Up skilling youth in Ghanaian trade unions

The meeting was organized by Ghanaian unions with support from IndustriALL Global Union, Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) and Industri Energi.

From August 2022 to now, the project which aims to build sustainable and resilient unions, explored new ways of organizing using digital technologies for recruitment and mobilization of young workers.

The project organized training for 57 young workers in digital organizing, and occupational health and safety at enterprise level. A youth activist school was also held as part of project activities and the agenda included improved representation of youth in the unions. 

The meeting heard report of how unions in Ghana were early adopters of online organizing tools that included databases and social media platforms. Databases provided membership profiles and information that was useful in making strategic interventions and providing better services to young workers. The meeting also discussed project activities for 2024 that will include campaigns for the ratification of ILO Convention 190 on ending violence and harassment in the world of work. 

Ole-Kristian Paulsen, International advisor at Industri Energi, Norway, said:  

“The unions are making progress recruiting new members, while the databases are running well. The occupational health and safety activities are also showing progress. This contributes to the  focus by unions on Just Transition and climate change.” 

Garikanai Shoko, BWI, Assistant Representation of Africa and Middle East, added:  

“In efforts to sustain organizing, education, and advocacy, BWI and IndustriALL affiliates with support from Industri Energi, have over the past year done extremely well by producing databases. Unions should maintain this momentum as digitalization is an anchor to the future of work.” 

“The solidarity support from Industri Energi to our Ghanaian affiliates goes a long way in contributing to building their sustainability as trade unions. This is important given the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for unions to transform the way they work which is pivotal for effective protection of rights at work,”  

said Tendai Makanza, IndustriALL regional officer from the Sub-Saharan Africa office. 

The IndustriALL affiliates that participated in the project are the Public Utilities Workers Union, General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union, Ghana Mine Workers Union, and Industrial and Commercial Workers Union. The BWI affiliate that is part of the project is the Timber and Woodworkers Union. 

Italian metalworkers strike sends strong message to government

Italian metal unions FIM, FIOM and UILM are demanding a national strategy for a better future for key sectors where tens of thousands of jobs are at risk of being lost through downsizing, closure or relocation. This is the tragic situation in a cost-of-living crisis where at least half of working families are struggling. 

The Italian metalworkers’ unions said in a statement: 

“The strike action sent a strong signal to the government. They must now give us answers and quickly reconvene dialogue on the metal sectors and supply chains in difficulty. The government must clarify what industrial policies will be put into place and how much public investment will be attributed to protect the jobs, rights and wages. 

We are satisfied with the national strike. Work in the metal industry has always been central to the Italian economy and must become the driving force behind its future.”

The mobilisation took place against the backdrop of intensified efforts by the US and China to play an even more dominant role in global manufacturing and international trade. If Europe's industrial policy lags behind its competitors, Italy and the rest of Europe will lose jobs, wealth and strategic autonomy.

For years, Italy has seen its manufacturing base shrink considerably due to a lack of forward-looking industrial policy. In today's reality of environmental, digital, energy and technological transition, employment in the metalworking industry is clearly not on the government's agenda. This has led the country's three metalworkers' unions to raise awareness of the pressing needs of a sector that has been a mainstay of the Italian economy for generations. The four-hour strike by FIOM, FIM and UIL M on 7 July focused on:

  • Employment
  • Investment
  • Sustainable transition 
  • Resolution of urgent crises in several large companies
  • Loss of purchasing power and social conditions for workers in the manufacturing sector.

The unions point to the risk of a further deterioration in economic, industrial and social conditions, stressing the need to put the engineering industries back at the forefront of Italian politics. Moreover, the ecological and digital transition must be agreed with the workers through a fruitful social dialogue. 

  “IndustriALL stands in full support of our Italian affiliates. These are serious attacks on the Italian industrial model, the joint strike in the north and the south of Italy has sent a powerful unified message to the Italian government and will put the spotlight on the urgent need for action,”

says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.

MADE in Myanmar Project – EU must stop supporting military junta’s rule

We, IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union, both representing workers in the mining, energy, and manufacturing industries throughout the world, are forced to contact you once more in relation to the EU’s support of the MADE in Myanmar project (Multi-Stakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in the Myanmar Apparel Industry) following recent arrests of workers linked to the project.

We note the receipt of the letter of 28 June 2023 from Mario Ronconi, on behalf of the European Commission. However, we dispute various important points in this letter, and we believe it is of the utmost importance to inform the leaders of the three EU institutions of the ongoing abuse of workers in Myanmar, including the links to EU engagement and funding in the country. The presence of EU brands in Myanmar provides vital foreign exchange which sustains the military regime and facilitates the purchase of arms, ammunition, and fuel.

