Radio Labour:  International Labour Movement's Radio Service, Bringing Labour's Voices to the World

LabourStart Solidarity Campaigns

ITUC Global Rights Index

ILO Labor Standards

UNI to march in solidarity with CGIL after far-right attack

15 October 2021:   Trade unionists from across Europe and the world, including representatives from UNI Global Union, will descend on the streets of Rome Saturday, 16 October, to condemn the far-right attack on the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) headquarters and to send a message that the global labour movement will not be silenced.

"UNI Global Union is standing shoulder to shoulder with our CGIL brothers and sisters to reject this fascist act of terror and to defend democracy," said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. "An injury to one is an injury to all is a central tenet of our movement, and we are responding to this assault with a reinvigorated sense of unity, of solidarity and commitment to trade union values.

Last week, following an anti-vaxxer rally in Rome, members of far-right party Forza Nuova joined the unauthorized protest and marched to the union's offices, breaking windows and pushing their way into the union's building. Once inside, they caused further damage, including smashing computers.

UNI Europa's Regional Secretary Oliver Roethig quickly condemned the attack: "Whenever fascism raises its head, trade unions are one of the first targets, because the collective of workers are guarantors of democracy, freedom and justice. History will not repeat itself. 2021 is not 1922. We will not be intimidated. This attack only strengthens our determination to push back united and fight the enemies of democracy - in Italy, Europe and worldwide; at the workplace, in politics and in elections."

Across the Atlantic, UNI Americas' executive committee also issued a statement in supporting CGIL, and union activists the world over spoke out against the raid.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi denounced the incident as well: "Trade unions are a fundamental defence of democracy and workers' rights. Any intimidation against them is unacceptable and must be rejected with absolute firmness."

Source:  UNI Global Union--UNI represents more than 20 million workers from over 150 countries

Unions campaign for recognition at Chinese-owned textile and garment factories in Uganda

14 October, 2021:   After recruiting and organizing most of the workers in the Chinese-owned textile and garment factories in Mbalala Mukono, the Uganda Textile Garment Leather and Allied Workers Union (UTGLAWU) is shocked by the continued refusal by the employers to recognize the union, in violation of Uganda labour law.

The factory owners refuse to sign recognition agreements for purposes of collective bargaining as required by the law when a union organizes more than 50 per cent of workers in a factory. According to the IndustriALL Global Union National Coordinating Council of Uganda (INCCU), made up of IndustriALL affiliates in the country, the factories, which include Bode, Euro Vision, Fine Spinners, Jinguo, Sunbelt Textile Company, Tonyong, Unistar, and Wilima are ignoring letters from the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development instructing them to recognize UTGLAWU.

To push for recognition, the unions are conducting joint campaigns under the East Africa Union Building Project which is supported by the Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA) and the Norwegian Society of Graduate Technical and Scientific Professionals (TEKNA). The unions met with the labour ministry on 30 September to demand that the government enforces the labour regulations and for the Industrial Court to speed up the cases. Further, they are planning to meet with the Minister of State for Labour, Charles Okello Engola.

"We appreciate government efforts in coming out boldly to order the employers to recognize the union. Despite the challenges of Covid-19, the number of employers retrenching workers without informing the Ministry of Labour is increasing, yet they are getting stimulus packages from the government. Other employers are frustrating union efforts to collect dues from its members. "However, we are calling upon the government to organize a meeting with non-complying Chinese employers - some of whom claim not to understand English - to give them a chance to respond to our demands before we take court action. The employers must respect the union, and the fundamental and constitutional rights of the workers," wrote the unions in a statement.

Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa says: "Textile and garment factory owners in Uganda must recognize national and international labour standards by recognizing the union, and we support the campaign by Ugandan unions for the respect of trade union and workers' rights."

Unions that are participating in the campaign in support of UTGLAWU are the Uganda Printers, Paper, Polyfibre, and Allied Workers Union (UPPAWU), Uganda Chemical, Petroleum, and Allied Workers Union (UCPAWU), National Union of Clerical Commercial Professional and Technical Employees (NUCCPTE), and Uganda Hotel, Tourism, Supermarket and Allied Workers Union (HTS-U).

