ITGLWF General Secretary Neil Kearney

The Solidarity Center joins the global trade union movement in mourning the death of Neil Kearney, General Secretary of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF). For 21 years, Kearney passionately defended the rights of workers at the helm of the ITGLWF. Through challenging times in the global textile, garment, and leather industry, he remained steadfast in his belief that these changes were no excuse for exploiting workers and denying their rights to join a union. He touched the lives of many around the world, but none more so than his wife Jutta and his two daughters, Nicole and Caroline. Our thoughts are with them most of all.

It is perhaps no surprise that on the last day of his life, Brother Kearney was advocating for workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh.