Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus: “Our languages haven’t died, they are asleep and we need to reawaken them”
About 200 participants at the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus discussed the many impacts of colonialism as it relates to education and exchanged ways in which to move forward in securing their full rights. Whether it’s Australia, the Philippines, Central America, South…
ESN holds General Assembly prior to World Congress
ESN holds General Assembly prior to World Congress The Education and Solidarity Network (ESN), of which Education International (EI) is a founding organisation, held its General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand on July 20. These organisations from all around the world,…
19 July pre-Congress events in pictures
19 July pre-Congress events in pictures 19 July has been a busy day with plenty of interesting events, debates and insights. Have a look at the pictures of the day on the Education International Flickr. Feel free to use them…
Global education unionists ready for EI Congress
Global education unionists ready for EI Congress Over 1400 people will come together in Bangkok, Thailand from the 19th to the 26th of July to take part in the 8th Education International World Congress. This event will bring together delegates…
CSFEF meeting underscores importance of Francophone trade union voices on climate change
CSFEF meeting underscores importance of Francophone trade union voices on climate change Trade union representatives of Francophone Affiliates of Education International (EI) gathered today at the Francophone Trade Union Committee for Education and Training (CSFEF) meeting to discuss ways how…
LGBTI Caucus examines victories & setbacks, mobilisation strategies to advance human rights
The first caucus in the runup to the Education International Congress focused on LGBTI rights and how to support them through alliances with like-minded groups towards a common discourse and goal. Educators from 151 countries are here with us at…
Union condemns plans to retrench 2,000 workers at ArcelorMittal South Africa
Steel producer, ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), which employs more than 8,500 workers, made the announcement on 10 July. AMSA then wrote to NUMSA, stating that it did not know how many workers will be affected, even though it had just made…
Global dialogue needed at Deere & Co and Caterpillar
Over 40 delegates from 10 countries convened for joint and individual IndustriALL Global Union meetings from 10 to 12 July to exchange experiences, improve dialogue and develop global solidarity. The first day was dedicated to the Deere & Co union…
Fiat Chrysler and CNHi must increase dialogue with unions
The annual FCA/CNHi global union network meeting on 8 and 9 July in Toronto, brought together 38 trade unionists in nine countries. FCA and CNHi’s 24 brands include Alfa Romeo, Case, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, New Holland and…
Bangladesh young unionists demand greater role
Some 38 young representatives from IndustriALL affiliates in Bangladesh, including 22 women, took part in the meeting, where participants called for appropriate trade union structures and financial resources to achieve their demands. Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL South Asia regional secretary, said:…
Textile and garment unions in South East Asia build networks
Sixty trade unionists from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam gathered in Yangon, Myanmar, on 4 and 5 July for IndustriALL’s regional textile, garment, shoes and leather (TGSL) meeting on organizing in supply chains. Cambodian affiliates condemned the…
Social dialogue key to better industrial relations in Ghana
A seminar in Accra on 3 July attended by 38 participants from the Public Utilities Workers Union, Timber and Wood Workers Union, Ghana Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union, Ghana Mine Workers Union, and Industrial and Commercial Workers Union, affiliated…
We don’t support low wages says Ethiopian labour minister
“We support living wages, not low wages. We are not for cheap labour,” said Dr Ergogie Tesfaye, the Ethiopian Minister of Labour and Social Affairs at the programme launch of the ILO’s Advancing Decent Work and Inclusive Industrialization Programme on 3 July…
Court of appeal decision threatens right to strike in Belgium
Bruno Verlaeckt, president of the Antwerp branch of IndustriALL Global Union’s Belgian affiliate, La Centrale Générale – ABVV-FGTB, was found guilty of “malicious obstruction of traffic” after his union blocked roads to the port of Antwerp in a protest in…
AB InBev Sonepat India workers mark 500 days of struggle for rights and recognition
On July 7, union members, family and community supporters marked 500 days of the struggle for rights and recognition at AB InBev’s Budweiser plant in Sonepat, India. The Haryana Breweries Limited Mazdoor Union (HBLM) and the 4 union committee members…
