International Development Matters - Issue 146 October 2015
| International Development Matters |
| Issue number 146 October 2015 |
| IDM - Monthly newsletter reporting international development matters and issues affecting trade unionists around the world. Including reports, statements, interviews and events. |
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TUC demands action to dismantle Colombian paramilitary groups ITUC Congratulates Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet on Nobel Peace Prize 7 October, IndustriALL’s ‘STOP Precarious Work’ campaign Indonesia: Minimum Wage Changes Unacceptable Eurodad analysis of 2015 Annual Meetings of IMF and World Bank Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and respect for workers’ rights IMF issues 7th consecutive biannual downgrade of growth forecasts ACT NOW! Make a stand to end modern slavery TAKE ACTION: #endimpunity campaign ACT NOW! Support the IUF's "Stop PepsiSqueeze" Campaign NSC interview with Flor de Maria Avellan, Confederation of Self-Employed Workers (CTCP) Nicaragua RadioLabour Daily Newscast, 20 October 2015 ITUC Job Vacancy – Advocacy Officer Peoples' March for Climate Justice Jobs TUC NEWS TUC demands action to dismantle Colombian paramilitary groups The TUC has backed an Amnesty International urgent action calling for an investigation into the murder of farmer Ernesto Guzman and demanding action from the Colombian government to finally disarm and dismantle the paramilitary groups that remain the biggest threat to trade unionists and other human rights defenders in the country. TUC General Secretary writes to Myanmar Ambassador to call for the immediate release of jailed garment union activists The TUC General Secretary has written to the Ambassador of Myanmar to call for the immediate release of trade unions activists Naing Zaw Kyi Win, Thu Zaw Kyi Win, Myo Min Min and Naing Htay Lwin who were imprisoned for supporting garment workers striking in Yangon for living wages and basic rights at work. Burma Campaign UK and Amnesty International are running actions calling for the garment union activists to be released. Please sign up to both actions to express your solidarity and send a clear message to the Burmese authorities. INTERNATIONAL NEWS ITUC Congratulates Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet on Nobel Peace Prize Trade unions have celebrated with the UGTT, one of the partners of the National Dialogue Quartet awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for a peaceful transition to a democratic future in Tunisia. Read the Script or Download a special RadioLabour report on this posted Friday 9 October. 7 October, IndustriALL’s ‘STOP Precarious Work’ campaign On 7 October unions around the world joined IndustriALL’s global campaign to STOP Precarious Work. In Brazil, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Peru, and Sri Lanka, workers and affiliates raised their voice to denounce the increase of precarious work and the bad working conditions of precarious workers on World Day for Decent Work. Read more Indonesia: Minimum Wage Changes Unacceptable The ITUC has strongly criticised the decision of the Indonesian Government to change the minimum wage fixing system, eliminating any role for unions in the process. The reforms announced on October 15, 2015 mean that minimum wages will be adjusted automatically, without any possibility for social dialogue. Read more here IFI NEWS Eurodad analysis of 2015 Annual Meetings of IMF and World Bank Read Eurodad’s (European Network on Debt and Development) analysis of the 2015 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank that took place in Lima, Peru during the month of October. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and respect for workers’ rights The newly formed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) provides fresh opportunity to meet the growing financial needs of the rapidly developing economies in the region. We note with interest the recognition by the AIIB of the “important role played by workers in the development process and their contribution to sustainable economic growth”. Nevertheless, the draft consultation document does not bode well for the respect of workers’ rights in AIIB-financed projects. Read more here IMF issues 7th consecutive biannual downgrade of growth forecasts For the seventh time in a row since October 2012, the IMF has corrected downwards the predicted global economic growth forecast for the current year that it issues twice yearly. The IMF’s October 2015 “World Economic Outlook” is available here CALLS TO ACTION ACT NOW! Make a stand to end modern slavery Trade unionists and activists around the world are calling on at least 50 countries to ratify the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Protocol on Forced Labour by 2018, which could restore hope and freedom to millions of people trapped in modern slavery. Sign up and make a stand to end forced labour now. Read a joint Ethical Trading Initiative report on Corporate Responses to Modern Slavery here TAKE ACTION: #endimpunity campaign The International Federation of Journalists’ global campaign to End Impunity and hold world governments and de facto authorities accountable for crimes targeting journalists runs every year from 2 November, the UN day against impunity for crime targeting journalists, to 23 November. The 2015 campaign will put a specific emphasis on four countries; Mexico, Yemen, Philippines and Ukraine. Get involved: Take a workplace picture or selfie with the poster and tweet it to @IFJGlobal and @NUJofficial hashtag: #endimpunity More campaign actions can be found here ACT NOW! Support the IUF's "Stop PepsiSqueeze" Campaign Take action and send a message to the company demanding the workers be reinstated. FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS NSC interview with Flor de Maria Avellan, Confederation of Self-Employed Workers (CTCP) Nicaragua Read the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign interview (page 6) with trade unionist Flor de Maria Avellan on how the Confederation of Self-Employed Workers (CTCP) fights for the rights of its members and to eliminate poverty and marginalisation of street sellers in Nicaragua. RadioLabour Daily Newscast, 20 October 2015 This RadioLabour report was posted on Tuesday 20 October and includes, Women tea workers in India forming their own union and a global union conference to help migrant workers organise. Read the Script or Download the broadcast (5 Mins) EVENTS ITUC Job Vacancy – Advocacy Officer The ITUC’s Advocacy Officer is responsible for the TUDCN work on EU development cooperation policies and instruments. Applications should be sent, together with CV to Vik Meeuws, Human Resources Director, vik.meeuws@ituc-csi.org Deadline for applications is 15 November 2015 NSC’s Nicaraguan Filmshow Saturday 21 November 2015 Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, W1T 5DL (Close to Warren St and Goodge St) Doors open: 3pm, short films start at 3.15pm, event ends by 6pm. £12.50 or £7.50 (concessions) on the day, £11.50 or £6.50 in advance Treat yourself to an afternoon of Nicaraguan films at Bolivar Hall. The screenings include: “La Pantalla Desnuda” / “The Naked Screen” (93 mins, 2014) Directed by Florence Jaugey who also made “La Yuma”. “Cinema Alcázar” (10 mins, 1997) Prize-winning short, again by Jaugey, about an elderly woman who lives in what used to be a cinema. “Running in Solidarity” (10 mins, 2015). Young woman runs the London Marathon for NSC. Directed by George Fuller. For more information and to book tickets, click here Latin America Conference 2015 Saturday, 28 November 2015, 10:00am TUC Congress House, Great Russell Street, London This year's Latin America Conference brings together political leaders, trade unionists, NGOs, academics & progressive movements to explore recent developments across the region, along with films, music and exhibitions showcasing Latin American culture. Event information and tickets Peoples' March for Climate Justice Jobs Sunday 29 November 2015 London TUC Congress 2015 agreed to support the national People’s March for Climate, Justice and Jobs on Sunday 29 November in London. The demonstration marks the opening of the UN’s climate change treaty negotiations in Paris. Events are being organised in towns and cities across the UK that weekend. Details here |
The person responsible for the e-bulletin is:
Tanya Warlock
Tel 0207 467 1357
E: twarlock@tuc.org.uk
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