NSEU concludes collective bargaining agreement with Samsung

The affiliate of Federation of Korean Metalworkers' Trade Unions (FKMTU) mobilized 6,000 union members for an indefinite strike in July last year in Hwaseong. Few more strikes occurred in the following months. Samsung management refused to back down. 
 
The collective agreement signed by NSEU includes a 5.1 per cent wage increase, 3 per cent basic increase and a 2.1 per cent performance increase. Both parties agreed to establish a joint task force to enhance the performance-based remuneration system.
 
The agreement also grants all employees 2 million Familynet Mall points, 30 Samsung Electronics shares and introduces a post-retirement hiring system for employees’ children.
 
Approximately 88 per cent of NSEU members ratified the decision.

The FKMTU president, Kim Jun Young, said:

“The long and strenous struggle has finally led the National Samsung Electronics Union to reach an agreement. However, the past three years have also reaffirmed Samsung’s persistent adhearance to its no-union policy. The company’s irresponsible attitude throughout the collective bargaining process has rendered chairman Lee-Jae-yong’s declaration to abolish the no-union policy meaningless. Until the disregard and hostility toward labour unions within the Samsung Group are completely eradicated, the unions and workers of Samsung will continue their fight and in that fight the Korean Metal Workers’ Federation will always stand in solidarity.”

IndustriALL ICT, electrical and electronics director Alexander Ivanou said: 

“IndustriALL congratulates the National Samsung Electronics Union for the perserverance and dedication in securing a well-deserved agreement that champions fair wages, benefits and future opportunities for employess and their families.”

Photo: Shutterstock

Humanitarian aid must reach Myanmar’s people, not the military junta

Following the recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake, instead of prioritising rescue and humanitarian support, the military escalated aerial bombings on civilian communities, including in Chaung U (Sagaing), Phyu (Bago), and Naung Cho (Shan). Such appalling acts, under the guise of disaster management, demonstrate a blatant disregard for human life and dignity.

Myanmar’s history painfully reminds us how the military regime exploits disasters, using humanitarian aid as a political and military weapon, as seen during Cyclone Nargis (2008), Cyclone Mocha (2023), and Typhoon Yagi (2024). Aid intended for survivors has repeatedly been diverted, restricted, or manipulated for regime gain, resulting in prolonged suffering and increased death tolls.

The continued contempt for international law and total disregard for international obligations of the military should keep the international community, including UN agencies, on the alert not to be abused by the military to continue to impose itself on the Myanmar people. The military must stand aside for aid and humanitarian intervention to reach all the Myanmar people and for the Myanmar people to rebuild their lives and livelihoods in peace and democracy.

We, therefore, urgently:

Myanmar’s workers, communities, and ethnic peoples urgently require aid and protection, not bombings and obstruction. The extraordinary resistance of the people of Myanmar, ethnic groups, and civil society in the face of adversity demonstrate their leadership in delivering essential humanitarian aid. The NUG’s immediate declaration of a unilateral ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief starkly contrasts with the junta’s continued violence and delayed reaction in calling off military operations.

The legitimacy and credibility of international humanitarian action depend on principled, decisive, and accountable delivery of aid. The global community must not repeat past mistakes that allowed humanitarian aid to empower Myanmar’s military oppressors.
As trade union organisations representing workers globally, we reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the people of Myanmar and call for immediate and sustained international pressure to end this humanitarian crisis.

The earthquake has hit communities already enduring the junta’s brutal campaign of killings, forced labour, displacement, and repression. Yet in the face of devastation, the people of Myanmar continue to show unbreakable morale, determination, and unity. Their resolve is a powerful inspiration to the global labour movement. The international community must stand with them, clearly, decisively, and without delay – on the side of justice and human dignity.

Building and Woodworkers International    

International Trade Union Confederation

Education International    

IUF

International Domestic Workers Federation    

Public Services International

IndustriALL Global Union    

Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD

International Federation of Journalists    

UNI Global Union

International Transport Workers Federation    

Photo: Mandalay, Myanmar 28 March, 2025: An earthquake hit the city center, causing buildings to collapse. Rescuers are helping the injured. Credit: somkanae sawatdinak

Coal is dead, long live coal: strategies from Global South unions

The main questions in the debates as put by Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL Global Union director for mining are: “Can coal be clean, and does it have a future.” Further, what is the role of coal in decarbonisation and the Just Transition? These were the key questions that over 30 participants from IndustriALL affiliates and labour support organizations from the Global South countries in Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa discussed. The unions stressed that a Just Transition from high carbon fossil fuel energy generation to low carbon economies, whose main sources is renewable energy, must prioritise workers interests.

