FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEOUL, 16 Nov 2009 – Striking Canadian Steelworkers were among members of an international trade unionists’ delegation who shaved their heads in protest today at the South Korean offices of global mining giant Vale.
The Canadian strikers were joined at a rally by dozens of leaders and activists from the Korean Metal Workers Union (KMWU), the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and others in the Korean labour movement. They called on Vale to end its unfair treatment of workers and to return to the bargaining table in Canada and negotiate a fair agreement with the United Steelworkers.
About 3,500 members of the United Steelworkers (USW) labour union have been on strike at Vale mining operations in Canada for over 120 days. The Seoul protest is the latest action in a global campaign against Vale which the USW has launched against the company.
With the full support of the International Metalworkers Federation (IMF) and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), the Steelworkers have taken their campaign to Brazil, Nigeria, Germany, Sweden, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Caledonia and Indonesia.
The striking Steelworkers – USW Local 6500 members Tim Kiley and Nick Larochelle of Sudbury – were joined by Sergio Guerra of the Sindimetal-ES, CNM-CUT of Brazil, in the traditional Korean protest of shaving heads. They staged the protest to draw attention to Vale’s attack on workers in Canada and the company’s unfair treatment of workers worldwide.
“In Korea head shaving is a powerful symbol of protest and absolute commitment to a cause,” Tim Kiley said. “That’s how we feel about our strike in Canada. We will last one day longer than Vale, and we are honored to be able to participate in this protest with Korean workers.”
During today’s protest union leaders read a letter to Korean Nickel, which is 25% owned by Vale, and as a customer of Vale Inco receives metal from the operations in Canada.
“We called on Korean Nickel to stop using material from Canada until Vale returns to the bargaining table and negotiates a fair deal with our bargaining committee,” Nick Larochelle said.
The full letter to Korean Nickel is attached.
“We are sending a message to Vale that the company cannot hide from us,” said Sergio Guerra, Secretary General of a section of the Brazilian union CNM-CUT. “We will go as far as it takes for as long as it takes to ensure justice for workers at Vale.”
Tim Kiley and Nick Larochelle are on route from Seoul, back to Sudbury and are available for interviews by contacting Bob Gallagher of the USW in Toronto.
Contact: Bob Gallagher, 416-434-2221; 416-544-5966; bgallagher@usw.ca.
November 16, 2009
Chang Keun Choi, Chairman of the Board and CEO Korea Zinc
142 Nonhyun-dong
Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Dear Korea Zinc Company:
We are writing because we are concerned about your relationship with global mining giant Vale.
Korea Zinc Company has a close connection with Vale. Your majority owned subsidiary Korea Nickel Corporation is 25% owned by Vale. Furthermore financial documents filed by Vale in the United States state that your majority owned subsidiary Korea Nickel Corporation receives nickel products from Vale in Canada.
Global mining company Vale treats workers unfairly. At three locations in Canada Vale is demanding members of the United Steelworkers (USW) accept unreasonable and unnecessary concessions to their collective agreement.
Even though Vale is massively profitable and is anticipating further recovery in the global economy and in Vale’s performance, the company is demanding reductions in the workers’ pension plan and reduced compensation when nickel prices are high. USW members have rejected Vale’s demands and have been on strike since July 13, 2009. Vale is refusing to enter into meaningful dialogue and negotiations, and instead has brought in replacement workers to continue production.
Vale workers face similar struggles in other parts of the world. In Brazil, workers are struggling to hold on to jobs, earn a living wage, achieve minimum standards for safe working conditions and guaranteed basic labor rights. Vale wants to take advantage of the global economic downturn and cut hard-earned rights and conditions for workers and unions at Vale operations around the world.
We are requesting that you contact Vale and demand that they treat workers fairly around the globe, including by returning to the bargaining table in Canada and ceasing to use replacement workers.
Further, without violating any contracts, we would request that your company, or any of your subsidiary or associate companies, including Korean Nickel, refrain from the purchase, receipt, or processing of nickel and nickel products produced in Canadian facilities where members of the USW are on strike, at least until Vale returns to the collective bargaining table and negotiates in good faith with the USW in Canada.
We believe a company that takes its social responsibilities seriously would follow this course of action.
Sincerely,
Manfred Warda Jyrki Raina
ICEM General Secretary IMF General Secretary
Leo W. Gerard, International President, USW
