Union petitions parliament over workers’ rights violations at Fine Spinners

UTGLAWU, an IndustriALL affiliate, is “calling for an immediate investigation and rectification of the egregious violation of workers’ rights at Fine Spinners Uganda Limited.”

In the petition on 14 April, the union strongly reminded the employer of their responsibility because workers, “deserve to work in conditions that uphold their dignity and rights.”

The union outlined how garment manufacturer, Fine Spinners, is violating workers’ rights that are protected by national labours laws. These include violations on freedom of association by refusing to sign a recognition agreement with UTGLAWU which has unionized over 50 per cent of the workers. The employer has refused to sign for over 10 years and even ignored a directive from the ministry of labour and employment to comply with the law.

Fine Spinners is also not paying wages on time making life difficult for workers and their families as they fail to pay school fees, rentals and other basics. Further, the company is paying much less than other companies. The union says workers at Fine Spinners are paid 150 000 Uganda Shillings per month (UGX) (US$41) while the industry wages are around 800 000 UGX per month (US$217). Pregnant workers lack maternity protection, including maternity leave and are required to work night shifts. The employer is also failing to remit the national social security funds deductions. Further, workers have informed the union of being locked in factories without emergency exits.

In one case, a worker reported the sexual harassment she faced and physical assaults from an attempted rape that led to severe injuries to her neck and teeth. The worker, who was seven months pregnant, had a miscarriage because of the violent attack. She reported the attempted rape to the police and the case is now in Nakawa Magistrate Court. But Fine Spinners’ response to the court action was to terminate her contract after five years of service while the perpetrator, who is a manager, remains at work.

“There are alarming reports of gender-based violence, harassment and abuse including sexual exploitation and rape by some managers which have been reported to the police and yet the perpetrators are not punished,”

said Eli Peter Bendo, UTGLAWU, general secretary.

In letters to Fine Spinners, Ugandan Member of Parliament for Workers, Byakatonda Abdulhi, said he is facilitating dialogue between the garment company and UTGLAWU to address the union’s concerns. Trade union federation, the National Organization of Trade Unions, is also involved. Through its lawyers, Fine Spinners, indicated willingness to engage in dialogue with the unions.

IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa regional secretary, Paule France Ndessomin, said:

“We welcome the facilitation of dialogue by the workers’ MP and urge Fine Spinners to stop abusing workers and respect workers and human rights as well as pay living wages.”

Unionist brings worker voices to Namibian parliament

In her maiden speech, on 9 April, she called upon the Namibian government to finalize on modernization of laws that include the Labour Act, the Social Security Act and Affirmative Action (Employment) Act to ensure compliance by employers. Further, she said the work of the employment equity commission must include gender equality and underrepresented workers. She also called upon the government to

“ensure that lawful strikes are respected, and that workers do not lose income when exercising their constitutional right to strike in pursuit of fair collective bargaining.”

Honourable Jonas from the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU) is an MP from the ruling SWAPO party. She previously worked in both the formal and informal economies as a security guard, street food vendor and hairdresser, and has been an active trade unionist since 2003 and rose up to the position of general secretary.

She also served in the union’s education department where she implemented programmes on health and safety, workers’ rights, gender equality, and campaigned for youth employment and living wages.

MANWU an IndustriALL affiliate and organizes workers in construction, metal, engineering, automotive manufacturing and other industries.

Jonas supported the national budget statement plans to create 500 000 jobs, provide quality education and healthcare, equitable access to land, housing and sanitation, and poverty eradication.

She was involved in campaigns for the ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190 to end violence and harassment in the world of work. In 2020 Namibia became the first African country to ratify the convention. Since then, she is involved in campaigns to implement workplace policies as per ILO Recommendation 206 (Violence and Harassment Recommendation).

“I am a deployee of the workers. For too long the voices of workers have been missing in the legislative organ of the state hence many bills were passed in parliament that sometimes compromised workers’ rights. With my experience from the world of work, I will ensure that bills that are debated during my term as MP will consider workers’ voices,”

she said in an interview with IndustriALL.

IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa regional secretary, Paule France Ndessomin, said:

“We celebrate the election of Justina Jonas to the Parliament of Namibia. This is a double victory for workers' voices and for the representation of women in legislatures in Africa. She is a brilliant example of the success of our regional campaigns for gender equality and advancing women leadership.”

Her Excellency, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is Namibia’s first woman head of state and more than 50 per cent of her cabinet is composed of women. The vice president is Lucia Witbooi and eight of the country’s 14 ministers are women. Namibia’s parliament also has more than 40 per cent women MPs sitting in the house while Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, the speaker of Parliament, is a woman.

Anglo American commits to dialogue with trade unions during demergers

IndustriALL and Anglo American signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on industrial relations, climate change, Industry 4.0 and the future of work. Through the MoU Anglo American committed to ensuring “workers’ rights to union membership and collective bargaining without fear of retaliation, repression or any other form of discrimination.”

The Anglo American global network meets annually with support from the multinational and IndustriALL. The network’s agenda includes promoting social dialogue, responsible mining standards and independent audits, and to jointly address environmental social and governance issues. Further, the MoU stresses on protecting workers interests during the energy transition and decarbonization, Just Transition plans, improved gender relations to address gender-based violence and sexual harassment (GBVSH), and better occupational health and safety. Living and social wages are prioritized. Anglo American’s sustainable mining plans and smart mining including digitalization and automation are also discussed. The meeting is also an opportunity to discuss current and emerging issues concerning the Mou.

The dialogue at this year's meeting focussed on Anglo American’s demergers. Trade union wanted assurance on the continuation of the MoU amid restructuring and demergers of several business units with only the mining copper and iron ore being retained as the core business. For example, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), a leading global producer of platinum group metals with mines in South Africa and Zimbabwe, is going through a demerger. At the completion of the demerger scheduled for June, Amplats will be renamed Valterra Platinum Limited and be listed on the Johannesburg and London Stock Exchanges. Whilst Anglo American will retain 19.9 per cent stake post demerger, it intends to eventually exit from the company. The meeting heard that there is potential for platinum following the catalytic converters resurgence as the electric vehicle market slows down.

Restructuring is also taking place at diamond mining company, De Beers, with mines in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, which is facing stiff competition from lab grown diamonds. Anglo American is also selling its steel making coal assets in Australia to Peabody Energy and has already sold other assets in nickel mining.

The union concerns in current operations included concerns of effects of metals to lactation from mothers and absence of laundry facilities at operations in Botswana, and poor communications with mine managers which leads to mistrust. Other issues raised were inadequate consultations before retrenchment notices.

Davidzo Muchawaya, IRMA Regional Lead for Africa emphasized that unions must use the IRMA audit as a tool to fight for workers’ rights. She cited a recent audit at Anglo American’s Mogalakwena mine complex in Limpopo, South Africa, where 53 workers were interviewed. According to the audit report, the mine received IRMA 50 certification which means it met 40 critical requirements as well as 50 or 75 per cent on business integrity, planning for positive legacies, social responsibility, and environment responsibility. “Topics discussed included terms of employment and working conditions, with specific attention on the treatment of women and vulnerable groups, freedom of association, health, and safety, etc.”

On gender equality, diversity, and inclusion unions said gender stereotypes continued to hinder women’s promotion and that sex for promotions must end. In response, the Anglo American management reassured the meeting that all cases of GBVSH are investigated, and action taken against perpetrators including dismissals.

“The future of the MoU is critical especially with demergers but must hinge on a Just Transition plan that includes discussions on future jobs, stakeholder engagement strategies, accountability, and pathways for decarbonization,”

said Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL mining director.

Wage theft at Rio Zimbabwe starves mine workers

Rio Zim which owns Cam & Motor Mine, Renco Mine and Murowa Diamonds says it is facing operational and financial challenges and has sent most of the workers on leave. Only a few workers in the security and engineering departments are going to work. this is not the first time that Rio Zim has defaulted on wages. According to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, in 2022 workers went on strike after they were not paid also for five months at Murowa Diamonds.

Rio Zim, which is listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, is a mining and metals company that owns gold mines, a nickel refinery and has stakes in coal mining and processing of copper and platinum group metals. Rio Zim became a Zimbabwean owned company when it separated from Rio Tinto plc.

