Belarusian unionist released from jail

Vasil Beresnev was sentenced by Minsk City Court in January 2023 together with former chairperson of REP Hennadz Fiadynich, 67, to nine years of imprisonment. In the same trial, REP activist Vatslau Areshka, 69, was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment in a colony with a reinforced regime.

In prison, Vasil Beresnev’s health significantly deteriorated, he suffered from severe pain in his only kidney. The situation became critical when the medication was ineffective, and a kidney transplant was necessary.

Many of the political prisoners in Belarus suffer from ill health and are incarcerated in squalid conditions. A petition calling for the release of political prisoners has been actively disseminated.

Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:

“We welcome the release of Vasil Beresnev and hope that this marks a turning point for Belarus. Convicting trade union leaders for exercising their legitimate right to freedom of association constitutes a grave violation of the principles of freedom of association.”

The modern white-collar worker: myths, realities and the road ahead

The myth persists that white-collar workers enjoy easy jobs with great pay and little need for union protection. They are often viewed as part of the management team, removed from the hardships of blue-collar workers. But Seby quickly dispels this notion. 

“White-collar workers also endure rights’ violations, immense pressure, precarious employment, and serious health risks, including psychosocial risks,”

she explains.

“The idea that their roles are immune to these issues overlooks the complex and often difficult experiences of those in white-collar occupations.”

The pressures white-collar workers face are global, from overtime to the relentless demand for technological skill updates in an ever-evolving digital world. These challenges are particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, like those in the MENA region and Sub-Saharan Africa, where wage stagnation, lack of pay transparency, and unpaid overtime are rampant. 
 
Seby emphasizes that mental health has emerged as a critical issue, with increasing stress and blurred lines between work and personal life leading to widespread problems. 

“Trade unions are beginning to address these concerns, but there is still a long way to go in effectively tackling mental health in the workplace,”

she states.
 
The advent of Industry 4.0—driven by digitalization, AI, and cutting-edge technologies—is reshaping work, particularly in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.  A recent survey among white-collar, at a global meeting in October 2023, workers in STEM revealed that 60 per cent  of them are already experiencing the impact of these changes. They face job cuts, constant re-skilling, and a bias towards higher degrees.

“The rapid pace of technological change demands continuous training, but these efforts are often lacking, especially in developing countries where workers are left scrambling to keep up, often without the necessary support,”

Seby adds.
 
Navigating challenges and shaping the future

In response to these challenges, IndustriALL and its affiliates actively work through various initiatives to combat these issues. IndustriALL has set up expert groups on Industry 4.0, published guidelines on collective bargaining for telework, and focused on promoting STEM education, re-skilling, and mental health awareness. 
 
For example, the Finnish union PRO has launched a podcast series on burnout and offers mental health training to help workers manage stress. “These initiatives are crucial in equipping workers with the skills and support they need to navigate the changing work environment,” Seby emphasizes.
 
Organizing white-collar workers presents significant challenges. In some countries like Thailand and Malaysia, legal barriers prevent unionization of certain categories of workers, such as professionals and managers. Management often employ strategies to intimidate white-collar workers and deter unionization efforts. Additionally, traditional unions, rooted in blue-collar representation, have been slow to prioritize white-collar organizing, facing internal resistance and structural hurdles. High job mobility and the perception of unions as outdated or adversarial also keep many young white-collar workers away. 
 
“To overcome these hurdles IndustriALL is developing, with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), tailored training modules and strategies that focus on peer-to-peer organizing and aligning union goals with the interests of younger workers,” Seby explains.
 

“White-collar STEM workers play an essential role in the technological revolution that is taking place and in the shaping of new forms of production in our industries. They can also play, including the young generation, a leading role in better preparing and adapting our unions to these new challenges,”

says Seby. 
 
To truly connect with the next generation of professionals, unions must adapt to the values and concerns of younger workers. Issues like climate change, equality, and diversity resonate strongly with them.

“Engagement means showing that unions can address these issues in ways that are relevant and modern,”

says Seby. 
 
Looking forward, IndustriALL's priorities include strengthening organizing efforts, promoting women in STEM, supporting mental health, and ensuring continuous skill development in response to technological and climate changes. Addressing the risks and opportunities presented by AI is also crucial. By focusing on these areas, IndustriALL aims to create a more inclusive and resilient future for white-collar workers globally.
 