Currently the garment industry is dominated by small to medium scale enterprises. According to the country's National Development Plan III, Uganda aims to increase cotton production, domestic value addition, and to create over 50,000 new jobs along the cotton to clothes value chain.

Source:  IndustriALL Global Union--IndustriALL represents 50 million workers in 140 countries

Farmindustria union in Peru signs first collective bargaining agreement

13 October, 2021:   After a 30-day strike, workers at Farmaindustria-Abbott International in Peru signed their first collective bargaining agreement on 4 October, achieving economic and social benefits as well as major improvements in working conditions for all.

In the last meeting between the union and the company at the Department of Labour, the company committed to evaluate proposals for an agreement which would benefit workers and the strike was halted.

The collective bargaining agreement valid for two years was signed on 4 October. Although a wage increase was not directly included in the agreement, given that the company had already raised wages for the two years, workers attained other benefits. The company showed itself open to various items which benefit workers. The union's advisor Gilmer Ibáñez Melendrez, general secretary of FETRIMAP-CGTP, played a crucial role in reaching the agreement.

During the strike, the union was supported by unions affiliated to the Manufacturing and Related Services Workers Federation of Peru (FETRIMAP-CGTP), the General Workers Confederation of Peru (CGTP) and IndustriALL Global Union. FETRIMAP-CGTP unions carried out a fundraising campaign to cover the strikers' expenses. The union, which has 67 affiliates at the company with more than 1200 workers, thanked the 43 union branches of FETRIMAP, CGTP, IndustriALL Global Union and FNV for their support and solidarity.

FETRIMAP CGTP's secretary of economy and finance Julián Alfaro, said: "The effort of the workers of Farmindustria-Abbott has paid off. This is their first collective bargaining agreement, which improves their working conditions. I salute and congratulate the collective bargaining team, Gilmer Ibañez Melendrez and all the members of the union of Farmindustria workers for this achievement. Without a fight, there are no victories."

Source:  IndustriALL Global Union--IndustriALL represents 50 million workers in 140 countries

The attack on the CGIL in Italy is an assault on democracy

Education International condemns the assault by neo-fascist groups on the CGIL union headquarters

12 October 2021:   David Edwards, General Secretary of Education International, the global federation of teachers and education workers, expressed his outrage after the headquarters of the Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL), the largest union confederation in Italy, was ransacked by neo-fascists. The violence broke out on Saturday, October 9, during demonstrations opposing a "green pass" which requires employees to show proof of COVID vaccination, negative test, or recent recovery from the virus.

"As educators and unionists, we condemn the assault on the CGIL, and express our continued solidarity with our union sisters and brothers in Italy. This act of violence by avowed neo-fascists is a clear attack on democratic institutions, and an effort to intimidate those who stand in the way of extremism and authoritarianism," stated David Edwards, Secretary General of Education International. "We stand with our affiliate FLC-CGIL, and with all our member organisations in Italy and trade unions in the country as they continue to represent the voice of workers and work for an inclusive democracy," Edwards added.

Following the incident, twelve individuals, including top leaders of Forza Nuova, a small political party that describes itself as neo-fascist, were arrested in connection to the violence.

"The assault on CGIL's national headquarters is an act of fascist thuggery, an attack on democracy and on the world of work. No one should think that they can return our country to its fascist past," stated Maurizio Landini, General Secretary of the CGIL.

Press reports based on information from official sources indicate that those who perpetrated the violence in Rome are part of an extreme right group whose strategy and actions were inspired by the January 6 assault on the US Capitol in Washington DC. In both cases, there is evidence that social media driven by extremist groups was used to manipulate anger and dissatisfaction based on lies and distortions.

"When facts are debatable, then you don't have facts, you don't have truth and you can't have trust. Without all of these things then you don't have a shared reality, you can't have democracy." This quote by Maria Ressa, a friend of Education International and recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, illustrates the key role established, representative organizations such as unions have in safeguarding healthy democracies.

Just as journalists and a free press have a vital role in supporting democracy when it is fragile and under attack, so do teachers. The role of teachers is fundamental in cementing the values of democracy, developing competences such as listening, observation, critical thinking, free discussion, and active citizenship. These skills help young people separate facts from propaganda and serve as guiding principles for their actions as adults.

