Unite Warns that EU Decisions Would Hurt British Unions

Unite, England’s largest union, has warned that a number of legal decisions made in Europe could have “disastrous consequences” for workers’ rights in Britain. The union will call on the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to support its campaign to protect workers from the worst effects of globalization.

Unite says that a number of recent decisions by the European Court of Justice set a legal precedent which will prevent unions from taking action to defend U.K. workers’ pay and conditions. In recent cases, the European Court has ruled that unions cannot take action against companies employing imported workers at rates below those of local staff.

Derek Simpson, joint leader of Unite, told the annual Labor Party conference in Brighton: “We cannot afford to underestimate the consequences of these decisions. They must be challenged.” Leaders of Britain’s Labor Party ended their four-day annual conference in Brighton with a closing statement that urged nationalization of British industry, unilateral nuclear disarmament and withdrawal from the European Economic Community. However, proposals that Britain pull out of NATO and nationalization of banks were defeated.

Job Cuts at Renault Spark Strike

Renault factory workers have begun a work stoppage across France in protest against job cuts that the company announced. The carmaker, which is struggling against a weak consumer market, said that the worst-affected plant was at Cleon, where 10 percent of the workers walked out. CGT union officials said the figure was closer to 20 percent.

On Sept. 9, Renault said that 4,000 positions would be eliminated in France through voluntary redundancy measures. Another 2,000 jobs would be shed in other European countries. The company is hoping to make cost savings of 350 million euros (U.S. $487.2 million)

A company spokesperson said “We respect their right to strike. We are following a voluntary departure plan and are engaged in close discussions with the trade unions.”

German Firm Bars Foreign Languages at Work

A German technology company, in which Russians comprise more than one-third of the staff, has banned the use of foreign languages in the workplace. Witeg, a maker of laboratory technology, based in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, employs 60 workers, including 21 Russians.

“This ruling is necessary because precise communication among workers is vital,” manager director Elmar Swiegot said. The decision had nothing to do with racism, and was necessary for organizational reasons, he added.

Alexander Marterer, a German labor lawyer, said employers were theoretically allowed to create language policy for the workplace but that Witeg would probably be deemed to be infringing on human rights if taken to court. “Unless stated in the contract, employees have a right to communicate in any language they want, providing it does not interfere with the efficiency of production,” he said.

Danish Factory Accused of Union-Busting in China

A Danish-owned electronics factory in China is accused of discharging six trade union activists and refusing to follow a court order requiring their reinstatement. The owner and CEO of the company, Ole Wolff Electronics, said he was “100 percent convinced” that his employees were satisfied with their wages and conditions. When tracked down in Denmark, he said he had no intention of recognizing the union.

Dissatisfied with conditions at Ole Wolff Electronics, the 100 workers formed a workplace union that was recognized in October 2006 by the All-China Confederation of Trade Unions (ACFTU). The six dismissed workers still haven’t been reinstated. Some of them can’t get new jobs because the factory still has their work permits.

The factory in the city of Yantai, on the east coast of China, manufactures a number of electronic components. The company has production facilities in Denmark, South Korea, Hong Kong, Finland, Germany, Great Britain and the United States.

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Agrees to Contract with Workers

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has struck a collective wage agreement with its employees, putting an end to months of disruptive labor relations and weeks of shortened trading sessions. Under the terms of the agreement, the employees will receive a wage increase of 4.6 percent for each year of the three- year contract. There is also a stipulation there won’t be any strikes or disruptive actions during the life of the contract.

Esther Levanon, CEO of the stock exchange, said: “The collective wage agreement will grant industrial quiet for the next few years and will enable the stock exchange to continue in the process of integrating itself into the global stock market and conform to international standards." Since last April, the stock market has been hit by strikes and other industrial actions, forcing it to curtail trading sessions.

About 40 percent of the workers are not union members. Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has about 250 employees, including some 100 who are out-sourced contractors, such as economists and computer technicians. The exchange’s workers committee demanded that at least 50 of the contract employees be granted full-time status and be included in the collective agreement. TASE has immediately agreed to hire 30 of the out-sourced personnel.

U.K. Intelligence Opens Door for Union to Represent Spies

British spies will be able to call up their union rep if they think they are getting a bad deal, after the FDA, the union for senior civil servants, won an agreement to represent them for the first time. All members of the Security Service will be able to ask the FDA to take up grievances over pay — many get about £25,000 (U.S. $44,737) a year — pensions and performance ratings.

Special rules are being introduced to protect the anonymity of officers when they ask for help. It was not clear whether they will be known by their code names or real names. The likelihood of any spies turning up as FDA delegates at the convention of the Trade Union Congress will be remote.

Jonathan Baume, FDA general secretary, said: “This vital public service needs to recruit and retain the very best people and will only do so by offering competitive remuneration packages as well as providing staff with the confidence that the organization values and respects their contributions.”

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