Unions at Coats operations around the world organized a global day of action on 11 February 2022, calling on workers to join a union and the Coats global union network.
The Coats global trade union network was established last year. It’s the first union network made up of unions affiliated to IndustriALL in the Coats group, the world’s largest apparel thread and zipper manufacturer. Trade union networks are important tools in building global union structures through linking trade unions within a company.
The British multinational has operations in 27 countries. Several plants remain unorganized and working conditions vary from country to country, but members of the Coats global network are unified on building a strong global network. Through the creation of the Coats network, IndustriALL is addressing these issues and has written to the company and requested a dialogue to ensure sustainable industrial relations throughout the supply chain.
With no positive response from the company, the network called for a global day of action on 11 February. Coats unions who are members of the network urged unorganized workers to join them to make the network stronger. COATS unions all over the world took action by making videos, using the flyers for taking photos, posting them on social media, urging unorganized workers to join the network and make the network stronger.
Says Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL textile and garment director:
“Workers and their unions throughout the Coats supply chain – from India to Brazil to Germany – took joint action to strengthen their network and to ask their co-workers to join them in their demand for a platform for global social dialogue with the company management.
“IndustriALL calls on Coats management to enter into a global dialogue to ensure sustainable industrial relations, to harmonize and support productive relations throughout the supply chain.”