Sectors in Action

BWI to Heidelberg Materials-France: Stop endangering workers' safety

29 November 2024 08:59

The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) is once again protesting against the unacceptable working conditions and lack of social dialogue at the Calcia cement plant in Couvrot, France—one of Heidelberg Materials Group’s subsidiaries. The situation is intolerable and violates the company’s stated values.

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BWI Report: Concrete Solutions, Advancing a Just Transition in the Supply Chains of Building Materials Including Cement

30 October 2024 08:29

The Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) has issued a comprehensive new report titled “Concrete Solutions: Advancing a Just Transition in the Supply Chains of Building Materials Including Cement”, emphasising the urgent need for a just transition in the cement industry amidst far-reaching decarbonisation efforts.

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Glasgow: Unions and city leaders lead the charge for clean construction

06 September 2024 05:32

Unite the Union, in partnership with the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) and supported by the C40 Cities VISIBLE project, concluded a learning tour focused on modern methods of construction and workforce integration within the green economy on 2nd and 3rd September, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland.

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BWI and C40 renew agreement advancing clean construction and climate justice

06 September 2024 03:59

The Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on addressing the challenges posed by climate change in cities and to promote a just transition within the construction industry.

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BWI statement on Australian Federal Government’s Fair Work Amendment Bill 2024

19 August 2024 09:27

BWI notes with deep concern the proposed legislation concerning administration of BWI affiliate Construction and General Division -CFMEU introduced into the Australian Parliament by the Federal Government.

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BWI and IHRB chart future of green construction jobs

16 July 2024 02:43

The Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI), in collaboration with the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), has produced a policy brief on the prospects of green jobs in construction.

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France: Construction workers win expanded compensation covering heatwaves

11 July 2024 05:09

In a significant step towards enhancing workers’ health and safety, the French government has extended the compensation scheme for construction and public works (BTP) workers to include work stoppages due to heatwaves.

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Victory in Mauritius: Union secures new CBA in construction

22 April 2024 09:27

In a clear triumph for workers' rights, the BWI-affiliated Construction Workers’ Union of Mauritius (CMWEU) successfully negotiated a sectoral collective bargaining agreement applicable to workers in the construction sector.

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Report: Reconstructing Ukraine, Rebuilding people’s lives

22 April 2024 08:57

Warsaw, Poland - The BWI Conference on Reconstruction in Ukraine, held on April 9-10, 2024, convened stakeholders to address the daunting task of rebuilding Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country. Participants engaged in firsthand reflections on the invasion's onset and strategic discussions on the path forward.

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Building justice: BWI stands with workers fighting for fair wages in Philippine Railway project

18 April 2024 08:42

The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), particularly its Asia Pacific Regional Office, stands in solidarity with the 22 project-based workers of the Asian Development Bank -funded (ADB) Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP) who are protesting against Cadcor Builders and Trading Corporation for delayed wages.

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Nigeria: Workers go on strike over wage award non-implementation

01 February 2024 06:20

Construction workers in Nigeria, represented by the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) and the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA), staged a three-day strike over the non-implementation of wage awards in the industry.

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Montenegro: Trade union signs national CBA for construction

29 January 2024 08:24

The BWI-affiliated Trade Union of Construction and Building Materials of Montenegro (SGIGMCG) recently finalized an amended national collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Union of Employers of Montenegro (UPCG) last 23 January 2024.

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Heidelberg Materials Global Union Network: Striving to break limits for social transformation

14 December 2023 06:09

The Heidelberg Materials Global Union Network, comprising 20 activists and leaders from trade unions in 10 countries affiliated with the Building and Wood Worker’s International (BWI), IndustriALL Global Union, and the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), convened in Steinbach.

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Workplace accident kills 5 in Sweden

13 December 2023 04:05

Five individuals lost their lives in a tragic construction accident in Sweden when a construction lift collapsed on Monday.

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India: Unions seek safe rescue of tunnel workers, call for increased workplace health and safety

22 November 2023 10:53

In Uttarakhand, India, forty one (41) construction workers were trapped on 12 November when the Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel collapsed during construction by the Navayuga Engineering Construction Limited (NECL).

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Tanzania: BWI observes healthy union-management relationship in Twiga cement

10 October 2023 12:43

A delegation by the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) went to Tanzania on 14 until 17 August 2023 and visited the Twiga cement company in Dar es Salaam, which is part of the Heidelberg Materials’ group of companies.

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BWI to Heidelberg Materials' French subsidiary: Heed striking workers’ demands

02 October 2023 09:09

BWI is protesting the lack of social dialogue at the Calcia cement plant in Couvrot, France, one of the Heidelberg Materials group’s subsidiaries, as it continues to monitor a strike mounted by workers of the said plant on 6 September.

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BWI renews global framework agreement with Veidekke 

18 September 2023 02:44

BWI on 5 September renewed its global framework agreement (GFA) with Veidekke at a ceremony coinciding with the company's yearly national gathering of around 70 local union representatives.

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Philippines: Holcim workers threaten to go on strike over CBA deadlock, unfair labour practices

29 August 2023 08:29

On August 22, embattled Filipino cement workers in Davao, Philippines, issued a notice of strike (NOC) against Holcim for negotiating in bad faith the provisions of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and committing numerous other unfair labour practices.

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India: Union inks MoUs with construction and real estate developers

06 August 2023 16:18

The TKTMS, a BWI affiliate in Southern India, formalised its existing social dialogue with the Confederation of Indian Industry – Indian Green Building Council (CII – IGBC) and the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on 27 July 2023 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

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Reinstate the “Murphy 4!”-BWI

31 July 2023 12:04

The Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI), representing 12 million workers worldwide, expresses its full support and solidarity to the four Unite trade unionists who were dismissed from their jobs by Murphy International.

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Serbia: Construction union inks collective agreement with employers

25 April 2023 02:34

On 20 April, the Trade Union of Construction and Building Materials Industry Workers of Serbia, and the Sector for Construction, Building Materials, and Housing Industry of the Union of Employers of Serbia signed a nationwide special (branch) collective agreement covering workers in Serbia’s construction and building materials industry.

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Sweden: Byggnads starts new CBA negotiations

21 February 2023 04:13

The Construction and Building Materials Workers Union of Sweden (Byggnads) started to collectively bargain for the renegotiation of five collective agreements that cover 100,000 construction workers, glass industry workers, plumbers, and assemblers.

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BWI to Holcim: Participate in social dialogue with workers, not just yacht races

31 January 2023 07:01

“Holcim has money to join a super boat race and ‘commit’ to a circular economy, but what is the company doing to implement and promote good working conditions, and health and safety in its operations?”

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Zimbabwe : Unionists strengthen organising and negotiation initiatives in wood and forestry industry

10 November 2022 06:56

The General Agriculture and Plantation Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ) gathered on 20 and 21 of October for a two-day wood and forestry social dialogue meeting.

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Turkish workers fight ASD Laminat, go on strike

07 November 2022 06:03

The Turkish Wood and Paper Industry Workers’ Union (AGAC-IS) went on strike on 27 October as a response to the years-long union busting and other labour rights violations of ASD Laminat, a Turkish wood processing company infamous for its anti-union policies.

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Weyerhaeuser strike ends, new agreement reached

04 November 2022 05:49

After six weeks, the woodworkers of Weyerhaeuser ended their strike and returned to work on 30 October after reaching a new agreement with the company.

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Global unions to Heidelberg: Engage in social dialogue

28 October 2022 03:37

Last 22 October, trade union members of the key global union players have come up with an action plan to establish social dialogue with the Heidelberg Materials Group. The event was held on 18 and 19 October with affiliates from IndustriALL Global Union, Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI), and the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW).

