Call of the millions 6

Work is a four letter word. Most of us cannot live without it. Many too many struggle to survive it. From Manhattan to the maquiladoras, between ondon and !hen"en, low #ay and dangerous work, tem#orary em#loyment with no trade union rights scar our lives day after day in today$s global economy. % living wage& safe work#laces& #ermanent 'obs& the ability to form inde#endent trade unions. (hese are sim#le demands, growing from needs and rights we all share. )ecause workers rights are indivisible, across economic sectors and national borders. We su##ort these rights and those struggling to claim them everywhere. ..we are nothing and we should be everything& this is the call of the millions...

%F(*+ (,* -.(+%/*0 )%1/ %2*!,

features0 wal3mart u#date #4& farm labour the millions in action #7& online cam#aigning solidarity interview #9& international women under #ressure #art 5 3 africa #6& and international solidarity #8& #:4& the e;tras #:5.

Wal3Mart0 beyond black friday In COTM #3 we looked at the historic events of autumn 2012 in the US The first ever national sto!!a"e of #al$Mart retail workers %under the &anner of the OU' #alMart workers association() com&ined with dis!utes in its warehouses to !ut real !ressure on the me"a retailer
6ut that isn4t the full stor-) of course In the stores) OU' #alMart continues to "row and &e active There has &een some sur!risin" success in tacklin" issues of work schedulin" and coercive mana"ement In one Mar-land store) workers won an a"reement to !ost schedules in$store) and allow workers to a!!l- for e.tra shifts+ inconsistenc- and insufficienc- of hours are on"oin" !ro&lems In the aftermath ho!es were raised that at across the com!an- 'elated to this on ,!ril last a definitive &reakthrou"h was in si"ht in 27 OU' #alMart took dele"ations to over this lon"$runnin" stru""le for workers 100 stores) callin" on their em!lo-er to fi. *ustice These actions demonstrated+ the schedulin" !ro&lems So far) no !ro"ress 1 , welcome return to la&our militanc-) with rank$and$file action outside the formal Intimidation of OU' #alMart activists and convenin" of a reco"nised trade union) that retaliation a"ainst an-one *oinin" direct #al$Mart has alwa-s successfull- o!!osed actions remain a ke- !ro&lem , walk out on 2 The fle.in" of warehouse workers !ower / 8e&ruar- 9 at Mar-land and Te.as stores was evident in the successes of #arehouse !rom!ted &- mana"ement reaction to 6lack #orkers for 0ustice %##0( and #arehouse 8rida- #orkers were told strikes were #orkers United %##U( in winnin" 4ille"al4 and that the- ma- &e sacked for reinstatement of sacked activists) and "ettin" involved with) or *ust talkin" to) OU' securin" talks with their ultimate em!lo-er #alMart :o;ens of unfair la&our !ractices 1ere was a real vulnera&ilit- in the #al$Mart char"es have now &een filed &- workers with em!ire the 2ational <a&or 'elations 6oard

2ine months later) how have thin"s chan"ed3 In some wa-s the initial e.citement and drama of last -ear hasn4t &een sustained The !ros!ect of settin" u! a trade union within the com!an- is no nearer ,nd under a le"al challen"e from their em!lo-er) OU' #alMart a"reed to sus!end store !icketin" for a 50 da- !eriod earlier this -ear) and !u&licl- concede it was not tr-in" to &ecome a &ar"ainin" !artner

,s a "lo&al em!lo-er #al$Mart has "enerated o!!osition to its wa-s of workin" in mancountries The #al$Mart =lo&al Union ,lliance was launched in autumn 2012 &- the U2I) to fi"ht for decent conditions and freedom of association

The 'ana >la;a disaster in 6an"ladesh &rou"ht more !ressure to &ear Unlike most cor!orations) #al$Mart refused to si"n the new 8ire and 6uildin" Safet- ,ccord a"reed &etween Industri,<< and "lo&al &rands to clean u! "arment !roduction in the countrInstead it set out a far weaker !ro$ cor!orate alternative In res!onse OU' #alMart &rou"ht ?al!ona ,kter from the 6an"ladesh Center for #orker Solidaritover to *oin their lo&&-in" of #al$Mart4s annual shareholders meetin" She !ulled no !unches+ @#al$Mart and the other lar"e retailers hold the ke- to endin" senseless deaths in "arment factories across the worldA

