Besieged by labour disputes and unrest in Canada and Brazil, Vale management threatens Brazilian workers for demonstrating solidarity with their Canadians comrades. This is a translation of a release issued today by leaders of Vale’s unionized workers in Brazil.
November 4, 2009
Today Vale threatened to break off the current salary negotiations with unions from Congonhas and Itabira. The reason for doing so was one of the things that most offends multinational companies – international working class solidarity.
Knowing that United Steelworkers members in Canada working for Vale Inco in Sudbury, Port Colborne and Voisey’s Bay had been on strike for almost four months, unions that make up one of the three negotiating tables with Vale in Brazil decided to invite sister Carolyn Kazdin, USW representative in Brazil, to be part of their bargaining team. There were two motives for doing so. First was to express solidarity with the striking workers in Canada through this gesture of having a USW representative present as we handed over a letter of support from Brazil with 700 signatures. The second was to have information about the international activities of the company which is so important during a process of negotiations. Moreover, given that Vale today has transformed itself into one of the largest mining transnationals in the world with operations in more than 20 countries, what could be more appropriate than having its workers also building international connections?
In yet one more demonstration of Vale’s policies that show no respect for its workers’ rights to organize freely, the company threatened to break off negotiations if our USW sister came to the bargaining table. This kind of disrespect has been a constant in the way Vale has treated the striking Canadian workers and in its relations with unions throughout the world.
Vale’s concerns are not without foundation. Workers’ unity is being built with the solidarity campaign with USW miners in Canada. The demonstrations and activities outside of Canada in Brazil, Germany, Sweden, New Caledonia, Mozambique and other countries begin to point towards the construction of unity among workers exploited by Vale. These actions prompted Vale to suspend the activities it had planned for the New York Stock Exchange on October 21 and the London Stock Exchange on October 23.
A director of Conlutas visited Canada from October 20-25 where he participated in various activities in Toronto and Goose Bay on behalf of Conlutas and the Unions of Itabira and Congonhas.
The threats made by Vale during these negotiations where it is presenting proposals for readjustment for workers and unions in Brazil are not going to work. At the conclusion of the negotiations, sister Carolyn, on behalf of Canadian miners, will hand over the letters of solidarity from the unions and workers who have signed on.
Vale fears more than just the possibility of victory in the strike by Canadian brothers and sisters, a possibility strengthened by this gesture of solidarity. It also fears the growing international unity which is being built among Vale workers and also people in communities around the world where Vale’s profits have resulted in environmental disasters, degradation of the natural environment and community disintegration.
Vale’s position will certainly not divide the workers. On the contrary, it will add strength to the campaign and the vision of international unity.
Letter Delivered to Vale by Metabase Unions of Itabira and Congonhas
November 4, 2009
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
To the Management of CVRD – Vale
The Unions representing the undersigned men and women working for Vale in Brazil, and others who have signed on, request that negotiations be resumed immediately between this company and the workers of Vale Inco Canada in Local 6500 (Sudbury), Local 6200 (Port Colborne) and Local 6480 (Voisey’s Bay).
We reaffirm our position of unconditional support for the strike being waged by our Canadian brothers and sisters which has already lasted nearly four months. They are fighting to defend their rights and what they have won previously. We condemn the actions of the company in trying to deny these rights and weaken these gains.
Sindicato METABASE Itabira, Minas Gerais
Sindicato METABASE Inconfidentes, Minas Gerais
Union and Struggle Group
National Coordinator of Struggles – Conlutas, Brazil
Delivered to Vale with 700 signatures
Solidarity With Workers and Communities Attacked and Impacted by Vale
We as union and community leaders and activists have come to you demanding the immediate resumption of negotiations between Vale and Canadian workers in Local 6500 (Sudbury), Local 6200 (Port Colborne) and Local 6480 (Voisey’s Bay) who have been on strike since July in defence of their rights and salaries.
Vale’s action in attacking the rights of mine workers in Canada is unacceptable. Once again the company has announced astronomical profit levels which have been gained through exploitation of Vale workers and destruction of the environment in all of the places where the company has operations. Case in point is the recent diesel oil and sulphuric acid spill in New Caledonia.
We offer unconditional support to the Canadian workers in their struggle in defence of their rights and demand that negotiations be resumed immediately. We also support actions of resistance by workers and communities in New Caledonia who are defending their rights, their environment and their local communities.
