International Federation of Building and Wood Workers Copenhagen, 4-6 September 2001 Building Global Solidarity DJM Z 5997 IBBH IFBWW FITBB IBTU FITCM Report on Activities 1998- 2001 Ebhe NCC 21st World Congress 1 H IBBH IFBWWW. IBTU FITBR FITCM The International Federation of Building and Wood Workers, IFBWW, is an International Trade Secretariat that was established in 1934 by a merger of the Building Workers International and Wood Workers International. The International Secretariat of Stone Masons, the International Secretariat of Painters and allied trades and the International Secretariat of Bricklayers all subsequently joined the Federation. The International Federation of Building and Wood Workers seeks to unite and represent all free and democratic trade unions in the building, wood, forestry and allied industries. The IFBWW promotes and defends the international, social, economic, political and cultural interests of its members and actively defends trade union and human rights all over the world. It initiates and coordinates international solidarity actions, conducts workers' education activities, carries out research on a wide range of industrial issues, represents its affiliates' interests at world meetings and conferences, defends the interests of women and young workers, advocates the elimination of child labour and runs a global forestry programme. In pursuing its objectives the IFBWW cooperates with all free and democratic organizations worldwide. IFBWW currently represents 11 million members organized in 285 trade unions in 124 countries. The headquarters are in Geneva( Switzerland). IFBWW regional offices are located in Malaysia, Panama and Zimbabwe, and sub- regional offices and education offices in Australia, Burkina Faso, India and Japan. The President of the IFBWW is Roel de Vries from the Netherlands and the General Secretary is Ulf Asp from Sweden. Further information may be found on the IFBWW's web site www.ifbww.org. Published by International Federation of Building and Wood Workers Geneva June 2001 Building Global Solidarity 21st World Congress Copenhagen, 4- 6 September 2001 International Federation of Building and Wood Workers( IFBWW) Report on Activities 1998- 2001 CONTENTS 1. The world of work in the IFBWW sectors 4 2. Services to IFBWW affiliates 2.1. Promoting global minimum labour standards 2.2. Defence of trade union and human rights 2.3. Analysing trends and developing industrial policies 2.4. Trade union development 2.5. Assisting special target groups 2.6. Information services. 3. IFBWW structure, finances, offices Appendices 12 12 23 29 35 42 47 48 IFBWW membership development 1997- 2000 55 Members of IFBWW Committees: Management, Executive, Auditors 56 Z 5997 3 * Bonn Bibliothek * 1. The world of work in the IFBWW sectors Report on Activities The globalisation of the world economy, through the dramatic increase in world trade and foreign investment by transnational companies, is changing the world and the labour market at an accelerating pace, particularly since the establishment of the World Trade Organisation( WTO). The globalisation of all sectors of industry and services, driven by new communications technology, transport and international capital has created a global market. It is impossible for any country on its own to control this growing global trend. Internationalisation is fuelling the process of concentration, a trend that is reflected in the wave of mergers and take- overs that has been lasting for several years. Construction groups are diversifying into telecommunications and are developing more and more into utility and waste disposal enterprises. Working people and their communities across the globe witness the often- devastating impacts of globalisation in both, developing and industrialised countries. The desperate poverty of hundreds of millions of people in developing countries, gross exploitation of children at work, the deprivation of basic rights and liberties. All of us have witnessed more exploitation, ever- increasing divisions between rich and poor, political leaders with their eyes on anything but the futures of their peoples, and a new ruthless business attitude that seems to have no conscience about the starvation wages and physical and psychological violence imposed on the people who produce their wealth. Africa- the winds of change As much as some leaders in Africa acceded to the winds of change towards multi- party democracy, in practice dictatorship and one- party systems still exist in some countries. It is a common practice for a Government of the day in Africa to manipulate the constitution to suit its agenda against the wishes of the people. In those countries that are practising multi- party democracy, rigging of elections by ruling parties is the order of the day. A typical example is the manipulation of the Namibian constitution to extend the presidential term of office from two four- year terms to an unspecified period. The military conflicts and civil wars are claiming many lives, especially defenseless women and children. These problems have hindered economic development as well as development of trade unions. Owing to these problems, communicating with our affiliates in countries where there are political conflicts has been made impossible. The economies of the countries involved in the civil wars are suffering immensely while these governments, without the mandate of their citizens, are spending billions of dollars of tax payers money buying the latest military equipment. This is at the expense of their people who are dying of hunger because there is shortage of food, dying of curable diseases because there are no drugs in the hospitals, while industries are closing down because there is a shortage of foreign currency to buy raw materials for production. 4 rega 1998- 2001 The violation of human and trade union rights is a matter of serious concern to the trade unions in the Africa Region. Africa has one of the worst records of human and trade union rights violations in the world. Most of the governments introduced harsh economic reform programmes that have had serious effects on human and trade union rights. There has been no respect of rule of law in many countries where innocent citizens have been detained without trial especially trade union leaders and those from opposition parties. In Cameroon, our affiliate the Federation des Travailleurs des Batiments Travaux Publics et Activities annexes( FTBAC) have had their offices closed since June 2000 and their union assets confiscated by MIPROMALO, a construction company, in collaboration with the Government. The conflicts began after the unfair dismissal of 14 trade union members who had protested against non- payment of wages and the union took the company to court. In Ethiopia, our affiliate the Ethiopian Industrial Federation of Construction Wood Metal Cement and Other Trades had a dispute with MIDROC construction. The company dismissed all trade union leaders and 350 members because they had demanded wage increments while the company had refused to adjust wages for the past four years. In Swaziland, the Secretary General of Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions and other trade unionists were placed under house arrest after they organised a successful two day national stayaway demanding the democratisation of the Government of Swaziland, which is the only monarchy in Southern Africa. They were also protesting against the violation of human and trade union rights just to mention a few. 5 Report on Activities The IFBWW have stood firm and denounced governments that have no respect for human and trade union rights. Protest letters have been written to all those governments and employers that are violating rights. Financial assistance has been given to some of our affiliates who are victims, to cushion the effects. Asian Crisis and its impact The Asian economy ground to a halt towards the end of 1997. This sudden economic downturn came about when the Thai Baht was allowed to float on 2 July 1997, at a time of worsening economic performance of the country. The floating of the Thai Baht brought its value into free fall, which affected other currencies in the region. Almost all currencies lost between 50% to 100% of their value. Although the currencies have stabilised for now at least, at a lower level against the US dollar, the financial crisis resulted in an economic crisis. During this difficult economic crisis, trade unions rights also took a beating. Governments and employers used the economic downturn as justification to unilaterally implement a spectrum of indiscriminate actions including mass layoffs, drastic cuts in wages and benefits and unilateral abrogation of collective agreements. In the absence of social safety nets in the affected countries, the workers were made to bear the brunt of these economic problems. Calls by the IFBWW and other international trade union movement to these governments to provide for a social safety net to displaced workers had unheeded. gone 6 കേരള കെട്ടിട നിർമ്മാണ തൊഴിലാളി കാൺഗ് 20 സംസ്ഥാന സമ്മേളനം 97 ഫെബ്രുവരി 22,25- എറണാകുളം 1998- 2001 Prior to the economic crisis, during the so called boom years when Asian Pacific countries experienced a high economic growth rate( of 6 to 8% per annum) social development was neglected. Even during the boom years, workers remained working in poor conditions, on low wages, living in appalling conditions, and earned as little as USD 1 per day. often In the Asia and Pacific region too the globalisation of the economies is fast taking place, with economic integration among the nations of this region. With the globalisation of economies, we are in a situation now where there is not only a free flow of goods, services and capital but also free movement of labour as well. The main objective of this economic integration and liberalisation is to keep the cost of labour as low as possible. The intention of many Governments in this region is to offer" cheap labour". As a result, workers' jobs and pay, their conditions of employment, and trade unions' bargaining strength are increasingly undermined by pressure from intensified global competition which threatens even basic human rights. Some of these challenges are even threatening our very existence. Trade unions around the world are finding themselves in an increasingly hostile environment. The growing trend towards globalisation of the economy needs more international solidarity. The trade union movement in general needs to significantly strengthen the principles of freedom of association. If we now live in a new global economy it ought to be an economy in which the dignity of everyone is respected. It should be an economy in which the benefits should not be confined to the owners of the multinational corporations; nor should it only serve the interests of global corporations. These concerns have important implications for freedom of association. One of the most effective ways by which people can protect the dignity of themselves and their families is through the medium of strong and independent trade unions. In this context, the IFBWW continued its vigorous campaign to get all Governments to ratify the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in the region. Already Indonesia and Cambodia have ratified these Principles, which is also known as the Core Labour Standards. However the Violation of Trade Union Rights continued in many countries in this region. Many high profile solidarity campaigns have been mounted to defend unions and workers in the face of victimisation, repression, strikes and disasters. 7 Report on Activities European Challenges Europe is in very dynamic development with the positive and negative challenges that brings for unions. Europe is not only affected by globalisation, but also by regionalisation. More and more decisions are taken at regional level, with an increasing impact on the national labour markets. Harmonisation of laws on working hours, holidays and health and safety is well underway. There is a growing awareness among the union membership about the consequences of decisions made on the European level. National unions now accept the need to transfer competence on limited issues to regional bodies. But this has been politically a difficult process. These developments affect not only our affiliates in EU but also the unions in the EFTA countries and in the countries waiting to be accepted into the EU. The Central European countries, having survived the transition from socialist to market economies, now have to adjust labour market legislation to the EU requirements. confronting the unions with new challenges. However, in Europe there are many positive trends for unions on collective bargaining and on recruitment and retention of membership. In many countries construction, wood and forestry workers are relatively well paid, although wood industry workers earn rather less. The countries in Central Europe and those in negotiation with the EU are in stable economic development. The IFBWW affiliates in these countries are generally performing very well and show remarkably positive results. In contrast to these positive trends, the unions in the East and southeast European countries face extreme hardship. The general economic and social situation in these countries is worsening year after year. This makes it difficult for the unions to protect their membership. The workers are often without salary for 4-6 months and when they get payment, it is often in kind. It looks like a new, economic" iron curtain" is being drawn across Europe. The IFBWW and the whole labour movement must fight this negative trend. The European based MNC's are generally offering reasonable working conditions when working within the European region. Many do in fact offer better working conditions than local companies. Often unions put MNC's in the same box as foreign investors going for quick money and exploiting the workforce. We have to be careful in our analysis. Some of the major issues those unions in Europe faces are as follows: The collective bargaining systems are increasingly under pressure. Many companies have negative trade union policies that lead to attacks on collective bargaining, breakdown of working regulations and more informal unprotected labour. Governments in some ECE countries have enacted anti- labour laws and have attacked collective agreements. Where strict collective rules were the backbone of the collective agreements, now flexibility and individual demands are placed on both employers and members. A way to take the individual needs in to account keeping the collective basis has to be found. 8 1998- 2001 Erosion of wages and working conditions and bad health and safety records. Workers in many east and southeast European countries face low wages that do not provide an adequate standard of living. The health and safety records of many companies in these countries are extremely poor with unacceptably high accident and death rates. With the increase in the use of contract labour, migrant labour and illegal work, unacceptable working conditions are also becoming a bigger problem in Western European countries. Changing structure in our industries. Employment in the building, wood and forestry sectors is decreasing in industrialised countries. Technical changes are leading to job losses, changes in skill requirements and psychological adjustments by workers. Jobs in many countries are no longer stable and so life- long learning to accommodate changes in the job market is essential. Latin America- increasing inequalities Globalisation aims to break down commercial barriers and establish one large global market. This process is between unequal economies: those of a few rich and prosperous nations, and those of Latin America, the Caribbean and the rest of the third world, whose existence is marked by dependence and marginality. Integration processes have proliferated in Latin America and the Caribbean( MERCOSUR, CARICOM, Andean Pact, and FTAA), emphasising the role of the WTO, which sets trade guidelines. Governments have renegotiated their external debts through World Bank and IMF structural adjustment plans that have promoted the opening of markets, fiscal reforms, reduced worker rights, liberalisation of banking and privatisation. At an awesome social cost, the economies have again started showing moderately positive growth indices. E IBBH EXIGIMOS JUSTICIA Y CASTIGO LOS AS NIT IFBWAND TBB FIT E CASM U EL DE 9 Report on Activities New production methods such as just- in- time, total quality, multi- skilling and automation have increased the productivity of labour in response to increasing competitiveness, but have led to unemployment and an increase in occupational ill health. Information technology has generated jobs, though far less than the number of jobs lost in industry. In the construction and wood working industries, subcontracting and the casualisation of labour have undermined the quality of life of workers in Latin America and the Caribbean. Subcontracting as a strategy for reducing production costs came hand- in- hand with the reforms of the labour codes recommended under the structural adjustment plans, which transformed employment into something