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Historic visit to Grand Paris Express construction leads to social charter signing

21 September 2022 13:36

The Société du Grand Paris (SGP), the Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI) and its affiliated French trade unions have signed a charter on social commitments related to the Grand Paris Express (GPE) following a joint international visit to the construction site of the future Gustave-Roussy station in Villejuif, France. This is the first time that an international visit took place at the said site.

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Belgium: Cement workers end strike, secure travel allowance increase

12 September 2022 06:33

The workers and management of the Sagrex Heidelbergcement company in Belgium reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 6 September after a week of strike actions from trade unions.

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Belgium: Conciliation failed at Sagrex-Heidelbergcement

05 September 2022 08:03

150 workers have been on strike at the Sagrex-Heidelbergcement company in Belgium amidst a 31 August conciliation that has failed to deliver as expected.

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India: Unions push for wage hikes, more regular jobs

16 August 2022 12:54

The BWI-affiliated Indian National Cement Workers Federation (INCWF) and the All India Cement Employees’ Federation (AICEF), along with other leading trade union federations, submitted a “joint charter of demands” to the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) regarding the provisions of the next wage increase agreement (1 April 2022–31 March 2026).

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Israel: National collective agreement signed in construction industry

23 June 2022 07:49

The Construction and Associated Industries Workers Union-Histadrut, the Israel Builders’ Association and the Association of Renovation Contractors, headed by Eran Siv, signed on 12 June 2022 a national collective agreement aimed at improving the workers' conditions in the construction industry and raising their wages, along with expanding the employers' commitment in the industry to maintaining the occupational safety. The validity of the agreement, which is an addition and update to the collective agreement from 2015, is for 5 years, subject to the issuance of an extension order by the government.

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BWI holds mission to Turkey, foments greater solidarity and dialogue

20 June 2022 13:02

After being postponed last year due to the pandemic, BWI finally carried out a high-level mission to Ankara, Turkey on 24-27 May to promote greater solidarity and dialogue with members of the Cement, Ceramics, Pottery and Glass Industry Workers’ Union (CIMSE-IS). 

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Unions to build power within China’s belt and road initiative

15 June 2022 04:44

“Chinese MNCs’ treatment of workers depends on the strength of unionists.” This was the takeaway point made by trade unionists who attended BWI’s Global Conference on China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

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BWI construction unions pioneer global strategy on Chinese MNCs

15 June 2022 04:14

In a collective and sustainable effort to respond to the challenges imposed by the emergence of Chinese multinational companies in the global construction industry, BWI organised a Global Conference on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from 12 to 14 June in Manila, Philippines.

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Argentina: 200,000 construction jobs recovered

02 June 2022 13:02

A mass gathering of workers attended no less by Argentinian President Alberto Fernández celebrated the recovery of 200,000 construction jobs that have been lost by the previous administration due to the pandemic.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina: Union elects new leaders, pushes for full CBA implementation

24 May 2022 06:06

On 14 May, the Extraordinary Assembly of the Trade Union of Construction and Building Materials Industry of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SGI IGM BiH) elected members of its Supervisory Board and the Statutory Commission, and verified the mandate of members of its Executive Board.

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IAM calls for complete ban on all Russian wood imports

10 May 2022 10:31

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), one of the largest labor unions in North America, called for a total ban on all imports of Russian and Belarusian hardwoods and softwoods.

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Poland: IKEA workers protest unjust wages, prepares for strike vote

08 April 2022 05:05

The IKEA trade unions Budowlani and Solidarność in Poland initiated a collective dispute process as a response to the company’s refusal to correct the inflation rate factored in the wages of its workers.

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ILO Meeting of Experts adopts revised Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Construction 

01 March 2022 06:19

After a week of negotiations between governments, employers and trade unions, workers in the construction sector worldwide will now benefit from a new code of practice with concrete guidance on improving health and safety.

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South Africa: Denmark’s biggest union federation visits BWI’s Regional Office

15 February 2022 04:55

The United Federation of Workers in Denmark (3F), Denmark’s largest and strongest trade union federation with approximately 280,000 members, on 9 February visited BWI’s Regional Office for Africa Middle East in Johannesburg to help strengthen the trade union movement and defend the rights of construction workers in the region.

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Brazil: BWI hits misogynist attacks against women workers linking them to accident

09 February 2022 09:57

BWI condemned the misogynist manifestations made by Eduardo Bolsonaro, Deputy of National Congress, regarding the participation of women workers in the activities of Brazil’s construction and engineering industry.

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Dubai: Belgian Deputy PM and BWI meet migrant workers at BESIX construction site

08 February 2022 15:03

Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, joined BWI and its Belgian trade union affiliates in a visit at the Dubai Upper Tower construction site being built by BESIX and talked to migrant workers employed there.

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Israel: Histadrut and builders’ association to establish academy for construction and infrastructure professions

04 February 2022 05:50

Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David, Israel Builders Association President Raul Srugo and Construction Workers Union-Histadrut Chairman Yitzhak Moyal reached an agreement amidst severe shortage of workers in the industry

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Pakistan: IFC watchdog probes deeper dam workers’ complaint following mass termination

03 February 2022 05:39

Pakistan dam worker complaint to proceed at World Bank watchdog following mass termination

Workers at the Karot Hydroelectric project in Northern Pakistan have won the right to a full investigation regarding a complaint it filed before the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on violations of freedom of association, health and safety and other labour rules.

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Brazil: Unions to mark Brumadinho dam disaster, push for stricter regulatory measures

19 January 2022 08:52

On 25 January, Brazilian trade unions will mark the third year since the collapse of the Vale dam in Brumadinho (Minas Gerais) which took the lives of 270 people.

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European Parliament expresses concern over treatment of Vietnamese workers in Serbia

17 December 2021 12:35

The European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution on 16 December expressing its grave concern over the abuse of Vietnamese workers employed at the Linglong tire factory in Serbia.

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Holcim called anew to act on workers' safety after one worker killed and six injured in India

03 December 2021 10:45

The Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI) and IndustriAll renewed its demand to cement giant, Holcim to take urgent action on the reported deaths of several workers employed at its plants in India.

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German construction workers have a new CBA

22 November 2021 15:57


Germany’s 890,000 construction workers now have a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

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C40 Cities launch Clean Construction Coalition to cut emissions by 2030

11 November 2021 11:49

On the Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day at COP26, C40 Cities has launched a new coalition of cities and construction sector companies today to tackle the urgent challenge of emissions from the global construction sector. This won’t happen without workers and has also launched a joint statement with Building and WoodWorkers International to ensure a just transition.

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Just transition to a clean construction sector

11 November 2021 09:13

BWI and C40 joint statement on the just transition to a clean construction industry

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BWI brings workers’ voices to UNFCCC

10 November 2021 12:04

BWI, in collaboration with C40, participated in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland by bringing the voices of workers and trade unions into the discussions on a “just transition” to a clean and green construction industry.

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Unions demand social dialogue with HeidelbergCement

02 November 2021 05:18

The impact of COVID-19 on the cement industry, health and safety, clean technology and workers’ rights were among the issues discussed when more than 70 trade unionists from 20 countries met online for the joint IndustriALL, BWI and EFBWW HeidelbergCement global union network meeting. The meeting was organised with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

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IG Metall demands wage increases, launches “warning strikes”

27 October 2021 05:37


IG Metall is demanding a 4.5 percent salary increase in the wood and plastic processing industry, as its presses with its collective bargaining negotiation, which started last September.

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India: BWI expresses alarm over death of two workers in Holcim-owned plants

26 October 2021 07:27

BWI expresses its alarm and concern over the death of two contractual workers in two Holcim-owned cements plants in India. The deaths, which happened in the span of just one week, are deeply disturbing.

