What is Just Transition?

We must stop destroying the only planet we have. Our economy must change, but change cannot happen unless workers, their families and the communities that depend upon them are kept whole. The fear of and resistance to change would be too great.

The Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, achieved in 2015, implies massive but necessary industrial transformation as we move towards a zero-net-carbon future. This will have an impact, not just on coal and oil extraction and power generation, but on all energy-intensive industries.

Our first choice is always to protect present-day workers by making existing jobs sustainable. When this is not possible then there must be a socially just way to shift workers to new jobs while keeping them whole. It is simply unfair and socially unsustainable to ask the workers who made today's society possible to pay the full cost of changes that society now requires. There will be opportunities as well as risks as the economy is transformed. However, we cannot rely on the free market to build a greener economy, or at least not a just one – governments must step in with sustainable industrial policies. Moving towards a low-carbon economy requires planning, not luck.

A Just Transition rests on three pillars:

There is every indication that a lot of greener jobs will be created over the next few years. We also know that there will be some job displacement. Workers must be fully protected and kept whole through the transformation. New jobs must be made accessible to both today's and tomorrow's workers, and supported with creative labour adjustment programmes – not the sort of top-down employer-driven programmes we have seen in the past. Those affected must have the strongest voice and greatest choice in what happens to them; whether it is (for example) preferential hiring to a greener job, access to education and training, or enhanced early retirement.

If society wants certain workers to support giving up what they are doing today, then they have a right to choose what they will be doing tomorrow. And it had better sound good to them, or the resistance to change will be insurmountable.

Sustainability is no longer just a good idea, it has become a matter of survival. Just Transition, as the only pathway to get there, is therefore no longer just a trade union wish, but an absolute necessity.

Find out more:

IndustriALL Global Union Sectoral Sustainability Report (see particularly pages 15-18)

Australian union wins Just Transition deal

European Parliament votes for Just Transition fund

ITUC Just Transition Centre

ILO guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all

Indian coal unions plan nationwide strike

In a meeting on 9 May, central trade unions including BMS, INTUC, HMS, AITUC and CITU, issued a strike notice to the ministry of coal and the heads of Coal India Ltd and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd.  The unions are protesting against the proposals to merge Coal Miners Provident Fund (CMPF) with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), which will radically reduce workers’ pensions.

Rajendra Prasad Singha, General Secretary of the Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation (HKMF) said:

“ Trade unions are deeply concerned that the proposed merger of coal miners’ exclusive social security fund CMPF with the EPF will exclude a large number of coal workers from pension coverage and reduce their existing pension.”

S Q Zama, Secretary General of Indian National Mine workers’ Federation, said:

“The government is playing with the welfare of coal workers.  A new wage agreement for coal workers is long overdue as the previous agreement expired on 30 June 2016. We are opposing the government’s unilateral move to merge CMPF and EPF.  The INTUC, together with central trade unions, will take part in the strike to protect workers’ interests.”

During the previous 9th National Coal Wage Agreement coal workers were awarded a 25 per cent wage increase but now, the coal ministry is trying to limit the wage increase to mere 15 per cent.  In addition, many workers’ welfare issues that were agreed in previous negotiations are yet to be implemented.

Coal India is one of the biggest employers of precarious workers in India, with around 100, 000 contract workers in various subsidiaries. Coal unions oppose the recruitment of contract workers for jobs that are core activities, and demand that, until contract work is stopped, they should be paid on a par with permanent workers for equal work.

The central trade unions’ charter of demands is:

  1. Stop the merger of CMPF and EPF pension funds.
  2. Continue the CMPF pension as it exists.
  3. Full implementation of the 9th National Coal Wage Agreement.
  4. Early settlement of 10th wage negotiations for coal miners.
  5. Stop contract system of labour. Until the contract system is stopped, contractor employees should be paid equal wages for equal work.
  6. Restore double wages for working on rest days and stop the ceiling on overtime payments.
  7. Withdraw the decision to close coalmines.

In the run up to nationwide strike, union representatives from various subsidiaries of Coal India will hold joint union conventions. Should the three-day strike take place, it will have a deep impact on coal production as the unions represent more than 90 percent of workforce in the coal industry.