sporadic, uncertain and temporary. The casualisation of work has opened the door to types of abuses against workers, from wages to social and safety conditions. It has created tremendous downward pressure on wages and reduced workers' leeway for bargaining and organisation. The conditions prevailing in the Third World have resulted in the transfer of investments towards countries marked by greater social dumping, causing unemployment and curtailed rights in the industrialised countries. all Deregulation, the pressure of unemployment, the virtual non- existence of labour inspection and the fragmented nature of production- caused by subcontracting- that is now taking hold in some production sectors, and in construction above all, have generated exponential growth of informal work. The main effects are pressures on real wages and greater job insecurity. Informal workers almost totally unprotected and the unions have had great difficulty in organising them owing to the extreme fragility and vulnerability of their labour situation. In the construction industry, informal work accounts for some 30-50% of the employed labour. are According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean( ECLAC), urban unemployment increased by an average of 3% between 1991 and 1999, but those hardest hit by joblessness are the unskilled workers, who constitute over 10 per cent of the workforce in the construction industry. This situation is combined with the migration flows in several countries. According to the ILO, there are already some 12 million migrant workers in Latin America and the Caribbean facing situations of legal discrimination and lack of social and labour protection owing to their unsettled administrative status. Internal migration flows triggered by poverty and internal conflicts are disproportionately increasing the labour supply, placing pressure on real wages and increasing informal work and unemployment. The social security reforms recommended by the Bretton Woods institutions have contributed to the deterioration of industrial relations. The reforms gave rise to the privatisation of services and pensions, the reduction or elimination of pensions and of accident, retirement and illness benefits. After a period of recovery and democratic progress, Latin America is again being gripped by crisis. Economic problems, the lack of responses to burning social issues are again becoming the source of crisis and institutional instability. Colombia alone reports 3,000 union leaders assassinated over the past 10 years. Leaders have also been assassinated in Peru, Guatemala, Brazil and Paraguay. 10 1998- 2001 But the main problem continues to be poverty and income distribution. ECLAC estimates that there are some 220 million poor people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Latin America still has the world's worst income distribution, where an average of 10 per cent of the higher- income brackets receive more than 40 per cent of the national wealth in each country. Most construction, wood and forestry workers fall within the brackets of poverty and extreme poverty. The IFBWW addressed this situation on the basis of the decisions of the XIX IFBWW World Congress, acting in close co- operation with the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers ( EFBWW) and the Nordic Federation of Building and Wood Workers( NFBWW), International Trade Secretariats, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions( ICFTU) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD( TUAC). || Report on Activities 2. Services to IFBWW affiliates The IFBWW aims to support trade unions in their efforts to raise living standards for workers and to promote democracy and economic and social development. IFBWW offered a variety of services to its affiliates in order to help to achieve these objectives. 2.1. Promoting global minimum labour standards The IFBWW is promoting the concept of socially responsible business and is campaigning for the respect of worker's rights and implementation of international core labour standards, as established in international labour conventions of the International Labour Organisation( ILO). ILO core conventions: ✰ C.87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise 1948 ✰ C.98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining 1949 ◆ C.29 Forced Labour 1930, C105 Abolition of Forced Labour 1957 ✰ C.100 Equal Remuneration 1951 ◆ C.111 Discrimination( Employment and Occupation) 1958 C.138 Minimum Age 1973 C.182 Worst Forms of Child Labour 1999. Companies, governments and international institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation are key players. They can have a direct influence in eliminating poverty and their relationships with other bodies and organisations will also bring critical changes. The IFBWW is campaigning for the incorporation of workers rights in agreements with companies, governments and international institutions as a means of promoting worker's rights. H The IFBWW is requesting national governments, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation to consider and reflect the provisions of the eight core Conventions of the ILO, and Convention( No.94) Concerning Labour Clauses in Public Contracts in its' procurement practices. The IFBWW is promoting the use of framework agreements between companies and unions on workers rights. The IFBWW signed framework agreements on workers rights with transnational companies. The IFBWW believes that it is necessary to define a clear and multifaceted strategy which fully utilises existing international, regional and sub regional structures of the IFBWW and the differing nature of MNC and in particular the fact that some are more open to trade union organisation than others. Against this background particular consideration must be given to the following initiatives: Framework agreements and corporate codes of conduct; European works councils; Global company councils; Corporate campaigns; International instruments and guidelines; global social dialogue; workers capital and industrial relations. 12 1998- 2001 IFBWW and its affiliated unions are committed to active involvement in the forest certification process to improve the working and living conditions of workers and to contribute to sustainable forestry practices. The IFBWW is also campaigning to ensure effective implementation of the ILO code of practice for health and safety in forest work at the national level Social dialogue with employers organisations A global social dialogue of organisations involved in construction took place in Geneva in early 2001 between the ILO, World Bank, CICA and the IFBWW to discuss possible co- operation on the issue of workers rights. Representatives of World Bank( WB), International Labour Organisation ( ILO), Confederation of International Contractors' Associations( CICA) and International Federation of Building and Wood Workers( IFBWW) met on 16 March 2001 at the ILO headquarters in Geneva in order to discuss developments at the WB, World Trade Organisation ( WTO) and ILO. The purpose of the meeting was to find a common understanding and a platform for future co- operation. CICA and IFBWW issued a statement, which acknowledge the need to observe the eight core Conventions of the ILO in order to create a minimum level of international social standards. In this spirit CICA and the IFBWW shall work together to achieve these objectives and undertakings. CICA and the IFBWW are engaged in an on- going dialogue and will meet regularly. CICA's mission is to serve, promote and enhance the construction industry on behalf of its member federations in matters of international concern. CICA gathers six regional federations in the world, representing 78 countries: Federation of United States and Canadian Contractors' Association ( FUSCCA); European Construction Industry Federation( FIEC); Federación Interamericana de la industria de la construcción( FIIC); International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors' Associations( IFAWPCA); Federation of Arab Contractors( FAC); South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors( SAFCEC)- associate member since December 1999. CICA President is Dr Subba Rao; the Director General, Mrs Claude Revel and Mr. Wilhelm Küchler, President of CICA's Social Commission and Vice- President of FIEC. The CICA office is based in Paris. Agreements with Multinational Companies The IFBWW developed a policy to engage multinationals in the discussion on socially responsible business. IFBWW and the enterprise concerned work together to ensure as a minimum, the full recognition of trade union rights and effective implementation of all core Conventions of the ILO. The IFBWW has already developed agreements with MNCs such as IKEA( furniture) Faber Castell ( pencils), Hochtief( building) and Skanska( building). The aim of such agreements is to establish a continual working relationship and dialogue between IFBWW and the company concerned, in order to resolve any issues related to non compliance with the terms of the agreement and to achieve socially responsible business practices at international level. In order to pursue this policy and to promote understanding of the concept, the IFBWW has developed a model framework agreement. This model establishes a theoretical baseline for future negotiation with multinationals. 13 Report on Activities The International Federation of Building and Wood Workers and the IKEA Group have worked out a joint agreement focusing on working conditions at suppliers to IKEA, within the sector of wooden products. This agreement covers independent suppliers as well as factories owned by IKEA via the industry group, Swedwood. This agreement was signed in Geneva, Switzerland, on 25 May 1998. As part of this agreement a monitoring group has been set up with IKEA and IFBWW each providing two members. The monitoring group has visited Slovakia, Hungary, Malaysia, Romania, Poland and, most recently, Thailand and Laos. The monitoring group found working conditions to be generally good, with some exceptions. IKEA is implementing an action plan for improving conditions at some suppliers, according to the demands set out in" The IKEA Way on Purchasing Home Furnishing Products", IKEA's code of conduct which is about to be introduced and adopted amongst nearly 2,000 suppliers to IKEA world- wide. This code of conduct is based on the principles in the agreement covering the wood sector of the IKEA suppliers. The monitoring group aims to reinforce IKEA's compliance work through training of their co- workers and close follow- up of all suppliers. The German company Faber- Castell is one of the world's leading manufacturers of writing, drawing and painting products as well as cosmetics pencils and applicators. The agreement was signed on 3rd March 2000 with the German Metall Workers union IG Metall and the IFBWW. The agreement was initially negotiated by the German Wood Workers Union GHK, which merged with IG Metall beginning 2000 and was already signed on 23rd November 1999. Faber- Castell employs 5500 workers worldwide in 14 production and 18 sales companies in Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Costa- Rica, Peru, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and the USA. The IFBWW took part in an evaluation mission to Malaysia and to Indonesia in 1999. Further activities for the implementation and monitoring of the agreement are planned at the end of 2001. 14 1998- 2001 Hochtief, one of the world's biggest construction groups, signed on 15th March 2000 an agreement committing it to observe- in its building activities anywhere in the world- the social standards of the International Labour Organisation( ILO). The agreement imposes the same obligation on all Hochtief's subcontractors, whose combined workforces total many times the group's own 37,000 employees. The signatories are the Hochtief Executive Board and the company's General Works Council together with the German Construction Workers' Union, IG BAU, and the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers( IFBWW). Although the code of conduct is a selfimposed obligation on the part of Hochtief, their readiness to co- operate actively is a positive approach for good industrial relations. Skanska is one of the world's leading companies in building- related services and project development. Since starting in 1887, Skanska has built up a global network with operations in some 60 countries. Skanska and IFBWW signed an agreement on 8th February, which applies to all units and subsidiaries in the Skanska Group. The content of this agreement will be made known to the company's sites in the language of the respective site, and subcontractors will be informed of the agreement. Skanska is committing itself to comply with national legislation and all ILO Conventions and recommendations that are relevant to the company's operations. An application group consisting of Skanska's Director of Personnel, EWC Skanska's working committee, and IFBWW will handle reporting on the compliance with the agreement and any departures from. In order to prepare the framework agreements the IFBWW held a seminar on developing Codes of Conduct for the Construction Industry in May 1999. This seminar built the basis for further international work and also more detailed work at regional level. In 1999, the IFBWW held a seminar in the Pacific, focusing on multinationals with extensive operations in the sub region. The unions aim to develop a policy and bargaining platform from which to negotiate with governments and employers for improved worker protection in the form of labour clauses. A seminar on" Socially Responsible Business in the Global Construction, Wood and Forestry Industries" held in October 1999 discussed IFBWW policy on codes of conduct; negotiating company agreements; public procurement and workers rights. The meeting recommended that the IFBWW should promote the concept of socially responsible business along with its campaign for the respect of worker's rights and implementation of core labour standards, as established in ILO conventions. The Seminar was followed by a Public Conference on" Workers Rights and Development Co- operation" which was attended by about 150 people. The IFBWW carried out a workshop on the implementation of framework agreements on workers rights with Multinational Companies for its affiliates in South East Asia. The workshop took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, 28 May to 30 May 2001. Trade union representatives from the following countries attended the workshop: Philippines, Malaysia, Hongkong, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, VR China. 15 Report on Activities Sustainable Forestry Employment in the wood and forestry sectors is important at two levels. In a number of countries such as Finland, Sweden, Canada and countries in the tropics such as Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia it is one of the main branches of economic activities. In other countries the forest and wood sectors may be less important nationally but very important to local timber- dependent communities. Even a small number of jobs in an area without other economic options may be very important to the local economy, especially where communities are isolated and their ability to generate other forms of income is limited. Especially where value is added to wood through for example, processing, valuable jobs can be added to local communities. In addition, the indirect effects of forest and wood sector employment on other sectors can be substantial. While much has been achieved in the last years there is still a very real need to ensure that union interests are not marginalised. With a membership of approximately 2.5 million in the wood and forestry industries it is important that IFBWW be a major player in discussions and policy making at international, regional, national and local levels. Unions need to be recognised as important stakeholders who are routinely invited to be part of decision- making on forestry and wood issues. Forest certification is a means to promote sustainable forest practices. In this respect, it will provide protection for forest workers' rights and promote greater occupational safety and health. In line with the global efforts towards sustainable forestry, the IFBWW promotes the inclusion of social standards in forest certification. Forest certification is a market- based instrument aimed at promoting sustainable forest management that takes into account environmental, economic and social issues. It involves the independent assessment of forest management according to internationally( or nationally) accepted standards, and the tracking and monitoring of the supply of forest products to the marketplace. If the forest management is in compliance with a set of specified standards, and the wood( or other forest product) from this forest has been tracked and accounted for through all stages of the production process, then it can be given a label, which is recognised in the market place. Forest certification has emerged over the last decade as an important global initiative aimed at increasing the area of sustainably managed forest in the world and by late 2000 there were about 70 million hectares of forest under independent certification worldwide. For IFBWW, certification is a tool that can be used to improve working conditions. For this reason, IFBWW has been involved for several years with forest certification activities and at its 20th Congress in Harare in 1997 adopted a policy that supports the certification of timber and timber products from sustainably managed forests. Over the last four years, through the Global Forestry Programme, IFBWW has undertaken a number of country related initiatives and has sought to raise the profile of the union movement at the international and national policy level by representing workers interests in sustainable forestry initiatives. 