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. 

Georgian miners' win

In June, the company announced that the workers needed to mine 40 per cent more ore over shorter shifts. Not only would this result in a real-time cut in salaries, but the demands would be impossible to meet.
 
Calling the demands inhumane, the miners took industrial action on 8 June. A group of miners travelled to Georgia’s capital Tiblisi, protesting outside the Parliament building.
 
A solution was negotiated and the miners went back to work on 1 July. The company agreed to provide paid holidays and sick leave. In addition, they promised to reimburse strike days at 60 per cent and to improve safety conditions in the mines.
 
A commission consisting of representatives of the company, workers, trade unions, and government officials will also be set up to decide on a range of other complaints, including improving health insurance, better safety equipment, and deferring bank loans for employees.
 
“IndustriALL affiliate, Trade Union of Metallurgy, Mining and Chemical Industry Workers of Georgia, was central in finding a solution for workers,”

says IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan.

“We support their work, which resulted in ending the industrial action in a way that benefit the workers. We congratulate the workers for their resistance and successful result.”

Justice for murdered trade union leader

With the rising attacks on trade union leaders, hundreds of garment workers, trade union organizations and labour activists took to the streets across the country after the brutal killing of Shahidul Islam’s.

Shahidul Islam was killed by factory-hired thugs for demanding payment of wages and festival bonuses for workers employed at Prince Jacquard Sweater Limited. Union leaders Mostafa Kamal, Ahmed Sharif, and Akkas Ali were also injured in the attack.

IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union have made a statement and written a letter to the Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, strongly condemning the horrific attack.

General secretaries, Atle Høie and Christy Hoffman said,

“those responsible for this heinous crime should be held accountable and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Freedom of association continues to be violated in the country and the government must ensure that trade unions and their representatives can operate without intimidation, and violence in their role as elected representatives of workers.”

Kalpona Akter, IndustriALL Executive Committee member and president of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, says: 

“Shahidul mobilised thousands of workers to join unions, empowering them to become solid factory-level trade union leaders. Throughout his life, he assisted thousands of workers in receiving arrears and severance pay wrongfully denied by their employers. With workers' needs always in mind, Shahidul and three other union leaders met on the evening of his death to discuss a peaceful resolution to a wage dispute and the Eid-ul-Azha festival bonus. He met his fate due to the industry’s ill practice to promote yellow unions and the neglect of workers' voices. This needs to be stopped. Workers must be allowed to organize and join unions. Shahid's contributions to the labour movement were remarkable and will be sorely missed.”

Mid-Term Policy Conference lays down strategic goals for a just future

"If we want defend human and trade union rights, oppose global capital and want a humane economy with an ecological, social and fair transformation, then we have to expand our trade union power resources – especially through organizing. All topics that we work on, all activities that we carry out must lead to strengthening our organizational power. There's no way around it,"

said IndustriALL president Jörg Hoffman in his opening remarks.

IndustriALL president Jörg Hoffman

Sweden’s former prime minister and former IF Metall president and IndustriALL Exco member, Stefan Löfvén, said in his address:

“There are no empty spaces in democracy. We need Ubuntu, respect, sharing, trust, community. I am because we are. What matters is the change you have made to the lives of others.”

Stefan Löfvén

Breaking into four break-out sessions, participants had the opportunity to hear and strategize on addressing growing inequalities in the world, building union power through organizing, strategize and develop plans towards companies and brands and lastly shaping our future through Just Transition.

Break-out session one centered around addressing the growing inequality in the world.  This session discussed streamlining strategies, mapping multinational corporations and their supply chains, leveraging digital technology, and fighting for a global living wage. Participants agreed that the right to organizing and collective bargaining are essential to address inequality and participants said that the global north should demonstrate global solidarity to ensure the fair distribution of wealth.

 

Building union power through organizing, was the main goal for break-out session two. Subcontracting, precarious work and the ever-expanding supply chain is the common threat to organizing. Organizing young workers and women workers was top of the agenda during this session. Affiliates said that there would be more constructive collaborations between unions, especially support from north to south. Delegates decided that strong legislation, international tools and IndustriALL’s role was a strong foundation for organizing.

 

Holding multinational corporations accountable was the theme of break-out session three. Multinationals often resort to numerous tactics to avoid accountability, they do union busting, renaming the companies, relocation, and tax evasion. They have all these maneuverers which harm workers every day. The group said a clear strategic campaign to defend freedom of association, human rights’ due diligence laws and health and safety accords, for all brands and countries must be developed.

 

Shaping our future through Just Transition sparked inspiring ideas from affiliates in break-out session four. Delegates decided that social dialogue and collective bargaining were central to Just Transition. Affiliates were adamant that unions must lead the Just Transition conversation and pressurize governments for support. The session demanded collaborations between north and south for stronger union networks. Another key outcome from this session was decent work opportunities for all, especially women workers.

 

 
IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie said:

“This Mid-Term Policy Conference gives us a good idea of the status of our affiliates. There have been many thought-provoking discussions, which will take us forward both politically and organizationally. We need to work together to implement our decided plans and better the lives of workers.”

Atle Høie

Going forward a working group will develop a conclusions document, and this will be submitted to the next executive committee meeting, which will be held in November.

IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union demand justice in the murder of trade union leader in Bangladesh

Shahidul Islam Shahid was president of the Gazipur unit of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF), affiliated to IndustriALL.

Shahidul Islam Shahid was killed in the Gazipur area on Sunday night. According to Shahid’s colleagues, local criminals attacked him for speaking in favour of payment of wages to the workers at the company Prince Jacquard Sweater Limited. Three more labour leaders were injured in the attack. They are Md Mostafa Kamal, Ahmed Sharif, and Akkas Ali.

According to local sources, the workers of Prince Jacquard Sweater Limited have been aggrieved for the last few days as they did not receive outstanding salaries of two months and the Eid bonus. Shahidul Islam Shahid discussed the issue, on behalf of the workers, with the owners of the company. The workers were supposed to get the outstanding salary and bonus on Sunday. The workers were kept waiting for the whole day on Sunday, but did not receive any payments.

Shahidul Islam Shahid and three others came out of the factory at around 7:00 pm and stood in front of the main gate. Suddenly, ten to twelve criminals attacked them. Locals rescued them and took them to hospital in Gazipur where an on-duty physician declared Shahidul Islam Shahid dead. The three injured union leaders received treatment at the same hospital.

We join forces with the IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, which has organized a human chain and protest in front of the Gazipur District Commissioner's Office, to demand justice for this murder and attack on trade union leaders. Those responsible for this heinous attack should be held accountable and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Freedom of association continues to be violated in the country and the government must ensure that trade unions and their representatives can operate without intimidation, and violence in their role as elected representatives of workers.

Regrettably, this murder is another stark reminder of the situation for organized labour in Bangladesh. When people are killed for exercising their constitutional right to organize, we are seeing government and employers at their weakest and most dangerous. It is the responsibility of the Bangladeshi government to investigate the crime and to bring the perpetrator(s) to trial to face the legal consequences.