Mining unions pledge solidarity to confront global capital in a volatile sector

The gold price has rebound even as lab-grown diamonds erode the sparkle of natural gems. Automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping operations, causing job losses, and disrupting work.

At the IndustriALL Global Union world mining conference in Sydney, Australia, 2 November, 200 delegates from 35 countries convened to navigate these developments and develop trade union strategies. The conference is a build up to the IndustriALL 4th Congress which begins on 4 November. Panels dissected critical issues on climate change and a Just Transition for workers, global minerals governance and human rights due diligence (HRDD) in supply chains, corporate accountability through campaigns, and cross-cutting challenges like occupational health and safety (OHS) alongside gender dimensions of the changing mining industries.

Conference presentations cited the importance of IndustriALL’s participation in the UN panel on critical energy transition minerals which is recommending fairness, transparency, investment, sustainability, and HRDD along the minerals value chain.

The conference discussed coal’s twilight with projections suggesting that nearly a million jobs could vanish by 2050, yet comprehensive redeployment plans remain elusive. IGBCE cautioned on the need for planning in coal mine closures drawing from Germany’s experience when over 600 000 jobs were lost. In South Africa, 100,000 coal miners face job losses without reskilling lifelines while Colombia continues to rely on coal as an economic resource and mineworkers fearing imminent closure of these mines without a Just Transition framework in place.

However, IndustriALL is advocating for a Just Transition rooted in foresight with anticipatory policies to smooth disruptions, robust social safety nets, and innovative, worker-led retraining schemes. Decent green jobs must prioritise security and inclusive social dialogue must involve unions, mining companies, governments, and communities.

In Australia, union lobbying secured the Net Zero Economy Act, a blueprint for decarbonisation. Unlike Europe and other continents, Australia does not have social dialogue and co-determination mechanisms. Other highlights included South Africa’s upskilling and reskilling programme, Just Transition in Indonesia’s coal regions, and SINTRACARBON’s initiative on the Just Transition.

“Economic diversification in the renewable energy transition is critical, and this should come with resource support as most countries in the Global South lack the infrastructure to unlock mineral wealth and to beneficiate mineral resources necessary for industrialization, which proposal the African Mining Vision makes,”

said Kemal Ozkan, assistant general secretary.

Tributes to Brazil’s 2019 Brumadinho dam disaster underscored the perils of lax environmental oversight, while India’s privatisation push has bred precarious work which is eroding job security. Concerns were raised at India’s appalling mine safety records.

Speakers said workers continue to endure assaults on fundamental rights including union-busting, curbs on freedom of association and collective bargaining, plus fatalities and ailments from poor working conditions. Wages remain paltry, especially in the Global South’s mines, where families scrape by. Women workers grapple with gender-based violence and harassment and campaigns should be launched for gender equity and the setting up of lactating facilities for breast feeding mothers.

Further, Chinese multinationals often violate workers’ rights and ignore national labour laws and international standards. The conference urged trade unions to develop strategies to curb the abuses.

Importantly, discussions stressed that unions are countering violations with vigour and creating union-to-union solidarity networks, from company-specific networks targeting multinationals to commodity specific networks. For example, USW Canada and SVS in Madagascar cooperated on workers’ rights at QMM Fort Dauphin.

Unions hailed the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) as the only framework granting worker representation prompting mining companies to develop rival, less rigorous, industry driven alternatives like the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CSMI). The conference discussed how voluntary standards can play a role in closing accountability gaps.

The conference’s plan of action chart a bold course and roadmap. Delegates pledged to bolster Global North-Global South mineworkers solidarity, amplify inclusion via Women in Mining initiatives and youth programmes, foster dialogue with indigenous groups, share OHS best practices, and lobby for ratification of ILO Convention 176 on safety and health in mines.

Further strategies target precariousness and campaigning for workers’ rights, living wages, and coordination with the ILO and IRMA. Organising drives will span multinationals, regions, and locales, encompassing sub-sectors from coal and iron ore to gold, diamonds, and jewellery. A global gold network, with Barrick and AngloGold Ashanti, has been launched.

Due diligence in critical minerals will get a push, via training on leveraging it for bargaining and rights protection. The battery supply chain remains a priority, drawing from auto-sector strength to aid mineworkers. Additionally, mining unions will work with energy affiliates, enterprises, and governments, and strengthen networks through research and mobilization.

