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.
Safety lapses in Pakistan’s mines continue to claim workers’ lives 5 November, 2024The situation in Pakistan’s mine is still deplorable. In the last week of October, at least five workers were killed owing to safety lapses in the mining areas of Balochistan.
Union training for Tunisia's mine workers7 October, 2024Earlier this year, IndustriALL, togther with Tunisia’s trade union confederation UGTT and our mining affiliate Fédération Générale des Mineurs Tunisiens – GTUM-UGTT, launched a training programme for mining unions. The programme aims to train grassroot trade unions, with plans train around 200 unionists in different regions in Tunisia.
Iran: mine explosion kills 50 26 September, 2024One of the worst industrial accidents in Iran killed 50 mine workers and injured 16 more as methane gas exploded in a coal mine in Tabas, eastern Iran, on 22 September. The day before the explosion, workers informed management about the smell of methane gas in the tunnels, but they were still made to go to work.
Coal mine workers demand a just energy transition12 September, 2024100 miners a day face job cuts as industry winds down coal. IndustriALL Global Union’s coal mining affiliates are set to challenge the coal mining industry and policy makers on the lackluster response to the grave implication of the climate change imperative to transition to a low carbon energy economy on coal mineworkers ‘s jobs, local community livelihoods and heavily coal dependent economies.
Labour inspection exposes sexual exploitation at Dharm Cutting Works Botswana 12 September, 2024A scathing labour inspection report from the ministry of labour and social security condemned sexual exploitation by a general manager at Dharm Cutting Works Botswana – a diamond cutting and polishing company based in Gaborone.
Tanzanian unions engage on the national action plan on business and human rights11 July, 2024With Tanzania’s national action plan (NAP) on business and human rights at an advanced stage of formulation and expected to be finalized before the end of the year, 30 participants from trade unions, civil society organizations, and informal economy workers met in Dar es Salaam on 9-10 July to strategize on the demands that they want included.
Unions demand strong engagement in AngloAmerican restructuring 4 July, 2024Union leaders from the affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union in Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe representing workers at AngloAmerican operations worldwide met the company management on 26-27 June 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of the annual global dialogue.
Chile finally ratifies ILO C176 on mine safety 4 July, 2024After years of campaigning by IndustriALL and its affiliates, the government of Chile has ratified ILO Convention 176. Unions in the country welcome this important step towards a safer mining industry.
Another explosion at Indonesian nickel plant injures workers26 June, 2024An explosion at PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) on 13 June left two workers with burns. It is the second explosion in six months at the same factory - the first killed 21 workers - and the union is calling for improved health and safety provisions.