Mpufane said the future of coal should be discussed within the context of a Just Transition for coal mineworkers and power dynamics in the energy transition. He said that in most instance, the Global North exerts pressure on the Global South to decarbonize while simultaneously using other fossil fuels. He said: 

“The US, Canada, and Australia – the self-styled climate champions – have issued 60 per cent of new oil and gas licenses since 2020.” 

Kemal Ozkan, IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary said a Just Transition must consider job security as coal mining employs 7 million workers globally, with 2.5 million from the Global South. He argued that “a rapid phase-out of coal risks massive job losses.” There were social costs to mine closures that included lost wages, community collapse, and the destruction of local and regional economies. But these can be mitigated by a Just Transition plan that protected workers interests, he said.

The online seminar discussed how unions were responding to the debates on the future of coal. Igor Diaz said 80,000 livelihoods in Colombia depended on coal, yet the government’s energy transition announcements lacked a concrete labour plan. In response, the unions proposed retraining subsidies, public investment in clean coal research and development, and a joint action plan for inclusive transition policies that protected workers’ welfare.

Martin Kaggwa, director of the Sam Tambani Research Institute, affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in South Africa, said trade unions must embrace technology’s potential to make clean coal. He gave examples of coal direct chemical looping (CDCL), a process which reduces carbon emissions by 40 per cent when compared to traditional combustion. He argued that if CDCL is increased there are chances that it could extend coal’s economic life. The technology aligns with climate goals and offers opportunities for transition strategies for coal-dependent economies in the Global South, he said.

One of the issues raised by the online seminar is the protection of workers’ rights amid retrenchments by coal mining companies. Busisiwe Matizerd from the NUM said unions must continue to fight retrenchments and precarious working conditions by coal mining companies that included Seriti which recently retrenched over 1137 workers in South Africa.

The online seminar heard that in Indonesia, where coal provided affordable electricity which constituted 60 per cent of the country’s national grid, unions were resisting privatization of public power utilities which they feared would make electricity expensive for workers and the poor.

As a way forward, the IndustriALL regional secretaries of Latin America and the Caribbean, South East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, agreed to a joint action plan and coordinated responses on the South-South trade union position on the future of coal. For example, the unions agreed to document their local transition experiences, for example, from Colombia’s stalled reforms and Botswana’s labour laws. The unions will also engage groups like Future Coal on environmental, social and governance issues, and amplify the Global South trade union voices on the urgency of a Just Transition for coal miners.

Photo: Coal mine in Ethiopia, Flickr, Jasmine Halki

Unions urge strong action to protect steel industry jobs amid economic uncertainty and trade tensions

As in the past, OECD data confirms that global steelmaking capacity continues to grow despite weak demand and a sluggish economic outlook. By the end of 2024, global steelmaking capacity had reached 2,472 million metric tonnes and is expected to rise further in the coming years. Nearly half of this capacity is in China, where declining domestic demand since 2020 has driven production towards export markets, increasing pressure on other economies.

Meanwhile, new trade tariffs, including between major OECD economies, are adding further uncertainty which could negatively impact demand and investment, putting steelworkers' jobs at risk worldwide.

Trade unions continue to emphasise that steel overcapacity and rising trade tensions are only one side of the problem—the other is weak domestic demand. Union representatives at the OECD Steel Committee are calling for ambitious and comprehensive industrial policies to boost demand and set higher standards by incorporating labour and environmental conditions. They also urge large companies to reinvest their profits in new and green technologies to drive sustainable economic growth and create positive spillover effects across other sectors.

Currently, responses from major OECD economies are inconsistent. In the United States, rising tariffs are accompanied by efforts to roll back clean energy and industrial projects approved under the Inflation Reduction Act. In the European Union, increased fiscal flexibility for defence spending may not be the best solution for lifting European production, as the vast majority of defence goods are imported from outside the EU, and decoupling from US suppliers together with expanding European military output capacity could take many years. Meanwhile, other urgent priorities—such as social cohesion funds and investment in infrastructure, healthcare, and education—are pushed further down the agenda.