Court confirms #TheCargill14 were fired for forming a union
A local Turkish court determined on July 10, 2019 that workers at Cargill’s Bursa-Orhangazi factory were dismissed in April 2018 solely as a consequence of their union activity. The expert report, which informed the court’s decision, confirmed that the company’s…
Victory at ExxonMobil in Australia after two-year picket
The David versus Goliath victory against the world’s sixth biggest company, ExxonMobil, by workers who refused to give in, has had a nation-wide impact. The union campaign exposed billions of dollars of tax evasion by the energy giant and played…
Bridgestone global network builds on longstanding health and safety effort
On 11-12 June, 2019, the IndustriALL Bridgestone Global Network Steering Committee met for its 18th annual activity, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Following the group’s protocol, the body is chaired by the Japanese Rubber Workers’ Union Confederation, Gomu Rengo, an important…
Nestlé sales force workers across Russia confined to rooms and compelled to resign employment
Food giant Nestlé increasingly promotes itself as a ‘wellness’ company’. The current state of respect for the rights of its employees however, is anything but well. On May 14 all Nestlé Russia sales force employees – some 300 workers –…
IndustriALL signs quality of working life agreement with Renault
The global agreement, signed in Paris today, takes into considertion the evolution of the world of work, from an economic, technological and social point of view, and covers Renault employees globally. The global agreement – “Building the world of work…
educators warn of slow progress at first major review of SDG 4
Today EI joins governments and other stakeholders at the United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York to review progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4. Four years after the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, this is the…
Mass protests demand freedom for imprisoned union leader at BMI seafood Indonesia
IUF affiliates continue their daily protests demanding the release from prison of Reni Desmiria, secretary of the SPBMI union of workers at seafood processor Bumi Menara Internusa (BMI) in Lampung, Indonesia. On July 4, IUF unions affiliated to the independent…
Solidarity with Hong Kong education unionists’ protest actions
Solidarity with Hong Kong education unionists’ protest actions Education International firmly supports its affiliates in Hong Kong and Taiwan who are protesting against the legislative change which would facilitate extradition to mainland China. The Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union (PTU),…
Germany: NGG mobilizing against employer push for longer, ‘flexible’ hours in the hospitality sector
The German Food and Allied Workers Union NGG is mobilizing to defeat employer efforts to extend working time in the hospitality sector. The employer association is pushing for changes to the law which would extend the legal working day to…
Myanmar unions call on brands to join ACT in fight for living wage
The call was made at a living wage strategy meeting in Yangon on 2-3 July. The unions said that working families could not make ends meet with the new minimum wage of 4,800 Kyat (US $3.60) announced by the government…
teacher unionists stand with striking education support workers
Korea: teacher unionists stand in solidarity with striking education support workers On 3 July, over 60,000 education support workers went on a 3-day strike in South Korea to request improved working conditions and job security. Although the newly-established government in…
Base metals unions determined to stay united against challenges
Hosted by the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), the meeting took place at a time when the global steel capacity exceeds production by 426 million tons, with more capacity coming online. According to the OECD, “the global steel industry could face…
Australian unions committed to campaign against BHP
The commitment was made in a strategic campaign meeting organized by IndustriALL in Sydney, Australia on June 8, 2019 with the participation of representatives from CFMEU Mining & Energy Division, Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and Electrical Trades Union of Australia….
Indonesian unions fight for health and safety at work
Only 20 out of the 190 ILO conventions have been ratified by the Indonesian government. More seriously, only ten out of the 177 technical conventions have been ratified. Two important ILO Instruments related to occupational health and safety, like the…
Mining unions work together to organize in Tanzania
Improved communications, worker education, participating in union activities, and maintaining workers’ unity also strengthen organizing. A workshop organized by IndustriALL Global Union Sub Saharan Africa region and IndustriALL affiliates, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), South Africa and Tanzania Mines…