The Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW) has gained another victory in their fight for reinstatement of the 724 garment workers that were dismissed at Youli International in June, after a local union leader and a pregnant worker were reinstated on 21 September.

Unions at the four Volkswagen plants in Brazil have negotiated a collective agreement safeguarding jobs for five years, as well as setting out further investments and a voluntary layoff package.

Today is the 18th day of the underground protest by 149 Ukrainian miners of the Kryvyi Rih Ore Plant, and the protesters' health is deteriorating. A LabourStart campaign to support miners’ demands has been launched.

On 12 September, around 10,000 women marched on the streets of Minsk, demanding the departure of Lukashenko. Since the protests began in August, and despite violent repression, women’s peaceful marches and protests continue in Belarus.

Around 60 participants from IndustriALL Global Unions’ Sub-Saharan African affiliates attended a virtual think tank to discuss African industrialization during the Covid-19 pandemic and develop a concrete plan of action.

Trade union members on all continents are working together this month to promote health and safety in the pulp, paper, graphical and packaging industries, particularly emphasizing workers’ rights to participate in safety management on the job.

From 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020, at least 53 electricity workers were killed at work, and many suffered severe injuries disabling them for life. And the day before a national safety day to remember the dead and promote safety, another fatal accident occurred.

Textile and garment manufacturers want to use the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse to reduce wages and benefits of over 75 000 workers, but the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) is standing firm against the push back in the wage negotiations.

Taiwanese-owned FTM Garments is taking the Amalgamated Trade Unions of Swaziland (ATUSWA) to court over alleged loss of production for four days and damages to property following a picket two years ago. The union says the lawsuit is an attempt to weaken the union.

Unions in South East Asia are planning ahead for defending workers’ rights through struggle and advocacy, institutionalizing safety and health concerns in collective agreements, and building capacity for women and youth.

In a blow against working families already fighting the pandemic, the Cambodian government has announced that 2021’s minimum wage is to be set at US$192. Unions had demanded an increase of US$12.35 from today’s minimum wage of US$190.

A massive landslide killed 22 workers at the Ziarat marble mountain on 7 September, taking the total number of workers killed in Pakistani mines this year alone to at least 97.

In a series of meetings, IndustriALL’s South Asia affiliates described the devastating impact of Covid-19, health and safety challenges and renewed attacks on workers’ rights. Their response to overcome the crisis is universal social protection, defending workers’ rights and unity.

IndustriALL affiliate BGTLWF has reached an agreement with Tanzila textile and the BGMEA to reinstate12 workers who were fired for participating in union activities.

393 miners at four mines belonging to the Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Plant are protesting underground, demanding a wage increase, better working conditions, and pension preferences due to difficult working conditions. Other demands include an end to workplace safety assessment violations, and that management, which is driving the company into a crisis, is dismissed.

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Confederation des Travailleurs Secteurs et Prive (CTSP), is taking Fairy Textile to the industrial court for violating workers’ rights to health and safety and “gross negligence” after the death of a migrant worker who was denied sick leave.

Covid-19 has brought a lot of challenges for cement unions in South East Asia, including government attacks on workers’ rights, suspended trade union registrations, and increasing precarious employment conditions. 

Malaysia’s National Union of Employees in Companies Manufacturing Rubber Products (NUECMRP) is calling on multinational company Toyo Tyre Malaysia to respect the first secret ballot result and recognize them as a negotiating partner.

Last month, IndustriALL’s South Asia office organized two webinars with Indian affiliates to discuss anti-worker labour law reforms pursued by the Modi government, the impact of Covid -19, and rights and remedies for migrant workers.

Lizaveta Merliak, international secretary of Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU), an IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, was arrested in front of her house in Grodno on 30 August. Thanks to pressure from activists both inside and outside Belarus, she was released from custody but will face trial later.