Veronica Nilsson, TUAC general secretary, warns: 

“As the case of steel shows, inadequate public investment and low private consumption make domestic industries more exposed at times of heightened trade tensions. Instead of pursuing fiscal consolidation, limiting public investment and devaluing wages through labour market reforms that reduce labour protection and the bargaining power of workers, governments should pursue expansionary fiscal policies and targeted industrial strategies that strengthen domestic resilience while protecting quality jobs and workers’ rights.”

Christina Olivier, IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary, says:

"Governments must adopt proactive industrial strategies that align economic, environmental, and social goals. Steel is the backbone of our economies—protecting the sector means protecting workers, communities, and the future of manufacturing."

Judith Kirton-Darling, general secretary of industriAll Europe, concludes: 

"Europe’s steel industry is at a crossroads. Without urgent action to boost demand and secure investment, we risk losing critical industrial capacity and high-quality jobs. Workers cannot be left to bear the brunt of trade tensions and economic uncertainty. We need a coordinated EU industrial policy that safeguards quality jobs and turns the promise of a just transition into reality."

16 April – day of action for trade union rights and democracy in Belarus

The most high-profile case is that of Aliaksandr Yarashuk, former President of the BKDP and a member of the ILO Governing Body, who, along with BKDP Vice-President Siarhei Antusevich and others, was sentenced to harsh prison terms simply for defending workers’ rights.

We cannot allow these injustices to go unnoticed or unchallenged and urgently seek your support for a campaign initiated by the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), an independent national trade union centre affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Among its members, three are affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union, with whom we stand united in demanding justice for our fellow trade unionists in Belarus, who are enduring severe repression.

How you can support the campaign

This campaign is about more than Belarus — it is about defending the fundamental rights of workers everywhere. When one of us is attacked, we are all at risk. Let us show that the global trade union movement stands together in solidarity.

Let us know about the actions you have taken and tag IndustriALL on social media.

Bangladesh: union leader released from jail but the fight continues

On 8 March, workers at Polo Composite protested against unpaid wages and illegal dismissals. The protest was brutally crushed by management and the proposed union committee members were physically assaulted and illegally terminated. Kabir Hossain was accused of provoking labour unrest and violence, as well as of stealing assets worth 25 million BDT (US$203,532). On 12 March, police raided the NGWF office in Savar, seized union documents, vandalised the union office and illegally detaining Hossain and the proposed president and general secretary of union at Polo Composite. They were later arrested under a case filed by management.

Since NGWF began efforts to unionize workers at Polo Composite, management has left no stone unturned to harass and intimidate proposed union committee members, including the president and general secretary. In November last year, when workers struck work to demand pending wages of October, management hired goons to break the strike and filed false cases against eight workers, including the proposed union president and general secretary. They were accused of blocking the factory gate, obstructing workers and officials from entering the factory, colluding with outsiders to break into the factory, attacking the security manager, vandalizing office property and stealing office furniture.

The eight workers were also not paid the outstanding wages. This has turned into a trend at Polo Composite; when workers raise their voice against unfair labour practice, they are met with dismissals, physical attacks and criminal charges.

NGWF has filed several complaints against the company with the BGMEA, as well as taking the matter to labour court. Currently, 17 worker complaints are pending with the BGMEA.

Amirul Haque Amin, NGWF president, says:

“It is evident that garment factory owners are trying to suppress workers’ voices and intimidate labour leaders. We strongly condemn Kabir Hossain’s unlawful arrest. Despite a bail order, his release from jail was blocked twice by management. We urge the management and state authorities to respect worker’s fundamental right to form and join trade unions without fear of persecution.”

Kabir Hossain’s bail in the false case comes with a condition that if he is accused of any such ‘crime’ again then he will not be granted bail the next time. According to NGWF officials, Hossain continues to face threats and surveillance from the management and therefore, is unable to continue union work in the area.

Ashutosh Bhattacharya, south Asia regional secretary of IndustriALL, says:

“We salute the struggle of workers at Polo Composite and we stand in complete solidarity with the NGWF. We call on the government of Bangladesh to look into the matter immediately as it goes against the commitments made by the government in the ILO Roadmap.”