"The value of trade unions in building and maintaining democracy, as well as the irreplaceable role of journalists and educators must be understood and supported in order to prevent the type of violence and extremism which led to the attack on the union hall in Rome." Edwards concluded.

Education International will join the national antifascist demonstration organised on Saturday 16 October in Rome by all three major trade union confederations, the Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL), the Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori (CISL), and the Unione Italiana del Lavoro (UIL).

Source:  Education International--EI uniting 32.5 million members in 391 organizations in 170 countries and territories

Drivers' court action wins US$30 million in XPO misclassification settlement

12 Oct 2021:   XPO Logistics is to pay a group of drivers US$30 million after it wrongly classified them as contractor companies rather than employees. A California federal court has approved settlements by the firm after workers brought class actions. This type of misclassification is widely used by XPO but is illegal under Californian law.

"It is a triumph for these drivers," said Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). "It shows workers united can fight back against XPO"s brutal underhand cost-cutting tactics. It gives hope to XPO workers all round the world that they too can get a fair deal if they stand together."

Settlement will be paid to each of the 784 current and former California port drivers part of their class-action lawsuit victory. These allege that they were willfully misclassified, left unreimbursed for truck costs and received less than minimum wage. A California federal judge granted preliminary approval of two settlements, one between XPO Cartage and its drivers; the other between XPO Port Services and its drivers.

Union network tackles XPO

Such is the scale of XPO's exploitation of workers that the Teamsters in the US and other affiliates of the ITF created the XPO Global Union Network. Its reports expose the scale of XPO's systematic mistreatment of employees around the world. It continues to fight for workers basic rights at XPO and its new spin off GXO.

"We commend these brave XPO drivers who fought hard to demand XPO pays them the money they are rightfully owed," said James P Hoffa, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and ITF Road Transport Section Chair. "This is more than a victory for XPO drivers in California - it's huge for workers around the world to see that by standing together, working people can take on enormous companies and win."

XPO has a shameful record on worker rights. In the US, XPO warehouse workers have been subject to pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment. In Europe, some drivers have been forced to live out of their trucks for months on end. Unethical contractual arrangements are widely used by XPO to reduce their costs at the expense of employee rights. These also tend to have devastating consequences for worker safety. The list goes on.

"All around the world, managers in companies like XPO are scratching their heads wondering why they have driver shortages," said Cotton. "The answer is obvious - it isn't a shortage of drivers, rather a shortage of decent work. It's clear from our perspective - give workers a fair deal, treat them like human beings, and suddenly, the pressures on your businesses disappear.

Source:  International Transport Workers Federation--ITF representing 20 million members from 150 countries

Pandora Papers Show Where The Funding for Decent Work and Public
Services is

OCT 07, 2021:   Today, on World Day for Decent Work, we remember all the workers who suffer from a lack of decent working conditions, and especially the overloaded and poorly paid health workers and those 225 million workers who lost their jobs to Covid-19 - the majority of them women.

We remember the workers still doomed to forced labour; all the public workers laid off because of austerity measures and who are still unemployed; the new generations of workers exploited by AI (Artificial Intelligence) and the new platform capitalism; and especially the overloaded and poorly paid health workers who witnessed the loss of so many lives because of governments' lack of preparedness and resources.

These conditions are usually credited to the economy and the functioning of the markets, such as the global financial and economic crisis of 2008, or to the Covid-19 pandemic lately - which according to an ILO report has caused the loss of 225 million full-time jobs, the majority of them by women. Whereas some are calling for a new social contract that tackles precarity and informality, more public investment, and strengthening occupational health and safety regulations, we also realize there are lots of resources stolen and hidden from the public view.

The recently published Pandora Papers, as well as the Panama and the Paradise papers before, reveal a complex system of hidden wealth, tax avoidance and, in some cases, money laundering by the ruling class all over the world.

The International Consortium for Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) estimates that between US$ 5.6 trillion to US$ 32 trillion are hidden in tax heavens, whereas the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said the use of tax havens costs governments worldwide up to US$ 600 billion in lost taxes each year!

It is not just a pandemic or an economic crisis that we are fighting, it is corruption and daylight robbery! These are resources that have been stolen from the public, which could have been used to alleviate or solve many of the problems that we have faced over all these years. At the same time, the disastrous consequences for public services produced by the same IMF and its commitment to austerity have been exposed by this pandemic.

