Colombian and Indonesian trade union representatives from the palm oil industry had already become acquainted through Zoom conferences and an exchange of messages on WhatsApp, and had also provided online support to each other during campaigns. The first time they met in person, however, was in March 2023 at the launch of International Palm Oil Workers United.
The international network of trade unions in the palm oil industry, composed of Colombia, Indonesia, and the Netherlands, gathered in the Netherlands for a week. A number of African unions were also represented by the palm oil coordinator of the IUF, the international trade union movement in the food industry. The intention is that several African countries will join the network later.
While exchanging experience-related information, participants observed differences but mostly similarities, mainly in regard to employment with little security and little protection, and involving women more often than men. Moreover, trade union work was seen to be a major challenge everywhere. It also became clear there is an overlap in regard to companies to which the palm oil is sold, with some of them buying it from both countries.
‘These boots are much better than mine’
During launch week, participants visited plants such as Cargill in the Botlek industrial area and Sime Darby Oils Zwijndrecht Refinery, which refine the palm oil harvested by colleagues. For the palm oil workers, it was a tremendous experience to see the wide range of products made with ‘their’ oil, to meet up with FNV members in these companies, and to learn what the sustainability policy in these companies entails. Something the participants observed in particular were the stringent security measures: namely, each person was given a helmet, safety glasses, a vest, and work boots. The Indonesians were especially amazed by this, and commented: ‘Why are things arranged so much better here than with us, while our work is much harder and more dangerous? Can’t we keep these boots? They’re so much better than the ones we have’.
The FNV organises workers in oil-processing companies as well as, for example, in supermarkets, where an estimated 50% of products contain palm oil. We met with FNV members at Sime Darby, Cargill, and the super market chain Lidl to discuss how we could cooperate, and expressed the intention to do so in the future.
In addition to workers meeting each other, expert meetings were held to exchange information and experiences with civil-society organisations active in the palm oil sector, with the Dutch government, and with MVO Nederland, the trade association that represents 95% of companies in the Netherlands that are active in the production, processing and trade of vegetable and animal oils and fats. This proved very useful, because initiatives in the industry are numerous but focus mainly on small farmers, whereas working conditions at the plantations are widely neglected and relatively unknown.
It was agreed to decide collectively which companies would be approached first to determine how they could contribute to better working conditions on plantations and in mills. We will also further investigate wages as well as health and safety in connection with the use of pesticides, and, together with FNV members in several companies, look into how cooperation can be achieved.
Furthermore, network members will continue to meet - online or in person - and to support each other during local campaigns by showing international solidarity. Meeting for a week to get to know each other better and to discuss topics is very useful in this respect.
Based on the photos taken at the end of the week, it is clear that the network has become a group, with people of mixed nationalities standing shoulder to shoulder, smiling into the camera. Despite language barriers, plenty of sharing and joking took place during the meetings and discussions. Long live International Palm Oil Workers United!