IndustriALL Executive Committee elects female president

“Democracy, peace and climate change are closely linked and unions play a very important role. Organizing is one of the key tools that we have at our disposal,"

Marie Nilsson said upon accepting the role of acting president until IndustriALL’s 4th Congress in Sydney, Australia, in 2025.

The Executive Committee adopted the statement from the Mid-Term Policy Conference in June and approved the creation of a Congress preparatory committee to look at amendments to the Statutes and a draft a new action plan. IndustriALL’s 4th Congress will be held on 4-9 November, hosted by the Australian affiliates.

In an important move, the Executive Committee adopted a global policy on gender-based violence and harassment, misogyny and sexism. The adoption coincides with the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

The policy sets out IndustriALL’s commitments to prevent and end gender-based violence and harassment, misogyny and sexism where it occurs in the course of, linked with or arising out of IndustriALL work and activities.

IndustriALL has a zero tolerance to GBVH, misogyny and sexism and stresses that there is No Excuse for GBVH, misogyny and sexism. Under the banner of a No Excuse campaign to be launched in 2024, IndustriALL will raise awareness about the policy and disseminate it to all affiliates.

Discussing the draft campaign strategy, it was decided that a working group will further develop the guidelines and strategies, including setting up a corporate campaign in the wind sector energy targeting the big five manufacturers. 

Participants discussed a resolution on the conflict between Palestine and Israel. After a very heated debate, a resolution calling for a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through peaceful means was adopted.

Closing the two days of online meetings, Jörg Hoffman concluded his seven years as president of IndustriALL.

"I wish to thank everyone for their cooperation and commitment in the Executive Committee and look forward to seeing you all again."

South Africa: 12 workers killed at Impala Platinum Mine

According to Implats, the workers were in a personnel conveyance (elevator or lift) cage hoisting them to the surface of the mine from a depth of about 1,000 meters when the accident occurred. The conveyance unexpectedly reversed direction and began descending through the shaft and crashed at the bottom of the shaft.

The department of mineral resources and energy has announced that the accident investigation will be completed in three months.

Regulations on machinery and equipment stipulate that regular checks and maintenance must be done on the lifts. If as a result of examination, any weakness or defect is found which may pose the risk to the health and safety of any person, that the lift is not used until the risk has been rectified, states part of the regulation.

IndustriALL Global Union affiliates, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) expressed shock at the horrific news. 

The NUM, which is conducting a campaign for mine health and safety and has gone to court against Anglo-American to demand that the Mine Health and Safety Act remains the main law governing the industry, said: 

“We will continue to demonstrate our displeasure regarding the growing numbers of fatal accidents and injuries in the mines. Once again, we call upon the companies to show some commitment in addressing the issues of health and safety since the lives of mine workers matters most. The regulator must hold the companies accountable.”

Jerry Morulane, NUMSA regional secretary for Hlanganani which includes the Rustenburg area, says:

“NUMSA mourns the loss of these workers. They are not just numbers, they are breadwinners, they have households who love and depend on them. We send our deepest condolences to their families and friends for this tragic loss. This incident is gravely concerning and raises many questions about health and safety issues.”

NUMSA’s members at Implats include contract workers who work at shaft 11 where the accident occurred and are employed by Triple M, Reagetswe, Platchro, Oteng and Newrak mining. 

Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL mining director said: 

“Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased workers to whom we offer our sincere condolences and we wish those in hospital a speedy recovery. Once again we are reminded, in a most painful way, to continually demand from mining companies including Implats the highest levels of compliance to health and safety protocols. Mining companies have an obligation to provide safe working conditions for mineworkers and must not be negligent.”

South Africa has ratified Convention 176 (Safety and Health in Mines), and the unions welcomed the inclusion of Occupational Safety and Health Convention and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health as fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization.  