:emands for &etter !a-) more hours and trans!arent schedulin" were also on their a"enda @#al$Mart is a com!an- that !uts !rofits over !eo!le and em!lo-s tactics and strate"ies that kee! em!lo-ees like me in *o&s that donBt let us !rovide for our families Cven while #al$MartBs !rofits are "oin" u!) m- coworkers and I have to rel- on food stam!s *ust to cover "roceries A %Charlene 8letcherDOU' #alMart( ,lon"side the travellin" !rotesters) others took strike action in their stores citin" the unfair la&our !ractices the- face Unlike 6lack 8rida- this was more than *ust a one da- action ,nd that &rou"ht reaction) thou"h not of a !ositive kind The em!lo-er &e"an sackin" associates involved in the 0une events) and disci!linin" others 4,ttendance issues4 were the stated reason) ille"al retaliation the realit- ,round 50 workers have &een affected OU' #alMart res!onded with a demonstration at Eahoo 1F) callin" on its chief e.ec %Marissa Ma-er() who also dou&les u! as a #al$Mart &oard mem&er) to reco"nise their concerns and s!eak out a"ainst &ull-in" She didn4tD five demonstrators "ot arrested instead

The 4'ide for 'es!ect4 convened &- OU' #alMart in earl- 0une si"nalled the start of another ke- !ush Modelled on the civil ri"hts freedom rides) OU' #alMart caravans called at thirt- cities on their wa- to 6entonville ,rkansas) !ickin" u! strikin" 4associates4 who coura"eousl- walked out of stores to take their demands to the heart of the com!anem!ire In the words of 2icole Mora from the <akewood California store+ 'I am going to Bentonville to speak up for myself, along with all my coworkers that live in fear to speak up about issues at work'.

,nd in the warehouse sector The strate"ic !ower of this workforce must &e matched a"ainst their dire workin" conditions 8rom the re!orts of ##0 and ##U) the char"e sheet includes+ low !a-) wa"e theft) 4!erma$tem!4 status) no &enefits) health and safet- concerns %from e.cessive heat) !oor ventilation and lack of water) to &locked e.its) dan"erous stora"e and man- in*uries() mana"erial intimidation of

workers) sackin" of activists) s!-in" and hidden surveillance cameras That4s Guite a list of "rievances :es!ite their non$union status) this workforce and their su!!ort "rou!s have &een keenl- challen"in" this work re"ime >ride of !lace must "o to the Olivet International warehouse workers at Mira <oma) California) 30 of whom who struck in late 0ul- The immediate cause of the walkout was a severe !acka"e of em!lo-er retaliation measures introduced after workers had lod"ed a com!laint at the Californian Occu!ational Safet- and 1ealth ,dministration %Cal$OS1,( over their workin" conditions Or"anised throu"h ##U) their action also "ained su!!ort from OU' #alMart and the U8C# retail union

In the case of Schneider <o"istics) the workforce successfull- !etitioned Cal$OS1, and won a rulin" that over I1 million dollars of un!aid wa"es were due Those workin" for a la&our su!!l- a"enc- as 4!erma$tem!s4 have also successfull- o&tained !ermanent !ositions and a 50J wa"e increase ,ccordin" to ##U director) =uadalu!e >alma 4 the fact that now all workers at this critical #almart$contracted warehouses will make a livin" wa"e with &enefits shows that im!rovin" the Gualit- of warehousin" *o&s is entirel- within reach for ma*or retailers like #almart 4