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Burkina Faso: Unions decry building collapse that killed 4

01 October 2021 08:45

Different BWI-affiliated trade unions in Burkina Faso cried the collapse of a building under construction at the Norbert Zongo University in Koudougou which resulted in the death of four people and one injured.

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Faber-Castell Global Trade Union Network lives solidarity (Solidarität leben)

30 September 2021 07:52

The Faber-Castell Global Union Network, an association of different trade unions working in the global company, distributed food packs to workers retrenched by Faber-Castell in Peru.

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Ukraine: Unions agree to work together for labour rights

22 September 2021 12:52

The BWI-affiliated Ukraine Construction and Building Materials Workers’ Union (PROFBUD) and the Woodworkers’ Trade Union of Ukraine signed an “association agreement” to jointly fight for labour rights and put a unified presence before employers and government authorities.

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Australia: CFMEU condemns extremist violence in Victoria

21 September 2021 14:38

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) condemned in the “strongest possible terms” the violent attack by an extremist mob on its CFMEU Victorian Branch office on Tuesday, which it said was heavily infiltrated by neo-Nazis and other right-wing extremist groups.

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Peru: Unions’ push to reduce weight of manual handling of cement bags gains momentum

01 September 2021 06:17

The Federation of Civil Construction Workers of Peru’s (FTCCP) campaign to reduce the weight of cement bags carried by workers gained momentum with the Federation of Cement and Premix Workers of Peru (FETRACEPPE) adding its voice to the advocacy.

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Unions strengthen resolve against hazardous construction materials

24 August 2021 04:37

17 trade unions from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru, under the leadership of the BWI Latin America and Caribbean, agreed to work together to protect workers’ health and safety by eradicating hazardous construction materials from workplaces.

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Africa and Middle East: Multinational cement giants continue subcontracting amidst pandemic

20 August 2021 08:30

Multinational cement giant LafargeHolcim and HeidelbergCement persist with their labour subcontracting schemes in Africa and the Middle East amidst a pandemic that continues to destroy millions of jobs and incomes worldwide.

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UK biggest construction union fights union-busting at high-speed railway project

11 August 2021 12:14

UNITE, the United Kingdom’s biggest construction union, is fighting to secure union access to all HS2 sites from London to Birmingham to ensure that workers receive fair renumeration and enjoy healthy and safe working environments.

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Unions secure new CBA with Brazil’s biggest paper producer

13 July 2021 09:26

The Trade Union of Workers in Construction of Roads and Public & Private Works of the State of Parana (SINTRAPAV-PR) and the Trade Union Workers in the Construction and Furniture Industries of Telemaco Borba (SINTRACON-TB) successfully negotiated new salary terms with Klabin, Brazil’s largest exporter and producer of paper for packaging solutions.

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Brazil: Unions want MNC to pay USD 7.5 b for 2019 dam collapse

05 July 2021 08:00

BWI’s Dam Network and the social movements of Minas Gerais in Brasil called on multinational company (MNC) Vale to pay the government BRL 38 billion (USD 7.5 billion) to repair the damages caused by the collapse of its “Brumadinho” dam in January 2019, resulting in the death of 270 people, most of whom are members of the BWI-affiliated SITICOP-MG.

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BWI on the school construction site collapse in Belgium

24 June 2021 05:59

Five people were killed and another nine were critically injured at a construction site in Antwerp, Belgium on 19 June after a section of a school building under construction collapsed, pulling down the scaffolding supporting it. 

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South Korea building collapse: Deadline rush, lack of supervision cited

16 June 2021 02:21

On 9 June, nine people were killed and another eight were injured when a five-story building undergoing demolition collapsed and buried a bus carrying 17 passengers in Gwangju, South Korea.

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Bolsonaro paralyses construction of 200,000 housing units, trade unions react

20 May 2021 04:04

Minha Casa Minha Vida ("My House, My Life”), Brazil’s biggest social housing program that aims to build a million homes, is compromised by budget cuts.

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IKEA unions in Poland raise wages, double membership

18 May 2021 14:09

BWI’s “Caravan of IKEA Workers’ Stories” stopped at two Inter-IKEA factories in Poland where more than 5,000 workers, together with their unions, are in the middle of a campaign for fair wages.

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LafargeHolcim retrenches workers then rewards shareholders with massive dividends

14 May 2021 06:18

In its 4 May Annual General Meeting, Holcim rewarded its shareholders with CHf 1.2 billion worth of dividends despite a 13 percent decline in sales due to the pandemic.

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BWI endorses C40’s declaration on clean construction

13 May 2021 09:35

Representing 12 million workers from 367 trade unions located in 116 countries, the Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) endorsed the C40’s “Clean Construction Declaration” and the commitment made by mayors of pioneering cities around the world to ensure resource-efficient, resilient and decarbonised buildings and infrastructure.

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LafargeHolcim misses opportunity to make concrete commitments to workers' rights

05 May 2021 06:22

Once again, LafargeHolcim missed the opportunity to demonstrate its concrete commitment to workers' rights and lives.

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LafargeHolcim unions pledge to intensify campaign for labour rights

28 April 2021 02:27

The LafargeHolcim World Union Council, a gathering of all trade unions working at the cement giant, called on the multinational company to respect workers' rights, protect jobs, ensure workers' health and safety at work, and drastically reduce precarious work.

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Italcementi workers go on strike

26 April 2021 12:12

Majority of the workers of Italcementi in Reazzato, Italy went on a four-hour strike last 15 April to protest the company management’s bad behavior towards its employees and largely, the deteriorating industrial relations in the company.

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Strike threat stops labour subcontracting at HeidelbergCement

19 April 2021 09:16

 The threat of a strike action by ninety one (91) workers prevented a HeidelbergCement subsidiary in Belgium from implementing labour subcontracting schemes.

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Lafarge Campaign (GS Report 2021)

15 April 2021 12:15

Lafarge Campaign (GS Report 2021)

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BWI calls for reinstatement of LafargeHolcim workers in Uganda

24 March 2021 12:08

BWI expressed its serious concerns over the dismissal of 17 trade unionists working at the Hima Cement Limited, a LafargeHolcim subsidiary in Kasese, Kampala, Uganda.

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“Not at workers’ expense,” BWI says on LafargeHolcim’s carbon emission reduction

18 February 2021 02:38

BWI expressed its concerns over the possibility that around 100 French workers of LafargeHolcim will be affected by the company’s alleged shift to alternative fuels.

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Trade union repression at IKEA factory in Srpska

16 February 2021 05:28

BWI’s “IKEA Workers’ Caravan of Stories” for this year begins with the alarming story of trade union repression at the Nova DIPO company, an IKEA supplier in Gornji Podgradci, Republic of Srpska.

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Construction work for 2024 Paris Olympics begins with slight delay

10 February 2021 17:03

Work on France's single largest construction site, the 30,000 m2  Olympic Village, will start in the spring of 2021 after getting delayed by a month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Trade unionists win big in Suriname

10 February 2021 02:55

The BWI-affiliated Progressive Trade Union Federation 47 (C-47) in Suriname emerged victorious in its labour dispute with Greenheart Group N.V., a global company focused on wood harvesting, lumber-processing, marketing and sales and provision of timber and lumber products. 

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Indian union holds state-wide protest vs. price hike of construction materials

08 February 2021 13:46

The BWI-affiliated Thamizhaga Kattida Thozhilalargal Mathiya Sangam (TKTMS) and the Construction and Real Estate Coalition (CRIC) held a state-wide protest in Tamil Nadu on 4 February against what it called the “abnormal rise” in the prices of construction materials, such as cement and steel.

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Justice for the victims of the Kep, Cambodia building collapse!

