Shipbuilding and shipbreaking unions call for a safer and better sector

In her opening statement, IndustriALL assistant general secretary Christina Olivier said:

“The occupational health and safety (OHS) in these two sectors are our top priority, especially in the shipbreaking sector where hazardous conditions are prevalent. This sector is extremely rampant with risks and still workers’ welfare takes a backseat to cost end efficiency. We demand that OHS measures and enforcement be a non-negotiable standard. We also need to end union busting in shipbreaking yards. Unions must be able to organize and bargain collectively for safer workplaces, better wages, and permanent jobs. We continue to apply pressure on other countries like Pakistan and Marshall Islands to ratify the Hong Kong Convention.”


Eileen Yeo Chor Gek, sector co-chairperson, emphasized that it was important to work together to drive change and that unions need to embrace this change.

“This sector is a labour intensive one, however with the high demand, shipbuilders are struggling to secure a skilled workforce and turning to robotics. Robots are being developed to improve the efficiency and I encourage all comrades to embrace change and training.”

Co-chairperson, Masao Tsumura, highlighted the need for unions and collaboration.  

“The current conflicts influence the sector’s stability and with these geo-political risks we find difficulty with changes and job security. We the workers need to unite and further our collaboration. The work environment has significantly improved, and we have felt the need to have unions.

“We must continue to focus on improving the working and living conditions for all workers. All the unions in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are striving towards safety for workers in this sector,” 

echoed V.V. Rane, the sector’s vice chairperson.  
 
A presentation from the OECD indicated that the industry is growing modestly, it is facing challenges adapting to zero emissions and new fuels as well as the change in the variety on the ships that are ordered.
 
Health and safety, low wages, migrant workers, job losses, union bashing, workers’ rights violations and lack of skilled labour were the issues highlighted when unions provided context of the sector in their country. 
 

“The shipbuilding industry is in robust health. We need to make sure that this translates into better conditions for workers. For this, we need more cooperation between unions in the sector. In shipbreaking, the ratification of the Hong Kong Convention provides us with a unique opportunity to challenge the balance of power. We need to build our unions including in the downstream industry – and demand a just transition to a better industry,” 

says Walton Pantland IndustriALL director of shipbuilding and shipbreaking. 

Photo source: Shutterstock

IndustriALL’s Asia-Pacific affiliates meet in Kuala Lumpur

In her opening remarks, at the women’s committee, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, Christina Olivier, said:

“At this juncture when there are wars raging in Ukraine and Palestine, it is extremely important that the international community, particularly the international trade union movement, stands united for peace and justice. We need a trade union that is shaped by feminism so that equality, inclusiveness, and democracy can be achieved.” 

Committee members strategized on possible ways to build a bottom-up approach to inform the work of the women’s committee. Women leaders stressed that there should be an efficient flow of information from global level to plant level and vice versa. Affiliates’ leaders should ensure that the discussions and information of these meetings reach all women activists of the union. The committee also extensively deliberated IndustriALL’s proposed global policy on gender-based violence and harassment, sexism, and misogyny. 

Nazma Akter replaced Kalpona Akter as the new co-chair of the committee.

In the regional executive meeting Akira Takakura, IndustriALL’s vice president, said:

“We need to bolster our efforts in the face of undermining of basic human rights. There is a military regime in Myanmar, trade union rights are being violated in Bangladesh and Philippines. There are anti-worker labour law reforms happening in India and Indonesia. There is an ongoing war in Ukraine and Palestine. We cannot tolerate this.” 

Executive committee members extensively examined the impact of the rising cost of living and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Palestine. The situation of workers and trade union rights in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Indonesia also made the agenda. Affiliates’ leaders from these countries reported that anti-worker labour law reforms and growing attacks on trade unions have worsened workers’ working and living conditions. 

Executive committee members sent out a solidarity message to trade unions in Bangladesh who are currently facing state repression for raising demands for a higher minimum wage, where a worker was killed while another was injured in police shooting and trade union organisers have also been imprisoned for carrying out protest demonstrations.

While giving updates on IndustriALL’s work, IndustriALL’s assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, emphazised the organisation’s advocacy work particularly debates on economic transformation at the International Labour Conference and labour issues at COP28. He also mentioned the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank which focused on debt in the global south.  

Nazma Akter gave a brief report of the AP women’s committee meeting and the executive committee declared that there must be women’s committees across all IndustriALL structures, including different sectors.

