23 June, 2020IndustriALL’s Executive Committee approved the affiliation of eight new unions from Bahrain, El Salvador, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Switzerland and Zimbabwe, adding around 30,000 new members and one new country to the list of affiliated unions.
With key membership in shipbuilding and repair, metal and energy sectors, General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) is IndustriALL’s first affiliate from Bahrain. GFBTU organizes workers in a number of major companies, such as Aluminum Bahrain (Abla), Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard (ASRY).
Palestine General Union of Electricity & Energy is affiliated to the national center Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU). It was established in 2018 and organizes workers in the electricity sector.
FISMECA, the Ivorian Federation of Trade Unions of Mines, Metals, quarries, and Related activities has members in quarries, mines, cement, aluminium and metal.
AUTOBATE from Nigeria organizes senior staff workers in the auto industry. Members include administrative officers, supervisors, managers, and senior managers in auto companies such as TATA Africa Services, Boulos Enterprises, Mandilas Group Nigeria, Niger Dock Nigeria, Motor Parts Industry, Honda Manufacturing Nigeria, Steyr Motors, GALBA Nigeria, Plantgeria and Nigeria Ship Builder.
Registered in 2019, the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Workers Union (ZDMAWU) initially organized diamond workers, but the union has expanded the scope to include mining activities in chrome, gold, and platinum mines. These include Chiadzwa and Murowa diamond mines, mines owned by the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and Anglo American Platinum’s Unki mine, amongst others.
The All Pakistan WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union (APWHEWU) represents the majority of workers at the largest National Public Utility Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority and Electricity Distribution, Generation and Transmission Companies.
“We welcome the new unions that are joining our global family. This means a recognition of the importance of global solidarity. With more unions we can strengthen our global network and our capacity to defend workers’ rights,”
says IndustriALL general secretary Valter Sanches.