Photo credit: Workers leaving factory, Bangladesh. Crozet M. / ILO

Belgian unions demand end to military uniform production in Myanmar

Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has been ruled by a brutal junta responsible for widespread repression, mass displacement and the suppression of independent unions and with it workers’ rights. Despite ample evidence of the ongoing violations, Sioen has continued to produce uniforms for the Belgian army in a Yangon factory, under martial law in Myanmar.

Unions say Sioen’s industrial activities in Myanmar not only legitimizes the military dictatorship but indirectly finances its violent rule. “It is unacceptable for Belgian taxpayers’ money to support a regime that murders civilians and persecutes workers,” the FGTB, CSC and CGSLB unions, all IndustriALL affiliates, said in a statement.

In 2021, IndustriALL launched a global campaign urging all garment brands to exit Myanmar. Many major companies, including H&M, Inditex, Lidl and C&A, have since pulled out. Sioen, however, has refused repeated union appeals to follow suit.

At a recent meeting with Sioen CEO Bart Vervaeke and managing director Michèle Sioen, Belgian union leaders reiterated their demand for the company to suspend operations in Myanmar until democracy and labour rights are restored. They proposed relocating production to other Sioen facilities in Tunisia or Indonesia and offering temporary compensation to workers in Yangon.

The unions have a message for the Belgian defence minister Theo Francken, warning him that the government’s proposed €4.5 billion defence budget increase must not be used to support exploitative overseas labour or oppressive regimes. They are urging stricter human rights clauses in public procurement and mandatory respect for human rights along the supply chains.

“The government says this spending is about strengthening Belgian industry. Then let it truly benefit Belgian workers – not come at the cost of others’ suffering,” 

the unions said.

“IndustriALL’s call for a responsible exit from Myanmar will not change until companies pull manufacturing from the country. Faced with the overwhelming evidence of human and labour rights’ violations, some of the biggest brands have left. The ones who maintain production in Myanmar clearly put profits over human lives,” 

says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.   

Nuclear renaissance raises worker and safety issues

The meeting served as a platform to assess the current state of the nuclear sector internationally and to reinforce the role of trade unions in shaping a just and secure energy transition.

In her opening remarks, IndustriALL’s energy director Diana Junquera Curiel presented an overview of the global energy landscape, noting that fossil fuels still dominate energy production despite the growth of renewable sources. Nuclear energy, she said, is gaining renewed interest in several countries due to its potential to deliver low-emission and reliable energy, although it raises significant labour and social challenges.

Recent momentum in nuclear development was highlighted, with a mid-March pledge by a cross-industry group—including Google, Amazon, Meta, 14 global financial institutions, 140 nuclear companies, and 31 countries—supporting a tripling of global nuclear capacity by 2050. This shift is expected to meet increasing electricity demand, particularly from energy-intensive data centres.

Kazuo Kawano of Japanese union DENRYOKU SOREN presented Japan’s approach to restarting reactors under stricter safety standards, while working to rebuild public confidence following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Japan is also investing in next-generation nuclear technologies and restoring its nuclear supply chain.

DENRYOKU SOREN president Moriya Mibu welcomed the international participation and noted the value of the exchange, which included a site visit to Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station.

“Nuclear power is a technology that should be handled by democratic and human rights-oriented people,” 

he said, emphasising the importance of maintaining international union dialogue.

The Ukrainian delegation reported on the brutal impact of war; occupied facilities, kidnapped workers, drone attacks and continuous violations of international standards. Despite the conditions, Ukrainian unions continue to operate and represent workers.

Valery Matov, co-chair of IndustriALL’s nuclear sector, said:

“We have received confirmation that the nuclear sector is experiencing a new renaissance, and it is very important to enhance the exchange of information between us, taking into consideration the current global situation. We would also like the uranium sector to receive a new boost for development. Many thanks to IndustriALL and our Japanese colleagues for this high-level meeting.”

Country presentations revealed diverse issues across regions:

Anniversary of Fukushima nuclear accident

On 26 March, delegates visited the Great East Japan earthquake and nuclear disaster memorial museum in Fukushima and later stayed at J-Village, a sports complex repurposed as a nuclear response base following the 2011 disaster. The site has since been restored and symbolises regional recovery.

The following day included a technical visit to the Fukushima Daiichi plant, where experts detailed ongoing decommissioning efforts, including waste management, contaminated water treatment, and the challenge of removing melted nuclear fuel—an unprecedented process expected to take 30 to 40 years. Approximately 880 tonnes of melted fuel remain inside reactors 1, 2, and 3.

