Building strong unions

Fighting for fair pay: South Asian unionists trained by IndustriALL

30 June 2025 at 16:47

On 25–26 June, IndustriALL Global Union held a training workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal, for its South Asian affiliates, focused on the pay equity modules launched earlier this year. More than 20 unionists participated in the event, which aimed to strengthen the capacity of unions’ wage bargaining teams and the women’s committee members to address issues related to pay equity and the value of work. The workshop was part of a series of regional training courses for affiliates on pay equity funded by the FES

Milestone for shipbreaking workers as global Convention comes into force

26 June 2025 at 14:45

Today, 26 June, marks the entry into force of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), a landmark step for workers in what is often called the world’s most dangerous industry.

Unions promote labour in energy transition at Global Energy Efficiency Conference

18 June 2025 at 10:57

On 12 and 13 June, IndustriALL Global Union took part in the 10th Global Conference on Energy Efficiency organized by the International Energy Agency (IEA), and in the meeting of the Clean Energy Labour Council held during the conference in Brussels.

Landmark protections mark 2025 International Labour Conference

17 June 2025 at 16:59

Over 5,400 delegates from governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations across 187 ILO member states met for the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), on 2-13 June in Geneva. The meeting concluded with significant progress on global labour standards, including the adoption of a groundbreaking new convention on biological hazards in the workplace.

India: garment workers defy illegal closure

17 June 2025 at 12:59

On 9 June, Celebrity Fashions Limited (CFL), a garment manufacturing company in India, illegally shut down its factory in Avadi, Tamil Nadu, unlawfully terminating 560 workers overnight. After several rounds of negotiations, managements and workers have reached an agreement, but the struggle for closure compensation continues.

Going global to win locally

16 June 2025 at 15:51

IndustriALL US affiliate IUE-CWA has opened the national bargaining round with GE Aerospace, after it was split into a standalone company following General Electric’s (GE) major restructuring. As GE Aerospace expands its global operations and supply chains, the union recognizes the need to build international solidarity to counteract transnational corporate strategies and protect workers’ interests worldwide, and invited IndustriALL to the opening of the negotiations.

Building momentum for IndustriALL’s 4th Congress

12 June 2025 at 16:48

Amid a backdrop of mounting global tensions and continued threats to workers’ rights, IndustriALL’s Executive Committee met in Geneva to reinforce solidarity and chart the path ahead. A key item on the agenda was preparation for IndustriALL’s 4th Congress, taking place in Sydney this November.

ArcelorMittal workers in Quebec win strong five-year deal

12 June 2025 at 15:51

In a significant win for unionized workers, members of United Steelworkers/Syndicat des Métallos, five local unions representing 2,500 employees across ArcelorMittal’s operations in Northern Quebec have ratified a new five-year collective agreement, last month. The deal, which covers workers at the mine, concentrator, railway, port, pellet plant and office, marks one of the most substantial labour agreements in the region’s recent history, securing major advancements in wages, pensions, working conditions and benefits.

UGT, CCOO and ELA call for historic strike at Iberdrola tomorrow

5 June 2025 at 17:41

Tomorrow, on 6 June, more than 9,500 Iberdrola employees across Spain are set to join the first-ever strike in 126 years in the company. IndustriALL affiliates UGT, CCOO and ELA have called the strike in response to the stalled collective bargaining negotiations and the company's refusal to guarantee workers' purchasing power.

Organize the unorganized in Malaysia

5 June 2025 at 12:01

Following the enforcement of the amended Trade Union Act on 15 September 2024, IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in Malaysia signed a landmark memorandum of agreement (MOA) on 5 June 2025 to strengthen cooperation and solidarity in building stronger, more effective unions nationwide.

Strategic push for gender equality at IndustriALL’s 4th Congress

5 June 2025 at 11:56

IndustriALL’s Women’s Committee met online on 26–27 May to start preparations for IndustriALL women’s conference and Congress in Sydney in November. It provided an opportunity to assess progress and evaluate systemic challenges.

Unions in Asia Pacific call for greater unity and solidarity

28 May 2025 at 08:17

More than 50 trade unionists from Asia-Pacific met for the regional executive committee on 9 May to review progress being made on the way to IndustriALL’s 4th Congress in Sydney, Australia, in November.

