March 21, 2007 — The United Steelworkers (USW) and unions from six of the world's nations announced a new global union accord designed to advance the interests of workers employed by the rapidly growing Companhie Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD).

The 'Sudbury Unity Accord' was developed by members of the United Steelworkers from across Canada, along with union leaders from Brazil, Mozambique and New Caledonia. Unions representing CVRD employees in Norway and Australia also endorsed the accord.

The USW says the new unity accord forms the basis for a global union network and a united front in dealing with CVRD, which continues to grow worldwide as a producer of nickel, iron ore and coal.

"We are a global mining union," said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. "So even though we recently bargained a path breaking collective agreement here in Sudbury, when Inco was taken over by CVRD, we started to get ready for the next round of bargaining in 2009. Today's accord is part of that plan."

"Building unity among workers across the global nickel industry is vital as corporate consolidation puts control of nickel mining and processing in the hands of a few, larger multinational companies," said Gerard.

"CVRD is based in our nation" said Joao Trevisam, General Secretary of the Confederacao Nacional dos Trabalhadores no Setor Mineral (CNSTM), "We have years of experience with this company but, by working together with the Steelworkers and other unions around the globe, we can better defend our members' interests and help workers elsewhere."

Brazilian unionists at the Sudbury conference represent close to 25,000 CVRD workers in Brazil at the company's mines, rail operations, ports, offices, chemical plants, energy operations and steel mills.

Jeremias Timana, President, SINTICIM (National Union of Construction, Wood and Mines Workers of Mozambique), said, "Once the CVRD coal mine in Mozambique is developed, it will be the largest in the southern hemisphere. The Sudbury Unity Accord is about increasing communication and common action among union members dealing with the same issues.

"CVRD Inco's nickel project in Goro has been the subject of much controversy," added Didier Guenant-Jeason, USOENC (New Caledonia's Workers and Employees Union; Union syndicale des ouvriers et employés de Nouvelle-Calédonie). "Environmental risks, workers' rights and the impact on indigenous populations in New Caledonia must be addressed firmly. This accord will help us do that—and we know we can help workers in Canada, Brazil, Mozambique and elsewhere as well."

The Sudbury Unity Accord sets out the following five goals:

• Increasingly stronger collective agreements that bring high wages, improved retirement incomes and benefits, safe workplaces and a meaningful voice in the corporate decisions that affect workers' lives.
• Capital expenditures by CVRD in the local communities to support new facilities, exploration, the highest environmental standards and new developments.
• Safe and healthy workplaces for members and environmentally sustainable operations, which are healthy and safe for families and communities.
• Respect for the human rights of communities affected by corporate operations, and full recognition of the right for unions to represent the collective interests of workers.
• Full access to information about corporate acquisitions, mergers or other reorganizations that affect members in any way; and the elimination of corporate outsourcing/contracting out.

An annual work plan was set out that includes a gathering of even more CVRD-linked unions in Brazil this fall.

The USW represents about 5,000 employees of CVRD Inco across Canada.