Tell Foster's to respect the Yatala workers' vote for a union agreement! Send a message to Foster's corporate and plant management urging them to recognize the unions and enter into good faith collective bargaining negotiations at the Yatala brewery!
English / Deutsch / Skandinaviska / Français / Français / To participate in other IUF campaigns, please click here.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Police destroys trade union offices in Albania

On 1st of August 2007, BWI affiliate in Albania, the Trade Union Federation of Building, Wood Wood and Public Services (FSNDSH) as well as the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania (BSPSH) and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania (KSSH) were expelled from their headquarters. All trade union property and documents were destroyed. The BWI is calling for international support to ensure that the prime minister enables trade unions to resume their daily activities. Sign up BWI letter to the Prime Minister to help trade union members.

http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=976&Language=EN

Worker shot dead and two seriously wounded in the conflict involving Norberto Odebrecht. TAKE ACTION!!!

On 14 August 2007, the confrontations between representatives of Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Construcción Perforaciones de Panamá (SINDICOPP, company union) and members of SUNTRACS in Panama led to the murder of SUNTRACS' activist Osvaldo Lorenzo in Chilibre. Two other workers, Carlos Colindres and José Castillo, were seriously wounded. The company involved is Norberto Odebrecht which is building the highway Panama-Colón. According to the latest information, Panama's Fourth Superior Prosecutor has charged two workers of the Odebrecht construction company. For some time now, the company union has been preventing workers from becoming members of SUNTRACS. The BWI has extended its solidarity to the union and has launched an online campaign. In a protest message to the Labour Minister of Panama, BWI General Secretary requests a thorough investigation into the facts put forward by SUNTRACS. For several years now, the BWI and its affiliates have been accusing the company of violating workers' rights in various countries. Take two minutes to help SUNTRACS in its struggle.

Take Action Here: http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=998&Language=EN