Since our last letter, the military has arrested eight workers from two garment factories and two members of a Labour NGO, Action Labour Rights. This is extremely concerning as Action Labour Rights is an NGO which cooperates with the EU, EU-based brands and the MADE in Myanmar project. The arrests of these labour activists demonstrate that Freedom of Association is not possible in Myanmar and that the MADE project does not protect labour activists from the military junta.

Dismissals, threats, and arrests at Hosheng Myanmar Garment Factory

On 10 June of this year, seven workers at the Hosheng Myanmar Garment Factory in Yangon were dismissed for demanding negotiations with their employer around working conditions and a wage increase through enhanced skill and seniority bonuses, as pay is very low. Hosheng produces for one of the world’s biggest brands, Zara. On 12 June, around 600 workers at the factory went on strike to demand the reinstatement of the seven workers. However, the strike was abruptly halted as on 13 June, the employer brought in the military to threaten the workforce.

On 14 June, the seven workers who led the demand for a pay rise, Ma Aye Thandar Htay, Ma Thandar Htay, Ma May Thu Min, Ko Aung Aung, Ko Ye Naing, Ko Ye Thwe Hlaing, were fired, and a female worker leader, Ma Thu Thu San, was arrested. A further five workers were subsequently arrested and one was forced into hiding. The workers have been charged with incitement – 505/a of the Myanmar penal code – and will face a military court as the industrial zones are under martial law. There has been no contact with Ma Thu Thu San since her arrest and concerns for her safety are increasing.

In addition, on 26 June, the General Secretary of the Myanmar Industries Craft and Services Trade Unions Federation (MICS-TusF) was due to be released after serving a two-year prison sentence for his participation in the pro-democracy movement. Instead of being released, he was abducted by the military. His whereabouts remain unknown.

Since the start of the military coup, more than 300 union members and activists have been arrested, and more than 50 have been killed. The military junta in Myanmar has banned nearly all unions, wiping out the fundamental right of freedom of association. One military official even stated that "there is no union under martial law” when speaking to Hosheng workers.

The 28 June letter from the European Commission states that:

‘’Trade unions still legally exist at factory and federation level and organisations committed to supporting workers’ rights continue to operate in the country. However, these cannot function normally due to security and reputational risks stemming from the complex and polarised political situation. MADE aims to support their resilience and ability to engage with business to resolve grievances.’’

After the military coup, 16 of the most representative and democratic trade unions and labour NGOs were banned. Subsequently, with the support of MADE, organisations such as the above-mentioned Action Labour Rights have attempted to fill the gap.

However, with even workers and labour activists from these officially sanctioned organisations being fired, threatened, and arrested, we fail to see how MADE is in any way supporting their resilience and ability to engage with business to resolve grievances.

On the contrary, MADE offers a false sense of security that is dangerous for those who are in the frontline of industrial disputes. MADE offers no protection to workers’ representatives, and giving that impression makes the EU part of the problem, rather than part of the solution.

European Parliament Resolution (11 May 2023)

We engaged with MEPs ahead of the debate and vote on the Resolution on Myanmar on 11 May 2023 and we were pleased to see a huge amount of cross–party support for the final resolution, including the following demands:

8. Calls on the Commission to demonstrate that the Everything But Arms scheme does not benefit the junta or otherwise to temporarily withdraw the mechanism;

9. Calls on the EU to demonstrate that any engagement with Myanmar, including by private companies and EU-based undertakings such as MADE, is subject to strengthened human rights due diligence processes to protect and guarantee workers’ rights;

As such, we now expect the European Commission to provide concrete evidence that the Everything But Arms scheme is not benefiting the military junta (including via foreign exchange) and that MADE is strengthening human rights due diligence, noting the recent firings, military aggression, and arrests of labour activists linked to the MADE programme.

ILO and the International Labour Conference

As you know, the terrible situation facing workers in Myanmar has been escalated at international
level with an emergency resolution adopted at the International Labour Conference and the decision
to establish a Committee of Enquiry. We will follow and engage with the inquiry, and we expect the
entire international community to duly respond to the findings.

With the situation in Myanmar worsening for workers and labour activists, including those engaged with the EU supported MADE project, we insist that the EU removes tariff presences under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences as well as its support for the MADE project. EU citizens, and EU public money, cannot be used to benefit either the military junta nor be associated with an EU funded project which sees workers threatened, fired or arrested without cause.

