call of the millions 2 autumn 2012

7/29/2019 Call of the Millions 2 Autumn 2012

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....the call of the millions...

we are nothing and we should be everything....this is the call of the millionswe are nothing and we should be everything....this is the call of the millions

THE QUESTION OF POWERHE QUESTION OF POWER

55 MILLION VERSUS CAPITAL

FEATURES:

IndustriALL - the merger of all mergers p2; the miners tale p3; core standards p4

the millions in action p5; organising p6; solidarity interview p7; international women p9


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...the call of the millions...

ITGLWF + ICEM + IMF = INDUSTRIALITGLWF + ICEM + IMF = INDUSTRIALThe union merger is a phenomenon we havegrown used to at national level think of all theorganisations that make up today's Unite theUnion in the UK.At the international level these mergers are

rarer. But we are witnessing the birth of amassive new one, bringing together three global

union federations that represent 55 millionworkers across the manufacturing sector of the

global economy in the textile and garment,chemical, energy, mining and metalworking

sectors.

On paper that's a formidable force to pit against

the world's multinationals. So what are the

possibilities?

Their founding congress in June 2012

identified some key priorities:

ORGANISING TO DOUBLE THEIRORGANISING TO DOUBLE THEIR

NUMBERSNUMBERS

CAMPAIGNING AGAINSTCAMPAIGNING AGAINST

PRECARIOUS WORKPRECARIOUS WORK

CREATING A COUNTERWEIGHT TOCREATING A COUNTERWEIGHT TO

THE POWER OF GLOBAL CAPITALTHE POWER OF GLOBAL CAPITAL

FIGHTING FOR A SUSTAINABLEFIGHTING FOR A SUSTAINABLE

FUTURE.FUTURE.

ARGUING FOR A LIVING WAGEARGUING FOR A LIVING WAGE

These are all big goals, that will require

industriALL to combat the interests of the

multinationals plus all the governmental organs

committed to the neo-liberal agenda. Their

founding action plan recognises this political

challenge, and calls for another model of

globalization to provide economic and social

justice and solidarity.

July 2012: Garment workers protest in Turkey against

dismissal for joining industriALL affiliate Deri-Is.

Obviously their opponents aren't going to hangaround until industriALL gets bedded in. The

multinationals and neo-liberal governments are on

the attack all the time. Look at the case of the

mining sector. We find miners under attack from

Spain to Mexico....................................


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..the call of the millions...

....THE MINERS TALE....THE MINERS TALEAll readers of COTM will know of the epic

struggle of the UK miners against the

Thatcher government in the 1980s. In today'sglobal economy with its neo-liberal policy

framework, miners everywhere are coming

under pressure to defend their rights and

futures......

InIn SpainSpain, coalminers walked out on 31 May in, coalminers walked out on 31 May in

response to the removal of government subsidiesresponse to the removal of government subsidies

that threaten thousands of jobs. Victims ofthat threaten thousands of jobs. Victims of

worldwide austerity measures, the miners haveworldwide austerity measures, the miners have

mounted a determined resistance across areas ofmounted a determined resistance across areas of

the country, in the face of state repression.the country, in the face of state repression.

One impressive feature of the strike was theOne impressive feature of the strike was the

outpouring of international solidarity in the UK -outpouring of international solidarity in the UK -

seesee hthttp://smscuk.blogspot.co.uk/tp://smscuk.blogspot.co.uk/..

(For photos of the struggle see page 5)(For photos of the struggle see page 5)

InIn MexicoMexico, the copper miners of the Cananea, the copper miners of the Cananea

region have been engaged in a long-runningregion have been engaged in a long-running

dispute with their employer Grupo Mexico. Theredispute with their employer Grupo Mexico. There

is a lengthy story here, involving concerted stateis a lengthy story here, involving concerted state

and employer actions against the miners union,and employer actions against the miners union,

Los Mineros, culminating in the exile of theirLos Mineros, culminating in the exile of their

leader in Canada. It is now into its fifth year, oneleader in Canada. It is now into its fifth year, one

of the longest running disputes ever in theof the longest running disputes ever in the

Americas.Americas.

For the full story see David Bacon's reportFor the full story see David Bacon's reporthttp://www.inthesetimes.org/working/entry/13220/fighting

_for_the_right_to_a_union_and_to_stay_in_mexico/

THE WORLD OF WORKHE WORLD OF WORKIN NUMBERSN NUMBERS

20 percent of globally

manufactured products are nowmade in China.