06 January 2021 11:23

On 3 January 2020, a building being constructed in Kep, Cambodia collapsed, killing 36 workers. Already a year on, there has been zero justice and accountability.

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Justice evades victims of Kep building collapse a year after

05 January 2021 07:57

The Building and Woodworkers Trade Union of Cambodia (BWTUC) on 3 January expressed disappointment over the government’s slow action in responding to the public’s demand for justice and accountability regarding the collapse of a building in Kep, Southern Cambodia a year ago which killed 36 workers and injured 26 more.

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BWI To IFC: Explain mass termination at Pakistani hydropower project

17 December 2020 03:49

BWI asked the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on 15 December to explain the mass termination of 2,410 workers at the Karot Hydropower Project, a mega infrastructure project that it is financing in Pakistan.

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Republika Srpska: Good union-management relations at IKEA supplier

08 December 2020 13:15

BWI’s “IKEA Workers’ Caravan of Stories” shares the story of how a good union-management partnership at a workplace in Republika Srpska resulted in good working conditions for IKEA supply workers and increased productivity for the company.

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BWI holds successful global sports conference

26 November 2020 14:43

Combining electronic, social media and traditional face-to-face interactions, BWI in partnership with the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA), the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), and various solidarity support partners held a successful two-day Global Sports Conference on labour rights and the 2022 FIFA World Cup last 23 and 24 of November.

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LafargeHolcim accused of polluting Paris river

23 November 2020 03:53

BWI is calling French authorities to leave no stone unturned in their investigation of leaked liquid into Paris’ Seine River from a plant belonging to Franco-Swiss cement giant LafargeHolcim, sparking public outrage.

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Breaking: New LafargeHolcim cession

20 November 2020 05:51

BWI has been informed of the recent cession of GNE LafargeHolcim Granulats to LafargeHolcim Belgium.

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Swedish construction union warns of massive strike

19 November 2020 04:52

Byggnads, the Swedish union of construction workers, has threatened to go on strike next week over employer federation Byggföretagen’s reluctance to address industry-wide work-related fatal accidents during their collective bargaining negotiations.

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IG BAU calls for climate protection and decent work in the cement industry

16 November 2020 08:29

BWI German affiliate, The Trade Union for Building, Forestry, Agriculture and the Environment (IG BAU) welcomes the commitment of global cement and building materials companies, such as HeidelbergCement and LafargeHolcim to reduce their carbon emissions.

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HeidelbergCement and LafargeHolcim operations mapped in MENA

09 November 2020 14:22

BWI released a mapping of HeidelbergCement and LafargeHolcim’s operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reporting on the companies’ compliance to international and regional standards, and on their financial stakeholders.

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Pakistan: Suki Kinari dam workers go on strike

02 November 2020 13:47

Close to 2,000 workers at the Suki Kinari (SK) hydropower construction project in Northern Pakistan have been on a strike since 27 October to protest the curtailment of their freedom of movement, illegal terminations and denial of overtime wages, leaves and COVID-19 allowances.

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Zimbabwean union condemns inhumane treatment of 150 cement workers

02 November 2020 09:09

The Cement, Lime and Allied Workers' Union of Zimbabwe (CLAWUZ) condemned the inhumane treatment of 150 workers employed at the Diamond Cement Company near Central Zimbabwe’s Kwekwe City.

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Surinamese workers fight Greenheart Group’s labour rights violations

26 October 2020 03:49

The Progressive Trade Union Federation 47 (C-47), a BWI affiliated organisation in Suriname, is demanding the reinstatement of unionised workers and the release of their wages at the Greenheart Group N.V., a global company focused on wood harvesting, lumber-processing, marketing and sales and provision of timber and lumber products.

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BWI supports Swiss Responsible Business Initiative representing hope for workers globally

16 October 2020 21:46

The BWI global cement network meeting with its affiliates around the world focused on key issues, including the Swiss Responsible Business Initiative, which represents hope for workers globally. This virtual meeting, held on 14 October, gathered around 40 participants.

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HeidelbergCement network commits to surpass new challenges

14 October 2020 08:49

About 40 participants from unions affiliated to Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and IndustriALL Global Union met online on 13 October to discuss developments and challenges for employees of German building materials multinational HeidelbergCement.

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Cambodian unions laud appointment of 362 construction inspectors

18 September 2020 02:16

Unions and civil society organisations in Cambodia are happy with news that the government has decided to appoint 362 inspectors to monitor, observe, research, inspect, collect evidence and promote the implementation of construction laws.

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France: Construction sector benefits from government stimulus plan

10 September 2020 13:34

The EUR 100 billion COVID-19 stimulus package unveiled by Prime Minister Jean Castex on 3 September will allocate EUR 30 billion to an ecological transition plan, said to be the central element of the package, and another EUR 7.5 billion to the construction sector. T

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Women workers are the backbone of Argentina’s brick industry

27 August 2020 06:28

To mark Brick Family Month this August, the Union Workers of Bricks Industry of the Republic of Argentina (UOLRA) held an online meeting with women brick workers to discuss their present issues and present the efforts made by the union to advance gender equality.

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BWI unions bring relief to stranded Indian migrant workers in Serbia

24 August 2020 13:57

BWI-affiliated trade unions in India and Serbia joined hands in helping 51 Indian migrant workers who were left stranded without any work and salaries in the Balkan country.

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IKEA Workers’ Caravan: Low wages at PT Integra in Indonesia

20 August 2020 06:10

The second leg of BWI’s “IKEA Workers’ Caravan of Stories,” a campaign to enable IKEA workers in different countries to share with one another their working lives and experiences, brings us to PT Integra Indo Cabinet located in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia.

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IKEA Workers’ Caravan: Long hours and little change at factory in Tikhvin, Russia

04 August 2020 11:17

BWI launched the “IKEA Workers’ Caravan of Stories” to enable IKEA workers in different countries to share to one another their working lives and experiences. The caravan’s first stop was at the IKEA Industry factory in Tikhvin, Russia which is in the North-West region of the country. The factory, which employs over 1,000 workers, produces IKEA furniture and consists of sawmill, components, and furniture departments.

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TARIM ORMAN-IS holds training to combat rising work-related deaths in forestry

21 July 2020 04:19

Responding to the high number of work-related fatalities in the forestry sector, the Civil Servants’ Union of Agriculture, Forestry, Husbandry and Environment Sectors (TARIM ORMAN-IS) held an occupational health and safety (OHS) training to 45 rural forest workers on 18 July in a forest village in Northern Turkey.

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Ukraine: PROFBUD challenges IKEA and FSC on Illegally sourced wood

10 July 2020 03:50

Earthsight, a non-profit environmental organization, released an investigative report on “hot wood”, alleging that illegally logged timber from Western Ukraine with certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is being sold through a Romanian intermediary to Swedish multinational IKEA.

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BWI condemns attack on picket line of laid off workers at Holcim cement Davao plant

30 June 2020 15:50

“The Building and Wood Workers’ International, BWI, condemns the cowardly attacks on the picket line of laid off workers at Holcim Cement Davao Plant in Davao Philippines on April 22, 2020 by unknown persons taking advantage of the COVID pandemic crisis and 'stay at home' order of the government “, says Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary.

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Labour discrimination at LafargeHolcim in Egypt

30 June 2020 12:37

Subcontracted workers in LafargeHolcim’s Cement plant in Sokhna, Egypt are assigned the most hazardous jobs in the plant, one of the many discriminatory labour practices uncovered by an independent research study.

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Job erosion at HeidelbergCement Suez Plant in Egypt

19 June 2020 04:23

Since 2018, HeidelbergCement in Egypt has reduced its workforce by at least 2,000 through attrition and by not extending fixed term contracts. In December 2019, an independent study found that almost half of the 474 workers are contract workers at its Suez plant, one of four plants owned by HeidelbergCement in Egypt, where discriminatory labour conditions are a concern.

