Workplaces

Social equality key to economic recovery: ILO chief

Mar 032013
 
 Workplaces

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: ASK IMO FAIR FOR LIFE TO PROTECT WORKERS

Consumers rely on certification labels to ensure the products they buy are free of human and labor rights violations. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Take action and demand that IMO’s Fair for Life certification label adopt reforms to protect workers. CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION

This week the International Labor Rights Forum released a report detailing how the Swiss-based Institute for Marketecology’s (IMO) Fair for Life fair trade label neglected to intervene to uphold its commitment to fair trade standards.

The report, titled Aiding and Abetting, exposes how IMO branded Theo Chocolate, a Seattle-based chocolate company, as fair trade despite being informed by Theo workers that the company had hired an anti-union consultant and was violating U.S. and international labor standards during a union organizing campaign.

When Theo workers decided to join the Teamsters, management responded with hostility, intimidation and retaliation including threatening to close the company if workers formed a union, harassing union supporters, driving several workers to leave the company, and firing at least one union supporter. Theo workers were able to convince IMO to conduct an audit post-certification, but IMO upheld Theo’s fair trade certification and told the workers that the results of the audit were confidential. IMO soon after issued new labor standards, which actually recommend employers hire consultants to talk to workers about the pros and cons of organizing – effectively justifying Theo’s actions.

These workers put their trust in fair trade standards but when Theo crushed them, IMO certified it. Join us in calling on IMO and Theo to improve stakeholder involvement and transparency as the next steps in ensuring truly fair supply chains.

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: Demand IMO Fair for Life and Theo protect workers.

 

 

 

– See more at: http://action.laborrights.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5554#sthash.BgZAoje3.dpuf

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: ASK IMO FAIR FOR LIFE TO PROTECT WORKERS

Consumers rely on certification labels to ensure the products they buy are free of human and labor rights violations. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Take action and demand that IMO’s Fair for Life certification label adopt reforms to protect workers. CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION

This week the International Labor Rights Forum released a report detailing how the Swiss-based Institute for Marketecology’s (IMO) Fair for Life fair trade label neglected to intervene to uphold its commitment to fair trade standards.

The report, titled Aiding and Abetting, exposes how IMO branded Theo Chocolate, a Seattle-based chocolate company, as fair trade despite being informed by Theo workers that the company had hired an anti-union consultant and was violating U.S. and international labor standards during a union organizing campaign.

When Theo workers decided to join the Teamsters, management responded with hostility, intimidation and retaliation including threatening to close the company if workers formed a union, harassing union supporters, driving several workers to leave the company, and firing at least one union supporter. Theo workers were able to convince IMO to conduct an audit post-certification, but IMO upheld Theo’s fair trade certification and told the workers that the results of the audit were confidential. IMO soon after issued new labor standards, which actually recommend employers hire consultants to talk to workers about the pros and cons of organizing – effectively justifying Theo’s actions.

These workers put their trust in fair trade standards but when Theo crushed them, IMO certified it. Join us in calling on IMO and Theo to improve stakeholder involvement and transparency as the next steps in ensuring truly fair supply chains.

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: Demand IMO Fair for Life and Theo protect workers.

 

 

 

– See more at: http://action.laborrights.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5554#sthash.BgZAoje3.dpuf

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: ASK IMO FAIR FOR LIFE TO PROTECT WORKERS

Consumers rely on certification labels to ensure the products they buy are free of human and labor rights violations. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Take action and demand that IMO’s Fair for Life certification label adopt reforms to protect workers. CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION

This week the International Labor Rights Forum released a report detailing how the Swiss-based Institute for Marketecology’s (IMO) Fair for Life fair trade label neglected to intervene to uphold its commitment to fair trade standards.

The report, titled Aiding and Abetting, exposes how IMO branded Theo Chocolate, a Seattle-based chocolate company, as fair trade despite being informed by Theo workers that the company had hired an anti-union consultant and was violating U.S. and international labor standards during a union organizing campaign.