Clsewhere in the #al$Mart em!ire) warehouse o!erations run &- =reat ?itchens and the Staffin" 2etwork) Fuetico <<C and 28I Industries have all come under challen"e These su&contracted outfits haven4t alwa-s res!onded well to le"al scrutin- 'e!risals a"ainst those who dared to raise their voice In the words of one of the workers+ a&out their !a- and workin" conditions have 4 mana"ers harass and &other us The- follow &een common!lace Sometimes thou"h the us ever-where and the- are !a-in" workers have struck &ack and won earlconsultants to follow us around the reinstatement for the likes of :avid ,costa at Schneider <o"istics warehouse The- have installed 2H cameras to s!- on us 4 Ultimatel- thou"h the overall situation will

not im!rove until #al$Mart actuall- does take res!onsi&ilit- for the workin" situation throu"hout its su!!l- chain and &e"ins to take real remedial action

S!rin" 2013+ #al$Mart workers !lus their su!!orters "ot to"ether to fashion a common set of workin" standards that the me"a retailer should u!hold throu"hout its whole o!eration 8or the likes of ##U and ##0) the 2ational =uestworker ,lliance and 0o&s with 0ustice) the current 4Standards for strikers at Olivet International Su!!liers4 #al$Mart relies on are far too That le"al challen"e is not the onl- one #al$ weak to &e credi&le in the face of well$ Mart and its su&contracted warehouse su!!l- documented and on"oin" la&our violations in the sector Chan"e has "otta come chain has faced Man- of these actions are &rou"ht in res!ect of wa"e theft) and some cite #al$Mart as a res!onsi&le !art- for the a!!allin" conditions in its su!!l- chain

Farm labour under #ressure %frica Over in the ca!italist mainstream) in the

!inea!!le industr- the =,#U is well esta&lished 1owever their a"reements with <ar"e scale a"riculture came to ,frica durin" the colonial era Cash$cro! !roduction the M2Cs have not -et translated into an-thin" a!!roachin" a livin" wa"e) "ainin" for e.!ort %of coffee) cotton) cocoa( a!!eared across the continent) rel-in" on the !aid time off to attend union meetin"s) or si"nificant advances on the road to "ender &rutal !roletarianisation of !eo!les) often eGualit- Then a"ain we cannot e.!ect one mi"rants) on lands 4acGuired4 &- settlers or small ,frican union to conGuer these "oals forei"n owners The mono!ol- form of land ownershi! created alone) when their &i""er and stron"er #estern counter!arts are still stru""lin" on in colonial times !ersists toda-) with lar"e all these fronts multinationals dominatin" the !roduction of food and cro!s ri"ht across the continent <*1=%0 Tea has &een "rown commerciall- in ?en-a for over a centur- and is now its to! /,%1%0 The recent develo!ment of tro!ical e.!ort The !roceeds from its sale t-!icallfruit e.!ort a"riculture in #est ,frica flow dis!ro!ortionatel- towards the !rovides a rare &ut welcome e.am!le of multinationals who dominate its !roduction) stron"l- unionised farm workers in =hana &lendin" and marketin") rather than returnin" 1ere the national a"ricultural workers union to its ,frican source %=,#U( has a!!roachin" K0)000 mem&ers) Tea !ickers on smallholdin"s and the lar"e %s!lit &etween smallholders and hired la&our( estates are &ound &- common threads of low and holds &ar"ainin" a"reements with the two wa"ed work) man- tra!!ed in !er!etuallM2Cs that dominate !lantation a"riculture / casualised em!lo-ment In some cases this :el Monte and :oleLCom!a"nie 8ruitiere ,n takes the form of recurrent &imonthlinde!endent 8airtrade !roducer) Molta 'iver contractsD elsewhere the- have the status of Cstates <td %M'C<() also falls within their da- la&ourers) unsure if) where or when thedomain Unlike <atin ,merica) there is no will ne.t find work in the fields @structural hostilit-A to trade unions here

,t M'C< the =,#U has won annual wa"e increases of u! to 20J and a su&stantial &enefits !acka"e coverin" health insurance) !ension !rovision) !aid leave for sickness and maternit- :es!ite all that workers are still fallin" a lon" wa- short of a livin" wa"e) relon second sources of income and remain heavil- inde&ted 1avin" said that the- do en*o- !ermanent em!lo-ment and have a sain the distri&ution of the 8airtrade >remium

