TUC Aid appeal 2008 - solidarity with trade unionists in Palestine, Swaziland and Zimbabwe

TUC Aid appeal 2008

Solidarity with trade unionists abroad Palestine, Swaziland, Zimbabwe

• Further details
• How unions can help
  

The TUC is launching an appeal for funds to help the trade union movements in Palestine, Swaziland and Zimbabwe - countries highlighted by recent Congress resolutions - to develop their capacity so that they can survive and grow in the most difficult of conditions.

The entire leadership and membership of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is subject to surveillance, intimidation and imprisonment at the hands of the Mugabe regime. In Swaziland trade unions are at the forefront of the struggle to defend democracy against an increasingly repressive feudal monarchy. And in Palestine, on top of the problems caused for living and working by the Israeli occupation, the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) has to cope with internal conflict in Gaza, which has seen its offices seized and leadership intimidated by Hamas.

Over the course of 2008 the TUC and individual affiliated unions will be involved in many actions of solidarity to support our fellow trade unionists around the world. Burma, Colombia, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Venezuela and Western Sahara are just some of the other countries with whose trade union movements we will continue to show solidarity, and we hope that unions will continue to assist trade unions there and elsewhere.

But we are focusing our appeal on the three countries listed above because after discussions with our colleagues in Palestine, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, the TUC has obtained detailed and up to date information about the priorities and needs of the trade unions in these countries.

Further details

How unions can help

There are different ways in which your union may be able to generate financial support for any or all of the above union needs:

• a direct contribution from union funds;
• a national union appeal publicised through your regional and branch structures, through regional and branch International Officers if you have them, or Regional Secretaries if you do not, including collections at meetings and conferences;
• an article and donations coupon in a future union publication to members;
• a feature or flash advert on your website (you can link direct to the TUC Aid web pages which can accept donations electronically from individuals in the most tax efficient way.)

The TUC's European Union and International Department can provide more information on any of the above ways of providing support, and also more detailed information about the projects summarised above. We can also support your union to produce appropriate fundraising and campaigning material.

Although all the funds raised by this appeal will be channelled to the unions through TUC Aid - the TUC's international development arm - if you would like to earmark any of your union's contribution to a specific country, that can easily be arranged - or you could simply donate direct to TUC Aid and let us put the money to the most effective use we can across the three countries.