Local 235A members joined delegates from 14 countries in November in Brazil for a meeting of the global union IndustriALL, where they established a global network to launch a worldwide campaign against Sherwin Alumina’s corporate owner, Glencore.
The network was established in the midst of a brutal anti-union drive by Glencore in five different countries. Aside from Sherwin Alumina, where Local 235A members have been locked out since Oct. 11 due to draconian demands for benefit cuts, Glencore has attacked the rights of 800 workers at South Africa’s Koornfontein mine, attacked mine workers in Columbia, subjected workers at Peru’s Antamina mine to regular health and safety violations, and refused to re-hire union workers at Australia’s Collinsville mine.
Glencore also has been accused of widespread use of sub-contracting and precarious employment around the world.
The meeting concluded with a plan of action, including immediate solidarity and support for the USW’s planned activities at the Glencore’s Investor Day next Wednesday, Dec. 10, in London, which also coincides with International Human Rights Day.