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Poor health and working conditions at LafargeHolcim in Jordan

06 June 2020 12:25

More than two thirds of the total workforce at the Cement Fuheis Plant suffer from asthma, undoubtedly related to their exposure to dust at the workplace. To make matters worse, workers who do not pass health tests are not entitled to paid sick leave or paid sick retirement. These findings of an independently-conducted research raised concerns among BWI affiliates for these workers as respiratory illness increases the risk of complications should a worker contract COVID-19.

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Victory for workers at Cambodian cement company linked to LafargeHolcim

27 May 2020 11:33

Workers at the Chakrey Ting cement factory in Kampot, Cambodia have concluded an agreement with the company at the Regional Labour Department that will see the reinstatement of its union vice president, Houn Houen.

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The voice of workers at LafargeHolcim is heard

26 May 2020 06:24

On 26 May, 2020 the Swiss National Contact Point released its initial assessment on a case, referred to as a “specific instance”, submitted by the BWI on 12 December 2019 based on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The NCP concludes, “This report on the initial assessment by the Swiss National Contact Point (hereafter “Swiss NCP”) concludes that the issues raised in this submission merit further consideration on the specific context of the Philippines as well as on the global group level.”

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News

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Conventions and Studies

18 May 2020 11:46

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Cement

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LafargeHolcim: Time for Solidarity, Time to Share profit with workers!

11 May 2020 19:06

The Building and Wood Workers’ International, together with IndustriAll Global Union and the EFBWW, calls in a joint statement addressed to the shareholders of the LafargeHolcim Annual General Meeting to be held on 12 of May 2020 to prioritize the protection of employment, income and the health and safety of all those who work for them worldwide.

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Interview with Secil Coban of TARIM-ORMAN IS

15 October 2019 13:19

Interview

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European Youth says “Life Before Profit”

17 April 2019 06:46

Participants at the first European Regional Youth Assembly that took place in Stockholm, Sweden partook in an action at Sergel square at the city centre to protest the high level of deadly workplace accidents in the construction sector and send a clear message that every worker has the right to safe working conditions, as the right to live comes before profit.

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Trade Unions sign agreement to protect migrant workers in Israel

02 April 2019 16:26

On 25 March 2019 in Chisinau, Moldova, the Trade Union Federation of Construction and Building Materials Workers of the Republic of Moldova (SINDICONS), and the Federation of Construction and Woodworking Unions of Israel (Histadrut) signed a cooperation Agreement to ensure the protection Moldovan migrant workers working construction sites in Israel.

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Venezuela: National sectorial Collective Bargaining Agreement extension and salaries updates

12 March 2019 07:07

On 6 March Venezuelan construction trade unions, including three BWI affiliates (FENATCS, FETRAMAQUIPES and FETRACONSTRUCCION) reached an agreement with the two chambers that groups construction employers (CVC and CBC).

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Nicaragua: Trade unions regulate subcontracting and outsourcing in construction

12 March 2019 06:50

SNSCAASC and FITCM-N, BWI affiliates in Nicaragua, signed a Regulatory Framework Agreement with the Nicaraguan Chamber of Construction (CNC) to ensure workers from subcontracting companies and outsourcing agencies receive legal and occupational protection, in accordance with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement for the construction sector in the country.

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Qatar Ministry and BWI organise Community Leaders’ Forum

19 February 2019 21:54

The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour, and Social Affairs (MADLSA) and Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) organised a Community Leaders’ Forum on Workers’ Welfare on 15 February 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

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Attack on Trade Union rights in Nepal

04 February 2019 13:07

On 29 January 2019, the management of Global Hydropower Associate with the help of local goons beat up the workers who were organizing plant level trade union at the workplace.

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Peru: Mobilization against labor flexibilization and reactivation of construction industry

18 January 2019 07:51

Hundreds of workers throughout Peru took the streets on January 15, against labor flexibilization promoted by employers and to demand to the government of President Martín Vizcarra, the reactivation of the construction industry.

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Israel: Another step to improve the safety in the construction industry

04 December 2018 19:06

The Histadrut and the Israel Builders Association signed a new collective agreement -27.11.18

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Turkey: Three deadly accidents in one week

04 December 2018 10:52

3 December 2018: Turkish construction union, Turkish Union of Road, Construction and Building Workers (YOL-IS) have issued a harsh press statement denouncing the lack of safety and health in all sectors including construction throughout Turkey.

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South Korea: Photo Exhibit Highlights Women in Construction

20 November 2018 08:15

In Seoul, South Korea at the National Assembly the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Union (KFCITU) held a photo exhibit show casing a series of photos highlighting women working in the construction industry in South Korea. The exhibit is a collection of photos submitted by photo journalists, freelancers, and others as part of the photo contest.

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Strike threat results in settlement at Pakistan hydro project

15 November 2018 13:19

The threat of a strike action at the 870MW Suki Kinari hydro project in Northern Pakistan has compelled China Gezhouba Group to accept key workers’ demands, according to the Pakistan Federation of Building and Wood Workers’ (PFBWW).

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Turkey: Dangerous working conditions in FSC-certified forests

13 November 2018 22:07

Workers in the Aladag forests in Turkey continue to work under unsafe conditions with poor health and safety standards.

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Israel: New agreement for safer construction sites

12 November 2018 00:34

To avoid a general strike the trade union Histadrut and the Israeli government finally reached an agreement on better safety regulations at workplaces, particularly on construction sites.

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Unions demand global labour relations with HeidelbergCement

08 November 2018 12:35

The global union network at HeidelbergCement held two days of intensive discussions and exchanges on 1 and 2 November in Frankfurt, Germany, about the situation in different countries where the company is present.

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Croatia: SGH adopts new action plan and elect trade union president

31 October 2018 06:49

On 19th of October 2018, at the 10th Assembly of the Trade Union of Industry of Construction (SGH), the delegates re-elected Jasenka Vuksic as president and adopted the SGH Program Orientation for 2018-2022.

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STIEU wins secret ballot despite SFI’s obstruction

30 October 2018 07:06

Members of the Sabah timber union are elated after yesterday’s decisive secret ballot election victory at Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) in Sipitang, Malaysia, clearing the way for them to begin collective bargaining.

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Human rights in Qatar – Progress and challenges

29 October 2018 08:44

On 1-4 October the BWI participated in the Human Rights Advisory Board’s visit to Doha, Qatar. The Board met with FIFA’s Local Organising Comitte and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy which is responsible for building the infrastructure around the World Cup.

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Harassment at Manila union election

24 October 2018 06:07

Construction workers in Manila who want to form a union are being attacked by their employer – the subcontractor Seapac Philippines.

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Report: IFC project violated timber workers’ rights

21 October 2018 08:58


The BWI has published a new report summarizing the findings of a damning investigation by the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman to the International Financing Corporation (IFC), an independent monitoring mechanism for the World Bank’s IFC.

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Workers and communities in Hong Kong rally against land reclamation project

16 October 2018 14:55

Members of the Construction and General Site Workers’ Union (CSGWU) in Hong Kong have joined protests on Sunday 14 October against a Government plan to build several artificial islands to ease Hong Kong’s overcrowding problem.

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Tokyo 2020: Forum for Decent Work

03 October 2018 21:01

On 28 September the BWI and its Japanese Affiliates Council (BWI-JAC) held an international forum looking at the risks to human rights involved in the preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

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Votorantim Cement: Unions demand social dialogue and fair negotiations

21 September 2018 08:10

The unions representing the workers of Votorantim Cimentos SA in Brazil and Argentina have decided to request for a meeting with the company to analyze proposals for a unified system of collective bargaining and social dialogue in Brazil.