Health, safety, and Just Transition top the agenda at MENA oil and gas trade union meeting

27 May 2025 at 15:58

On 27-29 April, the IndustriALL Global Union MENA oil and gas union network met in Istanbul, Türkiye, with the participation of unions from Iraq, Bahrain, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Palestine and Türkiye.

Tunisia’s Parliament approves disputed labour law

27 May 2025 at 10:46

On 21 May, Tunisia’s Parliament passed a new law regulating employment contracts and restricting subcontracting. The law, referred to as the “subcontracting law,” introduces penalties, including potential imprisonment, for those hiring through outsourcing arrangements. It also replaces fixed-term contracts with open-ended ones, while allowing some exceptions. The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) reveals numerous shortcomings and loopholes in the new text and warns of repercussions on workers.

South Africa: Women miners stripped naked at Kopanang gold mine

22 May 2025 at 17:32

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is condemning the dehumanising body searches that women miners are being subjected to daily at Kopanang gold mine - about 170 km southeast of Johannesburg.

IndustriALL leadership reaffirms solidarity with Pakistani workers

12 May 2025 at 16:16

Workers’ rights are under severe attack in Pakistan as the country debates labour law reforms. Trade unions in the country have been vehemently opposing the proposed anti-worker changes to labour law and have held several joint protests across the country in this regard. During a visit to Pakistan in the first week of May, IndustriALL leadership extended solidarity and support to workers and unions for their relentless struggle to safeguard workers’ rights.

United struggle key to advancing workers’ rights

8 May 2025 at 17:30

Workers in Bangladesh face mounting challenges, from poverty wages and unsafe conditions to attacks on union rights. During a visit last week, IndustriALL leadership reaffirmed solidarity with workers, urging unions to stand united in the fight for living wages, safe workplaces, and the right to organize. As labour reforms and international standards are debated, the call for a worker-led push for justice is more urgent than ever.

5 reasons to join a union

8 May 2025 at 17:00

There’s never been a more important time to join a union. According to Oxfam, the richest 1 per cent of the global population now own 45.6 per cent of the world's wealth, while the poorest 50 per cent hold just 0.75 per cent. Trade unions fight for working people so they get a fairer share of profits, that in turn leads to a healthy economy and stable society. So what do they offer?

Unions in Latin America’s energy sector work towards a gender-sensitive just transition

8 May 2025 at 16:29

Eleven women union members from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and El Salvador attended a seminar in Colombia on how to ensure a gender-sensitive just transition for the energy sector, with attendees agreeing to implement action plans in their unions.

Indian unions call for increased fight against precarious work

5 May 2025 at 12:26

Last week, on 28 April, at IndustriALL’s India Council meeting, affiliated unions discussed challenges facing the trade union movement in the country, including the continued rise of precarious employment, the impending implementation of anti-worker labour laws and the exclusion of unions from national-level discussions on the energy transition.

Unionist brings worker voices to Namibian parliament

30 April 2025 at 15:18

One of the trade union leaders advancing workers’ rights as a member of Parliament (MP) in Namibia is Honourable Justina Jonas.

Indonesian unions launch OSH alarm centre

30 April 2025 at 09:26

In conjunction with the International workers’ memorial day (28 April), IndustriALL Indonesia council launched the first occupational safety and health (OSH) alarm centre in Jakarta.

The right to refuse unsafe work is still denied to too many

28 April 2025 at 10:02

The right to refuse unsafe work without fear of retaliation is enshrined in ILO Convention 155. Yet in some of the world’s most hazardous industries, like mining and shipbreaking, this right is still far from reality. This year on 28 April, the World day for safety and health at work, IndustriALL reaffirms that workers’ health and safety cannot be left in the hands of the employers – workers must be able to ensure their safety through joint health and safety committees, and by exercising the right to refuse work they know to be unsafe.

Legally binding Accord delivers safer workplaces

23 April 2025 at 15:10

24 April marks the anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, one of the deadliest industrial disasters in history. Over 1,100 workers, most of them women, lost their lives when the building housing several garment factories collapsed in 2013.

ICT and electronics unions debate the way forward in uncertain times

17 April 2025 at 16:10

The sector is going through turbulent times with growing global instability, technological disruption and increasing corporate consolidation. This was discussed by over 30 trade union representatives attending the online steering committee meeting of the ICT, electrical and electronics sector, organized by IndustriALL Global Union.

Building strong unions

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