Union density is key to a Just Transition and the protection of workers’ rights

Participants identified several concerns: job and income losses, the exclusion of unions from social dialogue processes, and the difficulty of organizing precarious workers. A strong consensus was reached, increasing union density and building union power are essential to tackling these issues and ensuring a truly Just Transition.

Without strong union presence, especially in energy and mining sectors, employers and governments often sideline trade unions from policy discussions. In many cases, so-called experts are invited in their place, even though it is workers in these sectors who are most directly impacted by transition policies.

"Union density is of paramount importance. Unity among workers and unions is essential to create a strong voice for Just Transition, one that cannot be ignored by governments and employers,"

said Kan Matsuzaki, IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary.

"For example, some nickel mines, key to the battery supply chain, still lack sufficient union representation. We must organize workers across the nickel and renewable energy sectors to secure a place at the negotiating table."

Participants stressed the need for trade unions to take an active role, both inside and outside formal policy frameworks. Examples include Australia’s Net Zero Economy Authority, Singapore’s Company Training Committees, and the Philippines’ Tripartite Council in Mining, all of which offer pathways for union participation through institutional mechanisms.

In Indonesia, a union succeeded in integrating Just Transition language into collective agreements with mining companies, following effective grassroots education among rank-and-file members. In Pakistan and Bangladesh, union leaders emphasized the need to address the structural causes of emissions linked to industrialization and called for mobilizing Global South unions to challenge inadequate policy solutions and raise public awareness.

Participants also highlighted contradictions in global climate efforts, pointing to increased coal production in China, India, and Indonesia, which collectively surpassed 9 billion tonnes in 2024, despite global commitments under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Concerns around artificial intelligence and automation were also raised. Philippine unions proposed including a "labour-saving device" clause in collective bargaining agreements to ensure workers are not displaced when new technologies are introduced. Just transition, they argued, must be used to build solidarity among unions and progressive allies, and revitalize the labour movement.

One IndustriALL affiliate in India successfully negotiated with a company to reskill workers and boost productivity, securing a reduction in working hours while maintaining jobs. Other Indian affiliates drew parallels with previous industrial revolutions, emphasizing that today’s challenges demand unified and strategic union responses.

The conference concluded with a call to action, highlighting key strategies for shaping a worker-led Just Transition:

1. Advocate for sustainable, worker-centred industrial policies
2. Develop and implement just transition frameworks
3. Ensure union participation in policy and decision-making
4. Strengthen regional, North-South and South-South trade union collaboration
5. Push for supportive policies and investment frameworks
6. Embed labour rights in trade agreements
7. Launch strategic organizing campaigns in renewable energy sectors
8. Mainstream gender and youth in Just Transition planning