The transformation of white-collar work through digitalization and advanced technologies brings both challenges and opportunities. By debunking myths, addressing key issues, and adapting union strategies, IndustriALL and its affiliates are committed to supporting white-collar workers through these turbulent times.

“Ensuring job security, promoting mental health, and advocating for continuous skill development are essential in navigating the complexities of the modern workplace. The road ahead is demanding, but with concerted effort, the role of white-collar workers can be redefined and reinforced in the evolving industrial landscape,”

Seby concludes.

Photo: Shutterstock-rawpixel.com

Delayed justice for Belarusian unionists

In 2018, spontaneous protests took place outside the courthouse as the verdicts of REP trade union leaders Gennady Fedynich and Ihar Komlik were announced. The protest was broken up by the police after ten minutes. Eleven activists were detained and placed in isolation and subsequently fined large sums of money by the court. 

After exhausting all legal avenues in Belarus, the activists and union lawyer Leonid Sudalenka appealed to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2019.

On 24 July, the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva found the Belarusian government guilty of violating the right to hold peaceful assemblies of three of the activists; Tamara Zaitseva, Pavel Mrochko and Alexander Abramovich from Belarusian Trade Union of Workers of the Radioelectronic Industry. The detention and the heavy fines imposed in 2018 are illegal.

According to Leonid Sudalenka, the Belarusian government is now obliged to provide the activists compensation, including fines and court costs, and to amend national legislation to prevent similar violations in the future. In addition, the UN decision should be widely shared in the country’s official languages.

“The procedure for individual complaints to the UN is lengthy, nevertheless, before the events of 2020, our trade union actively used international instrument to protect the rights of its members. As a result, there are more than a dozen decisions of the UN committee on violations of trade unionists‘ rights to freedom of expression through peaceful assembly,“

says Leonid Sudalenka.

Says Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary who attended the court hearing in 2018 and witnessed the protests:

“This is an important victory in a fight for freedom and justice that has been going on for far too long. It shows the resilience of the democratic trade union movement and IndustriALL will continue supporting our brothers and sisters in Belarus for as long as it is needed.”

During the International Labour Conference in Geneva in June, IndustriALL informed the international community of the catastrophic situation in Belarus.

Kemal Özkan said:

“About 40 union leaders and activists remain in jail. Their situation is very precarious. Bad health conditions, psychological pressure and various kinds of mistreatments have been reported. Independent union leaders and activists, recognized as political prisoners, must wear special yellow tags on their cloths as a sign of encouragement of abuse by the prison staff. Those who served their terms and released afterwards remain pariahs in the society. They have no right to access their previous jobs.”

Madagascar young workers strategize on peer recruitment

They argued that young workers had inadequate information about trade unions that can attract them to join. Yet the youth could be reached through social media messages, and be invited to union meetings, discussion groups, sports events, and other social events where music was played.

The training workshop heard that there is a demographic shift in the trade union movement in Madagascar with some unions now having over 50 per cent of their members below the age of 35. 

The United Nations(UN) has described this as a “demographic dividend” which will benefit trade unions as well. According to the UN a demographic dividend can result in increased economic growth when better educated and skilled young workers enter the labour market. Some of these skills include digital skills needed for platform economies that are being established in Madagascar as confirmed by the participants.
 
The importance of trade union transformation that included young workers in union activities through increased participation, representation, integration, and capacity development through worker education was also on the agenda. The transformation should also include gender equality as young women were the majority in some industries that included the textile and garment sector.
 
Discussions highlighted the importance of enhancing trade unions' understanding of the changing world of work which is influenced by digital technologies, and that trade unions should continue the fight against precarious working conditions that disproportionately affected young workers. 

The young workers should also fight for fundamental rights at work specifically trade union rights and collective bargaining as well as campaigning for job creation and against drug addiction especially among unemployed youth. 

Tree planting was given as one of the activities that young workers can do in the communities in which they live. The youth should be involved in climate change,  through their union activities on the Just Transition from high to low carbon economies.

Leontine Mbolanomena, IndustriALL national project coordinator for Madagascar said:

“We continue to encourage the youth especially the young women that the union is their organization and that they are the future leaders. In our meetings we are ensuring that young workers have access to information about the labour laws and regulations as well as appraise them on international campaigns for trade union rights.”

