Global mobilization against inequality on 7 October

On 7 October, World Day for Decent Work, IndustriALL affiliates around the world will take action to highlight the growing crisis of inequality and demand a just future. Working people everywhere are facing a cost of living crisis, with wage rises not meeting soaring inflation and rising energy costs, combined with attacks on unions and workers’ rights.

This perfect storm of crises needs a coordinated response, and IndustriALL has identified the building blocks of a just future, including higher wages, fair taxation, sustainable industrial policy and respect for unions and human rights.

Unions will send a message to multinational companies and governments of the world that it is time to pay up and invest in building a decent future. IndustriALL vice presidents have written to affiliates in their region, asking them to join in a coordinated global day of action by identifying and campaigning on the building blocks that are most relevant to their members.

Rose Omamo, vice president for the Sub-Saharan Africa region, said:

“The wage race to the bottom in many of the Sub Saharan African economies as a result of increased labour flexibility coupled with great uncertainties in a world in crisis due to deepening inequalities coupled with a warming planet which is set to have irreversible consequences on lives, this region will demand more robust and drastic policy changes for a just world that leaves no one behind.”

Garbiñe Espejo, vice president for the Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus regions, said:

“The fact that in Europe we are planning a whole succession of trade union mobilizations against the precariousness of employment and wage conditions is nothing more than a manifestation of the unjust reversal of the crisis against socio-labour rights. That is why, from this region, we are launching the solidarity campaign for wage and labour dignity in the world, from the international trade union action of European organizations for equality and against the impoverishment of living and working conditions in the world.”

 Hashmeya Alsadawe, vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, said:

“Our region, the Middle East and North Africa, is witnessing rising tension and successive crises and hostility to the work of free trade unions by most governments, with a lack of respect for international labour standards.”

 Akira Takakura, vice president for the Asia Pacific region, said:

“The Asia and Pacific region is not an exception. In our region, actual wage growth has lagged behind labour productivity.  Workers, especially in South Asia, are suffering from soaring inflation including essential food prices and having difficulties to make ends meet.”

 
 

Tunis declaration calls for inclusion of labour provisions in the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement

The declaration was made at the ITUC-Africa Trade Union Continental Forum on the AfCFTA which was held under the theme: Ensuring decent work in the framework of the AfCFTA implementation – towards the inclusion of the positions of the trade unions in the AfCFTA processes.

According to the declaration a

“space for social dialogue must be created at the national, regional and continental level for African citizens, and their socio-economic groupings — that is workers including those of the informal economy, farmers, traders, producers, enterprises, civil society, private sector – to participate effectively in a democratic and transparent process and ensure the reflection of their concerns and views in the negotiations.”

Further, the unions want information on the AfCFTA processes to be made available to workers “in a timely and accessible manner.” They argue that this is necessary to enable effective participation.
 
Noureddine Taboubi, Générale des Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) secretary general says:

“The AfCFTA creates possibilities for decent work that will stop irregular migration and modern slavery, and provide an opportunity to transform Africa’s precarious economies, and end poverty.”

Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, ITUC-Africa secretary general says:

“We want an appropriate space for non-state actors in the AfCFTA to canvas for social dialogue at national and continental levels. Trade unions should be in this space to advance workers’ rights and interests, and to support trade and regional integration in Africa.”

“The AfCFTA is an important agreement for the continent with potential to create decent jobs and revive industrialization in the manufacturing sectors through increased intra-African trade. But this opportunity will be lost if workers and trade unions are excluded from the negotiations,”

emphasizes Rose Omamo, IndustriALL vice president, who participated in the forum.
 
The AfCFTA, which started trading in 2021, aims to promote intra-African trade, value added manufacturing and sustainable development. Additionally, it is expected to double trade and increase the integration of regional economic communities – Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and Arab Maghreb Union (UMA).

The forum comprised 90 delegates, from ITUC-Africa affiliates, sub regional trade union organizations, trade union support organizations, and civil society organizations, including those from IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in Tunisia, Madagascar, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

The forum, which was held with support from SASK and the Labour Research Service, received research reports from Chad, Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Tunisia, and Zambia on possible national impacts of the AfCFTA. Other presentations were made by ILO-ACTRAV, SASK and Third World Network Africa.

Three workers die, eight injured after explosion in Indian factory

At the time of the explosion, 50 employees were working in the manufacturing unit, making electrical panels among other electrical equipment. The fire triggered by the explosion claimed three lives and severely injured eight others. The deceased are identified as Ajay Badra, 27, Sandeep Mishra, 25, and Ashwin Patel, 28.

“This is a shocking incident and the indifference on the part of the management regarding the lives and safety of workers is unacceptable. Workplace safety is the responsibility of the management. Employers must be prosecuted by the government when there are fatalities,”

says Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL regional secretary.

