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5 Global solidarity

73 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Congress notes that in the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the abuse of human rights continues to be widespread.

Congress notes that the UDHR includes social, cultural and economic rights that are indivisible from civil and political rights.

Congress notes that trade unionists are often in the frontline of the defence of human rights and are, therefore, also often particularly at risk from despotic regimes or discriminatory employers. Congress notes that ILO core labour standards (including the right to join a trade union and bargain collectively) are human rights too.

Congress applauds the work of Amnesty International to campaign for and defend all the human rights contained in the UDHR.

Congress welcomes the growing collaboration between Amnesty International and the ITUC and the Global Unions and welcomes the decision of Amnesty in the UK to expand significantly its activism, engagement and campaigning with union branches, trades councils and with the TUC regions.

Congress calls on affiliated trade unions, trades councils and union members to:

i) continue to place the struggle for human rights at the heart of solidarity work;

ii) recognise that human rights need to be won and defended at home as well as abroad; and

iii) work with Amnesty International to advance and support the full range of rights contained within the UDHR.

Congress further calls on the General Council to intensify its collaboration with Amnesty on shared human rights objectives.

Accord

Amendment

Insert new paragraph 3:

'Congress recognises the role that unions can play in helping build strong institutions of civil society and in promoting participation in governance and citizenship, as well as in community life, giving voice to people's needs and concerns, and giving people the confidence to exercise fully their human rights.'

FDA

74 Human rights and artistic freedom

Congress re-affirms its commitment to the human rights of workers nationally and internationally. Respect for human rights must begin with basic labour standards and conditions, including the freedom to join a trade union.

The human rights of workers must also incorporate freedom of expression, including the inalienable right to freedom of artistic expression. Artistic freedom in the media and live performance can enrich communities and cultures, while the freedom to perform in their chosen profession provides artists and performers with employment and income.

Yet professional performers and artists from around the world often face severe restrictions on their freedom to carry out their work, which can lead to censorship, exile, persecution, imprisonment, torture or even death, because of the nature of their work and the response of authoritarian regimes.

Congress supports the work of Amnesty International, Liberty and International PEN and similar organisations in defending freedom of expression. It also commends the work of Equity's International Committee for Artists' Freedom in working with these bodies to highlight the plight of artists, performers and creative workers whose human rights are curtailed and abused in this way.

Congress calls on the General Council to continue to work closely with these and other external bodies, so the TUC is able to act as an effective link between dedicated human rights organisations and the relevant occupational areas of the trade union movement.

Equity

75 Colombia

Congress is outraged by the 89 per cent increase in assassinations of trade unionists in Colombia during the first period of 2008 and notes that Colombia remains the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist.

Congress remains concerned by the refusal of the UK Government to acknowledge the responsibility of the Colombian state in carrying out systematic human rights abuses against trade unionists and others in Colombia and is appalled by the UK Government's ongoing political, diplomatic and military support for such an abusive regime. More specifically, Congress is angered that the UK continues to provide military aid to Colombian army units that assassinate trade unionists whilst at the same time providing no visible support for a Humanitarian Exchange.

Congress applauds the work of Justice for Colombia (JFC) to raise awareness about the situation in Colombia and to provide concrete support to trade unions in Colombia that are operating in such a harsh environment.

Congress calls on the General Council to:

i) strongly oppose ongoing UK military aid to Colombia;

ii) pressure the Government to use resources currently devoted to the Colombian security forces instead for social development, human rights and other projects that would benefit the Colombian people;

iii) call on the Government to follow the example of other countries such as France in making clear their support for a Humanitarian Exchange in Colombia as a first step towards a negotiated settlement; and

iv) commit to continuing financial and political support for the work of JFC.

Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

Amendment

In sub-paragraph iv), after 'JFC' insert:

', including support for the new campaign to have EU trade preferences withdrawn from Colombia; and

v) organise, in co-operation with JFC, a major international conference designed to raise awareness of the situation in Colombia.'

Unite

Amendment

Insert new paragraph 2:

'Congress deplores violence, illegality and kidnapping; the Colombian Government's disrespect for its ILO obligations, including the 2006 tripartite accord; and the impunity that allows the killers of trade unionists to escape punishment.'

