TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2014 /CNW/ - The United Steelworkers (USW) is joining unions around the world today to demand an end to mining giant Rio Tinto's attempts to destroy good jobs and exploit workers and communities.
The USW is joining trade unions in several countries in a day of action co-ordinated by IndustriALL Global Union, which represents 50 million workers in 140 countries.
Trade unions at Rio Tinto's global operations are sending a strong message to local managers and to the company's CEO, demanding safer workplaces, secure jobs and respect for workers' rights.
The USW represents over 6,000 workers at Rio Tinto mines, smelters and docking facilities in Canada and the U.S.
Steelworkers in Alma, Quebec, successfully defeated Rio Tinto's attempts in 2012 to destroy the union and contract out their jobs at half the pay. The Quebec workers are now mobilizing to stop Rio Tinto from implementing a new pension plan that would put retirement at risk for new employees.
In Labrador, USW members are protesting Rio Tinto's failure to honour its union contact and settle over 2,000 grievances.
In Utah, workers are demanding that the company respect the hard work, commitment and dignity of long-term employees and stop contracting out good jobs.
Today's actions coincide with the World Day for Decent Work, with unions mobilizing against precarious work - temporary, casual and contracted-out jobs that are usually insecure, low-wage, low-benefit and unsafe.
More information on global actions against Rio Tinto.
SOURCE: United Steelworkers (USW)
Joe Drexler, USW Strategic Campaigns, 416-544-6009, 416-434-7907, [email protected]
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434-2221, [email protected]
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