Sustainability

As trade unionists, we have a responsibility to ourselves, our families, our communities. We must speak for today's workers - and future workers. Sustainability is the goal. Just Transition is the path. There are no jobs on a dead planet.

Contact details:

Brian Kohler
email: [email protected]
Tel. +41 22 304 18 49
Fax: +41 22 304 1841

Timeline

IndustriALL report on Industrial Sustainable Policy

Brazilian court clears BHP, Samarco and Vale of environmental crimes in Mariana

21 November 2024 at 13:18

The Brazilian justice system has cleared mining companies: Samarco Mineração, BHP and Vale of criminal charges relating to the environmental disaster near the city of Mariana in 2015. IndustriALL condemns the companies for manslaughter and environmental crimes and calls on them to take responsibility for the catastrophe.

Unions address key challenges in chemical and pharmaceutical industries

28 September 2023 at 17:10

IndustriALL concluded global meetings for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, which took place in Istanbul, Turkey from 25-27 September. The event brought together 180 participants from 46 unions across 36 countries to discuss pressing issues in these fast-evolving sectors.

Unions demand sincere dialogue with Glencore ahead of AGM

25 May 2023 at 16:52

Ahead of Glencore’s AGM on 26 May, IndustriALL Global Union brought together representatives from trade unions at Glencore operations around the world, as well as from communities touched by the Swiss mining company’s blatant lack of willingness to address serious environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues across its global operations for a pre-AGM. 

Latin American pulp and paper unions launch cooperation project with Belgian federation

11 May 2023 at 15:26

A delegation of Latin American pulp and paper unions affiliated to IndustriALL met, in Uruguay, with representatives of the Belgian ACV-CSC BIE federation, with a view to launching a trade union cooperation project for the sector. 

Victims of Brumadinho disaster call for settlement with Vale to be overturned

16 February 2021 at 11:33

Mining company Vale and the Minas Gerais state government have reached a settlement over the tragedy that took place two years ago in Brumadinho, Brazil. But affected communities say they were left out of the negotiations and are petitioning the Federal Supreme Court to overturn the agreement.

Indian unions oppose harmful environmental rules

3 September 2020 at 13:01

Unions are urging the government to withdraw the draft notification of Environmental Impact Assessment rules as it is in contravention to India’s commitment to combat Climate Change and 2030 sustainable development goals.

March for justice for victims of Vale’s crime

23 January 2020 at 16:34

One year after Brazil's worst environmental, human and work-related disaster, which killed 272 people, 11 bodies remain to be found. Those affected are on a six-day march to condemn the lack of action. 

Unions in South-East Asia confront Industry 4.0 challenges

21 October 2019 at 11:51

Trade union representatives from six countries in South-East Asia gathered in Bangkok on 16 and 17 October to discuss how to best protect workers as industry undergoes rapid transformation due to digitalization and automation.

Glencore workers call for dispute settlement protocol

18 October 2019 at 14:25

Unions from Glencore operations in Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, USA, Peru, South Africa and Zambia came together to discuss the progress of IndustriALL’s Glencore campaign, launched in 2017. For the first time, Glencore executives attended the global union network meeting in Valledupar, Colombia, on 26 – 27 September.

Global call for climate action on 27 September

19 September 2019 at 16:05

IndustriALL Global Union is calling on affiliates to take action on 27 September as part of the worldwide movement to combat climate change.

UK court rules in favour of hearing case of mine water pollution in Zambia

6 May 2019 at 14:31

In a landmark case likely to open doors for lawsuits against multinational mining companies that discharge toxic waste into rivers where community livelihoods depend on, the UK supreme court held that the case brought against Vedanta Resources will be heard in the English courts.

What are tailings dams?

13 February 2019 at 15:16

No one ever hears about tailings dams until they go wrong. But when they fail, the results can be catastrophic. So, as their numbers increase, what exactly are tailings dams and why should we be worried?

Vale must be held accountable for Brazilian dam disaster

28 January 2019 at 16:43

Vale must be held accountable, say global unions IndustriALL and Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) as hundreds are feared to have died as a result of a dam collapse at Brumadinho in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais on 25 January. 

“We want an industrialized Africa” say IndustriALL affiliates

12 December 2018 at 13:41

Around 80 participants from 20 Sub-Saharan African countries attended IndustriALL Global Union’s Conference on Industrialization in Africa, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 7 December 2018, to explore union strategies on sustainable industrialization of the continent.

Strong union presence in renewables is key to future

12 December 2018 at 11:02

IndustriALL Global Union affiliates from the mechanical engineering sector met in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 10 and 11 December 2018 to explore organizing in the rapidly growing renewables sector.

IndustriALL makes joint declaration demanding Just Transition at COP24

3 December 2018 at 14:07

IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union have issued a joint declaration demanding a Just Transition for workers as the world’s nations meet for the United Nations climate change summit in Katowice, Poland – COP 24.

IndustriALL COP24 Blog - Katowice, Poland

2 December 2018 at 10:42

IndustriALL Global Union's director of sustainability, Brian Kohler, reports from a trade union perspective on the climate change summit taking place in Katowice, Poland, from 2-14 December.

IndustriALL gives evidence to UK parliamentary Select Committee

21 November 2018 at 12:30

IndustriALL Global Union’s assistant general secretary, Jenny Holdcroft, was in London last week to give evidence on the sustainability of the fashion industry at the UK’s largest-ever audience for a parliamentary Select Committee.

African unions meet in Namibia to plan for Industry 4.0 and sustainability

25 October 2018 at 13:34

With robots on the factory floors, in automotive manufacturing plants, mining, and energy sectors, advanced technology is transforming workplaces. This means future jobs will be different, but what does this mean for trade unions? 

Unions stand up to BHP at AGM

18 October 2018 at 17:20

IndustriALL Global Union and affiliates representing BHP workers in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Colombia challenged the mining giant’s unsustainable and dangerous business model, at its annual general meeting in London on 17 October. 

Case study: Glencore in Colombia

2 August 2018 at 09:34

Colombia is another of the resource-rich, conflict-ridden countries favoured by Glencore. The company is well known in the country for its violations of the environment and workers rights, including health and safety and the freedom of association.

New standard for responsible mining released

28 June 2018 at 10:15

IndustriALL Global Union welcomes the release of the Standard for Responsible Mining today, a ground-breaking global certification programme for industrial-scale mine sites launched by the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA). 

Workers strike at South African solar plant

15 March 2018 at 16:25

Ninety members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) from Abengoa Solar’s power plant in the Northern Cape are on strike to demand higher wages and benefits.

Tariffs and overcapacity focus of OECD steel meeting

8 March 2018 at 15:12

Global overcapacity and plans by U.S. President Donald Trump to implement new tariffs dominated discussion at the biannual OECD Steel Committee meeting in Paris on 5 and 6 March 2018.

Ivory Coast: Continued fight for workers’ rights in the oil sector

19 December 2017 at 07:59

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate in the Ivory Coast, SYNTEPCI, is continuing to fight violations against workers’ rights at Klenzi Distribution SA, Libya Oil, and Petroci, giving a strike notice on 3 November.

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