Towards the creation of a national metal federation in Morocco

Some 30 union representatives from the auto and auto components sectors attended an IndustriALL Global Union meeting in Casablanca on 23-24 March 2017 to develop an action plan against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding automotive industry. They agreed to establish a national metal federation that would bring together the auto and wiring, electronics and ICT, steel, and aerospace sectors. Preparatory committees were put in place for each of those sectors. The four committees convened their first joint meeting on 1 April in the headquarters of UMT in Casablanca.

The auto industry in Morocco is booming and its supply chain widening fast with the arrival of new players from across the world. With its 135,000-strong workforce, this industry has become the primary export sector and is plays a pivotal role in the country’s development.

The proximity of European markets makes it an attractive sourcing destination for the major auto manufacturers. Besides the Renault factory in Tangier with over 7,000 jobs, PSA Peugeot Citroën is building a plant in Kenitra on Morocco’s Atlantic coast that will go on stream in 2019.   

The expansion of the auto sector means that there is great organizing potential, particularly in the key regions of Tangier, Kenitra and the Casablanca industrial zone. 

On 20 March, the Moroccan king launched a new industrial city near Tangier to host 200 Chinese companies. The new project aims to generate 100,000 jobs, mainly in the aerospace, automotive, textile and garment industries, with a total investment from China up to US $10 billion over 10 years. 

Meeting participants discussed the challenges facing workers. Although the national labour code guarantees freedom of association and collective bargaining, the reality is different and workers’ rights are circumvented in many ways.

A particular issue is the prevalence of temporary work contracts in the sector and company outsourcing policy. Delegates put strong emphasis on the need for information exchange on the companies operating in the country, and for training to improve organizing and negotiating skills to become constructive partners in social dialogue.

At an IndustriALL workshop on 18-19 March on collective agreements in the aerospace sector, 21 UMT aerospace union leaders sector discussed mechanisms and strategies on how to negotiate, improve and expand the scope of collective agreements at company and sector level in Morocco. Union representatives from companies including Anapec, RFM, Bombardier, UMPM, Socaero-Daher, ASM–Aero and Stelia particpated.

The aerospace sector continues to expand in North Africa as unions consolidate power to address workers’ challenges.

UMT leaders expressed their support for the process of creating a national metal federation founded on democratic principles.

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary said:

“IndustriALL congratulates our Moroccan sisters and brothers from UMT on consolidating their power under a strong sectoral national structure. This is in line with IndustriALL’s global objective in building union power. This is how we should go about forming powerful unions in the MENA region.”

Jailed Korean trade unionist Han Sang Gyun receives FNV award

The award is given once every two years to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to defending and protecting trade union rights in countries where human and workers’ rights are lacking.

The award was accepted on behalf of president Han by KCTU’s vice president Lee Sang Jin because Han is imprisoned in South Korea on politically motivated charges. President Han was nominated by the global unions IndustriALL, the BWI and the IUF.

Han has been in prison since December 2015 on charges related to organizing anti-government demonstrations as part of the KCTU’s campaign to prevent the former Park government from passing neoliberal labour reforms.

IndustriALL general secretary Valter Sanches said:

“When I visited president Han in prison in November last year, I was impressed by his humility, his fortitude, and his commitment to the struggle for trade union and human rights in Korea.

“President Han is a brave man who has sacrificed a lot, and inspired many thousands of people to take action. That action resulted in the removal and imprisonment of former Korean President Park.”

Ironically, former President Park Geun-hye and Samsung vice chair Lee Jay-yong are being held in the same prison as Han.

In a statement delivered by vice president Lee Sang Jin on accepting the award, Han said:

“Capitalism which has destroyed genuine democracy and the livelihoods of workers in my country has become a more dangerous and fearful form of dictatorship than the military dictatorships of our past.

“In this political climate, where we are seen as the enemy of the state, the KCTU could not kowtow to the government just because of fear of trade union repression.

“The history of the KCTU is based on struggle for democratic rights, labour rights, and human rights and resistance from attacks from the government and employers. And we have continued to maintain this rich legacy. As a leader of the KCTU and representative of the working class, it is only natural for me to be in the frontline.

“When I was informed that I was to receive the Febe Elizabeth Velasquez Trade Union Award, as I contemplated in the small confines my cell, I was very humbled and to be frank embarrassed.”

The prize is named after Salvadoran union leader Febe Elizabeth Velásquez (1962-1989), who was murdered for her trade union activity.