16 1998- 2001 IFBWW affiliates are actively engaged in a range of certification activities including the development of national standards, participation in chain of custody activities, assessment and evaluation of workers' conditions in operations to be certified, certification training for members, and field testing of criteria and indicators. Key activities undertaken by IFBWW from 1997-2001 are: Major international conferences on forest certification held in Bonn, Germany( 1999) Hobart, Australia( 2000) and Jedlinia, Poland( 2001). These conferences publicly demonstrated IFBWW's involvement in the issue and helped affiliates to exchange experiences and develop a way forward. National training seminars in Indonesia( 1998), Malaysia( 1998, 2000), Ghana( 1997, 2000), South Africa( 1998) and Brazil( 1998) International standards: IFBWW has lobbied to get ILO core Conventions and the ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Forestry incorporated into the FSC and PEFC global certification standards. Result to date: core Conventions are now in FSC and PEF global standards. Participation in the international initiatives on mutual recognition of certification schemes. All major certifiers have been lobbied to better incorporate workers issues at the company level in certification agreements and monitor that the agreements are kept. Where violations have occurred IFBWW has raised the issues with the certifiers. A representative of IG Metall is a member of the Board of FSC, Swedish Forest and Wood Trade Union is a member of the Board of PEFC. Development of criteria and indicators for workers. These have been field tested in Zimbabwe and Ghana and given to the certification bodies as examples of the minimum requirements for workers. This work has already been included in several standards processes. IFBWW and its affiliated unions have worked to get certification agreements to fully cover the following worker issues: right to organise, job security, remuneration and living and working conditions, health and safety, participation, training, equality for all workers, needs of special workers, child labour, and indigenous peoples and community issues. In many countries the issue of contract labour has been very important, as the industry has sought to replace regular workers with contract workers who have less social protection. While forest certification can be used to protect forest workers and improve forest management, it does not protect workers in the wood processing industry. Eco- labels, on the other hand, can address the whole life cycle of products and provide an evaluation of environmental and social performance taking into account the different phases of processing. IFBWW is now lobbying to get worker protection in all stages of the production process, not just in the forests. The ultimate goal is to move forest certification away from being just a single issue and work towards life cycle protection where wood processing workers are also protected. 17 Report on Activities World Bank and workers rights A significant proportion of infrastructure funding in developing countries is provided by international institutions including Development Banks such as the World Bank, Inter- American Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and the African Development Bank. Since its creation, the World Bank has provided nearly US$ 250 billion in financing for development projects. The average annual lending of the Bank is now US$ 22 billion and approximately 30,000 contracts are awarded each year to borrowers of World Bank funds. These contracts create employment for thousands of workers, many of whom are engaged in the building, construction wood and forestry industries. The IFBWW have campaigned since 1996 for the inclusion of core labour standards in the procurement guidelines, standard bidding documents and loan agreements of the World Bank. This policy is based on the principle embodied in ILO Convention No. 94 concerning Labour Clauses( Public Contracts) and arose from IFBWW concern that many workers in its industries are being forced out of traditional employment situations and into informal work arrangements. Workers in the building, construction, wood and forestry industries are often employed on a short term, casual basis making it difficult for trade unions to organise and protect these workers rights. In Washington, the IFBWW has addressed correspondence to the office of the Director General and engaged in a more detailed dialogue with the Operational Core Services Department( OCSD) of the Bank, which is responsible for procurement. This dialogue has been supplemented by a number of meetings with the staff of the OCSD. In the field, IFBWW has carried out an information campaign to inform affiliates about core labour standards and the potential use of labour clauses as an additional means to secure their implementation. Affiliates are encouraged to send information concerning World Bank funded projects to the Secretariat; IFBWW can then address the Bank with the help of its affiliates in the borrowing country. The IFBWW is actively promoting the use of labour clauses in procurement procedures as a means of protecting workers rights. A general awareness raising campaign has been implemented using IFBWW Regional structures. Regional Seminars were held in Africa and Asia Pacific during 1998 and in Latin America during 1999. Specific follow up work is being undertaken in Ghana, Francophone Africa and Central Africa, in the Pacific sub region and in the Caribbean. The IFBWW initiated an ICFTU/ ITS seminar with the executive directors of the World Bank which took place in Washington 19- 21 January 1999. Politically, the meeting was a significant step forward in securing greater levels of dialogue and consultation between the Bank and the trade union movement. 18 1998- 2001 THE WORLD BANK The IFBWW have undertaken missions to China, Turkey, Ghana and Pakistan to study the use of labour clauses in public procurement and to investigate labour conditions on World Bank funded sites. The missions have tried to compare the work site and labour conditions with standards established by ILO Conventions and Recommendations, collective agreements and arbitration awards as well as national legislation. Work site conditions on World Bank funded projects have been found to be reasonable in the context of national laws and have not been found to be below national legislative minimum. The IFBWW has achieved some success with this strategy; the Bank recently announced that it would upgrade the optional sub clauses on labour contained in the Standard Bidding Documents ( SBD) to the status of mandatory. Some wording on environmental procurement will also be included in the new SBD's. However, it is unlikely that the texts will include clauses incorporating the core labour standards- the Bank policy on freedom of association in particular does not allow for such a development at this time. The Bank is however considering the inclusion of some wording to give effect to ILO C.182 to ensure that the worst forms of child labour are not employed on Bank funded projects but this is not yet confirmed. 19 The IFBWW has also managed to achieve some success at project level. Report on Activities In the Philippines a multi- sectoral monitoring team will be established to monitor labour standards on a new highway infrastructure project the' National Road Improvement and Management Project' funded by the World Bank. This initiative was proposed by the Bank following an intensive lobby by the IFBWW local representative and affiliates, the monitoring group would include IFBWW affiliates, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Labour and Employment and the ILO. The Chad Cameroon Pipeline project involves a consortium of three major oil companies: Exxon, Chevron and Petronas. In June 2000 the Bank approved a loan package for the project despite strong international opposition from environmental groups and human rights organisations. In consequence the Bank insisted on the creation of a review board to monitor the spending of the oil revenue; this includes civil society and the ICFTU affiliate in Chad has been invited to participate. The Bank has also established its own independent monitoring agency. In October 2000, the IFBWW met with the Banks senior energy economist for the Africa region and discussed IFBWW involvement in monitoring and verification of labour conditions in the project. Contact has now been made with the general project manager based in Houston USA who has undertaken the issue; follow up is expected shortly. The IFBWW and its affiliates in the region aim to secure a collective agreement applicable to workers in both Chad and Cameroon. The World Bank adopted a Forest Policy in 1991 which was designed to be used as a guide for Bank funding of forest based projects or those which affected forest areas. The policy is largely environmental and does not give any detailed consideration to forest workers, their rights, working conditions or livelihoods. Neither has the Bank sought any inputs or advice from forest workers or their representative organisations. The IFBWW has sought to achieve greater influence on the work of the World Bank in this area. The Bank has announced that it will not review its forest policy in the classic sense but that it will present new' key areas', the IFBWW will follow this process carefully. World Trade Organisation and construction services In the latter stages of the old GATT( General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs) attention was paid to liberalising services which resulted in the so- called General Agreement on Trade in Services ( GATS). GATS set the basic trade rules for 130 countries. Construction services are governed by the general framework disciplines of the GATS. The IFBWW is concerned about the GATS negotiations particularly on movement of natural persons and government procurement. Many construction workers union around the world are afraid that the liberalisation of the GATS mode 4" presence of natural persons" will facilitate social dumping on a worldwide scale. In recent years many IFBWW affiliates experienced that this kind of liberalised cross border work led in many cases to undercutting of national social standards, working conditions and wages by foreign companies posting 20 1998-2001 A workers abroad. Against this background, the EU had to re- regulate cross- border work in the construction sector through European legislation called the" posting directive". IFBWW launched a campaign and asks its affiliate to lobby against WTO legalising social dumping in construction The IFBWW has also followed the issue of Government Procurement Agreements within the WTO. During the Uruguay Round, a new and expanded agreement on Government Procurement was concluded, including procurement for products and for services including construction services. The Agreement on Government Procurement establishes a framework of rights and obligations with respect to laws, regulations, procedures and practices regarding government procurement, which must be enacted into the national legislation of all signatories. The Agreement opens up government procurement markets to industry in all its Signatories by guaranteeing nondiscriminatory access to public procurement contracts, subject to measures consistent with the WTO or GATS( General Agreement on Trade in Services). However the Agreement does not make any reference to social and workers rights. The IFBWW requested the WTO to draw the attention of the working group members to the provisions of ILO C.94 on Labour Clauses( Public Contracts), which aims to ensure that minimum labour standards are observed in public contracts. IFBWW requested the ILO to secure proper representation within the WTO working group. In this context IFBWW delegations attended the Ministerial Meetings of the WTO in Geneva in May 1998 and in December 1999 in Seattle in order to achieve and maintain support for the ICFTU proposals on labour rights and trade. United Nation Organisations- International Labour Organisation IFBWW is an officially recognised non- government organisation- NGO- for the building, wood, forestry and allied sectors within the International Labour Organisation. The IFBWW obtained in 1997 a Special Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Committee of the United Nations. The IFBWW promotes its policy in international organisations such as the International Labour Organisation( ILO), International Tropical Timber Organisation( ITTO), Food and Agricultural Organisation( FAO) and international environmental organisations. IFBWW played a leading role in discussions and preparations of the ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Forestry Work. The Code was adopted on September 30, 1997 by an ILO meeting of experts on safety and health in forest work( Geneva, 23-30 September). In 2000 the IFBWW participated in the development and adoption by ILO of a Code of practice on protection from health hazards of mineral fibres. The IFBWW attends the International Labour Conference and recently played an active role in discussions on Contract Labour and Maternity Protection. The IFBWW continued its work on the issue of Contract Labour and were instrumental in the preparation of possible instruments to protect contract workers held at the International Labour Conference in June 1998. However the result of the Labour Conference, a Resolution, is not as satisfactory an outcome as coherent instruments on Contract Labour. Therefore it is essential that there is effective follow up by the Workers group to ensure that the issue remains on the agenda of the ILO. 21 Report on Activities IFBWW also implement a range of technical co- operation projects with the support of ILO and have also supported affiliates participating in large- scale ILO programmes. The IFBWW maintains contact with the ILO principally through ACTRAV- as do all ITS. IFBWW also works with those officers responsible for construction and forestry related issues in SECTOR. The IFBWW will attend sectoral meetings for both construction and forestry during 2001: Tripartite meeting on the Social and Labour Dimensions of the Forestry and Woods Industries on the Move, ( 17- 21 September 2001) and Tripartite Meeting on the Construction Industry in the 21st Century: Its Image, Employment Prospects and Skill Requirements( 10- 14 December 2001). IFBWW also was involved in the work of the UN Commission on Human Settlements. Five years after Habitat II( June 1996, Istanbul, Turkey), the UN General Assembly held a special session to review and appraise the implementation of the Habitat Agenda worldwide. IFBWW representatives attended the Preparatory Committee meeting( February 2001, Nairobi, Kenya) and the Habitat+ 5 conference in New York( June 2001). IFBWW launched a campaign and asked all affiliates to approach their governments before the meeting in New York and discuss the demands of workers and their families on housing and decent working and living conditions. The IFBWW attended the following meetings in the reporting period: 16th Session of the UN Commission on Human Settlements, Nairobi, April 4-16, 1997 UN Commission on Sustainable Development, New York, April 11 to 25, 1997 UN Commission on the Status of Women, New York, March 3 to 21, 1997 FAO Committee on Forestry, Rome, March 3 to 13, 1997 FAO XI World Forestry Congress, Antalya, October 10 to 22, 1997 ◆ UN NGO Workshop on Human Rights and HIV/ AIDS, Geneva, 26 June 1998 ECOSOC International Forum on Forests, 24 August to 4 September 1998, Geneva UN Seminar on Trade Related Aspects of Sustainable Management, 23 to 25 February 1999, Geneva FAO Session of the Committee on Forestry, 1 to 5 March 1999, Rome XVth World Congress on Occupational Safety and Health, 12 to 16 April 1999, Sao Paolo UN Commission for Sustainable Development( CSD), 19 to 30 April 1999, New York UN Intergovernmental Forum on Forestry, 3 to 13 May 1999., Geneva International Tropical Timber Organisation( ITTO) Council meeting, 21 to 25 May 1999, Changmai, AUVA/ ILO Health and Safety in the Construction Industry in the 21st Century, 6 to 8 October 1999, Vienna 4th Session Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, 31 January to 11 February 2000, New York International Tropical Timber Organisation( ITTO) Council 24 to 30 May, 2000, Peru UN Social Summit+5, 26 to 30 June 2000, Geneva UN Habitat+5 Preparatory Committee, 19 to 23 February 2001, Nairobi UN Habitat+5 Conference, 6 to 8 June 2001, New York 22 1998-2001 1998- 2001 2.2. Defence of trade union and human rights During this intercongress period, the number of cases involving affiliates in IFBWW sectors has slightly decreased in comparison to the former period. 