326 million pairs of shoes weremade at Yue Yuen, the world'slargest footwear manufacturer in

2011. But who has heard of them?

0 trade unions have ever beenestablished in the Filipino MactanEconomic zone since its

establishment in 1979. Sadly this

isn't the only special production

zone where this unhappy statistic istrue.

2.4million children are still livingunder the curse of child labour in

the Philippines.

65 / 34sums up the plight ofAdidas workers in Indonesia. They

work up to 65 hours per week, for

as little as 34 pence an hour......

20 years have passed since thelast collective bargaining

agreement in the Nicaraguanbanana industry. A new one was

signed by the Chinandega Banana

Workers Union Federation in April

this year.
http://smscuk.blogspot.co.uk/http://smscuk.blogspot.co.uk/http://smscuk.blogspot.co.uk/http://smscuk.blogspot.co.uk/http://smscuk.blogspot.co.uk/http://www.inthesetimes.org/working/entry/13220/fightinghttp://smscuk.blogspot.co.uk/http://www.inthesetimes.org/working/entry/13220/fightinghttp://smscuk.blogspot.co.uk/


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Core standardsCore standardsThe world now relies on gadgets ipad,iphone, ipod, iwhoknows.

Apple Inc, leading player in mobile IT

equipment, has recently become the world's

most valuable company through the

'gadgetisation of everyday life'. Is this simply

a story of innovation and technical excellence?

You know it isn't: for every high-tech leap

forward in the Silicon Valley there are millions

of low tech assemblers of iproducts, sweating

away in the Foxconn factories on mainland

China.

The Apple story isn't your average sweatshop

saga. The expose of the Foxconn regime in2010 revealed anumber of worker suicides at

their factories, people unable to stand

(literally) their punishing labour regime.

Anti-suicide netting was even put up to deter

others!

It is thanks to the Hong-Kong based NGOIt is thanks to the Hong-Kong based NGO

SACOM that we know of the situation in theSACOM that we know of the situation in the

Apple supply chain. They have produced aApple supply chain. They have produced a

number of reports, which you can find atnumber of reports, which you can find at

http://sacom.hk/http://sacom.hk/

Fast forward to 2012 and problems remain.

SACOM uncovered evidence of the forced

hiring of unpaid students (as 'interns') and the

continuation of long shifts where workers must

stand up at all times and cannot talk.

Stung into action Apple announced an

independent audit of its suppliers by the FairLabor Association. You can read about this athttp://makeitfair.org/en/the-facts/news/investigation-

into-apple-supplier-foxconn-confirms-abusive-labour-conditions

Latest investigations by SACOM still show the

long overtime culture in force, health and

safety concerns, and abusive managementpractices for the islaves.

....and one more thing.....

'workers everywhere have the right to a

safe and fair work environment'.So says Tim Cook, new Apple CEO.

If workers had the right to form their own

trade union in China, we might even believe

him.
http://sacom.hk/http://sacom.hk/http://sacom.hk/http://makeitfair.org/en/the-facts/news/investigation-into-apple-supplier-foxconn-confirms-abusive-labour-conditionshttp://makeitfair.org/en/the-facts/news/investigation-into-apple-supplier-foxconn-confirms-abusive-labour-conditionshttp://makeitfair.org/en/the-facts/news/investigation-into-apple-supplier-foxconn-confirms-abusive-labour-conditionshttp://sacom.hk/http://makeitfair.org/en/the-facts/news/investigation-into-apple-supplier-foxconn-confirms-abusive-labour-conditionshttp://makeitfair.org/en/the-facts/news/investigation-into-apple-supplier-foxconn-confirms-abusive-labour-conditionshttp://makeitfair.org/en/the-facts/news/investigation-into-apple-supplier-foxconn-confirms-abusive-labour-conditions


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the millions in actionthe millions in actionimages from SPAIN 2012


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International solidarity is a greatnternational solidarity is a greataspiration 'workers of the worldspiration 'workers of the worldunite'. But what in concrete,nite'. But what in concrete,practical terms does it involve?ractical terms does it involve?There are many actors and organisations

practising international solidarity global union

federations, NGOs, national union

federations, single union projects, cross-border

alliances and web-based networks.

