Argentine unions condemn Milei's labour reforms

In recent months, IndustriALL affiliates in Argentina have held several marches and other campaigns to protest against the new law, warning that the reforms will affect workers in all sectors of society. They expressed their regret when the reform was finally passed in June, considering it to be a step backwards for labour rights.

The new regulations reform the country’s labour law. They introduce, for instance, new severance funds to replace the system that had been established under previous legislation and negotiated through collective bargaining agreements. Employers and workers now have the possibility to replace severance payments with this new system.

The regulations state that the aim of the new system is to "address the high uncertainty and costs associated with dismissal and severance pay in the Argentine Republic", "provide greater stability in labour relations", and "promote business competitiveness and stable employment".

The fund will be available to employers and workers as a replacement for the seniority-based severance pay provided for under employment contract law, as well as any other compensation calculated based on that pay.

Argentina’s union federation CTA has condemned this reform on the grounds that, since the new system can replace any related compensation, it could be used in almost all types of dismissals, which, they believe, could lead to the reform being ruled unconstitutional.

The CTA has condemned the fact that, if the parties agree, the new system can be applied to labour relations that began before the system’s entry into force. They also do not agree that workers’ compensation should be administered through open mutual severance funds that are managed by financial institutions for profit-making purposes, as this means that workers have no guarantee in the event that the funds are liquidated for financial or any other external reasons.

Unions have criticized the regulations for reinforcing the category of “independent workers”, who are able to work with up to three other independent “collaborators” without there needing to be an employment relationship. The unions see this as a way of concealing employment relations to avoid having to pay the related compensation.

After a joint meeting of their national committees, the CTA and the CTA A confirmed that they will strengthen their ties in order to fight against the Milei government’s reforms that undermine labour rights. They strongly condemned the omnibus law and the related reforms and labour regulations, which "grant absolute power to companies and jobs without rights to workers".

Since May, IndustriALL's regional Executive Committee has been working on a trade union action plan in response to the Milei government’s continued assault on workers in Argentina. It has also issued a statement condemning the reforms put forward by the Milei government to promote the country’s deindustrialization, deregulate the economy, reduce the size of the State and its intervention, and roll back hundreds of laws that protect both individual and collective labour rights.

Says IndustriALL deputy regional secretary, Cristian Alejandro Valerio:

"All workers in Argentina must stand united against the onslaught of the Milei government and its local and international corporate sponsors. Through their union representatives, workers need to develop strategies to try to offset or limit the impact of these measures and prevent further, more deep-rooted assaults on the rights of Argentine workers."

Union training for Tunisia's mine workers

After the first phase, in which 150 unionists from the southern cities of Mudayla, Metlawi, Umm al-Arais, Radif and Gafsa City were included, the programme has made significant progress. The next phase will include the main mining unions in the north.

On 17-18 September, IndustriALL, together with GTUM-UGTT and in coordination UGTT’s training and cultural activities department, organized a national workshop on on promoting decent work.

In her opening address, Reem Hilal, the newly elected general secretary of GTUM-UGTT and the first woman to hold the position in the male dominated industry, stressed the importance of training and education in the mining sector, and thanked all contributors to the project and the participating unionists.

Leadership of IndustriALL mining affiliates from Morocco, Syndicat National des Travailleurs de Phosphates (SNTP-CDT) and Syndicat National d'Energie et des Mines (SNEM-CDT) participated in the workshop and expressed solidarity with their Tunisian counterparts, offering to run an exchange union program since mining unions in the region face similar challenges.

Said Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary:

"I congratulate the new union leadership and applaud the election of Reem Hilal as general secretary, an important progressive act. Miners face major health and safety problems while the sector is experiencing a decline in jobs due to the technical transition. This means that unions have to make efforts to train workers and facilitate their integration."

Ahmed Kamel, IndustriALL MENA regional seretary, congratulated the union leadership and reiterated IndustriALL's continued support to the sector and to develop the trade union work.

