Unions protest police brutality against trade unionists in Nigeria

Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission said the attack violated citizens' and trade union rights to freedom of expression.

On 14 November, Nigerian unions went on an indefinite strike to protest the attack on trade union leaders which they described as a threat to freedom of association and trade union rights. However, NLC and the Trade Union Congress Nigeria, suspended the strike the following day after meeting with the national security adviser.

“After the federal government had met our crucial demands to address the distressing abduction and brutalization of the president of the NLC, comrade Joe Ajaero and others, some of the perpetrators have been arrested, and we were given high assurances that all others will be fished out and prosecuted,”

said the unions.

“We reaffirm that workers under the Nigerian Constitution, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and International Labour Organization conventions particularly Conventions 87 and 98 on the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, have the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining and social dialogue. It is therefore strange that Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, will repudiate a 2021 agreement on salaries and pensions,”

said John Adaji, Sub Saharan Africa regional co-chair and president of the National Union of Textile Garment & Tailoring Workers of Nigeria.

“IndustriALL denounces the serious threats to freedom of association, human rights, and trade union rights caused by these physical attacks. It is unacceptable that state authorities are resorting to violence and intimidation instead of engaging in social dialogue to address the legitimate workers concerns that include demands for living wages. These demands have been caused by high inflation and the increasing cost of living following the Federal Government of Nigeria’s introduction of harsh economic policies that are anti-worker and exposing vulnerable communities to poverty,”

said Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.

Photo: Nigerian flag, jbdodane, Flickr

Unions in Bangladesh demand revision of new minimum wage

In light of the government’s announcement of a new minimum wage that is set at half of what unions were demanding, IndustriALL affiliates in Bangladesh organized a press conference on 15 November to reassert their longstanding demands.

Trade union leaders are demanding that prime minister Sheikh Hasina intervene in the matter and revise the newly declared minimum wage of BDT12,500 (US$112 ). Their demands include that the basic wage be made 65 per cent of the total wage, as opposed to the current 51 per cent, as well as be granted ten per cent yearly increment.

Unions are demanding that the arrested organizers be released immediately and that the harassment of trade union leadership by local police and intelligence agencies be instantly stopped. The killings of the protesting workers must be thoroughly investigated and the guilty parties be brought to justice. The families of the deceased workers must receive adequate compensated and the injured workers must be given immediate quality medical care.

Union leaders are also demanding that the factories which were closed due to the protests must be opened immediately and that workers be paid full wages. Leaders have pointed out that workers are also being blacklisted for taking part in protest actions, and that must be stopped.

IndustriALL steering committee for the textile and garment sector has issued a statement, reiterating the demands of affiliates in Bangladesh.

Atle Høie, IndustriALL Global Union general secretary, says:

“Trade unionism is not a crime, but in this case in Bangladesh, it is punished by imprisonment, blacklisting and police brutality. Four workers have even been killed. Workers deserve a living wage and decent treatment, and this is what we demand from the government and employers in Bangladesh.”

Poor wage offer escalates conflict in Austrian metal industry

The unions, affiliated to industriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global, decided to prolong the previously announced walkouts as the employers’ latest offer fell far below inflation, despite record profits in the sector. Temporary one-day strikes of at least eight hours will take place in metalworking companies throughout Austria until 17 November. The aim of the strikes is to demand a wage increase of 11.6 per cent and paid strike time.

Seven weeks and six rounds of negotiations, three-hour warning strikes from 6 to 8 November in over 400 companies, rallies and roadblocks have so far failed to produce acceptable results.

The unions rejected the employers' latest offer because it fell far below the rate of inflation. Employers had offered a wage increase of 2.7 per cent, with an additional fixed pay rise of €130.00 and a one-off payment of €1,200.00. As an alternative, they offered a wage increase of 6.0 per cent, plus a one-off payment of €1,200. The two offers are roughly equivalent and well below the 9.6 per cent average inflation rate over the last twelve months.

Employers have already threatened dismissals in an attempt to intimidate workers, but unions are confident that they can keep up the fight to win a pay rise that reflects the spiralling cost of living in Austria and secure a decent living for the country's 200,000 metalworkers.

Atle Høie, IndustriALL Global Union general secretary, says:

“Instrumental in creating wealth, workers deserve their share and to earn a decent living. We stand behind the striking workers in Austria and urge the employers to respect the model of industrial relations and find a solution.”

