International Development Matters - Issue 145 September 2015
| International Development Matters |
| Issue number 145 September 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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Frances O’Grady’s message to the Solidarity with Refugees protest TUC calls for workers' rights in Mexico-EU trade deal IndustriALL Women World conference Tens of Millions Strike in India to Defend Labour Rights Trade Union Roadmap for Nepal Reconstruction Backed by Government Swaziland Ministers come to Brussels Sustainable Development Goals – the new Millennium Development Goals EU Commission’s proposals for reforms to ISDS: new name, same danger ACT NOW: Sign the TUC petition! – Stop CETA, TTIP’s dangerous cousin New Asian infrastructure bank proposes very limited labour safeguard RadioLabour World Report, 25 September Action for Southern Africa’s AGM and Conference 2015 TUC NEWS Frances O’Grady’s message to the Solidarity with Refugees protest TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady sent a message of support to the Solidarity with Refugees protest in London held on Saturday 12 September 2015. TUC calls for workers' rights in Mexico-EU trade deal TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has written to EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom in response to an EU consultation on reviewing the free trade agreement between the EU and Mexico. Her letter calls for workers' rights to be central to negotiations and any new agreement. INTERNATIONAL NEWS IndustriALL Women World conference Some 300 women from all continents met in Vienna from 14 to 16 September 2015 at IndustriALL Global Union’s First Women World Conference to address challenges facing women in the workplace. Read more here and listen to a RadioLabour broadcast about the conference here Tens of Millions Strike in India to Defend Labour Rights Tens of millions of Indian workers joined a national strike on 2 September called by ten major trade union bodies, in what may be the largest strike in history. Read more here Trade Union Roadmap for Nepal Reconstruction Backed by Government The ITUC has welcomed the Nepal government’s support for a trade union Roadmap for reconstruction and development, in the wake of the devastating April 25 earthquake. The roadmap underlines the crucial importance of job creation, social dialogue and workers’ rights in ensuring efficient and sustainable reconstruction and rebuilding the national economy. Unions face increasing harassment in Iran Despite the recent thaw in relations between the Iranian regime and western countries, the situation facing trade unionists in the country has worsened alarmingly this month. Read the Stronger Unions blog here Swaziland Ministers come to Brussels Read the Stronger Unions blog on the recent ministerial delegation visit from Swaziland to Brussels, to respond to demands made by the European Parliament to improve the human and workers’ rights situation in the country. IFI NEWS Sustainable Development Goals – the new Millennium Development Goals On 25 September, world leaders from 193 countries assembled at the United Nations annual General Assembly in New York to adopt 17 Global Goals to end extreme poverty and build a better world by 2030. Read what the UK trade union movement and wider international trade union movement responses are. EU Commission’s proposals for reforms to ISDS: new name, same danger Recently EU Trade Commissioner Malmström announced proposals for a reformed version of the notorious Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions in TTIP. The new system of investment protection she described is called the ‘Investment Court System’, or ICS. Read more here CALLS TO ACTION ACT NOW: Sign the TUC petition! – Stop CETA, TTIP’s dangerous cousin It's one year since Canada and the EU agreed a trade deal known as CETA (the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement). CETA hasn’t entered into law yet – first it needs to be voted through European and national parliaments – but this could happen as soon as early next year. This is much sooner than the EU-US trade deal TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership), which is still being negotiated. The text of CETA is public and reveals that it contains a lot of the same threats as TTIP. It would make it easier for bad deals like TTIP to be successful. This is why, when CETA comes to the European Parliament, we need our MEPs to vote against it. Please sign up and share this petition with as many people as possible! New Asian infrastructure bank proposes very limited labour safeguard The new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), funded in late June by China and 56 other governments, has prepared a draft Environmental and Social Framework, commonly known as safeguards, on which it is currently consulting governments, but not trade unions or other civil society organizations. The ITUC has prepared a draft letter to governments concerning the very weak proposed labour and other social and environmental safeguards. FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS IndustriALL Interview with Ahlam Alterawi, General Trade Union of Workers in Textile Garment and Clothing Industries Jordan (JTGCU) Jordan is a safe haven for more than 600,000 Syrian refugees, of whom 80 per cent are living in the country’s cities. Ahlam Alterawi from the General Trade Union of Workers in Textile Garment and Clothing Industries (JTGCU) explains what unions have been doing to integrate refugees into the workforce. RadioLabour World Report, 25 September This RadioLabour report was posted on Friday 25 September and includes; ITUC calls for release of Mauritania women kept as slaves in Saudi Arabia; Woodworkers hit especially hard by climate change; and PSI conference to protect public services in Africa Download here or read the Script here EVENTS Action for Southern Africa’s AGM and Conference 2015 Saturday 31st October, 11.00am Unite House, 128 Theobald's Road, Holborn, London, WC1X 8TN Entry: free Immediately following the AGM will be the ACTSA Conference: South Africa: Glass Half Full or Half Empty? Democratic South Africa is 21. What have been the country’s achievements since victory over apartheid? What are the key challenges? Where is South Africa heading? Some raise concerns about South Africa today, some point to the successes. |
The person responsible for the e-bulletin is:
Tanya Warlock
Tel 0207 467 1307
E: twarlock@tuc.org.uk
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