ICEM Intervenes in Saint-Gobain Dispute in US State of Massachusetts

The ICEM vehemently supports 90 members of the affiliated Teamsters Union (IBT) in the US, who went on strike last month in Norwood, Massachusetts, at CertainTeed, a roofing materials subsidiary of French multinational Saint-Gobain. Members of IBT Local 25 in the Boston area walked off their jobs when their contract expired on 19 December over unreasonable demands to reduce their health insurance benefits.

More on the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Union (ICEM) website

Saint-Gobain is a Global Compact participant since 2003/04/22
Saint-Gobain was a Gold contributor of the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2010

Pepsi to Pay $3.13 Million and Make Major Policy Changes to Resolve EEOC Finding of Nationwide Hiring Discrimination Against African Americans

Pepsi to Pay $3.13 Million and Make Major Policy Changes to Resolve EEOC Finding of Nationwide Hiring Discrimination Against African Americans

Pepsi is a Global Compact participant since 2008/11/11
It is also a 2011 Gold contributor of the Foundation for the Global Compact

Nike workers win overtime pay

Workers at Nike's PT Nikomas plant in Indonesia celebrated today after a subcontractor for the US footwear giant agreed to pay staff $1 million (£650,000) in compensation for unpaid overtime.

More on the Morning Star U.K.

Nike is a Global Compact participant since 2000/07/26

USW Affiliate in Québec Locked Out by Rio Tinto at Aluminium Plant

Workers employed by Rio Tinto Alcan, the global mining giant’s aluminium producer, were locked off their jobs in the Canadian province of Québec on 1 January in a dispute centering on the company’s ceaseless subcontracting. Some 780 metalworkers, represented by Syndicat des Métallos d’Alma Local 9490, affiliated to the United Steelworkers (USW), were thrown off their jobs at contract expiration at one of the company’s most modern plants, the Alma, Saguenay-lac-Saint-Jean region, Québec smelter.

More on International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) press release.

Alcan is part of Rio Tinto, a Global Compact participant since 2000/07/26.

Brazil: retailer Zara fined for slave conditions

"Brazilian prosecutors say they have reached an settlement with Spanish retail chain Zara that sharply reduces the fine imposed after investigators found slave-like conditions at factories supplying the brand."

More on Yahoo

Zara is part of Spanish group Inditex, Industrias de Diseno Textil, S.A., a Global Compact participant since 2001/09/19.

Sick miners want Anglo American to pay up

"Mponco and hundreds of other former mineworkers who now want mining giant Anglo American to pay up for exposing them to dangerous dust levels.

The London-listed firm's South African subsidiary is being sued on two continents in cases that could run into millions of rands in damages."

More on Mail&Guardian online

Anglo American is a Global Compact participant since 2004/07/27
Anglo American plc was a 2010 Gold Contributor of the Foundation for the Global Compact

Coca-Cola accused of propping up notorious Swaziland dictator

"The multibillion dollar beverage company owns a concentrate-manufacturing plant in Swaziland, an impoverished kingdom ruled by Africa's last absolute monarch, Mswati III.

The king has travelled to Coca-Cola's headquarters in Atlanta in the US, much to the disgust of Swazi political activists who blame him for human rights abuses and looting the nation's wealth."

More on the Guardian

The Coca-Cola Company is a Global Compact participant since 2006/03/14