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Trade Union Federations To Expose Imerys’ Anti-Worker Conduct

Prior to Paris-based Imerys’ annual general meeting on May 3, 2005, the United Steelworkers (USW), the Transport & General Workers Union (TGWU) in England, the AFL-CIO and 20-million-member ICEM condemned the company’s work practices at worksites in southwestern England and the American South.

The international action also has the support of all five French trade unions that represent Imerys workers (CGT-FO, CFE-CGC, CFDT, CGT, CFTC ).

In the UK, Imerys unilaterally closed a final salary pension scheme to new employees in January, and dramatically downgraded benefit levels for existing workers. The unwillingness of management to engage in social dialogue with the British unions over the pension curtailments has caused the unions to initiate a ballot for industrial action.

In the US, the USW is in dispute with Imerys at its Sylacauga, Ala., and Dry Branch, Ga., locations that together employ 500 workers. The union has brought numerous unfair labor practice charges against Imerys dating back to 2002, and the US government has backed those charges by issuing formal complaints against the company.

Last week, the USW filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that white supervisors at the Sylacauga plant were enforcing work rules and imposing discipline more harshly on black employees, and that those who complained of the bias faced management retaliation.

“Imerys has never stopped its efforts to destroy our union,” said Keith Fulbright, the USW local 3-516 president in Sylacauga. “Imerys management purposely incites conflict and continually ignores US laws that protect workers against abuse, unsafe practices and racial discrimination.”

Prior to the March 31, 2005 contract expiration date between Imerys and USW local 3-232 in Dry Branch, Ga., the company transferred massive amounts of kaolin production to a nonunion worksite. It also is seeking unlimited ability to contract out union jobs. The federal government has accused Imerys managers at Dry Branch of violating federal labor law.

The ICEM, a global union federation linking trade unions in the building materials sector as well as other key industrial sectors, has repeatedly called on Imerys to stop its anti-worker, anti-union practices.

“Imerys now has a track record of arrogant and abusive worksite conduct, and has provoked labour disputes in two countries,” said ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. “Together with our American and British affiliates, we urge Imerys shareholders to recognise that such behaviour is not in their best interests.”

The USW and TGWU have requested that their respective governments conduct investigations on Imerys under the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. 

For more information, go to www.imerys-solidarity.org