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TUC E-Bulletins

International Development Matters Issue number 131 March 2014

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

TUC NEWS

TUC urges Cambodia Government to allow peaceful protest

TUC protests to Cambodian Ambassador on global day of action to #freethe23

TUC urges Benetton to compensate Rana Plaza victims

TUC urges Korea to respect workers' rights

OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ITUC Statement on International Women’s Day 2014

Qatar World Cup Workers’ Standards: no legal enforcement, no worker rights

TUCA statement on the Violence in Venezuela

IFJ Publishes Full Report on Journalists and Media Staff Killed in 2013

IFI NEWS

Future News (Robin Hood Tax)

World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report

G20 Finance Ministers: crises brewing, but little action

CALLS TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Stop robbing Peru workers and citizens of their rights

ACT NOW! Rana Plaza brands must pay compensation now

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

RadioLabour International Women's Day interview – Chidi King, ITUC

RadioLabour interview with Rosa Crawford, Trades Union Congress

EVENTS

WOW – Women of the World festival

War on Want Annual Conference

Life Before Debt - Why debt rules our lives and how to resist it

Cycling marathon for Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign

TUC NEWS

TUC urges Cambodia Government to allow peaceful protest

This International Women’s Day, IndustriALL Global Union is mobilising support for Cambodian women garment workers, 30,000 of whom will defy government warnings to gather in Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park on 8 March.  TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has written urgently to the Prime Minister of Cambodia urging him to ensure that a peaceful protest is allowed to proceed.

Listen to the RadioLabour interviewed with Monika Kemperle, the Assistant General Secretary of IndustriALL, about the situation in Cambodia.

TUC protests to Cambodian Ambassador on the global day of action to #freethe 23

The TUC's General Secretary Frances O'Grady has protested to the Cambodian Ambassador in London as part of global union day of action, demanding the release of 23 jailed textile workers (who were in court on 11 February) and respect for the principles of freedom of association, assembly and collective bargaining.

Read about the 19 February global unions meeting with major apparel brands and the Cambodian government opening up tentative steps towards constructive dialogue. Discussions included a minimum wage reform, trade union legislation and the imprisoned workers.

TUC urges Benetton to compensate Rana Plaza victims

As a global campaign launches to persuade corporates sourcing from Bangladesh to compensate the Rana Plaza factory disaster survivors and victims' families, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has written to the Chairman of Benetton asking the company to make an appropriate donation to the Rana Plaza Arrangement fund, managed by the ILO.

Read Industriall’s article showing that compensation arrangement needs brands’ commitment.

Read the diary blogs, part 1 and part 2 of the TUC’s recent visit to the National Garment Workers Federation in Dhaka, Bangladesh to meet with trade union officials and hear the latest campaign developments.

TUC urges Korea to respect workers' rights

Ahead of the "People's Strike" called for Tuesday 25 February by our sister organisation KCTU in South Korea, the TUC General Secretary has written to the Korean Ambassador to London posing five key questions about his government's failure to respect workers' rights and the fundamental core conventions of the ILO.

Read this report detailing some of the attacks on freedom of association and assembly and the right to strike, also the 15 Korean trade union leaders in jail or on bail.

OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ITUC Statement on International Women’s Day 2014

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2014, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is calling time on gender-based violence in the world of work. Violence against women at work, whether at their actual place of work or on the way to and from work, can take on multiple forms.

Read more here

Read the joint statement of the ITUC, EI and PSI and IFJ on Women’s Rights

Qatar World Cup Workers’ Standards: no legal enforcement, no worker rights

Qatar’s new World Cup worker welfare standards do not deliver fundamental rights for workers and merely reinforce the discredited kafala system of employer control over workers, warned the International Trade Union Confederation.

TUCA statement on the Violence in Venezuela

Read the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) response to the violent situation unfolding over recent days in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

IFJ Publishes Full Report on Journalists and Media Staff Killed in 2013

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has recently published its full report on the number of journalists and media staff killed across the globe in 2013.

IFI NEWS

Future News (Robin Hood Tax)

The Robin Hood Tax campaign takes a cheeky look at what the world might be like in 2024, with a tax which tackles extreme poverty, climate change and cuts to public services. Watch the film starring Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead), Bill Nighy (Love Actually) and more.  

World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report

The World Bank recently issued its new "Global Economic Prospects" (GEP) report and predicted a strengthening of global economic growth, mostly because of a beginning shift away from self-inflicted misery in the policies adopted by advanced-economy governments.

G20 Finance Ministers: crises brewing, but little action

The European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) has posted a useful analysis of last weekend’s G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Sydney, which highlights the lack of concrete measures to achieve their global economic growth target.

Read the global unions calls for the G20 Finance Ministers to take urgent action on Jobs

CALLS TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Stop robbing Peru workers and citizens of their rights

The global union federation Public Services International and its affiliate unions in Peru call on supporters around the world to send a strong message to the Peruvian government: "Don't sell off Peru's public water and sanitation services for private profit!"

Sent your message to Peru’s government leaders now.

ACT NOW! Rana Plaza brands must pay compensation now

Support IndustriALL Global Union, UNI Global Union and the Clean Clothes Campaign in ensuring Rana Plaza brands pay compensation to the injured and victims’ families.

Take action here

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

RadioLabour International Women's Day interview – Chidi King, ITUC

The ongoing economic crisis has had a devastating effect on all workers but especially hard hit are women workers. RadioLabour's senior correspondent,  C. Marie Ainsborough, interviewed Chidi King, the Acting Director of the Equality Department of the ITUC.

RadioLabour interview with Rosa Crawford, Trades Union Congress

In recognition of International Womens Day, RadioLabour have produced a special report on the plight of women garment workers in Bangladesh. In it Rosa Crawford of the Trades Union Congress in the UK reports on her recent trip to Bangladesh. Listen here

EVENTS

WOW – Women of the World festival

Friday 7 – Sunday 9 March 2014

Women of the World festival of talks, debates, music, film & comedy celebrating women is back for the fourth year with a bigger and bolder programme than ever before. Click here for details about the festival weekend schedule.

War on Want Annual Conference

Saturday 22 March, 11:00 to 18:00. Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1

The theme for war on Want’s 2014 conference is: The new frontlines of war: Corporations, conflict and community resistance. It will be a day of inspiring talks, interactive discussions and cultural activism. The conference is open to everyone with an interest in learning more about the new frontlines of war and how to address them. There will be a fantastic programme of music and spoken word performance from 8pm until late Full details here

Life Before Debt - Why debt rules our lives and how to resist it

Saturday, 29 March 2014 from 10:00 to 18:30

School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

This free day-long conference by Jubilee Debt Campaign will hear from global movements on the frontline of debt resistance, investigate the pervasive role of debt in our lives today, and discuss what collective action we can take to break the chains of debt in years to come. Details here

Cycling marathon for Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign

Fancy riding this cycling marathon for Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign or know anyone who would like to? Places for the Prudential Ride London-Surrey100 are available! The ride starts in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, then follows a 100-mile route on closed roads through the capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside.

For more information on registration details, contact Stella Embliss on 020 7561 4836 or at nsc@nicaraguasc.org.uk


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