President, Rio Tinto Global Network

President, Rio Tinto Global Network

'Justice at Rio Tinto'

WE, the undersigned, members of the Rio Tinto Global Network ­ an international coalition of trade unions that represents about 60 percent of the workforce at Rio Tinto plc/Rio Tinto ltd ­ do hereby demand that Rio Tinto directors, officers and managers begin to live up to their oft-stated public pronouncements to respect international labor standards, national labor laws, and community labor and environmental standards wherever Rio Tinto facilties are located.

FURTHERMORE, we demand that:

1) Rio Tinto managers in Zimbabwe stop violating statutory disciplinary procedures at Renco Mine;
2) Rio Tinto officials in Australia cease their attacks on trade union organizing efforts by using so called "personal contracts" and other brutal tactics such as illegal dismissals;
3) Rio Tinto managers in the United States withdraw their illegally-imposed "company final proposal" at Kennecott Utah Copper and return to the bargaining table in good faith to negotiate a fair and equitable agreement;
4) Rio Tinto directors in Indonesia cease to allow the employment of Indonesian military and police at the Freeport-McMoron mines who have brutally and violently terrorized workers and nearby communites;
5) All Rio Tinto facilities review the major conventions of the United Nations International Labor Organization (ILO), and honor those conventions - especially Convention 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise) and Convention 98 (The Right to Organise and Bargain Collectively).

FINALLY, we demand that Rio Tinto Board Chair Robert Wilson and Rio Tinto Chief Executive Officer Leigh Clifford meet with the leadership of the Rio Tinto Global Network at the earliest possible date to negotiate a fair, equitable and enforceable Global Agreement to set labor relations standards and rules that apply to all Rio Tinto properties worldwide.

KCBC: When Attacked, We Fight Back

Peace & Solidarity

KUC CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE
c/o USWA,
Ste. 1003, Five Gateway Ctr.,
Pittsburgh,
PA 15222
USA
Tel: 801.972.3433 or 412.562.6968
Email: kcbc@steelweb.org