trade unions

"Before there was a problem with our overtime pay - we weren't given enough. But now [we are unionised] it's what it should be. We can send money home to our parents now. This helps families." - (garment worker in Indonesia).

Trade unions offer a voice to marginalised and exploited people, and constitute a real chance for workers to improve their lot.

Yet only a small percentage of garment workers are unionised, and many of these are in 'yellow' unions established by factory managements to please their clients.

Workers across the world, with the help of existing trade unions, labour rights organisations and campaigners, are fighting to gain their rights to organise. Managers often respond by adopting 'union-busting' tactics to prevent workers from forming unions.

The obstacles to forming and joining a trade union are sometimes exacerbated by governments undermining workers’ rights as a means of attracting foreign investment. Although freedom of association and collective bargaining are protected as a constitutional right in many countries, governments often allow employers to flout this right. Buyers head for countries such as China and Indonesia precisely because of their governments’ ability to prevent the formation of genuine, independent unions.

Further information: 

- For more detailed information about trade unions, see factsheets 6 and 18.

- Links to trade unions websites.

- Watch an interview with Doug Miller from the International Textile and Garment and Leather Workers' Federation.

- Read more about trade unions on the Labour Behind the Label website. 

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