New global union IndustriALL to represent 50-million workers
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
Organization will represent workers in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors in 140 countries
Copenhagen—More than 1,200 unionists have descended on the capital of Denmark to form IndustriaALL Global Union, a body expected to represent 50-million workers from across the globe.
Set to be officially founded June 19, the new organization will bring together affiliates of the former International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF), International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) and International Textiles Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF).
The new union will represent workers in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors in 140 countries.
United Steelworkers (USW) national director Ken Neumann lauded the forming of IndustriALL as “a triumph for solidarity.”
“We know that global solidarity works,” Neumann said in a statement. “Workers win when we stand together against injustice in a global way.”
The new union will have the strength to take on multinational companies like Rio Tinto and Vale, according to Neumann’s statement.
The USW is an affiliate of both the IMF and ICEM.