On one of the lar"est estates) Unilever ?ericho) the a"ricultural workers union %?>,#U( has collective &ar"ainin" ri"hts 1owever a series of research !ro*ects &- the :utch 2=O SOMO) found real concerns amon"st the casualised !art of the workforce over their efforts

There were massive differences in &enefit entitlements &etween casuals and !ermanent staff #orse still was the !revalence of se.ual harassment and discrimination + women workers faced &ri&er- and the "ivin" of se.ual favours to kee! their *o&s) and all female em!lo-ees underwent !re"nanctestin" on hirin" ,s well as all this) the tea !ickers are threatened &- mechanisation Strikes took !lace across the countr- in 2010 and 2012 over the increased use of machine harvestin" &- tea com!anies The ?>,#U estimate over 20)000 *o&s were lost 200K / 2010 in the sector as a result This &roke an earlier a"reement &etween unions and em!lo-ers that limited mechanisation to 3J of the tea !ickin" workforce 8or the com!anies) the eGuation is sim!le+ mechanisation N lower costs 8or the tea !ickers the calculus is eGuall- stark #ork or no work !-.(, %F+>C%0 The colonial le"ac- and a!artheid divisions remain stron" in South ,frican a"riculture toda- M2Cs and lar"e landholders continue to mono!olise land ownershi! and cultivation) des!ite the la&our law and land reforms of the !ost$a!artheid "overnment Over 1 million !eo!le have &een evicted from white commercial farms) ti!!ed into an e.!andin" !ool of seasonal and mistreated farm workers 6- autumn 2012 the !ressure reached &oilin" !oint Throu"hout the #estern Ca!e !rovince %where a lar"e !art of the K00)000 stron" a"ricultural la&our force work( farm la&our rose u! s!ontaneousl- a"ainst endless miser<ow !a-) risin" livin" costs) a&use at work) scandalous housin" conditions) recurrent inde&tedness+ the farm workers had little to lose 2or could the- look for trade union hel! Thou"h le"islativel- "ranted &- the new re"ime) unions are una&le to "ain access to the lar"e farms) who remain hostile to la&our Onl- KJ of the farm workers are unionised

The e.!losion did uncover a talent for self or"anisation+ farm workers formin" their own local committees) callin" for ne"otiations with their em!lo-ers %roundl- i"nored() and for"in" alliances with informal settlement dwellers

More historic events were to follow In earl2013 the "overnment took a &i" ste! to answerin" the cr- of the o!!ressed fields) &introducin" a K0J %-es K0J( !a- rise ,s we have seen) le"islation isn4t alwa-s followed &- commercial farmers So it !roved here a"ain The !assa"e of the law has &een s-stematicall- i"nored &- farmers claimin" the- couldn4t afford this rise) sackin" a !ro!ortion of their workers in res!onse and evictin" them from their homes COS,TU called for the e.!ro!riation of these e.!ro!riators in res!onse) and threatened new strike action In an effort to redress this !ower im&alance) the clothin" and te.tile union has !romised financial su!!ort for or"anisin" the fields There4s !lent- for the 8ood and ,llied #orkers Union to do ,s re!orted last -ear in the su"ar cane sector there are over 90)000 field workers to tar"et) scattered across remote sites The outsourcin" of !roduction to smaller farms &- the dominant industr!la-ers increases this dis!ersalD and their reliance on casual and informal la&our !oses a real or"anisin" challen"e

The millions in action+ cam!ai"nin" for safet- in 6an"ladesh

thanks to US,S for the !hotos

(he solidarity interview0 2aisy %rago Centre for (rade .nion and ,uman +ights, the ?hili##ines
1ow would -ou descri&e the character of the This combination of factors has seen e'isting 8ili!ino la&our movement to our U? readers3 unions busted or attempts to organi#e unions

