Strengthening Mine Workers’ Unions
October 2007 – September 2012
This project involves working with mining unions and women's organizations in Pasco and Junin, to help them gain better labour and human rights. With a goal to also increase the leadership skills of women and have them actively participating in mining communities and other labour organizations.
Since the inception of the project, we see a definite increase in miners protecting and demanding their labour rights, especially through a series of small strikes that have drawn attention to the health and safety issues. CEDAL worked with unions to assess health and safety rights and published an “indicators” guide and a report to assist with assessing various workplace situations relating to health and safety.
Leadership training and promotion of trade union action has enabled the creation of a Regional Labour Platform. This sets the stage for an introduction of rules, legislation and bigger budgets for enforcing better employment and decent working conditions. Women’s workshops and campaigns have also successfully introduced them into involvement in local government and women’s organizations.
CEDAL, in collaboration with the Federacion Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros y Metalurgicos (FNTMMSP), departmental federations and their affiliated unions, focus on recognition, assessment, monitoring and defence of core labour rights, especially in the area of health and safety.
As a result of coordination with community and social sectors, two important processes are now engaged: 1) relationship between Mining Unions and the social sectors, 2) alliance between trade unions, social and community organizations who have developed education and social platforms and promoting actions with central, regional and local governments.
The Canadian Labour Congress works with CEDAL and the United Steelworkers / Steelworkers Humanity Fund (USW).
Organizing Change in the Mining/Metal Federation, FNTMMSP
October 2007 – September 2012
This project supports the growth of the National Federation of Mining of Peru (FNTMMSP) and strengthens organizing campaigns in six different mining unions (two of the companies represented are Canadian) by travelling to the local unions, publishing and distributing material and holding seminars.
The project builds non-unionized workers’ knowledge on ways to improve and defend their rights, with a focus on contracted-out workers. The FNTMMSP works at consolidating homemakers’ committees, increasing participation of women by inviting these committees’ representatives to local union assemblies, establishing homemakers’ committees in local unions which do not have one and holds a gender workshop to train women in defending their rights. The FNTMMSP also provides legal assistance and technical support to workers fired for union activity.
Since the project began, 15 new unions have been created and are affiliated to the FNTMMSP, representing approximately 35,000 workers.
The Canadian Labour Congress works with the Federacion Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros y Metalurgicos (FNTMMSP) and the United Steelworkers / Steelworkers Humanity Fund (USW)
Progress Toward Responsible Artesanal Mining in the Community of Otoca
October 2007 – September 2012
This project aims to improve health, safety and general working conditions for miners, in the formal and informal sector.
Instituto Salud y Trabajo (ISAT), along with the Peruvian National Federation of Mine Workers (FNTMMSP), promote the role of women in Huanca in small-scale mining production and increase their self-esteem through work in their own organizations. ISAT conducts studies on differences in protection for workers (i.e. working conditions, access to social security benefits, etc.), based on their employment conditions, followed by workshops for the leadership and rank and file members.
Workshops were also organized to identify and increase the value placed on women’s work and on gender and leadership issues. Women also did cross-visits with other women in small-scale mining communities to compare experiences on working and living conditions. ISAT publishes a document on women in mining organizations in Huanca.
As a result of the project, there are several agreements to undertake work on occupational health and safety, organic gardens for schools and promotion garden schools as a way of raising awareness among children on environmental issues. There is a marked increase of women in the union and also mining sector in the country which has inturn, increased visibility of the issues around working conditions for women.
The Canadian Labour Congress works with ISAT and the United Steelworkers / Steelworkers Humanity Fund (USW).
Peru