Martha Orozco makes history as first woman to join USO Colombia’s national executive committee4 February, 2026On 15 January, Martha Orozco became the first woman elected to the national executive committee in the 100-year history of the Unión Sindical Obrera (USO), an IndustriALL Global Union affiliate in Colombia. Martha participated in IndustriALL’s regional gender project from 2017 to 2020 and became a mentor in the mentoring project implemented with LO-Norway. She spoke with IndustriALL about her trade union journey and her new leadership role within the union.
Coal is dead, long live coal: strategies from Global South unions 1 April, 2025An online seminar on the future of coal on March 20 took place at a time when there is an intricate interplay of factors that include the opening of new coal mines, technological innovation, and geopolitical dynamics in the mining of coal. For countries in the Global South, coal accounts for about 70 per cent of energy generation capacity. Participants in the online seminar said Indonesia, and South Africa, get most of their energy from coal while Zimbabwe uses coal in its energy mix.
Campaigning Yazaki workers reach favourable agreement after company closes plants in Uruguay17 February, 2025Former employees at Yazaki Uruguay have reached a favourable agreement with the Japanese firm after it announced that it was closing its plants in the country. Following a long campaign, Yazaki has agreed to an additional payout for workers.
IndustriALL supports Argentine unions in the face of attacks by far-right president Milei22 January, 2024IndustriALL Global Union stands in solidarity with its Argentinean affiliates in their efforts to defend democracy and fundamental rights in the face of attacks by far-right President Javier Milei.
Latin American workers demonstrate the strength of the paper sector 7 November, 2023Over 80 pulp and paper workers from Latin America and the Caribbean recently met in Brazil to determine the next steps in the project run by IndustriALL and Belgian union federation ACV-CSC BIE, aimed at strengthening the sector’s union networks.
Hialpesa workers celebrate reinstatement of union leaders13 September, 2023Workers at the Hialpesa textile factory in Peru are celebrating the reinstatement of a number of dismissed union leaders – a major victory for the union after four years of struggle.
Peru-based Laboratorios SMA SAC signs first collective bargaining agreement with union25 August, 2023The national union of Laboratorios SMA SAC workers has signed its first collective bargaining agreement following a nationwide union campaign that received international backing. The new agreement provides for higher wages and other benefits.
Uruguay: unions campaign for shorter working hours15 August, 2023Manufacturing unions in Uruguay, including several IndustriALL affiliates, have launched a campaign for shorter working hours, with rallies, tripartite negotiations and a parliamentary bill.
Young trade union leaders strengthen union action through international exchange25 July, 2023From 17 to 21 July, 24 young trade union leaders from South America participated in the third trade union exchange program at IG Metall's training center in Sprockhövel, Germany. The exchange emphasized the importance of collective struggle for better working conditions and the development of action plans to strengthen trade union organizations.
Brazil enacts law to ensure equal pay for women and men18 July, 2023Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva has signed a law guaranteeing equal pay for women and men. This is a historic step for a country where women workers earn lower average wages than men, even when their levels of education, jobs and length of service are similar.