“Democracy isn’t confined to ballots and parliament benches. Trade unions embody it in the workplace, and they must shape industrial policies to unite communities and the working class,”

said Grahame Kelly, Mining and Energy Union (MEU) general secretary.

“We need responsible and sustainable mining practices and responsible sourcing linkages to improve workers conditions, improve community livelihoods, respect indigenous peoples’ rights, and the environment. But this can only happen if unions organize in the supply chain where workers and human rights are respected,”

said Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director for mining and DGOJP.

Cathy Drummond from USW and Stephen Smyth from MEU were elected co-chairs for the mining and DGOJP industries.

Global unions urge strong corporate accountability in UN treaty talks

A decade in to negotiations, global unions welcome the Chair’s proposal to redraft certain articles to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises. The proposal demonstrates a sincere effort to develop compromise language that can advance the negotiations constructively.

“A binding UN treaty is essential to ensure that global business operates within a framework of justice and respect for human rights. As we have said so many times; voluntary commitments have failed to protect workers and communities. We need legally binding rules that hold corporations accountable across their global operations,”

says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.

Trade union priorities for the treaty include:

Broad scope: inclusion of all internationally recognised human rights, including fundamental workers’ rights.
Comprehensive coverage: inclusion of all business enterprises, irrespective of size or sector.
Extraterritorial regulation: access to justice for victims of transnational corporate human rights violations.
Human rights due diligence: mandatory policies and procedures for businesses.
Corporate accountability: clear obligations for corporations under human rights law.
International enforcement: a robust global monitoring and enforcement mechanism.

IndustriALL Global Union is looking for a communications and research officer for the South Asia Office

The main tasks will be:

Research and information

Conduct research, both field and desk, including mapping of industrial sectors and relevant unions, corporations and issues in different areas, like sustainable industrial policy, trade, climate change, digitalization, precarious work, telework, etc
Establish an overview of research capacity in the region for relevant topics
Support on developing strategies and actions in line with IndustriALL’s Global Action Plan, regional priorities and strategic planning and sectoral as well as cross-sectoral matters
Development, conceptualization, coordination and effective implementation of organizing, campaign strategies and plans
Support the development and research of a supply chain trade union strategy, and explore synergies across sectors and cross-sectoral issues
Work together with regional team and directors on conflicts in multinational companies

Communications

Implement communication strategies for IndustriALL in the region
Identify and prepare news reports about affiliates’ work in the region and labour-related issues, collect information from affiliated unions and other unions on current events and issues, prepare reports to be posted on the website and social media
Take photos and videos and prepare imagery for IndustriALL’s communication channels
Keep regular contact with affiliates, conducting surveys, and arranging exchanges among the affiliates

Campaigns

Organize, taking part and mobilizing support for IndustriALL’s corporate campaigns, thematic matters, rights violations and conflict cases
Participate in, as well as organising and preparing national / regional trade union campaigns, as required
Liaise with affiliated unions, other unions and civil society organizations on trade union rights and issues of human rights, democratic rights, environment, industrial policy etc
Develop campaign tools and materials

Other jobs

Assist in conducting workshops and seminars as required
Any related work as assigned by the regional secretary

Requirements

Wide experience and good understanding of the trade union movement and trade union experience in South Asian countries, regional as well as global movement.
At least five years’ experience at national and/or international level, including organizing, campaigns, and training, or comparable experience.
Strong research skills, including designing and conducting field and desk research, analyzing complex information, and translating findings into actionable reports and strategies.
Excellent communication and advocacy skills, both written and oral, with proven ability to prepare reports, articles, and social media content, and to adapt messages effectively for different audiences.
Understanding, knowledge, and experience of political issues, union structures, and industrial relations in different parts of the world.
Ability to articulate the goals, strategies, and policies of IndustriALL Global Union.
Commitment to trade union values, social justice, and gender equality.
Ability to coordinate multi-country projects or campaigns.
Strong organizational skills, including the capacity to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and perform effectively under pressure.
Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively, engaging with colleagues across the regional office and the central office in Geneva, and interacting respectfully with people from diverse countries and cultures.
Strong interpersonal skills, including networking, problem-solving, and the ability to build strong relationships with affiliates and partners.
Adaptability and resilience, with the ability to respond effectively to fast-changing situations and campaign needs.
IT proficiency, with the ability to use standard office software and digital communication tools.
Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English; knowledge of one or more South Asian languages is an advantage.
Willingness and availability to travel, as the position will require travel within the countries covered by the South Asia office.