When Theo workers decided to join the Teamsters, management responded with hostility, intimidation and retaliation including threatening to close the company if workers formed a union, harassing union supporters, driving several workers to leave the company, and firing at least one union supporter. Theo workers were able to convince IMO to conduct an audit post-certification, but IMO upheld Theo’s fair trade certification and told the workers that the results of the audit were confidential. IMO soon after issued new labor standards, which actually recommend employers hire consultants to talk to workers about the pros and cons of organizing – effectively justifying Theo’s actions.

These workers put their trust in fair trade standards but when Theo crushed them, IMO certified it. Join us in calling on IMO and Theo to improve stakeholder involvement and transparency as the next steps in ensuring truly fair supply chains.

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: Demand IMO Fair for Life and Theo protect workers.

 

 

 

– See more at: http://action.laborrights.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5554#sthash.BgZAoje3.dpuf

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: ASK IMO FAIR FOR LIFE TO PROTECT WORKERS

Consumers rely on certification labels to ensure the products they buy are free of human and labor rights violations. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Take action and demand that IMO’s Fair for Life certification label adopt reforms to protect workers. CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION

This week the International Labor Rights Forum released a report detailing how the Swiss-based Institute for Marketecology’s (IMO) Fair for Life fair trade label neglected to intervene to uphold its commitment to fair trade standards.

The report, titled Aiding and Abetting, exposes how IMO branded Theo Chocolate, a Seattle-based chocolate company, as fair trade despite being informed by Theo workers that the company had hired an anti-union consultant and was violating U.S. and international labor standards during a union organizing campaign.

When Theo workers decided to join the Teamsters, management responded with hostility, intimidation and retaliation including threatening to close the company if workers formed a union, harassing union supporters, driving several workers to leave the company, and firing at least one union supporter. Theo workers were able to convince IMO to conduct an audit post-certification, but IMO upheld Theo’s fair trade certification and told the workers that the results of the audit were confidential. IMO soon after issued new labor standards, which actually recommend employers hire consultants to talk to workers about the pros and cons of organizing – effectively justifying Theo’s actions.

These workers put their trust in fair trade standards but when Theo crushed them, IMO certified it. Join us in calling on IMO and Theo to improve stakeholder involvement and transparency as the next steps in ensuring truly fair supply chains.

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: Demand IMO Fair for Life and Theo protect workers.

 

 

 

– See more at: http://action.laborrights.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5554#sthash.BgZAoje3.dpuf

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: ASK IMO FAIR FOR LIFE TO PROTECT WORKERS

Consumers rely on certification labels to ensure the products they buy are free of human and labor rights violations. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Take action and demand that IMO’s Fair for Life certification label adopt reforms to protect workers. CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION

This week the International Labor Rights Forum released a report detailing how the Swiss-based Institute for Marketecology’s (IMO) Fair for Life fair trade label neglected to intervene to uphold its commitment to fair trade standards.

The report, titled Aiding and Abetting, exposes how IMO branded Theo Chocolate, a Seattle-based chocolate company, as fair trade despite being informed by Theo workers that the company had hired an anti-union consultant and was violating U.S. and international labor standards during a union organizing campaign.

When Theo workers decided to join the Teamsters, management responded with hostility, intimidation and retaliation including threatening to close the company if workers formed a union, harassing union supporters, driving several workers to leave the company, and firing at least one union supporter. Theo workers were able to convince IMO to conduct an audit post-certification, but IMO upheld Theo’s fair trade certification and told the workers that the results of the audit were confidential. IMO soon after issued new labor standards, which actually recommend employers hire consultants to talk to workers about the pros and cons of organizing – effectively justifying Theo’s actions.

These workers put their trust in fair trade standards but when Theo crushed them, IMO certified it. Join us in calling on IMO and Theo to improve stakeholder involvement and transparency as the next steps in ensuring truly fair supply chains.

 

 

 

– See more at: http://action.laborrights.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5554#sthash.BgZAoje3.dpuf

DEFEND FAIR TRADE: ASK IMO FAIR FOR LIFE TO PROTECT WORKERS

Consumers rely on certification labels to ensure the products they buy are free of human and labor rights violations. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Take action and demand that IMO’s Fair for Life certification label adopt reforms to protect workers. CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION

This week the International Labor Rights Forum released a report detailing how the Swiss-based Institute for Marketecology’s (IMO) Fair for Life fair trade label neglected to intervene to uphold its commitment to fair trade standards.

The report, titled Aiding and Abetting, exposes how IMO branded Theo Chocolate, a Seattle-based chocolate company, as fair trade despite being informed by Theo workers that the company had hired an anti-union consultant and was violating U.S. and international labor standards during a union organizing campaign.

When Theo workers decided to join the Teamsters, management responded with hostility, intimidation and retaliation including threatening to close the company if workers formed a union, harassing union supporters, driving several workers to leave the company, and firing at least one union supporter. Theo workers were able to convince IMO to conduct an audit post-certification, but IMO upheld Theo’s fair trade certification and told the workers that the results of the audit were confidential. IMO soon after issued new labor standards, which actually recommend employers hire consultants to talk to workers about the pros and cons of organizing – effectively justifying Theo’s actions.

These workers put their trust in fair trade standards but when Theo crushed them, IMO certified it. Join us in calling on IMO and Theo to improve stakeholder involvement and transparency as the next steps in ensuring truly fair supply chains.

 

 

 

– See more at: http://action.laborrights.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5554#sthash.BgZAoje3.dpuf

World of work issues now "the centre of discontent".

from the International Labor Organization

GENEVA (ILO News) – ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, has called for “smart social policies” to tackle the global economic recovery which, he said, hangs in the balance.

“Tipping that balance towards sustainable growth and development means tackling social injustice,” he said, in a statement marking World Day for Social Justice.

Continue reading »

Fair trade vs fair working conditions

Feb 252013
 
 Workplaces

Theo Chocolate may honor chocolate growers but fights union in its own shop.

from the International Labor Rights Forum

The Swiss-based Institute for Marketecology (IMO), which certifies companies using the Fair for Life label, neglected to intervene to uphold its commitment to fair trade standards, according to a new report from the Washington, DC-based International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF).

The report, titled Aiding and Abetting, exposes how IMO branded Theo Chocolate, a Seattle-based chocolate company, with its Fair For Life certification despite being informed by Theo workers that the company had hired an anti-union consultant and was violating the international labor standards promoted by Fair For Life during a union organizing campaign.

Continue reading »

The Oscar party for labour’s Green Jobs Programme

Feb 252013
 
 Workplaces
Ron Howard.

Hollywood festivities include fundraiser for International Labor Organization.

from the International Labour Organization

HOLLYWOOD – Hundreds of Hollywood celebrities and movie industry insiders attended an event to raise awareness of the ILO’s Green Jobs Programme.  The party, entitled “Una Notte Verde” (a green night), was hosted by the film composer, Hans Zimmer, and movie director, Ron Howard — both Academy Award Winners. It was organized by the entertainment magazine, Vanity Fair.

Continue reading »

“Right to work” laws hurt workers

Feb 212013
 
 Workplaces
Robyn Benson

Eliminating mandatory dues would drive down workers' wages.

by Robyn Benson

Conservative Member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre has challenged unions' right to use membership fees for political action. He is partly right: Judge Ivan Rand did rule that employees should “take the burden with the benefit,” as Poilievre has written.

And Rand’s formula does oblige workers who benefit from collective agreements and union representation to pay for those benefits. But that makes sense: Why should only some of the people in a workplace pay for something everyone in that workplace benefits from? What Mr. Poilievre is wrong about is that workers would somehow benefit if the Conservative government did away with that formula.

Continue reading »

Paul Moist talks about austerity pushback

Feb 182013
 
 Workplaces
CUPE President Paul Moist.

CUPE members strategize to preserve Canadians' public services.

by Ish Theilheimer, video by Samantha Bayard, transcribed by Ruth Cooper

Paul Moist:
This is our first ever National Bargaining Conference.  It resulted from a recommendation to our 2011 Convention in Vancouver: In the Aftermath of the 2008 Global Recession.  With some of what we see going on around the world, we anticipated a much tougher climate for bargaining across the board and that we should get together.  