Photo: Shutterstock
 
 

Unions at ArcelorMittal demand that company puts workers first

The meeting took place in the aftermath of a horrific incident at the Kostenko coal mine in Kazakhstan, where 46 workers lost their lives in a devastating blaze. This is not an isolated incident and reflects a broader trend of neglect and underinvestment in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards by ArcelorMittal.

Unions stressed the need to be included in the current independent investigation commission, in Kazakstan, into these deaths.

Over the last ten years 307 workers have lost their lives at ArcelorMittal operations across the world, the highest numbers in Kazakhstan, Ukraine and South Africa.

The company’s finance driven approach which often takes priority over workers’ health and safety was highlighted. This prioritization alongside a glaring deficit in OHS investment and commitment consistently exposes workers to excessive risks. 

Ukrainian unions expressed their frustration about ArcelorMittal’s refusal to extend the collective agreements, stating that this was a form of collective agreement blackmail.

Unions from Mexico, Canada, Brazil, the Czech Republic, and South Africa raised concerns over the company’s lack of desire for social dialogue and union consultation which puts a strain on relationships. Brazilian and South African unions emphasized workers’ exposure to dangerous working conditions and extreme heat. 

There are strong calls for ArcelorMittal to prioritize workers’ health and safety over financial objectives. Unions said that there is an urgent need for substantial investments in safety infrastructure and effective social dialogue. 

Christina Olivier, IndustriALL assistant general secretary says:

“The recent meeting revealed the stark realities and challenges that workers face at ArcelorMittal. As a global union, we stand united and resolute in our demand for immediate and substantial change.

ArcelorMittal must take our demands seriously and respond positively to our calls for enhanced safety measures, genuine investment in worker welfare, and meaningful engagement with unions. If the company continues to sideline these critical issues, they should be prepared to face a strong, coordinated global response.

We will not shy away from taking assertive actions to ensure that the safety and rights of every worker are upheld. Now is the time for ArcelorMittal to step up and demonstrate a real commitment to its workforce.”

IndustriALL plans to meet with ArcelorMittal management to discuss enhanced safety measures and union engagement, as well as a possible global safety awareness campaign and continued dialogue among unions to strategize and coordinate future actions. 
 
The meeting included 80 participants from 37 trade unions from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Fiji, Canada, Suriname, Liberia, Zambia, South Africa, Mexico, Morocco, and Luxembourg.

Photo: Shutterstock
 

UAW members ratify record contracts

Across the Big Three, 64 per cent of the voting members voted in favour of the agreements.

“After years of cutbacks, months of our Stand Up campaign, and weeks on the picket line, we have turned the tide for the American autoworker,” says UAW president Shawn Fain. “The UAW is back to setting the standard. Now, we take our strike muscle and our fighting spirit to the rest of the industries we represent, and to millions of non-union workers ready to Stand Up and fight for a better way of life.”

The record contracts for the 150,000 UAW autoworkers include significant wage increases, faster progression to the top wage rate, agreements from the Big 3 that will bring thousands of EV battery and assembly jobs under the national agreements and improved retirement security for all active and retired members.

In what is referred to as the UAW bump, the contracts will benefit more auto workers than the UAW members. Non-unionized auto companies including Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Subaru and Honda are following suit and have raised wages for hourly workers since the UAW deals were announced.

Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:

“This is an important win for UAW which will have a profound effect on their members, but it is also an inspiring win for the union movement around the world. When we come together, we win!”

Photo credit: UAW

Building union power along Pou Chen supply chain

Pou Chen is one of the largest multinational shoe manufacturers in the world, supplying leading sports brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, VF and Asics.

Plant level union leaders and IndustriALL affiliated federation leaders from Indonesia, Cambodia and Bangladesh participated in the meeting and discussed wages, contracts, maternity leave, union recognition and negotiations, occupational safety and health and collective bargaining agreements.

Although workers along Pou Chen supply chains in some countries are well-organized, that is not the case for everyone. In some countries workers are not even legally allowed to form unions as the factory is situated at the export processing zones.

