10 January, 2012Mining giant Rio Tinto Alcan locked out union workers at its Alma smelter in Quebec from January 1, when the union contract expired.

2 February, 2012Belgian trade unions organized a general strike on January 30 and called on leaders attending the European Union Summit in Brussels to move away from austerity measures and start boosting growth and employment.

31 January, 2012Almost 90,000 people participated in the online Public Eye awards for the worst company 2012. The People's award went to Vale with 25,042 votes and British Barclays received the jury prize.

30 January, 2012"After three years of continuous crisis conditions in global labour markets and against the prospect of a further deterioration of economic activity, there is a backlog of global unemployment of 200 million," says ILO in its annual report, "Global Employment Trends 2012: Preventing a deeper jobs crisis".

9 February, 2012Finnish-German telecom equipment maker Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) said on February 7 a previously announced global restructuring plan would entail 2,900 job cuts in Germany and 1,200 in Finland.

9 February, 2012The Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers' Unions (JAW) meets with the independent union STUHM and the International Metalworkers' Federation in Mexico and reiterates its expectation for fair and free union elections at Honda Mexico consistent with ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

24 March, 2011Nokia announced it will begin talks in Finland on potential job cuts in late April; workers fear drastic cuts following the company's decision to change operating system.

24 March, 2011Bridgestone South Africa locks out workers at two production sites in Brits and Port Elizabeth. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) believe this is a declaration of war by Bridgestone in response to wage increases achieved by workers in September 2010.

16 March, 2011Under the umbrella of JTUC-RENGO, IMF-JC and other trade unions in Japan have set up a special account to receive donations for trade union members who have lost so much as a result of the 2011 Eastern Japan earthquake and tsunami.

22 February, 2011Opposition to the anti-union onslaught against public sector workers in Wisconsin, USA goes global, as unions from around the world protest Governor Scott Walker's plan to deny democracy and fundamental rights.