Workplace safety is still in a dismal state in India, where lax safety mechanisms in manufacturing units continue to claim the lives of workers.

Less than a month ago a contract worker died and four others sustained injuries after a gas leak at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in the same district.

“It's terrible that workers' lives are treated with such indifference. We urge companies and the government to take workplace safety with utmost seriousness,”

says Sanjay Vadhavkar, executive committee member of IndustriALL and general secretary of Steel, Metal & Engineering Workers’ Federation of India (SMEFI).

Increased minimum wage for Cambodia’s garment workers

Amid intimidation, IndustriALL affiliates in Cambodia, FTUWKC, CCAWDU and CUMW have been campaigning for a raise of the minimum wage from the current US$194 to US$215. The garment manufacturers association had argued that the minimum wage remain at US$194.

“The increased minimum wage is a positive development for garment workers in Cambodia, but trade unions are still demanding a living wage, and the fight for that will continue,”

says Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL textile and garment director.

Soaring food and fuel prices in Cambodia and a high inflation is adding pressure on garment workers, and trade unions are unhappy with the US$6 increase.

“The new minimum wage is not good enough to cushion the rising cost of living. The government must take measures to control inflation so that workers can survive on their wages.

“In addition, some workers' benefits had been reduced in the past three years, like the number of national holidays reduced from 22 days to six, and the replacement leave if a national holiday falls on a Sunday, removed,”

says Pav Sina, CUMW president.

Solar and battery technologies are changing the employment landscape

While clean energy is fueling significant employment growth, research shows that the bulk of workers contributing to new energies work in the construction phase. Once the facilities are built there will be new jobs, although fewer than today. While the demand for solar energy is on the rise, solar plants use significantly less workers.

Today there is competition for batteries due to wide usage and demand. Companies are trying to secure access to the minerals needed for battery production, and there is research on alternatives over fear that the minerals will run out.

China has significant control over clean energy minerals and production. China’s presence in the rest of the supply chain – raw materials, processed materials, components and assembly – has an impact on the type of workforce taking part in this transition.

Dr. Jojo Nem Singh, assistant professor at the International Institute of Social Studies, explained that there is a lot of pressure on developing countries with mineral reserves needed to produce renewables and other clean energy technologies. 

“In terms of the geographical spread, we are dealing with very different countries than those who produce oil and gas. The current distribution of mining countries in the supply chain will change dramatically because of mining investments in minerals needed for renewables. Done right, mining can provide green jobs that don’t have to be poverty generating – the key is processing technology and ensuring local content requirements can create inclusive growth and new jobs.”

IndustriALL automotive sector director, Georg Leutert, has been working with affiliates to ensure that battery plants are owned by automobile factories, because they are well organized with quality longstanding CBAs. However, there are only few examples of this. Battery production needs large facilities and requires significant investment, workers today are seeing it being outsourced by auto makers.

The energy sector employs about 65 million people worldwide in fuel supply, the power sector and in end uses.

“This is an important benchmark for the discussion around just transition, and important information to make critical energy policy decisions going forward. This pivot to clean energy is also an opportunity to address issues like gender and representation,”

said Daniel Wetzel from the IEA.

Wetzel concluded that while clean energy jobs outpace losses, losses are acute in certain regions and sectors. There is a lot of investment needed to ensure a good transition. Rapid employment growth also represents risks: the need for more skilled workers, growing skills gaps and insufficient focus on decent work.

Mahatma Santos from the Institute of Strategic Studies on Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Zé Eduardo Dutra (INEEP), whose mission is to produce knowledge about the sector and support institutions in Brazil with technical reflection on energy security, said:

“There has been an increase in prices and demand in the solar photovoltaic sector since 2021, creating about 151,000 jobs. However, 43 per cent of jobs are outside of Brazil, the jobs are concentrated in construction and characterized by precarious working conditions and low wages”

There is strong potential in Brazil for the expansion of the sector but the delay in projects, lack of tax incentives and shortage of equipment has made growth difficult.

Energy transition in Brazil is at a critical moment. Election results this week will have a considerable impact on the country’s direction for just transition.

Mining is the backbone of the Chile’s economy, yet the industry creates few jobs. The country is a major producer of critical minerals, where 14 per cent of the workforce is unionized and only 8 per cent have access to collective bargaining.

“Chile’s social and environmental challenges makes it difficult for workers to progress. Unions will continue to work hard for more social dialogue, especially around just transition”,

said Alejandro Ochoa, from CUT Chile.

Igor Diaz, from Sintracarbon, Colombia, reported that the mining industry has seen difficult times in the country. Glencore for example, took advantage of the previous government’s softer regulation, using the pandemic and just transition as an excuse to close plants and dismiss workers.