According to ZDAMWU, affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, the workers have run out of money for food and school fees for their children. ZDAMWU has 1,167 members at Rio Zim.

“This prolonged period of unpaid wages is creating a humanitarian crisis that is affecting workers, their families and surrounding communities leading to severe financial hardships and emotional distress,”

said Justice Chinhema, ZDAMWU general secretary. The union has written to the ministry of labour to intervene.

Responding to the union plea, Rio Zim gave food parcels to workers on 9 April. While ZDAMWU welcomed the food parcels, the union insisted that Rio Zim must pay the outstanding wages to improve the workers’ plight. The food parcels are worth only US$20 when a general worker for instance earns $372 per month.

ZDAMWU has taken the case to the National Employment Council(NEC) of the Mining Industry which is made up of employers and employees of mining industry as defined by Zimbabwe’s Labour Act. The NEC promotes industrial harmony through collective bargaining, dispute resolution and setting up minimum conditions of employment.

Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub-Saharan Africa said:

“Rio Zim must stop sacrificing workers’ livelihoods when faced with financial difficulties but instead they should adopt strategies that protect workers’ wages and benefits.”

Call to protect workers' rights in Zambia’s mineral sector

The research entitled the impact of foreign direct investment on labour and trade union rights in Zambia’s critical minerals sector was conducted by Sekondi Consult.

With rich critical minerals deposits being found in the Copperbelt and other areas, trade unions fear that without compliance the minerals rush threatens gains made through collective bargaining and social dialogue. The minerals, which include copper, cobalt, lithium, tin, graphite, coltan, manganese and rare earth elements used in the manufacturing of renewable energy systems, electric vehicle batteries and energy storage solutions, have attracted investors from Canada, China, India, United Arab Emirates, the USA and other countries. Local investors and state-owned companies are also involved.

The workshop in Kitwe, 25-28 March, aimed at using the research findings to strengthen the Sub-Saharan Africa energy network (SSAEN) strategies for the energy transition. Twenty participants from Mine Workers Union of Zambia, affiliated to IndustriALL and representatives from artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) in North Western Province engaged in discussions on the report. Other participants were from IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), FES Zambia and the FES Trade Union Competence Centre for SSA (FES TUCC) which commissioned the research. The workshop was also supported by the United Federation of Danish Workers 3F which has a Just Transition programme with IndustriALL affiliates.

The report stated that 27,737 workers were employed by sub-contractors under precarious working conditions and said unions should campaign against this.

The workshop mentioned that environmental, social and governance standards were being neglected by some multinational corporations (MNCs) to the detriment of communities and the environment. To reverse this, the unions recommended that the Zambia Environmental Management Agency should monitor the environmental impact of mining and enforce regulations including in ASM. The researchers added that the government of Zambia is in the process of establishing a desk or an ASM department.

An example of poor environmental standards was given from the collapse of the tailings dam at Chinese MNC Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited copper mine in Chambishi on 18 February. The tailings polluted and poisoned drinking water with 30 000 cubic meters of concentrated acid and heavy metals. The toxic effluent was discharged into Mwambashi River, a tributary of the Kafue River – the country’s most important source of water which supports about 12 million people with drinking water, fish and crop farming and supplies the capital Lusaka as well as the city of Kitwe.

There were discussions on the memorandum of understanding on developing an integrated value chain on electric vehicles (EV) battery industries signed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United States of America and Zambia in 2022. Participants mentioned that the DRC’s University of Lubumbashi is already manufacturing EV batteries.

The research recommended that the critical minerals sector should promote decent work: fundamental rights at work, occupational health and safety, job creation, job protection, social protection and maternity protection. On gender equality, there were calls to amend existing labour laws to allow women to be employed as miners using a quota system.
Thelma Nkowani, vice chairperson of the Women in Extractive Industry, Trade and Value Addition Association of Zambia dismissed stereotypes that mining was only for men:

“Women in mining are efficient, they work to the best of their ability.”

“Critical minerals underpin renewable energy and EV industries and are cornerstones of global decarbonization. Mining operations in the sector must ensure workers’ rights are protected and improve working conditions,”

says Paule-France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for SSA.

