Spanish unions lead workers in protest against austerity 19 September, 2012The mass demonstration of hundreds of thousands of people on 15 September, with workers lead by the industry sections of trade union federations CCOO and UGT, decried the “destruction” of Spain by the Mariano Rajoy government’s austerity measures that seek to cut 102 billion euros of social spending before 2014.
Workers must come first in proposed EADS and BAE merger19 September, 2012The recent announcement of a proposed merger between EADS and BAE Systems has been met with concern and questions from unions representing workers in both companies.
German brand KIK sourcing from Pakistan factory19 September, 2012The high price of cheap jeans was uncovered in Pakistan on 17 September, with confirmation that the low-cost German brand KIK sourced garments from Ali Enterprises, which burnt down killing almost 300 people.
IndustriAll Europe takes protest to FIAT’s door14 September, 2012IndustriALL Global Union’s sister organization, IndustriAll European Union, mobilized workers of the Italian auto giant FIAT in a 400-strong demonstration that blocked the company’s headquarters on 7 September. Demonstrators denounced the proposed restructuring of FIAT’s bus and truck maker IVECO that threatens over 1,000 jobs in Europe.
14 Vietnamese tailors die in fire in Russia13 September, 2012A fire at one of the clandestine sewing factories in Yegoryevsk, Russia took 14 lives of migrant workers of Vietnamese origin, four people survived, one hospitalized with burns.
IndustriALL Auto Group Meeting: laying out strategy for the sector13 September, 2012More than 60 delegates of the IndustriALL Automotive Working Group met in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, on 11-13 September. In an industry slowly recovering from the crisis, organizing, global framework agreements, precarious work, and trade union rights violations are key issues.
Gerdau Diaco Muña workers create Sintrametal committee at Sibaté plant13 September, 2012In response to the dismissal of almost 300 workers at the end of August from two of Brazilian multinational Gerdau’s Colombian steel plants, a group of workers at Muña has decided to get organised and link up with the Sintrametal metalworkers’ union.
Gerdau sacks a total of 270 workers at two of its plants in Colombia13 September, 2012Gerdau has dismissed 180 workers from its Tocancipá plant and 90 from its Muña plant. Sintrametal is calling on the government to support the country’s workers. The company has blamed the economic crisis for the dismissals.
Two workers die in explosion at Usiquímica 13 September, 2012The explosion of a tank of hydrofluoric acid has claimed two lives and injured ten workers in Guarulhos, Brazil. The cause of the explosion is still being investigated. The union is demanding that the guilty parties are punished.
Horror in Pakistan after 300 workers die13 September, 2012Over 300 workers were killed in devastating factory fires on 11 September 2012 at a garment factory in Karachi and a shoe factory in Lahore, Pakistan.