Tag Archives: Uni

Global: #IWMD25 – Unions unite for safe work in the digital age | UNI

This 28 April, International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD), the global trade union movement is focusing on technology and workplace health and safety.

UNI is bringing together content moderators from around the world for the first-time ever to Nairobi, Kenya, to build a shared strategy for making their jobs safe, sustainable and union.

Content moderators, who shield billions of social media users from harmful and traumatic material, are exposed to hundreds of videos, images and texts every day depicting extreme violence, sexual abuse, hate speech and other egregious behaviour. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleeplessness and suicidal thoughts as a result from this work is all too common.

 

African Tech Workers Rising organizer Sonia Kgomo, a former Facebook content moderator from Kenya, wrote earlier this year in the Guardian:

For two years, I spent up to ten hours a day staring at child abuse, human mutilation, racist attacks and the darkest parts of the internet so you did not have to.
You could not stop if you saw something traumatic. You could not stop for your mental health. You could not stop to go the bathroom. You just could not stop. We were told the client, in our case Facebook, required us to keep going.

Kgomo highlighted not only the disturbing nature of the content but also the intense pace demanded by her employer, the outsourcing firm Sama. Moderators’ performance was closely tracked, often given just seconds to evaluate each piece of troubling content.

Such precise and constant monitoring is increasingly  enabled by algorithmic management systems and artificial intelligence. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is focusing this year’s IWMD on the consequences of digital surveillance and automation for workers’ health as part of their campaign ahead of important discussions at this year’s International Labor Conference.

Across nearly all economic sectors, this technology is squeezing workers to meet inhumane production targets and deteriorating workers’ mental and physical wellbeing with the extreme pressure of constant, real-time micromanagement and automated assessment.

For example, Amazon’s performance monitoring systems make workers feel “stressed, pressured, anxious, like a slave, robot and untrusted,” according to an international study of Amazon employees. Nearly 60 per cent of the over 2000 Amazon worker respondents from eight countries

UNI Global Union General Secretary Christy Hoffman said:

Job titles like ‘content moderator’ and the extreme surveillance workers now endure were unimaginable just a short time ago, but workers organizing for safe jobs and a real say about their conditions is as old as the labour movement itself. Unions have always fought and won protections against technological abuse. With every new form of workplace tech, the urgency grows to make it serve rather than hurt workers.

UNI has compiled many examples of unions pushing back against the expansion of bossware and digital surveillance in its report, Algorithmic Management: Opportunities for Collective Action.  Showing yet again that it is union workplaces that are safe workplaces.

International Workers Memorial Day is the day that the trade union movement unites to remember workers at home and across the globe who have paid the ultimate price, those who left for work and never returned, as well as those whose lives have been altered by workplace injury or harm.

#IWMD25: Unions unite for safe work in the digital age

Global: Día internacional de la memoria de los trabajadores: los sindicatos en primera línea frente a los riesgos climáticos – UNI

Día Internacional de la Memoria de los Trabajadores: Los sindicatos en primera línea frente a los riesgos climáticos  

Este Día Internacional de la Memoria de los Trabajadores28 de abril, UNI Global Union se une a los sindicatos de todo el mundo para exigir medidas urgentes contra la crisis climática.

A medida que suben las temperaturas, también “Riesgos climáticos para los trabajadoresel lema de la CSI para este día de recuerdo y compromiso.

La emergencia climática mundial ha creado nuevos peligros y agravado los ya existentes para los trabajadores. Como en tantas otras cuestiones de salud y seguridad en el trabajo, los sindicatos y la negociación colectiva son soluciones necesarias.

“La crisis climática está matando a los trabajadores, y los sindicatos están en primera línea para hacer que los empleos – y las comunidades – sean más seguros”, dijo la Secretaria General de UNI Christy Hoffman. “Los sindicatos contraatacan a los empleadores que intensifican cruelmente los objetivos incluso con un calor abrasador. Aseguramos las pausas obligatorias, los equipos vitales y las protecciones necesarias que salvan vidas. Abogamos por una transición justa hacia una economía sostenible, que no deje a ningún trabajador atrás.”

nuevo informe de la OIT concluye que un número “asombroso” de trabajadores (2.400 millones, es decir, más del 70% de la población activa mundial) se enfrentará a riesgos para la salud relacionados con el cambio climático, como el estrés térmico, el cáncer, las enfermedades cardiovasculares, las enfermedades respiratorias, las disfunciones renales y las afecciones mentales.

Aunque con razón se presta mucha atención a sectores como la construcción, la minería y la agricultura, los trabajadores de los servicios también se enfrentan a estos riesgos.

Este fin de semana, la UNI afiliará al Federación Coreana de Sindicatos de Trabajadores de Servicios (KFSU) hará huelga en Costco para protestar por las condiciones laborales injustas e inseguras en los establecimientos de la multinacional estadounidense en ese país. La huelga es la segunda desde que en junio de 2023 muriera un empleado en el trabajo tras exposición al calor extremo.  

