U.S. Steelworkers 'Adopt' 3,000 Striking Mexican Families

The United Steelworkers Union has launched a campaign in which its local unions in the U.S. and Canada will adopt a striking family at the Cananea copper ore mine, owned by Grupo Mexico, where 3,000 workers have been on strike for more than a year. Steelworkers' locals now will make monthly donations that will help support the Cananea families for the duration of the strike.

The Steelworkers will continue to provide safe haven in Canada for Napoleon Gomez, the leader of the striking union, the Mining and Metalworkers Union of Mexico (Los Mineros). The Mexican government improperly removed Gomez from his position as Los Mineros general secretary on charges that have been proven trumped up. After his life was threatened, the USW helped him and his family to escape the country.

The Mexican government is unabashedly backing Group Mexico and has appointed German Larrea to head Los Mineros, whose members have been on strike to demand Gomez's return as their leader. The government is continuing to re-file charges against Gomez, despite the failure of all cases against him in the past. However, the government would probably arrest and imprison him if he returned to Mexico to lead the union.

Europe's Unions Meet in Hungary on Plan for Social Action

Trade unions from across the European continent gathered this week in Budapest to map out regional actions for social rights and economic progress for the coming year. The gathering, at the invitation of the Hungarian national trade union center brings together 39 trade union movements from 24 countries.

The meeting's focus on taxes, pensions and health care, as well as moves to increase minimum wages throughout the continent, will provide the basis for national and regional action in the coming period to stop the erosion of vital services and government functions. "We need a social Europe, setting the highest standards for decent work in a changing world," said John Monks, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

The meeting will also discuss preparations for the "World Day for Decent Work," to be held on Oct. 7. On that day, trade unions in every corner of the globe will be organizing activities to focus public attention on the need to stop the erosion of social standards, and to put people rather than profit at the center of globalization.

Hyundai Reaches Deal with Union on Pay Boosts

The trade union and management of Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's largest carmaker, reached a provisional agreement on Sept. 2 to resolve a pay dispute that forced the company to report a 7.7 percent fall in sales last month

The agreement calls for an 85,000 won (U .S. $75.12) increase in basic monthly pay. a bonus payment equivalent to three months of salary and a lump sum payment of 3 million won (U.S. $2,683). Both sides also agreed to abolish the all-night shift that has been in place since the establishment of the company in 1967.

Since the start of negotiations in June, the unionized workers have staged nine partial strikes that resulted in 487.7 billion won worth of production loss. Hyundai's 43,000 employees will vote on the agreement later this week, with all indications they will approve it.

38 Trade Unionists Murdered in Colombia This Year

The number of trade unionists that have been assassinated so far this year has reached 38 (34 men and 4 women), only one fewer than the 39 who were murdered in 2007, according to "Escuela Nacional Sindical." In addition, this year, the number of union leaders who suffered a violent death is higher (15), compared with last year's (10).

The 38 assassinations form part of the 200 violations of trade union rights that include threats, arbitrary detention, forced disappearances, physical attacks and other forms of victimization. Colombia's trade union center, CUT, has been the mist affected by the spate of murders. Of the 38 assassinated, 29 were members of the national union, CUT; five were members of another union, CGT, and four from other organizations.

Colombia has been denounced by unions and human rights organizations for permitting the assassinations of union leaders and members by "death squads" to continue, and the failure of the government to prosecute any of the assassins. It has also resulted in growing opposition to a free trade agreement between the U.S. and Colombia.

Thai Unions Strike to Oust Prime Minister

Widespread disruption of public services is expected as unions in state enterprises have confirmed they will press for the resignation of Thailand's Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej. Most unions have promised strikes and the disruption of electrical power and water supplies to government offices, despite the government's declaration of a state of emergency

Sawit Kaewwan, secretary of the State Enterprise Labor Relations Confederation, said that more than 300 representatives of 43 state enterprise unions had joined the People's Alliance for Democracy's protest rally. If the prime minister refuses to resign, the unions will bring government operations to a complete halt, he said. Somsak Manop, vice-president of the Thai Airways International union, said members will take retaliatory measures if the government uses force against the people.

The unions are mobilizing members in every sector of the economy, from communication centers to railroads to electric power stations and water supply facilities, public transport and ports in a concerted effort to help force the resignation of the prime minister.

Dutch Unions Want Zen Meditation for Civil Servants

The public sector trade unions within trade union federations FNV and CNV want the collective agreement for civil servants to stimulate Zen meditation. Employees who meditate regularly suffer less from stress and are therefore more productive, the union claims.

The unions wish to offer civil servants the possibility of meditating during working hours. If up to 15 employees sit down and do breathing exercises for 20 minutes per day, the cost is estimated at 6,000 euros ($8,560) per three months. As a fringe benefit, this expense should be borne by the employer, Lizelot Smits of CNV feels.

To support their plea, the unions initiated a six-month study that will end in October. For this study, 100 employees participated in a weekly meditation course. "During each session, the participants attend a lecture, carry out a Zen meditation and end up by drinking a cup of tea together," Smits explained.

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