Sharing conclusions of IndustriALL’s mid-term conference, held earlier this year, Kemal Özkan mentioned that the conclusions’ document is a strategic document which will guide the organization until the next Congress in 2025. Executive committee members stressed that we continue to engage on the issues of precarious work and industrial safety. Committee members believe that there is a great need to engage with government on Just Transition and without a country level policy, workers’ future will become dependent on the good will of individual companies.

Affiliates’ leaders also stressed on continuing the work around Global Framework Agreements and their implementation along with prioritizing strategic organizing work in the wind sector which currently has more than 90 per cent of the manufacturing workforce non-unionized. 

Kemal Özkan said:

“There are over two billion precarious workers across the globe and IndustriALL’s strategy will continue to focus on actions around precarious work. There has been a deterioration of workers’ fundamental rights across the region and IndustriALL will continue to campaign for advancing workers’ rights whether in the context of occupational health and safety or a worker centric Just Transition.” 

AP executive committee members support the candidature of Akihiro Kaneko as the new vice president and new co-chair of the AP region following Akira Takakura’s retirement. The global executive committee will be informed of this endorsement. 
 

Latin American workers demonstrate the strength of the paper sector

After meeting in Uruguay in April, Latin American pulp and paper unions affiliated with IndustriALL Global Union came together again on 23 and 24 October in São Paulo, Brazil. The aim was to determine what activities would be carried out under the project, the priority issues to be addressed and how best to take advantage of this new opportunity for cooperation in order to further strengthen the sector.

A presentation was given by ACV-CSC BIE president Patrick Vandenberghe on the project fund and how it was negotiated by ACV-CSC BIE. In addition, Bismo Sanyoto, coordinator of the Asian network MSN/INSP!R, provided an analysis of the Belgian federation's projects with pulp and paper industry unions in Indonesia.

Furthermore, Tom Grinter, IndustriALL director for the pulp and paper sector, spoke about IndustriALL's regional and global activities, providing an overview of the sector at both levels. Participants then added to this by discussing industrial, union and political developments in the region and providing information on the situation in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay.

Participants also discussed promoting decent work in the pulp and paper sector through high-quality jobs, direct and permanent contracts, diversity-friendly recruitment and the promotion of vocational training. They also discussed the employment situation in priority companies in the region.

A strategic discussion was held on how best to take advantage of the new partnership opportunity, starting with in-person meetings and the creation of new networks of workers at transnational companies. Participants also spoke about the need to deepen union work on issues such as workplace health and safety, the environment and ensuring a just transition. It would also be important for unions to obtain more information on changes made to the names and capital of paper companies in Latin America.

Participants pointed out the importance of working to foster an identity for the pulp and paper sector, with a stronger union presence. They stressed that women needed to be more involved in union activities and ties between unions needed to be strengthened to further empower unions. It was important to look for ways to foster a three-way industrial dialogue between unions, companies and governments.

Tom Grinter said:

"This important union work has brought together colleagues from across our vibrant IndustriALL pulp and paper sector in Latin America.

“With the valuable contribution of Belgian union leaders, pulp and paper unions across the region are drawing on their know-how and campaigning on key issues for paper workers. This is a great example of strong sector-based union networking, and IndustriALL is committed to keeping up this momentum in the years to come.”

Brands commit to long-term future and expansion of International Accord

The three-year legally binding agreement, which is effective from 1 November 2023, automatically renews after three years without the need for negotiations. Brands commit to continue the health and safety programs in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and to establish programmes in other countries. Conditions for expansion to other countries are based on feasibility studies and progress in the Accord’s existing country programs.

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

“Since its inception ten years ago, the Accord has been instrumental in making the garment industry safer. We now have a long-term, sustainable solution for the Accord with substantial scope for development when it comes to new countries and inclusion of the fundamental principles and rights at work as core building blocks in the complaint’s mechanism and in the training programmes.”

The new International Accord will continue to build on the foundations that have made the Accord so effective including independent factory inspections, remediation, safety training and an effective worker complaints mechanism.

In a boost to workers’ rights, the complaints mechanism will be expanded to include non-occupational safety and health issues, including freedom of association, following a pilot study.

Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, says:

“This agreement is proof positive that the Accord model of supply chain regulation – a binding agreement between brands and global unions – has staying power. Many considered that it was a flash in the pan exercise in response to the crisis of Rana Plaza. But today the parties have agreed to a six-year deal which expands both the geographic coverage of the program and the issues within its scope. With the recent roll out of requirements for due diligence in the supply chain, employers everywhere should note that the Accord is a model with a proven track record.”

Under a new framework, the International Accord will act as a stand-alone framework agreement, with addendums for each country safety program. All brands sourcing from these countries are invited to sign these addendums in addition to the International Accord. The Agreement will be implemented through the International Accord Foundation and its secretariat, based in Amsterdam, as well as country offices.