We ask for urgent meetings with each of the EU institutions on behalf of workers and trade unions
in Myanmar.

US workers strike for green jobs

According to a recent report, producing green locomotives at Wabtec’s Erie plant could bring thousands of new, high-quality jobs to northwest Pennsylvania, an area hard-hit by de-industrialization.

Prototypes for green locomotives are already made at the plant. In negotiations with the employer, United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America Locals 506 and 618, proposed language that would guarantee that green locomotive work be done in Erie. Instead, Wabtec threatened move at least 275 jobs out of the plant.

The two locals voted down the employer’s offer and went on strike on 22 June for a contract that will allow them to move forward with green locomotive production.

Says Bryan Pietrzak, financial secretary for UE Local 506:

“This is 1,400 families affected by boardroom greed. We are fighting an onslaught of union-busting tactics from the notorious Jones Day law firm, we are fighting for a family-sustaining wage for new hires, we are fighting to maintain our healthcare, vision, and dental insurances, and lastly we are fighting for company accountability by restoring our right to strike over grievances.”

 “It is a shame that, because of this company’s greed, we are having to fight them, instead of working with them to build the green locomotives that are essential to our country’s climate future. In negotiations, we proposed to do that, because green locomotive production would bring thousands of good, quality jobs into Erie PA and the Western PA area. This company said NO.”

Says Christine Olivier, IndustriALL assistant general secretary:

“The union is committed to the company investing in building green locomotives for the future, but Wabtec very irresponsibly responds with union busting. The striking members have IndustriALL’s full support and we call on Wabtec to engage in genuine negotiations with the locals to find a solution for a just transition.”

A meeting between the union and the employer is scheduled for 11 July.
 

South African workers march against socio-economic crisis

Workers from all over the country participated in a protected strike organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). IndustriALL affiliates, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) were present at the marches. The unions are also affiliated to COSATU. 
 
A section 77 strike certificate was issued by the National Economic Development and Labour Council NEDLAC. This certificate guarantees that all workers can join the strike without facing dismissals. 
  
Different parts of the country had streets filled with workers demanding an end to the social, economic, and political crisis which has worsened poverty and inequality. 
  
In Cape Town workers marched to parliament to hand over a memorandum demanding that government and the private sector stop the attack on collective bargaining, prevent corruption and crime, reduce high interest rates, stop job losses and privatization.
 
André Kriel, SACTWU general secretary, addressed workers outside parliament:  
 

“We are facing a dire unemployment crisis and we call on the government to formulate policies to address this. Gender-based violence is on the rise, our government has ratified ILO Convention 190, but ratification is not enough, government must take active steps to implement this ratification and end gender-based violence in the workplace.”

In Johannesburg, workers marched to the offices of the department of employment and labour, the South African Local Government Authority, South Africa Human Rights Council, and the Provincial Premier with similar demands. 
 
The workers want better crime prevention and anti-corruption measures, improved service delivery by municipalities to end the water crisis, and an energy strategy to stop the ongoing electricity cuts. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), most murders occur during robberies in people’s homes, and most crimes that include robbery and assault are increasing. Additionally, corruption continues to hamper economic growth and development.  
 
Decent jobs were under threat after 21 000 jobs were lost from January to March 2023 bringing unemployment figures to over 10 million, according to Statistics South Africa. Workers at the marches said most jobs were becoming precarious, and the increasing cost of living left them in worse off positions as the value of their wages declined. 

Duncan Luvuno, NUM health and safety national chairperson said:  

“Workers are beginning to see that they have the power to change the narrative by going back to the streets to fight for their demands and are not only relying on boardroom negotiations. Through the streets workers are realizing that they are their own liberators as some of their campaigns including for the national health insurance are becoming a reality.”

Despite many laws and policies including the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act, and the ratification of Convention 190, gender-based violence and harassment continues to make the country one of most unsafe places for working women. Crime statistics state that 10 512 women were raped from January to March this year. Further, women face sexual harassment, and some have been killed at work. Homes are not safe either with domestic violence common. 

Presenting the COSATU petition to the Department of Employment and Labour, Susan Khumalo, IndustriALL Sub Saharan Africa regional co-chair and SACTWU 1st deputy president said:  

“Gender-based violence continues to be an atrocity against women. But as unions, we would like the government and the police to play their part in ending the scourge through prosecution and imprisonment of perpetrators. Employers should also make workplaces safer environments for women workers.”

