Violent aftermath of Cambodian strike

In June, one of IndustriALL Global Union’s affiliated garment worker trade unions in Cambodia, the FTUWKC, suffered a serious backlash for striking in demand of a US$14 monthly pay increase. 415 workers identified by the management as participating in the strike were sacked. The workers at the Sabrina factory in Kampong Speu province, west of the capital Phnom Penh produce for Nike, Wilson Sports Apparel and Lululemon Athletica.

Arrest warrants were subsequently issued for 16 workers, identified by management as instrumental in the trade union campaign. Eight workers went into hiding, and the other eight were imprisoned. Today, four months later, charges have still not been filed against them and they remain in the same prison cell.

Only 50 of the more than 400 workers who were dismissed have not been reinstated. IndustriALL Global Union have asked FTUWKC to provide a list of the 50 workers and to check why they are not going back to work like the other workers..

Two women who tragically lost their babies in the strike have still not received any compensation. Instead, the company doctor has issued a statement that it is not likely that they lost their babies in the strike.

IndustriALL Global Union supports FTUWKC’s demands for the immediate release of eight arrested workers and for local Sabrina management to enter into a good faith dialogue.

Strike at Thai Rayon in Thailand

The current CBA signed by the union in 2010 expired on 31 May 2013. The union's proposal submitted to the company contained the demand to increase monthly living wage from 5,000 THB (118 Euro) up to 6,000 THB (140 Euro) topped with a 150 day bonus payment instead of the existing 136 day bonus.

As a counter proposal Thai Rayon management suggested to reduce nearly all the benefits the union had previously gained including the monthly living wage cut down to 3,000 THB (71 Euro) and reduced pay bonus down to 45 days.

The majority 849 workers out of 980 are members of the Thai Rayon labour union, an affiliate of IndustriALL through Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation of Thailand (TWFT). Most of Thai Rayon workers have worked at the factory between 20-30 years. In addition, the company employs around 150 agency workers for maintenance, cleaning and security work.

Despite 39 rounds of negotiations, many of them in presence of the government mediators the employer took a firm stand. The union launched a strike ballot supported by 716 union members who on 18 September walked off the jobs and held a rally outside Thai Rayon factory gate.

Next day the management declared a lockout of union members including the union committee and the CBA negotiators. Later members of the union started to report threats of dismissals received from the management.

Eight rounds of negotiations have taken place since the strike, the latest on 10 October. So far without  results.

According to the union, Thai Rayon made 1.3 billion THB (30.6 million Euro) in profits last year. Previous years were highly profitable for the company as well. Despite high rate of profitability and increased pressure on workers trying to meet the raised production quotas, management insists on cutting workers' benefits and chose to delay CBA negotiation in order to put pressure on the union to accept drastic cuts.

The Thai Rayon factory is owned by Aditya Birla Group, a global conglomerate with headquarters in India, employing 130,600 workers in 26 countries. The Group owns a number of chemical and textile companies.

Strike over and another averted in South Africa

Numsa members in the motor component sector achieved a 10 per cent wage increase, with 8 per cent in year two and again in year three. The three year agreement brought to an end the four week long strike on 6 October.

The demand put forward by the NUM in the coal sector was for a 60 per cent wage increase for entry level workers and 15 per cent for skilled workers. The offer made by employers in the Chamber of Mines of 7.5 per cent for entry level workers and 7 per cent for skilled workers was rejected by the NUM and a dispute was declared.

Employers in the coal sector then made individual two year wage increase offers ranging from 11 per cent for entry level workers to 8 per cent for skilled workers, including miners and artisans. If workers did not agree with the revised offer tabled, then a strike would have resulted. After a week of consultation with members, the NUM accepted the offers at the end of September and the strike was averted.

Unions mobilize around the world against precarious work

Unions around the world have joined IndustriALL’s global campaign to STOP Precarious Work. As reports, photos and videos of actions come pouring in, IndustriALL has set up a campaign page dedicated to reporting on actions taken all around the world.

From Chile to Croatia and from Finland to Madagascar workers voices are being heard loud and clear.  Workers have taken to the streets in Peru, Colombia, Thailand, Brazil, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and many other countries.