The Philippine labour movement remains persistent, dynamic and a force to reckon with, albeit not numerically in Philippine society as it was more than a hundred years ago. Its historically progressive, independent and militant tradition, rooted in the development of peoples struggle for justice, genuine democracy and peace, can still be found in some sections of the labour movement that has also seen fragmentation for several decades now. Today, more than ever, the movement is facing perhaps the most difficult time in its modern history. Since the mid !"s the number of unioni#ed workers has declined sharply as a result of the implementation of neo liberal policies and programs in the country. $conomically, no strategic industries were developed and the majority of population remains in the peasantry. $ven if today, when the Philippines is the so called brightest spot in %sia due to its higher growth compared with its %sian neighbours, the perennial unemployment that long characteri#ed the Philippine economy has not been reduced. &rowth did not bring the e'pansion of manufacturing, nor any moderni#ation of agriculture but rather the so called growth of the service sectors and in stocks, both of which are not labour intensive.

nipped in the bud. (onse)uently, the countrys unioni#ed workers dipped from as high as *+, in mid -"s to *.-. million or /.0, of the estimated /" million labour force. 1ut of this number, only ++",""" workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements 2(3%s4. The )uality of the (3% is another issue5 there are cases that (T678 has documented where companies themselves formulate the (3%s of their organi#ed or supported unions to deter any independent union organi#ing. The union law prescribes 9one company, one union policy and unionism is workplace based.
Our &rief surve- of farm la&our in the >hili!!ines !ointed towards a lar"e role for the militar- in industrial relations Could -ou sa- somethin" a&out this3

The militarys role is a :common feature in industrial relations, a role bolstered during ;artial <aw in *!=+ and strengthened as part of the governments 2past and present4 counter insurgency program. 7owever, it was during the %rroyo administrations on 1plan 3antay <aya 21peration Plan >reedom ?atch4 counter insurgency program 2+""* +"*"4 and its ?ar on Terror (ampaign that the militarys interference became more naked and bra#en. In September +""*, a little more than a week after the !@** Specifically, the apparent decline in unionism incident in the 6S, then President %rroyo made could also be attributed to the widespread and an open statement that the government will systematic use of fle'ible employment schemes hound all terrorists, including those 9instigators (such as short term contract, temporary worker, of strikes and disputes in industrial areas which long term casuals etc) that virtually remove the were e)uivalent to factory terrorism. security of tenure and shrink the number of The declaration signalled both open and secret regular or permanent workers who are the involvement of the military particularly the traditional base of trade unions. The %rmy in strike dispersals, harassments, precariousness of employment of casual and abduction and e'tra judicial killings of trade contract workers prohibits them from unionists and labor activists. (T678 also complaining, and to organi#e unions as they are received reports and was able to get information dismissed outright when companies learn of from various sources detailing the spy attempts to organi#e. This condition is intelligence network set up in factories inside compounded by anti union laws and impunity the economic #ones as a move to pre empt union on corporate violations of labor laws and labour organi#ing and to weaken militant unions rights as well as a repressive political climate. particularly those allied to Ailusang ;ayo 6no 2;ay >irst movement4, trade union center.

3y +""0 several unions in different parts of the country were taken over by the %rmy, and some union officers were forcibly conscripted into the %rmys initiated and organi#ed 3arangay 2Billage4 Cefense System 23CS4 or Inter territorial Cefense System 2ITCS4.

association, i.e. to organi#e freely, collectively bargain to strike, and launch solidarity action at the national and international level. (T678 trains, organi#es and coordinates the dispatch of Guick 8esponse Teams 2G8Ts4 to places and situation where workers rights are violated or at risk of being violated, such as arrests, dispersal In +""-, again, then President %rroyo, formally of collective action, and even investigation of ordered the %rmed >orces of the Philippines to cases of e'trajudicial killings and abduction. create the Investment Cefense >orces 2IC>4, to (T678 maintains and develops its ?omen protect investments 2primarily in power, program that ensures (T678 work is gender mining, plantations, other infrastructure4 from sensitive, and that women workers play an e)ual so called terrorist attacks, including by the rebel role and are e)ually represented in all group, Dew Peoples %rmy. The militarys undertakings of the organi#ation. interference and resulting human rights violations have been object of criticisms in the (T678 was established in *!-/, under ;artial 6D Special 8apporteur Prof Philip %lstonEs <aw, following a fact finding mission by a group report on $'tra Fudicial Aillings. It was also a of (atholic bishops, religious sisters and some subject of the I<1 7igh <evel ;ission to the trade unionists on a violent and bloody dispersal Philippines in +""!, recommending that a high of a picket lines by the military in ;indanao. level order be made that in the conduct of Since then, (T678 has remain faithful to the military operations, the government must ensure reason why it was established but has also that such operations will not violate the workers broadened its scope to support workers rights right to freedom of association. Cespite the end promotion in the special economic #ones, of %rroyos term and many recommendations, plantations and mining. <ast year, it launched the military remains a player in the countrys its campaign to combat child labor starting in oil labor relations. palm plantations. The integration of labour relations in the counter insurgency program also continued with the present 1plan 3ayanihan or the Internal Peace and Security Program 2IPSP4 of the %)uino government. The IC> also continues its operations and has e'panded in scope. In some parts of the country, the same forces are called Investment Security >orces 2IS>4. Man- 8ili!inos work outside -our countr#hat im!act does this mi"rant mass have on the la&our movement3 The impact of mass migration of >ilipinos to other countries, which included workers, previously unioni#ed workers could be seen at two levels, domestically and internationally5

