Benin unions agree to cooperate20 July, 2018Defending the right to strike, signing up more members, promoting participatory democracy, forming a women’s committee, and building solidarity among the unions are some of the commitments agreed upon at a recent meeting in Cotonou, Benin.
Bangladesh Accord arbitration cases - resulting in millions-of-dollars in settlements - officially closed18 July, 2018The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has announced that two landmark cases against multinational fashion brands brought under the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety have been officially closed. The tribunal hearing the case issued termination orders this week, and the cases were brought by global unions IndustriALL and UNI.
South Africa: Footwear strike for a living wage enters second week17 July, 2018Thousands of workers in the footwear sector are on strike for a second week demanding a wage increase of 9.5 per cent while the employers are offering 6.25 per cent.
Conference sets path for Asia-Pacific textile and garment sector 9 July, 2018Sixty-five representatives from IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in the textile, garment, shoes and leather industries (TGSL) gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 1 July for the IndustriALL Asia-Pacific regional sector conference.
Kenya: Union success in growing garment and textile sector22 June, 2018Global brands are increasingly eyeing Kenya to source their apparel as the garment and textile sector rebounds after many years of decline. The Tailors and Textile Workers Union is organizing workers and winning good agreements in this growing industry.
Inditex suppliers from India meet to pledge social dialogue 20 June, 2018More than fifty Inditex textile and garment suppliers in India gathered in Bangalore and Delhi to ensure effective implementation of IndustriALL’s Global Framework Agreements (GFAs).
African unions condemn global trade in used clothes as it suffocates textile sector7 June, 2018African countries export cotton to Asia where it is spun into yarn and made into fabric from which garments are made and sold to big brands in Europe and the USA. Charity and thrift shops then buy the clothes after they have been worn and discarded. On the bottom of the consumption chain are African countries that import bales of the used clothes, and even underwear, for sale in the thriving informal markets common on the continent.
Ethiopia: Meeting stirs debate on living wages23 May, 2018A meeting on organizing the international supply chain in the textile and garment sector has kick-started much-needed debate on wages and been met with approval from unions.
MENA: Textile unions continue to progress in organizing and bargaining18 May, 2018IndustrtiALL Global Union‘s textile and garment affiliates from MENA region’s main producer countries Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco reported tangible progress in organizing and collective bargaining at a meeting at Tunisian capital, Tunis, on 3-4 May 2018. With renewed determination, affiliates developed further plans for important actions in the textile and garment supply chain.
South Africa: Zara accused of design theft29 April, 2018The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU), an affiliate of the IndustriALL Global Union, has condemned Zara’s fashion piracy after it emerged that the Spanish-based global brand produced designs with a strong similarity to a local designer’s collection.
