1 December, 2011The International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) signed a Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with Petróleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras, the world's third largest energy company.
1 December, 2011Hundreds of thousands of workers descended on the streets in Batam in the Indonesian Riau Islands province known for its free trade zone, demanding decent minimum wages. They were met with rubber bullets and tear gas.
1 December, 2011ICEM's Congress in Buenos Aires unanimously approves the creation of a new global union organization in June 2012. Senzeni Zokwana is re-elected President and Manfred Warda General Secretary.
7 December, 2011Delegates discuss and make proposals on precarious work, organizing women workers and priorities for the new international.
25 November, 2011Unions representing Philips workers decide to form a global network to work on labour issues in the company and its suppliers
23 November, 2011European metalworkers' unions call on all workers employed by ArcelorMittal and its subcontractors to take part in a European solidarity action on December 7 to protest against plant closures, restructuring plans and job cuts in Europe's leading steelmaker.
12 December, 2011IMF's British affiliate Unite has warned car maker BMW that it could face industrial action in 2012 unless it reverses plans to close its pension scheme to new starters and use a legal loop-hole to deny agency staff equal pay.
12 December, 2011National Executive Members of the National Engineering Workers Union (NEWU) and the Zimbabwe Metal Energy and Allied Workers Union (ZMEAWU) met in November 2011 to evaluate progress towards a merger and the level of cooperation that they have achieved.
9 December, 2011In a unanimous vote, IMF Central Committee decides to convene an extraordinary Congress in June 2012 to create a new global union for industrial workers.
