Global union challenges aggressive behaviour of Crown Holdings
14th January 2010
Workers Uniting, the global union in the UK, USA and Canada has
written to the chief executive officer of Crown Holdings to
challenge the company’s aggressive behaviour towards some of its
employees around the world.
The United Steelworkers union (USW) and Unite the union have
partnered to form Workers Uniting, the world’s first global union.
The transatlantic campaign involving the workers at Crown Holdings
in the UK, USA and Canada is just one example of how the global
union is using its power to improve the lives of workers around the
world.
Crown workers make various products, including steel and
aluminium cans for food, beverage, household and other consumer
products, as well as metal and plastic caps and closures.
The Workers Uniting joint campaign will connect Crown workers in
different continents as the workers stand together against job
losses and various concessions that erode working conditions and
standards.
In the communication to John Conway, Crown's CEO, the leaders of
Workers Uniting question the approach by Crown when dealing with
their UK workers. This approach has resulted in numerous industrial
disputes over the last 12 months. The global union also questions
the confrontational approach to bargaining in Canada, where Crown
has already closed several plants and threatened to shift more
production work out of the country if workers don’t agree to
concessions.
Ken Neumann, USW’s national director in Canada, said: “What’s
happening at Crown is in many ways a microcosm of what’s happening
at multinational workplaces around the globe. The employer,
increasingly aggressive and confrontational, is trying to pit
worker against worker as the company searches for the highest
profit and the lowest pay and other standards.
“The USW and our sisters and brothers at Unite refuse to stand
by and be silent victims in this global attack on workers. Our
global union will stand strong and united against Crown.”
Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary said: “Through
dialogue between workers in the USA, Canada and UK, it has become
apparent that there is an increasingly aggressive approach to both
Unite and the USW. Our global union through international
solidarity is standing firm against the uncompromising attitude of
Crown Holdings, which shows no respect for the hard-working staff
across their operations.
“We are sending a clear message to Crown’s CEO that we will
stand united in challenging their hostility which is proving to be
damaging to their workforce.”
Workers Uniting wants to see a more constructive approach to
industrial relations and has offered to meet with the Crown senior
management to discuss the concerns of workers.
ENDS
Email to a friend
