Countries
Countries
The TUC works with trade unions around the world. In particular, we focus on
21 priority countries. These are chosen for one or more of the following
reasons:
- the country’s workers or trade unions face particularly difficult circumstances
- the country plays a significant role in world affairs, or is pivotal in international discussions on trade or labour standards
- the country has a major trade union movement
- the country’s trade union movement conducts significant solidarity work.
The TUC’s priority countries are Australia, Brazil, Burma, China, Colombia, Cuba, France, Germany, India, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Scandinavia, South Africa, Turkey, USA and Zimbabwe.
Australia
Brazil
Brazil is playing a increasing important role on the global stage both at a political and economic level. The TUC works with the three main Brazilian Trade Union Federations, the Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT) , Força Sindical (FS) and Confederaçâo Geral dos Trabalhadores (CGT) on trade, the impact of transnational corporations, rights for Brazilian migrant works in the UK and Europe and labour market and trade union reform in Brazil.
Find out more about the CUT [www.cut.org.br], the FS [www.fsindical.org.br] and the CGT [www.contec.org.br].
Burma
The situation in Burma remains a major concern for many British Trade Unionists due to the repressive nature of the military regime. The TUC is particularly concerned about the continued use of forced labour and the repression of trade unions. We maintain close contact with the exiled Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB). Working with affiliated unions and the Burma Campaign UK, we seek to persuade the British government to take stronger action including a ban on UK investment in Burma.
Find out more about the FTUB [www.burmafund.org]
Find out more about the Burma Campaign UK [www.burmacampaign.org.uk]
China
The TUC’s work on China focuses on several fronts:, but crucially we are concerned with, first, the effects of rapid Chinese development on the global economy; and second, the absence of the legal right to free and independent trade unions in mainland China.
· We continue to work with independent unions and labour-related non-governmental
organisations in Hong Kong including the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
(HKCTU) and the China Labour Bulletin (CLB).
· We maintain contact with the official state trade union movement in
China, the All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and are looking at joint
programmes to enable them to deal with the reality of moves to a full market
economy.
· We work with British companies and non-governmental organisations to
improve conditions for Chinese working for British multinationals through programmes
such as the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Find out more about the HKCTU [www.hkctu.org.uk], the CLB [www.clb.org.hk] and the ACFTU [www.acftu.org.cn]
Colombia
Colombia is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a trade unionist. More than 3,000 trade unionists have been murdered there since 1989, mostly by right-wing paramilitaries in collusion with security forces. Other violations of workers' human rights include threats, displacement, militarisation of workplaces, declaration of strikes as illegal and arbitrary detention of trade unionists.
The TUC has strong relationships with Colombia’s three trade union confederations: the ICFTU-affiliated Confederación de Trabajadores de Colombia (CTC) and the non-affiliated [name] CUT, in particular are in close and regular contact. We work closely with Justice for Colombia (JfC), encouraging British and Colombian trade unions to develop links. Many British union organisations now support Colombian trade unions, helping to build their capacity to organise and defend their members' interests.
The TUC is also active in ILO attempts to put pressure on the Colombian Government
to end violations of human and union rights.
Learn more about Justice for Colombia. [www.justiceforcolombia.org/submenu2/motionsletters.html]
Cuba
France
Germany
India
The TUC’s relations with the Indian trade union movement date back to the colonial era and have strengthened since independence.
The TUC attaches great importance to developing links with national trade union centres in the subcontinent and appreciates their increasingly significant role in world affairs. We work with India’s leading national trade union centres, collaborating closely on issues of pivotal importance to the international trade union movement, including the elimination of child labour, respect of core labour standards and trade justice.
Links
· INTUC
· HMS
· AITUC
New Unions Project
Iraq
The TUC has relationships with all the Iraqi and Kurdish trade union centres,
three of which unified in 2005 to form a new Iraqi Workers Federation.
Apart from the massive economic and social devastation resulting from the war
and the consequent lack of decent employment and basic services, Iraqi unions
are under attack from the current Iraqi Government, which recently issued a
decree taking state control of all union assets and finances. The TUC supports
workers’ efforts to rebuild free trade unionism in Iraq.
In Britain, practical support for the Iraqi trade unions is channelled largely
through the TUC's Iraq Solidarity Committee [link within site] and the TUC’s
Global Solidarity Fund [link within site] raises funds to support Iraqi trade
unionists in practical ways.
Israel/Palestine
The TUC has close links with the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and the Histadrut, the Israeli national trade union centre. We offer practical support to both organisations, are we are particularly keen to support joint initiatives desired by both union movements.
The TUC is deeply concerned about the effects of the Israeli occupation on
the daily lives of Palestinian workers and their families, the devastation
of the economy, the restrictions on movement of goods and people, and the separation
wall, built deep in Palestinian territory. We are committed to supporting Israeli
workers who face economic downturn and Government attacks on the rights of
working people.
On the conflict itself, the TUC supports a two-state solution based on UN resolutions,
with peace and security for both Israel and an independent and viable Palestinian
state based on the 1967 borders.
Italy
The TUC has relationships with the three Italian trade union confederations:
Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL), 5 m 587,307 members http://www.cgil.it/
Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori (CISL), 4 m 260,937 members http://www.cisl.it/
Unione Italiana del Lavoro (UIL), 1 m 915,237 members http://www.uil.it/
(membership level: 2004 data)
Japan
The TUC maintains close relations with the Japanese trade union national centre, JTUC-RENGO engaging in regular dialogue on issues of mutual concern including, organising strategies, working time, labour marker changes and international trade unionism. We have recently signed a new memorandum of understanding committing to more regular exchanges of information and bilateral summits between both organisations.
Find out more about the JTUC-RENGO [www.jtuc-rengo.org]
Netherlands
Nigeria
The TUC has enjoyed long-standing relations with the trade union movement in Nigeria and helped mobilise international support for the struggle against dictatorship, spearheaded by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), during the country’s transition to democracy in the 1990s. We have supported the NLC in its recent campaign against attempts to erode trade union and human rights. The NLC and the TUC are currently collaborating in a project designed to enhance the role of women in trade union activities.
Find out more about the NLC [www.nlcng.org]
Russia
Scandinavia
South Africa
The TUC has enjoyed long-standing relations with the trade union movement in Nigeria and helped mobilise international support for the struggle against dictatorship, spearheaded by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), during the country’s transition to democracy in the 1990s. We have supported the NLC in its recent campaign against attempts to erode trade union and human rights. The NLC and the TUC are currently collaborating in a project designed to enhance the role of women in trade union activities.
Find out more about the NLC [www.nlcng.org]
Turkey
USA
Zimbabwe
The TUC has long-standing relations with the trade union movement in Zimbabwe, and works closely with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
The TUC, in close collaboration with the international trade union movement, notably the ICFTU, has campaigned vigorously against Government violations of trade union and human rights in Zimbabwe. We have, through the Global Solidarity Fund, supported the ZCTU in its efforts to protect and promote trade union and human rights.
Find out more about the ZCTU [www.zctu.co.zw]
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