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BWI and EFBWW Statement Regarding the Labour Crisis at the New Istanbul Airport

19 September 2018 08:49

The BWI condemns the recent attacks on construction workers who are exercising their fundamental rights at a construction site project at the New Istanbul Airport.

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Israel: Crane operator gets compensation for illegal dismissal

18 September 2018 13:33

In 2016 the Israeli tower crane operator Keti Karolov got fired after refusing to continue working in stormy weather. Now, a court has ruled the dismissal illegal and that her employer violated safety rules.

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Stop abusing workers at the Imperial Pacific construction site in Saipan

29 August 2018 20:47

Migrant workers building the Imperial Pacific casino and resort on the island of Saipan, which is part of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, have suffered abuses such as unpaid wages, severe injuries, and retaliation.

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Brazil: Strike for rights at RG Engenharia

27 August 2018 23:00

150 workers at the construction company RG Engenharia in Dourados in central Brazil are on strike after their employer refused to sign a collective bargaining agreement.

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Statement on Fatality at Al Wakrah Stadium

15 August 2018 21:24

The Building and Wood Workers’ International has been informed by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in Qatar that a 23-year old Nepalese man was killed yesterday morning, the 14th of August, while working on the project site of Al Wakram Stadium, one of the facilities for the 2022 World Cup games.

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Big win for elevator workers at Orona in Norway

03 August 2018 13:51

Norwegian elevator workers have won their fight for a collective agreement at the company Orona, the 5th largest elevator company in Europe.

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Germany: Historic agreement gives Hochtief workers 7,14 per cent pay rise

28 June 2018 06:23

The German construction workers union IG BAU has reached an agreement with the construction company Hochtief that will give construction workers a pay rise of 7,14 per cent in three stages until 2020.

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Switzerland: Mass rally against raising of retirement age

25 June 2018 09:19

Last week 18 000 construction workers went out on the streets of Zürich to demonstrate against a proposal from the employers to raise the retirement age.

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Croatia: Wage increase in the Renewed National Agreement

18 June 2018 12:05

In May 2018 the Ministry of Labour issued an act for the extension of the application of the Collective Bargaining Agreement to all employers in the construction industry in Croatia.

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2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: In Memory of 21 Killed Workers

14 June 2018 09:57

Today, on the opening of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, the BWI and its 12 million members around the world express condolences to the families of the twenty-one construction workers who died during construction of World Cup stadiums.

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FIFA Human Rights Advisory Board releases update

12 June 2018 10:10

New advice to FIFA on the World Cup 2018 and 2026 Bid Evaluation

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New Report: FIFA’s foul play at the 2018 World Cup Russia

07 June 2018 11:26

The BWI today launches a report that reveals serious violations of workers’ rights at the stadium construction sites for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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Swiss NCP Commends BWI-FIFA productive dialogue on Qatar

05 June 2018 22:30

On 5 June 2018, the Swiss National Compact Point (NCP) responsible for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises concluded its follow-up on the BWI complaint against FIFA that focused on the 2020 World Cup Games in Qatar.

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MAY DAY 2018: Community Leaders Forum in Qatar

07 May 2018 15:26

April 30 2018 - On the eve of May Day in Doha, close to 200 participants attended the BWI “Community Leaders Forum on Workers’ Welfare in the Construction and Allied Sectors” in Doha, Qatar.

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BWI leads tripartite International Workers’ Memorial Day in Qatar

29 April 2018 08:55

For the first time, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) commemorated International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) in Qatar by supporting the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (ADLSA) 2nd National OSH Conference and participating in various site-level activities to raise awareness on safety and health.

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BWI and KFCITU release joint report on construction worker rights violations at PyeongChang 2018

09 February 2018 11:19

Today, as the 2018 Winter Olympics begin in PyeongChang, South Korea, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions (KFCITU) have released a joint report outlining violations of construction workers’ rights throughout the Olympic construction process.

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India: Police investigating double fatality in LafargeHolcim group

04 October 2017 02:30

A local police inquiry has begun into the death of two contract workers that occurred at the Ambuja Cement Plant in Baloda Bazar in the Indian State of Chhattisgarh.

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Malaysia: STIEU win at Court of Appeal!

19 May 2017 13:35

A few hours ago leaders of the Sabah Timber Industry Employees’ Union (STIEU) emerged from the Court of Appeal in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Malaysia), elated from the news that Sabah Forest Industries’ (SFI) latest attempt to frustrate union recognition had been thrown out by the Court.

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Argentina: create cinema about work

15 May 2017 03:35

The Construction Workers’ Union of the Republic of Argentina (UOCRA) is organizing an International Film Festival about work dedicated to promote and give visibility to socio-labor issues.

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Corporate greed leads to lockout in Victoria timber mill

12 May 2017 05:20

More than 200 timber mill workers remain locked out at Australia’s largest plywood mill at Myrtleford, Victoria, after failing to meet an agreement with the company. The mill is owned by the New Zealand multinational timber firm Carter Holt Harvey (CHH), who have a record of lockouts and poor faith in collective bargaining negotiations.

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BWI Solidarity Mission to Turkey

18 April 2017 12:17

The BWI recently completed a solidarity mission to Ankara, Turkey, on April 10th and 11th 2017. The delegation included BWI President Per Olof Sjoo, Assistant Education Secretary Jasmin Rezpedovic, Vasyl Andreyev, PROFBUD President, Ukraine, and Co- Chair of the BWI Ad-hoc Working Group on Youth, and Dr. Fabiola Mieres, Global Project Coordinator. Gülsah Doruk, BWI's Project Coordinator in Turkey worked with BWI's Turkish affiliates in the preparations of the mission.

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Argentina: first general strike against Macri’s Government paralyzes the country

07 April 2017 13:17

The trade unions in Argentina paralyzed the country during the strike called on 6 April 2017 against the measures of economic adjustments imposed by President Mauricio Macri.

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Israel: The crane operators' struggle continues - Histadrut declared a labour dispute

13 February 2017 09:44

The dispute was declared on the background of the deadlock in negotiations to arrange the employment conditions of approximately 1,200 crane operators in all the construction sites in the country

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BWI contributes to the international debate on global indicators to better capture forestry workers’ conditions towards sustainable development

03 February 2017 10:11

BWI presents a position paper to contribute to the global discussions on measurement of the conditions of forestry workers towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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FSC Global Social Chamber commits to have ILO Core Conventions in all policy standards

03 February 2017 09:19

Today at a meeting in Jogjakarta the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Global Social Chamber supported and endorsed the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) initiative to having core labour standards embedded in all FSC policy standards.

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BWI and SCDL will Conduct First Joint Inspection in Qatar

30 January 2017 10:44

The BWI and the Supreme Committee for Delivery (SC) and Legacy signed a Memorandum of Understanding last November 2016 and took effect in January 2017.

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China’s annual protest wave hits construction hard

19 January 2017 12:54

Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and like clockwork this has been proceeded by the annual rise in protests over wage arrears, as migrant workers prepare to return to their family to celebrate. This year protest activity has been particularly acute in the construction industry, according to the China Labour Bulletin.

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Industri Energi supports organizing project in the Furniture industry in Ghana

17 November 2016 13:46

Industri Enregi has a long history of cooperation with BWI in Africa which started in Zimbabwe and Swaziland, about HIV/AIDS, Ethiopia on the same issue of HIV/AIDS and now with the Timber and Woodworkers Union of Ghana in the Furniture sector.

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Ecuador: Founding of a new Confederation of Construction Workers

14 November 2016 08:52

In October a new construction workers confederation was established in Ecuador.