Austria is known for its good system of industrial relations, and the last strikes in the metal industry took place in 2018. This year is a worrying exception.

industriAll Europe acting joint general secretary Isabelle Barthès says:

“Despite record profits, employers in Austria’s metal industry are offering wages that would lead to a sharp drop in purchasing power. This is irresponsible and shameful.
“Our Austrian colleagues can count on the solidarity and support of industriAll Europe in their fight for a struggle for a fair share of wealth workers have contributed to create. We urge the employers to return to reason and present an improved offer that can end the conflict and help working families make ends meet in these difficult times.”

FKMTU leader released on bail

On 31 May, Kim Jun-yeong joined the sit-in protest of FKMTU members in front of the POSCO steel mill in Gwangyang on a makeshift scaffolding, seven metres above ground. He was hit repeatedly by Korean police officers, falling from the scaffolding and taken into police custody.

Kim Jun-yeong was charged under the Criminal Code, the Road Traffic Act and the Assembly and Demonstration Act for causing bodily injury, obstructing public duty, and violating assembly and demonstration procedures. Union president Kim Man-jae, who also participated in the protest, was charged under the Road Traffic Act and the Assembly and Demonstration Act.

Upon his release on bail, Kim Jun-yeong thanked for the solidarity support while in prison, and unerlined that the FKMTU will not bow down to the state repression against workers.

“I will never regret what I have done. I will continue to fight against the illegal use of police power against our union president Kim Man-jae and myself. I ask for comrades' solidarity for Korean subcontract workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively.”

“We are pleased that brother Kim Jun-yeong has been released on bail. We will continue to follow the trial and reiterate that trade union activity is not a crime,”

says IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan.

Czech unions protest against government measures

The Czech government is proposing what they call a consolidation package, including the introduction of a 0.6 percent workers’ contribution on sickness insurance, a limit to the tax discount for spouses with low incomes, abolition of the kindergarten tax, and withdrawal of the tax discount for payment of trade union membership fees.

Strongly opposing the measures, unions say that the pro-inflationary consolidation package will have a negative impact on workers and families. It is estimated that there will be a yearly increase in consumer prices of 3 to 3.5 percent, with an estimated overall inflation rate of six per cent.

In addition, the government is planning to discontinue payments for transmission and distribution of electricity, and end support for renewable energies, which would result in a significant increase in the price of electricity.

In a joint letter, industriAll Global Union and IndustriAll Europe are calling on the government of the Czech Republic to engage with the trade unions.

“The government must engage in social dialogue to tackle changes to taxation, bearing in mind the wellbeing of workers and their families.
“We rally behind you in your struggle, and we support your demonstration on 27 November, as well as your one-hour warning strike.”

Join the call to Make Amazon Pay!

Amazon Fashion is a growing brand within the global garment supply chain and has become the leading apparel retailer in the United States. Amazon’s supply chain stretches across the globe with production in Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Vietnam.

The Make Amazon Pay campaign was launched two years ago and for Black Friday this year there will be action, strikes and protests in more than 30 countries around the world.

UK union GMB has announced that more than 1,000 Amazon workers at one of the warehouses in the country will be on strike for four days in November, including Black Friday, the busiest day of the year.

Please join the workers, unions, global unions and activists taking action on 24 November, showing your solidarity for Amazon workers around the world.

#MakeAmazonPay

Tesla conflict in Sweden escalates

As part of a solidarity action that began on 7 November, the Swedish Transport Workers' Union stopped offloading Tesla cars at four of the country's main ports. A complete blockade of the loading and offloading of Tesla cars in all Swedish ports could come into effect on 17 November.

The Electrical Workers' Union is joining the solidarity action; as of 17 November, its members will not provide any service for the brand at Tesla's 12 workshops or 213 charging stations in Sweden.
The Real Estate Workers' Union has announced a blockade as of 17 November and will not clean Tesla’s four workplaces.

The latest union to join the action against Tesla is the Swedish Union for Service and Communications Employees, SEKO, who will stop delivering post and parcels to Tesla, saying in a statement that:

“IF Metall’s fight is important for the Swedish model of collective bargaining.”

Support is now coming from Norway. Norwegian union Fellesforbundet warns it will block Swedish Teslas coming to Norway.