Tell us a&out the CTU1' -ou work for #hat * Internally or domestically, workersE e'odus from the Philippines contributes to the reduction is its &ack"round3

The (enter for Trade 6nion and 7uman 8ights 2(T6784 as the name implies is a labor rights D&1 which monitors, documents, and investigates human rights violations committed against workers 2by the state and corporations4. (T678 is also engaged in research, public information, advocacy and campaigns on various issues related to workers rights5 it builds network at the national and international level for the defense and protection of workers rights, primarily the right to freedom of

of union membership, though, I must reiterate, that this is not a principal factor in the decline. The local labour movement has lost good union organi#ers, trade unionists to migration. %nd every loss of good union organi#er or trade unionist from organi#ing work has a negative or weakening effect, albeit temporarily on trade unionism. + The second way of looking at it, the loss of unionists in the local workers organi#ing becomes a gain in developing the movement of migrant workers, in their host countries.

Their organi#ing plays an important role in supporting the movement at home, and in helping develop another aspect of international solidarity. ;ost if not all >ilipino workers migrant organi#ations in host countries were, I think, initiated by workers or individuals who have some background in organi#ations here in the Philippines. They provide crucial campaign support for the rights and protection of migrant workers in their host countries, and a formidable challenge to the very policy of e'porting labor pursued by the Philippine government. To a certain e'tent, migration also contributes to the local labor movement in the host countries5 their presence challenges the local movements understanding and analysis of capitalist globali#ation, for instance, its impact on peoples lives and strategies for dealing with those impacts and causes.

This was able to get lots of support abroad5 the management and <abor Cepartment were forced to talk to the union and went on to a marathon hearing before the International <abor (onference in Fune. $'cept, that the result was not what the workers were e'actly e'pecting. 3ut of course, theres another reason to that. %nother big contribution is that the Philippine government would not have accepted the I<1 7igh level ;ission, if the international unions and organi#ations had not e'erted pressure on the Philippine government. <ast month 2Fuly4 (T678 together with other local organi#ations held an international conference on freedom of association. %s a result, we are now looking at a more coordinated action or platform to push for the defence of freedom of association at the national and international level.

>or the labor movement, in home and host countries, migration offers both opportunities and challenges. 1pportunities, because they can be an effective means of building working class solidarity, of bridging the gap between the so called Dorth and South, as the impact of neo liberal policies on workers, regardless of the level of development becomes more naked. It is also a challenge, especially for the labour movement in the host countries to address and to fight for rights of migrants to belong to a union. >or them to be accepted as e)ual in the union movement and not seen as people stealing jobs ,re -ou ho!eful for the future of the 8ili!ino or competitors of local people, but rather as allies in the pursuit of just, humane and peaceful la&our movement3 world for workers and their children . Hes, absolutely. ?ith crisis, poverty and intensifying repression amidst the so called growth besetting us now, there is no way for Is international solidarit- a feature of workers to protect and defend their rights and current la&our action in the >hili!!ines3 interests but to organi#e and act collectively. The more the industrial relations become more Hes, definitely. International solidarity work is repressive, the greater the task and opportunities always a feature in all labor actions in the to organi#e. It will not be a walk in the park, Philippines and the labour movement has and we really have to find creative but bold learned and gained a lot from this activity at ways to organi#e and raise awareness not only of different levels. 1ne concrete e'ample is the campaign against the dismissal of +!. long term workers but also of the general public at all casuals and child labor in the oil plantations in levels. It is really important that simultaneous to strengthening the labor movement, we are also (%8%&% that (T678 launched. able to share in the parallel task of strengthening the peoples movement.

