Launch of trade union guide of practice for a Just Transition

These are some of the critical issues raised during the online webinar on 18 October to launch A trade union guide of practice for a Just Transition. The webinar was attended by 82 union representatives from 51 countries representing the sectors that IndustriALL Global Union affiliates organize.

The guide aims to assist trade unions in developing frameworks that can be used in Just Transition plans and campaigns to protect workers who will be adversely impacted by the transition not only from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources but by the introduction of new technologies. The guide considers contexts and realities in the Global North where automotive and steel manufacturing jobs will be lost, and the Global South where jobs will become more precarious with most workers earning poverty wages.

Kan Matsuzaki, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, said:

“Just Transition poses a challenge for trade unions in terms of job losses, but this should be seen also as an opportunity for job creation in renewable energy industries, automation, and digitalization including in the electronics and automotive sectors. This means trade unions must continue to demand secure jobs especially for young workers, and campaign for sustainable economies. This guide is a must read for unions as they formulate strategies and plans for the Just Transition.”

Speakers at the launch said the frameworks should be informed by ILO guidelines on the Just Transition, international labour standards, the decent work agenda, and the trade union demands including those made at conferences like COP 26. Emphasis was put on including the gains made through collective agreements and social dialogue processes.

The guide of practice is a toolbox of ideas that can be adopted by the unions and “pro-workers' supporters” that include communities, civil society organizations and other organizations that are part of alliances, networks, and movements that support a Just Transition. The guide has two sections on the current economic and political context; and steps that unions can follow in building strategies and plans to achieve the transition on workers' terms.

The guide is anchored on five principles: a high bar transition, creation of decent jobs, social dialogue, creation of permanent institutions for a Just transition, and affordable energy. Addressing gender-inequality and ending poverty are also described as key to the transition.

“We seek a transformative high bar Just Transition which ensures quality jobs for all workers effected by decarbonization […] A Just Transition process of decarbonization must be the vehicle to transform the economic relationships between capital and workers, as well as lead to a broad societal transformation that, among other things, brings about just and sustainable energy generation.”

The guide can be used for workers education specially to build the capacity of shop stewards and is complete with implementation and monitoring tools for social dialogue, examples of what should be included in Just Transition agreements and recommendations on the type of government organizations that can be set up. The sample indicators, timelines, and checklists are useful for trade union education while the appendix provides samples on what to include in Just Transition agreements.

The guide includes workers’ voices from IndustriALL affiliates as it includes information collected during the research phase through a questionnaire, online meetings, and interviews. Data collection for the guide also included information from IndustriALL energy networks in the Middle East and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Jonathan Tasini, the guide’s author said:

“Unions need to immediately start the engagement with the employers and governments and develop long term strategies and plans for 20-30 years.”

“A Just Transition is about social justice, decent working conditions, and better livelihoods for workers and their families as well as for communities and these are the key messages in the guide.

“The time to act is now. Unions must not wait for the changes to happen before taking decisive action,”

said Diana Junquera Curiel, IndustriALL energy director.

The guide, published by IndustriALL with support from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, is available in English, French and Spanish.

Social protection in action in Bangladesh

Social protection is a recognized fundamental human right and could include sick pay, unemployment benefit and injury insurance. The pandemic brought home the precariousness of the garment industry’s production model, as millions of workers in countries with no safety net were left without pay as the industry came to an abrupt halt.

The EIS, which involves the ILO, the government, brands, workers and employers, is a social protection scheme including compensation for medical treatment and rehabilitation services, as well as income loss caused by occupational injuries and disease. It’s a pilot project which will initially run for three years, with seven brands and around 150 garment factories participating.
 
The webinar on 18 October, aimed primarily at institutional investors interested in working towards a more sustainable garment industry built on respect for workers’ fundamental rights, explored why garment and textile brands participate, their role in funding it and the need for their continued involvement in the development of sustainable employment injury insurance.

“The non-payment of wages due to cancellation of orders during the pandemic led to deepening poverty for millions of global supply chain workers because of a fundamental lack of social protection. In several cases, this triggered large-scale protests and brought not only operational, legal and financial risks for sourcing brands, but also reputational damage for some due to their being accused of wage theft,“

said capital stewardship advisor Liz Umlas.
 
Anne Marie La Rosa from the ILO stressed that this important pilot is a vehicle to bring change to the garment industry.

“The brands have a big footprint in Bangladesh. If we can get the model to work and get everyone around the table – government, unions, the industry – this can be expanded to other countries.”