Salary and benefits

Salary, worktime, health and travel insurance, pension, medical reimbursement, skills improvement package, and other benefits will be in line with IndustriALL’s regional framework agreement.

Deadline for applications: 21 November 2025

Applicants that meet the above-mentioned requirements can send their application, including a CV and a motivation letter, by email to the regional secretary of South Asia Office, Ashutosh Bhattacharya by the above mentioned deadline. In line with IndustriALL’s gender policy, we encourage applications from female candidates.

Applications missing a CV and motivation letter will not be considered. Additionally, IndustriALL does not retain applications from unsuccessful candidates. We will interview short-listed candidates and complete the application process swiftly so that the new communication and research officer can start work in New Delhi at the latest in 1 January 2026.

Curbing violations by Chinese multinationals in African critical minerals boom

Controlling 85-90 per cent of rare-earth refining, China has poured billions of dollars into Sub-Saharan African mines via its Belt and Road Initiative, often bartering infrastructure for raw resources. In return, the minerals feed vertical supply chains for China’s factories. About US$4.5 billion has been invested in lithium mining.

In response to the violations, IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are adopting human rights due diligence (HRDD) as one of the strategies to stop workers and human rights violations. Unions have also raised concerns over environmental degradation during the mining of critical minerals by Chinese multinationals.

The violations are on the rights to join trade unions, on collective bargaining, health and safety, discrimination, racism, gender-based violence and harassment, precarious working conditions, and living wages. There is also weak enforcement of national labour laws and international standards by governments while corruption is common. There have been cases of physical assaults of workers by Chinese supervisors in Zimbabwe and elsewhere, as well as environmental degradation and water pollution.

A battery-supply-chain roundtable in the DRC, which alone supplies over 70 per cent of global cobalt, urged unions to launch an HRDD body to spotlight abuses and push the state into protective action. At China Molybdenum’s Tenke Fungurume mine – part of the Sino-Congolese ventures – the unions welcomed an impending audit by the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance as a first for Chinese firms on the continent. In Zimbabwe, the Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union battles intimidation at Sinomine’s Arcadia and Bikita lithium mines.

The Mine Workers Union of Botswana said that MMG’s Khoemacau copper mine imported Chinese labour to quash a strike over poor working conditions. Zambia’s February disaster at Sino-Metals Leach, a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, underscores the perils of negligence after a tailings dam burst unleashed 1.5m tonnes of acidic sludge laced with cyanide, arsenic and heavy metals into the Mwambashi and Kafue rivers. The 100km toxic sludge killed fish and livestock, withered maize and groundnuts, and poisoned water for 700,000 Kitwe residents, triggering fishing bans and supply cut-offs. Short-term illnesses like headaches and diarrhoea were reported while long term health risks will include organ failure and birth defects. The Mineworkers Union of Zambia is now campaigning for community redress and communities are taking Sino-Metals to court.

“HRDD in Chinese multinationals mines is vital because it is an inclusive strategy which safeguards workers and communities, enforces government accountability and prescribes remedies,”

said Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director for mining and diamonds.

HRDD in Chinese multinational mines is one of the issues that will be discussed at the global mining conference in Sydney, Australia on 2 November.

Organizing for a just future: workers must shape the change

By Atle Høie, general secretary, IndustriALL Global Union

In a few days, more than a thousand trade union delegates from every corner of the world will gather in Sydney for IndustriALL Global Union’s 4th Congress. Together, we will set our direction for the next four years under the theme Organizing for a Just Future.

Our Congress takes place at a critical moment. Workers everywhere are being hit by converging crises, growing inequality, the climate emergency, digital disruption and the increasing concentration of corporate power. Amid all this change, our mission has never been clearer: to defend workers’ rights and to shape a future that is fair, democratic and just.

Our collective strength, built on unity and solidarity, gives us the power to stand up to global capital and fight for a new model of globalization that puts people before profit.

Defending rights, building power

At the heart of IndustriALL’s identity lies our most fundamental task: organizing workers and defending their right to form and join unions. This is where real power begins. When workers organize, they do more than negotiate better pay and safer workplaces. They create belonging. They build pride and purpose. They transform fear into strength.

