South East Asian unions turn online to defend workers’ rights12 May, 2020During social distancing and lockdowns, unions in South East Asia are using online platforms to address workers’ concerns over job insecurity and defend their rights.
Union supports deal for small enterprises in South Africa to manufacture 14 million masks18 May, 2020The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) supports a deal made by the National Bargaining Council for the Clothing Manufacturing Industry to register small, medium, and micro-enterprises (SMMEs). The deal provides capacity to make 14 million masks and will help thousands of small companies to survive during the pandemic.
BHP violates enterprise agreement to change shift system10 June, 2020Citing Covid-19 measures as an excuse, mining giant BHP Billiton has unilaterally changed the shift system at an Australian coal mine.
Workers protest unpaid wages and retrenchments at South African gold mines16 July, 202018 picketing workers were arrested in Orkney on 13 July for protesting non-payment of wages and retrenchments at Kopanang and Tau Lekoa gold mines, as well as West Gold Plant. They were charged for violating Covid-19 lockdown regulations and released after two days.
Covid-19 union solidarity from Canada to Madagascar22 July, 2020IndustriALL affiliates in Madagascar, Syndicalisme et Vie Sociétés (SVS) and Sendika Kristanina Malagasy (SEKRIMA) have partnered with the Canadian Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) to carry out joint campaigns to stop the spread of the coronavirus among vulnerable communities and assist in creating community resilience.
India’s safety crisis: industrial accidents during Covid-19 kill at least 757 July, 2020Since May, there has been more than 30 industrial accidents in India, killing at least 75 workers, injuring over a hundred. These numbers are based on reported incidents and the real number may be far higher.
BASF unions maintain unity against Covid-19 challenges13 October, 2020The IndustriALL trade union networks of BASF workers in Asia and Latin America are advancing towards stronger dialogue with the company. The world’s largest chemicals company, BASF, employs members of IndustriALL affiliated unions on all continents. While strong regional union structures are in place in Europe and the Americas, now the Asia-Pacific regional group is becoming equally mature, well-organized, and seeking an official relationship with regional management.
IndustriALL executive committee stands firm against repression23 April, 2021IndustriALL’s executive committee brought together hundreds of trade unionists online to discuss strategies, solutions and solidarity. Today’s meeting is the last one before IndustriALL’s third Congress in September, which will be entirely virtual.
Alcoa threatens to close US plant12 June, 2020Around 600 IAM members stand to lose their jobs by the end of July as Alcoa, the owner of the aluminium plant in Ferndale, Washington, US, has announced its closure.
Union busting at Sunstar Engineering in Thailand29 May, 2020Despite international pressure and action by global unions, workers’ rights are continuing to be violated in Thailand. Japanese automotive part manufacturer Sunstar Engineering has laid off union members, hiding behind the Covid-19 pandemic.