Garment brands H&M and Primark participated on the panel and gave their views on why they decided to develop and support the pilot. In their comments, H&M and Primark called on other brands to participate in the EIS, and noted that while environmental issues seem to be on investors' radar, social issues are much less so, and social protection in particular is never raised by investors.

“This is an important first step in developing a strong social safety net for the workers, but more brands need to join to make the pilot sustainable. It is important that we share the responsibility for a sustainable garment industry,”

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

Participating brands to date are Amer Sports, Bestseller, Fast Retailing, the H&M Group, KiK, Primark and Tchibo. In a letter sent out earlier this month, IndustriALL is calling on more than 40 brands sourcing from Bangladesh to support the scheme.

The webinar is part of IndustriALL’s larger initiative on social protection for garment workers, following on an earlier event in June, where workers from Thailand provided testimony about the impact of wage theft on their lives.
 
 
 
 
 

Ship recycling: urgent action needed to ensure that all workers are safe at work!

Following the tragic death of two workers at the Simsekler ship recycling facility in Turkey, which resulted in the facility’s removal from the EU’s List of Ship Recycling Facilities, industriAll European Trade Union and IndustriALL Global Union have been in discussions with the European Commission as to how improve occupational health and safety standards in ship recycling yards across the globe, stressing that strong trade unions are essential to ensure  good health and safety practices.

The global shipbreaking sector, part of the ship recycling process, is known for being extremely dangerous with precarious working conditions, poverty wages, little training and a lack of safety equipment and access to medical services, as highlighted in IndustriALL Global Union’s special report. Unfortunately, fatalities in this sector are not uncommon, and as well as the two previously mentioned incidents in Turkey, there are real concerns about working conditions in Bangladesh, with more than 20 serious accidents and six fatalities in 2022 so far. Trade unions call for urgent action to prevent accidents and improve working conditions in ship recycling yards across the world.

The EU has strict standards in place via the European Ship Recycling Regulation and the EU List of Ship Recycling Facilities, with European policy makers keen to use these tools to improve working conditions and increase the environmental standards of ship recycling facilities across the world. With both items currently under review, industriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union took the opportunity to respond to the consultations and meet with the European Commission to highlight the experience of workers on the ground and to insist that freedom of association, strong trade unions, and quality social dialogue are all needed to ensure that workers are safe at work. Trade unions can monitor compliance with regulations from the ground up, change the working practices of members, and challenge unsafe work.

The aims of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation to prevent, reduce and minimise accidents, injuries and other negative effects on human health and the environment during the shipbreaking/recycling process are supported by trade unions. The EU’s Regulation also aims to help ratify the International Maritime Organisation’s Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, of which IndustriALL Global Union has been a long-time supporter.

With the demand for ship recycling set to increase dramatically in the near future, and almost 90 per cent of shipbreaking (gross tonnage) taking place in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, investment is needed to ensure that current global facilities are up to scratch. This should entail social partners and national authorities developing roadmaps to prepare for increased demand in ship recycling, while meeting all the criteria set out in the Hong Kong Convention and the EU’s Regulation.

Kan Matsuzaki, IndustriALL Global assistant general secretary, said:

“IndustriALL Global Union’s priority is for the Hong Kong Convention to come into force. The next year is critical for this. It will introduce a basic global standard for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling. The EU Regulations complement the Convention, and it’s important that workers’ voices are heard during the review process. Our vision is for a thriving industry that provides ship recycling to a high standard, with quality and safe union jobs. The key to success is a globally recognized minimum standard, plus social dialogue with unions.”

Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe deputy general secretary:

“The removal of two Turkish ship recycling yards from the EU’s 10th review of the EU List of Ship Recycling Facilities is a failure for all the partners involved. We urgently need to improve the health and safety standards of these yards and help more yards, both in Europe and abroad, to recycle ships in a clean and safe manner. The circular economy plays an important role in a ship’s lifecycle, and we must fully utilise these precious secondary raw materials while also protecting workers at these sites.’

No place for violence and harassment in Indonesia’s garment industry

Causes and risk factors of violence and sexual harassment at the workplace were discussed, as well as the Zero tolerance policy, how to use GFAs to end violence and harassment, and how to assess the risks through health and safety policies.

Participants identified unwelcome touching as something that often takes place in the production area. Toilets, changing rooms and car parks are also places where violence and harassment occur. The Omnibus law has replaced the collective agreement at many workplaces, making discrimination and harassment easier to get away with than before.

Sharing experiences on trusted complaint mechanisms, participants highlighted communication apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to report violence and harassment to unions, as well as the importance of independent audits. An imbalance of power is the root of gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH), and a silence culture at the workplace maintains and encourages it.