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United Kingdom: UCATT to join Unite to form one powerful union for the construction industry

14 November 2016 08:37

Members of the British construction workers union UCATT on Wednesday voted by 85,5 per cent to merge with Britain’s largest union, Unite.

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Africa developed its Wood and Forestry strategy and set up sub regional networks

14 November 2016 08:35

The BWI Africa Forestry strategy consolidation workshop was held in Johannesburg South Africa from 24 to 26 October 2016.

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Global Cement Conference - BWI: Freedom of association, Collective Bargaining Agreements are the main challenges of the sector

25 October 2016 19:14

A study implemented to 113 cement companies in 40 countries who cover most regions of the world, confirms the difficulty of the industry to integrate unions in its policy, "even when the sample of the plants studied is atypical," said SECAFI Groupe Alpha, the entity who performed the analysis.

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BWI: Global Cement Conference opens

21 October 2016 10:57

This September 28th, in Panama City, initiated the Global Conference Cement with a participation of 150 leaders of unions affiliated to BWI in 43 countries worldwide, in order to make a study on labor relations, outsourcing, health and safety, change climate, remuneration and social protection in the cement industry.

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CAMBODIA: Union leaders targeted at building materials factories

21 October 2016 10:55

This month union leaders at the Theng Sreng Import Export Co. Ltd, a supplier of building materials (including window and door frames and roofing) to one of Cambodia’s largest house-building firms, were terminated from their employment after forming a union and holding elections.

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Action Alert: Reinstate #CUB55 workers in Australia

08 September 2016 11:10

The BWI is supporting the struggle of 55 maintenance workers at Carlton United Breweries (CUB), members of BWI-affiliate the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and our partner the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU).

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Turkey: Win for workers struggling to save the forests in Cerattepe

08 September 2016 09:58

The mining project that risks destroying the forests, jobs and water for the people in the Artvin province in Turkey has been halted following a court decision.

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Argentina: One step closer to justice for the 120 dismissed ceramist workers in San Lorenzo

29 July 2016 13:16

The Belgian National Contact Person (NCP) of the OECD has accepted a complaint filed by the Building and Wood Workers’ International and its Argentinian affiliate — Ceramic Workers' Union of the Republic of Argentina (FOCRA) — against the Belgian ETEX Group under the OECD Multinational Enterprise Guidelines.

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Macedonia: 5th Congress of SGIP reiterates the commitment of its 80 years of care for construction workers’ rights

31 May 2016 07:36

The IVth Congress of the Trade Union of Civil Engineering, Industry and Planning of Republic of Macedonia, SGIP, held on 21 May 2016 in Krusevo Macedonia, gathered 39 delegates, with a participation of more than 30 per cent of young and women delegates.

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Hong Kong rail workers sit-in over unpaid wages

31 May 2016 07:33

A group of over one hundred rail workers in Hong Kong held a sit-in strike on Monday to protest the failure of their employer to pay HKD$7 million wages (~USD$900,000) owed to them over a month and a half period.

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UK: Construction ‘blacklisting’ victory sees £10 million pay-out to 256 workers

31 May 2016 06:46

The biggest 'blacklisting' scandal in UK construction industry history has seen the court case end in victory as 256 workers are set to receive more than £10 million in compensation.

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Chinese landslide kills Sinohydro construction workers

31 May 2016 06:46

The deceased bodies of at least 35 out of 41 missing Chinese construction workers have now been found, after a massive landslide hit a hydropower construction site in China’s Fujian Province early on Sunday morning.

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Construction Blacklist in the UK – Companies forced to own up and pay up

31 May 2016 06:46

On 29 April 2016, press releases were issued by construction firms and unions involved in the High Court trial on blacklisting of union members in the UK.

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NUM signed a 1-year wage agreement with Lafarge-Holcim South Africa

11 April 2016 14:44

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) signed a 1-year wage agreement today with Lafarge-Holcim South Africa.

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South Africa: NUM members on indefinite strike at LafargeHolcim

11 April 2016 14:41

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called a protected strike for all members working in operations of LafargeHolcim around the country.

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Swedish Painters’ Union Elects New Leadership

11 April 2016 12:54

At the recent Congress of the Swedish Painters’ Union close to 150 delegates elected a new leadership to lead the Malareforbundet under the banner of “Equal Values for the Trade Union Movement in the Future.”

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Swedish Painters: “We have to stand up for every worker in our sectors”

11 April 2016 12:51

“Recruit and organise” was the theme of the Swedish Painters’ Union Congress, held in Stockholm on August 26-27.

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Etex Group: BWI and FOCRA presented a complaint to OECD

07 April 2016 14:28

The BWI and the Ceramic Workers' Union of the Republic of Argentina (FOCRA) has filed a complaint against Etex Group under the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

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Etex Group: growth solidarity with strike in Argentina

07 April 2016 14:12

Due the importance that the Building and Wood Worker´s International (BWI) gives to the recent conflicts in various countries resulted of the restructuring that Etex Group has carried out since 2013, we published a note of the representatives of Etex Group in Europe.

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ACT NOW!: Against the massive dismissals of striking workers at Ceramicas San Lorenzo in Argentina!

07 April 2016 14:07

The BWI is calling on all of you to protest against the dismissal of 120 workers by the Belgian Etex-Eternit Group in Argentina Cerámicas San Lorenzo.

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Argentina: Strike by dismissals of workers in Plant Azul of Etex Group

07 April 2016 13:58

A statement of last January 8th, sent to the Regional Office of the Building and Wood Worker´s International (BWI) from its subsidiary in Argentina, Ceramic Workers' Union of the Republic of Argentina (FOCRA), reports that the trade union if workers of the Company Ceramica San Lorenzo, belonging to the Plant Azul began a few days ago a total labor strike since the Etex Group fired a "hundred" workers.

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News

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Big fire at the construction of Qatar’s largest mall

06 April 2016 12:19

A fire broke out at the construction of the Mall of Qatar on Tuesday the 2nd of April.

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BWI campaign wins award for creating better conditions for workers at mega sports event

06 April 2016 12:18

Earlier this month, leaders of BWI affiliates in Sweden was awarded for their hard-work on ensuring better working and living conditions for workers in the construction sector in relation to international mega-sports events.

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Australia: Turnbull’s double dissolution threat built on lies

06 April 2016 12:16

On 21 March Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that he will dissolve both Houses of Parliament if the Senate doesn’t pass bills to reconstitute the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), a move which could pave the way for an election on 2 July.

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WMD Finland: Rakennusliitto ry – Byggnadsförbundet rf – Construction Trade Union

06 April 2016 12:14

BWI affiliate Rakennusliitto ry – Byggnadsförbundet rf – Construction Trade Union has produced the following material in different languages for International Workers Memorial day.

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BWI demands for immediate investigation on death of Filipino construction worker in Qatar

06 April 2016 12:10

More than two weeks after the tragic death of Juanito B. Pardillo and injuries sustained by his two Filipino colleagues at their job site, the investigation report has yet to be concluded by the Qatari authorities.

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Bahrain GFBTU 3rd congress 2016 - BWI extends its support

06 April 2016 12:07

On 5 March 2016, the GFBTU held its 3rd Congress.

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Israel: Katy Karkolov crane operator at Machluf Bechor construction was fired

06 April 2016 12:05

Katy Karkolov, a crane operator and a contract worker, worked at the Machluf Bechor construction company for one year before she was fired.

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Israel Histadrut - It's time to put an end to the silence of crane operators!

06 April 2016 12:03

It's time to put an end to the silence of crane operators

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UK Construction Blacklisting: Union wins £5.6m compensation payout to 71 blacklist victims

06 April 2016 12:00

Seventy-one construction workers have received blacklisting compensation payouts averaging nearly £80,000 each.

