Unions protest police brutality against trade unionists in Nigeria 16 November, 2023On 1 November, Joe Ajaero, Nigeria Labour Congress president, who is also the general secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, affiliated to IndustriALL, went to Imo State to meet workers and plan protests to curb wage theft after some workers have not been paid their wages for more than 20 months. During the meeting he was arrested by heavily armed police and taken into custody where he was blindfolded and beaten up.
Unions in Bangladesh demand revision of new minimum wage 16 November, 2023Minimum wage protests in Dhaka continue as workers’ demand of a higher minimum wage remains unmet. Police has been violently breaking down the protests and to date four workers have been killed and several others seriously injured. Police has registered over 60 criminal cases, in which nearly a hundred workers have been arrested, including six local union leaders.
FKMTU leader released on bail 15 November, 2023The general secretary of Federation of Korean Metalworkers' Trade Unions (FKMTU), Kim Jun-yeong, was released on bail from Gwangju prison on 3 November, after being arrested during a sit-in protest earlier this year. His next hearing will be on 20 November.
Czech unions protest against government measures 15 November, 2023Unions in the Czech Republic are getting ready to demonstrate on 27 November against proposed measures by the government which would reduce workers’ purchasing power.
Join the call to Make Amazon Pay! 13 November, 2023For this year’s Black Friday on 24 November, the biggest retail sales day in the United States as well as in other parts of the world, IndustriALL is again joining the global call from Uni Global Union and others to Make Amazon Pay.
Tesla conflict in Sweden escalates9 November, 2023As electric car manufacturer Tesla refused to engage in negotiations on a collective agreement, Swedish union IF Metall realised it’s strike warnings on 27 October. With opposition to Tesla’s anti-union attitude growing, other Swedish unions are taking solidarity action to protect the right to collective bargaining. Unions in Norway are set to join the protest.
Minimum wage protests continue in Bangladesh9 November, 2023Workers in Bangladesh continue to protest for a higher minimum wage in light of the inadequate increase that the government approved when it announced the new minimum wage as BDT12,500 (US$112) on 9 November.
Asia Pacific trade agreements must safeguard workers’ rights9 November, 2023IndustriALL Global Union Asia Pacific affiliates strategized actions to defend workers’ rights in free trade agreements, in a regional meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on 1 November.
Brands commit to long-term future and expansion of International Accord 6 November, 2023Global trade unions and fashion brands and retailers have reached agreement on a new International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry. The renegotiated contract secures the work of the Accord until the end of the decade, strengthens the complaint mechanism for workers and includes commitments for an expansion into other countries.
Employers attack the right to strike 6 November, 2023IndustriALL, together with the ITUC and other global unions, are strongly pushing back against the proposal from the employers’ group ahead of the International Labour Conference in June to include a standard-setting item on the right to strike on the agenda.