Bangladesh is one of the world’s worst countries for workers

According to the index, the Asia Pacific region has seen an increasing erosion of workers’ rights over the last ten years. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have been identified as countries which have no guarantee of rights. Workers in these countries face violence and repression by management and state authorities, including arbitrary arrests for raising voices against unfair labour practices. This is clearly reflected in the recent killing of a union leader by management-hired goons for demanding payment of wages for workers.  

Viraj Steel and SLAM Clothing in India are featured on the list of companies violating workers’ rights. Around 70 workers of Viraj Steel who are members of the union affiliated to IndustriALL through the Steel, Metal and Engineering Workers’ Federation of India, were arbitrarily arrested, including the general secretary of the union, after management filed a complaint with the police in order to suppress union activity in the factory.

In SLAM Clothing, management illegally locked out workers and eventually closed the factory, following the union’s demand for the payment of outstanding wages. Although the Garment and Fashion Workers Union affiliated to IndustriALL through Unions United won the legal battle against SLAM with industrial court ordering reinstatement of workers, along with payment of back wages and seniority benefits but the implementation of the order is still awaited.  

The report underscores that employers and governments are not engaging with unions in good faith to address the demand for wage increases, especially in the current global scenario when inflation is soaring but wages are remaining stagnated. A trend of sustained attacks on collective bargaining rights can be seen.

In Sri Lanka, the government arbitrarily removed four trade unions, including IndustriALL affiliates, from the reconstituted National Labour Advisory Council which is a tripartite body to discuss labour-related matters. This comes at a time when the government is proposing to reform the country’s existing labour laws.  

The report also mentions that governments are passing legislations that severely undermine workers’ rights. In India, state governments have passed anti-worker laws and rules that undermine the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and extend the daily working hours from nine to twelve. In Bangladesh, maternity benefits have been reduced under the amended labour law.  

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

“IndustriALL condemns serious attacks on workers’ rights across the globe. At this crucial juncture when real wages of workers have fallen and working conditions have deteriorated in South Asia, it’s important that governments and management engage with unions to ensure decent work for workers.”

For the tenth time this year, the ITUC published its Global Rights Index at the end of June. This year's edition shows that shows that the global cost-of-living crisis has been met with a crackdown on the rights of working people in every region of the world.

Workers’ demands to have their labour rights upheld have been ignored and their dissent has been met with increasingly brutal responses from state forces.

The ten worst countries for working people in 2023 are: Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Guatemala, Myanmar, Tunisia, the Philippines and Turkey.

The Nordic model under attack in Finland

The plan includes attacks on collective bargaining, industrial action, protection against dismissal and much more.

Some key elements of the reform proposal:

Trade unions are watching the plans closely and the new Finnish government will face strong opposition from the country's unions, which are among the strongest in Europe. The proposed reform would mark a new era in Finnish politics, as the Nordic model of industrial relations has traditionally been respected even by centre-right governments.

IndustriAll Europe deputy general secretary Isabelle Barthès expressed her surprise and disappointment at the Orpo government's plan.

“In the current cost of living crisis, it is essential that trade unions are able to fight together to ensure decent wages and conditions for their members. The Finnish plan completely undermines the spirit of constructive industrial relations and contradicts recently adopted EU instruments on wages, collective bargaining and social dialogue.

"Once again we see that far-right parties only pretend to defend workers' interests in their speeches, but as soon as they come to power they change the law to make it harder for workers."

Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie: 

“It is very disturbing to see a country with a tradition of solid industrial relations turn down the populist route and attack and try to undermine workers’ rights. We strongly support the Finnish unions in fighting to maintain the pillars of constructive dialogue and respect for fundamental workers’ rights.”

Gunmen murder union leaders and workers in Honduras

On 24 June, thirteen people were killed by gunmen opening fire in a billiard hall in the city of Choloma, Honduras.

Among those murdered were Xiomara Cocas, president of SITRAGSAM (affiliated to FESITRATEMASH-CGT), her young son, Alexander Meléndez, and union leaders Delmer García, José Rufino Ortiz and Lesther Almendarez.

In a letter to the President, Xiomara Castro, condemning the attack, IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie, urged the Honduran government to conduct a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and to bring them to justice. He also called on the government to take every step necessary to ensure that unions and their representatives are able to operate without facing intimidation or violence in their role as the workers’ elected representatives.

The regional coordinator of Central American Textile Maquila Unions, CRSMT, which includes IndustriALL affiliates FITH from Honduras, FESTRAS from Guatemala, FESITEX/CST ZF from Nicaragua and FEASIES from El Salvador, has also expressed deep concern over the violent attack.

