Solidarity with the striking workers at EULEN-ABB!

Workers at a EULEN-ABB factory in Corboda, Spain have been on indefinite strike since the 28 November. The strike was called by the CNT and CGT unions over plans to get around collective agreements and workers' rights through outsourcing. Now, the International Workers Association (IWA-AIT) is calling for solidarity action.

The IWA explain the background of the dispute;

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.

We have had many victories, in the judicial field and from the mobilization: reinstatement of the section union delegate, reinstatement of the dismissed workers, compensation for unfair dismissal for comrades with "temporary service" contracts when reinstatement was not achieved. Judgment for the application of the Regional collective bargaining agreement of Metalworkers, instead of the transport workers, with an improvement of over 400€/month, and more.

This is all now in danger, because of the expected change of contract at the end of the year where EULEN leaves the contract in favour of EUROCEN, logistics division of the ADECCO GROUP, with the stated goal of ending the climate of labor conflict and the end of CNT in the company (....)

All of the struggle in this outsourcing companys only hides the fact that they use this business formulas to divide the workforce which in these outsourced companys have lower salaries and worse conditions than in the contracting company.

Thats why, although most of the struggle has been directed to EULEN, it's the multinational ABB the last responsable of the situation, and the target we aspire is that the company recognises the employment relationship, the end of the outsourcing and the aplication of the ABB collective barganing agreement to all workers.

Therefore, before the outsourcing contract ends with the clear "union cleaning" and for even more worsening of salaries and loss of workers rights (loss of seniority, loss of acquired conditions, failure to implemente metalworker agreements etc.. ) the union section of the CNT called for strike as a way to assure job security and to stop illegal workforce selling to ABB, and also to stop the serious violation of risk prevention".

Since the strike began, the workers have been camped right outside the factory. They now have a full infrastructure there, including electricity, as they continue to picket and take action. Solidarity actions have also taken place around the world - including at ABB's Polish headquarters.

The IWA is asking for similar support at other Eulen, ABB, Eurocen and Adecco sites. This includes mass faxing of protest letters as well as pickets.

In the past, the CNT has won some important victories at Eulen, from the very act of establishing the union section to getting a sacked comrade reinstated and forcing a collective agreement from management. Clearly, using outsourced labour will allow them to cuircumvent that and undermine these gains. It is the story of all labout struggles - if we don't fight for what we've already won, it'll soon be rolled back.

The CNT and other IWA sections are also at the forefront, along with the American IWW, of using international solidarity in their campaigns. This has proved extremely effective, and is an incredibly powerful tool in the arsenal of the organised working class.

Take action in support of Eulen-ABB workers:

Eulen companies

http://www.eulen.com/ | Go to "EULEN en el mundo"

ABB companies

http://www.abb.com/ | Go to the right on the site: "Where to find us"

Eurocen - Spain

http://www.eurocen.com/es-ES/Oficinas/Pages/default.aspx

Eurocen is part of Adecco

http://www.adecco.com/en-US/Pages/Worldwide.aspx