Coal is dead, long live coal: strategies from Global South unions

The main questions in the debates as put by Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL Global Union director for mining are: “Can coal be clean, and does it have a future.” Further, what is the role of coal in decarbonisation and the Just Transition? These were the key questions that over 30 participants from IndustriALL affiliates and labour support organizations from the Global South countries in Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa discussed. The unions stressed that a Just Transition from high carbon fossil fuel energy generation to low carbon economies, whose main sources is renewable energy, must prioritise workers interests.

Mpufane said the future of coal should be discussed within the context of a Just Transition for coal mineworkers and power dynamics in the energy transition. He said that in most instance, the Global North exerts pressure on the Global South to decarbonize while simultaneously using other fossil fuels. He said:

“The US, Canada, and Australia – the self-styled climate champions – have issued 60 per cent of new oil and gas licenses since 2020.”

Kemal Ozkan, IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary said a Just Transition must consider job security as coal mining employs 7 million workers globally, with 2.5 million from the Global South. He argued that “a rapid phase-out of coal risks massive job losses.” There were social costs to mine closures that included lost wages, community collapse, and the destruction of local and regional economies. But these can be mitigated by a Just Transition plan that protected workers interests, he said.

The online seminar discussed how unions were responding to the debates on the future of coal. Igor Diaz said 80,000 livelihoods in Colombia depended on coal, yet the government’s energy transition announcements lacked a concrete labour plan. In response, the unions proposed retraining subsidies, public investment in clean coal research and development, and a joint action plan for inclusive transition policies that protected workers’ welfare.

Martin Kaggwa, director of the Sam Tambani Research Institute, affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in South Africa, said trade unions must embrace technology’s potential to make clean coal. He gave examples of coal direct chemical looping (CDCL), a process which reduces carbon emissions by 40 per cent when compared to traditional combustion. He argued that if CDCL is increased there are chances that it could extend coal’s economic life. The technology aligns with climate goals and offers opportunities for transition strategies for coal-dependent economies in the Global South, he said.

One of the issues raised by the online seminar is the protection of workers’ rights amid retrenchments by coal mining companies. Busisiwe Matizerd from the NUM said unions must continue to fight retrenchments and precarious working conditions by coal mining companies that included Seriti which recently retrenched over 1137 workers in South Africa.

The online seminar heard that in Indonesia, where coal provided affordable electricity which constituted 60 per cent of the country’s national grid, unions were resisting privatization of public power utilities which they feared would make electricity expensive for workers and the poor.

As a way forward, the IndustriALL regional secretaries of Latin America and the Caribbean, South East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, agreed to a joint action plan and coordinated responses on the South-South trade union position on the future of coal. For example, the unions agreed to document their local transition experiences, for example, from Colombia’s stalled reforms and Botswana’s labour laws. The unions will also engage groups like Future Coal on environmental, social and governance issues, and amplify the Global South trade union voices on the urgency of a Just Transition for coal miners.

Photo: Coal mine in Ethiopia, Flickr, Jasmine Halki

South African mineworkers fight to save diamond mining jobs

Petra Diamond attributes the market downturn—the longest in 30 years—to global conditions, China's economic slowdown and the rise of lab-grown diamonds. Additionally, the diamond mining company says there is debt refinancing, operational underperformance, cost reduction and restructuring as some of the reasons for the retrenchments. But the NUM, an IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, is not convinced by the company’s arguments.

“The NUM believes these justifications are pretexts to sacrifice workers and shield executives from accountability for operational failures. A counterproposal submitted by the NUM, designed to save the company six million rand (US$328,525) and avert retrenchments, was summarily rejected by Petra Mine management,” said Masibulele Naki, NUM chief negotiator in the diamond sector.

The NUM took Petra Diamonds to the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration(CCMA) as part of its challenge to the retrenchments. Further, to alleviate the plight of the affected workers, the NUM signed a memorandum of understanding with Petra Diamond, to pay a R10,000 (US$550) each as relocation allowance to the affected workers. According to the union, the agreement includes a twelve-month recall clause and a committee will be set up to support the affected workers.

Other diamond mining companies that are retrenching workers include De Beers, which has given notice to 308 workers at Venetia Mine.

