[stop-imf] Anti-union activities at IMF HQ

[Robert Weissman]

1. Action alert on anti-union activities at IMF HQ
2. Letter from 2 U.S. Members of Congress on the dispute


From: Joey Hipolito <jhipolito@ufcw.org>

Dear Friend,

I need your help to stand up for the rights of workers.
Wackenhut says they support the rights of workers to form a
union, but in the last few weeks, two Wackenhut security
officers in Washington, D.C., who were involved in forming a
union, were placed on indefinite suspension without pay. Please
take a stand against this kind of behavior. To help, please
follow the link below.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/Wackenhut?rk=51141qE1o7oQW


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This is from Rep Miller and Rep Andrews

http://edworkforce.house.gov/democrats/releases/rel32304.html

March 23, 2004

Ms. Anne Krueger
Acting Managing Director
International Monetary Fund
700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431

Dear Ms. Krueger:

We are writing to express our very serious concerns about allegations of
labor rights violations at the International Monetary Fund. At a time
when it is the expressed policy of the United States government to
encourage the formation of labor unions as a means of promoting and
evaluating the strength of democracy in developing nations, these
complaints raise very troubling questions about IMF labor policies.

Enclosed are documents that allege unfair labor practice filed with the
United States Government against the IMF's security services contractor,
Wackenhut, Inc., alleging at least five different labor law violations
at the IMF's International Square building in Washington, D.C., over the
past few weeks. The alleged violations range from unlawful
interrogations and surveillance of employees to firings of employees
because of their support for a union.

According to these allegations, security officers at your International
Square location have been attempting to organize a union to represent
them in employment matters with Wackenhut. We are told that management
efforts to obstruct their organizing drive have taken an extreme turn
for the worse.

Employees have reportedly been told by Wackenhut management that the
security company's contract with the IMF contains a clause forbidding
unionization of the Wackenhut workforce and that the IMF has rules
against unions. One employee, after speaking up in support of the union,
was told that Wackenhut was rebidding its contract with the IMF and that
he should refrain from his pro-union activities until after June, when
the contract would presumably be renewed. When the employee continued to
engage in pro-union activities, he was suspended indefinitely without
pay "pending investigation." Management then told employees that anyone
seen talking to a union organizer while at work would be fired.
Subsequently, another officer was suspended indefinitely for speaking
with a union organizer - while off from work.

As the ranking Democratic member of the U.S. House Education and
Workforce Committee and the ranking Democratic member of the
Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations, we must take these claims
very seriously. One of the most dire human rights situations in the U.S.
- and, indeed, around the world - is the rampant violation of workers'
fundamental freedom of association. In the United States, studies show
that at least a quarter of all organizing drives end in employers
illegally firing union supporters. In 1998 alone, 24,000 U.S. workers
suffered unlawful anti-union discrimination. Such actions violate not
only our own National Labor Relations Act but internationally-recognized
core labor standards. If these kinds of violations of workers' rights
are occurring at the IMF, we would consider such activities to be
extremely harmful to the IMF and unacceptable to the U.S. government.

Wackenhut managers reportedly cite IMF policies as the basis for their
anti-union behavior. We respectfully request that you clarify your
policies in writing to us and to the Wackenhut employees working at IMF
facilities.

# Does the IMF have a rule against unions in the workplace? Please
provide us copies of any IMF policy, formal or informal, written or
otherwise, pertaining to the unionization and organizing rights of the
IMF workforce and its contractors.

# Does the IMF contract with Wackenhut contain any provision, either
explicit or implied, which forbids Wackenhut employees from organizing a
union?

# Does the IMF have a policy of complying with the local labor laws in
countries in which your facilities are located, and would you instruct
Wackenhut to agree to a card-check and neutrality arrangement with the
union currently organizing these workers, the Service Employees
International Union? Such agreements ensure that management does not
interfere with the free choice of workers on the question of union
representation.

A simple written statement to employees from your office clarifying IMF
policies would be of great assistance in ensuring that Wackenhut
employees may exercise their rights free of intimidation and coercion.
Moreover, we would appreciate any efforts you can make to impress upon
Wackenhut management the need to respect employee rights, especially
when those employees work at the IMF. We are sure you would agree with
us that these labor rights violations are simply unacceptable.

Sincerely,

GEORGE MILLER
Senior Democratic Member
Committee on Education & the Workforce

ROBERT ANDREWS
Senior Democratic Member
Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations

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