Understaffing and lack of public investment have pushed frontline workers into dangerous and devastating situations, struggling to provide the vital care and quality services their communities need and deserve. To restore its credibility, it is time for the IMF to implement a deep institutional shift, away from austerity and towards policies which bolster our public services and support the workers who provide them. Ending with the public sector wage bill constraints would be a good start.

A joint report by PSI, ActionAid and Education International, to be launched on 12 October, exposes how IMF austerity cuts in just 15 countries have blocked recruitment of over 3 million nurses, teachers and other essential public sector workers. The report reveals the implementation of public sector wage bill cuts as both blunt and directionless, contradicting development goals and undermining the capacity of governments to respond to intersecting crises.

In short, on this World Day for Decent Work it is important to send a clear signal to the authorities for more transparency, fair and equitable policies, and more resources and ambition to tackle corruption at all levels.

Source:  Public Services International--PSI uniting more than 30 million workers in 154 countries

Excessive working hours plague film and TV industry worldwide, not just U.S.

6 October 2021:   As members of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), an affiliate of UNI Global Union, vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action against marathon workdays in the U.S. film and TV industry, a new study of unions representing over 150,000 behind-the-scenes workers around the world has revealed that inhumane working hours are a global problem.

UNI's Media and Entertainment sector (UNI MEI) has conducted a survey of 28 affiliate unions from 20 countries regarding working time, with initial results showing that crew from all surveyed countries work in excess of a 50-hour week and that 60-hour weeks are common. The impact of such long hours can be devastating for physical health, mental wellbeing and family life.

Given the prevalence of this issue globally and the influence the U.S. employers have internationally, unions around the world are seeing the IATSE effort to win a fair contract and humane hours linked closely to their own.

Speaking on news of the union's historic vote, which saw 98 per cent of members in the United States grant approval for a nationwide strike, IATSE International President, Matthew Loeb, said: "The members have spoken loud and clear. This vote is about the quality of life as well as the health and safety of those who work in the film and television industry. Our people have basic human needs like time for meal breaks, adequate sleep, and a weekend. For those at the bottom of the pay scale, they deserve nothing less than a living wage."

UNI MEI will soon be publishing full details from the survey, which gathered data on collective agreements, working hours and terms and conditions, in preparation for a global campaign to improve working hours.

Spencer MacDonald, National Secretary of BECTU, U.K., and Chair of UNI MEI's Global Film & TV Production Working Group said: "Crews in the USA, in the UK and around the world have worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring health and safety standards are raised. The pressure on workers is simply not sustainable. We need a global solution to a global problem: safe working time conditions on all productions!"

Kelly Wood, Director of Entertainment, Crew and Sport of MEAA, Australia and UNI MEI Vice President said: "We stand with IATSE in this fight for dignified working conditions and join in their demands for a fair deal that brings real change on working time. Too many behind-the-scenes workers around the world are deprived of sufficient breaks, rest and weekends. We will engage in a global campaign against the widespread practice of excessive working hours."

UNI Global Union General Secretary, Christy Hoffman, said: "Recurrent overtime and insufficient rest during and between workdays is not the exception but the rule, and production crew have said enough is enough. The huge support expressed by workers in favour of a strike authorization makes it very clear to multinational employers that it's time for change."

Noting that the same issues and employers permeate the industry worldwide, UNI MEI will soon convene a global gathering of media and entertainment unions to support IATSE members as well as to build an international approach to making the film and television industry sustainable and humane for crew members. We stand together.

Source:  UNI Global Union--UNI represents more than 20 million workers from over 150 countries

USA: Workers at Beneficial State Bank Ratified Their First Union Contract

Save workers lives and make occupational health and safety fundamental right

27 September, 2021:   According to the first joint WHO/ILO monitoring report, at least 1.9 million workers lose their lives every year due to the work-related diseases and injuries. However, when adding causes of death by risk factors not included and filling in information gaps from poor record-keeping to the data from 2000 - 2016, the number is closer to a staggering 3 million deaths.