Further, the union is calling for urgent social dialogue that will include the Minerals Council of South Africa, diamond mining companies, the government and labour to address the crisis facing the country’s diamond industry.

Mpho Phakedi, NUM acting general secretary, expressed concerns over the retrenchments, not only in the diamond sector, but in mining in general. “Mine workers are facing a bleak future of poverty and unemployment. Retrenchment notices have been issued at Anglo Platinum, De Beers, Petra Diamonds, Murray and Roberts Mining and Seriti resources and thousands of jobs will be lost.”

“Diamond mining companies must always prioritize workers interests when faced with market volatility instead of rushing to retrench workers. They must seek business models that are sustainable and those that create and preserve jobs. Social dialogue with the unions is necessary to deal with challenges facing diamond mining,” says Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL Director for mining and diamonds.

South Africa: NUM national women’s conference vows to fight patriarchy, gender-based violence at work

The conference, in which trade union federations, global unions and civil society organizations participated was held under the theme: Working class women advancing socio-economic transformation. The union urged working women to confront and uproot patriarchal systems and practices from the world of work in South Africa. “The NUM continues to promote gender equality, challenge traditional gender roles and is committed to increasing women’s participation,” read some of the resolutions. The participants called upon law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with increasing cases of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

Africa Civic Education Foundation (ACEP) which is working with the NUM, an affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union, on a programme to stop GBVF presented grim statistics on rape and sexual assault. ACEP said from October to December 2024 there were 11,803 cases of rape and 2,188 cases of sexual assault that were reported to the South African Police Service.

The unions said although South Africa has laws and policies to stop GBVF, implementation is poor. The laws include the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2007 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1997. South Africa also has a national policy on the prevention of femicide. The policy states that: “Femicide, the killing of women and girls, is the most extreme and severe form of gender-based violence.”

The conference, which was convened by the NUM women’s structure which represents women workers from mining, energy, construction and metal industries, also coincided with the International Women’s Day, which participants celebrated.

The conference agenda included calls for gender equality and diversity, ending gender discrimination, demands for fair wages, protection from unfair labour practices, maternity protection, collective bargaining agreements that included women workers interests, closing the gender pay gap, inclusive skills development and training programmes, leadership training for women in the union, stronger enforcement of employment equity laws, health and safety, social security and revived union organizing and solidarity. The gender dimensions of the future of work, climate change and the Just Transition, were also discussed at the conference.

The participants called for 50 per cent representation of women in the union structures and to provide more training opportunities for women as well a review and update current training programmes.

Magrett Gabanelwe, who was elected chairperson of the NUM women’s structure at the conference, said:

“We remain resolute and united in defending the rights of women in the union and at work. Women continue to face sexual exploitation and gender-based violence and harassment and this must end.”

Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub-Saharan Africa said:

“We urge the government of South Africa to enforce laws and integrate Convention 190 to end violence and harassment in the world of work into national laws. It is appalling that crimes against women at work and in society continue to increase sometimes with perpetrators never getting arrested.”

Africa: Trade unions strategize on economic transformation and social justice

Over 150 delegates from more than 37 African countries, plus some from Europe, attended the school themed: Employability, living wage, peace and economic transformation for social justice in Africa. Discussions, held both in-person and online, focused on the decent work agenda with an emphasis on social dialogue.

Trade unionists, academics and government officials made presentations on diverse issues including resource-based industrialization, sustainable energy policies, youth employment, skills development including digital skills and platform work. Youth employment was highlighted as the continent has over 60 per cent of its population under the age of 25.

However, of the 15 million young Africans who enter the job market, annually, mostly worked in the informal economy. Debt cancellation, inclusion of labour provisions in the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement and feminist economics-that ensured women’s labour is equally remunerated-were some of the issues discussed.

Speakers from the International Labour Organization (ILO) focused on Recommendation 205 (employment and decent work for peace and resilience) which addresses crises arising from conflicts and disasters. Further, they urged African trade unions to join the Global Coalition for Social Justice.

Robert Beugré Mambé, the Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, said the country’s government engaged with trade unions and employers in social dialogue and this led to building trust and increased minimum wages.

During the march for social justice, Joel Odigie, ITUC Africa general secretary, said Africa’s debt must be cancelled.