135 cases were reported including 45 in Latin America, 40 in Asia and the Pacific, 17 in Africa and 33 in Europe. Complaints lodged with the International Labour Organisation( ILO) have also decreased. The types of violations reported to the Secretariat or to its regional offices included murders, death threats, disappearances, police intervention, arrests, massive dismissals of members or union representatives. Less serious violations have also taken place and led to legal actions, demonstrations, strikes or other industrial action. The IFBWW was therefore urged to take action and to send protests to governments and companies. The IFBWW also encouraged unions around the world to join the solidarity chain through Urgent Actions' or Solidarity Appeals². In the last year, links to the IFBWW actions and appeals have been posted at the Global- Union website in order to inform more widely. In cases such as Korea, the IFBWW made direct joint protests to the Korean diplomatic mission in Geneva with other ITSs³. The IFBWW has also called on affiliates to pressure their country so that trade relations are suspended with offending countries, such as for Myanmar. IFBWW was also urged to conduct specific research on multinationals- Hochtief, Hanson Concrete, Odebrecht, Impregilo and Recchi- or to launch campaigns. IFBWW subregional office in the Pacific has been active collecting information on RHG in Papua New Guinea, Rio Tinto in Australia and Earth Movers in the Solomon Islands. Latin America remains the region where the highest number of trade unionists is killed each year. Regional campaigns, seminars and workshops on trade union rights have been one of the main 1 2 NERAL CONSTRUCCION CIVIL DE LIMA SIEMPRE LUCHANDO. POR TRABAJO. DESARROLLO. DEMOCRACIA Y JUSTICIA SOCIAL CONSTRUCCIO 7POR TRABAJO, AU Urgent Actions are circulated to IFBWW affiliates and fraternal organizations urging them to protest to governments or employers when serious threats reported to the Secretariat involve the existence of the union, its representatives or members, massive dismissals, violence against workers. They are also translated into Spanish since July 1999 and into French since January 2000. Solidarity Appeals are addressed to IFBWW affiliates and fraternal organizations requesting them to protest to governments or employers when an affiliate needs support during industrial disputes, collective bargaining or breakdown of negotiations. They are also translated into Spanish since July 1999 and into French since January 2000. 3 This joint ITS/ ICFTU protest took place in order to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by organizing a joint solidarity campaign for all Korean trade unionists suffering from persecution, arrest and imprisonment( Dec. 1998). 23 Report on Activities priorities of the Programme on Human and Trade Union Rights 1998- 20014, which also produced a manual on the subject'. The training of affiliates improved their capacity to report on cases of violations and grasp the mechanisms to denounce them both at national and at international levels. The programme has contributed to create greater awareness of the needs to include the defence of trade union and human rights on the union's agenda. Despite the reduction in violations of trade union rights in the region in 1998, Colombia has maintained its leading position as most dangerous country in the world. Most IFBWW solidarity actions in Colombia report assassination of trade union leaders. Another battle was being fought for the rights of workers in Guatemala. IFBWW cases mainly involved murders or threats and therefore represented a grim reminder of the level of hostility towards unions. Workers protests against their deteriorating situation were often met with violence, even death. Bro. Carlos Catalán, an Executive member of Suchilma, was assassinated in 1997. His murderer was sentenced to 25 years of jail. The fact that the murderer was brought to justice has been one of the major achievements of the human and trade union rights project. The economic unconstitutional measures applied by the government of Ecuador have affected workers' fundamental rights. Protest actions were strongly repressed and union leaders detained or persecuted. The case of José Chávez, former President of the workers' confederation CEOSL, arrested once again in January 2000 on subversion charges for having led protests against the government is only one example. In Peru, former President Fujimori made the exercise of trade union rights nearly impossible. Following his recent resignation, which ended a decade of authoritarian rule, renewed hope has emerged and Peruvian trade unions are preparing for the challenges that lie ahead. For the time being, none of the candidates in the forthcoming presidential and legislative elections stressed the need to promote the respect of fundamental rights. IFBWW has been supporting the trade union movement. The events in Venezuela were also of great concern to the IFBWW. President Chávez's illegitimate and highly criticised referendum, clearly aimed at dismantling the trade union movement, incited the IFBWW to take part in a joint high level mission with ICFTU- ORIT in November 2000 in order to meet the authorities and plan a joint international campaign. Support and solidarity of the international trade union movement is seen as a decisive force as unions heavily rely on outside assistance. 4 The following unions involved are: STINCAH( Honduras); FTCCP( Peru); FENATIMAAP( Peru); FETICOMAP/ STICCAP( Paraguay); SINCS- G ( Guatemala) and FESITRASMMAR( Guatemala). 5 Manual de derechos humanos produced by IFBWW ORL office in the year 2000. 24 1998- 2001 In Paraguay, the authorities have continued to persecute trade unionists and detained national leaders in 1998. Since then, changes have been reported. Nevertheless, when the Civil Construction Trade Union, STICCAP, was picketing in front of the headquarters of the company Itaipu Binacional, the police cracked down, violently leaving ten workers injured. North America is by no means beyond reproach. In Canada, unfair labour practices occurred at the East Coast forestry giant, REPAP New Brunswick Inc. leaving workers with no work for the season 2000. In the USA too, workers have faced many restrictions on their organising and bargaining rights, including on the right to strike. In February 1998, one of IFBWW affiliates in the United States, International Brotherhood of Teamsters( IBT), was involved in a lengthy and bitter dispute with the company Builders Concrete Inc, owned by the ready- mix French transnational Vicat S.A. IFBWW French affiliate, Force Ouvrière( FO), has tried to organise a dialogue with Vicat S.A in France. Far too many countries in Africa have been trying to control their unions by using or misusing the legislation. Others were more brutal. But generally, the attitude was more or less the same throughout the continent and the result was more repression. Zimbabwe was one of the countries whose respect for trade union rights and civil liberties deteriorated in 1999 and even more dramatically in 2000. National strikes were banned for a sixmonth period. There was an attempt on the life of the ZCTU deputy General Secretary who was beaten unconscious. IFBWW was very concerned about the pre- election developments and the fate of rural workers. Zimbabwe- IFBWW supports trade unions in their struggle for democracy The IFBWW was concerned about the pre- election developments in 2000: the non- respect of law and order by the Government, the violence unleashed against the democratic opposition and the attacks on activists belonging to the opposition party. The IFBWW also monitored the fate of workers in the farming communities. IFBWW launched a Solidarity Appeal requesting all affiliates world- wide to send a letter of protest to the President of Zimbabwe urging him to restore law and order and settle with the support of the international community the land dispute by taking into consideration the rights of all interested parties, and to ensure a free and fair electoral process takes place. IFBWW provided its affiliate GAPWUZ with financial assistance from its International Solidarity Fund for transport and subsistence for organisers, medical expenses, and clothes. Many affiliates sent their protest messages to the President. Danish Electrical union also supported a training seminar for the Zim Electrical Workers who are facing privatisation and massive job loss. On a more positive note, there were significant improvements in Nigeria where respect for trade union rights following the death of General Abacha in June 1999 has been gradually restored. Harsh anti- union decrees brought in by the former military regime were repealed or amended. 25 Report on Activities Trade union leaders were released from prison and unions began to be freed from control. Trade union rights have continued to be restored in 2000. government There was no change in Swaziland despite amendments to the Industrial Relations Act drawn up with ILO assistance and adoption by Parliament, as the King has not given his assent to the law. The Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions continued to be harassed. In Morocco, the persecution of trade unionists persisted. Workers can be imprisoned for going on strike and are reported dying in prison. Morocco's labour code does not protect workers from anti- union discrimination nor protects unions from acts of interference by employers. The government of Djibouti has continued to interfere blatantly and regularly into trade union affairs with the aim of destroying independent and democratic unions. IFBWW affiliates in Cameroon reported restrictions on the right to organise despite the government's repeated promises to the ILO that it would amend its legislation. In Burkina Faso, unions report that the authorities launched an anti- union campaign before the strikes organised in 1999, while workers were calling for an end to the weakening of their rights, to killings and the misappropriation of state funds. In Ghana, the law contains restrictions on basic trade union rights such as union recognition for bargaining purposes. It is almost impossible to go on strike and the government has very extensive powers. An Urgent Action was launched against a transnational company, Dredging International that subcontracted the recruitment of its workforce to another company and tried to impede workers from joining the union. The Minister of Labour in South Africa announced amendments to the Industrial Relations' Act by the end of 2000. IFBWW affiliate in South Africa, SAAPAWU, reported the retrenchment of 900 workers due to the restructuring of the corporation Agricultural and Rural development. Looking more closely at the Asia- Pacific region, State repression against trade unions has continued in general while the region was recovering from the effects of the financial crisis. The two countries that still hold the worst rights records are Myanmar and the People's Republic of China. In Myanmar, the military government continues to suppress all forms of trade union rights. No trade union activity is tolerated and imprisoned trade unionists have remained in detention. Many arrests and detention of activists have been reported in China. IFBWW intervention in the case of Xu Jian, a lawyer specialised in labour rights, charged of incitement to overthrow the State and sentenced to four years imprisonment. Another fierce battle was being fought in Fiji where trade unions were free again after the change of government in May 1999 until an armed group stormed Fiji's Parliament in May 2000 and took hostage the Prime Minister and several members of his cabinet. The IFBWW fully supported the 26 1998- 2001 Fiji Trade Unions Congress( FTUC) and its affiliates in the country in their efforts to restore democracy and to ensure respect for the Fiji non- racial 1997 Constitution. In the Solomon Islands, IFBWW affiliate SINUW had to go on a long strike of more than two years to protect workers' rights and to reinstate 412 members sacked by a logging company Earthmovers( Solomon) Ltd. Although the strike was successful and the union rights were recognised, the political situation worsened and SINUW might lose what it has gained. In Indonesia, work has continued to draw up a new legislative framework for union rights. Nevertheless, the army was used against protest actions claiming better working conditions. IFBWW has supported the trade union movement demanding immediate and unconditional release of the union activists and all other trade union prisoners in the country. There was no improvement in Nepal where trade unionists continue to remain imprisoned, attacked and murdered. In Pakistan, the Wapda union affiliated to APFTU was deregistered. The Awami Labour Union Ghazi Barotha Contractors( ALU- GBC) affiliated with the Pakistan Federation of Building and Wood Workers reported positive changes. JAW: FREE M.P. Indonesia Needs Worker Rights FREE M.P. Indonesia Needs Worker Rights FREE M.P. Indonesia Needs Worker Rights Pakistan- IFBWW affiliate wins against IMPREGILO after a two- year struggle! The ALU- GBC union finally won the referendum in November 2000 it had to go again through in order to regain the Collective Bargaining Agent status for workers in the Ghazi Barotha Hydroelectric Project. The Appellate Court only lifted the stay order in November due to the rival union's opposition. ALU successfully countered the court cases brought by the company IMPREGILO and the deregistration orders against the union were lifted in February 2000. The IFBWW sent letters of protest to the company and worked with other trade union organisations to exert pressure on the company to recognise the union. The project commenced construction in 1996 and is expected to be completed by May 2002. 27 Report on Activities There was also some good news in New Zealand. The Labour/ Alliance Coalition Government came to power in November 1999 after eight years of conservative rule and rapidly brought changes to the industrial relations policy. The adoption of a new Act in October 2000 strengthens the right to organise and bargain collectively. In Thailand, the state enterprise workers were given back their right to form trade unions in February 2000. Before 1991, they were the strongest and they also provided the leadership for the trade union movement in the country. This new development will certainly go a long way to strengthen the trade union movement in the country. In Papua New Guinea, a major dispute between our affiliate, the Papua New Guinea Timber and Construction Workers Union( PNGTCWU) and the Rimbunan Hijau Pyt. Ltd. was settled by the signing of a Heads of Agreement in January 2001. Papua New Guinea- Union wins international recognition at RHG On 18 January 2001, the IFBWW welcomed the signing of a Heads of Agreement between PNGTCWU and RHG, one of the largest timber companies in the Pacific region. This Agreement, which creates a dispute resolution procedure, represents a turning point in the union's relationship with the company and expects to reach a full industrial agreement by April 2001. Prior to the agreement, the IFBWW office in Melbourne wrote a letter to the Directors of RHG in Malaysia and in PNG indicating that trade union recognition and acceptable terms and working conditions would improve both the well being of the workers and prove that globalisation and social responsibility can be reconciled. wage In Europe, economic trends were also felt. Globalisation and liberalisation had a devastating effect on the transition countries of Eastern Europe, reflected in the continuing problem of unpaid wages. In countries such as in Russia, many workers went on strike to claim payment of arrears, together with calls for wage increases and social reforms. In Belarus and in Serbia there was simply no rule of law and trade union rights have been violated systematically. In Belarus, President Lukashenko continues to be considered as the violator of human and trade union rights in the region. The decrees brought in impose high requirements on union registration. There were some positive developments in the Czech Republic since the change of government. Social dialogue has resumed and the revision of the labour code has progressed. In Western Europe, there were some good news in the United Kingdom, where the 1999 Employment Relations Act restored some trade union rights taken away since the 1980s as well as legal rights to recognition for collective bargaining to representative trade unions. Elsewhere in Western Europe there was little change. 