IUF: The food, farm, hotels and more global union

21/10/2026

🌱 Food is never just food. And neither is the struggle for it.

From communities resisting dispossession to those defending their land, livelihoods, dignity, and survival, the struggle for the right to food takes many forms.

The Global Network for the Right to Food and Nutrition has launched the new edition of the Right to Food and Nutrition Watch. This edition asks a fundamental question: Who has the power to shape the food systems that sustain us in a world in which the politics of war invade our territories from the seed to the plate?

Food is not just a matter of survival. It is a matter of rights, dignity, and justice.

👉 Read more: https://tinyurl.com/TheWatch2026Edition

FIAN International

21/10/2026

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸: 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗟𝗢 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲

At the 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺, hosted by IUF-affiliated UFCW Canada and the IUF, representatives of major Canadian agri-food employers, the federal government and food workers’ unions explored how meaningful collaboration can strengthen workers’ rights and support more sustainable agri-food production.

ILO sector specialist Elvis Beytullayev highlighted developments in advancing decent work across global food systems, emphasising the importance of collaboration among social partners and drawing on the ILO Agri-food Guidelines and international labour standards.

Discussions underscored the need to ensure workers have an effective voice in addressing workplace challenges and shaping change across the sector, alongside stronger international cooperation to protect workers’ rights throughout global supply chains.

𝗔 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗿, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶-𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

Read more here: https://www.iuf.org/news/decent-work-forum-2026-turning-the-ilo-agri-food-guidelines-into-action/

Decent Work Forum 2026: Turning the ILO agri-food guidelines into action Published: 21/10/2026 More than 1.4 billion workers are employed in agri-food systems worldwide. Yet many decent work challenges remain, from poor working conditions and low wages to a lack of labour and social protections. Wid...

20/10/2026

𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀

As the olive-picking season begins in Palestine, agricultural workers and farmers face escalating threats, violence and restrictions on access to their land. At this critical time, international trade union solidarity is more important than ever.

The IUF calls for an immediate end to violence, intimidation, forced displacement and restrictions on access to land and livelihoods. We stand in solidarity with Palestinian workers and their unions in defending their rights, protecting their livelihoods and upholding human dignity.

A just and lasting peace depends on respect for human rights, workers’ rights and international law.

𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Read more here: https://www.iuf.org/news/international-trade-union-solidarity-with-palestinian-agricultural-workers-and-farmers/

International trade union solidarity with Palestinian agricultural workers and farmers Published: 20/10/2026 As the olive-picking season begins in Palestine, agricultural workers and farmers face escalating threats and violence. At this critical time, international trade union solidarity is more imp...

19/10/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗼.

To mark World Menopause Day, we reflect on the vital role that trade unions have in ensuring women’s experiences are heard and addressed.

At Arla UK, IUF affiliates GMB Union, Unite the union and Usdaw Union negotiated a menopause policy through listening to women and turning their experiences into practical workplace change.

As Daniel Goodall, GMB National Convener, explained: “The policy succeeded because we listened to women” and engaged constructively with management to secure change.

𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀.

📄 Read more and the IUF policy paper on menopause here: https://www.iuf.org/news/world-menopause-day-the-menopause-is-a-trade-union-and-workplace-issue/

World Menopause Day: The menopause is a trade union and workplace issue Published: 19/10/2026 Menopause affects women at work, yet it is too often considered as a taboo or treated as a private matter rather than a workplace and industrial relations issue. This means an important aspect of women’s ...

19/10/2026

🔥 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦.

Unilever and McCormick & Company — 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸.

In Europe, workers in Unilever's Food business have secured two years of protection for terms and conditions following completion of the transaction with McCormick. Outside Europe, Unilever and McCormick are giving only one year.

IUF affiliates stand together to demand the same standards for workers everywhere.

🌍 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲: 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹.

Read more here: https://www.iuf.org/news/unilever-where-you-work-shouldnt-determine-your-rights/

McCormick Spice

19/10/2026

16/10/2026

🌾 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘆: 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶-𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲

Millions of people who grow, process and distribute our food face exploitation, poverty and hunger, struggling to earn a decent living.

Poverty wages, dangerous working conditions, child labour and the suppression of trade union rights remain widespread. These are not isolated cases, but reflect deeper structural problems in the global food system.

We need urgent action to uphold workers’ rights throughout food supply chains.

✊ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 are essential to defending workers’ rights and building a fairer food system.

🤝 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗿𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 is vital to advancing our shared demand for a more equitable food system.

🌍𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. Food security cannot be separated from peace, human rights and the protection of livelihoods.

📢 Corporate promises on sustainability and human rights are not enough. 𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀.

𝗢𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻: 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

Read more here: https://www.iuf.org/news/world-food-day-agri-food-workers-demand-rights-and-justice/

14/10/2026

𝗜𝗨𝗙 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮: 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹

War, political repression, forced displacement and the breakdown of regional cooperation continue to reshape the challenges facing workers and trade unions across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

At a meeting on October 9, 2026, IUF affiliates set priorities to deepen regional cooperation, expand union organizing, improve collective bargaining, support leadership development, defend freedom of association and fight labour rights violations.

𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗿, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿.

Read more here: https://www.iuf.org/news/iuf-in-eastern-europe-and-central-asia-solidarity-resistance-and-trade-union-revival/

Image: (c) Katya Gritseva

IUF in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Solidarity, resistance and trade union revival (c) Katya Gritseva Published: 14/10/2026 The IUF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia region has undergone profound upheaval in recent years, with war, political repression, forced displacement and the breakdown of...

09/10/2026

✊ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀

Around 40 Unite members working at Forest School in Snaresbrook, London, took strike action from September 28 to October 2, 2026, to fight plans that could slash their wages by 𝟭𝟯.𝟱%.

Already on low pay, these workers now face further cuts that would make it even harder to keep up with London’s rising cost of living. They are also demanding union recognition and the right to negotiate collectively for fair pay and treatment.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀.

We stand in solidarity with the workers fighting for fair wages, dignity and respect at work.

📢 Read more and show your support: https://www.iuf.org/news/united-kingdom-compass-group-workers-strike-over-swingeing-pay-cuts/

Unite the union

United Kingdom: Compass Group workers strike over swingeing pay cuts Published: 09/10/2026 40 Unite members at Forest School in Snaresbrook took strike action from September 28 to October 2, 2026, over plans to cut wages by 13.5%. The workers at Forest School in Snaresbrook are employed on a contrac...

09/10/2026

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀.

At its September 21-22, 2026 conference, the IUF Agricultural Workers Group identified 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 as key priorities for the next five years.

Ensuring women’s voices are heard in unions, collective bargaining and OSH policies is essential to tackling discrimination, gender-based violence and structural inequality across agriculture.

𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

Read more here: https://www.iuf.org/news/advancing-womens-rights-and-gender-equality-in-agriculture/