“We call upon the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to cancel these debts and channel the funds towards the development of the continent.”

“We want a resilient, sustainable and prosperous Africa that promotes gender equality and youth employment,”

added Rose Omamo, IndustriALL vice president and ITUC-Africa deputy president.

Paule-France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub-Saharan Africa, said:

“Transition minerals can play a part in the Just Transition to low carbon economies, but for this to happen there should be social dialogue, social protection, equitable distribution of resources and power and decent work as well as skills development.”

However, she said some countries with critical minerals had poor beneficiation policies which stalled using the minerals for economic development. For example, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s cobalt mining faced resource conflicts and Zimbabwe’s lithium mining is riddled with corruption. She further said the growth of battery manufacturing industries that promoted local supply chains is important for decent jobs creation.

Winning matters: our union wins in 2024 give us hope for the future

By Atle Høie, IndustriALL Global Union general secretary.

And when we win, it changes lives.

Looking back at 2024, our affiliates all around the world have fought and won significant battles. These victories were not handed to us; they were earned through the tireless determination of workers who refused to back down. Every single one of these wins is proof that collective action works, that solidarity is our greatest strength and that even in the hardest of times, workers can and do prevail.

Wins that shaped 2024

One of the biggest and long awaited victories of the year came from Indonesia in November, where unions successfully fought against the harsh unjust Omnibus Law. For years, this law eroded workers' rights and weakened protections but thanks to the efforts of our affiliates in Indonesia, the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of labour, forcing the government to enact a new law. This is a crucial win, not just for Indonesian workers but for all of us, because when we push back against exploitation, we set a precedent for others to follow.

What is the Omnibus Law?

The Omnibus Law in Indonesia, officially called the Job Creation Law, was introduced in 2020 to attract investment by reducing regulations. However, it significantly weakened labour rights, making it easier for companies to hire and fire workers, cut severance pay and use outsourcing. It also rolled back environmental protections. Unions strongly opposed the law, leading to legal challenges and mass protests. In 2024, Indonesia’s Constitutional Court ruled in favour of unions, forcing the government to revise the law.

In Mexico, our affiliate Los Mineros proved once again that standing together delivers results. In July after two months of persistent strike action, workers at ArcelorMittal secured better conditions and wages. This was a hard-fought battle, but it showed the power of the strike as a tool to force corporations to respect their workforce.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, unions fought for and secured a long-overdue wage increase for workers, raising the minimum wage from N30 000 ($19) to N70,000 ($43). In a country where inflation is skyrocketing, this victory ensures that workers can maintain their livelihoods and fight back against economic injustice.

And it wasn’t just about wages, it was about dignity. In Turkey, our metalworker affiliates won a landmark agreement despite record inflation. In Tunisia, textile workers secured a 20% wage increase showing that unions in the Global South continue to push forward despite immense pressure.

In the auto sector, we witnessed history being made in the United States, where Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted overwhelmingly to join the UAW. This was a monumental victory in a region historically hostile to unions proving that the tide is turning for American workers who are reclaiming their right to organize.

In Italy, Enel workers fought off threats to job security, winning a crucial agreement to protect thousands of jobs. And in Sri Lanka, unions secured a long-awaited deal that reaffirmed workers’ rights in a rapidly changing economy.

The power of winning

These victories matter because they remind us of something fundamental: the fight is always worth it.

In times of struggle, it is easy to only see what is wrong, to focus on the crises, the setbacks and the corporate attacks on our rights. But every victory, no matter how big or small, is a step forward. Winning is not just about securing better wages or conditions; it is about proving that change is possible. It is about showing workers everywhere that they are not alone.

While we had many wins to be proud of in 2024, the fight is far from over. The challenges we face are growing, automation, corporate impunity, anti-union legislation, but so is our strength. As we look ahead, let’s carry these victories with us as proof of what we can achieve together.

To our affiliates, to the workers who stood firm on picket lines, to those who negotiated tirelessly at the bargaining table, thank you. Your fights inspire workers everywhere and your victories pave the way for a more just world.

I look forward to reporting back to you at our Congress in Sydney in November 2025, where we will celebrate the inspiring wins yet to come.

Let’s keep winning.