Social Justice and Globalization

Big win for contract workers in Pakistan

17 April 2024 at 13:12

After ten years, on 4 April, 55 contract workers at IFFCO Pakistan were finally granted the status of permanent workers by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Indian unions fight for workers’ rights

9 April 2024 at 11:26

IndustriALL Global Union’s general secretary Atle Høie’s recent visit to Delhi comes ahead of the upcoming general election in the country where trade unions are campaigning against the ruling party’s anti-worker policies.

Fighting for living wage in Malaysia and Philippines

5 April 2024 at 11:37

Malaysian and Philippine trade unionists expressed grave concern about the high cost of living and that they are united in demanding a living wage for workers and their families.

ILO agreement takes important step for living wages

21 March 2024 at 10:00

On 13 March, the International Labour Organization (ILO) reached an agreement on the living wage issue. The agreement, reached during a meeting of experts on wage policies, including living wages last month, was endorsed by the ILO’s Governing Body, last week.

Nigerian unions protest increasing cost of living

28 February 2024 at 16:01

On 27 and 28 February thousands of Nigerian workers went on nationwide protests against the increasing cost of living caused by what unions summarize as anti-worker economic austerity measures, that were introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Revised minimum wage in Bangladesh is not enough

28 February 2024 at 12:50

Last year, the minimum wage for Bangladesh’s ready made garment (RMG) was revised, but this year’s demand from the textile workers, who are involved in the production of the fabric, has gone unheard as last week, the wage board fixed the minimum wage for cotton textile sector workers at BDT10,000 (US$90).

IndustriALL joins forces with the Global Coalition for Social Justice

20 February 2024 at 11:00

To reinforce global efforts towards social justice and workers' rights, IndustriALL Global Union has joined the Global Coalition for Social Justice, led by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Indian garment workers protest delay in wage increase

14 February 2024 at 11:59

On 12 February, the Garment and Fashion Workers’ Union (GAFWU), affiliated to IndustriALL through Unions United, protested outside the labour commissioner’s office in Chennai, India, against the prolonged delay in the notification of the new minimum wage.

Unions raise concerns over migrant workers in Israel

30 January 2024 at 16:41

Trade unions in South Asia raised concerns over migration of precarious workers to Israel as the war in Palestine continues.

20 per cent wage increase for textile workers in Tunisia

17 January 2024 at 17:05

Textile workers in Tunisia have received a 20 percent wage increase distributed over 2024, 2025 and 2026. The increase comes after an agreement on 12 January between IndustriALL affiliate Fédération Générale du Textile, de l'Habillement, Chaussure et Cuir - FGTHCC-UGTT and the employers’ organization Fédération Nationale du Textile FENATEX - UTICA.

Union-win in Australia with legislation on contract workers

7 December 2023 at 12:06

In a major victory for (labour-hire) contract workers across Australia, new legislation has passed that ensures that contract workers are paid the same as permanent workers performing the same role.

Unions in Bangladesh demand revision of new minimum wage

16 November 2023 at 12:23

Minimum wage protests in Dhaka continue as workers’ demand of a higher minimum wage remains unmet. Police has been violently breaking down the protests and to date four workers have been killed and several others seriously injured. Police has registered over 60 criminal cases, in which nearly a hundred workers have been arrested, including six local union leaders.

Minimum wage protests continue in Bangladesh

9 November 2023 at 14:49

Workers in Bangladesh continue to protest for a higher minimum wage in light of the inadequate increase that the government approved when it announced the new minimum wage as BDT12,500 (US$112) on 9 November.

Paper and packaging workers on picket line for 137 days

24 October 2023 at 12:04

Workers at the paper and packaging company WestRock, New Jersey, USA, have been on strike for 137 days. Members represented by United Auto Workers Union (UAW) Region 9 have been on the picket line, fighting against the company’s demand that workers leave the union insurance plan and go into the company plan, which would mean a cut to their benefits.

Nigerian unions suspend national strike after agreement with government

5 October 2023 at 14:20

Nigerian unions have suspended an indefinite national strike to protest the removal of a fuel subsidy after an agreement was reached with the Federal Government of Nigeria through social dialogue on 2 October.

Unions address key challenges in chemical and pharmaceutical industries

28 September 2023 at 17:10

IndustriALL concluded global meetings for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, which took place in Istanbul, Turkey from 25-27 September. The event brought together 180 participants from 46 unions across 36 countries to discuss pressing issues in these fast-evolving sectors.

5 steps for trade unions to close the gender pay gap

18 September 2023 at 00:00

IndustriALL Global Union has launched its Pay Equity Toolkit, developed to support trade unions in bargaining for pay equity.

United Auto Workers on strike for share of profits

15 September 2023 at 17:27

Today members of IndustriALL affiliate United Auto Workers (UAW) walked out at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis (the Big Three) marking the beginning of their Stand Up Strike. UAW contracts with the Big Three expired on 14 September and practice pickets and worker preparations, across America began. Workers are saying record profits should equal record contracts.

Nigerian unions protest anti-poor policies

7 August 2023 at 11:45

On 2 August in a national strike to protest the increasing cost of living and the introduction of anti-poor policies in Africa’s largest economy, thousands of workers took to the streets of Nigeria’s 36 states and main cities including the capital, Abuja.

Brazil enacts law to ensure equal pay for women and men

18 July 2023 at 10:19

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva has signed a law guaranteeing equal pay for women and men. This is a historic step for a country where women workers earn lower average wages than men, even when their levels of education, jobs and length of service are similar.

Workers in Nepal demand fair wages

14 July 2023 at 12:59

IndustriALL affiliates in Nepal have submitted a joint memorandum to the Labour Minister and Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industries, demanding that the minimum wage be raised to NPR 26,200 (US$200).

Raising workers’ voices for change

26 June 2023 at 02:17

This year’s International Labour Conference in Geneva gathered 5,000 delegates representing governments, workers and employers from the ILO’s 187 member states. The ILC passed resolutions on a just transition and labour protection, as well as adopting a new recommendation on quality apprenticeships and a resolution on Belarus.

Union protests in Casablanca disrupted by security forces

15 June 2023 at 17:27

The Confédération Démocratique du Travail (CDT) called for a national protest on 4 June to denounce the weakening of purchasing power and increasing prices in the country. Moroccan security forces surrounded protesters in an attempt to prevent the march.

Fight for decent wages continues

2 June 2023 at 17:05

Workers everywhere need a pay rise that reflects the inflation rate and the sacrifices made during the Covid pandemic, which many are still recovering from. They need wages that reflect their essential part in value creation. Trade unions play a key role in ensuring that workers receive decent wages.

Unions demand sincere dialogue with Glencore ahead of AGM

25 May 2023 at 16:52

Ahead of Glencore’s AGM on 26 May, IndustriALL Global Union brought together representatives from trade unions at Glencore operations around the world, as well as from communities touched by the Swiss mining company’s blatant lack of willingness to address serious environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues across its global operations for a pre-AGM.

Social justice & globalization

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