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

“The changing demographics in the union, with young workers becoming the majority, is something that must be embraced in the context of the changing world of work. The trade unions in Madagascar and in Africa must ensure that the youth are catalysts in this transformation.”

The 22 participants were from IndustriALL affiliates Federation des Syndicats Autonomes des Travailleurs de l’Industrie (FESATI), Federation de Syndicat des Travailleurs des Entreprises Frances et Textile (SEMPIZOF), and Syndicalisme et Vie des Societes (SVS) that organize workers in the mining and textile and garment industries.
 
The workshop was held with support from IndustriALL affiliate, ACV-BIE, Belgium, as part of the union building project.


 

Botswana: Union fights union busting in the diamond supply chain

In letters written to government departments, including the ministries of labour and social security and home affairs, the Botswana Diamond Workers Union (BDWU) wants an end to workers’ rights violations on the diamond cutting and polishing supply chain.
 
For instance, the companies employ migrant workers whom they pay low wages are in violation of the immigration and labour laws. The companies also ignore dispute resolution mechanisms. When it comes to union recruitment and recognition, the companies victimize workers, while others are dismissed or retrenched for joining their chosen union. Even where the union meets the requirements to be recognised by the employer at the factories, as per labour laws, often the union must fight the employer for compliance.
 
Although, the BDWU, an IndustriALL affiliate, approached the labour inspectorate to conduct inspections and assist in resolving the disputes. The union was surprised that the report from the inspections omitted some of the union’s grievances which included deteriorating working conditions in long working hours, non-payment of overtime, and removing benefits without engaging with workers. For example, at Dharum Cutting Works the employer withdrew attendance bonuses, transport allowances, medical aid, and performance bonus.
 
In the diamond manufacturing industry, there is also non-compliance with occupational health and safety standards, disregarding the employment of locals and skills training, increasing sexual harassment, precarious working conditions in which short contracts were used to deter workers from joining the union, and reduction of wages. Additionally unfair dismissals and retrenchments were common. These grievances were highlighted at the IndustriALL global diamond network meeting in Lesotho in February, this year.
 
The union’s proposals for social dialogue with the Diamond Hub, the Botswana Diamond Manufacturers Association, De Beers Botswana, and Business Botswana were ignored. However, the BDWU maintains that social dialogue will assist in improving working conditions.
 
The union gave examples of the offending companies which include Venus Jewel Botswana where the labour inspectors intervened for the union to be recognised.

At Yerushalmi Bros Diamond Botswana, where the union has a recognition agreement, there is engagement to end violations. At Dharum Cutting Works Botswana cases of sexual harassment were reported by the union to the ministry of labour. According to a report by the labour inspectorate, at Dharum, a general manager sexually harassed workers through inappropriate touching, unwanted sexual advances, sexual solicitation and overtones and graphic comments.
 

“The diamond cutting and polishing sub-sector needs urgent attention or else our diamonds will be tainted by the increasing workers’ and human rights violations. The union calls upon the ministries of labour and home affairs as well as other relevant departments to act swiftly and ensure compliance on workers’ rights,”

said Dominic Obusitse Mapoka, BDWU chairperson general.
 
Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub-Saharan Africa said:
 

“The union busting in the diamond manufacturing in Botswana is appalling. The diamond cutting and polishing companies must respect trade union and workers’ rights. Further, the companies must protect women workers against sexual harassment. We commend the BDWU for a sustained fight for workers’ rights.” 

Peru: Forte Assa Abloy workers demand union rights

In 2023, Assa Abloy bought the Peruvian padlock and lock manufacturer Forte. Since then, the Grupo Forte workers' union (part of IndustriALL affiliate Fetrimap) has reported difficulties in getting the company to respect the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
 
According to the union, the company agreed to a direct settlement phase in July, but did not grant all members of the negotiating committee the necessary minimum conditions to participate in the meetings. As a result, the collective bargaining table for 2024-2025 could not be set up.
 