The agreement also envisages a strong role for the International Labour Organization (ILO) in supporting country programmes to ensure they are implemented and effective. The ILO has long acted as a neutral chair of the Accord’s Steering Committee.

Accord history

Employers attack the right to strike

The right to strike is an essential part of freedom of association and is protected under ILO Convention 87. While it’s a last resort, without it, workers and unions lack the power to defend their positions against the economic and political power of employers.

In 2015 the International Labour Organization (ILO) employers’ group and certain governments challenged ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association, which is ratified by 153 countries, and up-holds the right to strike. Unions around the world protested to protect this fundamental right, but the right to strike has been under increasing attacks since.

In a new proposal ahead of the 112th session of the International Labour Conference in June, the employers’ group is calling for a protocol to be attached to C87 to “regulate” the right to strike, while at the same time denying that Convention 87 protects the right to strike.

Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:

“IndustriALL will never accept this; the employers’ proposal is fundamentally flawed and must be rejected. The constitutional objective and mandate of the ILO is to protect the rights of workers.

“Standard setting to undo, reverse or take away existing rights enjoyed by and relied upon by all workers is contrary to the objective and mandate of the ILO’s constitution and institutional purpose.”

Photo: Striking Wabtec workers from Erie, Pennsylvania, USA rally at corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh in July this year.

Making unions relevant for white collar workers

“Industry 4.0 is changing the working world, and the white-collar sector is growing, urging IndustriALL to become more proactive in organizing and addressing the issues that these workers are confronted with. Our job is to strategize on how to address these challenges, especially the right to disconnect during telework, the transformation to a more digital world, and making the trade union movement attractive to young workers. We need to be attractive to young workers, our existence and relevance depends on it.” 

Said Christine Olivier, IndustriALL assistant general secretary. 
 
IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kan Matsuzaki joined online and set the scene by giving an overview of the situation for white-collar workers in a changing world. He focused on trends like industry 4.0, climate change, platform economy, the challenges and which tools were needed to make trade unions more attractive.

“The number of white-collar workers is expanding, and blue-collar workers are declining in our sectors, if we can’t organize white-collar workers our trade union movement is in trouble. We must look at how we can also use the Human Rights Due Diligence rules as a tool to organize white collar workers,”

says Kan Matsuzaki. 
 
Discussions covered overcoming obstacles and inclusivity, skills, employability and job security in the digital world. Participants from Spain, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, Morocco and Sweden participated in panel discussions, highlighting the importance of changing the narrative that white-collar workers can’t join unions, the need for advocating for hard core skills, the importance of including young employees and establishing childcare facilities.  
 
IndustriAll European Trade Union explained a current project they are conducting together with a Finnish university, to better understand the aspirations of white-collar workers. They will develop a toolbox for IndustriAll Europe affiliates on organizing white-collar workers.
 
ILO expert, Dr Hamzaoui, presented existing ILO standards that address mental health. The president of Eurocadres, Nayla Glaise, presented their campaign for the adoption of a European directive on protecting the mental health of workers. This session centred around working time and increased pressure on workers and the inclusion of the right to disconnect in collective agreements. 
 
Swedish union, Unionen, made a presentation on the Swedish agreement which provides upskilling and reskilling for white-collar workers. This agreement is key to enabling high skilled workers, who are exposed to new developments, to keep up with the skills requested by new technologies, retain their employability and transition to new jobs. Much of the outcome from this panel included, finding strategies to help older workers adjust to new technologies and mental health focusing on including the right to disconnect in collective agreements. 
 
The second day of the meeting focused on organizing in a digital world. Unions from Australia, Ghana and Brazil made presentations on how they use technology to organize. Participants raised the challenge of reaching the members who are further away, so they use technology to assist members. Digital newspapers, WhatsApp and Telegram groups are used to recruit members. 
 
 
Massimo Mensi, policy adviser on digital technology at Uni Global Union, presented new challenges for workers and their trade unions regarding artificial intelligence and algorithm management. Emphasizing that artificial intelligence will have an impact on workforces in sectors like technology, banking, and education including in terms of the protection of personal data and the right to privacy, and that it was important for trade unions to find tactics to beat these challenges. 

“White-collar workers in STEM need better training to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies. Re-skilling is key for older employees to keep their employability. Mental health must be a priority. These workers need a better work-life balance. On all this issues, it is also important to develop a gender perspective to address women in STEM priorities. Gender equality is essential,” 

says Corinne Schewin, IndustriALL co-chair for white-collar workers.