Equally there are a number of strategies and

tactics in operation international framework

agreements, supply chain organising, corporate

campaigning, email actions, capacity building.

At COTM we will be looking at all these. As astart, let's look at the long-standing cross-

border strategic alliance of two small

independent union bodies America's United

Electrical and Radio workers (UE) and Mexico's

Authentic Labor Federation (FAT).

There have been many battles and

organising struggles along the way.Most recently the alliance has had a notable

success at the DMI auto-parts plant in Mexico,where a FAT affiliate, STIMAHCS, has

successfully won the right to represent theworkforce., supported by UE action.

FAT and UE members share concerns during their recent

meeting at DMI. ( Photo: UE News summer 2012)

ORGANISING AND CROSS-BORDER SOLIDARITY

The case of the UE and FATThey have been working together for 20 years

now to support each others organising efforts on

both sides of the border.

The mainspring for this whole project was the

increasingly global nature of capitalist production

and the shifting of work across the border,bound up with the onset of NAFTA. Rather than

turn to protectionist responses 'the Mexicans

have stolen our jobs' US unions like the UE set

out to build a common platform of workers rights

and solidarity with Mexican workers, linking up

with the FAT.

A visit from STIMAHCS members to their DMI UEA visit from STIMAHCS members to their DMI UE

Local 715 colleagues in Ohio took place this year.Local 715 colleagues in Ohio took place this year.Grass-roots exchanges are central to the alliance:Grass-roots exchanges are central to the alliance:

In the Ohio DMI plant they make the sameauto parts as we do in our plant in Mexico,said Hilario Maldanado of STIMAHCS.

On this visit we saw that we shared manythings, above all common problems,Maldanado continued. We could also see thedifferences that exist between workers at thesame company but in different countries. Thishelped us to understand that workers should beunited and that companies should not be able toplay games with our needs in differentcountries.


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IN THE SPOTLIGHTIN THE SPOTLIGHTWe are featuring a leading internationalist in each edition of the call of the

millions. Here's Peter Hall-Jones from New Unionism:

WHY DOES INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MATTER?Above all else, because it's what members want. This is not an optional extra. International solidarity has

been right at the heart of the union movement since the first wave of new unionism of the 1880s, and it's

never been stronger than it is today. The New Unionism Network ran a global survey of union values for

five years, from January 2007 to January 2012, asking people to identify their Top 10 values for themovement. Solidarity was identified as the primary value by far (78% of respondents). Perhaps more

importantly, when you looked at the rankings, it's absolutely clear that people are wanting their union to

look across the group, rather than catering for the narrow interests of individuals. And with globalisation,

of course, the group doesn't stop at border. Other studies have confirmed this. Genuine solidarity is thekey to becoming a truly representative and democratic union.

Union officials who promote business unionism aren't getting this, even though history has beenhammering them for it since the 1980s. They promote the financial benefits of union membership as ifthey were running an ailing small business...

People who ignore internationalism are missing the main lesson of globalisation (as well as betraying their

members). The real challenge for unions today is get past the formalistic internationalism that developedduring the 20th century. We need to restructure around deeper international links at the membership

base, rather than just sending the occasional union official off to a conference. Its about buildingassociational forms along network lines, rather than piling up more levels on our organisational base. On

the bright side it's happening anyway, thanks to the revolution in social networking. Union officials may not

be leading the charge, but you can bet they are watching and learning. I think Dan Gallin of the Global

Labour Institute put it best when he said "The network is the vanguard".

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED?I grew up in New Zealand during the great kiwi experiment with neo-liberalism. It was a tough time. I was

very lucky to become involved in the unemployed workers' movement, and through that met a lot of great

activists, especially the Maori members, who really knew what solidarity was. It was about sharing yourchips without being asked, as well as protesting against apartheid. It was about helping each other keep

some crappy car on the road, or letting friends-of-friends crash in your lounge after they'd been evicted.

From there to organising for economic democracy is quite a small step, actually.

YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE NEW UNIONISM PROJECT

HOW DO YOU SEE ITS FUTURE PROSPECTS?At present there are only about 700 of us from 50 countries - but it's an inspiring group. I think this is

because we've come together around what we are FOR, rather than what we are against. As a result, wedon't have those hoary old arguments about reform vs revolution and the like. Nor do we pretend to

represent the one true path. We are united on wanting to see work democratised, for instance, but that

doesn't mean we need a formal policy on wildcat strikes or social partnership. And because its a network

rather than an organisation, I don't pretend to speak for any other member, or vice versa. This means wetend to come together around projects, rather than programmes. We've built a global unions database

(www.younionize.info) and we've got (I believe) the world's largest database on union membership. Thenext step is to find the killer app - the project that brings together the potential of networking with the

concrete needs of union organisation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_unionismhttp://www.younionize.info/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_unionismhttp://www.younionize.info/


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the call of the millions...

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR OBSTACLES TO INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY?Thomas Pynchon once said "If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about

the answers." The dominant narrative has it that unions are in decline. Convinced by this, union officials in

rich countries have spent a whole generation trying to shore up their structures along commercial lines.

"How can we ensure that union membership is worth more than the cost of fees?" It's the wrong question,and it leads to a kind of business unionism that workers don't particularly care for. For a start, as theNew Unionism Network has proven, if you look at the union movement internationally it has been growing

for most of this century. The real problem for rich countries is how to organise a transformed work force.

Again and again, the question needs to be "What do workers want?" And, of course, a part of this question

is "What do the members want"? Network member Richard B Freeman has done lots of brilliant work inthis area, across a number of countries, but unions need to make this question their own. International

solidarity needs to come from this discussion, rather than policy discussions at board level.

CAN THE WORKERS OF THE WORLD RECLAIM THEIR RIGHTS?Reclaim? I think we tend to think of the labourism of the 20th century as if it were some kind of default

setting. In reality, it was an anomaly resulting from a series of horrific wars. Let's go back a bit further.The French revolution did a fairly good job of launching social and political democracy, but it didn't

democratise economics. Instead, they took wealth from the aristocracy and handed it over to the

rising investor class. A rights-based approach doesn't bring this into question. Nor does it seek to change

the master-servant relationship at work. At heart, it's an argument for fair and equal exploitation, ratherthan occupational citizenship. Now, I don't mean to imply its not a worthy and critical struggle! A lot of

our members have invested their lives in this, and they deserve our utmost respect, because rights are

crucial markers. But in the struggle for rights, it's the struggle that is most significant.

ANY ADVICE FOR ACTIVISTS LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED IN

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY?The most important thing? Join a union! It amazes me how many people on the left forget this most

fundamental step. This is your necessary contribution to building the base. It's the bottom line. However,we also need to admit that, in itself, this probably wont be enough for a lot of people. So hey, join the

New Unionism Network too! Do some research on the Occupy phenomenon. Become a correspondent for

Labourstart. Find an NGO that fits you. Start a new one. Sign up to a political party. Set up a group on

Change.org, use MeetUp to build a local presence. Remember Gallin's words: "The network is thevanguard". Find as many places and as many ways as you can to link to the network. In doing so, you'll be

making the whole labour movement stronger. The rest is just time and algorithms


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INTERNATIONAL WOMENNTERNATIONAL WOMEN MARTHA OJEDAARTHA OJEDAWho are the role models for female

trade unionists today?

Too often when we think of this,

reference is made to long departed

figures. But there are contemporary

equivalents and Martha Ojeda is one

of them.

She began her union activity in the

Sony factory at Nuevo Laredo, Mexico,

and rose to become head of the CTM

local, winning a number of improvements

for workers at the plant. Here she ran

into opposition from the union

leadership, who had established aseries of 'protection contracts' with

local employers, where they guaranteed

labor peace in exchange for a place on

the payroll.

Duly removed from her position, Martha

began organizing an independent unionat the plant, and forced the running of

an election to decide which union would

represent the Sony workers. The

insurgents won or so they thought.

CTM leaders then declared themselves

the winners prompting a strike by the

enraged workforce

Cowed back to work by state violence,the workers returned except Martha

who was now being hunted for her

activity, and had to flee across the

border to Texas, hidden in a car.

From the USA Martha continued her

work, supporting the rights of the Sony

workers to gain independent union

representation. She then became the

first Mexican to lead the Coalition for

Justice in the Maquiladoras, a workers

rights organization active throughout

the US - Mexico border region.

Pretty impressive we think.

Find out more via the CJM websitehttp://coalitionforjustice.info/home/

and in David Bacon's book 'The Children

of NAFTA'.


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call of the millions 2 autumn 2012

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