“Workers want to move towards clean energy, and we hope that the government will ensure a just transition for workers. We believe in our new government and believe they can make progress on a just transition, not only in the energy sector but in other sectors as well, like agriculture.”

Textile unions in MENA campaign for social protection

Taking up the campaign Garment workers need safe factories, textile unions in MENA are joining the global call for safe workplaces. In October 2021, IndustriALL Global Union negotiated the International Accord on Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, which now has over 180 global brands and retailers’ signatories. In March this year, an ILO Code of Practice for Health and Safety was adopted for the sector.

"Occupational health and safety is a significant risk in the TGSL sector, especially for women who bear the weight of housework and raising children in addition to the workload. Women’s engagement in union work is a show of persistence and perseverance. Union work in the private sector is difficult, especially if employers do not respect union work,"

says Noureddine Taboubi, UGTT general secretary Tunisia.

"Our ability to improve safety and health depends on our organizing power. We in Tunisia are working on launching a large organizing campaign at the beginning of next year which will focus on safety and health,”

says Habib Hazami, general secretary of Fédération Générale du Textile, de l'Habillement, Chaussure et Cuir – FGTHCC-UGTT.

 

 
The trade union leaders highlighted that the supply chain disruptions during the pandemic underscored the need for stronger social protection systems for workers. One of the root causes of garment workers’ dire situation is that many producing countries have inadequate or non-existent systems for social protection.
 
Social protection, according to the ILO, is “a human right and is defined as the set of policies and programmes designed to reduce and prevent poverty and vulnerability throughout the life cycle.”  Social protection includes child and family benefits, maternity protection, unemployment support, employment injury benefits, sickness benefits, health protection, old-age benefits, disability benefits and survivors’ benefits.

“Social security is mandatory, but workers in the TGSL sector are deprived of it as business owners evade it and the law is not properly applied. Some workers find themselves without a pension upon retirement and women are deprived of their maternity rights,”

says Araby Hamouk from Syndicat National des Travailleurs du Textile et du Cuir – SNTTC-UMT Morocco.
 
The IndustriALL MENA TGSL union network conducted a study about social security. Unions identified the need for a regional campaign, using international tools like global framework agreements, the International Accord, the ILO code of practice to improve social security and health and safety. The unions agreed to follow up on the laws, social dialogue, workplace health and safety committees, awareness raising and to set up national union structures to lead the work.

“During the pandemic, the current model where severance is the only form of social protection, led to wage theft. There is no decent work without social protection, and as 7 October approaches, the world day for decent work, we support our affiliates’ action,”

says Christina Hajagos-Clausen.

Photo credit: Abdel Hameed Al Nasier​/ILO

United for a just future – time to pay up!

Trade unions have been attacked across the world, and the decline in power has been matched by labour’s declining share of wealth. The Covid pandemic was the final trigger that has tipped the world into spiralling inequality.

For 7 October this year, World Day for Decent Work, we are demanding a better future. Union action is the key to the success of this campaign and the global day of action because we must speak with one voice about the growing crisis of inequality.

"We have a plan for a just future. We need to articulate it, build coalitions and fight for it together,"

says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.

What can you and your union do?

Depending on the main issues concerning inequality in your sector or country, actions may vary due to different national and regional priorities or situations. The actions could be:

Demonstrations

Multinational campaign

Political campaign

Building blocks for a just future

We encourage you to use the building blocks that are most relevant for you and print the posters (at the bottom of the page), take pictures holding them, and send the pictures back to us before 7 October, so that we can use them on the day.

When we come together, we can make a difference. On 7 October, let’s use social media to show that we are united for a just future. Use the images below, or your own material, with the #JustFuture hashtag.

If the action cannot be taken on 7 October, unions can take action on another day, preferably between 28 September and 18 October.

Let’s come together and demand our fair share for a just future!

Here are the building blocks to share on social media:

 
 

Turkey: textile workers picket for more than 60 days

Workers at the factory are covered by a collective agreement, which entitles them to bonuses, severance and notice payment and annual leave. The employer has offered to pay 70 per cent of the severance pay, which was rejected by the union. Since then, there has been no further engagement from the employer.

By refusing to pay the workers what they are owed, ETF Tekstil is violating the collective agreement.

Gulsen Balta worked in the logistics department of the factory for almost five years, supporting a family of four. She says:

“The closure makes me anxious, how will I support my family and find another job? Being on the picket line is tough, we have been attacked by the police many times, but we are firm and confident in our ambitions and we will continue to fight for what is ours. We have worked hard at this factory, we have produced and we have performed our duties. We as workers have grown this company and we deserve what is rightfully ours.”

