From plantation to factory floor: rubber and tire unions unite in Bangkok21 October, 2026Rubber and tire unions from eight countries met in Bangkok, Thailand, on 19 and 20 October 2026 to take on the struggles they share. They sang, called out their union slogans and pledged to stand by colleagues fighting for their rights in Indonesia.
IndustriALL women’s committee sets pay equity priorities21 October, 2026IndustriALL’s women’s committee met online on 15–16 October 2026 to identify priorities for a future pay equity policy. Around 50 women trade unionists from all regions participated.
Canada: Saint-Gobain workers small but mighty in pension strike20 October, 2026Forty-two Unifor Local 12 members at Saint-Gobain’s sandpaper factory in Plattsville, Canada, have been on strike since 24 July over pensions. Workers say the company has not moved from its offer.
Women from South Asia plan for more power and influence20 October, 2026Women trade unionists across South Asia are demanding equal opportunities to lead and influence decision-making. At recent women’s committee meetings in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, women union leaders and activists analysed the barriers they face and developed strategies to strengthen women’s power within trade unions.
Union networks take due diligence to the bargaining table19 October, 2026Union networks at Pou Chen, Crystal and Coats are using their cross-border links to write human rights due diligence into collective agreements. This gives workers in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia a common route to enforce their rights across the same multinational employer.
Sri Lanka: organizing despite union busting16 October, 2026Low wages force many white-collar workers to rely on overtime. Digitalization and AI are increasing the pace of work and workloads, but not wages. Workers are increasingly monitored electronically and by CCTV. CMU does not yet see AI causing large-scale job losses, but fewer new jobs are being created.
Investors urged to push brands to sign ACT-Cambodia agreements16 October, 2026Investors must press brands to sign the ACT-Cambodia agreements if garment workers are to make progress towards living wages, Cambodian union leader Yot Seang told PRI in Person in Amsterdam this week. The binding agreements are a proven alternative to failed social auditing and more brands must join to ensure more workers are covered.
Ukrainian parliament adopts health and safety law despite union warnings14 October, 2026The Ukrainian parliament adopted the law “On Safety and Health of Employees at Work” on 12 October. Fourteen Ukrainian industrial trade unions had warned that it could weaken existing workplace protections and undermine trade union rights.
Unions at BASF push for global dialogue14 October, 2026Unions representing BASF workers in Asia, Europe and Latin America met in Kuantan, Malaysia, on 10 October. Restructuring and job cuts are hitting workers from Germany to Argentina, and the unions recommited to their joint position seeking global recognition and dialogue with the company.
Adidas shirts made for about US$1 an hour13 October, 2026Workers making official Adidas shirts for some of Europe’s biggest football clubs earn a basic wage of about US$1 an hour and work in temperatures above 35°C, a BBC Sport investigation has found. Adidas is refusing to sign an agreement that would let Cambodian garment workers bargain for higher wages and protection from heat stress and harassment.