Urgent appeal to release workers missing from Ukrainian power plant

Three workers from ZNPP have gone missing under disturbing circumstances. Brazhnyk Oleksii Petrovych, a retired lieutenant colonel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and engineer at the Physical Protection Service of ZNPP, was abducted from his workplace on 21 September 2022, and his current whereabouts are unknown. 

Similarly, Korzh Sergiy Volodymyrovych, an engineer at the Electrical Shop of ZNPP, was abducted on 4 September 2022 and has not been found since. 

Korzh Olexander Volodymyrovych, employed at the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety at ZNPP, was taken captive alongside his brother Sergiy on 4 September 2022. Although he was briefly released on 07 September 2022, he was detained again on 16 December 2022 and transported to an undisclosed location. His current location remains a mystery, adding to the growing concerns about the safety and well-being of these missing workers.

IndustriALL has sent urgent letters to key international bodies. The letters, addressed to the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, and to the members of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, call for immediate action to secure the release of the workers.

IndustriALL Global and IndustriAll Europe have also sent a joint letter to European Union representatives to assist in the location and release of the workers.

Isabelle Barthès and Judith Kirton-Darling, acting joint general secretaries of industriAll Europe affirm:

"We strongly condemn the enforced disappearance of workers at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is a crime and simply inhumane. Together with our global sister organisation, we call on the United Nations to intervene urgently to secure the release of the missing workers. We will do our utmost to monitor and shed light on the situation of workers in Russian-occupied territories and companies in Ukraine and inform the EU authorities accordingly".

The letters highlight the cases of three workers affiliated with the union Atomprofspilka, who have mysteriously vanished:

This forced disappearance of individuals constitutes a crime against humanity under the International Criminal Court statute, as well as a violation of the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

The Russian Federation should immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression, withdraw its troops from Ukraine, and end the suffering it is inflicting on the people of Ukraine.  We call on you to contact the Government of the Russian Federation to ensure the immediate safe release of the workers from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant who have been victim of enforced disappearance.

"We stand united in our demand for immediate action. The disappearance of the workers from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is a violation of human rights. IndustriALL will not rest until these missing workers are safely returned to their families. We urge the international community to join us in this call for justice, unity, and the protection of workers' rights worldwide,"

says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.

Just Transition in Turkey still has a long way to go

On 12-13 October, IndustriALL Global Union, industriAll Europe, together with representatives from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Turkey office, met with trade union leaders and experts from Turkey to discuss the challenges and opportunities for a Just Transition in key industrial sectors and the ingredients for a socially responsible industrial policy that could help manage the transition of industries and workers.

The workshop was organised in cooperation with the Turkey office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung as a follow-up to our first workshop in October 2002, where trade unions discussed the basic concepts of a Just Transition in the Turkish context. 

The energy and industrial transition in Turkey is taking place in a complex geopolitical and economic situation, which poses major challenges but also opportunities. In 2022, Turkey ratified the Paris Agreement and committed to a net zero target by 2053. However, a concrete strategy and policy framework to achieve this target is still largely missing. Situated between different economic and geopolitical powers, Turkey is in a very sensitive economic and political position with implications for policy decisions. The entry into force of the Carbon Boarder Adjustment Mechanism will have an impact on Turkish companies oriented towards the EU export market. In response to the CBAM, the Turkish government is preparing a climate change bill, including an emissions trading scheme, which will require Turkish industry to adapt.

"Turkey is in a very unique position in terms of investment, climate change and digitalisation. You have all the ingredients for a Just Transition process in the country's industrial sectors,"

said Kan Matsuzaki, Assistant General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union.

The opportunities for Turkish trade unions to shape and manage change are limited in a country that is a long way from aligning their rights with ILO Conventions. The ITUC's 2023 Global Rights Index has again ranked Turkey as one of the 10 worst countries for trade unions, highlighting the repression of strikes, arrests of trade unionists and systematic union busting. The conditions for trade union involvement in anticipating change and developing a just transition strategy in Turkey couldn't be more challenging, as was clear from the workshop discussions, where participants were unanimous in criticising the lack of social dialogue in the country. EU legislation on human rights due diligence, which is currently being developed, will need to evolve into an effective tool for the trade union movement to strengthen trade union rights in Turkey.

In addition, the economic situation has eroded household incomes and purchasing power of Turkish workers. In the context of persistently high inflation, trade unions have in recent months fought for and negotiated collective agreements to adjust wages in line with inflation rates. However, official inflation figures are highly unreliable and unions are very concerned that wage agreements will only have a buffer effect on real household incomes.   

