“Decent Work” and the Valentin Urusov Case: A Test of Sincerity

Anna Wolańska

Like Russian politics, labour relations in Russia are rife with contradictions.

On the one hand, Vladimir Putin addressed the International Labour Conference in 2011 and marched with the trade unions in a 2012 May Day demonstration, portraying himself as a supporter of progressive labour legislation and the notion of social partnership. Russia has an established system of tripartism: no social issue can be decided on without being discussed by the country’s permanent tripartite commission.

To discuss the further development of tripartism and socially-responsible responses to the global crisis, the Russian government will host a major international conference on decent work in Moscow on 11–12 December 2012. Around 800 delegates are expected to attend, including prime ministers, government officials, trade unionists and representatives of employers’ associations from 80 countries.

Speaking in Geneva at a joint briefing with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder during the last session of the ILO Governing Body, Russian Federation Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection Lyubov Yeltsova invited all ILO member states to take part in the conference. She emphasised the importance Russia attaches to cooperation in furthering international labour and social standards, the protection of individual and collective rights, and the interests of workers. As she put it, “the concept of decent work makes it possible to seek solutions to key challenges facing the international community, such as job creation, poverty reduction, social stability and globalization, on a just basis.”

Collective Bargaining or Collective Begging? A case of the public sector in Zimbabwe

Taurai Mereki

Introduction
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98 provide for the right to belong to trade unions, employers’ associations as well as the right to collective bargaining in any employment relationship. Collective bargaining is defined in ILO Convention 154 as “a voluntary process for reconciling the conflicting interests and aspirations of management and labour through joint regulation of terms and conditions of employment”. Zimbabwe ratified both conventions in 2003 and 1998 respectively. It also committed itself to the ILO Decent Work agenda and has a country programme which runs until 2015. However, government as the largest employer has not made positive strides when it comes to decent work. This article seeks to answer these central questions: is there collective bargaining in the public sector in Zimbabwe? Are there any factors hindering collective bargaining? Examples from state owned enterprises (SOEs), commonly referred to as parastatals, and to a certain extent the public service will be cited.

Trade unions, free trade and the problem of transnational solidarity

Andreas Bieler

Tensions between European trade unions and unions from the Global South over international free trade developed into an open confrontation during the talks over the revival of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha round in 2008. The European Metal Workers’ Federation (EMF) joined forces with the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) in the publication of two joint press releases demanding reciprocal market access in developed, emerging and developing countries. This led to an angry response by trade unions in the Global South, especially the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). The EMF was accused of undermining workers’ solidarity, since their co-operation with European employers in demanding equal market access would imply job losses in the Global South and undermine the internal unity of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).[i]

The WTO Doha negotiations have stalled for years. And yet, free trade agreements (FTAs) continue to be pushed in bilateral negotiations by the USA and the EU with developing countries and emerging markets. Importantly, these FTAs no longer only concern trade in manufactured goods, but now also include issues of intellectual property rights, trade in services and investment. Unsurprisingly, the tensions within the international labour movement persist. In this contribution, I will discuss the obstacles but also possibilities for establishing transnational solidarity in relation to tensions over trade liberalisation.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Outcome?

Carol Jess

The film industry is an important part of New Zealand (NZ) culture and source of patriotic pride, particularly since the successes of Peter Jackson and Weta Workshop with The Lord of the Rings films (LOTR). It is also economically significant; in 2004, 150 000 foreign tourists gave the Lord of the Rings as one of the main reasons for their visit to New Zealand. Globally, LOTR is the highest grossing motion picture trilogy of all time, and the joint record holder for the number of Oscars.

For the premiere of “The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey”, a prequel to LOTR, on 28 November 2012, New Zealand is going Hobbit mad. Wellington will be turned into “The Middle of Middle Earth” and international visitors will receive commemorative immigration stamps.[1]

For many in the New Zealand trade union movement though, the opening of The Hobbit will not inspire pride or excitement. Instead, the film serves as a reminder of how fragile our rights are when under assault from the fear of capital flight.