Mehdi Gatri, mining sector coordinator explained that the mining sector in Tunisia faces five major problems:

Sihem Bousta, UGTT assistant general secretary, for training and cultural activities said:

"Grassroots training in the mining sector will improve union performance and raise the status of workers. We thank the UGTT for this opportunity to extend training in the mining sector, which is undergoing major changes that can only be addressed through in-depth training."

Unions push for stronger human rights protections in the base metals sector

With new legal frameworks, like the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), coming into effect, multinationals will face increased pressure to address human rights abuses in their global supply chains. The base metals sector, which includes steel, aluminium, and other essential metals, is particularly prone to violations due to its complex supply chains, hazardous work environments, and exploitative practices in raw material extraction.

Participants at the workshop highlighted that HRDD is a powerful tool capable of transforming corporate approaches to these risks. The sector has been under increasing scrutiny, with many stakeholders demanding better health and safety protections for workers and stronger environmental safeguards for both employees and surrounding communities.

Aline Conchon, industriAll Europe head of company policy, emphasised that HRDD should be more than a box-ticking exercise for corporations.

“It must be about transforming the way companies operate by placing workers' rights at the forefront. This includes ensuring that the right to organise and negotiate collectively is protected throughout the supply chain.”

As the number of HRDD laws grows across Europe and beyond, trade unions are positioned to play a crucial role in ensuring these frameworks lead to real action. By participating in every stage of the HRDD process—from risk assessments to negotiating action plans—unions can prioritise workers' rights.

Patrick Correa, IndustriALL Global Union director for base metals, stressed the importance of union involvement:

“Without the full participation of trade unions, due diligence risks becoming an empty promise.”

As HRDD laws come into force, unions are determined to hold companies accountable, ensuring that human rights due diligence is not solely about protecting businesses from legal risks but also about safeguarding workers from exploitation and harm. This marks a significant step towards greater corporate responsibility and improved worker protection in the base metals sector and beyond.

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

“Companies can no longer ignore their obligations to respect human rights in their operations. For unions, this is a unique opportunity to ensure that due diligence frameworks lead to real, tangible improvements for workers—especially in high-risk sectors like base metals.”

Discussions at the workshop also centred on the necessity for unions to monitor corporate compliance and ensure that any human rights commitments made by businesses are enforced, particularly in sectors where workers face the highest risks.

The workshop is part of a broader initiative led by IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll Europe to build union capacity in high-risk sectors, including textiles, extractive industries, and automotive suppliers. Over the next two years, similar events will equip union leaders with the tools needed to enforce HRDD in their workplaces. This initiative will culminate in a major conference in 2026, where union representatives will share strategies and recommendations with policymakers.

Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe general secretary, concluded:

“Trade unions have always been at the forefront of defending workers’ rights, and HRDD gives us a new, powerful tool to do so. It is up to us to ensure that due diligence frameworks are shaped by the workers they are meant to protect.”

Rubber sector workers say: “if united we can shake the world”.

Hosted by IndustriALL affiliate Lastik-Is in Izmit, Turkey, the meeting featured participants from 20 countries, including France, Italy, Brazil, South Africa, and Thailand. 
 
IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan opened the event, emphasizing the need for greater gender representation in the sector. 
 
Alaaddin Sari, president of Lastik-Is, echoed this, stressing the importance of unity:

“Our mentality is an injury to one an injury to all, unity to us is very important and we thank IndustriALL for doing this meeting with us. We as the tyre workers need to stand in unity not only for us, but also for all workers.”

 
Rubber sector director,Tom Grinter, presented a sector overview and highlighted industry challenges such as job losses, low wages, precarious work, and the impact of digitization.

Special focus was placed on countries like Turkey, Thailand, and Brazil, where workers face harsh conditions, including extreme heat, unsafe working environments, and limited union rights. The sector recommitted to their priority work in Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil and Liberia.
 
Panel discussions centred around the main worker challenges in these major multinational corporations. Workers from France, Italy, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, North America, Liberia, Germany, Mexico, Turkey and the UK provided context on the situation in their companies. The common themes that surfaced were job losses, precarious work, health and safety issues, low wages, production  moving to low cost countries, lack of benefits and digitization. 