Stakeholders shared their commitment to follow their code of ethics, using international standards, trusted complaint mechanisms at workplaces, and raising awareness through training. More than 15 suppliers to H&M, Inditex, Adidas, and Nike shared their programmes on eliminating GBVH and committed to providing more training and safer workplaces.

The employers’ association expressed support for the ratification of ILO C190, and the importance of the new Law No.12 – Criminal Act 2022 on sexual harassment. The Ministry of Manpower reiterated their commitment to reveal sexual harassment even though many companies deny it happens. They also shared experiences on safe houses built together with unions to create a safe environment for victims of violence and sexual harassment.

The Pou Chen trade union network  signing the Zero tolerance policy

The meeting ended with the suppliers and trade unionists signing the Zero tolerance policy. Fighting GBVH is an important part of the work for trade union networks. The Pou Chen trade union network attended the meeting with three suppliers, and together with workplace-level unions, all signed the policy. 

Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL textile director, says:

“Women represent more than 80 per cent of workforce in the garment industry and are disproportionately affected by violence and harassment at workplace. We need stronger commitments from industry stakeholders to create workplaces free from violence and harassment.

“The Zero tolerance policy is a good example of collaboration to eliminate GBVH and to create a safer garment industry. We welcome the commitments from GFA brands, H&M and Inditex, as well as Adidas to combat GBVH. The Pou Chen group’s commitment exemplifies the importance of how a trade union network can create change.”

The meeting was held in participation with the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, the Indonesian employers’ association, Better Work Indonesia and ILO Indonesia office.

16-month lockout ends at Ash Grove cement plant

The majority of Unifor’s members voted in favour of the recommendation of the Ministry of Labour and Employment conciliator. With the new contract, workers will receive a 7.5 per cent wage increase and a further 3.5 per cent  increase in the second year. In the third year, workers will receive an increase equivalent to the consumer price index.

The workers are gradually returning to work, a return that will be spread over a 20-day period.

Through this long-lasting dispute, Unifor members at Joliet Ash Grove received solidarity support and financial assistance from other unions across the country.

“We are very proud of our members and we are extremely grateful for all the support that we received from Unifor locals across Canada and from other unions. This financial support has allowed us to continue the fight to the end,”

says local union president Eric Giasson.

The dispute is significant as it was heard before the Administrative Labour Tribunal following a complaint by Unifor concerning the illegal use of replacement workers (scabs) during lockouts announced by the employer. The union won the case, as the tribunal ruled that the company employed workers who teleworked violated the anti-scab provisions of the Labour Code, even though they were not in the locked-out establishment itself.

The ruling, which extended the scope of the anti-scab provisions to telework, has shaken the labour world. The employer has appealed and the case is yet to be heard.

"We are proud of the determination of our members who stood their ground and never gave up. Thanks to their tenacity, this dispute is being resolved in a favourable way. It is now time to heal the wounds and return to normal life,”

says Daniel Cloutier, Quebec Director of Unifor.

Alexander Ivanou, IndustriALL director of materials industries says:

“IndustriALL congratulates members of Unifor Local 177 for their exemplary strength and resistance which brought them to the end of this extremely long lockout and conclusion of the new contract.”

Human rights due diligence in Japanese supply chains

In a meeting with IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan on 26 September, IndustriALL vice president and JLC president Akira Takakura, said that Japanese unions play a vital role in ensuring that multinational companies respect human rights in its supply chains.

“Unions in Japan and abroad should exchange information and cooperate with companies to realize their human rights policy. Companies must see unions as a social partner in handling grievances, providing remedies and eradicate rights violations in the global supply chain.”

The Japan Council of Metalworkers (JCM) has published a guide called Trade unions’ role and responses to human rights due diligence for its affiliates. The union submitted its comment on the guideline to the parliamentary vice-minister of economy, trade and industry (METI), Kazuchika Iwata in June.

“The guideline on human rights and due diligence issued by METI in September is excellent. Trade unions in Japan and other countries should explore how to make use of them to protect human and workers’ rights,”

said Özkan.

In a meeting with Korean unions affiliated to IndustriALL on 29 September, Kemal Özkan discussed priorities of the country’s labour movement. Both parties exchanged on strategic planning for 2023, ongoing campaigns and fight against declining wages and working conditions, and the increase of precarious and informal jobs.  

We mourn the killed Turkish miners

110 miners were underground in the mine, which belongs to the state-owned Turkish Hard Coal Corporation (TTK), when the explosion occurred. 58 miners were rescued and eleven are in hospital, some still in serious condition, according to reports. Rescue workers have found the bodies of 41 miners.

