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.
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.
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 renews call for brands to leave Myanmar4 September, 2025IndustriALL is repeating its call on several brands including Bestseller, Next and Hunkemöller, to cease operations in Myanmar and immediately begin negotiations with IndustriALL on a responsible exit from a country under military rule where labour and human rights have been eradicated.
Russian strikes continue to cripple Ukraine’s mines and communities22 August, 2025IndustriALL Ukrainian affiliates report a dramatic escalation of attacks on workers and workplaces in recent months. In the first seven months of 2025, because of Russian aggression, 676 workers were injured in their workplaces and 146 workers were killed due to missile and artillery shelling of enterprise territories, airstrikes and FPV drone attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on industrial sites, production facilities and transport vehicles.
IndustriALL stands with UGTT against escalating attacks21 August, 2025IndustriALL Global Union is following with great concern the latest news about the ongoing attacks on the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT). IndustriALL strongly condemns the attacks carried out by some groups on the UGTT's headquarters and the public calls for the UGTT's dissolution.
Malaysia: union condemns dismissals at XSD International Paper20 August, 2025The Paper and Paper Products Manufacturing Employees Union (PPPMEU) is calling out XSD International Paper for union busting after dismissing 20 union activists.
Workers continue to fight after Next’s Sri Lanka factory closure 15 July, 2025In May, more than 1,400 workers were reportedly dismissed via a WhatsApp message when UK retailer Next closed its wholly owned factory in Sri Lanka without proper notice. Two months on, the affected workers and their union remain determined to challenge what they call an unlawful and irresponsible closure. Those who refused to sign resignation letters are now unemployed while their case is heard by the Department of Labour’s Employment Unit. Many face severe hardship during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, with some skipping meals daily.