Health and safety were major concerns, with workers from Hungary, Poland, and Germany reporting exposure to noise, dust, and chemicals, alongside poor ventilation and lighting. Mental health issues were also prevalent.

A key agenda item was the underrepresentation of women in the industry. Unions committed to closing gender gaps in pay, career progression, and health and safety, while promoting STEM education for women and pushing for the implementation of ILO Convention C190 on gender-based violence. The affilates are leading by example by electing the first woman co-chair for this sector, Elena Petrosino from Italian affilate FILCTEM-CGIL.

The sector analysed the relocation of production of tyres and the growing dominance of Asia, especially of China as the Chinese tyre market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.22% from 2023 to 2030 and nearly half of the fastest-growing tyre brands, worldwide, are Chinese. The drivers for growth include expanding automobile production, the presence of leading tyre original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the increased disposable income and vehicle ownership, the growing penetration of Chinese brands and SUV sales and the presence of automotive manufacturing hubs.

Automotive sector changes, like electric vehicles and supply chain due diligence, were addressed by sector director Georg Leutert, who warned of the growing dominance of China and the need for unions to demand stronger human rights protections.  
 
Kemal Özkan closed the meeting with a call to action:

“The world is becoming more unequal. With your determination, we can close this gap and achieve success.”

Organizing under tough economic conditions in Zimbabwe’s garment industry

According to reports unemployment is close to 90 per cent as the economy is largely informal and recovery is slow as industrial manufacturing activities remain stagnant. However, even under the difficult economic environment in which retrenchments have depleted union membership, trade unions remain resilient.

The National Union of the Clothing Industry (NUCI), which is affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, said what is contributing to its retention of members is an organizing strategy anchored on better industrial relations and collective bargaining. However, the union is still pushing for living wages and better working conditions. Currently the workers are paid wages that are agreed upon by unions and the National Employment Council for the Clothing Industry in the sectoral collective bargaining agreement. The minimum wage for garment workers is US$180 and the union is campaigning for living wages of over US$250.

One of the factories covered by the collective agreement is school uniform manufacturer, Enbee, where NUCI has over 100 members. Some union members at Enbee told IndustriALL during a factory visit in Harare on 27 September that they have worked at the company for over 40 years during which time they contributed to the success of the uniform brand. Further, the workers said they also remained committed members of their trade union.

The union said the generational mix in the factory allowed for the sharing of skills between the youth and senior workers some of whom are now supervisors. Amongst the supervisors are women who are employed in different capacities. Some youth from NUCI have also actively participated in trade union organizing activities that have been facilitated by the IndustriALL regional office for Sub Saharan Africa.

On Zimbabwe’s economic crisis, NUCI said most of the country’s large textile and garment factories closed due to hyperinflation, a currency crisis, unreliable electricity, and water shortages. Further, the influx of imported garments and textile imports which are about 95 per cent, and used clothes made locally produced garments uncompetitive and expensive. For instance, a locally made formal shirt from the factory costs as much as US$15 while a preowned shirt donated from Europe costs only US$2. Additionally, high production costs, and an exodus of skilled workers to neighbouring countries also affected the textile and garment industries.

The once vibrant locally grown cotton to clothes value chain has also declined. However, the cotton that is still grown is exported instead of being used locally. Government information confirms that small-scale farmers prefer the export market for their cotton because of better prices.

However, despite the dire economic situation, there are glimmers of hope for the industry, says Joseph Tanyanyiwa, the National Union of the Clothing Industry, general secretary.

“The union continues to provide services to its members even under the unfavourable economic environment. At policy level, we continue to engage the government and municipalities on the revival of the textile and garment industry through local procurement and sourcing policies that create local jobs. We are optimistic that with appropriate policy interventions the garment industries will be revived.”

“We commend the resilience of trade unions in Zimbabwe’s textile and garment industry who are organizing under tough conditions amid a cost-of-living and economic crises. This underscores the importance of union commitment to always servicing members,”

says Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa.

Other Zimbabwean IndustriALL affiliates that organize in the textile, garment, shoe, and leather sectors are the Zimbabwe Textile Workers Union and the Zimbabwe Leather, Shoe, and Allied Workers Union.
 