Investigations are continuing, however early indications suggest the explosion happened because of firedamp. IndustriALL Global and Europe demand a proper investigation with  trade union involvement, and that those responsible are held accountable.

Photo: GENEL MADEN İŞÇİLERİ SENDİKASI (GMİS)

The explosion puts the spotlight on the safety situation in Turkish mines. The Western Black Sea region is known as the hard coal mining basin, where there has been mining since the 19th century.

Records show that around 5,000 miners have been killed in the region during that time, with several deadly accidents over the last decade. In 2010, 30 workers were killed in Zonguldak, in 2013 eight were killed in Kozlu.

In 2014, the Turkey witnessed its worst-ever mining accident in Soma, where 301 miners perished. The accident forced the Turkish government to ratify ILO Convention 176 on mine safety and to modify domestic legislation.
 
But the reality in Turkish mines has changed very little. The Turkish Court of Accounts visited the mine in Amasra and identified dangers and risk in its 2019 report:

“In 2019, the balanced production depth of the establishment (mine) is minus 300 meters. This deepening causes an increase in the risks of serious accidents such as sudden gas discharge and firedamp (grizu) explosion. It is known that gas contents are high in all of the worked vessels, therefore their discharge capacities are high, thus their discharge capacities are also high, and the risk increases even more in fault zones. For this reason, in addition to the provisions of the relevant legislation, the provisions of the "Institutional Discharge Directive" should be meticulously complied with.”

Luc Triangle, industriAll European Trade Union general secretary, says:

“We are extremely sad and outraged with this explosion in Amasra. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and wish speedy recovery to those wounded miners. We will continue to give our support for improvement in mines in Turkey.”

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary, says:

“Just like the previous accidents, this one could have been avoided. This is a homicide, not an accident. Turkey has to do much more; it is unacceptable to witness killings in mines in 21st century. This is not the destiny of miners. Our strong solidarity is with the Turkish miners.”

IndustriALL Global and European Trade Unions will conduct an emergency visit together with General Mine Workers’ Union (Genel Maden-Is), the representative union in the mine in Amasra.

United and in action for a Just Future

As inequality in the world is increasing, it threatens to tear apart the social fabric of our societies. Fewer people earn more and own more of the world’s wealth, while the poorest people earn and own a mere fraction.

Despite many governments saying they recognize this huge challenge, none has managed to turn the tide. Inequality is still increasing everywhere, which is why IndustriALL has launched a campaign, United for a Just Future – Time to Pay Up!, to highlight the building blocks needed for a just future.

Unions across Europe have started mobilizing for higher wages to combat inflation and the growing cost of living crisis, with many European unions pushing for bold pay increases. As many bargaining rounds this autumn promise to be difficult, trade unions at national, European and international level are getting ready for action. Trade unions affiliated to industriAll Europe have joined forces in a campaign called Together. In action. For Higher Wages.

 

“Unless we, the unions, take action, we risk losing the gains we have made over the past century. Workers everywhere need a pay rise that reflects the inflation rate and the sacrifices made during the Covid pandemic; they need wages that reflect their essential part in value creation. Inequality and decent wages must take centre stage,”

said IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kan Matsuzaki.

Isabelle Barthès, deputy general secretary at industriAll Europe, said:

“Our economic future is again uncertain, but the great majority of companies are still doing undeniably well. This is the result of workers’ hard labour during the pandemic, and they need to be compensated. This will contribute to social stability and prepare for economic recovery.

“However, wage tools are not enough. Actions on the energy crisis – the root cause of inflation – must come with public intervention to tax windfall profits and anti-crisis measures to protect purchasing power and jobs.”

Ronald Janssen, senior policy advisor at TUAC, stressed that the rising levels of inequality are a threat to democracy. A skyrocketing inflation erodes the real value of minimum wages, which is a double blow for low-paid workers, as rising energy and food prices hit them harder.

According to Janssen, the answer lies in upgrading the collective bargaining and wage formation systems. And looking at past experiences is the way forward; we can solve this together. Union density is key for the strength needed to fight inequality.

“Unions can be the answer,”

Janssen said.

“If you want us to act in a responsible way, we need to know that we get our fair share of the recovery. We can strike a balance of wages, but a balance that protects lower income wages, promote collective bargaining, so that we can be in a stronger position at the table once the crisis is over.”

In the discussion that ensued, participants shared experiences from around the world. The importance of new working time arrangements that facilitate a work-life balance was also pointed out in relation to decent working condition.

Moving the campaign forward, the joint demands include

Aviation unions welcome global agreement on net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

After weeks of negotiations, 184 countries agreed to a net-zero goal by 2050 for the aviation industry at the 41st General Assembly of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a specialised agency of the United Nations.