Insert new sub-paragraph iii) and renumber subsequent sub-paragraphs:

'iii) continue to support the Colombian trade union movement's calls for the development of social justice and collective bargaining;'

Association of Teachers and Lecturers

76 Miami Five

Congress deplores the continued imprisonment of the Miami Five in the USA and notes the 2008 Amnesty International Report's condemnation of the appeal process and the denial of the human right of visitation rights to the families of the Miami Five.

The Miami Five are Cuban men who are in a US prison, serving four life sentences and 75 years collectively, after being wrongly convicted in a US federal court in Miami on 8 June 2001. The Five were involved in monitoring the actions of Miami-based terrorist groups, in order to prevent terrorist attacks on their country of Cuba and never directed action at the US government. For 40 years, anti-Cuba terrorist organisations based in Miami have engaged in terrorist activities against Cuba, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths of Cubans, with the knowledge and support of the FBI and CIA.

Congress acknowledges the work of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign in its defence of the Miami Five, urges support and calls for:

i) a prompt retrial of the Five in any venue other than Miami;

ii) full visiting rights for all of the families in the meanwhile; and

iii) work with US unions to bring further pressure on the US administration.

Congress further calls on the General Council to support:

a) an autumn campaign of action, to include national press adverts calling for freedom for the Five, to mark the 10th anniversary of their imprisonment.

Unite

77 Cuba

2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and its achievements, including eradicating illiteracy, free education, plus greatly reduced infant mortality rates and increased life expectancy.

Congress expresses support for the right of Cuba to choose its own economic, social and political path and opposes the USA's illegal economic blockade. Congress applauds the 16th annual vote of the United Nations condemning the US trade embargo.

Congress recognises Cuba's international solidarity, with 37,000 Cuban medical professionals working for free in 79 countries; emergency aid in countries like Peru, Indonesia and Pakistan; Cuban medics restoring sight to a million Latin Americans previously suffering from cataracts; and the provision of 30,000 free scholarships to students from 21 countries to study in Cuba.

Congress agrees to support the proposal of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC) to celebrate Cuba's achievements and agrees to provide publicity and support for events organised under the Cuba50 banner.

Congress agrees to:

i) encourage affiliation to CSC; and

ii) invite a CTC speaker to Congress 2009.

Congress calls upon the General Council to lobby the UK Government to:

a) end its complicity with the US blockade and move to an independent policy respecting Cuban sovereignty;

b) improve trade and bilateral relations with Cuba; and

c) oppose all US extraterritorial threats against UK-based companies.

Congress further calls on the UK Government to send a high level delegation to Cuba, and invite a Parliamentary Ministerial delegation from Cuba to the UK to strengthen links and trade between our countries.

Fire Brigades' Union

78 European legislation

Congress recognises the many benefits to working people that have resulted from legislation developed by the European Parliament and Commission.

Congress also applauds the work of the ETUC in influencing economic and social policy making at the highest level, working with the EU Presidency, Council, Commission and Parliament.

However, Congress believes that insufficient attention is paid to partnership working in formulating new directives and legislation. Directives that reach approval for implementation without full appreciation of the wider implications are regrettable. They serve to undermine the good standing of the European legislative process and give fuel to anti-Europe apologists.

The Society of Radiographers, in partnership with clinical colleagues, medical charities and patient groups across Europe, highlights the EU Physical Agents Directive (Electromagnetic Fields) as an example of legislation that benefits the health and safety of workers in diverse industries but which, though a failure to consult widely during drafting, threatens to curtail vital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services across Europe.

Congress believes the health of hundreds of thousands of ordinary people is under threat from a directive that otherwise deserves the wholehearted support of all.

As the postponed implementation allows work to re-shape this directive, Congress calls upon the General Council to reinforce its stated position that the clinical MRI element should be dealt with separately.

Congress also calls on the General Council and the ETUC to seek more robust partnership working across all sectors so that future directives are fully informed and so that the progress of good legislation is not delayed.

Society of Radiographers

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