The AFL-CIO has joined with the International Union of Foodworkers (IUF) and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) in a global call to action against France-based Roquette Frères. Some 240 workers, members of The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 48G union have been locked out of their jobs for more than two months at Roquette’s corn milling facility in Keokuk, Iowa.
The federations are urging the United Nations Global Compact to hold Roquette accountable for failing to comply with the third principle of the Global Compact, which reads “Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining”. Last year Roquette signed the Compact and in 2010 the company submitted its first communication on progress.
According to the unions, Roquette locked out the workers after they rejected company proposals that would cut wages, eliminate or reduce key benefits and undermine employee rights to bargain over other important terms and conditions of employment.
IUF, with the assistance of the European office of the AFL-CIO, has launched a global campaign asking union members around the world to support the Keokuk workers. Supporters can send an e-mail to Roquette’s management and urge Roquette to treat the Keokuk workers fairly.
In a letter to George Kell, executive head of UN Global Compact, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said:
"We believe that Roquette Frères actions undermine the legitimacy of the Global Compact: a company should not be able to claim in international fora that it supports the Global Compact while in reality it is systematically violating fundamental human rights."
More information about the lockout at Roquette America is available here. The letter to the Global Compact Office can be read here.
Source: AFL-CIO Now Blog (9/12/2010).