28 1998- 2001 2.3. Analysing trends and developing industrial policies The IFBWW industrial structures develop and promote action- oriented responses to industrial problems faced by unions in the Building, Wood, Forestry and Allied sectors around the world. There are two Committees and a Working Party in the IFBWW structure dealing with industrial issues through research, surveys, consultation meetings and seminars we draw on the experience of our affiliates to produce information and develop policies. Key policy questions handled in this way include sustainable forestry and forestry certification, contract labour and sub- contracting, privatisation, asbestos, manufactured mineral fibres, trends in regional integration and migrant workers, and collective bargaining. IFBWW policy publications are respected and influential. 29 IFBWW Industrial Committee meetings 1998 Report on Activities 25 May 26 May 1999 10-11 February 15-19 March 12-14 May 14 May 9-11 June 2000 22 May 23 May 19-21 June IFBWW Wood and Forestry Committee, Geneva IFBWW Building Committee, Geneva IFBWW/ AUVA/ GBH Expert meeting on Health and Safety Vienna, Austria IFBWW Study visit Eastside Water Reservoir Project South California, USA LIGNA/ interholz& IFBWW Wood and Forestry Committee Hannover, Germany IFBWW Wood and Forestry Committee Bad Münder, Germany IFBWW OHS working party and conference on Mineral Fibres Vienna, Austria IFBWW Wood and Forestry Committee, Geneva IFBWW Building Committee, Geneva IFBWW Health and Safety working party and Conference on Wood Dust, Vienna, Austria 2001 14 May IFBWW Health and Safety Working Party, Geneva 15 May 16 May IFBWW Wood and Forestry Committee, Geneva IFBWW Building Committee, Geneva Hans Raes from Belgium chaired the IFBWW Building Committee and Marion F. Hellmann, IFBWW Geneva, served as Secretary. The IFBWW Building Committee meetings have dealt with a variety of issues. Specifically: Provided information to affiliated organisations on the impact of globalisation; new technology and new labour organisation in the building industry. Developed campaigns for minimum labour standards in public and private contracts by implementing ILO Convention No. 94( Labour Clauses in Public Contracts). Promoted its industrial policy in international organisations and international financial organisations. Monitored the implementation of the IFBWW global programme on Labour Clauses. Visited the United States in co- operation with the IFBWW affiliate, the Building and Building Material Workers Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters( IBT) from 15th to 19th March 1999. The visit focused on new technologies in the construction industry, especially on the introduction of Internet based information technology. The delegation visited the Eastside Water Reservoir Project, a large dam project and water storage reservoir near Hemet in South California to supply water for the 16 million population in the Los Angeles area. 30 1998- 2001 H H Gisbert Schlemmer from Germany chaired the IFBWW Wood and Forestry Committee and Marion F: Hellmann, IFBWW Geneva, served as Secretary. The Committee focussed on: development and promotion of the social labelling of timber from sustainably managed forests review and promotion of its industrial policy in international organisations such as the International Labour Organisation( ILO), United Nations Organisation for Food and Agriculture( FAO), International Tropical Timber Organisation( ITTO), the World Trade Organisation( WTO) and international financial organisations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund( IMF) and other non governmental organisations monitoring implementation of the IFBWW Global Forestry Programme a visit to the LIGNA in Hannover, the biggest fair on wood processing technologies. The German Wood Workers Union GHK, made this visit possible. The IFBWW Health and Safety Working Party was chaired by Anton Korntheuer from Austria. Secretary of the working party was Marion F. Hellmann, IFBWW Geneva. The IFBWW working party on health and safety continued its work after the 20th IFBWW Congress in order to put more emphasis on the implementation of the IFBWW health and safety action programme in the regions. The working party carried out widely respected conferences on wood dust and mineral fibres. The working party was involved in the preparation of the ILO expert meeting on health and safety in forest work and also monitored the Global Health and Safety Programme. IN 31 32 Report on Activities Health and Safety in Forestry In 1997 IFBWW participated in the development and adoption by ILO of a Code of Conduct for Health and Safety in Forest Work. The IFBWW is also campaigning to ensure effective implementation of the ILO code of practice for health and safety in forest work at the national level. Through our Global Forestry Programme the IFBWW helped to implement this code; efforts focused on development and implementation of national codes based on the ILO code. Health and safety training seminars were carried out in South Africa ( SAAPAWU, SAWU, PPAWU), Zimbabwe( ZFTATU and GAPWUZ), Brazil( FNTICM) and Chile( CTF). Manufactured Mineral Fibres The IFBWW, the Austrian General Accident Insurance Agency( AUVA) and the trade union Gewerkschaft Bau- Holz( GBH) held an International Expert Meeting on Synthetic Mineral Fibres from 9-11 June 1999 in Vienna. The meeting was attended by more than 50 participants from Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Malaysia, Mauritius, Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Russia, Sweden and the United States. Also represented were the European and Nordic Federation of Building and Wood Workers( EFBWW and NBTF respectively), the International Federation of Chemical, Energy and Mine Workers' Unions ( ICEM), the International Labour Office( ILO) and the European Trade Union Technical Bureau( TUTB). The participants discussed new national experiences and scientific studies in the field of manufacturing and using synthetic mineral fibres as well as the planned ILO Code of Practice( COP) in the use of insulation wool. In 2000 the IFBWW participated in the development and adoption by ILO of the CoP on safety in the use of synthetic vitreous fibre insulation wools( glass wool, rock wool, slag wool), providing practical control measures to minimise occupational exposure. Wood Dust The( IFBWW, the Austrian Workers' Compensation Board( AUVA) and the Building and Wood Workers' Trade Union( GBH) held an experts' conference on wood dust from 19 to 21 June 2000 in Brunn am Gebirge. There were some 100 participants including representatives of trade unions, employers, research institutions, international organisations and governments, as well as scientists from Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Romania, Slovak Republic, Sweden and Switzerland. Also represented were the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers( EFBWW) and the Nordic Federation of Building and Wood Workers( NFBWW), and the International Labour Organisation ( ILO). Participants discussed the hazards of wood dust and good preventive measures to avoid ill health. 1998-2001 10 International Workers Memorial Day In 1999, 2000 and 2001 the IFBWW asked its affiliates to carry out activities around the Workers Memorial Day, which takes place on and around 28 April. This is a day to remember workers killed and injured on the job, and to renew the fight for safe workplaces. The IFBWW published campaign material, and affiliates organised local and national events. Asbestos The IFBWW Congress in December 1989 called for a worldwide prohibition of all types of asbestos, and we continue to lobby for a ban. The IFBWW took the initiative in the ICFTU/ ITS/ TUAC working party meeting on health, safety and environment,( October 1999) and encouraged the trade union movement to work for a worldwide asbestos ban. This trade union health and safety experts advisory group recommended to the ICFTU Executive Board in Seattle to support a worldwide ban of the uses and commercialisation of asbestos. The trade union body supported the ban and within that FIGHT FOR THE LIVING! context, a high level meeting of trade unions took place with the Directors General of the ILO and the WHO as a means of promoting an effective campaign for a total ban on asbestos. In September 2000, the IFBWW sent a delegation to the Global Asbestos Congress held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where trade unionists from around the world drew up a statement calling for a global campaign to ban asbestos and to protect workers exposed to asbestos which is already in place in buildings everywhere. ILO Convention 167 The Convention on Safety and health in Construction, 1988( No. 167) has been adopted by the ILO along with the accompanying Recommendation( no.175). These two documents set out the general duties for those countries wishing to set the latest standards for health and safety in construction. They are also the basis for the ILO Code of Practice and Health in Construction drawn up in 1991. However the ratification record of this convention is very poor. The IFBWW provided a workshop for the Chinese building workers trade union CBMWU relevant training and information on occupational health and safety and Convention 167. The Chinese Government is in the process of ratifying ILO Convention 167. The IFBWW in co- operation with FES carried out a National Occupational Health and Safety Seminar 5th to 7th May 1999 in Beijing targeting about 25 participants from CBMWU provincial unions and unions of big construction companies. 33 Report on Activities H Research In order to develop modern services and provide the information needed to confront governments and employers in a changing world, the IFBWW continued its research services. Beside specific information research requests from affiliates the following research papers and publications have been produced in the report period: Skanska- from a conglomerate to a focussed building services Key forestry definitions for trade unions( E) group( E, F, SP, G, SW) Construction and Wood Multinational Groups in the Face of Globalisation. An IFBWW study. ( E, G, SW) ✰ HOCHTIEF AG. From a construction group to a service provider- the IFBWW study( E, G) The Development of Codes of Conduct with Multinational Enterprises( E, F, SP) The ILO and International Labour Standards( E, F, SP) The International Monetary Fund and World Bank( E, F, SP) Labour Clauses( E, F, SP) SKANSKA From a conglomerate to a focussed building services group An IFBWW study 34 34 IBBH IFBWW. FITBB IBTU -FITCM Forest Certification for Trade Unions( E, F, SP) Industrial Policy Overview( E, F, SP) Social Standards for Forest Workers in Forest Certification: The Application of International Labour Organisation( ILO) Conventions( Available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German) What is work like for women in forestry?( English, French, Spanish) Forest Certification for Trade Unions.( English, French, Spanish) 1998- 2001 2.4. Trade union development Education and project activity should be seen as an integrated part of the long- term development strategy of the IFBWW. Project activities have always represented a very important part of IFBWW work. Strengthening trade unions through education programmes Historically, projects focused on education; during recent years however, the spectrum has broadened and education has become one element amongst a range of activities. Furthermore, the type of projects implemented by IFBWW has changed; projects focussing on one country/ affiliate are increasingly replaced by global projects with an issue- oriented approach. In this context, IFBWW project activities are becoming increasingly politically important as a means of developing and implementing industrial policies. IFBWW allocates significant human and financial resources to project activities. The IFBWW is currently facing a period of budget and staffing cuts, whilst donors are increasingly unable to accept the inclusion of administrative costs within the project budgets: in this climate it is necessary to define clear political priorities for the use of resources. During 1999, IFBWW project activities in all regions were adversely affected by the developments in the Harare office; one donor for example temporarily stopped the transfer of all project funds. The Secretariat took immediate action in response to the problems in Africa, and imposed new and very strict financial and administrative guidelines for all project activities. This action has been appreciated by all donors and has helped to restore confidence in the IFBWW ability to implement and administer project activities in a financially responsible manner. Financing The financing of project activities relies upon the support of a small number of institutional donors. In this congress period about 90% of all project funds come from three donors( LO/ TCO, Sweden, FNV, Netherlands and LO/ FTF, Denmark). These donors are financed via governmental aid programs for developing countries; there are no signs that funds available should decrease, in Sweden an increase is expected as the Government tries to get back on track to reach the 1% of GDP target. on three principal Despite the firm support of these donors, the IFBWW is aware that relying donors is neither financially or politically the optimal solution. IFBWW also receives assistance from some affiliates: principally the northern European affiliates( Nordic countries, Netherlands and Germany). This kind of assistance is extremely important as it allows IFBWW to support affiliates in countries where no governmental money is available. It also enables the IFBWW to implement small- scale activities in countries that have not previously received support such as in the Arab and Central Asian regions. Such' pilot' activities often lead to the development of projects sponsored by the institutional donors. 35 SKANSK Report on Activities It is essential for the IFBWW to secure the involvement of affiliates from donor countries in our activities. During this congress period there has been a good level of participation by donors in project activities and evaluations. The Secretariat attempts to keep affiliates in donor countries informed of all major events in the relevant projects: the concept of Project Advisory Committees linked to all major projects is also promoted. The IFBWW receives financial support from FES, Germany for the organisation of a number of very important activities. These funds are administrated by FES and do therefore not appear in the IFBWW accounts. Distribution of funds 40-50% of all project funds is allocated to the Asia Pacific region, and about 20% to Latin America. Due to the problems in the African Regional Office the majority of project activities were not implemented in 1999. In 2000 Africa received some 12% of the funds available to IFBWW. The regional distribution of funds is partly based on the priorities of the governments' in the donor countries. The funds available for Asia Pacific are just about sufficient to meet the current needs For Latin America it should be possible to raise more funds, since the limitation has been the lack of capacity to secure the implementation of more projects. The distribution of project funds to the African region partly depends on rebuilding the confidence in our ability to implement the projects. 36 1998-2001 og The funds have been distributed on a regional basis as shown: Region Africa 1997 America/ Caribbeans 1 239 666 563 058 Asia/ Pacific 1 439 717 1998 1441 132 525 584 1 705 300 1999 816030 2000 642 183 2001 245 750 Total % 4 384 761 20,0% 666 925 966 975 732 450 3 454 992 15,7% 1 671 500 Balk/ Cauc/ C- Asia/ Eur 16 000 152 212 12 600 Global 401 300 436 575 393 000 Middle East/ Arab 44 000 3 703 741 26 466 188 626 4 287 269 3 748 681 2 201 887 392 841 512 074 356 300 5 072 260 2 377 490 9 395 894 42,8% 476 750 1 050 403 4,8% 1097 621 2 840 570 12,9% 220 300 835 692 3,8% 5 150 361 21 962 312 100,0% The table below shows the list of donors over the 5- year period: Donor Affiliates BAT Kartellet 1997 37 773 115 000 1998 171 799 1999 96 300 2000 286 460 75 374 60 500 57 720 2001 107 400 60 000 Total % 699 732 3,2% 368 594 1,7% FNV 1 078 221 1 317 771 ILO 69 000 40 000 LO- FTF 926 130 702 425 LO- N 188 000 137 000 LO- TCO 1 086 515 NBTF SASK Total 60 000 143 102 3 703 741 1 449 578 140 773 252 549 4 287 269 1 163 851 46 000 894 000 90 730 1 069 800 70 500 257 000 3 748 681 1 264 748 1 543 750 6 368 341 29,0% 0 0 155 000 0,7% 868 300 89 900 2013 644 229 795 261 693 5 072 260 893 150 32 471 2 141 850 100 000 271 740 5 150 361 4 284 005 19,5% 538 101 2,5% 7761 387 35,3% 601 068 2,7% 1 186 084 5,4% 21 962 312 100,0% Traditionally IFBWW education activities have been based upon the model of national programs or projects with individual affiliates. Increasing demands for improved quality and performance from both donors and IFBWW, have created a need for new project strategies. Projects are now developed at three levels, Global, Regional/ Sub- regional and national/ individual affiliates. The global programs make a tangible contribution to the overall work of the IFBWW, and the policy decision to develop issue- oriented global programs appears justified. The Secretariat has tried to develop interaction between the global projects and the regional and national project activities. The global programs, in particular the Labour Clause program and the Global Wood & Forestry program, have played an important role in the development of IFBWW policies. The political profile of the IFBWW has been notably improved thanks to these projects. Global Health and Safety Programme Launched in May 2000 with the appointment of a health, safety and environment co- ordinator in the Geneva Secretariat, the Global Programme aims to assist affiliates with development work in this very important area of trade union activity. IFBWW organised a number of successful health and safety seminars, at national, sub regional and regional level, to assist our affiliates with improvements in structure, policy and strategy on occupational health, safety and the environment. The programme has added new staff in Asia and Latin America to undertake field level projects. The project is funded by LO/ TCO Sweden. 