More than 100 trade unionists of the elevator branch met together
from the 15th to the 19th of October in Paris, France.
We represent more than 20 countries from 4 continents, belonging essentially
to the 4 big international groups of our profession.
These groups represent 90% of the activity in Europe and more than 60%
in the entire world. They employ more than 100,000 workers in Europe and
400,000 in the world. Their profits reaching millions of dollars.
Having reunited some days after the 11th of September, we condemn the
terrorist violence, which took place on American land as well as the war
engaged in by the United States and their allies on Afghan land.
Globalisation in our profession has been in motion for numerous years.
We denounce the mergers that are aimed at dividing the global market by
creating monopolised situations. The production sites are concentrated
in some countries spread out in the big geographical zones of the world.
The research and development is localised on one or two sites for the
entire world, in this way the study costs of production are reduced greatly.
In the search for maximum profit, our management is always ready and
willing to close a factory and relocate it in a country or region where
the cost of labour is less expensive, fiscal constraints weaker, the rights
of the worker less important or the trade union organisations are less
powerful: Otis bought out Kone in Latin America; Schindler bought out
Hausbahn in Germany; Kone bought out Soulier in France; in Russia, Otis
has taken over the entire elevator market. To increase profitability,
the employees have been reduced and even not paid at all.
A successful strike, during which more than 1000 elevator workers were
arrested, allowed the workers to restore their right to a salary.
Therefore, we denounce the relocations that are destroying two Otis
Industrial sites in Germany where 700 employees are threatened with the
results which are redundancy and insecurity.
Productivity research is conveyed by the intensification of work, the
increase in workload notably by the increasing number of elevators maintained
by each technician which is detrimental to the security of the users and
workers.
Concerning the installation and maintenance of elevators, we denounce
the race for profitability being detrimental to the security of the users
and workers. We have made a quasi-unanimous statement of observation:
the maintenance visits (among the countries where they are legal or contracted)
are no longer totally assured.
We denounce anti-trade union repression, insecurity, threats, torture….:
In India, union militants of the Otis group have been tortured by the
police because they denounced fatal accidents and the shameless exploitation
of mistreated workers paid three times less, without training or without
safety equipment.
The speeches made by the representatives of Russia, Korea, India and
Latin America have shown us that our companies not only scorn the rights
of workers throughout the entire world but by taking part in this most
barbaric form of repression, fail to respect the most basic human rights.
This week of reflection but also enthusiasm and emotion, has allowed
us in all fraternity and solidarity to confront our difficulties, our
riches and our experiences.
The various trade unions, different men and women have worked together
to build the battles, the answers which we must use against capitalist
globalisation in our companies.
This thinking must continue, the co-operations and actions must be
put in place.
We have decided to construct an International Co-ordination of Trade
Unionists of the Elevator Branch. This co-ordination, registered in the
framework of regrouping union movements which operate in international
organisations, notably the FEM and FIOM.
We're working in the direction of the union organisations of the European
Community and the International Labour Office so that they take into account
our claims on work and safety.
The first action of this Co-ordination will be to construct and publicise
a Charter on Safety comprising notably the following points:
-Priority of the collective protection from conception to production
of elevators.
- Work two employees in all assembly and maintenance situations.
- Distribution of safety information to all employees in all companies.
- Put into place a Committee of Hygiene Safety and Work Conditions with
the necessary means to prevent risks.
- Introduction of the right of employees to refuse to work in dangerous
situations.
To develop the exchange of information, thoughts on economic questions
and their consequences on the job, the employees and qualifications
In order to co-ordinate the activity of the group, we have decided:
- To set up an Office for the Co-ordination of Unionists of the Elevator
Branch composed of representatives from different companies and different
continents.
- To put into place a Mail Box on the Internet hosted by a comrade in
order to circulate information, particularly in cases of serious accidents
or social conflict.
- To organise solidarity in terms of morale, finance and trade unionism
for all victims of repression from their management.
- To organise a new world meeting in two years.
To start putting into place this solidarity and co-operation,
we invite employees of our profession to participate in the demonstration
against globalisation and for social progress which will take place on,