IF Metall has been trying to negotiate a collective agreement for its members who service and repair Tesla vehicles at TM Sweden AB for years. Despite the union's efforts, Tesla is refusing to sign an agreement, saying that it does not fit the company's business model.

When negotiations stalled, IF Metall launched industrial action on 27 October in 12 Tesla-owned garages, subsequently adding another 20 that also service Tesla cars. A brief return to the negotiating table on 1 November yielded nothing, and IF Metall reports of Tesla using strike breakers to ensure business as usual.

Says IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Atle Høie:

“The Swedish model where employers and unions engage in social dialogue has brought a stable labour market where everyone benefits, and which serves as an example to many countries around the world. Tesla’s irrational dislike for unions does not make him exempt from the rules and IndustriALL strongly supports IF Metall and the other Swedish unions taking action.”

Isabelle Barthès, acting joint general secretary of industriAll Europe, says:

“We assure our Swedish colleagues of our unwavering support as they take on Tesla to fight for their right to collective bargaining and, simply put, to defend their model of industrial relations.”

Good industrial jobs in the transformation

But this confrontation goes beyond defending workers’ and trade union rights in a single company, in a single country.

As Europe rightly supports clean technologies such as electric mobility and new, emerging industries such as battery production, it is vital that such investments lead to good industrial jobs. No public support should be given to companies that undermine social standards and engage in union busting.

“This confrontation is part of a larger battle for an industrial transformation that is fair for workers and shaping Europe's industrial and industrial relations landscape for years to come,"

says Isabelle Barthès.

“Rest assured that Europe’s industrial workers are on the offensive for good industrial jobs, in Sweden and all across the continent.”

Photo: IF Metall strike guard at Tesla

Minimum wage protests continue in Bangladesh

Trade unions, including IndustriALL affiliates, have been demanding that the minimum wage of an-entry level garment worker be fixed at BDT23,000 (US$206), with a yearly increment of ten per cent. There have been several protest demonstrations, especially after the fourth meeting of the wage board on 22 October, when garment factory owners proposed to increase the minimum wage to BDT10,400 (US$93).

The new minimum wage of BDT12,500 (US$112) is insufficient to meet workers’ daily needs given the rising of cost of living. The increment is much less than what workers have been demanding and more in line with what the owners of garment factories had proposed.

Atle Hoie, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, says:

“It seems that the government of Bangladesh intends to keep the workforce under the poverty line. Brands should question their sourcing if the minimum wages are kept at such low levels and the violations of the right to organize and to bargain collectively are not dealt with. Workers now desperately need unions who can fight for higher wages and who do not have to fight a repressive government and employers.”

Workers' protests have continued following the announcement of the new wage and the Dhaka police has been trying to violently suppress them. On 8 November, a female worker of Islam Garment in Gazipur was killed while several others were injured by police personnel. Since the announcement of the new minimum wage, IndustriALL affiliates’ central as well as local leadership is being harassed through repeated phone calls and threats of arrests from police and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence.

Apoorva Kaiwar, south Asia regional secretary of IndustriALL, says:

“IndustriALL calls on the government of Bangladesh to reconsider the minimum wage for garment workers to BDT23,000.”

African and US trade unions call for decent work in trade and economic cooperation

AGOA is a US law which was signed in 2000 aimed at creating duty free access for eligible African countries to the US markets. Eligibility criteria includes adopting market-based economies, the rule of law, political pluralism, making efforts to curb corruption, introducing poverty reduction policies, increasing access to healthcare and educational opportunities, and the protection of human and workers’ rights.

According to reports made at the Forum, trade and economic cooperation under the trade law has created jobs, promoted investments, provided business opportunities, and contributed to economic development.

Recently, some African countries that include the Central Africa Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda were recently suspended from AGOA for violating human rights and not promoting political pluralism, effective from next year.

This Forum, which had over a thousand participants from governments, business, civil society organizations and organized labour, deliberated on key strategies to boost sustainable and equitable economic development, creation of decent jobs, and stimulating industrialization on the continent. However, there were calls for the extension of the agreement for a longer period when it expires in 2025.

Ambassador Katherine Tai, US trade representative, reiterated recognizing the vibrancy, ingenuity, and potential of AGOA.

