International Development Matters - Issue number 147 November 2015
| International Development Matters |
| Issue number 147 November 2015 |
| IDM - Monthly newsletter reporting international development matters and issues affecting trade unionists around the world. Including reports, statements, interviews and events. |
TUC protests at clampdown on Indonesian unions' minimum wage protest
Trade unions campaign to eliminate the violence against women #IDEVAW
Qatar’s labour law “reforms” a sham
Teachers form new Arab trade union bloc
Burma: On the way to a cautious democracy?
Zimbabwe: outcry over fast-tracked labour reforms
TUC reports from the G20 summit held in Antalya, Turkey
ILO report: The forthcoming adjustment shock 2016
New World Bank report on climate change and poverty
ACT NOW! Libya: Protect female activists now!
ACT NOW! Free Mahdi, in need of urgent medical help in Bahrain
ACT NOW! South Korean government has declared war on the country's trade unions
RadioLabour interview with Jin Sook Lee, BWI’s Migration, Gender and Campaigns Director
Cuba Solidarity Campaign online shop
Nicaraguan Solidarity Campaign Solidarity & fair trade online shop
War on Want ethical online shop
TUC NEWS
TUC protests at clampdown on Indonesian unions' minimum wage protest
TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has joined global union protests aimed at the Indonesian Government about the clampdown on trade unionists in Jakarta who protested over the minimum wage on 30 October. The TUC sent this letter to the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK.
TUC General Secretary writes to Korean Ambassador to protest against raid and arrest of KPTU unionists
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady has written to the Ambassador Sungnam Lim of the Korean Embassy to protest over the recent police raid on the office of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union in Seoul.
Evaluation finds TUC Aid programme with NGWF garment unionists in Bangladesh built activism and confidence
In May, the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) completed the set of training courses run for the TUC Aid programme to promote women’s leadership in Bangladesh. To gauge the effectiveness of the programme, an evaluation was conducted into the programme by the Danish union federation 3F which has offices in Bangladesh.
Read more here
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Trade unions campaign to eliminate the violence against women #IDEVAW
25 November is the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of the #16DaysofActivism against Gender-Based Violence. Read what the global trade union movement is doing to campaign around this issue.
Qatar’s labour law “reforms” a sham
Labour law changes announced by the Government of Qatar for 2017 add a new layer of repression for migrant workers and leave the kafala modern slavery system intact. In response, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has recently voted to send a high-level mission to investigate conditions for workers in Qatar. The vote came despite Qatari resistance to an independent investigation. The TUC’s affiliate GMB recently visited Qatar along with global union federation the Building Workers International (BWI).
Read the GMB’s blog here
Teachers form new Arab trade union bloc
Seventeen education unions and associations representing sixteen Arab countries from the Middle East and North Africa met on 7-8 October in Beirut, Lebanon to establish a new Arab teachers’ trade union structure that is concerned with the promotion and advancing of quality education and professional status. It is also dedicated to an end to all forms of conflict and violence in the region and the development of representative liberal democracy based on human rights and open societies.
Read the Stronger Union’s blog by NASUWT one of our teacher union affiliates here
Burma: On the way to a cautious democracy?
The results of the recent democratic elections in Burma provides what potential prospects for the people of Burma? Read the TUC’s Touchstone blog to find out.
Zimbabwe: outcry over fast-tracked labour reforms
The Zimbabwean government has come under attack from trade unions and business groups for fast-tracking labour reforms which ignore the contributions of Zimbabwe’s social partners.
Read more here
IFI NEWS
TUC reports from the G20 summit held in Antalya, Turkey
Read the TUC’s Touchstone blogs on how the recent G20 summit held on 14-15 November in Antalya, Turkey almost rose to the challenge of the next global recession and how the decline in power and influence of trade unions has accelerated the growth of global inequality.
