Global Union（グローバルユニオン）

What Global Union（グローバルユニオン） does

Global Union (グローバルユニオン) is a Hong Kong-headquartered labor union organization founded in 2019 that positions itself as the world's first "super statutory labor union" (法定超労働組合). It operates on a distinctive no-dues model — there are no union membership fees or monthly charges — and instead collects donations of approximately 30% of settlement amounts on successfully resolved labor disputes. The organization is led by volunteer professionals including lawyers, labor law specialists, accountants, judicial scribes, and administrative scribes, which keeps its cost base minimal but also caps its scalability through human capital. Its primary customer segments are domestic and foreign workers in Japan and across Asia (including Cambodia, where it operates a branch managed by Keng Socheat), supplemented by a secondary audience of "white" (ethical) companies and other unions seeking support.

The product surface spans a core union representation service, the MetaUnion Web 3.0 blockchain-based union (launched 2023 and onboarded via Discord), the Thin Skimmer Income Union (a work-hour income-enhancement program), the Employer Committee Relief Petition System (an alternative dispute-resolution channel for ethical companies facing "black union" obstruction), and a Global Audit service conducted with international law firm lawyers. A federated network of affiliated unions — including the Metropolitan Youth Union Federation, Cat Hand Union, Free New Union, Timee Union, Uber Union, Tiger Union, National Tax Union, and Naples Kiln Union — extends coverage across gig, youth, restaurant, and tax-related worker populations under a shared no-fees brand.

Go-to-market is community-led: consultations are offered free online, by email, or in person/phone across a 14-language website. Global Union claims 10,000+ workers have had disposable income increased by 15%+, framing this as roughly 3x Japan's 2024 Spring Labor Struggle 5% wage-increase result. Headquartered at the China Insurance Building in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, with a Cambodia branch and a Shanghai partner office at Dacheng Law Firm (大成律师事务所), the entity is private, unlisted, has no disclosed funding rounds, and no reported revenue — making it a hybrid between a traditional labor union and a platform-style services organization.

Name

Global Union（グローバルユニオン）

Legal name

Global Union

Website

https://globalunion-grp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Global Union (グローバルユニオン) is a Hong Kong-headquartered, no-dues labor union founded in 2019 that serves domestic and foreign workers across Asia through volunteer lawyers and accountants, earning donations on resolved disputes, and operating affiliated unions including MetaUnion (Web 3.0 blockchain), Uber Union, and Naples Kiln Union.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (81393), Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Contractor of Record (COR) / Global Contractor Management (BPACAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Contractor Engagement & Cross-Border Payments (BPACAGAI), Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Labor union services
• Worker advocacy
• Labor dispute resolution
• Trade union membership
• Worker support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kowloon City

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donation-based revenue model: No union dues or monthly membership fees required. Consultations are free. When cases are resolved with benefits or damages recovered, donations of approximately 30% of settlement amount are requested. Union bank account used as transfer destination to ensure collection and prevent data leakage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Global Union is a "super statutory" labor union (法定超労働組合) founded in 2019 that provides worker representation, collective bargaining, and labor dispute resolution services globally with no union dues or membership fees. It operates through volunteer professionals (lawyers, labor law specialists, accountants, administrative scribes) and offers specialized sub-products including MetaUnion (Web 3.0 blockchain-based union), the Employer Committee dispute resolution system, the Thin Skimmer Income Union initiative, and Global Audit external compliance services.

Product overview

Global Union operates as a global union organization network with a 'super' statutory labor union model that does not require membership fees. The core offering is the GlobalUnion platform, supplemented by specialized sub-products including MetaUnion (a Web 3.0 blockchain-based union), the Thin Skimmer Income Union (for real income enhancement), the Usage Committee System (employer relief system), and Global Audit (external auditing services). The organization also networks with associated unions globally, all operating under the fee-free union model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Meta Union（メタユニオン）: The world's first full-fledged Web 3.0 trade union using blockchain technology. MetaUnion is in charge of the metaverse area of all GlobalUnion groups and is committed to the mission of an ideal labor union that transcends the boundaries of race, gender and affiliation.