Continue reading »

Workers benefit from higher welfare rates too

Feb 112013
 
 Workplaces
PersonAtATM

"Social wage" forces employers to meet certain minimum standards.

by Yves Engler

If you work for a living, you're better off when welfare payments are high. Sound strange? Only because truth is often ignored in a society where the narrow interests of wealth holders dominate over all else.

Continue reading »

The road back to serfdom

Feb 112013
 
 Workplaces
Serfs.

Today's robber barons have little interest in long-term, full-time employees.

by William A Collins

Here I am
In working prime,
But all the jobs
Are just part-time.

The ancestors of many Americans came here to escape mingy monarchs, oppressive priests, and baleful barons who controlled all aspects of communal life back in their countries. They bravely left everything they knew behind in a quest for freedom.

Continue reading »

Attack on Rand formula about silencing dissent

Feb 082013
 
 Workplaces

Workers' gains were not just fought at the bargaining table, but in the political arena.

by Paul Moist 

[On February 5, Conservative Member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre wrote an opinion piece in the National Post called Unions ignore the Rand Formula. CUPE President Paul Moist responded with this letter.]

 For 50 years CUPE has been a strong voice for workers. Fights to improve working conditions, maternity leave benefits, and workplace pensions have not only strengthened collective agreements for our members, but they made a huge difference in the life of all Canadian workers. These gains were not just fought at the bargaining table, but in the political arena.

We continue to fight for workers today with campaigns to stop cuts to Employment Insurance, to protect health care and to expand retirement security for all Canadians.  We work on these issues upon instruction of our members, from resolutions they freely debated and adopted at conventions.

Poilievre’s attack on the Rand formula is not about protecting workers. It is about silencing dissent, and trying to limit the labour movement’s ability to speak up for workers.

The Conservatives have made it very clear that they do not represent the interest of workers. They would rather give tax breaks to their corporate friends than invest in good jobs for Canadians. The first two years of their majority government saw the removal of free collective bargaining rights for Canada Post, Air Canada, and CP Rail workers.

When dealing with a government that does not hesitate to rip up collective agreements or invoke back to work legislation, making sure that workers have strong collective agreements is an inherently political act and one that we fully embrace.

Step away from that desk

Feb 042013
 
 Workplaces
Workers face the corporate theft of the lunch hour.

Don't let your boss steal your lunch break.

by Jim Hightower

Do you eat lunch at your desk? Alone? Continuing to work as you chew?

Welcome to the new wondrous world of work in which employees feel intense pressure from bosses to labor right through lunch. In a survey, 62 percent of people with desk jobs said they grab a snack and keep working during lunch, rather than taking a pause to step outside, clear their heads, socialize with co-workers, and recharge.

By creating a nose-to-the-grindstone climate, companies are able to extract an extra hour of work — unpaid — from every cube captive who foregoes taking that noontime pause.

By creating a nose-to-the-grindstone climate, companies are able to extract an extra hour of work — unpaid — from every cube captive who foregoes taking that noontime pause. This is yet another product of the corporate autocracy’s tightening grip over a union-free workplace. It’s not exactly a morale-builder, for it increases both stress and resentment.

So guess who’s doing something about the corporate usurpation of lunch? Corporations! Not by empowering workers, of course, but by exploiting their resentment. McDonald’s, a notorious union buster in its own workplaces, recently launched a perverse, workers-of-the-world-unite advertising campaign under the slogan, “It’s your lunch. Take it.”

By “take it,” McD’s is saying that distressed desk jockeys should “overthrow the working lunch” by darting out for a calorie-packed Third Pounder Deluxe burger at McDonald’s. Likewise, KFC and Applebee’s have concocted crass PR pitches to divert legitimate worker anger into lunch consumerism in their chain store eateries.

The corporate theft of the lunch hour is not some hokey ad gimmick — it’s a real assault on the basic ethic of workplace fairness. For information and action check out a “Dear Abby”-style column written by AFL-CIO’s organizing director, Dave Wehde. Called “Dear David,” the weekly column addresses problems that people are having in their workplaces.

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