USW@Work - National College Players Association - United ...

Iceland – With only 7,000 to 8,000 peopleliving near Alcoa’s new primary aluminumfacility and no infrastructure, the companyis having problems manning it.Russia – During the last seven years,the plants have undergone seven managementleadership changes. Recent reorganizationhas improved production. Wages,which were very low, have gone up30 percent but are still insufficient.Mexico – Workers are earning $45 to $70for a 48 hour week producing wiringharnesses and feel threatened by cheaperlabor in Honduras, according to theComité Fronterizo de Obreras, a grassroots organization that supports uniondemocracy and workers rights in citiesalong the Mexico-U.S. border.United Kingdom – Union representativeswant more emphasis on a safe andhealthy production process rather than abehavioral-based process. Since theexplosion at BP’s Texas City refinery,there has been a lot of discussion onprocess safety rather than putting theblame for most accidents on workers’behavior.Germany – A demand for minimumstandards worldwide; equal treatment forworkers, corporate ethics compliance andcompliance with ILO standards areexpectations of German workers.All pledge supportIn addition to representatives from theUSW, delegates attended from the UnitedKingdom (UNITE the Union), Australia(Australian Workers’ Union), Germany(Industriegewerkschaft Metall), Iceland(Starfsgreinafelag Austurlands andRafidnadarsamband Islands), Mexico(Comité Fronterizo de Obreras), Russia(Miners’ & Metallurgical Workers’ Unionof Russia) and Switzerland (IMF).Delegates were unanimous in pledgingto support each other in any upcomingstruggles and to help rank and file workersat all Alcoa locations improve theirliving standards.As they do each year, on the dayfollowing the meeting, the participantsattended the Alcoa stockholders meeting,where they made the interests of the thousandsof Alcoa workers around the worldvisible to the board of directors, top managementand major shareholders.Bottom Right, front row, left to right,Charles Clarke, USW; Aurora Schroder, USW;Phil Hanks, UK; Julia Quinonez, Mexico;Asgeir Sigmarsson, Iceland; Bjorn AgustSigurjonsson, Iceland, Dave Gibbs, UK.Back row, left to right, Violetta Ohmer, translator;Andrej Shvedov, Russia; Salvador Aguilar,USW; Alexander Kulagin, Russia; StanleyBrowne, translator; Wolfgang Kicherer,Germany; Jim Robinson, USW;Rob Johnston, Switzerland, Sverrir MarAlbertsson, Iceland; Adam Lee, USW; andBen Swan, Australia.Participant Photos by Tom Fitzpatrick/VPIUSW@Work • summer 2008 21