The union also says that the employer removed wage increases from two workers after they joined the union. In addition, they claim that the company discriminates between its employees in terms of wages: a group of female workers are paid less than their male colleagues, even though they have the same position and tasks
 
The union is demanding:

FETRIMAP's deputy general secretary Julián Alfaro explains:

“The company does not  want to negotiate and is violating the right to freedom of association. We have already filed two complaints with the National Superintendence of Labour Inspection (SUNAFIL) and have appealed to the inspection intelligence department, specializing in freedom of association cases.“

IndustriALL deputy regional secretary Cristian Alejandro Valerio says:

“We urge the Assa Abloy group's Forte company to stop its anti-union behaviour and to enter into negotiations with the union for a genuine social dialogue, and to respond to the workers’ concerns.”

The right to strike: the heart of worker empowerment

At the core of these protections is the right to organize. This right allows employees to unite and advocate collectively on shared issues.

However, in some parts of the world union discrimination is widespread. Even companies that engage in collective bargaining resist unionization efforts where they can, undermining the fundamental rights of their workers.
 
A striking example is the recent action by IndustriALL affiliate United Auto Workers (UAW), which filed federal labour charges against former US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The charges accuse them of illegally threatening and intimidating workers who stand up for their rights by engaging in strikes. This case underlines the ongoing global struggle for labour rights, even at companies with significant international influence.
 
Tesla, a company notorious for its anti-union stance, employs over 120,000 workers worldwide yet refuses to engage in collective bargaining. Attempts to organize within Tesla have been met with fierce resistance, with Elon Musk himself threatening retaliation against workers who attempt to unionize. This has led to significant tensions with labour unions, particularly in Sweden.
 
Swedish union IF Metall became the first to take action against Tesla's anti-union practices, initiating industrial action on 27 October 2023 in 12 Tesla-owned garages and expanding to 20 more locations.
 
Despite brief negotiations in November last year, Tesla remained steadfast in its refusal to sign a collective agreement. The company’s management has dismissed labour rights, arguing that they are not part of "the company’s concept." Elon Musk has publicly criticized unions, claiming they create division and negativity within companies.
 
IndustriALL  general secretary, Atle Høie,  says:

“Elon Musk’s business model is one that is designed to avoid respecting human rights. We must defend workers and the rights that they have fought so long for. We stand with the UAW in their fight.”

 
This conflict is not just about Tesla and its workers—it is a symbol of the broader battle for labour rights and the critical importance of the freedom to organize and strike. Without these rights, workers around the world remain vulnerable to exploitation and injustice. The right to strike is not just a tool—it is a crucial defense that ensures workers can stand up for themselves and each other.

Photo: Flickr
 

Rising toll in Pakistan's dangerous mines

These incidents are not isolated. Pakistan's mines are notorious for their unsafe working conditions, with miners risking their lives daily. Last year, 29 miners were killed in the coal mines of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 26 others were injured in blasts. These numbers reflect a deeply troubling reality for those who work in these hazardous environments.
 
On 11 August, the Commissionerate of Mines Labour Welfare in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provided some relief to the affected families, issuing cheques of Rs. 1.2 million (US$14,292) to the families of the deceased miners. Injured miners received compensation between Rs. 500,000 (US$5,955) and Rs. 600,000 (US$7,146) each. Additionally, 16 miners suffering from pulmonary disease, a consequence of their work in the coal mines, were compensated with Rs. 300,000 (US$3,573) each.
 
IndustriALL Global Union has been actively campaigning for the proper implementation of health and safety standards in Pakistan's mining sector, where conditions in unregistered mines are even more dire. Every day, hundreds of mine workers descend into the hazardous depths of Balochistan's mines, facing life-threatening risks due to the lack of safety measures.
 

“These deaths can be prevented if employers and the government take workplace safety seriously. We urge the Pakistan government to immediately ratify ILO C176 as we believe the ratification can be a first step in the direction to ensure proper implementation of safety mechanisms at mining sites in Pakistan,” 

said IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary, Ashutosh Bhattacharya.

Photo: Shutterstock-Mr Tempter

Armed forces raid Nigerian union offices amid protests

The break-in and occupation of the union offices occurred following weeklong national protests aimed at addressing the rising cost of living, which unions argue is leading to hunger and poverty in Africa’s most populous country. Armed forces have occupied the offices and refuse to leave. The ransacking took place on the same day as an NLC meeting, where the ongoing mass protests under the social media handle #EndBadGovernance were discussed.