37 Report on Activities The Global projects have also contributed to capacity development in the secretariat and the regional structures as well as in receiving organisations; this has a natural spin- off effect and indirectly supports the functioning of the organisation as a whole. The IFBWW is careful not to make the general structures of the organisation dependent on the global projects. Global Wood and Forestry Programme In 1997 the IFBWW secured funds from the FNV and established the Global Forestry Programme. The goals of this programme were to ensure that union concerns on global forestry issues are incorporated into international initiatives, to initiate and develop national union programmes, and to improve working conditions. The Global Wood and Forestry Programme was renewed for a further two years starting July 2000. Since this time, the programme has added new staff in Asia, Africa and Latin America to undertake field level projects. Major activities have included OHS training in Chile and Zimbabwe; community forestry projects in Peru, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Kenya; women in forestry programmes and national and international forestry certification. The development of larger Sub- regional projects has proved to be a positive policy decision. Receiving organisations are relieved of the heavy burden of project administration and are more able to concentrate on implementing the project and undertake the necessary follow- up. In the longer term this should improve project quality and produce more measurable results. The IFBWW also benefits from the presence of Sub- Regional Co- ordinators, who are able to represent the organisation in a variety of ways. The structure of Sub- Regional project co- ordinators is based on project funding and must therefore be seen as temporary, existing only for the time frame of the project. Support programme for Arab region As a result of current developments in the Arab region, IFBWW decided to start a systematic support program for trade unions in the building and wood sector in the Arab countries. The situation concerning trade union rights and freedom is difficult in the Arab countries. Problems of disrespect of trade union rights, disregard of ILO standards, reliance on governments or political parties, fragmentation and superficial democracy is not uncommon in several Arab countries such as Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon or Yemen. The need to solve the migrant workers problems in the Arab countries( especially in Kuwait and Jordan) is also urgent. The project started in July 1999 and will continue till June 2002 in five Arab countries namely Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Yemen. The project office is based in Beirut. The project will benefit trade unions in the building and wood sector in the Arab Countries. The project is funded by the Dutch FNV. 38 1998-2001 The IFBWW has also continued to develop projects with individual affiliates or groups of affiliates on a national basis. These projects are necessary in countries with specific problems or where there are no natural sub- regional partners. A general problem for the implementation of this type of projects is the lack of capacity in the implementing unions. This problem has been discussed with the donors and there is a growing understanding that the necessary capacity has to be made available before starting up the implementation of projects. However, experience has shown that, when the capacity is available, as in Ghana and Philippines, very good results can be achieved with the support of such projects. Every project activity should be seen as a small stone in the road to reach the goals set up in the IFBWW Action Program. Project activities undertaken in this congress period have generally been successful and have helped to develop union awareness of the international aspects of the struggles they face at local level. It must be understood however that many unions have to focus on fundamental issues such as the payment of wages, and this often leaves them with little energy to deal with issues of a global character. IFBWW projects have therefore to be designed in a manner that meets the immediate needs of the union without losing the long term and global perspective. The global issue orientated projects have probably become the most important tool for policy development in the IFBWW. The reports on these projects demonstrate the extent to which IFBWW policies have been developed in a relatively short period of time. Here it is very important that to note that the global projects report to the industrial committees thus ensuring that political discussion takes place. 39 Report on Activities Every year more than 100 affiliates directly benefit from project activities. Affiliates have shown commitment to the project and are making serious attempts to develop self- reliance. In a few cases the affiliates did not perform as expected and the projects were not successfully implemented. By developing union capacity and supporting organising campaigns the IFBWW has been able to bring many affiliates towards a level where they will be able to develop their organisations without further external assistance. However, building up capacity is expensive and demands a high level of investment in human resources. The Secretariat encourages affiliates to design the projects themselves with the necessary support from regional education staff. This process is seen as a very important part of building self- reliance and political capacity in the partner organisations. Organising is also an important element in the project activities. In some projects where figures are available( Francophone Africa and Philippines) the increase in membership is significant. The deregulation of labour markets has moved a large part of the potential membership from the formal to the informal sector. Organising strategies have to take this in to account; but while focusing on the informal sector, the formal and often more accessible formal sector should not be neglected. Some officers/ members who have been trained and have developed skills under our programs have been lost because they have left the union for better paid jobs, often in the private sector. This cannot be prevented, but a better recruiting process could improve the situation. There is increasing awareness of the need for unions to cooperate at international and crosssectoral levels. Moves towards this kind of co- operation are being made through the ICFTU Project Committee and some ITS's are co- operating on project activities. In the IFBWW Global projects there is good co- operation with other ITS's and fraternal organisations. In national and subregional project activities co- operation could be improved. At the end of 1999 the major donor organisations( LO/ TCO, Sweden; FNV, Netherlands; LO/ FTF, Denmark and SASK, Finland) agreed on a set of guidelines for the design, implementation and administration of projects. These guidelines demand a stronger focus on performance and quality. The Secretariat decided to implement these guidelines for all projects from 1st May 2000. This provides a more uniform approach to the administration of the projects, and introduces the' Logical Framework Approach'( LFA) at all levels of project administration and implementation. The Secretariat sees the new guidelines not as bureaucratic burden, but as tool to improve the quality of our projects. Way forward The quality of projects needs to be improved on all levels. The donors and our affiliates are investing a lot of money in the projects and they want to see results. Continued project support should be determined by union performance, and only those organisations committed to using project assistance to achieve long term self- reliance should benefit from continued project support. 40 1998-2001осая Towards this end, the IFBWW projects have aimed to establish relevant and modern structures, which will provide the unions with the capacity to address and overcome the new challenges and problems. This is to be achieved through projects, which help to: enhance the leadership, administrative and organisational capacity of the unions; increase youth and women participation in trade union activities at all levels; increase trade union co- operation and solidarity at the national, regional and international levels; and improve public perception of the positive role and continued relevance of the trade union movement in modern society. In this respect, the IFBWW has implemented projects which foster knowledge and awareness of issues such as OHS, the ILO Conventions, framework agreements, forest certification, labour clause and information technology, while maintaining a focus on such traditional issues as trade union administration and finance, organising and recruitment, grievance handling and collective bargaining. To ensure that these projects are truly appropriate and relevant to the specific needs and problems of each union, the IFBWW have designed and developed the projects through a joint and participatory approach with the unions. For projects, which have achieved little, the IFBWW has identified key problems including: H lack of commitment by unions towards the project; non- compliance of unions with regard to the project implementation, reporting and accounting guidelines and procedures; and weakness in project design and management. The IFBWW have set in place monitoring and evaluation systems which help to identify problems that impede the progress of projects and allow the IFBWW to work with affiliates to find ways to deal with these problems promptly. This will help to ensure that the increasingly limited funds for projects are not wasted. The IFBWW have also realised the importance of having capable local project co- ordinators to ensure the overall success of the projects. 41 Report on Activities 2.5. Assisting special target groups Since several years, the IFBWW has been giving increasing importance to address the needs and priorities of women workers, child labour and young workers in the construction, wood and forestry sectors. Promoting women's rights IFBWW has continued to consolidate its efforts to improve women's representation in our sectors. Since 1997, IFBWW has made various strides to protect and advance the interests of the women who make up almost 20% of our membership worldwide. Affiliates are working to adopt at their own congresses the IFBWW Resolution on a Bargaining Agenda for Equality and the IFBWW Charter on Affirmative Action as an ongoing process. Considerable efforts have been and continue to be made to publicise the Bargaining Agenda, so that affiliates can adopt it at their own decisionmaking fora. In Africa, Asia- Pacific and Latin America, posters and leaflets have been made highlighting the main issues stated in the Resolution. Action Programme for Equality 1997-2001 ( adopted in Harare in September 1997) Encourage all affiliates to adopt at their own congress the IFBWW Resolution on a Bargaining Agenda for Equality and the IFBWW Charter on Affirmative Action; Encourage all affiliates to establish women's committees, which will be mandated to address the issues of concern realised in the IFBWW Congress resolution; Establish regional sub- committees of women and international women's committee; ◆ Encourage affiliates with substantial female membership to carry our local training course and activities for women members; Hold a series of regional gender awareness training workshops for IFBWW regional staff and national education officers and women's officers, followed by national gender awareness training workshops in selected countries where affiliates have substantial female membership; Run a series of pilot projects on organising women in the informal sector and the provision of income- generating programmes for women workers and services such as crèches and community centres; Carry out research programmes on working conditions in selected countries followed by an international campaign on the 8th of March each year which include the production of education and information materials; Hold a series of regional evaluation workshops and international women's conference prior to the next IFBWW World Congress. 42 1998- 2001 Regional Women's Committees( RWC) have been formed in the Africa, Asia- Pacific and Latin America regions. Women's committees have also been formed at national and workplace levels. These committees are responsible for mobilising and motivating women to participate in trade unions while also lobbying the union leadership to create conducive environments for women. In 1998, the IFBWW Executive Committee established the International Women's Committee ( IWC), and accepted to have its chair represented in the entire organisation's other statutory bodies. The same treatment applies at the regional level where the Chair of the Regional Women's Committee is automatically a member on the regional bodies. The IWC and RWCs currently meet at least once a year to assess progress and advise the organisation on the way forward. SEMINARIO TALLER DE CAPACITACION PARA MUJERES SOBRE DERECHOS HUMANOS, SINDICALES FCM AY 200 In Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America/ Caribbean, regional gender training workshops have been held for IFBWW regional staff and education and women's officers from project unions. Many national gender awareness- training workshops have also been held during the same period in all three regions. Awareness raising has also been initiated by affiliates in their own national down to shopfloor levels. In Latin America and the Caribbean, activities have mainly been implemented under the Trade Union and Human Rights Programme, which involved a subprogramme for women. The purpose has been to assist women to define their demands and needs and propose strategies to increase their representation at the union level. 43 Report on Activities Asia has had a very rewarding project aimed at organising women with a special emphasis on the informal sector while also carrying out programmes against child labour. In Africa, some affiliates are already organising the informal sector and support has been given where possible. Asia has also been able to set up crèches for women in India and has developed child labour schools. In time, it is expected that Africa will also follow on the experience of the Asia Pacific region where child labour schools are being used in India as a way of organising women in the industry. Research on women's working conditions in construction, wood and forestry has been carried out in some countries including Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe, in Africa, Indonesia, Thailand and India in Asia and also Brazil in Latin America. Through verbal and written interaction, information has been gathered on the situation of women in our sectors. This information is now being used to target issues of most concern. Having assessed progress against the 1997- 2001 programme, it is obvious that while much has been achieved over the last years there is still a long way to go. We can be proud of the improvements we have made in the lives of working women and we need to use this as a base to move forward with future activities. The Global Women's Project has made it possible for the women of the Asian region to address issues such as Bargaining for Equality, Sexual Harassment and Discrimination against women through education programmes. This has successfully resulted in the formulation, endorsement and adoption of policies. IFBWW Regional policy and Guidelines for the participation of women Strategies to recruit women in the informal sector to be used as a document in the World Congress in Copenhagen in 2001 ✰ The Policy of Sexual Harassment has been adopted and being distributed at all activities in the Asian Pacific Region Under the Global Women's Project, 2 creches have been set up in Chennai( India) by 2 of our construction affiliates in Tamil Nadu- TMKTS and AIKTMS. These creches have been set up for working mothers in the construction industry and have become a focal point in organising women workers in these areas. These creches are in full operation and house 105 children in total- the first creche has 50 children, 32 girls and 18 boys and the second creche has 55 children, 30 boys and 25 girls. The age range is between 2-4 years. The operational hours are from 8 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. The creche has been an excellent tool to organising women construction workers in Tamil Nadu. 44 1998-2001 09 