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Monthly newsletter reporting international development matters and issues affecting trade unionists around the world. Including reports, statements, interviews and events.

In this issue:

TRADE UNION NEWS

·         British trade union movement mourns the death of Nelson Mandela

·         Protest at crackdown on striking rail workers in South Korea

·         Rebuilding trade union structures and institutions in Haiti

·         Defending Workers' Rights in Guatemala

OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS

·         IFJ - 105 Journalists Killed in 2013 and report of first journalist killed in 2014

·         Cambodia: ILO urges dialogue to resolve current dispute in garment sector

·         Justice for victims of Bangladesh textile disasters

·         Global Unions Statement on International Migrants’ Day

 IFI NEWS

·         TUC Blog: Although ‘competitiveness’ is often code for lower wages, they don’t deliver it!

·         The IFIs in 2013: year in review

CALLS TO ACTION

·         ACT NOW! Cambodia: Stop government violence against workers

·         TAKE ACTION NOW!

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

·         RadioLabour news bulletin: International Migrants Day, 2013

·         ILO Interview with George Mahlangu (COSATU), South Africa

·         ILO Interview with Roni Febrianto (KSPI), Indonesia

 EVENTS

·         The Missing Link? Trade unions and tackling poverty in the global south

·         ILO Study Visit: Geneva, May 2014

TUC NEWS

British trade union movement mourns the death of Nelson Mandela

 

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady wrote to the President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Sdumo Dlamini in December to express the sadness and condolences of the British trade union movement over the death of Nelson Mandela. Read the TUC contributions to the Nelson Mandela book of condolences here

Read the ITUCs heartfelt condolences to the people of South Africa on behalf of its 176 million workers worldwide.

Protest at crackdown on striking rail workers in South Korea

The TUC General Secretary has written to the Korean Ambassador in London to protest against the crackdown on striking rail workers in Korea by the government. So far over 8000 striking workers have been dismissed and arrest warrants have been issued for 10 union leaders.

Rebuilding trade union structures and institutions in Haiti

TUC Aid is supporting a project aimed at rebuilding trade union institutions and structures in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010. In a workshop held in Port au Prince from 3 to 5 December 2013, Haitian trade unionistsevaluated progress and developed an action plan for future work.

Defending Workers' Rights in Guatemala

TUC Aid, in partnership with BananaLink, is helping unions in banana plantations in Guatemala to build capacity to defend workers’ rights. Read about the latest successful activities organised under the joint initiative here

OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS

IFJ - 105 Journalists Killed in 2013 and report of first journalist killed in 2014

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have issued a desperate appeal for governments across the world to end impunity for violence against journalists and media staff after posting 105 killings for 2013. Fifteen more lost their lives in accidents while on assignments. The IFJ has also called on authorities in Pakistan to carry out an immediate investigation into the recent murder of  journalist Shan Dahar (Odhor) in the Badha area of the country's Larkana district.

Cambodia: ILO urges dialogue to resolve current dispute in garment sector

 

The ILO urges all stakeholders, workers, trade unions, government and business and its representatives to maximise efforts to find a resolution to the current dispute in the garment sector. The ILO strongly encourages all parties to intensify these efforts through channels based on the principles of social dialogue and tripartism.

Justice for victims of Bangladesh textile disasters

 

The ongoing calls for justice for the victims of the Tazreen and Rana Plaza garment factory disasters in Bangladesh has now extended to issues such as – compensation for the victims and their families, prosecution of the factory owners directly responsible, and legal changes in Bangladesh such as freedom for trade unionsand adequate factory inspection.

Read more here

Global Unions Statement on International Migrants’ Day

The UN established International Migrants’ Day for December 18th to mark the anniversary of the adoption by the General Assembly in 1990 of the international convention on the protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families. Read the Global Unions statement calling for respect for migrants, including the full respect of the rights of migrant workers to form and join trade unions.

IFI NEWS

TUC Blog: Although ‘competitiveness’ is often code for lower wages, they don’t deliver it!

Across Europe, so-called ‘experts’ argue that the main way out of the recession caused by the Global Financial Crisis is to increase ‘competitiveness’, by which they generally mean lower export prices leading to a surplus of exports over imports.

Read more here

The IFIs in 2013: year in review

Read a review of the most important developments at the World Bank and IMF in 2013. Highlights include:

·  Bank president Kim launch of a new, but criticised, strategy

·  Future of IFC’s Doing Business Report becomes subject of tussle

·  IMF’s failure to make progress in modernising its own governance

CALLS TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Cambodia: Stop government violence against workers

On January 3, 2014, the Cambodian government sent military police to attack a demonstration of striking garment workers.  The police opened fire with AK-47 rifles killing five workers and injuring dozens more. Please support the campaign demanding that the Cambodian government stop the violence, restore freedom of association and assembly, release the detained workers and drop any charges against them, and resume negotiations for an increase in the minimum wage.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Please continue to take action and support these ongoing Labour Start actions from 2013 that have previously featured in this newsletter.

·  Kazakhstan: Free jailed oil workers

·  Mexico: Defend jailed workers - drop the charges now

·  Colombia: Free Huber Ballesteros

·  Korea: Teachers' union threatened with delegalisation

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

RadioLabour news bulletin: International Migrants Day, 2013

There are 232 million migrants in the world. Many are living and working in horrible conditions. A specialRadioLabour report on migrant workers and their families. The report features interviews with two international labour movement activists: Chidi King of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Genevieve Gencianos of Public Services International (PSI).

ILO Interview with George Mahlangu (COSATU), South Africa

On the occasion of the ACTRAV symposium on Income Inequality, Labour Market Institutions and Workers' Power held in Geneva from 10 to 13 December 2013, George Mahlangu, Campaigns Coordinator of Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) gave his views on Unions ‘actions to combat inequality in South Africa.

View the interview here

ILO Interview with Roni Febrianto (KSPI), Indonesia

On the occasion of the ACTRAV symposium on Income Inequality, Labour Market Institutions and Workers' Power held in Geneva from 10 to 13 December 2013, Roni Febrianto, Vice-president of Konfederasi Serikat Pekerja Indonesia (KSPI) gave his views on Unions ‘actions to combat inequality in Indonesia.

View the interview here

EVENTS

The Missing Link? Trade unions and tackling poverty in the global south

Thursday 23 January 2014, 6.00pm, TUC, Congress House, Great Russell St, WC1B 3LS

To coincide with the publication of a book entitled "The Global Development Crisis" by Ben Selwyn of Sussex University, in which he makes the case for 'labour-centred development', the TUC is sponsoring a debate on the evening of Thursday 23 January 2014 at 6.00pm (refreshments from 5.30pm).

For full details of speakers and to register, click here

ILO Study Visit: Geneva, May 2014

 

The Global Labour Institute, in partnership with the Workers’ Activities Branch of the ILO, is organising a trade union ILO Study Visit in May 2014. The study visit is designed primarily for UK trade unionists (but not exclusively)  and offers the opportunity to learn about the work of the ILO and the global trade union federations, to explore and discuss international issues facing workers and unions and most importantly, it will enable participants to gain practical knowledge of the international dimension to organising and campaigning.

For full details and how to register, click here

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