During the meeting, the NLC highlighted that freedoms of assembly, association, expression, and speech were under threat, citing that police and security forces shot and killed 13 protesters and injured several others.

“The NLC condemns in the strongest terms the human rights violations perpetrated by security forces against peaceful protesters. The right to protest is a fundamental democratic right, and its suppression through violence is unacceptable. The attempt to criminalize protest is deplorable, especially in a democracy. The hiring and use of sponsored thugs and divisive propaganda to scuttle the protests is unfortunate,” the NLC said in a statement.

The mass action began when the government removed petroleum subsidies, sparking immediate protests from trade unions in 2023, including a national shutdown in June this year.

Furthermore, the NLC stated that the government must address the grievances of the workers and the people rather than resort to violence. It stressed that the government’s policies, backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, were bringing misery to the people. According to the FGN’s National Bureau of Statistics, 63 per cent or over 133 million people face multidimensional poverty, which includes cooking with dung, wood, or charcoal rather than cleaner forms of energy. Additionally, there is inadequate access to healthcare, limited sanitation, food insecurity, and poor housing. The recently agreed-upon minimum wage of 70,000 Naira ($USD44) is not a living wage.

Joe Ajaero and Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC president and general secretary respectively, emphasized:

“We must maintain our commitment to non-violence and ensure that our actions are lawful and disciplined. The NLC remains committed to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and the broader population. We will not relent in our efforts to ensure that justice, equity, and good governance prevail in our nation.”

 Ajaero is also general secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), which is affiliated with IndustriALL Global Union.

 “The Federal Government of Nigeria must respect workers and human rights and stop the violence and intimidation. The government must also engage with the unions in social dialogue to find ways to end the crisis,”

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

IndustriALL affiliates that are members of the NLC include the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather, and Non-Metallic Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), National Union of Textile, Garment, and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), and Steel and Engineering Workers of Nigeria (SEWUN).

Philippine unions stand in solidarity with myanmar's fight for democracy

The public forum, held at the University of the Philippines School of Labour and Industrial Relations (UP-SOLAIR), featured participants holding signs that read, “Free Burma now!” “Release political prisoners!” and “ASEAN must act now!” They demanded an end to the ethnic violence and oppression in Myanmar.

Two key Myanmar union leaders, Khaing Zar, president of the Industrial Workers' Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), and Phyo Sandar Soe, assistant general secretary of the Building and Wood Workers' Federation of Myanmar (BWFM), were present. Both leaders are also prominent figures in the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM).

Khaing Zar highlighted the findings of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Commission of Inquiry which in its 4 August 2023 report detailed the severe impact of the military coup on basic freedoms and workers' rights in Myanmar. The report pointed out that the military's crackdown on trade unions—including killings, torture, and arrests—has severely weakened unions' ability to defend their members.

“The grave violations of human and workers' rights in Myanmar are proven by the ILO Commission of Inquiry. Myanmar trade unions call on the ILO to invoke article 33 of the ILO Constitution to act against the military junta, which failed to implement the commission's recommendations such as immediately ending the violence and releasing all trade unionists detained by the junta,” 

said Khaing Zar.

Since the military coup in February 2021, IndustriALL's Philippine affiliates have consistently supported Myanmar's pro-democracy campaign. ALU’s national executive vice president, Gerard R. Seno, stated,

“The Associated Labor Unions stand with our fellow workers in Myanmar, whose basic rights have been brutally suppressed by the military junta. We urge the regime to end the violence and repression that prevents workers from achieving decent work and participating in a democratic government.” 

Ramon Certeza, IndustriALL’s regional secretary for Southeast Asia region, echoed this support, declaring,

“IndustriALL stands in unwavering solidarity with our Burmese trade union brothers and sisters. Their fight for democracy is a fight for justice, freedom, and workers' rights. Together, we demand an end to violence and the restoration of democratic rights in Myanmar.” 

The situation in Myanmar remains dire, with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reporting that, since February 2021, 5,480 people have been killed by the military junta, with 20,715 still detained and 167 sentenced to death. The Philippine unions' support underscores the urgent need for global action to restore democracy and protect human rights in Myanmar.

The Council of Global Unions-Philippines is a coalition of unions in the Philippines and belong to different global union federations, including IndustriALL Global Union. 

Photo: Patuan, ITUC-AP