Network participants agreed to increase the work to build solidarity among unions in different countries to ensure that workers enjoy the same right of their freedom of association and collective bargaining throughout the supply chain of Pou Chen.

Together with Pou Chen management, Adidas and VF participated and discussed corporate sustainability priorities, responsible sourcing, health and safety at workplace and on building cooperation with workers represented trade unions. They all committed to work through the network by enhancing communication to build sustainable industrial relations.

Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL sector director, says:

"IndustriALL and its affiliated trade union in the Pou Chen supply chain look forward to working together with management and global sportwear brands to develop sound industrial relations and to ensure that all Pou Chen workers are able to organize and bargain collectively."

The meeting ended with a visit to plant level factory union office of SPN, one of IndustriALL’s largest textile and garment affiliates in Indonesia. The factory employs 48,000 workers, out of which 45,000 are union members. 

 

Shipbreaking unions plan for entry into force of Hong Kong Convention

Unions in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan have worked hard to organize shipbreaking workers and establish themselves as partners in social dialogue. This work is most advanced in India, where the Alang-Sosiya Ship Recycling and General Workers’ Association (ASSRGWA) and the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) have established themselves as representatives of shipbreaking and downstream workers. ASSRGWA has been involved in a social dialogue process with the employers’ federation SRIA, facilitated by the ILO, to address health and safety.
 
Bangladesh is upgrading its shipyards to be HKC compliant through an International Maritime Organization (IMO) project called SENSREC. IndustriALL has been involved in the planning phase of SENSREC, arguing that social infrastructure needs to be upgraded at the same time as physical infrastructure.
 
The National Trade Union Federation of Pakistan is working with the government of Balochistan to draft legislation that will bring the country into compliance with the HKC. Pakistan is the only shipbreaking country in the region which has not yet ratified the Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which will enter into force in June 2025.
 
Participants at the meeting reported on the improved health and safety situation in the industry, which has seen fewer accidents and fatalities in recent years. Unions believe that this is because of a new awareness of the importance of safety created by the HKC, and the mandatory safety training that is required. However, some foremen still demand unsafe practices to save time, and some ships are broken according to market demand for material rather than according to the approved recycling plan. The key to changing this is establishing a union safety presence at yard level.
 
Participants heard that across South Asia, the number of ships being sent for breaking has been low since the end of the pandemic. This is due to a high freight rates and trade volumes, which means that shipowners keep ships longer because they can still be used profitably. The price of ships is high, while the demand for scrap and the steel price are comparatively long. In addition, some countries in the region have seen their currency devalue against the dollar, and there is a shortage of finance and funding to purchase ships.
 
However, the shipowners’ association BIMCO believes that around 15,000 ships will need to be broken over the next 10 years, twice the volume of the previous 10 years. Despite the current slump, yard owners are investing a lot ahead of an anticipated boom.
 
After safety, the main issues the unions will address are precarious work and low wages. The HKC is likely to see a shift towards more skilled labour, and the training requirement means employers are more likely to maintain workers they have invested in. Unions will use this to bargain for better conditions.
 
IndustriALL shipbuilding and shipbreaking director Walton Pantland said:

“The next 18 months will be crucial for this industry, as it goes through a rapid transition to meet HKC requirements. We must make sure that this transition is just, and that when the Convention enters into force, unions are established as partners with the right to negotiate on behalf of workers. We must create good, green jobs in ship recycling.”

IndustriALL calls for proactive prevention to eliminate violence against women

Recognizing the need for change within trade unions, IndustriALL President Jörg Hoffman, in June 2023, stressed the need to challenge patriarchal power structures.

"The focus is not only on inviting women into unions but fostering an environment where they actively contribute to shaping policies,"

said Hoffman.