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INDIA: Large gathering of construction sector trade unions stand united for workers’ rights in Tamil Nadu

06 April 2016 11:58

The Construction and Unorganised Workers Federation (CUWF) – a state-wide federation led by the BWI affiliate TKTMS –organized its State Level General Body meeting on 19th January 2016 at Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu State, India.

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Montenegro: SGIGMCG signs a national Collective Bargaining Agreement for the construction sector

06 April 2016 11:55

After extensive negotiations in 2015, the Trade Union of Construction and Building Materials of Montenegro, SGIGMCG, concluded with the Employers Association of Montenegro the national branch Collective Bargaining Agreement on amendments to the CBA for the construction and building materials industry.

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From the USA to the Philippines: Celebrating Women in the Building Trades

06 April 2016 11:54

“Working as a welder in a construction company where the majority of workers are men is a big challenge for me,” said Melody Lavarez, Chair of the Pinay Tradeswomen.

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Croatia: New Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Construction Industry

06 April 2016 11:52

“The coverage of all workers and employers will have multiple positive effects”, says Jasenka Vuksic, president of the SGH in Croatia and member of the World Council of the BWI.

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Unionists in Tamil Nadu demand protection of migrant workers

06 April 2016 11:51

Indian authorities must do more to protect the rights of workers abroad. This message was delivered at a trade union conference in Chennai in South Indian state Tamil Nadu organized by the construction workers’ union TKTMS.

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Rulita Wijayaningdyah elected Chair of FSC Board

05 April 2016 15:25

The BWI is very pleased to announce the election of Indonesian trade unionist Rulita Wijayaning-dyah as the new Chair of FSC International Board.

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Croatia: New Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Construction Industry

05 April 2016 15:01

“The coverage of all workers and employers will have multiple positive effects”, says Jasenka Vuksic, president of the SGH in Croatia and member of the World Council of the BWI. A new Collective Bargaining Agreement for the construction industry was concluded in Croatia on the occasion of the Construction Workers Day on 25 September 2015 and issued on 15 December 2015.

After the successful negotiations of the Trade Union of Construction Industry of Croatia, SGH, and the Construction Industry Association of Croatia HUP-UPG last year, both social partners also signed a joint proposal submitted to the Ministry of Labour and Retirement System for the coverage of all workers and employers, including those that are not members of the SGH and HUP-UPG, by the signed Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The new Collective Bargaining Agreement introduced few innovations in terms of rights and obligations of the workers’ health and safety representative, education and training for work, and in particular, working time, breaks and leaves. The CBA regulates also the salaries/tariffs, allowances and material rights of workers and the conditions for work of the trade union. The rights of posted workers is regulated in an additional annex to the CBA. With the accession of Croatian in the EU in 2013 Croatian workers can freely work, without restrictions in more than 15 EU countries.

For Jasenka Vuksic: ”Among others equalization of the material and social situation of the workers, the removal of unfair competition in the construction industry because of using cheaper and exploited labour force and mitigating undeclared work and the gray economy, control of calculation and payment of gross salary.”

SGH and HUP-UPG are continuously developing their partnership. In the frame of an EU funded project, implemented by the UATUC (to which SGH is affiliated) and the HUP, a joint data base, including 200 collective bargaining agreements out of 550 that are in force in the country - 29 related to the construction industry, has been developed and presented in October 2015. In addition, the data includes 150 indicators for each CBA which allows an analysis of the content and provides statistics. See www.kolektivni-ugovori.info

Among the various initiatives, the SGH has, recently initiated the discussion about the development of paritarian funds in the construction industry and is continuing with its organising drives in infrastructure projects.

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Olympics Rio 2016: Organizing Committee incorporates BWI proposals for more security

The Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 has informed the Building and Wood Workers‘ International (BWI) that they have partially incorporated the BWI OHS Protocol as their policies.

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Solidarity with imprisoned construction workers in South Korea

05 April 2016 14:56

The crackdown against the labour movement in South Korea continues. On the 29th of December, Kim Gi-hong who is a member of the Korea Plant Construction Workers' Union was arrested in his home for taking part in the rally on 14 November 2015.

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Serbia: Round Table on „Law on Public Procurement in the Light of the New EU Directive“

05 April 2016 14:54

The Autonomous Trade Union of Road Maintenance Workers of Serbia, ATURMW, initiated a round table on the topic „Law on Public Procurement in the Light of the New EU Directive on Public Procurement to be adopted during the second quarter of 2017.

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Turkish union TARIM ORMAN-IS increase their organizing skills and defend the rights of refugees

05 April 2016 14:50

107 union representatives and shop stewards gathered in Antalya, Turkey, to learn and share experiences on how to organise new members to fight for better working conditions – especially for rural forest workers and migrants who work in precarious employment.

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Faber Castell Peru: Workers organize in unions

05 April 2016 14:45

With the creation of the Workers' Trade Union of Faber-Castell in Peru a new step is given towards the genuine social dialogue and labour relations between the German multinational and its workers at the facilities of the city of Lima, Peru.

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Asia Pulp & Paper Launches Capacity Building Program for Forest Workers

05 April 2016 14:40

Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) held a one-day National Workshop on Forest Sustainability Certification and Labor in Jakarta, Indonesia on 17 December 2015.

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Sabah Timber Employees Union demand justice over death of Yiki Janing

05 April 2016 14:39

The Malaysian forestry company Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) faces charges for the death of its employee Yiki Janing, age 51.

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Union voice needed in PEFC

05 April 2016 14:34

After three years as Chair of the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), William (Bill) Street will retire from his post.

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News

The construction sector comprises a wide range of economic activities and it is one of the biggest global employment provider – around 7 per cent of the labour force. The BWI struggles for the protection of workers´ rights mainly through enforcement of legislation and regulations and by promoting decent working conditions together with the social dimension of sustainable development in economic growth, environmental conservation and society.

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Conventions and Studies

02 March 2016 15:07

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Building Materials

The building materials sector is a fast-growing sector parallel with the building and construction sector. It includes a diverse range of suppliers, from cement manufacturers to glass and ceramic manufacturers, as well as providing a large market for paint and wiring manufacturers, and a host of other related industries. It has a key role to generate the transition to a low-carbon economy by producing alternative building materials to replace the hazardous building materials causing environmental and health concerns.

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Conventions and Studies

02 March 2016 15:07

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News

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News

The building materials sector is a fast-growing sector parallel with the building and construction sector. It includes a diverse range of suppliers, from cement manufacturers to glass and ceramic manufacturers, as well as providing a large market for paint and wiring manufacturers, and a host of other related industries. It has a key role to generate the transition to a low-carbon economy by producing alternative building materials to replace the hazardous building materials causing environmental and health concerns.

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Building Construction

The construction sector comprises a wide range of economic activity and it is one of the biggest global employment provider – around 7 per cent of labour force. The BWI struggles for the protection of workers´ rights mainly through enforcement of legislation and regulations and by promoting decent working conditions together with the social dimension of sustainable development in economic growth, environmental conservation and society.

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Conventions and Studies

02 March 2016 15:07

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Conventions and Studies

02 March 2016 15:07

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Allied Industries

“Allied industries and trade” include various subsectors like mining and quarrying, sawmilling and planing of wood, manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products, construction of buildings, civil engineering and specialised construction activities, and architectural and engineering activities.

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Wood and Forestry

It is estimated that 30% of the world's area is covered by forests and some 13,2 million people are employed in the formal forestry sector. The BWI works for both the protection of wood and forest workers´ rights and we foster the idea that workers can play a key role in maintaining our forests, provided that their rights are respected. We also support the forest certification systems to create economically, environmentally and socially sustainable forests.

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