(8/2/2010)
Ten priorities for the BWI in 2010!
After a debrief meeting about congress to enhance performance, the BWI workshop including headquarters and regional staff looked at ten priorities for 2010. Among the priorities, Multinationals (MNCs), Organising IFIs projects and other public works, Migration, Wood and Forestry, Sports campaign, Green construction, Women and youth, Communication, Building global and regional capacity, and Financial sustainability.
The workshop pointed at the importance of a coordinated action on the...
(5/2/2010)
India: BWI Unions tell Quebec Premier Mr. Charest: Asbestos? No Thanks !!!
Trade unions and human rights activists have urged Quebec’s Premier to stop shipping chrysotile asbestos to India when his own government is spending millions of dollars to remove chrysotile asbestos from Quebec's schools, hospitals and buildings.
Today, more than 150 members of BWI affiliates – Delhi Asangathit Nirman Mazdoor Sangathan (DANMU); Nirman Mazdoor Panchayat Sangam (NMPS) and Mahanagar Asangathit Mazdoor Sangathan (MAMU) assembled in front of the Federation of Indian...
(3/2/2010)
Israel: Starting salaries in the Construction Sector NIS 500 above the minimum wage
Histadrut Chairman, Ofer Eini, the President of the Association of Construction and Builders, Nissim Boublil, and the Construction Workers Union Chairman, Yitzhak Moyal, signed a sector collective agreement in the construction sector on January 21, 2010. The agreement will apply for the first time to all employees in the construction sector. The agreement takes effect with the issuing of an extension order. According to the agreement, workers will receive a salary of NIS 4,350 in the...
(28/1/2010)
India: Legal Intervention by the Trade Unions and Civil Society at the Commonwealth Games 2010 Construction Sites
Continuing with the efforts to safeguard the rights of workers at the construction sites related to the Commonwealth Games scheduled in the Indian capital New Delhi later in 2010 - the BWI affiliate(s) along with civil society organisations filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with the Delhi High Court. The court has taken cognizance of the workers’ issues and accordingly issued notices to various government agencies and has sought replies by 3rd February 2010. The petition has been...
(25/1/2010)
BWI affiliates sending aid to Haiti
The BWI affiliate in the neighbouring Dominican Republic, AMACOA (Asociación de Maestros Constructores de Obras Autorizados) has called its members to support the Haitians with food and water. A group of 6 unions in Sweden have decided to donate funds through the Swedish UN Association to aid the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Included in the group are 4 affiliates of the BWI in Sweden; Byggnads, Elektrikerna, Målarna and SEKO. “I encourage all BWI affiliates to follow the example...
(20/1/2010)
Netherlands: FNV Bouw mobilise against increased pension age
Today, FNV-Bouw mobilise workers in The Hague to protest against the proposal to increase the pension age. The Dutch government, including the two main coalition partners, Christian Democrats and Labour, has decided to increase the age for receiving the state pension (AOW) from 65 to 67 by 2025. But following public and political pressure, the Social Affairs Minister has agreed to make an exception for those with ‘heavy’ jobs. He has asked the unions and employers to make a list of such...
(14/1/2010)
Vacant Position Asia/Pacific: Regional Education Officer
The Building and Wood Workers' International - BWI - Asia/Pacific office in Kuala Lumpur is looking for a Regional Education Officer. Click on Related Information for the job...
(12/1/2010)
BWI Moving Forward in 2010
The past year was one of economic turmoil and instability. The international trade union movement responded quickly and effectively to address the enormous difficulties faced by millions of workers who were basically victims of corporate mismanagement. Although we have yet to fully recover from the financial crisis, we enter 2010 with the energy, unity, and momentum garnered from the 2nd BWI World Congress held this past December in Lille, France.
At the Congress, we unveiled a...
(12/1/2010)
Saudi Arabia plans to build a 1km high tower
Saudi Arabia's royal family is planning to build a one kilometre high tower in the city of Jeddah beating the world record with the completed Burj Dubai tower, 828 m. The prince Al-Walid Ibn Talal announced that the Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), which is owned by Saudi Arabia's royal family, will be responsible for the...
(11/1/2010)
Bouygues has new projects in Turkmenistan
The French group Bouygues has signed new contracts for 160 M € in Turkmenistan including the construction of two buildings one in the heart of the Turkmen Parliament and the Institute for sport and tourism. Recently, Bouygues built the mausoleum at the request of former President Niazov and the great mosque of Central...