Manager physically assaults workers at Yura factory in Serbia

The Yura Leskovac Autonomous Trade Union of Metalworkers has condemned the attack, holding Yura responsible for fostering a culture of violence and disrespect towards workers. To make matters worse, the affected workers were threatened with dismissal after the assault according to the union. A police investigation is ongoing.

The union has raised additional concerns, questioning management's claim that the surveillance cameras were not operational on the day of the attack. It is routine practice for these cameras to monitor workers daily, making this failure particularly suspicious. The union has called on Yura either to explain this discrepancy and provide footage from the first shift on the day of the incident or to remove video surveillance from all Yura factories. It is unacceptable, the union argues, for cameras to be used to monitor workers' mistakes, only for them to be non-functional when determining the criminal liability of managers or other responsible parties.

This latest incident has intensified demands for improved workplace protections and immediate action against the manager. The union has long voiced concerns about the abusive practices at Yura, which have escalated as part of a broader anti-union campaign. Workers have faced pressure to dismantle the union, and reports of verbal and physical violence are increasingly common.

In response to media reports that the manager had been suspended, the union is demanding that Yura officially confirm the suspension and display the disciplinary action at the factory. They have also launched a petition calling for Kang’s work permit to be revoked and for increased inspection oversight at Yura. The union is prepared to take further action if demands continue to be ignored.

This incident occurs in the context of an ongoing struggle by Yura workers in Leskovac to secure fair wages and decent working conditions. Supported by industriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union, workers have been protesting the company’s union-busting tactics and punitive wage policies. The union has already initiated strikes and filed a formal complaint with German authorities regarding Yura’s compliance with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.

Said IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan:

“It is absolutely unacceptable that workers are subjected to violence in the workplace. Management must react immediately to keep workers safe and must engage in dialogue with the union to rectify the bad practices and ensure that this toxic culture comes to an end. IndustriALL Global and Europe will continue to mobilize the solidarity for our Serbian sisters and brothers until there is justice.”

Judith Kirton-Darling, general secretary of industriAll Europe, expressed strong support for the Yura workers and their union, saying:

"I want to extend the full solidarity of all European workers to our courageous colleagues at Yura Leskovac. We stand firmly with you in your fight for dignity, fair treatment, and safety at work. Our thoughts are with the injured workers, and we wish them a swift and full recovery. Yura management must immediately compensate the victims of this appalling incident and take responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of all workers. The union is the legitimate voice of the workforce, and it must be respected. We call on Yura to engage in meaningful dialogue with the union, put an end to violence and intimidation, and protect the rights of its employees."

For more information and to support the campaign, please sign the protest letter urging Yura to stop anti-union activities.

Manager physically assaults workers at Yura factory in Serbia

The Yura Leskovac Autonomous Trade Union of Metalworkers has condemned the attack, holding Yura responsible for fostering a culture of violence and disrespect towards workers. To make matters worse, the affected workers were threatened with dismissal after the assault according to the union. A police investigation is ongoing.

The union has raised additional concerns, questioning management's claim that the surveillance cameras were not operational on the day of the attack. It is routine practice for these cameras to monitor workers daily, making this failure particularly suspicious. The union has called on Yura either to explain this discrepancy and provide footage from the first shift on the day of the incident or to remove video surveillance from all Yura factories. It is unacceptable, the union argues, for cameras to be used to monitor workers' mistakes, only for them to be non-functional when determining the criminal liability of managers or other responsible parties.

This latest incident has intensified demands for improved workplace protections and immediate action against the manager. The union has long voiced concerns about the abusive practices at Yura, which have escalated as part of a broader anti-union campaign. Workers have faced pressure to dismantle the union, and reports of verbal and physical violence are increasingly common.

In response to media reports that the manager had been suspended, the union is demanding that Yura officially confirm the suspension and display the disciplinary action at the factory. They have also launched a petition calling for Kang’s work permit to be revoked and for increased inspection oversight at Yura. The union is prepared to take further action if demands continue to be ignored.