Combating Child Labour From charcoal mines in Brazil to brick kilns in India, millions of children are deprived of their most important formative years. The onset of globalisation with its attraction of making vast sums of money in the short- term is a magnet for business concerns worldwide. The result is that unscrupulous company owners and employers use the cheapest form of labour available and cut production costs wherever possible, even at the risk of endangering the lives of workers. Trade unions have to be aware of the extent and forms of the problem of child labour. The commercial interests involved are such that any campaign requires the total support of governments and the financial institutions, the International Monetary Fund( IMF) and the World Bank. Any solution lies in actions that can be undertaken to alleviate world poverty and provide a more equitable distribution of the benefits of world trade. The IFBWW campaign is closely linked with its work on establishing a social dimension to globalisation. The international labour movement cannot be faint- hearted when the stakes are so high. The IFBWW has a strong commitment to the total elimination of child labour. The IFBWW and our affiliates in India at the 20th Congress of IFBWW in December 1997 at Harare passed a resolution to firmly commit themselves wholeheartedly to work towards combating child labour. As an affirmative action, IFBWW took upon them to initiate this from the IFBWW industries itself- where child labour is very prevalent in the Brickilns, construction, stone breaking and quarries. In 1995 the ILO- IPEC had initiated a one- year project in India to establish child labour schools making this a tool to take the children away from work into schools. This project was only funded for 1 year. GLOBAL MARCH LOJAL AGAINST CHILD LABOUR PHILIPPI LOBAL MACH MARCH AGAIST AGAINST CHILD LABOUR CHID LABUR PINES PHILIPES GLOBAL MARCH Asainst Child Lab PHILIP Following this in 1997, IFBWW was fortunate to receive support from Bat Kartel to continue the ILOIPEC project on Child Labour Campaign and Schooling for the next 6 years. This was a great opportunity, which enabled IFBWW to set up 3 schools with 2 of its affiliates in Punjab and Agra. 1 school was set up in Punjab and 2 were set up in Agra. In the same year IFBWW received a further support for another project funded by CFMEU Australia to set up 3 more schools. These 3 schools were set up in Agra, Punjab and Bihar. The schools in Bihar are the only residential school. In 1998, another pilot project was approved by FNV to set up 9 more schools. However, this was only in the Brick Kiln Industries. Thus 3 schools were set up in Punjab, 3 in Uttar Pradesh and 3 in Bihar. Presently the IFBWW operates a total of 15 schools with 3 of their affiliates i.e. Uttar Pradesh Gramin Kissan Mazdoor( UPGKMS) in Uttar Pradesh, Bhata Mazdoor Sabha, and( BMS) Punjab and Hind khet Mazdoor Panchayat( HKMP) Bihar. These schools provide education to a total of 1,294 children( 810 males and 484 females). 45 Report on Activities Organising Young Workers The IFBWW and affiliated organisations intensified efforts to organise activities for young workers. To encourage young people to join trade unions the development of youth programmes, which take into account the age and need of young workers, is essential. A number of young delegates who were present at the Strategic Planning workshop in Manila in September 2000 decided to establish a youth committee for Asia/ Pacific. They named this committee" IFBWW youth.com" The establishment of this youth committee was endorsed by the Regional Committee, and subsequently adopted by the Management Committee in November 2000. The three- member committee will now work with the regional office in Kuala Lumpur: to integrate issues concerning youth into trade union education to come up with creative ways to organise young workers conduct youth awareness programs at national, regional and international levels The youth work is the roller coaster of almost all IFBWW affiliates. Sometimes it goes fast sometimes slow. A lot of efforts are made and huge resource allocated and sometimes we get very good results. 46 C 1998-2001 10097 2.6. Information services - FaxNews and its successor, IFBWW News-have been the main media to disseminate the news about activities of the IFBWW and its affiliates. Almost 70 issues of FaxNews have been published between October 1997 and December 2000. Altogether some 500-600 news items have been produced. The FaxNews has carried reports on trade union and human rights violations and about action taken by the IFBWW and the international trade union movement to defend the workers involved. FaxNews has been made available to affiliates, donors, friendly organisations and members of the international trade union movement. Since July 1999, FaxNews has been translated on a regular basis by the IFBWW Latin America Regional Office into Spanish. Recently, FaxNews has been translated into Arabic and French. Since the beginning of 2001, FaxNews has been replaced by IFBWW News with the corresponding change of editor. Another format used to disseminate IFBWW single news items has been Press Release. That publication has been produced about 10 times in the reporting period. It presented to a wider readership with a more comprehensive description of a particular event or development in the IFBWW sectors. The IFBWW web site became operational in the spring of 1997. During the 20th Congress it was already updated daily with news and documents from the Congress. An extensive cyber campaign to popularise the IFBWW web site was carried out after putting the site online. In order to improve services to affiliates, the IFBWW is currently working on a new interactive website. - Meeting the obligations from the IFBWW statutes, the IFBWW information services have continued to focus on the defence of trade union and other human rights in the reporting period. The IFBWW has been defending workers through Urgent Action appeals— issued when a major violation of rights occurs and Solidarity Appeals- issued in support of affiliates which are involved in a dispute, which has been difficult to solve at national level. Appeals have been immediately posted at the IFBWW web site and, in the last year, links to the Actions and Appeals have been posted at the Global- Union and Labour Start websites making the cases of violation of trade union rights known to a much larger number of people. The ,, building and wood" bulletin ceased to be produced by the end of 1998. High production cost, and growing popularity of electronic publishing was behind the decision to suspend the publication. It's content has been continued by the means of FaxNews and Web publishing. In January 2001, the IFBWW started the IT Project" Bridging the Digital Gap. Providing Information and Communications Technology to the trade union movement in developing countries". The project is planned to last 2 years in its pilot phase and 5 years in its global phase. The project is being financed by LO- TCO, Sweden. 47 3. IFBWW structure, finances and offices Report on Activities Membership to the IFBWW is open to all free and democratic trade unions in the building, wood, forestry and allied sectors, which are willing to abide by the IFBWW statutes. New rules for our regional structures have increased participation of unions, and the influence of the regions within IFBWW. The unions from developing countries now have a stronger voice. The IFBWW Executive Committee and Management Committee have also been expanded to achieve this, and to enable the many new affiliates to be properly represented. IFBWW's supreme authority is the Congress, which meets once every four years and is attended by delegates of affiliated organisations. Congress is the main policy- making body and sets the priorities and action programmes for the organisation for the subsequent four- year period. The last Congress, the 20th, was held in Harare Zimbabwe in September 1997. One of the key roles of Congress is to elect the Executive Committee, which governs the organisation in between Congresses, enacts policies and oversees the implementation of action programmes. Members are elected from affiliates on a regional basis to ensure that all parts of the world are represented. The Executive Committee meets at least once a year. A Management Committee is appointed by the Executive Committee and fulfils an administrative role in terms of the organisation's regular activities and financial management. In terms of financing, IFBWW receives its income through annual affiliation fees from affiliated organisations. 48 Statutory meetings during the Congress period: Executive Committee Meetings Presidium meetings 28-29 May 1998 Geneva 21 January 2000 Berlin 20- 21 May 1999 Geneva 5 October 2000 - 25 26 May 2000 Geneva 29 March 2001 Amsterdam Berlin 3rd September 2001 Management Committee Meetings Copenhagen Auditors Committee Meetings 26-27 March 1998 Geneva 27 May 1998 Geneva 26 March 1999 Geneva 19 November 1998 Geneva 13 April 2000 Geneva 19 May 1999 Geneva 19-20 April 2001 Geneva 21 October 1999 Berlin 24 May 2000 Geneva 2-3 November 2000 Geneva 17-18 May 2001 Geneva 3rd September 2001 Copenhagen 1998-2001 H Regional structures are established for each of the four regions: Africa, Asian and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe. These structures safeguard the interests of the IFBWW and its affiliates and enact policy decisions in the regions. The Asia/ Pacific offices currently service 88 affiliates in 24 countries in the region with a total membership of some 2 million members. Over the last four years, the number of affiliates has increased. However, the payment of affiliation fees has not increased correspondingly and in fact, the amount has actually reduced. The 6th Regional IFBWW Conference Asia/ Pacific took place in Agra, India on 29 and 30 October 1999. 125 delegates representing 74 affiliates from 18 countries attended this conference. This conference was the most representative of all the regional conferences so far. The conference elected a ten- member Regional Committee with 10 first substitutes and 10 second substitutes. The Regional Conference adopted the recommendations of the Regional Women's Seminar and the Women's Committee. The 20th Regional Committee meeting took place at the Federal Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on the 3 and 4 December 1998. The 21st Regional Committee meeting took place at the Clarks Shiraz Hotel in Agra, India on 28 October 1999. The 22nd Regional Committee meeting took place at the Holiday Inn, Manila, the Philippines. years, the Even though the IFBWW has continued to enjoy membership growth in the last four Africa Region has experienced a decline in financial membership. During the 1997 world congress the Africa Region had a membership of 700 000 in 55 unions in 34 countries. In the past four years the membership has risen to 757,871 in 68 affiliates in 37 countries, while the financial membership as of December 2000 went down to 73,449. This has been caused by the effects of structural adjustment programmes, which are now visible as thousands of union members lost employment in the formal sector, a factor that also affected trade unions financial position. In the period under review many unions have been experiencing financial constraints and there has been a remarkable increase in the number of unions not able to pay affiliation fees and are applying for exemptions. The AFRECO conference and other related meetings were held in Nairobi, Kenya, from the 18th to 25th August 2000. The Africa Regional committee meeting was asked to look at issues affecting trade unions in the Africa region and to plan and make inputs to the IFBWW's 21st congress to be held in September 2001. Structural changes in the IFBWW industries in Europe have had effects also on the union structures. The privatisation of the industries is now coming to an end, this has been a very painful process, and thousands of people have lost their jobs and the social and job security offered by the public companies. In the former socialist countries the big state owned companies have been split up into 49 Friedrich Eber Bonn bumuns Bibliothak Report on Activities many smaller, private units. Most of the unions were late in adjusting their structures to fit to the new reality. In Western Europe where the IFBWW sectors have been characterised by thousands of small companies with 5 to 15 employees the opposite trends can be observed. In their search for maximising their profits MNC's now bid for small contracts, killing off the small and, locally based companies. Unions have been merging at national level because of structural changes and because of decreasing membership. The public image of trade unions has changed and become more negative. In many Western European countries members earlier joined unions almost automatically. This has now changed and the unions have to organise again in an often- hostile environment. The IFBWW decided to set up a regional structure for Europe to be able to meet the new challenges. The first European Regional Conference was held in Prague, Czech Republic, 22 to 24 March 1998. 120 participants representing almost all affiliates in the European region attended the conference. A resolution regarding IFBWW structures and activities for Europe was adopted. It was recommended to establish a 14 member European Committee. The Conference studied the problems of migrant workers in Europe and a survey on the IFBWW trade union development assistance to East and Central Europe was presented. The 1. Meeting of the European Committee took place in Geneva, Switzerland, 18. November 1998. The meeting recommended an Agreement on Co- operation between IFBWW, EFBWW and NFBWW. The 2. Meeting of the European Committee was held in Budapest, Hungary, 27 to 28 September 1999. An analysis on the economical and employment perspectives for the IFBWW industries was presented. The 3. Meeting of the European Committee took place in Zagreb, Croatia, 20 to 21 September 2000. The meeting discussed the IFBWW Strategic Plan 2001-2005 and the draft for new Statutes, for that reason all European affiliates were invited. 80 participants representing 34 affiliates attended the meeting. Over the past four years the IFBWW has had eight new affiliate organisations in Latin America with a total membership of 71,712, from Colombia, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador and Guatemala. Financial participation has been dwindling gradually, given the falling numbers of employed workers, wage earners in permanent occupations and the growing number of workers without work contracts. Although the level of membership in our affiliates is clearly declining, there has been a trend towards more applications for IFBWW affiliation in Latin America as the World Congress draws nearer. For the 1999/2000 period, the IFBWW Regional Representative acted as co- ordinator of the trade secretariats and the ICFTU/ ORIT, a task that was hugely beneficial to the initiative to unite the continent's union movement. The kindred organisations with which the IFBWW maintains ongoing communication based on mutual respect include SUNTRACS in Panama, FTCCP in 50 1998-2001 ogs Peru, SINDICONS, SUTIMAC and SINDICONSTRUCCIÓN in Colombia, SUNCA in Uruguay, CNTC and FETRACOMA in Chile, and SINTRACON in Brazil. The 7th Latin American and the Caribbean Regional Conference took place in Riberao Pires, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 30 and 31 October 1998. 38 participants- 8 women and 30 men- attended the conference. The conference elected a new five- member Women's Regional Committee with 5 substitutes. A new seven- member Regional Committee was elected, too, with 7 substitutes. This Regional Committee includes the 3 regions, that is: South Cone, Andean region and Central America and the Caribbean region. The Conference adopted the IFBWW work plan in Latin America for the period 1998-2001. All vacancies for the IFBWW World Executive Committee were fulfilled. The 21st Regional Committee meeting took place in Riberao Pires, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 29 1998. The 22nd Regional Committee meeting took place in Havana, Cuba, on December 9 1999. The 23rd Regional Committee meeting took place in Antigua, Guatemala, on the 19 and 20 October 2000. IFBWW finances congress period 1997-2000 The funding of the IFBWW Activities and Structure is coming from two components: The Income( Affiliation Fees 90-95%), The Project Funds( 130% of our budget in 2001, 95% in 1997 and 50% in 1994). The total income, around CHF 3'920'000, is static since 1994. During the period 1997-2000 the IFBWW lost about 190'000 paying members. However this reduction did not affect the total amount of money because the fee per member increased from CHF 1.75 to CHF 1.90. Although the paying members diminished, the IFBWW continued to increase his services to the affiliates between 1994 and 2001( in CHF per paying member from CHF 2.61 to CHF 4.54) by developing more projects and activities. This external source of funding almost tripled between 1994 and 2001( from CHF 1'978'715 to CHF 5'150'361, while the ordinary budget and staff remain stable). During the congress period 1997-2000, the IFBWW fortune decreased by around CHF 435'000. This can be explained by the fraud in Harare in 1999, the rebuilding of the African region and the implementation of new measures of control in 1999/2000. Meantime, the International Solidarity Reserve increased by around CHF 550'000, maintaining the total Fortune& Reserves at the same level( in month+/- 6 months of expenditure). 