(11/1/2010)
Dubai: The Burj Khalifa Tower is the tallest man-made structure ever built
The Burj Khalifa Tower is the tallest man-made structure ever built in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at 828 m. The total budget for the project was about US$1.5 billion. Construction began on 21 September 2004, with the exterior of the structure completed on 1 October 2009 and the building officially opened on 4 January 2010. 12,000 people will live and work in the tower. The skyscraper is now taller than Taippei 101 in...
(17/12/2009)
Season greetings and office closure!
The BWI will be closed during the season's holidays from 21 December to 3 January 2009. The BWI wishes solidarity, happiness and prosperity to all affiliates, fraternal organisations, project partners, global unions, staff and website readers during the festive season and the New Year ahead. BWI fax machine +41 22 827 37 70 as well as its electronic mailbox info@bwint.org will receive your...
(17/12/2009)
BWI Incorporates Global Campaign on Migrant Workers Rights into 2010-2013 Strategic Plan
At the 2nd BWI World Congress that was held on December 9 to 10, 2009, in Lille, France, over 600 delegates unanimously approved the incorporation of a Global Campaign on Migrant Workers Rights into the Strategic Plan for 2010 to 2013. The strategy plan proposal is in line with the concept of trade unions following workers as stated by Ambet Yuson, incoming General Secretary of BWI. In his opening statement he proclaimed, “Workers today follow work. Well then, we should just say: if...
(17/12/2009)
BWI Offers Solutions to Reduce Carbon Emissions in the Construction Sector at COP 15
In his opening speech at the BWI sponsored forum entitled Climate Change Challenge: Social Standards and Sustainable Construction as Trade Union Agenda,, held on December 14, 2009 during the COP 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Ambet Yuson, the new incoming General Secretary of the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) recognized that the sectors BWI represent are “both part of the climate change problems and the solutions.” It is well known that the construction industry including the...
(16/12/2009)
Social Standards in Forestry need strengthening if Climate Change is to be stopped
This was the message delivered today by the BWI delegation in Copenhagen. The group, representing affiliates from all continents, shared their thoughts to an audience at the WOW (World of Work) Pavillion in Copenhagen at a side event to the main UN climate change talks (COP 15). They re-inforced the message from the recent BWI Congress that in order to seriously tackle the climate change issues, forests must be sustainably managed, and deforestation reduced, and at the same time, extreme...
(10/12/2009)
Climate change is very much on the agenda of this Congress. ACT NOW and sign our campaign
Climate change is very much on the agenda of this Congress and on the agenda of the meeting in Copenhagen next week COP 15. BWI delegates have signed a campaign letter to environment ministers responsible for climate change issues. BWI comes up with a 14 point proposals for COP 15. BWI sectors are both part of the problem and the solutions....
(3/12/2009)
Turkey: BWI affiliates commit to participate in BWI Pan European Work to build solidarity in defense of workers and trade union rights
On 4-6 November 2009, a BWI delegation met its affiliates in Turkey, Union of Road, Construction and Building Workers – YOL-IS Sendikasi, the Turkish Wood Workers’ Union AGAC-IS Sendikasi, the Turkish Cement, Pottery and Glass Workers’ Union – CIMSE-IS and Turkish Forestry Workers’ Union – ORMAN-IS in Ankara. The mission made recommendations on areas for future cooperation with the BWI.
The discussions centred on the current economic and social developments in Turkey and especially the...
(3/12/2009)
World Economic Forum in Dubai recognizes construction is the most impactful sector in areas of concern to the global Agenda
The World Economic Forum is organizing meetings around the world to discuss the “Global Redesign Initiative” to meet challenges of the 21st century. The latest meeting was held in Dubai 20-22 November 2009. Anita Normark, general secretary of the BWI participated as a member of the Council for the Future of Sustainable Construction.
The meeting recognized that construction is the most impactful sector in areas of concern to the global Agenda. It is the largest consumer of materials and...
(3/12/2009)
Australian Unions Rally on Safety
The eighth annual OHS Representatives Conference, “Time to deliver the highest OHS standards” was held on Wednesday October 28, 2009 at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
The theme of the Conference was “Having a voice is having an impact”. There were a range of eminent speakers, including Keynote Speaker, Fiona Murie OSH Director for the Building and Woodworkers International, WorkSafe, Unions and academics.
One thousand six hundred Trade Union Safety representatives enjoyed the one day...
(3/12/2009)
BWI and ISSA sign new declaration on Health and Safety in Construction
Our President, Klaus Wiesehugel, last week signed up the BWI to a renewed International commitment to improve health and safety in the construction industry. Our International had substantial input into the “Brussels Declaration”, which commits the construction sector signatories to promote participation of workers and their Trade Union representatives in practical worksite prevention measures, and highlights that particular attention must be paid to banning the use of asbestos in construction...