Since the adoption of the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work in 2019 with a clear statement on "safe and healthy working conditions are fundamental to decent work", IndustriALL Global Union, together with ITUC and other global unions has been campaigning to get occupational health and safety recognised by the ILO as a fundamental principle and right at work. The current Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the necessity of urgent and long overdue steps by the ILO.

In November this year, the ILO Governing Body will decide on whether to include the matter in the agenda of the 2022 International Labour Conference. IndustriALL and other global unions are insisting that this needs to be done by amending the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, as this would be the easiest and fastest way to include occupational health and safety in the ILO's framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.

Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary, says: "The joint global WHO/ILO report discloses a reality we already know too well. All the killings of workers are preventable - enough is enough. This carnage must come to an end. We reiterate our strong demand to the ILO to make occupational health and safety a fundamental right, along with freedom of association, collective bargaining and others."

According to the WHO/ILO monitoring report, diseases account for more than 80 per cent of the deaths, while 19.3 per cent are attributable to injuries. A disproportionately large work-related burden of disease is observed in Africa, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific, among males and older age groups.

The occupational risk factor with the largest number of attributable deaths was the exposure to long working hours ( 55 hours per week), followed by occupational exposure to particulate matter, gases and fumes and occupational injuries. The health outcome with the largest work-related burden of deaths was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, followed by stroke and ischemic heart disease.

Source:  IndustriALL Global Union--IndustriALL represents 50 million workers in 140 countries

Hong Kong: ITUC affiliate HKCTU to disband

The ITUC is deeply saddened by the decision of the ITUC-affiliate the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) to commence the procedure to disband itself.

21-09-2021:   In recent months the HKCTU and its member organisations have faced unprecedented attacks, intimidation and allegations of offences under the national security law. The personal safety of union leaders has also been threatened. The HKCTU's decision is part of the process of the dismantling of civil society in Hong Kong since the enactment of the national security law in July last year.

UN human rights experts have stated that China's law on "Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" does not conform with international human rights treaties. The use of national security terminology in the law criminalises rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

A proud history

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said: "Since its foundation over 30 years ago, the HKCTU has made enormous contributions to improving life for people in Hong Kong through obtaining improvements in labour legislation, wages and social protection.

"It has stood shoulder to shoulder with working people in other countries facing repression. It now has no option but to disband itself, depriving workers of vital protections guaranteed in international law. "We condemn the prosecution and imprisonment of trade union leaders as well as the recent threats against Hong Kong trade unionists. The Chinese authorities have also alleged that the HKCTU's affiliation to the ITUC and its legitimate cooperation with unions from other countries involves collusion, even though international affiliation and cooperation are protected under ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association.

"It is deeply troubling that the ongoing campaign unleashed by Chinese state-owned media to label domestic and international trade unions, labour advocacy organisations and activists as foreign agents under article 43 of the national security law will force more trade unions and labour organisations to sever their links with their international counterparts."

Fundamental freedoms

Since August, the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists and the Hong Kong-based labour advocacy organisation, the Asia Monitor Resource Center, have decided to disband themselves.

The HKCTU General Secretary, Lee Cheuk Yan, who is serving prison sentences for taking part in public assemblies, faces fresh charges of inciting subversion in his capacity as the chair of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movements in China. The latter has been the leading organisation enshrining the principle of One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong where different opinions, diversities and fundamental freedoms should be respected.

In June this year, the ILO Conference Committee on the Application of Standards called on the authorities to take all necessary measures to further guarantee the right for workers' organisations to organize their activities in line with ILO Convention 87. The Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) of the ILO in June 2021 requested the Government to ensure that trade unionists are able to engage in their activities free of violence and intimidation and within the framework of a system that guarantees the effective respect of civil liberties.

The ITUC is calling on the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to cease prosecutions and intimidation of trade unionists and advocates for fundamental freedoms, and to release those who have been imprisoned.

"This year the authorities pledged at the ILO to respect the ILO standards applicable to Hong Kong, but that was an empty promise. The ITUC and the entire international trade union movement stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Hong Kong and we will continue to fight to ensure that their fundamental rights are respected," added Sharan Burrow.

Source:  International Trade Union Confederation--ITUC represents 207 million workers in 163 countries and territories and has 331 national affiliates