In Peru dozens of textile and garment workers, members of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the National Federation of Textile Workers (FNTTP), marched through Lima city centre on 4 October.

In Thailand more than 3000 workers from the Confederation of Industrial Labour of Thailand (CILT), the State Enterprise Unions Confederation (SERC), Thai Labour Solidarity Committee and the migrant workers network and the informal sector network, marched to the Government House demanding the ratification of ILO Conventions 87 and 98 and labour law reform that adheres to international labour standards.

In Madagascar at Rio Tinto operations at Fort-Dauphin, workers and members of the Fédération des Syndicats des Travailleurs de l’Energie et des Mines (FISEMA),  in the midst of their struggle on the settlement of the mass dismissals in the plant distributed flyers on 7 October to mark the World Day for Decent Work .

Elsewhere, unions raised awareness of the issues with their members, debated union responses to precarious work and sent letters to their governments demanding action.

In Cambodia, IndustriALL Global Union affiliates of the South East Asia Region met to develop their strategies for 2014 to fight Precarious Work.

If your union has taken action around 7 October, but your actions don’t appear on IndustriALL’s STOP Precarious Work campaign page, then send them to: [email protected]. You can also tweet using the hashtag #STOPprecariousWork or share your actions with us on facebook.

Concern in the Netherlands about conditions in Colombian coal mines

In September this year, the Dutch magazine De GroeneAmsterdammer and the Dutch newspaper Trouw published articles on the coal industry in Columbia and asked the question: “Is this coal stained with blood?”

They argued that the very bad working conditions in Columbia were comparable with those in the textile industry in Bangladesh and that the Netherlands ought to take some responsibility for this.

An opinion column in Trouw recalled that, three years ago, Dutch energy companies and social organisations formally began a Dialogue on Coal. The articles note that as Columbia exports a quarter of its coal to the Netherlands, the situation must improve and the country should try and influence the way that companies operate in Colombia.

However, the dialogue failed due to the attitude of the energy companies, which do not seem to understand that transparency in the entire supply chain is now a requirement for socially acceptable and sustainable employment.

The articles describe cases of workers employed by the multinational Drummond, which is a major supplier to the Netherlands. Data provided by Dutch energy companies showed that more than 12 per cent of coal imported in 2011 was from the Drummond mine. However, their most recent report did not provide full information about the exact origin of the coal exported to the Netherlands.

The articles describe the killing and persecution of workers and trade unionists, including the case of a trade union leader who had to go into exile to escape being killed.

The government, in the form of the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Lilianen Ploumen, has said it will pay close attention to the situation at the Colombian mines from which Dutch companies export coal to the Netherlands.

The articles insist on the need for transparency in the supply chain. This issue is of great importance for IndustriALL. Union seminars on the mining industry have discussed the importance of strengthening unions and building a regional and world union network. Glen Mpufane, Director of Mining at IndustriALL, has said that the challenges are the same in all regions and that it is important to unite the workers within supply chains. Union membership has declined as the power of the companies has increased.

For IndustriALL, a strong and centralised trade union structure can stand up to the companies and, in this specific case, can fight the abuses and ill-treatment of workers and end the supply of coal stained with blood.

Peru Actions

Dozens of textile and garment workers, members of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the National Federation of Textile Workers (FNTTP), marched through Lima city centre on Friday 4 October, as part of the World Day for Decent Work. The march was accompanied by a colourful and festive passacaglia, which was organised jointly with the municipality of Lima.

Somalia Actions

On 7 October, an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), , and its affiliated trade unions commemorated the World Day for Decent Work 2013 in demanding decent work for all and decent salaries for workers.

In a one-day workshop held in the conference hall of FESTU headquarters in Mogadishu, union leaders and organizers collectively voiced that Somali workers deserve to enjoy fair terms of employment, decent working and living conditions, a safe and secure workplace, social security and health care. 25 union representatives from ten industrial unions demanded that the federal government to pass the minimum wages bill in order for Somali workers to gain their rightful entitlement to decent wages.

The workshop welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister of Somalia that the decent work country programme for Somalia will be concluded and implemented, but participants stressed the for these words to be turned into concrete actions.

