Covid-1923 March, 2020In the past year, the pandemic brought on by Covid-19 has led to a public health, economic and employment crisis. Unions around the world have continued to defend workers' rights and promote social solidarity. This page provides updates of union responses to the crisis from around the world.
Peru’s government puts economic interests before miners’ safety23 March, 2020Even though Peru’s government has introduced a curfew and state of emergency, mineworkers still have to go to work without any virus-protection measures.
Tyre workers sent home as Covid-19 closes factories 20 March, 2020With major halts in auto production, the tyre industry is largely reducing work. Temporary plant closures are announced by market leading tyre companies who employ thousands of IndustriALL members.
Sintracarbón announces possible strike action at Cerrejón Colombia20 March, 2020The national union of workers in the coal industry (Sintracarbón, which is affiliated to IndustriALL in Colombia) voted in favour of a strike at the multinational Cerrejón 50 days after failing to reach an agreement in the negotiations to renew the current collective agreement.
Union educates on COVID-19 as South Africa confirms more cases19 March, 2020IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU), is carrying out campaigns to educate workers about the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the textile, garment, leather and shoe factories, and other workplaces where the union organizes.
Union president fired in Serbia 19 March, 2020Local union president, Dalibor Antanasijević, has been harassed for his union work and subsequently dismissed from his job at auto supplier Magna Seating in Serbia.
Union picket breaks deadlock in Malaysia17 March, 2020A one-day picket of Electronics Industry Employees’ Union Northern Region (EIEUNR) forced Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn Bhd to return to the negotiation table to continue bargaining for a collective agreement. The employer had declared a deadlock in the negotiations on 25 February.
BP pricing arrangement causes job losses in Trinidad & Tobago17 March, 2020The Oilfields Workers of Trinidad and Tobago is calling on the multinational BP to renegotiate a new pricing formula agreed with state-owned energy company which is damaging the fragile island economy. Companies in the petrochemical and manufacturing sector are struggling to cope with the sharp increase in price, and this has led to plant closures and job losses.
Indian Saint-Gobain worker dismissed for occupational illness17 March, 2020A former Saint-Gobain Crystals and Detectors worker in Bangalore, India, Jayaraj Mathangi, was fired for abstenteeism after developing severe health problems due to hazards he was exposed to at work.
Strengthening health and safety in Myanmar’s mines16 March, 2020Health and safety is a constant worry among miners in Myanmar. Mining Workers Federation of Myanmar (MWFM), the IndustriALL Global Union affiliate representing 7,500 miners in the country, is calling on the government and employers to improve health and safety, like ensuring emergency exits, clean drinking water and fire extinguishers at the worksites.