The meeting closed with a call to expand the INWUN network, include uranium mining unions, and strengthen collaboration between meetings. Health and safety, youth training, and support for workers affected by plant closures were identified as urgent priorities.

Fighting GBVH in Bangladesh’s H&M supplier factories

The H&M Group-IndustriALL guidelines on gender-based violence and sexual harassment were developed in 2023 under the global framework agreement (GFA) between IndustriALL Global Union, IF Metall and H&M. Aligned with ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206, the guidelines help H&M suppliers prevent, detect and address gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the workplace.

While the guidelines are available to all suppliers, the national monitoring committee (NMC) in Bangladesh set up under GFA, has rolled out the guidelines in depth in eight supplier factories of H&M in the last two years. This has involved a deep dive into understanding the GBVH situation in the factories as well as carrying out extensive training workshops to raise awareness on the issue as well as guidelines among workers and management. This year, another ten factories will be added to the list.

During these trainings, women workers discussed their experiences of harassment and abuse on the shopfloor which range from verbal abuses, offensive comments about their body, particularly during pregnancy, groping, slapping, among others. Workers also stated that men in positions of authority seek sexual relationships from women workers and that if they don't comply, they risk having their jobs terminated or receiving more production targets.

The workshops would often begin with management denying that such incidents happen in their factories; however, as sessions progressed, training participants reach the consensus that such incidents should not happen and steps must be taken to prevent them.

GBVH guidelines detail out mechanisms to prevent GBVH on the shopfloor, investigate the cases as well as monitoring and control systems. It mandates that factories must have a GBVH policy and all workers and management must be aware of it.

As part of prevention, the guideline requires consistent awareness raising as well as identification and mitigation of risks of GBVH.

An Investigation of GBVH cases is undertaken by anti-sexual harassment committees which are required to be established at all workplaces, following a court order in 2009.

The court directed the committees to receive complaints, conduct investigations and submit annual reports to the government. However, the lack of enforcement of the order non-functional committees and their limited authority in persecuting GBVH cases have been under constant criticism from trade unions.

Additionally, the stigma associated with reporting sexual harassment deters workers from reporting the abuse.

Nazma Akter, president of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation and IndustriALL executive committee member, says:

“H&M – IndustriALL GBVH guidelines and training programmes will be crucial in strengthening the capacities of workers, organisers as well as management to understand the issue and develop joint strategies to address GBVH at H&M supplier factories.”

Italian metalworkers strike for fair negotiations

Workers will march nationwide, sending a clear message that they will not accept stagnation or concessions that erode their living standards. Their demands include action against wage stagnation, job insecurity and insufficient workplace protections.
 
FIOM, FIM and UILM, affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Union, are leading the strike in response to employers’ refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue. Their failure to offer a fair contract threatens workers’ wages and rights, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
 
Negotiations for the CCNL began on 30 May 2024. By 12 November, after eight rounds of discussions, Federmeccanica and Assistal proposed a framework linking wage increases solely to inflation trends. Unions argue this approach risks wage stagnation and undermines previous agreements from 2021.
 
In response, FIOM, FIM and UILM organized 16 hours of strikes between December 2024 and February 2025, including halting overtime and flexible work arrangements. However, employers have remained firm, leading to the escalation with the 28 March strike.
 
Federmeccanica and Assistal have cited economic challenges, offering a wage increase tied to the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (IPCA), totaling €173.37 (US$187.09) over four years (2025-2028), alongside flexible benefits and enhanced insurance coverage. However, unions argue these measures fall short of ensuring fair wages and job security.

IndustriAll European Trade Union and IndustriALL Global Union fully support FIOM, FIM and UILM in their fight.

“We stand firmly behind the workers' demands for clear and tangible increases in contractual minimum wages, ensuring they exceed inflation to safeguard purchasing power. Furthermore, we support their efforts to extend workers' rights, combat job insecurity, reduce working hours and strengthen protections for health and safety—both in workplaces and within contractual agreements,” 

said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie.
 

“We stand by our Italian colleagues and their fight against the erosion of living standards. We support their call for the renewal of the national collective labour agreement and send all our solidarity for the eight hour strike on 28 March,”

said Judith Kirton-Darling industriAll Europe general secretary.