During the upcoming 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, trade unions must play a critical role in addressing and preventing GBVH within the world of work. The ILO Convention 190 (ILO C190) highlights the importance of an inclusive, integrated, and gender-responsive approach to prevent GBVH, tackling underlying causes such as gender stereotypes, discrimination, and unequal power relations in the world of work.

Whilst the duty of care primarily rests on the employer, trade unions have an important role to play. The significance of collective bargaining in preventing GBVH is highlighted by the ILO C190 and Recommendation 206 including in establishing GBVH policies and gender-responsive risk management . IndustriALL's research identifies various risk factors in sectors, including gender power inequalities, victim blaming, job segregation, and precarious work. 

Changing work culture is central to preventing GBVH, sexism, and misogyny. IndustriALL stresses the need for ambitious measures, involving trade unions actively in the process, to eradicate behaviors contributing to hostile environments, such as sexist jokes.

The call for collective action encourages men and women in unions to unite against GBVH, sexism, and misogyny. IndustriALL urges its affiliates to engage workplaces, educate members—especially men—on GBVH and the ILO C190.

“As the world marks 25 November and the  16 days of activism, IndustriALL invites unions to share their actions and campaigns against GBVH, misogyny, and sexism. The call is to intensify efforts and develop renewed strategies and programs for year-round prevention.

Let’s all intensify our efforts during this period and come up with renewed strategies and programmes to prevent GBVH, sexism and misogyny throughout the year,”

said Christina Olivier, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.

Just Transition: Unions demand bold action at COP28

The 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) is scheduled in Dubai, UAE, from 30 November to 12 December. The spotlight will be on the commitment of governments to implement the Just Transition Work Program (JTWP) in order to reach the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement.

The trade union agenda led by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is the call for the consolidation and reinforcement of the Just Transition Work Program (JTWP). 

“This programme is based on previous COP discussions. The emphasis is on securing a dedicated space within climate negotiations, affirming the labour dimension of just transition, and ensuring the active participation of trade unions through an expert committee. This commitment reflects a resolute stance on integrating workers' concerns into the core of climate policies,”

says Kan Matsuzaki, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.

Unions insist on safeguarding labour and human rights in the context of climate policies. Without appropriate protection and promotion of these rights, effective climate policies are weak. This aligns with trade union’s broader vision of creating a sustainable and equitable future, where the well-being of workers is not sacrificed for environmental gains.

Unions recognize the disproportionate impact of climate change on global South countries, and advocates for the integration of social protection measures into adaptation strategies. This approach aims to address the unique challenges faced by the global South and highlights the importance of global solidarity in climate action.

Discussions on climate finance are centred on concerns about a proposed new quantified global goal, with a specific emphasis on public finance and the creation of a loss and damage fund. Unions are apprehensive regarding the fund's management, particularly questioning the role of the World Bank and associated conditionalities. There is a clear call for transparency and accountability in the allocation of funds for renewable energy projects, particularly in countries like South Africa. 

The success of COP28 relies on a collaborative approach that involves all parties, with trade unions playing a central role in the negotiations.

Diana Junquera Curiel, IndustriALL Just Transition director, insists that: 

“Engaging with government negotiators before the COP is crucial, as decisions are made at the national level before delegates enter the negotiation rooms. It's imperative for union members to be familiar with their government delegations, to seek out negotiators, and to influence decisions that align with the union's vision for a Just Transition."

The union's message is clear: the time for bold and transformative action is now, and COP28 in Dubai is where these demands must be met. Keep up to date on IndutriALL’s website and our social media platforms #Unions4ClimateJustice #UnionsAtCOP28.

OECD debates labour issues in shipbuilding

The workshop heard that shipbuilding is a volatile sector that goes through phases of dramatic growth followed by profound slumps. Industrial policy can help to mitigate this cycle, but unions felt that most governments and international institutions have fallen short of developing appropriate policies.

