Take back democracy: Unions must unite against the billionaire coup
07.05.25
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is issuing an urgent call to action on this Victory over Fascism day: Take Back Democracy. Stop the Billionaire Coup!
On 8 May 1945, working people deployed by their nations forced the surrender in Europe of the fascist regimes that ignited the Second World War. Eight decades later, we have reached a new crossroads. Working people face an unholy alliance of billionaires, tech elites and far-right political forces who are exploiting our governments’ and institutions’ weaknesses. In every region of the world, they are pushing an agenda of destruction, exclusion and mass death.
This billionaire coup against democracy is now consolidating power and emerging from the shadows, but we can stop it. Trade unions around the globe are mobilizing, resisting and organizing to defend democracy and advance human rights, and today, the ITUC has released an open letter to world leaders calling on them to prevent calamity by embracing democracy.
In support of the ITUC’s campaign to take back democracy, UNI Global Union General Secretary Christy Hoffman said:
“Eighty years ago today, fascist governments in Europe were defeated, but the threat they represented never fully disappeared.
“Authoritarianism is resurgent worldwide, and these far-right governments, backed by ultra-rich elites, have a darker vision than just graft and personal gain: They want to remove any constraints on creating a world remade in their image – including unions.
“In my home country, the United States, politicians like Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are collaborating with tech billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk to weaken democratic institutions, rewrite international norms and dismantle the protections and multilateral institutions which millions depend on.
They don’t just want deregulation, they want domination. This authoritarian project is not isolated; we see its echoes across Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.
“We will resist.
“Unions have historically fought this kind of authoritarianism – on the job and in the political arena – by shifting power from the few to the many. Through strikes, negotiation and solidarity, unions create a world in the image of the people not the plutocrats – diverse yet united, committed to justice and democracy.
“UNI calls on affiliates worldwide to join the ITUC campaign to “Take Back Democracy. Stop the Billionaire Coup!” We must stand united, from Argentina and Germany to Poland, South Korea, and beyond, as the cornerstone of global resistance to authoritarianism.
“Billionaires have money, but through our numbers and collective action, unions have the power to reclaim and strengthen democracy.”
Learn more about the ITUC’s campaign to take back democracy.
Get campaign materials here:
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