El fallecido, un hombre de 29 años sin afecciones crónicas, trabajaba como cajero en la caja. En el momento de su muerte, se encargaba de los aparcamientos, los carros y la gestión del aparcamiento.

Murió durante una ola de calor, y el sindicato afirma que la empresa no proporcionó instalaciones de aire acondicionado ni termómetros independientes para los trabajadores del aparcamiento. Además, la empresa obligaba a los empleados a permanecer de pie durante todo el horario laboral, sin asientos ni zonas de descanso disponibles.

El presidente de la KFSU, Kang Kyu-Hyok, declaró entonces: “Condenamos enérgicamente a Costco Korea por no contratar la mano de obra necesaria, exprimir a los trabajadores para reducir costes y no proporcionar a tiempo lo esencial para la vida y la seguridad de los trabajadores. Costco debe tomar medidas para evitar que [este tipo de tragedia] vuelva a ocurrir”.

Las afiliadas de comercio de la región de Asia y el Pacífico de UNI aprobaron una resolución en apoyo de la huelga del 27 de abril en la que se pedía a a Costco Corea y al Director General Cho Min-Soo que acepten la responsabilidad “por la muerte evitable de su trabajador como accidente laboral” y a la empresa que negocie las condiciones en la tienda.

Los trabajadores de Amazon de todo el mundo tienen reivindicaciones similares. Por ejemplo, uno de los almacenes de la empresa en el sur de California alcanzó temperaturas de 106F (41C) el verano pasado, y los empleados tuvieron que trabajar a velocidades brutales para cumplir sus cuotas de producción.En el Reino Unido, el sindicato GMB ha hecho de la seguridad uno de los pilares de su campaña de sindicalización en Amazon, y ahora los trabajadores se encuentran en una lucha histórica por el reconocimiento sindical. lucha histórica por el reconocimiento sindical.

Pero no se trata sólo de los trabajadores del comercio. Los riesgos climáticos afectan a todos los sectores de UNI.

La OIT identifica a los deportistas como un grupo muy expuesto a temperaturas extremas. Por ello, sindicatos de jugadores como FIFPRO se están organizando para conseguir una mayor protección contra los trastornos inducidos por el estrés térmico.

En Brasil, el sindicato gráfico y de embalaje SINDICRIP ayudó a los trabajadores de WestRock a superar el aumento de las temperaturas organizándose en torno a la mejora del acceso al agua en el trabajo. Mediante una muestra de interés colectivo, los trabajadores consiguieron que la empresa se sentara a la mesa para conseguir más dispensadores de agua.

Los vigilantes de seguridad trabajan a menudo en el exterior y se enfrentan a las inclemencias del tiempo, como el calor hirviente, el frío extremo y una mayor exposición a los rayos UV cancerígenos. Los sindicatos están tomando medidas. Con el apoyo de UNI, el Sindicato de Trabajadores de Seguridad Gujarati de la India hizo campaña y consiguió agua potable, un segundo uniforme y refugio para ayudar a combatir temperaturas que alcanzan los 113F (45C). UNI también apoya a nuestra afiliada en Nepal, el Sindicato deTrabajadoresde Seguridad de Nepalpara conseguir abrigos de invierno adecuados para trabajar en el frío glacial.

Los empleados de correos se enfrentan a las consecuencias catastróficas del cambio climático. De hecho, UNI Correos y Logística identifica la crisis climática como uno de los mayores riesgos para los trabajadores postales.

Además de los peligros directos de trabajar en condiciones meteorológicas extremas, los gobiernos suelen utilizar a los trabajadores postales y la infraestructura postal en épocas de catástrofe para apoyar a las personas afectadas y ayudar a las organizaciones. La inundaciones de 2022 en Pakistán es un buen ejemplo.

Dado el daño que el clima extremo causa a los trabajadores, no es de extrañar que los sindicatos postales se hagan oír cada vez más no sólo en materia de protección del lugar de trabajo, sino también de política climática. UNI Correos y Logística ha propuesto un nuevo acuerdo ecológico para correos, y afiliadas como CUPW en Canadá están tomando la iniciativa de presionar para que el correo sea sostenible.

El Secretario General de la CSI, Luc Triangle declaró: “La crisis climática ya no es una amenaza lejana; es un peligro presente para los trabajadores de todo el mundo. Es imperativo que exijamos políticas y prácticas sólidas para proteger a nuestros trabajadores de los peligrosos impactos del cambio climático. Nuestro llamamiento a la acción es claro: debemos integrar las evaluaciones del riesgo climático y la preparación para emergencias en nuestras normas de seguridad y salud en el trabajo.”

Asia Pacific / Korea: Costco Korean union members strike today in front of Kwangmyong store in Seoul – UNI

Costco Korean union members strike today in front of Kwangmyong store in Seoul. They demand: safe working conditions,  fair labour practices . 5,000 hours of exemption for union activities.

Global: International Workers’ Memorial Day: unions on the front lines of tackling climate risks – UNI

On #IWMD24, UNI is joining @ITUC  and the global labour movement to put workers first in a just transition.