“We want to see work done on workers’ demands regardless of mere words of promises,” said Omar Faruk Osman, FESTU General Secretary. “Somali people need employment to sustain. However, the employment has to be in decent working conditions ensuring worker rights.”

FESTU members collectively demanded the federal government to create employment for unemployed Somalis, particularly youths who are migrating from the country. Unemployment in Somalia is a major source of instability and threat to sound progress in the country.

“Let us join hands with the workers of the entire world in commemorating this Day with fervour and dedication to secure decent work in our nation" said Faruk Osman, FESTU General Secretary.

Deadly factory fire again underlines importance of Bangladesh Accord

The IndustriALL Bangladesh Council of trade union affiliates is working to assist the humanitarian relief effort following the fire that also injured a reported 50. The joint IBC team is working with both the families of the victims and the injured workers. This effort will coordinate with the labour ministry and the employer associations BGMEA and BKMEA.

135 workers of the factory complex's 2,000 strong workforce were inside the two-story building when the blaze took hold around 5.30pm.

Investigations are ongoing and we must wait to learn the causes of the fire. The Gazipur factory fire is shocking, but not surprising. The Bangladesh government has estimated that at least 50% of the country’s garment factories are dangerous.

IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary Jyrki Raina said,

This is a truly shocking tragedy. It underlines the need for urgent action to make the safety improvements that are so badly needed in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment factories. Through the Bangladesh Accord, we will be doing our utmost to make progress as quickly as possible, so that we can avoid tragedies like this in the future.

UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings said,

The Bangladesh Accord, by bringing together industry and trade unions, will help to ensure that long-overdue safety improvements are made. We know the size of the task ahead, sadly emphasised by the Gazipur fire. We must deliver collectively for the sake of the Bangladeshi garment workers and their families.

As the latest tragedy unfolds, work around the Rana Plaza compensation negotiations continues. Talks chaired by the ILO took place yesterday, with brands, IndustriALL, CCC, Bangladesh government, BGMEA, and Bangladeshi unions in attendance physically or via video link. Primark has taken the lead in the response so far ensuring that 3,630 families and injured will have received full 6-month salaries until the end of October.

Press Contacts:


Tom Grinter, IndustriALL, Mobile: +41 79 693 44 99, 
[email protected]


Richard Elliott, UNI Global Union, Mobile: +41 79 794 9709, [email protected]

Chile Actions

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate Constramet supported the strike of Call Center workers employed by the company, Outside. The precarious workers, were asking for improved working conditions. These workers have received threats since their strike began. Constramet also joined the march organised by the CUT Chile on 5 October.

Powering up the Southern African Energy Network

36 participants representing unions organizing workers in the energy sector constitute the Southern Africa Energy Network (SAEN). The meeting of the group was sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and IndustriALL Global Union.

A central goal of SAEN is to have influence on the regional energy delivery landscape by pushing for the inclusion of labour issues in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) where key discussions take place. SAPP was created in 1995 by SADC countries and is aimed at providing reliable and economical electricity to the consumers of its member states while considering reasonable use of natural resources and the effect on the environment.

At the meeeting the participants agreed that SEAN could influence the inclusion of the labour issues in SAPP agenda only thorugh the coordinated cooperation among energy sector unions in Southern Africa.

SAEN meeting particpants resolved that research was needed to support the work of the network, as well as discussed and agreed upon the concepts of mapping the industrial relations landscape in the energy sector in the region. Labor Research Service (LRS) represented by Michelle Taal has been commissioned to do the mapping and research.

Participants reflected on the achievements of the network in 2012, in particular coming together to give solidarity support to the Zimbabwe Electricity Workers Union (ZEWU) throughout the ordeal of the suspension of 135 workers at the state owned utility ZESA, all of whom have now been reinstated with the exception of the union’s president, Angeline Chitambo. ZEWU continues to fight the dismissal.

Participants also received reports on the work that has been done to strengthen energy unions NESAWU in Zambia and SINTIME in Mozambique. Capacity building is an important area of work for the network and participants recommitted to building self sustainability.

Decisions were taken on campaign areas for 2014, to address precarious work in the sector and call for a living wage.  A campaign would also be carried out aimed at giving workers in the energy sector the right to strike, denied to energy workers in these countries as they are considered to be performing an essential service.