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3 December, 2024Trade unions and experts unite to demand social dialogue and improved worker protection at Heidelberg Materials.
Global trade union leaders, activists, and experts met on 18–19 October to develop a comprehensive action plan advocating for social dialogue with Heidelberg Materials. The event, organised by IndustriALL Global Union, Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI), and the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers (EFBWW), took place in response to ongoing challenges faced by workers at the company.
The meeting followed the recent adoption of conclusions by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote decent work and a just transition within the building materials sector, including cement production.
While many multinational enterprises participated in the ILO's tripartite technical meeting in Geneva, Heidelberg Materials notably did not engage. The ILO’s recommendations call for collaboration between employers and workers to ensure just transition plans are integrated at both sectoral and company levels.
Research by Gerard Rijk of Profundo highlighted concerning trends at Heidelberg Materials. The company's labour costs have decreased as a percentage of revenues, while shareholder payments have increased. Between 2020 and 2023, profits rose by 2.1 per cent largely benefiting shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. Meanwhile, full-time employment opportunities have declined, with a growing reliance on subcontracting and process automation.
Dr Sigurt Vitols, a research associate at the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), emphasised the legal and ethical obligations facing Heidelberg Materials under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), effective from 2024. He pointed out gaps in the company’s sustainability reporting, particularly around collective bargaining coverage, living wages, and occupational health and safety (OHS). These omissions could expose the company to legal risks as auditors begin scrutinising its disclosures.Worker concerns and organizational failures
Delegates at the meeting outlined pressing issues at Heidelberg Materials, including:
- Lack of consultation with unions on divestments and restructuring
- Gender inequality, including unequal parental leave
- Severe health and safety risks, exacerbated by poor working conditions at sites like the Couvrot plant in France
- Temporary and precarious employment along the supply chain, with insufficient collective bargaining coverage
Workers also criticized the company’s approach to climate initiatives, which they argue prioritises shareholder value over workforce wellbeing.
Heidelberg Materials’ low-carbon transition plans lack input from trade unions and fail to provide adequate protections or reskilling opportunities for employees.
“The challenges of the green and digital transition need a strong and serious social dialogue. Workers will be faced with critical changes and they have to be involved in the transformation process from the beginning. A just and fair transition is key to establish a sustainable cement industry,”
said Tom Deleu, EFBWW general secretary.
Union representatives reiterated the need for participatory approaches to technological changes, grounded in social dialogue and employment protections.
"Heidelberg Materials is introducing new technologies to address CO2 emissions without consulting unions, creating health and safety risks,"
said Ambet Yuson, general secretary of BWI.
"We will make sure that the shareholders of Heidelberg Materials hear the story of the workers and the number of unresolved issues. Since the management is not willing to listen to us, we must take this campaign for social dialogue to the next level."
The network plans to escalate its campaign, calling for:
- Respect for human rights and adherence to ILO core labour standards
- Development of a global social dialogue framework
- Commitments to just transition and environmental protection
As the company faces mounting pressure to align with global sustainability and labour standards, union leaders are determined to hold Heidelberg Materials accountable. Their demands will be formally presented to the company's CEO and shareholders in the coming months.
The campaign underscores a critical message: the transition to sustainability in the building materials sector must include workers, ensuring they are protected, reskilled, and valued in the process of industry transformation.
Atle Høie, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, said:
“While progress at the recent ILO technical meeting is commendable, companies face mounting challenges with CO2 targets and technological shifts. Industry 4.0 and AI add pressure, with closures looming where investments lag, as seen in Europe and India. Workers are put at risk and must have a place at the table.
“Stronger engagement from national and local unions is crucial and must be combined with international solidarity . By acting together and securing timely information, we can effectively pressure companies and secure a better future for workers.”