Tag Archives: BWI
Turkey: Unions condemn the high rate of workers’ deaths
BWI Turkish affiliates AGAC-IS, CIMSE-IS, ORMAN-IS and TARIM ORMAN-IS under the umbrella of YOL-IS marked the International Workers’ Memorial Day by gathering and issuing a statement to condemn the high rate of workers’ deaths especially in BWI industries.
The statement noted that “After a strong union struggle, it has been a decade since an independent OHS law came into force in Turkey. However, OHS measures at the implementation level remains as a very problematic topic as in 2021, 2,170 workers died in Turkey as a result of work accidents. One-fifth of the deaths occurred in the construction industry. It is also noteworthy that children and migrants are among those who lost their lives.
The Turkish Union of Road Construction and Building Workers – YOL-IS organized this year’s commemoration event with the participation of BWI affiliated unions from the woodworking, forestry and building materials industries on April 28, in order to draw the public attention to high level of worker deaths and to demand healthy, safe and decent working conditions for all.
The demands are clear: In order not to cause new occupational murders, a mentality change should be made in OHS, and the understanding of “human and worker safety first” should be adopted. ILO Conventions on health and safety should be brought into national legislation in accordance with their spirit, in order for the OHS laws to be fully implemented and the legal basis for the field to be provided precisely. Obstacles to trade union rights and organizing should be removed. Subcontracting should be abolished. OHS committees established in workplaces should be organized as democratic structures, and those should be given sanction authority. The number of labor inspectors should be increased and workplace inspections should be effective. April 28 should be officially recognized and announced as the day of mourning and remembrance.
Nigeria: TCCESSA marks 28 by drawing attention to the many worker deaths in building collapses
Global/Switzerland: BWI world board action calls for OHS as a fundamental worker right
A day before the marking of International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD), 35 participants of BWI’s World Board Meeting held a solidarity action at the iconic Broken Chair monumental sculpture in Geneva, Switzerland to push for the recognition of healthy and safe workplaces as a fundamental workers’ right. They were joined by representatives from UN1A, a trade union representing private sector workers in Switzerland.
The solidarity action expressed the demand of the 2022 International Labour Conference (ILC) to make OHS a fundamental right. It also expressed support for ILO Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health (1981) and ILO Convention 161 on Occupational Health Services (1985), which BWI called as “core OHS conventions” and necessary pillars for the recognition of workplace health and safety as a right. #IWMD2022
Source: BWI website • #iwmd22
Panama: El trabajo no deberia mater! – SUNTRACS
The National Union of Workers of Construction and Similar Industries (SUNTRACS), one of the leading trade union forces in Panama, joins BWI in marking this year’s International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April. Waving their red flags and chanting slogans, they called for safer and healthier workplaces for workers worldwide. #IWMD2022
Mauritius: Young members from CMWEU campaign to put lives over profit
Peru: BWI signs OHS declaration with Faber-Castell
BWI and its affiliate, the Union Trade Union of Workers of A.W. Faber Castell in Peru (SUTFACAP) inked a Joint Declaration on Safe and Healthy Workplaces with the management of the multinational company, Faber-Castell.
Signatories to the declaration were SUTFACAP General Secretary Celso Arce, BWI Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean Nilton Freitas and Faber-Castell Peru General Manager Fernando Cabrera. The declaration expresses the commitment of the workers and company to work together to promote healthier and safer workplaces.
A similar declaration was signed last year by trade unionists and the Faber-Castell management in Brazil.
“BWI and its affiliated unions in Latin America, the Caribbean and worldwide are committed to ensure the prioritisation of life over profit as bannered by our global campaign: Global Alliance on Safe and Healthy Workplaces.
This OHS Declaration with Faber-Castell in Peru showcases the importance of field-based trade union action to realise OHS as a fundamental right of workers, and comply with the UN’s 2030 agenda,” Freitas said. #IWMD2022
Kenya: Roadworkers campaign for better workplace health and safety – KBCTFIEU
During a work place visit at the Kenol-Sagana-Marua road project in Kenya, members of KBCTFIEU campaigned for better workplace health and safety as part of BWI’s global commemoration of International Workers’ Memorial Day. They were joined by Union to Union’s General Secretary, SIDA’s desk officer, and the SEKO international programs officer. #IWMD2022
South Africa: Young workers demand bosses put workers’ lives above profit – NUM
Young trade unionists from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in South Africa campaigned for safe and healthy jobs as part of BWI’s global commemoration of the International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April. They demanded companies to put the lives of workers over and above profit during their National Youth Executive Meeting last 22 April in Johannesburg.
Source BWI Facebook • #iwmd22
Construction unions in Turkey campaign to raise awareness of the high death rate in building workers
Turkish BWI affiliates will hold joint panel on occupational health and safety to issue a statement and raise awareness of the high level of construction workers’ deaths in Turkey.