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The strikers claim that the redundancies are not valid and considered them a clear retaliation for the strike. They demand to be reinstated by ABB or outsourced by ADECCO - EUROCEN.

On Wednesday EULEN fired all the workers on strike since November 28.

EULEN has claimed that it fired the workers because of the loss of its contract with ABB, where it was replaced by ADECCO - EUROCEN.

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EULEN has dismissed most of the strike committee in an attempt to crush it

ABB has impeded the striker committee's access to its facilities, alleging termination of the contract with EULEN and using the services of ADECCO - EUROCEN to cover the functions of the striking workers.

Workers from EULEN-ABB, on strike for 29 days and camped at the gates of the multinational ABB, have moved this morning to the headquarters of Adecco – Eurocen. Eurocen was awarded the contract for logistics and crane services that the striking workers are currently performing, starting from January 1. Some of workers have been doing this job for over 15 years, through different companies.

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Press Release

The ILO Urges the German Government to Guarantee Trade Union Rights

Following complaints of FAU Berlin, the UN workers' organisation, the ILO reinforces the rights of minority unions.

In its report from November 2011, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) demands the German government to ensure that the Freie Arbeiterinnen und Arbeiter-Union (FAU) could represent the interests of their members, in accordance with Conventions 87 and 98. The Committee on Freedom of Organization of this UN organisation in particular defends the right of free speech for FAU Berlin, the right to access premises in any companies they have members in and the right to participate in workers' councils, if the number of members is representative on the company level.

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The comrades of Priama Akcia have put a form online so that you can send protests to ABB. Workers from EULEN, who were employed to work in ABB, are fighting for their jobs. ABB decided to change the firm the use and get rid of the unionized staff. The workers, from the CNT and CGT unions, have been on strike since November 28 and are camped out in front of the factory.

Now there is even more reason to send protests to ABB: they have hired strikebreakers. The CNT also suggested sending letters to the company employing the scabs, to let them know what you think of this practice.

Below is a translation of an article from the EULEN workers' union of the CNT in Cordoba.

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ZSP took part in the Day of Action in support of the strikers of EULEN-ABB. . We held an informational picket at the Polish headquarters of ABB. There we delivered a letter and gave out leaflets in the headquarters, out front and on the street. We spoke through the megaphone and people came out of the building or opened their windows to hear. The children from the nearby school also did the same. We spoke not only about the strike in Spain, but the problems of subcontracted workers in general. (And we recommend the security guards from Impel who tried to interfere would better read our articles about working conditions in that firm and the many comments of their co-workers who responded.)

The CNT EULEN-ABB workers called for action on the 15th of December. On this date, about 450 people demonstrated in Cordoba in support of the strikers.

The CNT is also collecting money for the strike fund. For bank details, write to us (is-at-zsp.net.pl) or to the CNT (exteriores-at-cnt.es).

We will try to update information about the strike in the "IWA News" section of this page.

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The workers requested another meeting with the Employment Officer, who 10 days ago made a commitment to take the appropriate steps to assess the potential to facilitate an agreement to end the strike. It also promised to look into violations of the right to strike reported by the workers. Workers have brought a case to the labor court, challenging the order given by ABB to perform work at the factory for reasons of "security and maintenance."

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On Dec. 14, ZSP held an informational action at a shopping mall in Warsaw to draw attention to the working conditions in FF Mercantil factory in Brazil and to the case of Icaro Polleto from the COB-AIT, who was due in court on the same day.

Icaro was working at FF Mercantil, a sweatshop which produces mainly for the LOTTO and FINTA brands sport clothing. He was involved in trying to organize there. Workers were demanding a five-hour work week, 8-hour day, air conditioning and ventilation, extra pay for working in hazardous conditions and the right to organize.

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Since the firing of Icaro in March, the struggle has been continuing in the factory. A group of six workers went on strike but were fired. Other dismissals are being carried on as well; in November, the factory fired 40 people and threatened to close its doors. Now Icaro is being charged with defamation against the company, which is a criminal charge in Brazil. His trial will be on Wednesday, December 14 in Minas Gerais, Araxá.

The IWA received this information from the COB-AIT in May 2011:

“FF Mercantil, a company from Araxá-Minas Gerais, responsible for products of the Brazilian brand Finta and the Italian brand Lotto, keep their employees in a regime of extremely precarious work conditions and use different means to prevent them from organizing to resist their exploitation: the workers don't receive extra money for working in unhealthy conditions, they are exposed to excessive heat, they receive less than the minimum wage and many are the victims of humiliation, persecution and blackmail.

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Our comrade is being charged with defamation for defending workers' rights in Araxa!

For speaking out for workers' rights and trying to organize in the FF Mercantil factory in Araxa, Brasil, our comrade Icaro Polletto was fired and threatened. (Basic information on this case can be found in many languages here: http://lotto.zsp.net.pl) Now he is being charged with defamation against the company, which is a criminal charge in Brazil. His trial will be on Wednesday, Dec. 14 in Minas Gerais, Araxá.

The workers of FF Mercantil were demanding an 8 hour working day and a 5-day work week, better health and safety measures in the factory, extra payment for work in dangerous conditions and the right to organize.