CRSMT called on the government “to ensure this multiple murder does not go unpunished and that justice is secured for the victims’ families”.

It also urged the Gildan Corporation to immediately express its solidarity with the workers’ families and ensure that the negotiation process for the closure of Gildan San Miguel take place on the best possible terms.

Atle Høie said:

“We trust these murders will not go unpunished and that the victims’ families will receive the necessary compensation.

"We urge the Honduran government to ensure full respect for human rights and the fundamental trade union rights enshrined in International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and Convention 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.”

Ghanaian unions to strike against union bashing at Sunon Asogli Power

TUC Ghana want the local union leaders who include a chairperson, secretary, and assistant secretary, to be reinstated. The union leaders are from IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) which is also a member of the TUC Ghana. 
The National Labour Commission, whose responsibilities include investigating and settling labour disputes, agrees with the unions that the dismissals were not justified according to the law. The commission has taken the matter to the High Court to enforce the directive that it issued for the workers to be reinstated. However, unions have said if there is no speedy resolution the strike will continue. 

“Workers’ rights are human rights, and they must be respected, protected, and always promoted. Employers including Sunon Asogli must not be allowed to violate workers’ rights. The government must enforce labour laws to protect workers' rights to form and join a union of their choice,”

said Abdul-Moomin Gbana general secretary of the GMWU.  

Yaw Baah, TUC Ghana secretary general said:  

“The organized labour of Ghana finds the actions of Sunon Asogli Power a violation of fundamental rights of the workers guaranteed under the Constitution of Ghana (1992), the Labour Act (2003), and International Labour Organization Conventions 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the right to organize) and 98 (Right to organize and collective bargaining) which are ratified by Ghana.”

“IndustriALL supports the collective job and applauds the unity of the trade unions in Ghana as expressed in the strike call being endorsed by 22 of the 23 affiliates of the TUC Ghana and is appalled by the unfair dismissals and violations of national labour laws and international labour standards. We concur with TUC Ghana that Sunon Asogli Power’s violations of fundamental rights at work threaten the gains that have been made by the Ghanaian labour movement. However, as the issue is before the National Labour Commission, we continue to support dialogue that will result in a favourable outcome for the dismissed union leaders and the workers,”

said Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary. 

Sunon Asogli is an independent power producer that is jointly owned by Chinese multinational companies, the Shenzhen Group and the China Africa Development Fund who hold 60 and 40 per cent shares respectively. Sunon Asogli produces electricity from natural gas-powered thermal power station at Kpone that it supplies to the state-owned Ghana Electricity Company. 
 
 

South African union wins wage increases for leather workers

According to Statistics South Africa, the country's annual consumer inflation rate has slowed to 6.8% in April this year, from 7.1% in March. This is the lowest since May 2022, when the rate was 6.5%.
 
During the course of last week, SACTWU signed two wage agreements under the umbrella of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of South Africa (NBCLI).
 
SACTWU members in the general goods and handbags leather sector will receive a 7 per cent wage increase. This increase came into effect on 1 July. The agreement was concluded after a wage dispute, with employers who are represented by the Association of South African Manufacturers of Luggage, Handbags and General Goods.

In addition to the current paid family responsibility leave (FRL) provisions, an additional day of unpaid FRL will be granted to those workers in this sector who wish to take up such an option.
 
SACTWU members in the footwear sector will also receive a 7 per cent wage increase.  This settlement was concluded after two rounds of wage negotiations with footwear employers represented by the Southern African Footwear & Leather Industries Association (SAFLIA).
 
SACTWU, an IndustriALL affiliate, will now submit the new wage agreements to the South African Department of Employment and Labour for gazettal and extension to all workplaces in these two sectors. South African labour laws allow for collective agreements which meet certain requirements to be so extended. It means that once it is signed and gazetted by the country's employment and labour minister, these agreements become legally binding on all employers and all workers in both these sectors, nationally.
 
André Kriel, SACTWU general secretary says:

“The signed collective agreements for the general goods and handbags and footwear leather sectors will now be submitted to our minister with a request for gazetting and extending to non-party employers. Once done, this will provide a further impetus for our union's Living Wage Campaign.”

“The strategic ways in which SACTWU’s collective bargaining teams approach negotiations allow for the maintenance of living wages and better working conditions in the textile, garment, shoe, and leather sectors. It shows the clear advantages of centralised bargaining. Extending the agreements allow non-union members to benefit as well, thus strengthening solidarity and building union power,”

says Atle Høie IndustriALL general secretary.