Workers the last to know: KONE’s mega-deal with TK Elevator11 May, 2026On 29 April 2026 KONE Corporation and TKE announced that KONE and a consortium led by Advent and Cinven have entered into an agreement to combine KONE and TKE in a cash and share transaction, implying a total enterprise value for TKE of EUR 29.4 billion (US$34.6 billion). This deal was made without prior consultation of unions and workers’ representatives, denying them their legal consultation rights.
Concerns over trade union rights at Schindler operations in Türkiye24 April, 2026Serious concerns have emerged regarding respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining rights at Schindler Türkeli Elevator Industry Inc. in Türkiye, in the context of an ongoing union organizing process and collective bargaining negotiations.
Unions fight for Ekapa workers as mud rush mine faces liquidation22 April, 2026The Kimberley diamond mine where five miners died in a mud rush in February is now facing liquidation. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is challenging the process in court, arguing that workers who have already lost colleagues, and in many cases their wages, must not be abandoned.
Global unions call for a permanent and sustainable ceasefire in the Middle East13 April, 2026IndustriALL Global Union is joining fellow global union federations in calling for a permanent and sustainable ceasefire across the Middle East, as the region faces mounting humanitarian catastrophe, economic disruption and an escalating toll on workers and civilians. The joint statement, signed by eleven global union organizations representing over 200 million workers worldwide, demands an immediate end to military hostilities, the protection of migrant workers and seafarers, and a commitment to diplomacy as the only viable path to lasting peace.
BP locks out nearly 1,000 refinery workers in illegal labour dispute1 April, 2026Nearly 1,000 members of United Steelworkers (USW), an IndustriALL affiliate, have been illegally locked out of BP's Whiting, Indiana refinery in what the union is calling a flagrant act of unfair labour practice. IndustriALL and the USW have condemned the move and demand that the company return to the bargaining table immediately.
IndustriALL files ILO complaint against Malaysia over systemic union busting30 March, 2026IndustriALL Global Union has filed a formal complaint with the ILO committee on freedom of association (CFA) against the Federal Government of Malaysia, documenting a deeply alarming pattern of union busting across 12 companies in the electronics, semiconductor, aerospace, automotive and paper sectors.
Global union federations call for an immediate cease fire and an end to the military escalation in Iran and the Middle East4 March, 2026The undersigned Global Union Federations (GUFs) condemn the recent military attacks carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, including air strikes that have resulted in civilian deaths, injuries, and the destruction of critical public infrastructure — among them schools and medical facilities.
Korean court upholds union action against workplace facial recognition27 February, 2026On 27 January 2026, the Ulsan District Court cleared members of the Hyundai Heavy Industries branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) of property damage charges brought against them by Hyundai Heavy Industries after they removed facial recognition devices installed at their workplace.
Responsible exit is the only responsible choice in Myanmar’s war economy25 February, 2026Five years after the military coup, Myanmar is no longer a “high-risk sourcing destination.” It is a war economy. In this joint op-ed, Myanmar trade union leader in exile Khaing Zar and IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary Atle Høie set out why responsible exit is now the only responsible choice.
Deadly mud rush traps miners 800 metres underground24 February, 2026Trade unions affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union have called for a formal inquiry into the incident at Ekapa diamond mine in Kimberley, where five miners remain trapped underground following a severe mud rush. Rescue operations have been abandoned amid persistent flooding.