Organizing for a just future is not just a theme, it’s our commitment. We will keep building a global movement that connects our struggles and wins justice through unity.

From voluntary promises to binding rights

For too long, multinational corporations have hidden behind voluntary codes of conduct. They use lofty statements and glossy reports to mask exploitation, while workers continue to face poverty wages, unsafe conditions and repression.

We know voluntary commitments are not enough. Without enforcement, rights remain words on paper. That’s why human rights due diligence laws and legally binding agreements are crucial. IndustriALL has proven they work. Our global agreements with H&M and ASOS, and the International Accord on Health and Safety, have saved lives and improved standards across supply chains.

We must build on these successes. It is time to move beyond voluntary initiatives and demand binding, enforceable rights for workers everywhere.

Digitalization: technology must serve people

Automation, artificial intelligence and algorithmic management are transforming industry faster than any of us imagined. In many workplaces, workers are managed not by humans, but by data. Algorithms decide shifts, track performance, even influence who stays and who goes.

Too often these systems are opaque and unfair. Governments are behind the curve. Only a handful of collective agreements address AI directly. Meanwhile, corporate profits rise as workers face surveillance, insecurity and discrimination.

That is why IndustriALL has launched a comprehensive policy paper on artificial intelligence, a blueprint for how unions can respond to AI and ensure technology is governed by fairness, transparency and accountability.

Our responsibility is clear: to make sure technology serves people – not the other way around. Through collective bargaining, we must secure transparency, dignity and control for workers in the digital age

A Just Transition for people and planet

The shift to sustainable industries is essential for our planet’s survival. But it will only succeed if it is just. A green transition built on the loss of good jobs and destroyed communities is not justice.

A Just Transition must protect both people and the planet. It must be driven by social dialogue, collective bargaining and public investment. It must create new opportunities, not sacrifice old ones. Workers must have a seat at the table as industries transform. Because when workers lead, the transition becomes truly just.

United for a just future

As we meet in Sydney, we do so united in purpose. The challenges ahead are enormous, but so is our strength. The future of work, of industry, and of our planet will be shaped by the choices we make now.

Organizing for a just future is more than the theme of our Congress. It is who we are. It is our declaration that workers, standing together, will shape the course of history. Because when we stand united, there is no force stronger than solidarity.

Thai labour coalition steps up push for ratification of ILO Conventions 87 and 98

Representatives of the network met on 22 October at the TEAM training centre to review progress in the campaign so far. They noted that their efforts have drawn increasing attention from the Thai government, the European Union delegation in Thailand, as well as the public.

Going forward, the coalition plans to intensify engagement with the EU delegation to press for the inclusion of C87 and C98 ratification as a prerequisite for the EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement.

Participants expressed frustration with the Ministry of Labour’s explanation that political transitions and concerns over labour unrest and migrant worker organizing have delayed ratification. The ministry is reportedly considering ratifying Convention 98 first rather than both conventions simultaneously.

Confederation of Industrial Labour of Thailand (CILT) president Larey Youpensuk reiterated the movement’s long-standing demand for simultaneous ratification.

“Our position is clear that the government should ratify both C87 and C98,”

Youpensuk said.

“The Thai labour movement has been fighting for this for three decades, but all the ruling elites have ignored us. We call on all political parties to include the ratification in their election manifestos ahead of the March 2026 general election.”

IndustriALL regional secretary for South East Asia Ramon Certeza praised the coalition’s efforts, noting that the campaign’s strategic evaluation will strengthen advocacy moving forward.

“IndustriALL will continue to mobilize global solidarity support around this meaningful campaign,”

Certeza said.

Court ruling reinstates retrenched workers at ArcelorMittal South Africa

The retrenchments will affect over 3500 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs along the value chain. AMSA attributes the retrenchments to high energy costs, cheap imports, and logistics challenges on transportation.

The long steel making company issued a retrenchment notice for workers at its operations in Newcastle and Vereeniging in January this year but before consultations were concluded the AMSA retrenched workers on October 21. This prompted the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), which is the majority union at the company, to apply for an urgent interdict at the Labour Court to protect the interests of the workers.