51 What improved since last congress period? In 1997/1998 we introduced: Report on Activities the activity- based accounting system. This method allowed us to highlight, for example, that the IFBWW is contributing each year CHF 850'000-990'000 to projects& activities; a new presentation of the expenditure: brut costs, contributions and net costs, result before reserves, solidarity account; consolidation of regional offices accounts and head office accounts. In 1999/2000 since the" Harare Crisis" we implemented a set of measures to strengthen the financial control: new financial guidelines for the regional, sub- regional offices and for the administration of projects; new external auditors, KPMG, an international firm was selected for all offices; internal audits were carried out in all offices; collective and General Secretary's signatories added in all IFBWW bank accounts. IFBWW secretariat and offices The General Secretary is the chief executive responsible for carrying out Congress and Executive decisions and for the everyday activities of the IFBWW secretariat. The day- to- day work of the IFBWW is carried out by secretariat staff based in Geneva, Switzerland, and the regional offices. To this effect the regional structure has been strengthened during this congress period Africa Asia IFBWW Headquarters Europe Switzerland Latin America Regional Office Sub- regional offices Zimbabwe Burkina Faso Malaysia Australia, India, Japan Panama Project Offices/ Ghana, Kenya Project staff Philippines, Lebanon, Bulgaria Indonesia, PNG Nb of staff members 13 25 18 8 The General Secretary's team in Geneva is composed of: Sylviane Benoit- Godet, Secretariat and Reception( currently on maternity leave); Jill Bowling, Director of the Global Forestry Programme; Sylviane Decollogny, meetings and office administration, human resources; Rosenell Dubois, printing and posting; Patrick Fonjallaz, Accountant, administration of project finance; Raquel Gonzalez, Secretary for Latin America, Francophone and Lusophone Africa; Marion F. Hellmann, Industrial Relation Secretary; Christian Hilfiker, Junior Accountant and Administrative Assistant( from 1st 52 52 1998-2001 og June 2001); Camila Jelmini, membership administration and translations; Geneviève F. Kalina, Secretary for Human and Trade Union Rights and Information Services; Crecentia Mofokeng, Women's Officer, Secretary for Africa( from 1st June 2001); Fiona Murie, Director of the Global Programme on Occupational Safety and Health; Anita Normark, Assistant General Secretary; Sten Toft Petersen, Secretary for Asia and Europe and Youth Officer; Pradeepa Waduge, Secretariat and Reception; Piotr Zeydler, Director of the Information Technology Project( IT). In Africa a new Regional Representative was appointed in January 2000 to carry out the administration of the office. A meeting of the Africa Regional and Women's Committee was held in March 2000 to discuss, among other things, the reconstitution of educational programmes in the African Region. There are 6 persons in the Harare office: Nhamo Shakie Museve, Regional Representative; Inviolata Chinyangarara, Education Secretary; Toldmore Mafuruse, Office Assistant; Shelter Mudondo, Office Secretary; Virginia Muwanigwa, Gender Co- ordinator; Ivy Nkomo, Accountant; Charity Sacirarwe, Administrative Secretary. The IFBWW also employs Project Co- ordinators: Paul Opanga, Forestry Co- ordinator in Kenya; Charles Osei Ofori, Forestry Co- ordinator based in Ghana; Sarah Sam, Gender Co- ordinator in Ghana. The former IBWW Regional Representative Walter Mugadza suddenly died in Harare on 27 February 2001. Abdou Ouedraogo, Education Co- ordinator, leads the sub- regional Office in Burkina Faso; His two administrative assistants are Kobrek Azara and Amadou Gassembe. The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is situated in Subang Jaya, just outside of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Balan Nair has run the office since 1979. His staff are Harcharan Kaur, Gender Co- ordinator; Chew Chee Keong, Education Secretary; Elena Tan, Administration Officer; Suhaime bin Sulaiman, Regional Accountant; Ambet E. Yuson, Regional Occupational Health and Safety Co- ordinator. IFBWW Sub- Regional and education co- ordinators are: Takeo Ikawa, for East Asia based in Japan, Sarah Fitzpatrick for the Pacific Region based in Australia and B.K. Sood for South Asia, based in India. Moreover, the South Asia office is staffed by: M.A. Gaffar, Education Director; Anitha Nair, SubRegional Accountant; K. Gopal Reddy, Education Co- ordinator; Rajeev Sharma, Child Labour Director; Nathu Singh Neghi, Office Assistant; Anup Srivastava, Child Labour Co- ordinator; J.L. Srivastava, Child Labour Co- ordinator. The IFBWW Philippines Affiliates Project Office( IPAPO) is led by the Co- ordinator Apolinar Tolentino; He is assisted by Cora M. Pullarca, Project Administrator; Carmelita P. La Cumbis, Office Clerk; Johmarose Drilon, Project Assistant. 53 53 54 Report on Activities The IFBWW opened a Middle East Project Office in Beirut, Lebanon staffed by Mustapha Said. The Federation also employs project staff in Indonesia( Rulita Wijayaningdyah), Papua New Guinea( Beatrice Dindillo). IFBWW South East Europe and Central Asia Project Office is located in Sofia, Bulgaria. Boyko Atanassov runs the office with the assistance of Ani Ashminova. The regional office for Latin America is in Panama, under the leadership of Pablo Arosemena. His Education Secretary is Vicente Carrera. The other staff members are: Lucila de Gutiérrez, Regional Accountant; Manuel Jiménez, Office Assistant; Wellington Pereira Carneiro, Occupational Health and Safety Co- ordinator; Raquel de Rodriguez, Administrative Secretary; Damaris Samaniego, Executive Secretary; Marcelina Samaniego, Trade Union and Human Rights Programme Co- ordinator; 1998-2001 IFBWW membership development 1997- 2000 M Affiliation fee per member Total membership Financial membership 1997 13,221,638 2,207,232 CHF 1.70 E 1998 13,401,269 2,133,259 CHF 1.75 1999 11,303,245 2,046,390 CHF 1.80 2000 11,205,286 2,025,811 CHF 1.85 Breakdown by region Total membership Financial membership Europe 1997 9,579,983 1,898,797 1998 9,776,546 1,851,815 1999 7,351,106 1,793,505 2000 7,269,048 1,762,492 Asia/ Pacific 1997 1,750,692 165,786 1998 1,752,686 157,772 1999 2,197,658 151,337 2000 2,200,827 151,801 Africa 1997 687,867 37,603 1998 702,906 31,861 1999 757,631 28,658 GR 2000 757,871 21,877 Latin America 1997 708,996 32,341 1998 710,031 32,702 1999 517,750 33,790 2000 498,440 35,576 North America 1997 494,100 72,706 G1998 459,100 59,108 1999 479,100 39,100 2000 349,100 54,064 55 Report on Activities Management Committee Presidium IFBWW President: Roel De Vries, FNV Bouw, Netherlands IFBWW Deputy President: Klaus Wiesehügel, IG- Bau, Germany IFBWW General Secretary: Ulf Asp, Sweden Vice- Presidents Klaus Wiesehügel, IG- Bau, Germany Wafulla Wa Musamia, KQMWU, Kenya Trevor Smith, CFMEU, Australia Gerardo Martínez, UOCRA, Argentina Larry McDonald, IBT Canada, Canada Members Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Member: 1st Substitute: Gerardo Martínez, UOCRA, Argentina Edison Luiz Bernardes, CONTICOM- CUT José Antonio Di Santo, USIMRA, Argentina Trevor Smith, CFMEU, Australia Rama Chandra Khuntia, INBCFWWF, India Mohd Khalid Atan, KPPPSM, Malaysia Alain Emile, FO, France Francesco Martini, FILLEA- CGIL, Italy 2nd Substitute: Joaquim Martins, SETACCOP, Portugal Member: 1st Substitute: Rudolf Kyncl, DLV, Czech Republic Boris Soshenko, Profesionalnyi Sojuz Rabotnikov Stroitielstva i Promyszlennosti Stroitielnyh Materialov Rossijskoj Federacij, Russian Federation 56 2nd Substitute: vacant Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Wafulla Wa Musamia, Kenya Quarry and Mines Workers' Union, Kenya Baba El Madane Toure, SYNIBABCOM, Mali vacant Ove Bengtsberg, Byggnads, Sweden Arne Johansen, TIB, Denmark Kalevi Vanhala, Puu- ja Erityisalojen Liitto, Finland 1998-2001 1998- 2001 GR Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Member: 1st Substitute: GROUP 2nd Substitute: Vasco Pedrina, SIB, Switzerland Johann Driemer, GBH, Austria vacant Larry McDonald, IBT Canada Rodney Kelty, IAM& AW, United States Dave Haggard, IWA- Canada, Canada Executive Committee GROUP 1: Nordic Countries ( Denmark, Faeroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) a. Member: Ove Bengtsberg, Byggnads, Sweden 1st Substitute: Christina Johansson, SIF, Sweden 2nd Substitute: Hildegunn Brune, NTAF, Norway b. Member: 1st Substitute: Kalevi Vanhala, Puu- ja Erityisalojen Liitto, Finland Finland Pekka Hynönen, Rakennusliitto r.y., 2nd Substitute: Finnbjörn Hermansson, Samidn, Samband Idnfélaga, Iceland c. Member: Arne Johansen, TIB, Denmark 1st Substitute: John Larsen, SID, Denmark 2nd Substitute: GROUP 2: vacant Benelux( Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands) a. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Jean- Claude Humbert, La Centrale Générale, Belgium René Geybels, La Centrale Générale, Belgium Valerio de Matteis, OGB- L, Luxemburg b.Member: Roel de Vries, FNV Bouw, Netherlands 1st Substitute: Loekie Hendriks, FNV Bouw, Netherlands 2nd Substitute: Ben Wilms, FNV Bouw, Netherlands GROUP 3: Germany a. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Klaus Wiesehügel, IG BAU, Germany Ernst- Ludwig Laux, IG BAU, Germany Wilfried Adams, IG BAU, Germany S.QUORD 57 58 58 Manage b.Member 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: c. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: GROUP 4: Irmgard Meyer, IG BAU, Germany Rolf Steinmann, IG BAU, Germany Hans- Joachim Wilms, IG BAU, Germany Gisbert Schlemmer, IG Metall, Germany Wolfgang Rhode, IG Metall, Germany Bert Römer, IG Metall, Germany Austria, Switzerland a. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: b.Member: 1st Substitute: Johann Driemer, GBH, Austria Hubert Wipplinger, GBH, Austria Anton Korntheuer, GBH, Austria Vasco Pedrina, GBI, Switzerland Franz Cahannes, GBI, Switzerland 2nd Substitute: Jean Kunz, SIB, Switzerland GROUP 5: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain a. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: b. Member: Alain Emile, FO, France Joaquim Martins, SETACCOP, Portugal Saturnino Gil, MCA- UGT, Spain Francesco Martini, FILLEA- CGIL, Italy 1st Substitute: Franco Marabottini, FENEAL- UIL, Italy 2nd Substitute: Cesare Regenzi, FILCA- CISL, Italy GROUP 6: Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom a. Member: 1st Substitute: Report on Activities George Brumwell, UCATT, United Kingdom Gerard Fleming, SIPTU, Republic of Ireland 2nd Substitute: Phil Davies, GMB, United Kingdom SQUORD GROUP 7: Cyprus, Israel a. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Andreas Klitou, Cyprus Construction Workers' and Miners' Federation, Cyprus Sammy Cohen, National Federation of Building and Wood Workers, Israel Stelios Tsiapoutis, Cyprus Construction Workers' and Miners' Federation, Cyprus 1998- 2001 1998-2001 GROUP 8: Turkey QUORO a. Member: 1st Substitute: Tevfik Özçelik, YOL- IS Sendikasi, Turkey Tamer Eralan, CIMSE- IS Sendikasi, Turkey 2nd Substitute: Hasan Güceil, ORMAN- IS Sendikasi, Turkey GROUP 9: Northern- Central and Eastern Europe ( Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic) a. Member 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: b. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: GROUP 10: : Dusan Barcík, OZ STAVBA SR, Slovak Republic Mara Tomsone, LCA, Latvia Stipe Kirigin, SGH, Croatia Rudolf Kyncl, DLV, Czech Republic Borislav Majtan, Odborovy zväz Pracovnikov Drevárskeho, Nábytkárskeho, Papierenského Priemyslu, Lesného a Vodného Hospodárstva na, Slovensku, Slovak Republic Franjo Janes, Samostalni Sindikat Drvne i Papirne Industrije Hrvatske, Croatia Southern- Central and Eastern Europe ( Albania, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Romania) a. Member: Vasile Badica, FSLIL, Romania 1st Substitute: Joanis Partheniotis, FCIW- PODKREPA, Bulgaria 2nd Substitute: Oleg Budza, SINDICONS, Republic of Moldova GROUP 11: North America ( Canada, United States of America) AUDAD a. Member: Dave Haggard, IWA- Canada, Canada GRO 1st Substitute: Rodney Kelty, IAM& AW, United States of America 2nd Substitute: vacant b. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Larry McDonald, Teamsters Canada, Canada vacant vacant QUOAD 59 Report on Activities GROUP 12: West and Central Africa QUORD ( Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Republic of Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia) a. Member: vacant GROUP 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: b.Member: 1st Substitute: Joseph T. Gbondo, General Construction Workers' Union, Sierra Leone vacant, PUWU, Ghana Baba El Madane Toure, SYNIBABCOM, Mali Yawovi Komla Amento, SYNBARCOT, Togo 2nd Substitute: Ben Larba Ouedraogo, FNTCS, Burkina Faso GROUP 13: GROU Southern/ East Africa ( Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Republic of Angola, Republic of Seychelles, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe) a. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: b. Member: GROUP 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: GROUP 14: Wafulla Wa Musamia, Kenya Quarry and Mine Workers' Union, Kenya Jeremias Duzenta Timana, SINTICIM, Mozambique vacant, CAWULE, Lesotho Sayed Taha, General Trade Union for Building and Wood Industries Workers, Egypt Valerian B.K.Z. Mutekanga, UBCCECAWU, Uganda Thabo Morale, CAWU, South Africa East Asia ( Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan) GROUP a. Member: Yoshio Suzuki, KENSETSU- RENGO, Japan ORD 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Lin Wu- Tung, ROC CWC, Taiwan GROUP 15: vacant, FKUWU, Korea South East Asia ( Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) a. Member: Mohd Khalid Atan, KPPPSM, Malaysia 1st Substitute: Sofiati Mukadi, DPP FSP Kahuntindo, Indonesia 2nd Substitute: Ibarra Malonzo, NFL, Philippines 60 1998- 2001 GROUP 16: South Asia ( Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) a. Member: Rama Chandra Khuntia, INBCFWWF, India 1st Substitute: Osama Tariq, APFTU, Pakistan 2nd Substitute: M.R. Chowdhury, BBWWF, Bangladesh GROUP 17: Oceania/ South Pacific ( Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea) a. Member: Trevor Smith, CFMEU, Australia 1st Substitute: Chris Northover, CFMEU, Australia 2nd Substitute: Len Wilson- Parr, New Zealand Furniture, Manufacturing and Associated Workers' Union( Canterbury Branch), New Zealand GROUP 18: Andean Countries ( Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela) a.Member: Manuel José Cova Fermin, FETRACONS, Venezuela 1st Substitute: Hugo Dávila, FETIMAAP, Peru 2nd Substitute: Juan Laya, SUNTIMAVEN, Venezuela GROUP 19: Southern Cone ( Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay) a. Member: Gerardo A. Martínez, UOCRA, Argentina 1st Substitute: José Antonio Di Santo, USIMRA, Argentina 2nd Substitute: Jorge González, CTF, Chile b. Member: Edison Luiz Bernardes, CONTICOM- CUT, Brazil 1st Substitute: Pedro A. Gímenez, FETICOMAP, Paraguay 2nd Substitute: José Luis Fernández, UECARA, Argentina GROUP 20: Central America/ Caribbean ( Barbados, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Republic of Panama) a. Member: 1st Substitute: Carlos Salguero, SINCS- G, Guatemala Eliécer Gómez Fernández, UNATROPYT, Costa Rica 2nd Substitute: Rafael Chavarría, FENATRACOMAP, Republic of Panama 61 Report on Activities GROUP 21: Commonwealth of Independent States( CIS), Uzbekistan a. Member: 1st Substitute: 2nd Substitute: Boris Sochenko, Profesionalnyi Sojuz Rabotnikov Stroitielstva i Promyszlennosti Stroitielnyh Matierialov Rossijskoj Federacij, Russian Federation Valery Ochekurov, Profesionalnyi Sojuz Rabotnikov Lesnikh Otraslei Rossijskoj Federacij, Russian Federation Lev Minorov, ROGWU, Russian Federation Auditors committee Michael von Felten, GBI, Switzerland Steinar Karlsen, Fellesforbundet, Norway. Gisbert Schlemmer, IG METALL- Vorstand AB Holz und Kunststoff, Germany JORD QUOAD GROU ( Hong DS QUOAD GROUR 62 Centimetres Inches Blue # C909FF # 0000FF 2 Centimetres Inches 100% 100 2 3 2 10 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 5 Color chart Cyan Green Yellow Red Magenta White Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de Grey Black # C0E5FC # 009FFF # 759675 # 008B00 # FFFFC7 # FFFF00 # FFC9C9 # FF0000 # FFC9FF # FF00FF #FFFFFF # 9D9E9E # D9DADA # 5B5B5B # 000000 2 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 C YM Grayscale Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de 1 2 3 456 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 50% 18% 0% IBBH ⚫IFBWW IBTU FITBB • FITCM IFBWW/ FITBB/ IBBH/ IBTU/ FITCM 54, route des Acacias CH- 1227 Carouge/ GE Switzerland Tel.:(+ 41-22) 827 37 77 Fax:(+ 41-22) 827 37 70 e- mail: info@ifbww.org Web site: www.ifbww.org