In a letter to company management in August, IndustriALL demanded that the employer engages with Deriteks and negotiates the terms and conditions of the closure in compliance with Turkish labour laws, international core labour standards, and the companies’ commitments to their customers. ETF Tekstil produces t-shirts for brands like Columbia and Sketchers
   
During a visit to the picket line in September, IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said:

"IndustriALL is supporting your struggle – long live international solidarity. The employer must act now and compensate the workers in full, according to Turkish labour law. If not, IndustriALL is ready to launch an international campaign, which will include major customers.”

 

Nuclear unions in solidarity with Ukrainian workers

Over 40 participants engaged in the meeting, including nuclear unions from Japan, France, Argentina, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine. Experts from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation were also present.

Valery Matov, IndustriALL vice co-chair for the nuclear sector and president of Atomprofspilka, Ukraine, painted a grim picture of how nuclear power workers are suffering.

“More than 200 workers have been kidnapped and many have been tortured to death. Russian soldiers have occupied nuclear plants and  workers are under the permanent physical and  psychological pressure. Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant had over 11,000 employees and now has less than 10,000 workers. We appeal to you to condemn the nuclear takeover and demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from Enerhodar City. We ask that you write to your governments asking for assistance in the removal of the troops.”

Representatives from the ILO spoke about the concerns over the mental and physical impact the violations have on workers, in addition to concerns about potential exposure to radiation.

“It is key to discuss how we will enforce labour conventions with the help of IndustriALL and we need to have discussions with workers on what their needs are,”

said Sergiy Savchuk from the ILO.

“We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian workers. It is imperative that we prevent a nuclear disaster and we must defend workers at the power plants in terms of health and safety, especially the long working hours,”

said Owen Tudor from ITUC.

Affiliates showed their strong concern and solidarity with the workers and their families in Ukraine, and were open to supporting the Ukrainian union through different proposals with their governments and companies in the nuclear sector of their countries.

“We stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian comrades and we will continue working with the ILO and other agencies to put pressure on the international community to secure peace and fundamental rights for Ukrainian workers and people,”

said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie.

OECD Steel Committee: workers demand a Just Transition!

The 92nd session of the OECD Steel Committee on 19-20 September, in Paris, saw governments, employers, trade unions and other stakeholders back in person for the first time in almost three years.

The energy crisis and the war in Ukraine set a bleak and challenging backdrop to the two-day event, with unions calling on the Committee to consider the impact of the challenges on the people at the centre of the industry, the steelworkers. For the first time, the agenda of the Steel Committee gave adequate space to trade union representatives to present workers’ priorities for a Just Transition. TUAC and its partners, the global and European trade unions, described the challenges that the digital and green transition pose to steelworkers and the actions trade unions and the OECD can take to help navigate the process, encouraging the Steel Committee to pay due attention to labour dynamics in the sector, as part of its mandate.

The message was reflected in the Chair’s statement, acknowledging for the first time "the importance of promoting a just transition of the workforce in this process of steel industry adjustment".

Veronica Nilsson, acting general secretary of TUAC, commented:

”Decarbonisation of the steel industry is a global priority and OECD countries must show real leadership in this field while ensuring that the transition is managed responsibly. TUAC will continue to raise trade union concerns in all relevant OECD bodies, asking Members to take concrete action for a Just Transition in the steel sector and beyond.”

Various experts took to the floor to present the impact of the energy crisis on the steel sector, including its impact on the challenge of decarbonizing this energy intensive sector. The war in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions against Russia continue to put pressure on the sector, both in terms of access to and the price of energy and raw materials. There was consensus between the OECD members that greater effort is needed to decarbonize the sector in these challenging times with a global recession on the horizon.

IndustriALL base metals director, Matthias Hartwich

 

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL director for base metals and mechanical engineering, said:

‘’If we speak about steel makers, we actually talk about steel workers, the men and women who produce the steel with their hands and brains. They are at the heart of the green and digital transitions and IndustriALL Global insists that these transitions are managed responsibly between employers and trade unions.

"We welcome a discussion on measures to make this a just transition, including ensuring that any new green or digital jobs are good jobs, with real contracts supported by collective agreements and fair pay.”

TUAC, industriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union, stressed that the decarbonization must be managed in a socially responsible way. Trade unions insist that any transition, be it green or digital, must be accompanied by quality social dialogue plus measures put in place to ensure that no worker or region is left behind.

Judith Kirton‒Darling, deputy general secretary of industriAll European Trade Union, said:

“Trade unions insist on a seat at the table when discussing the green and digital transitions, as our Just Transition manifesto says, 'nothing about us without us!'. Quality social dialogue is an essential tool to ensure that transitions are managed in a socially just manner no worker should be  left behind.’’

 TUAC considers the decarbonisation of the steel industry a global priority and OECD countries must show real leadership in this field while ensuring that the transition is managed responsibility. TUAC will continue to raise trade union concerns in all relevant OECD committees and will push for a Just Transition in the steel sector and beyond.