Read the news release: International Workers’ Memorial Day: unions on the front lines of tackling climate risks

 

Global: Organising for health and safety through OSH committees – #iwmd23

 

Last year unions around the world succeeded in making health and safety a fundamental right at the ILO, and now, workers are making that hard-fought victory a reality by organizing  for safer jobs – in particular organizing union health and safety committees.

On International Workers Memorial Day, 28 April, UNI Global Union remembers those who have lost their lives or suffered injuries at work, and we also redouble our commitment to preventing harm on the job. Occupational health and safety (OSH) committees are the first line of defence against unsafe conditions.

These committees have become more critical than ever in the aftermath of Covid-19. Even though the worst of the pandemic has hopefully passed, inadequate personal protective equipment, a rise in third-party violence, excessive hours, a punishing pace of work and growing strain on workers’ mental health are persistent, serious complications.

But workers have been fighting back, and through their unions, they are making their jobs safer.

Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, said:

“The cost-of-living crisis spurred a wave of strikes and workplace actions, but just as important, the pandemic reinvigorated organizing around health and safety.

“An untold number of workers either died or are suffering long-term consequences because they contracted the virus at work. But Covid is not the only serious hazard workers are facing. They are being pushed to the limit by employers who want more production in less time and for less wages. This squeeze takes a physical toll on workers’ bodies while the pressure frays mental health.

“That is why we are standing with unions everywhere to make work safer and strengthen health and safety committees. Work should be a source of dignity and empowerment not harm, disease and loss. One injury is too much, and one death is too many.”

Last year, UNI reached a breakthrough global agreement with outsourced customer service giant Teleperformance. The agreement includes the creation of elected union health and safety committees that will address issues of employees both on-site and remote workers. It provides for training of health and safety representatives and a process to identify and remediate any workplace hazards.

To address psycho-social risks, the agreement limits surveillance on the job by stating that monitoring will be “proportionate to business needs” and “respect the worker’s right to privacy.” Teleperformance will notify workers of how the company uses surveillance tools, like cameras and AI monitoring, as well as how the data is used to evaluate performance.

UNI has stood with affiliates globally who are building their capacity to organize for safer jobs and stronger unions. For example, we supported UniPHIN in Nepal, where OSH committees have become critical in organizing hospital workers. UniPHIN began training workers about health and safety in 2021 – during the pandemic’s peak. Through this training, the union organized and created OSH committees that helped workers secure PPE, mental health support and time off.

“For many workers, UniPHIN was a source of hope and we were able to organize new members in a difficult time,” said Pratima Bhatta, UniPHIN Secretary Treasurer and Organizer.

Starting in 2016, the Sindicato de Trabajadores de Hipermercados Tottus (SINATHIT) in Peru conducted campaigns to educate workers at Tottus hypermarkets about their right to choose their own health and safety representatives, resulting in the union being well represented on the OSH committee despite company interference. The union invested in training and organizing workers around OSH issues, resulting in a drop in injuries and a stronger union.

That union power was put on display when young union representatives, galvanized through OSH activity, organized sit-ins at Tottus stores across the country, forcing the company to make concessions in bargaining a new contract, resulting in major wage increases. The union emerged stronger as a result of members’ solidarity and determination, showing that OSH committees not only prevent injury but enable organizing around other issues.

Occupational health and safety is a fundamental right, but without unions, we have seen that workers’ rights get disrespected. On International Workers’ Memorial Day, we join with unions from around the world to secure safe jobs through organizing. and emphasizing the importance of OSH committees,” said UNI’s Hoffman.

The ITUC’s International Workers Memorial Day materials are here.

Go to 28april.org to find events in your community.

 

Global: Workers’ Memorial Day Message from UNI GS Christy Hoffman | UNI Global Union

UNI General Secretary Christy Hoffman has issued an International Workers’ Memorial Day message calling on us to honour the workers we have lost during the Covid-19 crisis, but to “fight like hell for the living.”

Using her personal experience and examples from UNI affiliates, GS Hoffman stresses the importance that unions play in establishing safe workplaces and holding employers accountable:

There are valuable lessons we must learn from this crisis.

And one that we must remember is the difference a union can make in terms of health and safety. And it is not only about negotiating the conditions of safe work — it is about representation and a voice on the job lead by rank and file workers. A union health and safety committee is a watchdog, making sure that employers don’t cut corners or require a pace of production that is too fast to be safe. They enable workers, those who are closest to the problem, to expose the hazards and recommend solutions.

Read the full message here. 

Additionally, UNI is joining the ITUC and other global unions in calling on governments and occupational health and safety bodies around the world to recognise Covid-19 first, as an occupational hazard and also an occupational disease.

https://www.uniglobalunion.org/news/workers-memorial-day-message-uni-gs-christy-hoffman

Global: Covid 19 crisis shows the vital role of caregivers in our society – UNI global union

“Home care workers are the first line of defense against #covid19 for millions of elderly & sick patients. This crisis is showing the world the vital role caregivers play in our societies,” said Christy Hoffman General Secretary of UNI Global Union. ⁩
#ProtectHomecareWorkersRead more • UNI Global Union