Trade unions want a developmental approach to business and human rights in Africa17 October, 2024In discussions at the 3rd African Business and Human Rights Forum, Nairobi, Kenya, 8-10 October, trade unions said a developmental approach to business and human rights that supported economic development and industrialization is necessary. They argued that this approach is needed because the continent continues to face challenges of poverty, inequality, unemployment, and climate change’s extreme weather events that include floods and droughts which are devastating communities.
Thai employer continues to violate workers’ rights under Swiss programme11 October, 2024A year after having first called on the Swiss government to exercise human rights due diligence at Absolute Assembly, IndustriALL Global Union is reiterating the call as labour rights are deteriorating, directly breaking the commitments made by the Swiss government. The company in Thailand manufactures e-buses for a programme supported by Switzerland under the Paris Climate Agreement.
Striking for rights at As Plastik in Türkiye10 October, 2024Workers at As Plastik in Türkiye went on strike nearly a month ago as negotiations for new collective agreement failed after five months of discussions. According to IndustriALL affiliate Petrol-İş, in addition to refusing to accept the union's demands, the company has dismissed 17 employees for their involvement in union activities, violating both Turkish and international labour laws.
One year of strike action for a fair agreement for Caterpillar Mexico workers10 October, 2024The National Independent Union of Industrial and Service Workers (SNITIS) has been on strike for a year at Caterpillar in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, seeking to obtain a fair collective bargaining agreement.
Unions push for stronger human rights protections in the base metals sector4 October, 2024Trade unions are intensifying efforts to ensure that human rights due diligence (HRDD) frameworks lead to meaningful improvements in workers' conditions within the base metals sector. At a workshop held in Prague on 3-4 October, IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll Europe gathered union representatives from around the globe to address the industry's notorious risks to workers' rights and safety. Supported by the European Commission, the event focused on how unions can actively shape HRDD processes and hold companies accountable.
Caterpillar global trade union network commits to support workers and demand change30 September, 2024The Caterpillar global trade union network met in Paris on 25 September to strengthen global solidarity among workers at the manufacturing giant. As Caterpillar continues to post staggering profits — more than US$ 9 billion in 2023 — workers around the world face stagnant wages, job insecurity and growing anti-union practices.
Palestine: Global unions file ILO complaint to recover wages of over 200,000 Palestinian workers in Israel27 September, 2024A complaint against the Israeli government for blatant violations of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Protection of Wages Convention has been filed by nine global trade unions, with members in over 160 countries representing 207 million workers. The complaint highlights the obligations of Israeli authorities to redress and remedy a range of abuses, including unpaid wages and withheld benefits for more than 200,000 Palestinian workers employed in Israel.
New centre for Tunisia’s women garment workers26 September, 2024A new women’s centre has opened in Tunis to support female workers in Tunisia’s textile and garment industry. Run under the auspices of Fédération Générale du Textile, de l'Habillement, Chaussure et Cuir - FGTHCC-UGTT and IndustriALL and sponsored by online retailer ASOS, the centre will support female workers around gender-based violence and health and safety, training and campaigning for women-related matters, especially ratifictaion of C190.
Unions in Asia-Pacific resolve to strengthen trade union networks25 September, 2024On 19 September, IndustriALL organized an Asia-Pacific MNC trade union network meeting with affiliated unions in the region’s chemical and pharmaceutical sector. This was followed by a trade union network meeting with BASF unions on 20 September. The network meetings were jointly organised by IndustriALL’s south Asia and southeast Asia offices, in Mumbai, India.
Making the textile and garment industry in MENA and Africa safer19 September, 2024Participants from unions representing textile and garment workers in Africa and MENA joined experts from the ILO, OECD, International Accord, as well as online brand ASOS for a conference on occupational health and safety in the textile and garment industry.