The Labour Court order, issued on 27 October, ruled in favour of NUMSA, an affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union, stating that AMSA must follow a fair process by engaging with the union in negotiations over the retrenchments, and to start fair consultations within 10 days. The court said all dismissed workers must be reinstated and paid for the period they were retrenched. Further, ArcelorMittal is not allowed to dismiss any workers at its Newcastle and Vereeniging operations based on the January Section 189 notice which informed workers of the employer’s intention to retrench. The court ruled that AMSA must issue a new notice.

On the retrenchments, NUMSA said it wants “meaningful joint-consensus seeking consultations” on the closure of the operations.

“This latest victory is another example of NUMSA consistently fighting for workers and their families and provides an opportunity to possibly look at alternatives to retrenchment,”

said Irvin Jim, NUMSA general secretary.

NUMSA argued that it is dishonest for AMSA to be receiving financial bailouts from the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) while retrenching workers at the same time. NUMSA has also picketed at the IDC offices in Johannesburg in February demanding urgent action to stop the retrenchments.

Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa said:

“AMSA must always consult with the union and negotiate in good faith. It is unfair on workers to be dismissed when negotiations are still taking place.”

South Africa is the continent’s largest steel producer, accounting for over 10 per cent of continental steel production.

Ensuring the future of work will require strong unions and global collaboration

Representatives of IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in Uruguay – the National Union of Metal and Allied Workers (UNTMRA), the Tanners' Union (UOC) and the Federation of Paper, Pulp and Cardboard Workers (FOPCCU) – along with leaders from Uruguay’s PIT-CNT Confederation of Manufacturing Unions (CSI) and IG Metall Germany all took part in the day-long meeting. Their aim was to analyse collective strategies and encourage international cooperation in the response to the challenges brought by technological, productive and geopolitical changes in both Europe and Latin America. The event was held at IndustriALL regional office in Montevideo, with presentations by Angélica Jiménez Romo, an IG Metall delegate; María Losada, from Germany’s international cooperation agency, GIZ; and IndustriALL regional secretary Marino Vani.

Jiménez Romo explained that Germany has a robust union model, with a small number of unions covering a large number of members and subsectors, an approach that makes the unions stronger. When it comes to labour-market changes, she stressed that shorter working hours should be made possible through technological advancements and not by taking away workers’ rights.

In terms of the future of work and Industry 4.0, she argued that machines must work for people and that wealth must be more evenly distributed. It was also necessary to rethink the production and union model in response to digitalization.

Danilo Dárdano, CSI chairman, presented a report on Uruguayan trade unions and the tough manufacturing landscape in which they operate, with factory closures and declining production. In addition, he spoke about the recommendations that the CSI is promoting alongside the Government in order to revive the sector. Union representatives also stressed the need to diversify production.

Prior to the meeting, the German delegation and IndustriALL representatives met with workers at a UNTMRA foundry in the Industrial Technology Park in Cerro – a working class neighbourhood grappling with social issues. Workers (50 per cent of them women and 50 per cent men) who had lost their jobs are now recycling old lighting equipment, converting it into aluminium ingots for the manufacture of various parts and components.

Jiménez Romo said that the meeting had been extremely useful:
“The world is changing so much and it’s important to get first-hand information so that we have a clear understanding of how to move forward in supporting the working class. Our two regions have very close cultural ties and we must take advantage of them in seeking common strategies.”

IndustriALL Latin America regional secretary, Marino Vani, summed up by saying:

“We’ve managed to build a stronger identity among our affiliates in Uruguay, in cooperation with workers in the German metalworking industry. As trade unions, we’re now stronger and better equipped to take on the current and future challenges of the world of work.”

Trade unions from Spain and France show solidarity with Argentina’s nuclear workers

Argentine unions outlined the risks of privatization, including private involvement in the NA-SA operator, pressure on the Heavy Water Industrial Plant (PIAP) and the paralysis of strategic projects such as CAREM (a nationally designed SMR with very advanced civil works) and RA-10 (research and radioisotopes). They warned that breaking up the public system would destroy synergies and cause an irreversible loss of skills built up over decades.

Participants also raised alarm over low wages, with many workers earning below the poverty line, with categories not exceeding the equivalent of USD 400. The result is immediate: a brain drain of people aged between 20 and 40, recruited by foreign companies, and the hasty departure of professionals with training that took years to consolidate. This is not only unfair, but also undermines the culture of safety and the transmission of knowledge between generations now leaving for better-paid jobs abroad.

“We’re not talking about theory, we’re talking about salaries that don’t cover basic needs and technicians leaving,” said Rodolfo Kempf of CTA-CNTI Argentina. “If we lose these people, we lose safety and the future.”