Due to projected trade volumes, and the need to replace much of the existing fleet with greener vessels, the industry is widely expected to be on the cusp of a boom period. However, there is a global shortage of skilled workers. The workshop discussed the reasons for this shortage, and potential ways to address it. The skills pipeline into the industry is often inadequate, and employers have failed to make the industry attractive enough to new entrants.

Prior to the meeting, IndustriALL Global carried out a survey of shipbuilding unions, to get their views on the most pressing issues. Workers’ representatives identified the major issues as extensive subcontracting, the use of migrants’ workers with unequal working conditions, and the subsequent development of a two-tier workforce. Employers address the labour shortage by using migrants and subcontractors as a short-term solution. However, they often fail to invest in developing a well-trained core workforce. There are also concerns about countries poaching each other’s workers, and competition for migrants. IndustriAll Europe is calling in its campaign for Good Industrial Jobs that take into consideration social dialogue, trade unions’ rights and equal working condition for all.

Across the sector, there are many examples of migrants employed on substandard and sometimes illegal contracts, and in the case of South Korea, of migrants being used to replace a unionized core workforce. However, there are also examples of migrants being employed under the same collective agreements as the core workforce. In addition to using migrant workers, shipbuilding companies need to focus on attracting new workers to the sector, especially women and other non-traditional entrants.

Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe acting joint general secretary, said:

"Putting the global shipbuilding sector on a successful path to sustainable, green ships depends on the availability of workers with the right skills. Employers must therefore take responsibility and invest in the sector, in the workers and in training and reskilling.

"The voice of the workers must be heard in this process. Greening will only be successful if there is good dialogue in the yards and if all changes are anticipated together. Nothing about us, without us!"

Walton Pantland, director for shipbuilding and shipbreaking at IndustriALL, said:

“We need long term signals from governments about the future of the sector, and we need employers to commit to sustaining a core workforce. If they want to take advantage of current opportunities, employers will need to pay more for labour, and provide more attractive opportunities.”

Photo: Royal IHC plant, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Uruguayan metal workers' union obtains shorter working week

UNTMRA signed an historic agreement in the tenth round of Wage Council negotiations, a tripartite collective bargaining process used in Uruguay to set national wages and other working conditions by category and sector. The collective bargaining agreement comprises more than 15 measures, including shorter working hours.

For UNTMRA, the reduction in working hours is a major victory. It was one of the demands that it decided to put to the Wage Council negotiation at its general assembly meeting in July. It also made calls for shorter working hours at a march organized with other union federations in September.

The agreement stipulates that the working week for the metal sector will be reduced from 48 hours to no more than 46 hours starting on 1 January 2024. It also states that workers will receive a pay rise equivalent to around 8.9 per cent per hour of work.

The workers who will benefit from these improved conditions include those working on industrial assembly lines and in aluminium windows factories, boiler factories, industrial maintenance, and the construction of metal machinery, tools and furniture. Under the new agreement, metal workers’ job descriptions will also be updated.

The agreement provides for equal opportunity, treatment and working conditions, without discrimination or exclusion on the basis of sex, race, colour, sexual orientation or other forms of discrimination. In addition, victims of domestic violence will be granted up to ten days’ paid leave per year, and a certain number of hours will be paid each month for psychological support.

The companies concerned also agreed to provide suitable and adequate vocational training to their workers to ensure that they can advance in their careers and take on the new technologies being adopted in the sector.

IndustriALL regional secretary Marino Vani says:

“We congratulate the metal workers of Uruguay and commend the leaders of our affiliate UNTMRA. This is a major breakthrough for the metal industry and will serve as an example for other sectors in the country.

“Workers need shorter working hours, which are also a way of maintaining, and even increasing, the number of jobs available. We need to keep fighting for more reductions in working hours, given the high levels of industrial productivity in recent decades. The tripartite negotiations represent a major victory for Uruguay’s working class, and the country’s unions and national agreements are an example for the rest of our region. The struggle goes on!"