News

UNI Commerce Global President Stuart Appelbaum opened the UNI Commerce Global Conference in Berlin, gathering almost 300 union leaders and activists from around the world.

Follow the conversation at the three-day meeting on Twitter #UNICommerceForward

Appelbaum said that UNI Commerce was succeeding against all odds.

UNI Commerce is building power in the retail sector around the world, from organising workers in Carrefour in Romania, to Zara and H&M workers in New York city and Shoprite Checkers in South Africa. Through strengthening global framework agreements and organising in global value chains, UNI Commerce has become the engine of UNI Global Union.

The Global President of UNI Commerce urged participants to use the conference to listen and learn from unionists who have experiences and knowledge gathered from across the world.

"Global solidarity and unity are even more important in these trying times. We come together as brothers and sisters who share a vision of who we are and what we can be. We share the inclusive vision that the world belongs to all of us, and not just the privileged elites."

"We are inspired and prepared to carry the fight forward for our members, who deserve dignity, justice and respect."

"Workers are the real magic of stores - the economic engines that power a company’s success, both in stores and online," added Appelbaum.

Quoting US civil rights and labour activist A. Philip Randolph, Appelbaum finished with a powerful message of resistance: "Justice is never given - it is exacted. The struggle must be continuous, for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing battle."