Iran: 4,000 IRALCO workers on 50-day hunger strike18 September, 2025Around 4,000 workers at the Arak Aluminium Company (IRALCO) have been on a hunger strike for the past 50 days. The drastic action comes after the plant’s owner refused to engage in meaningful dialogue or address the workforce’s legitimate demands, leaving workers with no choice but to resort to this extreme form of protest.
“They called It release, but it was forced deportation” 18 September, 2025Gennady Fedynich (Hennadz Fiadynich in Belarusian transliteration), long-time leader of the independent Radio and Electronics Industry Workers’ Union (REP), was one of many Belarusian trade unionists imprisoned in the crackdown on free unions. Last week, he was unexpectedly taken from prison in Bobruisk, transported under guard to Minsk, and then deported to Lithuania along with other 52 political prisoners. Another prominent trade union leader, Alexander Yaroshuk, chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), was also among those released. Both the REP and the BKDP, like other democratic trade unions, were disbanded by the Belarusian authorities in July 2022.Gennady spoke to IndustriALL about how it happened, conditions inside prison and what lies ahead for the trade union movement in Belarus, and stressed his gratutude for the support from IndustriALL and affiliates during the long struggle for workers’ rights.
Tesla dispute becomes longest strike in modern Swedish history 18 September, 202527 October will mark the second anniversary of IF Metall’s strike against Tesla, making it the longest strike in Sweden in modern times. Following talks between IF Metall and Tesla’s Swedish management, with the involvement of the National Mediation Office, it is clear that the parties remain far apart in the ongoing dispute over collective agreements at Tesla’s facilities.
African trade unions push for HRDD in green minerals surge 17 September, 2025As Africa’s critical minerals power the global energy transition, trade unions are pressing for human rights due diligence (HRDD) to ensure that workers benefit from the continent’s rich mineral resources. At a conference in Accra, Ghana, on 2-3 September 2025, hosted by IndustriALL Global Union Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regional office, 90 delegates from 15 countries including trade union leaders, partners and other stakeholders gathered to align global HRDD standards with African realities.
South East Asian unions unite for worker safety17 September, 2025On 11 September 2025, eleven members of the occupational health and safety (OHS) ad hoc committee from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines convened in Phnom Penh to develop a roadmap for a comprehensive safety and health campaign for 2025–2026.
Birleşik Metal-İş fights rights violations at SAG Hidrolik16 September, 2025Workers at SAG Hidrolik in Hendek, Sakarya, are fighting for union recognition and fair treatment, despite ongoing intimidation from their employer.
Mental health, a common concern for the network of CMPC workers’ unions16 September, 2025Mental health emerged as a common concern during the recent online meeting of the CMPC workers’ unions network, which brought together union representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, along with Alejandro Valerio, IndustriALL deputy regional secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean and Tom Grinter, IndustriALL pulp and paper sector director.
Bangladesh’s shipbreaking yards remain danger zones15 September, 2025Despite the Hong Kong Convention’s entry into force earlier this year, serious workplace accidents continue to occur in Bangladesh’s shipbreaking yards, raising urgent concerns about the lack of real change on the ground.
IndustriALL women lead push for equality ahead of Congress10 September, 2025Preparations for IndustriALL women’s conference and November Congress in Sydney are well under way, which will be an assessment of work undertaken to promote gender equality and women’s rights.
YKK workers still denied rights in Türkiye10 September, 2025YKK workers in Türkiye are still fighting for their right to collective bargaining, as the company continues to deny recognition of their union.