Trade unions representing aviation and aerospace workers have long been calling for increased international ambition on decarbonisation stressing that all countries, industries, and workers have a role to play in decarbonising the entire aviation sector.

In the run up to the event, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), IndustriALL Global Union, the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) and IndustriAll European Trade Union worked together to draft joint trade union demands. The working paper submitted to ICAO by trade unions called for a Just Transition for a zero-carbon future which emphasised the need for the decarbonisation of the aviation industry to be managed in a socially responsible way. It called for quality social dialogue, investment into training and the creation of sectoral action plans by social partners with the relevant authorities.

Unfortunately, the final declaration, being unbinding, only urged states to achieve the goal “in a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable manner and in accordance with national circumstances’’.

The final ICAO resolution and the adoption of the long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 has received mixed reactions, with some positive comments from the European Union and European industry. NGOs have been more critical due to the non-binding nature of the agreement.

Georg Leutert, IndustriALL director for the aerospace industry said:

“The aerospace industry is under pressure to come up with zero-emission solutions based on global standards. The longer this takes, the more workers will pay for the resulting deficits. This is why we as unions must engage in the implementation of LTAG and related policies.”

Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez, ITF Civil Aviation secretary said:

"We are in a race against time to secure a sustainable future. Millions of aviation workers are experiencing the effects of climate change first hand, which is making the aviation workplace more dangerous. Increasing air turbulence poses a major risk to passengers and flight crew, extreme heat is disrupting airport operations, and rising sea levels threaten to inundate airports. The ICAO LTAGs were hard to achieve to this point, but if we are to move action forward with the speed that we need, workers must be driving decarbonisation and the aviation industry's transition."

Isabelle Barthes, industriAll Europe deputy general secretary said:

‘’Climate change is a global issue and we will continue to call on all countries and regions to step up their efforts in reducing the climate impact of flying including via the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels and the development of carbon-neutral aircraft. Workers are at the heart of the green transition, but unfortunately seem to have been forgotten in ICAO’s declaration! We insist on quality social dialogue and proper support to ensure that no worker or region is left behind, the green transition must be a Just Transition.’’

Eoin Coates, head of the ETF Civil Aviation Section, said:

“Social expectations and environmental goals must go hand in hand. Workers need to be at the heart of the environmental transition process, a transition that must be just and allows workers to be an active part, from design to implementation. They must be helped to adapt to the new developments and have guaranteed healthy and sustainable jobs as the aviation industry becomes a greener sector. While we welcome the progress the LTAG makes on the environmental sustainability of the industry, there is still a lot of work to be done on its social sustainability.”

World union leaders discuss future of base metals industries

The dialogue was led by sector co-chairs Sanjyot Vadhavkar, from SMEFI, India, and Dave Mc Call, from USW, USA.

Base metals industries suffer from the supply crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The market is volatile, and some producing countries like China, are expanding their capacity despite a growing overcapacity and a sluggish demand. In addition, two trends are revolutionizing the sector; the need for a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions requires a new and changed setup of production, particularly in the steel industry, which is responsible for one-third of the industrial GHG emissions worldwide; and new technologies to achieve carbon neutrality in the industry. They are available, but are very costly and require huge investments.

The digitization of production changes jobs and skills requirements, as well as the working environment in steel and the aluminum industries. Industry 4.0 is a threat to jobs – at least to traditional jobs. The union leaders in the steering committee discussed how to meet these changes. Although IndustriALL offers support to affiliates, measures have a limited reach as long as China, the biggest producer with over 50 per cent of global capacity and output, does not participate in the efforts to reduce GHG emissions. Instead, they produce high volumes of cheap steel with traditional blast furnaces.

Participants also discussed with Annie Heaton, CEO of the multistakeholder standard organization Responsible Steel, about the challenges and opportunities of certified steel production to promote steel production with less GHG emissions and better working conditions. Annie Heaton invited all IndustriALL affiliates to join Responsible Steel as civil society members.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Christine Olivier addressed the committee, calling on them to take action to better protect the workplaces in the industries.

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL base metals director urged affiliates to:

“Embrace the changes that are coming: digitization is transforming the sector and reducing the CO2 footprint is a big challenge for both the industry and the workers. We must pilot our affiliates and their members through the changes to safeguard jobs and working conditions. We must and we will make this a just transition. This is also what we, together with our sister organization industriAll European Trade Union, demanded together with TUAC at the OECD Steel Committee earlier this month. We will stay alert, and we will deliver tools and instruments to our affiliates. Workers must not carry the burden of the base metals industry’s transition.”