Chattanooga’s 97 per cent victory: How workers won dignity and power25 March, 2026When workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga voted by 97 per cent to ratify their first union contract, it was more than a historic number. It was a declaration of dignity.
US tariffs trigger gendered supply chain shock on Lesotho garment industries4 March, 2026The US imposition of steep tariffs on imports from Lesotho, announced by President Donald Trump in April 2025 as part of his "reciprocal" trade policy, has triggered a severe crisis for Lesotho garment workers — devastating the mountain kingdom's textile sector, its largest private employer and a lifeline for tens of thousands of women, leaving them without income, hours or prospects.
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.
UAW-Volkswagen deal marks historic breakthrough6 February, 2026In a landmark moment for workers’ rights in the US South, the United Automobile Workers (UAW) and Volkswagen have reached a tentative contract agreement at the company’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The deal marks the culmination of nearly two years of sustained organizing and collective bargaining since employees there voted overwhelmingly to join the UAW in April 2024.
Collective agreements at Renault Morocco16 December, 2025Last week, Renault Morocco signed three collective agreements in Casablanca and Tangier with the unions affiliated to IndustriALL -Syndicat Nationale des Industries de la Métallurgie et Electromécanique - SNIME-CDT La Confédération démocratique du travail (CDT) and Fédération Nationale de la Métallurgie et des Industries Synthétiques Métallurgiques et Electroniques - FNMISME - UMT Union marocaine du travail (UMT).
Mass dismissals in Argentina’s industrial sector16 December, 2025Manufacturing in Argentina continues to be severely affected by the economic crisis generated by Javier Milei’s government. Falling sales and increased imports have led to heavy job losses in the country. Recent weeks have seen the trend continue, with several manufacturing plants announcing large-scale redundancies due to closures or production downsizing.
NUMSA signs wage deal, calls for policy response to protect auto sector21 November, 2025On 14 November, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union and the country’s largest manufacturing union, concluded a three-year wage settlement with the Automobile Manufacturers Employers’ Organisation (AMEO), averting a strike that had loomed after months of deadlock.
Le NUMSA signe un accord salarial et appelle à une réaction politique pour protéger le secteur automobile21 November, 2025Ce 14 novembre, le Syndicat national des métallurgistes d’Afrique du Sud (NUMSA), affilié à IndustriALL et plus grand syndicat du secteur manufacturier du pays, a conclu un accord salarial de trois ans avec l’Organisation des employeurs de l’industrie automobile (AMEO), écartant ainsi une grève qui semblait inévitable après des mois d’impasse.
Tesla dispute becomes longest strike in modern Swedish history18 September, 202527 October will mark the second anniversary of IF Metall’s strike against Tesla, making it the longest strike in Sweden in modern times. Following talks between IF Metall and Tesla’s Swedish management, with the involvement of the National Mediation Office, it is clear that the parties remain far apart in the ongoing dispute over collective agreements at Tesla’s facilities.
Kenyan court halts Springtech’s unfair dismissals21 July, 2025In a ruling delivered on 11 July and welcomed by trade unions, the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Mombasa barred Springtech Kenya Limited—a manufacturing firm—from terminating workers' contracts for joining a union.