Jude Kirton-Darling, Deputy General Secretary of industriAll Europe, asked: "How do we make sure that trade unions are at the table?

“The climate challenge is huge for a major economic player such as Turkey. The country lacks a coherent industrial strategy and commitment for a Just Transition. It is difficult for trade unions to anticipate change without a clear and meaningful commitment from the government to strengthen labour rights. But we have no choice. The only way forward for workers and the planet is through the development of socially responsible industrial policies and social dialogue. We stand with our Turkish affiliates to ensure they have a seat at the table.”

Trade unions welcomed the participation of Fatma Temiz, labour expert at the Department of Labour Policies, Green and Social Economy of the General Directorate of Labour in Turkey, who presented on the recent establishment of a Just Transition Working Group, which includes trade union representatives. While these recent developments are an important first step, it will be essential that all trade unions from all confederations are represented in the working group and that dialogue with them is meaningful.

Trade unions strategize pathways for human rights due diligence in Africa

The 60 participants from 24 countries included delegates from the Central Organization of Trade Unions – Kenya (COTU-K), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Kenya, IG Metall, IG BCE, Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Southern Africa Resource Watch, and the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association. Trade union support organizations represented were ACV-CSC Belgium, 3F, the International Lawyers Assisting Workers, SASK, the Swedish Workplace Programme, and Union to Union.
 
The conference deliberated on multi-layered issues regarding human rights due diligence and critical minerals supply chains in the global south. The findings of a research paper on the Just Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe by Tom MacNamara, La Trobe University, Australia which was commissioned by the SSA regional office, was also a focal point.
 
Participants indicated that Chinese companies are violating labour laws in several African countries like the DRC, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In response to the concerns, a presentation from TUAC said that one of the ways to ensure that Chinese multinational companies comply with human rights due diligence is to use the OECD guidelines because China participates in OECD activities as an observer. 
 
The presentation on IRMA emphasized that the standard requires mine sites to adopt a comprehensive approach to identify, assess, account for, and address potential human rights impacts associated with their operations.
 
The conference also discussed how the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act will positively influence the enactment of binding human rights due diligence laws in Africa. For example, Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria have already developed national action plans on human rights due diligence. Discussions on gender dimensions of human rights due diligence included ending discrimination, violence, and harassment in the world of work.
 
This conference was part of IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa’s weeklong meetings which began with a regional youth meeting on 16 October, a women’s meeting on 17 October, and a regional executive meeting on 18 October which focused on Just Transition and critical transition minerals. 

Speaking at the regional executive meeting, Francis Atwoli, COTU-K secretary general said, 

“trade unions must be vigilant and militant in defending workers’ rights and interests.” 

 
Rose Omamo, IndustriALL vice president, and secretary general of the Amalgamated Union of Kenya Metal Workers said: 
 

“At the African Business and Human Rights Forum in Ethiopia, in September, IndustriALL SSA made demands for the inclusion of trade unions in the African Union processes through social dialogue, and for labour clauses to be integrated especially in the draft policy on business and human rights and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement protocols. We hope the AU will respond favourably to these demands.” 

 
IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said: 

“As trade unions we cannot outsource our struggle for demanding the respect for workers’ rights and living wages to others, but must continue fighting the employers and governments to respect these rights. Unions must continue to demand binding legal instruments to protect workers from rights violations by multinational corporations and support campaigns for a binding UN treaty on business and human rights.” 

UAW reaches tentative agreement with all of the Big Three

On day 40 of the Stand Up Strike, the first tentative agreement with Ford was reached. Three days later, UAW reached a tentative agreement with Stellantis, and today an agreement was reached with the last of the Big Three, GM.
 
Says UAW president Shawn Fain:

“For months we’ve said that record profits mean record contracts. And our Stand Up Strike has delivered. we have achieved what just weeks ago we were told was impossible.

"At Stellantis in particular, we have not only secured a record contract, we have begun to turn the tide in the war on the American working class.”

Under the agreement, workers at Ford will get a 25 per cent general wage increase, plus cost of living raises that will put the pay increase to above US$40 per hour for top-scale assembly plant workers by the end of the contract.

The agreements with Stellantis and GM follow that with Ford, where wages for most workers will rise by 25 per cent over the next four-and-a-half-years.
 
IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie says:

“IndustriALL congratulates UAW on this victory. This is an important day, not only for you, but for all other industry workers in the US and the rest of the world. Your courage, determination and tenacity have paid off.

"We stand firmly behind you in your successful fight for a fair standard of living and wage increases that mirror the record profits of the auto makers.”

The tentative agreements will be put to union members for approval before coming into force.