This incident occurs in the context of an ongoing struggle by Yura workers in Leskovac to secure fair wages and decent working conditions. Supported by industriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union, workers have been protesting the company’s union-busting tactics and punitive wage policies. The union has already initiated strikes and filed a formal complaint with German authorities regarding Yura’s compliance with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.

Said IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan:

“It is absolutely unacceptable that workers are subjected to violence in the workplace. Management must react immediately to keep workers safe and must engage in dialogue with the union to rectify the bad practices and ensure that this toxic culture comes to an end. IndustriALL Global and Europe will continue to mobilize the solidarity for our Serbian sisters and brothers until there is justice.”

Judith Kirton-Darling, general secretary of industriAll Europe, expressed strong support for the Yura workers and their union, saying:

"I want to extend the full solidarity of all European workers to our courageous colleagues at Yura Leskovac. We stand firmly with you in your fight for dignity, fair treatment, and safety at work. Our thoughts are with the injured workers, and we wish them a swift and full recovery. Yura management must immediately compensate the victims of this appalling incident and take responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of all workers. The union is the legitimate voice of the workforce, and it must be respected. We call on Yura to engage in meaningful dialogue with the union, put an end to violence and intimidation, and protect the rights of its employees."

For more information and to support the campaign, please sign the protest letter urging Yura to stop anti-union activities.

Ghanaian government cancels mining licence for Bogoso-Prestea Mine after union petition

One of the reasons for the cancellation is failure to pay wages and benefits on time. Workers only received wages for December 2023 and January 2024 and have not been paid since. Their pensions and other benefits are also in arrears. 
 
UK registered Future Global Resources (FGR) acquired the mine in 2020 on condition that the mining company would invest into the mine. However, FGR, which holds 90 percent of the mine, failed to invest and develop the mine and instead became indebted to its suppliers. The government of Ghana owns the remaining 10 percent.
 
For many years, the community of Prestea has expressed concerns over pollution of water sources by gold mining companies including FGR. Community fears have been worsened by the flooding of the Central shaft, and the Bondaye shaft had only one working pump while some open pits were taken over by artisanal and small-scale miners.

Further, some sections of the tailing storage facility have been neglected, and the processing plant is in a state of disrepair, according to the government notice of termination. The union says this points to FGR’s failure on its environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibilities.
 
“FGR lacks the financial capacity to inject the needed capital into the Bogoso-Prestea Mine and indeed has demonstrated its inability to show cause to the minerals commission during the 120 days’ notice period why the mining lease should not be terminated,” wrote the union in a petition to the Ghanaian Parliament.
 
Heeding the union and other stakeholders’ petitions and demonstrations, the ministry of lands and natural resources terminated the mining licence on 18 September.
 
“The decision to terminate the mining licence was taken after reviewing various reports from a minerals commission as well as a ministerial committee constituted to review the operations of the company, and after extensive engagement with all stakeholders involved in this matter,” wrote the ministry in a statement. The ministry stated that it was looking for other investors to take over the mine and has since appointed a caretaker team to oversee operations.
 
The GMWU, an IndustriALL affiliate, is in favour of the resumption of production at the mine which will benefit workers.

“A union meeting resolved to embark on a series of demonstrations, picketing, and protest marches if the minister refused to terminate the mining lease and allow other prospective investors to take over the mine and run it for the greater good of all stakeholders,” 

 said Abdul-Moomin Gbana, GMWU, general secretary.

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

“FGR must pay outstanding wages and benefits, and the caretaker team must ensure that jobs are protected. Further, the government must enforce compliance with environmental laws to ensure the protection of community water sources against pollution.”

Ghanaian government cancels mining licence for Bogoso-Prestea Mine after union petition

One of the reasons for the cancellation is failure to pay wages and benefits on time. Workers only received wages for December 2023 and January 2024 and have not been paid since. Their pensions and other benefits are also in arrears. 
 
UK registered Future Global Resources (FGR) acquired the mine in 2020 on condition that the mining company would invest into the mine. However, FGR, which holds 90 percent of the mine, failed to invest and develop the mine and instead became indebted to its suppliers. The government of Ghana owns the remaining 10 percent.
 
