Support for Quebecor workers seeking union representation and fair contracts grew stronger with new developments in the United States and Europe.

In the United States, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) wrote a letter to Quebecor Pres. and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau, urging him "to refrain from abridging the rights of Quebecor workers guaranteed under the National Labor Relations Act."

Kerry, who is the leading Democratic candidate for president, had earlier on the campaign trail expressed support for workers attempting to organize at Quebecor's Covington, Tenn., plant.

Kerry also is a major supporter of the proposed Employee Free Choice Act, which would encourage card-check recognition for organizing and toughen enforcement for employers who violate the National Labor Relations Act during organizing campaigns.

In his letter to Péladeau, Kerry said he had spoken with Larry Johnson, a maintenance department employee in Quebecor's Olive Branch, Miss., plant. "I am deeply concerned by what I have heard," Kerry said.

Photo by Scott Wilson

GCIU headquarters staff march outside the Canadian Embassy in support of the right of Quebecor World workers to organize and join a union. From left are: Dinese Askew, Tina McP herson, Kim Barnes, and Carol Fontana.

Kerry continued: "Mr. Johnson described an atmosphere of fear in the Mississippi plant, of fear created by management to prevent workers from forming a union. He offered personal accounts of being followed by supervisors, reprimanded for talking to his co-workers about forming a union, and forced to attend anti-union meetings – all clear violations of the rights granted under the National Labor Relations Act. Mr. Johnson assured me that workers in every Quebecor plant where workers are attempting to form a union are being subjected to similar abridgements of their rights."

"I would like to express my continuing support for workers employed by Quebecor World, Inc., who are attempting to form a union," Kerry said. "Forming and joining a union is a fundamental right under federal law that all working people deserve the freedom to exercise in representation elections, unencumbered by management interference."

Kerry noted that more than 50 unfair labor practice charges and equal employment opportunity charges have been filed at the Olive Branch plant. These include charges of discrimination against African American workers and women.

Johnson said the Quebecor workers "are standing up for fairness, safety, and respect on the job, and we're happy to know that Sen. Kerry is standing with us. He was appalled by the discrimination and abuse that has happed at Quebecor. He was eager to help and expressed a strong commitment to workers' rights."

GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi praised Kerry's support. "Sen. Kerry is showing that he is a true ally to working families in the United States. On behalf o the 75,000 men and women of the GCIU, I applaud him for his efforts to help Quebecor workers win justice on the job," Tedeschi said.

In Europe, union representatives attending a European Works Council (EWC) meeting in Paris passed a resolution declaring their full support for the GCIU's organizing campaign at Quebecor World plants.

Under European Union regulations, companies are required to meet periodically with worker representatives.

In a statement, the EWC delegates also called on the management of Quebecor World to respect the right of workers to organize and form unions; to cease their on-going policy of union avoidance; and harassment of employees who support union rights in their workplace."

The EWC representatives also expressed full support for the campaign by the Union Network International (UNI), a global federation of graphical and other industry unions, to secure a global agreement with Quebecor. The UNI agreement would provide for the right of Quebecor employees to organize without interference from management, to be treated with dignity and respect, to work in safe and secure environments, and for Quebecor World to fully respect" the conventions of the International Labor Organization.