Leaders from unions representing Glencore workers around the world demonstrated outside and inside the company’s annual shareholders meeting in Zug, Switzerland on 2 May, demanding global dialogue to address serious concerns at the company’s operations.

General Electric workers on both sides of the Atlantic took action against the multinational conglomerate on 25 April, as the company prepares to slash thousands of jobs.

For 28 April, hundreds of trade union activists, works councils, shop stewards and workers staged protests at LafargeHolcim operations around the world. Protestors demanded that the cement multinational return to social dialogue and sign global labour agreement with strong provisions for occupational safety to prevent further waste of workers’ health and lives.

24 delegates from IndustriALL affiliates International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Steelworkers both from US and Canada met on 1 May in Washington D.C. to discuss and coordinate efforts to tackle developments and challenges faced by unions in the cement sector.

The need for solidarity to defend trade union rights and challenge violations in global supply chains underlined discussions at IndustriALL’s Executive Committee Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on 26 and 27 April. 

In a significant achievement, workers at so called re-rolling mills near Pakistan's Gadani ship-breaking yard have received union registration and are now formally recognised as a collecive bargaining agent.

WestRock trade union colleagues from US, Asia, Europe, Australia and Latin America, met on 20 April in London, UK. The meeting adopted a plan to establish a global alliance of all unions representing WestRock employees around the world.

This briefing details Glencore’s environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related risks – with a focus on labour-related risks – that have not been disclosed adequately by the company or well-covered by other sources, and encourages investors and other stakeholders to put specific questions to the company based on this information.

The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU), an affiliate of the IndustriALL Global Union, has condemned Zara’s fashion piracy after it emerged that the Spanish-based global brand produced designs with a strong similarity to a local designer’s collection.

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) is overjoyed after the Industrial Court in Mbabane, Swaziland - recently renamed eSwatini - confirmed on April 26 that the Swaziland Processing, Refining and Allied Workers Union and the Swaziland Manufacturing and Allied Workers Union merged to form the union.

In Geneva on 26-27 April 2018, the IndustriALL Global Union Executive Committee adopted a resolution reaffirming the importance of 28 April, known as the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, Workers' Memorial Day, or simply the Day of Mourning.

In Geneva on 26-27 April 2018, the IndustriALL Global Union Executive Committee adopted a resolution reaffirming the importance of 28 April, known as the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, Workers' Memorial Day, or simply the Day of Mourning.

Global unions and union leaders from more than 50 countries came together in Geneva today to stand in solidarity with former Brazilian President Lula, calling for his immediate release from jail and that he be allowed to run in the upcoming elections.

IndustriALL Global Union’s Women’s Committee met in Geneva on 25 April to discuss the goal of 40 per cent women’s representation and the campaign to stop violence against women in the workplace.

The Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights has been awarded to the independent trade unions of Kazakhstan represented by Larisa Kharkova, Nurbek Kushakbaev and Amin Eleusinov.

Hundreds of workers from IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), marched to Glencore's office in Johannesburg on 25 April, protesting against the mining giant’s workers’ and human rights abuses.

Six independent trade unions representing workers in automotive, auto parts, logistics, rubber and aerospace in Mexico will form an alliance to build democratic unions in the country and ensure workers have the right to join genuine unions of their choice.

Global Worker is back with stories from unions around the world fighting for an economic and social model that puts people first. This issue looks at how IndustriALL Global Union continues to challenge the power of multinational companies, while globally, anti-union behaviour by governments and employers becomes more prevalent.

After surviving a near-death experience in 2015, Glencore stocks are riding high on world markets: the company has just posted its best ever results. One reason is its dominance of supplies of cobalt, an essential mineral used in batteries for smart phones and electric cars. Cobalt prices are soaring, and Glencore controls supply through massive operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Travailleurs Unis des Mines, Métallurgies, Energie, Chimie et Industries Connexes (TUMEC), is committed to fighting for workers’ rights, better pay, improved health and safety, and to organizing women.