Electricity unions in Middle East and North Africa create network

The network aims to share knowledge and experience, provide trade union solidarity, and improve communications among electricity workers in the region.

The meeting was hosted and organized by IndustriALL Global Union’s Turkish affiliate TES-İŞ, and chaired by its president, Mustafa Şahin, who said:

“I would like to express my great pleasure and honour to be able to lay the foundations of the MENA region electricity union network in Ankara. Enhancing global and regional solidarity is vital to workers in electricity sector. TES-İŞ will continue to advance this goal at different levels.” 

The meeting was attended by representatives of trade unions in the MENA region, as well as IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan.

Participants addressed the problems facing workers in the region, such as subcontracting and the outsourcing of some departments of companies, leading to an increase in precarious work.

Privatization of public companies results in a decrease of workers’ rights, reduction in wages, deteriorating of working conditions and a loss of jobs.

Electricity workers make great sacrifices to deliver energy to people in remote and mountainous areas. Occupational health and safety is extremely important and these workers should be able to go to work with confidence.

Abdelmajid Matoual from FNTE/UMT said:

“In Morocco privatization is a significant challenge for electricity workers. Government is working to deregulate the market and opening doors to privatize public companies. It’s very important to share experience in order to be prepared for future changes.”

In Iraq, corruption is one of the biggest problems, according to Hashmeya Alsaadawe, president of the General Union of Electricity Workers and Technicians in Basra:

“The government has spent plenty of money and now they know that they have failed and they want to privatize as quickly as possible. It will have consequences for the workers, but even privatizing companies will not stop corruption.”

The meeting also received a report about labour relations in the private sector. The human resources manager of Toroslar Region of EnerjiSA, a joint venture of German-based E.ON and Turkish holding company Sabanci Group, explained the continuing relationship with the TES-İŞ union in the context of industrial relations and bilateral dialogue between employer and employees in the distribution sector. The HR manager explained that in the transfer phase, workers scattered in sub-contracting companies are taken into direct employment at Enerji-SA as a result of the work carried out with the union.

IndustriALL energy director Diana Junquera Curiel said:

“We have created an important new union network. Now we have to work hard to build a solid and fruitful working group, able to support all the electricity unions in the region and develop international solidarity.”

The delegation visited two companies: a distribution centre from the private Enerji-SA company (Centre of SCADA System) which distributes electricity in three regions in Turkey, and the TEİAŞ Transformer public company, and its maintenance and repair centres.

International trade unions show solidarity with Turkish workers

The mission, from 3 to 5 May 2017, met with leading political parties the AKP, CHP and HDP; the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; the EU Turkey Delegation: the ILO Country Office; the Turkish Union of Bar Associations; human rights organizations and journalists.

According to different reports, around 100,000 people have been have been detained and arrested since the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016. In the meantime, almost 140,000 civil servants, teachers, bureaucrats and academics have lost their jobs in the country and around 150 media outlets have been shut down, with 159 journalists imprisoned.

The state of emergency in Turkey, which has recently been extended, gives the president the power to bypass parliament, rule by decree and suspend rights and freedoms.

The delegation to the Turkish capital Ankara, included representatives from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), IndustriALL, UNI, European Public Services Union (EPSU), European Trade Union Committee for Teachers (ETUCE) and national centers from Germany (DGB), Great Britain (TUC) and Belgium (FGTB).

In a statement made following the mission and released together with Turkish unions Turk-Is, Hak-Is, DISK and KESK, participants expressed deep concern at the massive wave of dismissals, which have been carried out without justification or proof.

The joint statement also said the state of emergency and the decrees have gone far beyond what is necessary for security reasons and are disproportionate. Meanwhile, the dismissals and suspensions are destroying the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers, becoming a humanitarian problem.

As well as the negative effective of state repression on business, investment and jobs; pressing issues such as the much-needed improvements in occupational health and safety, precarious work and the renewal of collective bargaining agreements have been put aside, said the mission.

In the meetings, the delegation demanded that the Turkish authorities to lift the state of emergency, stop the dismissals and arrests, and called for the release of all detained workers, public employees, journalists and parliamentarians who have been imprisoned without any clear accusation.

The mission called on the Turkish authorities to restore freedom of expression, speech and the media; and reopen the democratic media outlets that have been forced to shut down.

They also demanded respect for and implementation of ILO core labor standards, in particular Conventions 87 and 98 on trade union rights.  