international women

the international domestic workers network

:omestic work) hidden from !u&lic view) is a la&our lon" associated with "ross e.!loitation and a&use 8or its K2 million !lus "lo&al workforce) the challen"e to &e reco"nised as workers with real ri"hts has &een a lon" and hard road More and more or"anisations of domestic workers are now active around the world) demonstratin" that collective action and association are the &est wa- to &reak out of isolation and claim *ustice In 200H the International :omestic #orkers 2etwork %I:#2( was set u! to hel! link to"ether these national &odies) !romote new strate"ies and cam!ai"n for their ri"hts The !assa"e of the international I<O Convention on :ecent #ork for :omestic #orkers %C1OH( in 2011) and its earlado!tion in countries like Uru"ua-) "ave the I:#2 a stron" momentum to !ress for minimum la&our !rotection for domestic workers ever-where In 1on" ?on") domestic workers have sta"ed !u&lic !rotests a"ainst forced livin"$in arran"ements that leave them at e.tra disadvanta"e >rivac-) rest) self$ education and interaction with the rest of societ- are all undermined &- this situation Some who have taken action and moved out have faced arrest The workers themselves want their own accommodation) !aid for &- the em!lo-ers ,nd ri"htl- so Meanwhile in India) the 2ational >latform for :omestic #orkers sta"ed strike action at the end of 0ul- to !ressurise the "overnment to reco"nise their ri"hts This involved over 2000 workers from a do;en states The >latform is itself made u! of 19 different unions of domestic workers and su!!ort "rou!s , worker re"istration s-stem) minimum wa"e and social securit- are kedemands on their a"enda

So far the strate"- is !la-in" out unevenlTo date ei"ht nations have em&edded C1OH in their national la&our laws Clsewhere the stru""le "oes on I:#2 su!!orts national or"anisations who are tr-in" to raise the !rofile of domestic work in their countries It now covers 33 national or"anisations) with a com&ined mem&ershi! of 1H2)000 workers

The e.tras
8or the continuin" stor- of or"anisin" at #al$Mart see Makin" Chan"e at #al$Mart htt!+LLmakin"chan"eatwalmart or"L and OU' #alMart at htt!+LLforres!ect or"L In the warehouse sector see htt!+LLwww warehouseworkersunited or"L

The =hanaian farm workers are re!orted on re"ularl- throu"h the 6ananalink we&site) htt!+LLwww &ananalink or" ukL"awu$"hana ?en-an tea !ickers are the su&*ect of #ar on #ant4s re!ort , 6itter Cu!+ htt!+LLwww waronwant or"Lcam!ai"nsLfi"htin"$ su!ermarket$!owerLtea$industr- The SOMO research is availa&le at htt!+LLsomo nlL!u&lications$enL>u&licationP39113searchtermNken-anQtea 8or South ,frican farm la&our tr- the International Miew!oint site htt!+LLwww internationalview!oint or"L and COS,TU) availa&le at htt!+LLwww cosatu or" ;aLinde. !h! The 6an"ladeshi "arment sector has &een e.tensivel- covered &- man- sites Tr- Industri,<< as a startin" !oint+ htt!+LLwww industriall$union or"L :ais- ,ra"o and the CTU1' can &e found at htt!+LLctuhr or"L Cric <ee4s &ook Cam!ai"nin" Online can &e ordered from <a&ourstart+
htt!+LLwww la&ourstart or"L2013L

The International :omestic #orkers 2etwork can &e followed here+ htt!+LLwww idwn infoL >articular affiliates can &e tracked via the I:#2 site