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.

December 16, 2011 Kazakhstan authorities shot down in the Zhanaozen (a West Kazakhstan city) the rally of striking oil workers. The strike of about 1,500 workers with the requirements of higher wages and better working conditions began in May, but was banned. Oilfield of Karazhanbas, where conflict broke out, is being developed by the company, which belongs to the Chinese concern China International Trust Investment Company and the Kazakh company "KazMunayGaz".*

This website wrote last year about the conflict that the CNT-AIT has with the company EULEN. It started after the constitution of the union section of CNT, specially in the workplace under the multinational ABB.SA. This two years long conflict is now reactivated and an indefinite strike started on November 28th 2011!

The CNT-AIT of Cordoba explains the background of the conflict: "In these two years there has been three causes of conflict with the company: the struggle for job security and against dismissals and reprisals, the struggle for the application of a fair collective agreement and the struggle for the compliance with the rules of risk prevention.

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.