Kemal Özkan, Assistant General Secretary of IndustriALL, who also represented industriALL Europe in the delegation, said:

“The situation in Turkey is getting worse and worse.  Our high level mission again made it clear that we will continue to stand by Turkish trade unions and the forces in society which support the cornerstones of democracy, such as basic freedoms and the rule of law.

In March this year, IndustriALL Global and European trade Unions conducted another mission to Turkey to support workers with a clear demand that “All barriers before fundamental rights and union organizing in our country must be lifted”. 

UAW tells shareholders that Volkswagen must stop union busting

The plant in Chattanooga is Volkswagen’s only plant worldwide without a company-recognized employee union. Notwithstanding, in December 2015, an overwhelming majority of more than 70 per cent of the skilled-trades workers voted to be represented by IndustriALL affiliate United Auto Workers (UAW).

Yet VW Chattanooga is refusing to bargain with UAW Local 42, even after the U.S. government has ordered the company to enter into negotiations.

Steeve Cochran, president of UAW Local 42, told shareholders at the AGM:

“With its behaviour, Volkswagen violates its own principles of social responsibility as well as the global framework agreement with IndustriALL.”

UAW is calling on the company’s management to recognize UAW Local 42 as the representative of VW employees in Chattanooga, and to enter into bargaining negotiations with them.

“VW management is disregarding fundamental labour rights, U.S. labour law and its own code of conduct. It risks a massive damage of its own image,” said Gary Casteel, Secretary Treasurer at UAW.

Details of the hazardous health and safety conditions and the anti-union climate at the VW plant in Chattanooga are discussed in the report “At What Cost”, published by the American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

In April, IndustriALL affiliates representing VW workers around the world met to exchange information on VW labour relations and show solidarity with the Chattanooga workers.

“Workers in Chattanooga have voted for union representation yet Volkswagen continues to deny them their legal right,” says IndustriALL General Secretary Valter Sanches. “Volkswagen need to stop targeting these workers and allow the union in the workplace.”

A petition calling for Volkswagen to stop union busting in Chattanooga has received more than 62,000 signatures.

“Over 62,000 SumOfUs members around the world, including Volkswagen drivers and shareholders, have signed a protest petition showing their disgust for Volkswagen’s disrespect for the rules,” said SumOfUs campaigner Eoin Dubsky.

IndustriALL shows solidarity with FESITEX workers

IndustriALL director Fernando Lopes wrote a letter to the workers on behalf of the global union expressing his deep concern at the criminalization of the labour conflict at SAE-E, which has resulted in court sentences against 12 persons for “obstruction of the police it its duties”; two of the accused were additionally sentenced for “aggravated damage” by the Tipitapa Criminal Court.

“We consider the sentences to be unjust, since on 27 June 2016 the workers were merely exercising their right to protest and to demand better working conditions” 

said Lopes in the letter.  The employees are demanding access to purified water, an end to unachievable production targets, and the rehiring of two workers who were dismissed.   

In late 2016, IndustriALL affiliates around the world joined a campaign in support of the 12 garment workers, and some 4,000 persons have signed a letter to the Nicaraguan government and to the Korean clothing manufacturer SAE A Tecnotex, calling for the workers to be released.  In addition, many unions have sent letters of protest to the Nicaraguan embassies in their countries.  

Since then, IndustriALL has continued to offer support and help.  IndustriALL General Secretary Valter Sanches has written a letter to FNT National Coordinator and President of the National Assembly Gustavo Porras on 2 May to request a meeting with Assistant Regional Secretary Marino Vani and Pedro Ortega of FESITEX.  

IndustriALL expects to get a reply from Porras before the appeal hearing scheduled for 11 May in Criminal Courtroom Two of the Appeals Court of Managua.  At the meeting they intend to transmit to him the just demand of the workers and to obtain the reversal of their sentences.   

Algerian trade union leader appeals prison sentence

Raouf, who is President of IndustriALL affiliate, the electricity and gas workers’ union (SNATEGS), was sentenced in absentia on 16 December 2016 to six months in prison and a fine of 50.000 Algerian Dinars (US$455), after being accused of illegally obtaining documents. These documents, which were freely available online, exposed the illicit inflation of electricity bills by Sonelgaz over a ten-year period affecting eight million customers.