For many years, the community of Prestea has expressed concerns over pollution of water sources by gold mining companies including FGR. Community fears have been worsened by the flooding of the Central shaft, and the Bondaye shaft had only one working pump while some open pits were taken over by artisanal and small-scale miners.

Further, some sections of the tailing storage facility have been neglected, and the processing plant is in a state of disrepair, according to the government notice of termination. The union says this points to FGR’s failure on its environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibilities.
 
“FGR lacks the financial capacity to inject the needed capital into the Bogoso-Prestea Mine and indeed has demonstrated its inability to show cause to the minerals commission during the 120 days’ notice period why the mining lease should not be terminated,” wrote the union in a petition to the Ghanaian Parliament.
 
Heeding the union and other stakeholders’ petitions and demonstrations, the ministry of lands and natural resources terminated the mining licence on 18 September.
 
“The decision to terminate the mining licence was taken after reviewing various reports from a minerals commission as well as a ministerial committee constituted to review the operations of the company, and after extensive engagement with all stakeholders involved in this matter,” wrote the ministry in a statement. The ministry stated that it was looking for other investors to take over the mine and has since appointed a caretaker team to oversee operations.
 
The GMWU, an IndustriALL affiliate, is in favour of the resumption of production at the mine which will benefit workers.

“A union meeting resolved to embark on a series of demonstrations, picketing, and protest marches if the minister refused to terminate the mining lease and allow other prospective investors to take over the mine and run it for the greater good of all stakeholders,” 

 said Abdul-Moomin Gbana, GMWU, general secretary.

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

“FGR must pay outstanding wages and benefits, and the caretaker team must ensure that jobs are protected. Further, the government must enforce compliance with environmental laws to ensure the protection of community water sources against pollution.”

Caterpillar global trade union network commits to support workers and demand change

The meeting brought together union representatives from across the globe to address challenges and chart a course for collective action. With delegates sharing stories of worker struggles in the US, Northern Ireland and Mexico, a sense of urgency was palpable.

Caterpillar’s increasing reliance on outsourcing and its reluctance to engage in genuine social dialogue were common themes throughout the discussions.

Despite a global slowdown in the construction sector, Caterpillar’s financial performance remains robust. However, union representatives stressed that this success has come at a cost to its workforce.

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

“Caterpillar is thriving, yet its workers are being squeezed. The company’s profits must not come at the expense of fair wages and respect for workers' rights.”

A key concern raised during the meeting was the company's continued race to the bottom strategy, where production is relocated to low-wage countries, leaving workers in those regions with limited protection. The Mexican case, in particular, stood out.
In Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, workers at the Caterpillar Tecnología Modificada plant have been on strike for over a year, demanding fair wages and recognition of their union, the Sindicato Nacional Independiente de Trabajadores de las Industrias y de Servicios (SNITIS). The strike follows months of failed negotiations, with workers accusing Caterpillar of union-busting tactics and discriminatory practices.

In a union win, Victor Manuel Vergara, a union leader initially dismissed for organizing, has been reinstated. However, SNITIS and its members continue to push for a collective bargaining agreement that guarantees better wages and safer working conditions.

“SNITIS’ fight is the fight of all Caterpillar workers globally. We stand in full solidarity with our comrades in Mexico and will continue to support them until their rights are fully respected,”

said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie.
The network has agreed to send a formal letter to Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby, urging him to intervene and ensure that negotiations with SNITIS are taken seriously.

Caterpillar’s continued success in the global marketplace, union representatives argue, must be matched by a commitment to fair labor practices. As one delegate put it:

“Caterpillar cannot continue to exploit workers while reporting record profits. The world is watching.”

The meeting also addressed the need to revitalize the network itself. Since the Covid pandemic, communication between unions has slowed, weakening the effectiveness of collective action.  Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to building solidarity across borders and pushing back against Caterpillar’s labour practices. As discussions concluded, the message was clear: Caterpillar workers around the world face similar challenges, and only through collective action can they push for meaningful change.

Said Christina Olivier:

“This is not just about one plant or one country. It’s about setting a standard for how multinational corporations treat their workers. We are stronger together, and Caterpillar must understand that we will not back down.”