Read this article in:
English
25 September, 2024On 19 September, IndustriALL organized an Asia-Pacific MNC trade union network meeting with affiliated unions in the region’s chemical and pharmaceutical sector. This was followed by a trade union network meeting with BASF unions on 20 September. The network meetings were jointly organised by IndustriALL’s south Asia and southeast Asia offices, in Mumbai, India.
The Asia-Pacific (AP) region represents more than 45 per cent of the global chemical manufacturing and around 70 per cent of global jobs in the chemical industry. IndustriALL’s sector director for chemical and pharmaceutical, Tom Grinter, highlighted that while the sector is expected to grow significantly, the industry may not necessarily translate into well-paying jobs as companies continue to engage in cost competition, thereby setting global minimum standards.
The aim of TU network meetings is to strengthen workers’ struggle in the face of growing challenges posed by global capital.
“TU networks play a crucial role in strengthening union power as well as creating a united front to negotiate with multinational companies. Networks provide a platform to unions to launch joint campaigns, share information and build solidarity,”
said IndustriALL assistant general secretary Christina Olivier.
Union leaders from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Philippines talked about working conditions, quality of jobs, effects of digitalization on the workforce, and collective bargaining agreements in their respective plants and countries. During the meeting, a number of common issues emerged, like the increase in precarious employment, dangerous working conditions, stagnant real wages, harassment and violence against women in the workplace, lack of social protection, including maternity benefits, particularly for contract workers, anti-worker labour laws and government policies, and threats posed by company management to workers’ right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Julia Berg, from IndustriALL’s german affiliate IGBCE, discussed the new German law, as well as the European directive on human rights due diligence. She emphasized that these legislative tools can be used by unions to ensure better working conditions in MNCs and their supply chain.
Tom Grinter, also touched upon the digitalization that the industry is undergoing and its impact on jobs as well as workforce:
“As trade unions, we must ensure that the transition is not imposed on us. Unions have a right to information, education, training, privacy, and the right to be consulted at the local, regional, national, and international levels. We must assert this right.”
In the AP BASF trade union network meeting, union leaders from BASF plants in the region discussed the situation of workers and their unions countries. The network’s regional coordinator, Raghuram, spoke in detail about the useful exchange of information that transpires within the TU network and its significance.
Union leaders from the BASF North America and Latin America TU networks sent solidarity messages to unionists in the AP region, expressing their support to union struggles and the working class movement in the region. Trade unionists from BASF plants in Germany and Turkey also shared about working conditions and workers’ struggles and victories in their respective plants. The BASF management representatives, Nalini Nutan, BASF human resources head in India and Raju Naik, site-head of the Turbhe plant, joined for a session of dialogue and exchange. Unionists shared best practices from other BASF plants outside of India with the management.
While laying out the way forward, union leaders resolved to build a stronger regional network to share knowledge and resources, and unitedly fight against global capital. Union leaders also committed to work towards making unions more inclusive with more women and young workers in both membership and leadership roles.