Wamkele Mene, the secretary general of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) said African economies were small and fragmented with an over reliance on exporting unprocessed raw materials. The AfCFTA was formed to create opportunities for intra-African exports of value-added goods through the integration and creation of a single market. He emphasised the importance of aligning the AfCFTA with AGOA.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, said:

“Africa must not be defined as a producer of commodities but must transform rocks into consumer goods.”

He stressed the necessity to utilise vast reserves of critical transition minerals for industrialization.

The organized labour participants comprised of 21 participants from ITUC Africa, regional trade union organizations, national federations, and national trade unions. IndustriALL affiliates that participated were from Madagascar, South Africa, and the US.

“The trade union movement is diverse, but we are united in support of AGOA as organized labour on the African continent and the US. AGOA has helped create millions of jobs, from clothing factories in Lesotho to farms in Kenya. It has been a mutually beneficial relationship with components produced in Botswana included in vehicles manufactured in South Africa, to critical materials exported to factories in Louisiana, thus supporting the economic integration of the continent and economic growth in both America and Africa,”

said Zingiswa Losi, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

Ben Davis, USW’s director of international affairs, said there is a long history of workers' solidarity with African trade unions. The USW has campaigned against trade union violations with the NUM and NUMSA in South Africa, UWUL in Liberia, and SVS in Madagascar and confronted multinational companies like ArcelorMittal, Bridgestone, Firestone, Rio Tinto, and Sibanye Stillwater.

“USW continues to fight against the arrest and imprisonment of trade union leaders at the QMM Rio Tinto plant in Madagascar and will leverage on AGOA to stop the violations. USW members in Quebec, Canada, who are processing the ilmenite from Madagascar, were in solidarity with the workers,”

said Ben Davis.

Roxanne Brown, USW, international vice president at large, said:

“Trade unions can learn from the US-Mexico-Canada agreement on how workers’ rights and family sustaining jobs can be included in a trade agreement. Further, trade unions can work with civil society organizations in what I can describe as cross pollination where the relationship is based on protecting common interests.”

“On a continent with a youth population bulge the creation of decent jobs is important. This means manufacturing industries in the automotive, energy, mining, and textile and garment industries have great potential to create the much-needed jobs and AGOA trade deals can make significant contributions,”

said Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.

Asia Pacific trade agreements must safeguard workers’ rights

Trade union leaders reaffirmed their commitment regarding the Action Plan which focuses on moving towards trade for the benefit of the people, which was adopted in the executive committee meeting in Mexico in 2018.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said:

“We call on governments to return to multilateralism in negotiating trade, include enforceable labour rights, stop secret negotiations, and engage trade unions in discussion. It is crucial to increase the exchange of information and experience on trade among affiliates, to coordinate actions before ratification of trade agreements.”

During exchange sessions, participants discussed the latest developments of the regional and bilateral trade agreements, which will affect IndustriALL affiliates.

Good practices of safeguarding workers’ rights were identified. For example, forming alliances with other trade unions, peasant and civil society organizations, Continuous campaigning and building public pressure, mobilizing support of trade unions in other countries, leveraging the forum of international bodies.

The Asia Pacific affiliates are proposing the creation of a regional and global platform on trade and industrial policy to strengthen coordination and information exchange among affiliates and regional offices.

“Trade agreements must contain labour and environment provisions. The Japanese Council of Metal Workers (JCM) demands the government to make the Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains mandatory. We also request the government to ratify the ILO Convention 111 on Discrimination and Convention 155 on Occupational Safety and Health,”

said Hideyuki Hirakawa, the JCM assistant general secretary.

“Australian trade agreements have worked to undermine labour standards. It waived the need for labour market testing before engaging temporary oversea workers and driving down wages and conditions in Australia. The Investor-State Dispute Settlement clauses also exposed the government to the risk of being sued. But the current federal labour government is taking a more considered approach to trade agreement negotiations,”

said Tony Maher, the general president of the Australian Mining and Energy Union (MEU).

“China cannot be kept out of our discussion on trade. For decades, China has been cultivated by the developed countries to crush the organized labour, now it is being held up. The trade union movement must think differently than governments. The global trading system must accommodate China in reasonable ways that benefit the working class. Like any war, trade wars are always at the cost of the working class,”

said Gautam Mody, the general secretary of New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI).

Thirty participants from Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan joined the meeting in person and via Zoom.