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Dear Tom,
<P>A couple of years ago I represented my local union, in our effort to
get ISO9000 and QSO 9000 certification. QSO 9000 is the steel industry
automotive related standard. We were successful in getting both certifications.
<P>I met regularly with about 25 of the companies top level managers.
For starters I told management that the unions position was that ISO-QSO
was a technical & scientific program and that there would be <B>no
editorializing</B> on the part of management which would take away from
the technical & scientific nature of the program. We have had
problems in the past with management trying to use programs like SPC for
their editorial advantage. So I made it clear right from the start
that this would be our position on the ISO-QSO program,<B> no editorializing</B>.
<P>The nice thing about ISO-QSO is that it requires a very high degree
of process documentation and it forces the company to open up all areas
to scrutiny. I got insights into areas of the business that normally would
not have been talked about. I took detailed notes and briefed the
officers of our local union.
<P>Now in non-union companies the only advantage to the workers might be
in the fact the company has to record such processes as housekeeping, and,
the inspectors/auditors do grade on such subjects.
<P>Sincerely,
<BR>Tom L.
<P>Thomas Kruse wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>Dear lbo-ers:
<P>A while back there was a good discussion on ISO 9000, with participation
<BR>from Asia, US, etc. Unfortunatley, I was a bit too quick with
the ctrl + D
<BR>in the In box.
<P>My question: does ISO 9000 stipulate anything regarding conditions of
labor?
<BR>We have a couple of companies here trumpeting their new ISO 9000 status,
and
<BR>they have absolutely horrific records of labor abuses. The unions
are have
<BR>tried lots of ways to publicize the abuses; they now feel the ISO issue
<BR>might be a useful "hook" for us.
<P>Note: even if ISO 9000 does not stipulate a certain treatment of labor,
has
<BR>there been disussion in this regard? Point: even if we can't
argue the
<BR>designation is spurious on the grounds of bad labor practices, we can
still
<BR>argue there ought to be social clauses with ISO 9000.
<P>Any and all comment, help, guidance is very much appreciated.
It may well
<BR>make this week's news here.
<P>Tom
<P>Tom Kruse / Casilla 5812 / Cochabamba, Bolivia
<BR>Tel/Fax: (591-4) 248242
<BR>Email: tkruse@albatros.cnb.net</BLOCKQUOTE>
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