ILO report: The forthcoming adjustment shock 2016
Since 2010, the ILO have been developing a yearly update on austerity. The latest shows a worrisome second adjustment shock starting in 2016, expected to hit 132 countries, mostly in the developing world. Read the policy brief "The Forthcoming Adjustment Shock" and the full working paper: "The Decade of Adjustment: A Review of Austerity Trends 2010-2020 in 187 Countries"
New World Bank report on climate change and poverty
The World Bank has issued another of its series of reports on the urgency of action against climate change. The report “Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty”, includes an estimate that without reduction of carbon emissions and “rapid, inclusive and climate-smart development”, an additional 100 million people could be pushed into poverty by 2030.
CALLS TO ACTION
ACT NOW! Libya: Protect female activists now!
Nermin Al-Sharif, leader of the Dockers and Seafarers Union of Libya is a passionate and determined internationalist who has fought for women's rights across the Arab world. She has continued this increasingly dangerous work despite the civil war in oil rich Libya. On Sunday 8 November, Nermin, was shot at as she was driving in a car near Benghazi. She is now out of hospital and recovering from her injuries.
Take action and call on the Prime Minister of the Interim Government in Libya, Abdullah al-Thinni, to protect trade unionists and human rights activists.
ACT NOW! Free Mahdi, in need of urgent medical help in Bahrain
The health of Abu Dheeb, the imprisoned president of affiliate Bahraini Teachers’ Association (BTA), is deteriorating without medical care. Abu Dheeb was sentenced by a military court in April 2011 on unwarranted charges and is due for release in April 2016. Take action and support the Amnesty International’s urgent action calling for Bahrain to give him access to the care he desperately needs, and to release him from prison.
ACT NOW! South Korean government has declared war on the country's trade unions
Unions in South Korea were engaged in peaceful protest against a proposed reform to the country's labour laws when police blocked their march, attacked them with water cannon, and arrested 51 union activists. Four days ago, the police raided eight offices of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and its affiliates and regional branches. They confiscated computers, external hard drives, and meeting documents and issued an arrest warrant for Han Sang-gyun, the KCTU president.
Take action now and support the massive online protest campaign here
FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS
RadioLabour interview with Jin Sook Lee, BWI’s Migration, Gender and Campaigns Director
The Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) held its first Global Migration Conference on 5-6 October. Listen to the RadioLabour interview with Jin Sook Lee, BWI's Migration, Gender and Campaigns Director as she outlines what unions can do to help organise and protect migrant workers.
ILO interview with Rulita Wijayaningdyah, General Secretary of the Indonesian Forestry and Allied Workers Union
Sustainable Development and Climate Change: What challenges and opportunities for Unions? The ILO hosted the Tripartite Meeting of Experts on Sustainable Development, Decent Work and Green Jobs from 5 to 9 October 2015. Watch the interview with Ms. Rulita Wijayaningdyah, General Secretary of the Indonesian Forestry and Allied Workers Union, who expresses her views about the challenges and opportunities for Unions towards an environmental sustainable economy.
EVENTS
29 November 2015, TUC Congress House, London
Last chance to register for the Latin America Conference. This year's programme 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.
Register for tickets here
Cuba Solidarity Campaign online shop
Why not treat your friends and family this Christmas to fantastic Cuba related gifts this year and support the work of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign at the same time. As well as the new cards, gift packs and t-shirts, their online shop has a wide selection of books, films, music, food, artwork and much more.
Nicaraguan Solidarity Campaign Solidarity & fair trade online shop
Do your solidarity and fair trade Christmas shopping here. A range of t-shirts, bamboo socks & other clothing, jigsaw puzzles, books, CDs & DVDs, mugs, cards, calendars and many fair trade products, including; Nicaraguan coffee & peanut butter, Palestinian soap, Mexican tiles & earrings and more. For children they have fair trade Nicaraguan, Guatemalan & Peruvian clothing, toys, & books.
War on Want ethical online shop
A selection of ethical t-shirts, mugs, bags, Christmas cards and more gift ideas for the season can be found here
The person responsible for the e-bulletin is:
Tanya Warlock
Tel 0207 467 1357
E: twarlock@tuc.org.uk
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