Products and services

• GlobalUnion (Core Union) The flagship statutory "super" labor union providing worker representation, collective bargaining, and dispute resolution services with no membership dues. Operates through volunteer professionals (lawyers, accountants, labor law specialists, administrative scribes) and serves 10,000+ workers globally with multilingual support across 14+ languages.
• MetaUnion (メタユニオン) The world's first full-fledged Web 3.0 labor union utilizing blockchain technology. Operates as a decentralized, autonomous union for the metaverse area of all GlobalUnion groups, transcending boundaries of race, gender, and affiliation. Members join via Discord invite link.
• Thin Skimmer Income Union (シンスキマーインカムユニオン) The first project worldwide aimed at increasing the real income of members during work hours, allowing anyone to earn income through activities regardless of location or time. Members solve problems through daily communication with portions of resolved amounts donated back to members.
• Usage Committee / Employer Committee System (使用委員会) A system established by Global Union to allow "white" (ethical) companies to petition for relief when hindered by "black unions" that refuse to engage in collective bargaining, providing an alternative to Japan's Labor Relations Commission. Global Union operates the committee as arbiter.
• Global Audit An external audit service conducted from the perspective of international authorities for unions, companies, and organizations. Includes rigorous examination of subsidy requirements, cross-verification of submissions, and certification of training and other activities. Conducted jointly with international law firm lawyers to verify compliance with Japanese labor law and international standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15%+ disposable income increase for 10,000+ workers (3x Japan's 5% Spring Struggle wage increase)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ryoji Baba (馬塲亮治)coreOthers · 1 January 2019External mentor and founder figure for Global Union, with website at 馬塲亮治.com. Designed the organization.
• 大成律师事务所 (Dacheng Law Firm)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm partner based in Shanghai, China (15th/16th Floor, Shanghai Tower, 501 Yincheng Road, M Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200120). Provides legal expertise and professional support for Global Union operations.
• Meta UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's first full-fledged Web 3.0 blockchain-based union, part of Global Union group. Handles metaverse area for all Global Union groups using decentralized blockchain technology.
• 首都圏青年ユニオン連合会 (Metropolitan Youth Union Federation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated union federation representing metropolitan youth workers in Japan.
• ねこの手ユニオン (Cat Hand Union / Nekonote Union)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated union providing worker support services, including columns on labor law issues.
• Free New UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated union under the Free New Union model.
• Timee UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated union for time-based workers.
• Uber UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated union for gig economy/platform workers.
• 令和の虎ユニオン (Tiger Union of 2022)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated union under the Tiger Union brand.
• 国税ユニオン (National Tax Union)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated union focused on tax-related worker issues.
• ナポリの窯ユニオン (Naples Kiln Union)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion for pizza chain workers that joined Global Union. Involved in high-profile disputes with Strawberry Cones Co., Ltd.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deel: Global EOR/contractor management platform serving companies hiring across borders. Comparable on cross-border worker support, multi-country payroll/visa assistance, and global contractor engagement — the same adjacent needs Global Union serves for individual workers rather than employers.
• Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO / 連合): Largest labor federation in Japan with ~7 million members. Operates as a traditional, dues-funded umbrella federation; serves as the macro reference point for the Japanese union market that Global Union is attempting to disrupt with its no-fees model.
• AFL-CIO: Largest US labor federation with ~12.5M members. Traditional union federation comparable on advocacy and collective bargaining scope; relevant as a structural reference for what Global Union's "super statutory" alternative model positions against.
• International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC): Global union confederation representing ~200 million workers through national affiliates. Comparable as a globally-oriented worker representative body; sets the international advocacy standard that Global Union positions against with its digital/blockchain-led model.
• Remote: Global HR and employer-of-record platform supporting international hiring, contractor management, and payroll across 80+ countries. Adjacent peer on the cross-border employment/contractor management theme Global Union addresses, though serving employers rather than workers.

Direct peers

• The General Union: Foreign-workers-focused labor union operating in Japan, with English-language services and a track record of representing non-Japanese workers. Directly comparable to Global Union in target member base (foreign workers) and dispute resolution focus, though operates a more traditional dues-based model.
• IndustriALL Global Union: Global union federation representing workers in mining, energy, and manufacturing sectors across 140 countries. Directly comparable as a transnational union body, though with a sector-specific focus versus Global Union's cross-segment approach.
• IG Metall: Germany's largest industrial union (~4M members), recognized for innovation in worker representation and digital organizing. Comparable as an established union experimenting with modern member-engagement approaches that Global Union's tech-forward positioning echoes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=TUZIBNGBb9g

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Union（グローバルユニオン）