Social Observatory Institute - Nº 67 - November 23, 2004

5th Union Exchange
Union exchange program begins in Holland

Brazilian and Dutch unionists are participating this week in the 5th Union Exchange that began November 21 and will run through November 28 in various cities in Holland.

The program calls for visits to Akzo Nobel, Philips and Unilever. Brazilian workers at these multinationals will be able get to know the situation of their colleagues in the companies' home country.

Discussions are also set with union representatives to exchange experiences about union action, labor health and safety and international cooperation.

Another issue on the agenda is participation in a demonstration organized by the workers unions to protest a recent decision by the European Union to relax legislation for the service sector. Service providing companies will be able to change countries without respecting EU legislation in the sector, which is more restrictive, but only the laws of the country to where they are moving.

On Nov. 27 there will be a public seminar in which the participants will conduct a review of the exchange program, which is promoted by the Social Observatory Europe, with support from the Dutch union center FNV.
Photo: Dutch exchanged realized in 2003.

German workers are confronting strong pressure from companies to alter labor contracts. One of objectives is to increase the work shift by 14%, from 35 to 40 hours. With threats to transfer production to other countries, the companies also warn of salary reductions. One company has already lowered salaries by 200 - 300 Euros.

Companies are reducing the number of workers and abolishing work posts causing reduced union membership. There is also increased contracting of monthly workers, who are pressured to not participate in the unions.

The German unionists closed their presentation with a list of their various challenges: the transfer of factories to other countries; lengthening work shifts; the need to increase professional training, salaries, vacancies for young interns, solidarity between factories; and to develop national union networks and committees; and increase the number of union members.
Photo: Meeting with the metal workers union (IG Metall) in Stuttgart.

Stress at work begins to concern shareholders

A recent study published in England indicates that stress at work is becoming a growing concern to socially responsible investors. The study was based on an analysis at seven companies including British Telecom, Rolls Royce and Reuters and was prepared by the British company Henderson Global Investors, which manages investment funds. It concluded that the United Kingdom lost 400 million pounds annually due to stress, absence because of illness and productivity decreases. Among the causes are increasingly demanding and long work shifts, in addition to environmental factors.
Source: Ethical Corp.

An International Work shift for Struggle will be staged simultaneously by bankworkers November 25 in five countries: Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. The event is being organized by the Coordinating Committee of Union Centers of the Southern Cone. At the event, unionists and workers will distribute informative bulletins explaining the situation of work at banks, in particular ABN Amro, HSBC and the Santander Group. One of the bulletins will criticize the companies that promote mass layoffs while also releasing advertising about social responsibilty.