IndustriALL has again written to the President of Algeria condemning the sentence. "It is clear that this judicial persecution is incompatible with Algerian law, and especially with the fundamental rights stipulated by the International Labour Organization,” wrote IndustriALL General Secretary, Valter Sanches, adding: “We urge you to immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against him.”

Sonelgaz workers are currently holding a three-day national strike against Sonelgaz from 9 to 11 May. The strikers are demanding trade union freedoms and support the appeal by the SNATEGS president, Raouf.

SNATEGS leaders and members face ongoing physical harassment and persecution as evidenced by the recent wave of arrests following peaceful demonstrations held between 21-23 March, when over 240 trade union leaders and members were arrested and 30 women physically assaulted.

More recently, around 40 SNATEGS trade union delegates in five different provinces were called in for disciplinary hearings by Sonelgaz for engaging in legitimate strike action.

In 2015, Raouf was unfairly dismissed for his trade union activities and he continues to face repression by Sonelgaz, which has most recently filed a complaint against him to the Order of Lawyers, whereby he risks being excluded from the national Bar Association. Raouf has succeeded in establishing SNATEGS in 27 different regions across Algeria and organizing around 30,000 workers.  

Freeport fires striking workers at Grasberg mine in Indonesia

On 1 May, more than ten thousand mineworkers who are members of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Chemical, Energy and Mines Workers Union (CEMWU) embarked on 30 days of strike action in protest at the company’s furlough policy.

Contractors joined the strike on 9 May.

The company declared the strike illegal, and announced that striking workers would be considered absent without leave. Any worker absent for five days would lose their job.

So far, 178 workers have been terminated, with another 44 scheduled for this week, and a further 83 later. The company has stated that because the mine has national strategic importance, all protests are banned, and striking workers are not allowed on company premises.

The union followed due process in initiating strike action, but there has been no legal judgment on the legality of the strike. It is illegal to fire workers for striking in Indonesia.

The roots of the dispute lie in a conflict between the company and the Indonesian government. Grasberg is a huge open cast copper and gold mine – visible from space – in the mountains of Papua, Indonesia, employing 32,000 workers. It has the second largest copper deposits in the world, and has been operated by PT Freeport Indonesia, the local subsidiary of Phoenix, USA-based Freeport-McMoRan, since 1967.

Freeport is in conflict with the Indonesian government over the long-term future of the mine. The mine has been controversial for some time, due to environmental damage, the aspirations of the Papua separatist movement, the perception that the local community does not benefit, and alleged corruption. There are calls within Indonesia for the mine to be nationalized.

Responding to this political mood, the Indonesian government blocked copper exports and threw Freeport’s contract into doubt. The company responded by reducing production and withholding investment. Freeport’s export permit was recently reinstated after a visit by US Vice President Mike Pence. Billionaire Trump donor Carl Icahn is a major investor.

To save costs, Freeport introduced a furlough policy, putting workers on long-term leave at short notice. Although the furlough is paid, workers lose out on many benefits, including overtime and accommodation. Workers were evicted from company barracks on two days’ notice.

Workers fear that the furlough is a precursor to lay offs, and that they will not get their jobs back.

Under an agreement with the company, there is a Special Arbitration Panel to resolve disputes. However, the furlough was introduced unilaterally, with no consultation with the unions, and workers were arbitrarily selected for furlough. The company has also reduced the work of contractors. The situation has caused a huge amount of uncertainty for workers and their families.

CEMWU has urged both the government and company to resolve their conflict, and has encouraged the government to provide a clear, legal framework so that the company can invest for the long term. CEMWU has written to the company three times asking for negotiations around the cost cutting exercise, and to the government asking for intervention.

The CEMWU at Freeport said:

"The iconic Grasberg mine is the largest gold mine in the world, and the lowest production cost mine operation. Tragically the true owners of the land, Freeport’s Indonesian workers, have struggled and died fighting for their rights in their own land against a foreign company.

IndustriALL has written to both the company and the government on more than one occasion. In a letter sent to Freeport-McMoRan on 5 May, general secretary Valter Sanches called on the company to intervene and ensure that its local subsidiary deal fairly with the workers.

Valter Sanches said:

“The situation at Grasberg is a complicated one involving the unions, the company and the government. It can only be resolved through dialogue and negotiation. Freeport’s decision to terminate striking workers is reprehensible, and makes the situation worse.

“We call on the company to negotiate with the union, and also to work with the government to find a fair solution.”