South Africa: Mine responsibly and improve working conditions, recommends report30 July, 2018If public statements on working conditions by mining companies are to be believed, the demands by trade unions on health and safety, workers’ rights, and the ending of unethical labour practices would have been met.
BRICS unions discuss decent work and sustainable development31 July, 2018The BRICS Trade Union Forum (BTUF), an alliance of union federations from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is demanding a developmental and democratic model as an alternative to the dominant global financial institutions, especially the IMF and the World Bank.
South Africa: CEPPWAWU congress agrees on roadmap for union revival4 September, 2018For seven years, IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Chemicals, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union (CEPPWAWU) has been in a crisis. However, the convening of its 5th national congress is seen as an opportunity to mend the union.
Strengthening union organizing as Ethiopia industrializes12 August, 2018With more industrial parks being opened in Ethiopia as part of government’s industrialization strategies, unions are taking the opportunity to recruit, organize and build their capacity for effective collective bargaining.
African trade unions want mining companies to follow COVID-19 protocols25 March, 2020Mining unions in Sub Saharan Africa are calling for due diligence and adherence to health and safety standards, and national and supranational protocols to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). These calls come amidst national states of disasters and lockdowns in most countries.
Union busting at Shints garments in Ethiopia condemned30 July, 2020Over a number of years, management at Shints ETP Garments built cordial industrial relations with the union at the factory at Bole Lemi industrial park in Addis Ababa. Unfortunately, recent changes in management have seen the introduction of union busting tactics that are pushing back the gains.
We will not be silent on state-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe, say South African metalworkers24 September, 2020The banning of protests, abductions and torture of activists and students, arrests of journalists and the intimidation of trade unions are not issues that we will be silent about, says the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).
Covid-19 has made workers’ health and safety a priority in Mozambique18 August, 2020With the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of occupational health and safety has returned to the union priority list, and the role of health and safety reps is being re-emphasized.
Nigeria: Unions welcome new minimum wage8 November, 2018Unions are welcoming a new minimum wage of 30,000 Naira (US$83) recommended by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage as an important step towards living wages in Nigeria.
Lesotho union observes AIDS Day6 December, 2018One in six adults in Lesotho are living with HIV and AIDS according to UNAIDS. These include young women workers from the textile and garment sector, and unions are taking this up as part of their organizing.