Safety and waste management were shared concerns. Delegates stressed that privatizing these areas or blurring responsibility would be unacceptable.

Yann Perrotte, FO FédéChimie France, said: “Safety requires a clear public framework. In waste and fuel cycle management, the rules must be clear and public.”

The meeting also highlighted the importance of protecting Argentina’s independent nuclear regulatory authority, whose technical capacity and autonomy are vital to safety.

What Spain and France have to say
Spain shared its experience with the planned closure of nuclear power plants between 2027 and 2035, highlighting the role of the public waste management company in preparing for decommissioning and the importance of drawing on the knowledge of staff who have operated the plants. Trade unions emphasize the need for clauses to protect jobs and skills during both operation and closure, and stress that major energy decisions cannot succeed without a stable national agreement and genuine social dialogue.

From France, participants reflected on the consequences of 25 years of market liberalization, underinvestment, loss of skills and job insecurity, before the State bought back 100 per cent of EDF to restore long-term investment capacity. The lesson, they said, is clear: the nuclear sector cannot operate on short-term, market-driven logic. It needs strong institutions, patient financing and stable policies.

Carlos Pérez from Spain’s UGT FICA said: “Nothing works without social dialogue and skills planning. In operation and decommissioning, decent employment and knowledge are the lifeblood of safety.”

Why this matters to all of us
Trade unions defend safety, decent work and industrial capacity. As electricity demand continues to rise, driven by data centres and rapid digitalization, every country will need effective public planning, independent regulation and skilled workers with secure rights.

IndustriALL director of the energy sector, Diana Junquera, said:

“Trade union solidarity is not a gesture: it is our safety strategy. If a country dismantles its nuclear ecosystem, it loses capabilities that take decades to regain. There are no easy solutions. But there is a clear path: decent work, transparency and solidarity with the international movement . In this, IndustriALL and its affiliates stand and will continue to stand with Argentina.”

Unions strengthen collaboration across Dow, DuPont and major chemical producers

On 13-15 October, at the United Steelworkers headquarters in Pittsburgh, USA, union leaders representing workers at Dow, DuPont, Corteva, Roquette, Trinseo and Qnity exchanged experiences and strategies to defend workers’ rights and shape the future of the chemical industry. Participants included affiliated unions from the United States, Germany, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Argentina, Belgium, Spain and Indonesia.

Discussions focused on how unions can respond to the pressures of economic uncertainty, shifting trade policies and the fast integration of digital tools and AI technologies. Participants identified the need for stronger international coordination to ensure that chemical workers are equipped, trained and protected as the industry transforms.

Delegates shared experiences from their worksites, comparing collective bargaining outcomes, company financial data and safety practices and discussed strategies to strengthen training, attract and retain skilled workers and ensure that new technologies serve workers rather than replace them.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing restructuring at Dow, particularly in Europe, which is affecting employees’ jobs in several countries and adding urgency to the call for coordinated union action and fair transition measures.

Kent Holsing, chairperson of the Dow DuPont North American Labor Council and president of USW Local 12075, said:

“The chemical industry is critically important, and its workers are a vital part of that. We must remind these corporations that they cannot forget those who labour to make them profitable and we must protect not only those in our unions but also non-union employees who don’t have that voice.”

The meeting also addressed the industry’s economic uncertainty, tariff fluctuations and the need for stability in global supply chains. Participants emphasized that companies must not use these pressures as a pretext for cutting jobs or undermining union rights.

Tom Grinter, IndustriALL’s director for the chemical sector, said:

“Chemical workers are facing a convergence of pressures: unsafe staffing levels, skills shortages, restructuring and now the fast rollout of artificial intelligence and digital systems. These are not isolated challenges, they are global ones. Through collaboration like this, unions are building the power and knowledge to negotiate fair transitions. IndustriALL’s new AI policy sets a clear line: technology must be designed and deployed with workers, not against them.”

Participants also discussed plans to formalise global cooperation among Dow unions through a potential global Dow Council, aimed at deepening information exchange and joint bargaining coordination.

The initiative reflects a shared commitment to build global solidarity in a sector where international companies make global decisions that affect local workers. By strengthening coordination across borders, unions are ensuring that workers’ voices are heard in boardrooms, supply chains and technological transitions.