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International Development Matters Issue 134 October 2014

IDM - Monthly newsletter reporting international development matters and issues affecting trade unionists around the world. Including reports, statements, interviews and events.

TUC News

Other International News

IFI News

Calls to Action

Focus on Trade Unionists

Events

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TUC News

TUC launches Playfair Qatar Campaign

The TUC has launched the Playfair Qatar campaign to bring together British opposition to Qatar’s modern slavery ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Playfair Qatar aims to build a powerful voice to force government, business and sporting bodies here and internationally to talk about the only thing that really matters; saving worker’s lives and giving them back their rights. You can read more on the campaign and how you can show your support here.

TUC Aid helps promote rights of disabled people in Rwanda

TUC Aid has joined hands with Disability Aid Abroad (DAA) in Northern Ireland to help disabled people in Rwanda to improve their job prospects. An awareness-raising workshop on the employment rights of disabled people organised under the Employment Support Programme for Disabled Workers in Rwanda has highlighted the lack of job opportunities and widespread discrimination despite specific anti-discrimination legislation and constitutional provisions. You can read more on this workshop and how TUC Aid is supporting this initiative here.

General Council’s statement on Gaza

Congress 2014 approved a General Council statement on the events in Gaza. The statement contains steps the Council feels should be taken to achieve peace with justice in the region. You can read the full statement here.

TUC calls for a globally coordinated wage and public investment-led recovery strategy

The TUC has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, on the occasion of the annual meetings of the IMF/World Bank to be held in Washington in October, calling on the government to support a globally coordinated wage and public investment-led recovery strategy. 

Other International News

Peru activists murdered in the Amazon

The TUC’s Stephen Russell reports on the murder of four campaigners for indigenous land rights in the Peruvian Amazon, killed almost certainly by the illegal loggers that have plagued the country for years.

Day of action demands living wage increase in Cambodia

On 17 September the TUC took part in a day of action backing Cambodian unions’ demand for a higher living wage for garment workers. The campaign aims to have the minimum wage increased from $100 to $177 a month which unions say is the amount garment workers need to live. You can read more on the day of action events here.

Chilean mine workers strike after continuous violations of law by company owners

Workers at the Escondida mine and its port, Coloso, in Chile, went on strike at 8am on 22 September after members of Union Number 1 voted to stop work in response to the constant violations of Chilean law by the mine’s multinational owners, BHP Billiton and Río Tinto and the Chilean authorities’ failure to make the companies comply with the country’s legislation. Read more here.

IFI News

Unions call on World Bank to adopt as strong a labour standard as other development banks

ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow has urged World Bank President Jim Yong Kim to ensure that the institution he leads adopts a labour standard lending requirement that is as comprehensive as those adopted by other multilateral development banks, and to correct the major weaknesses in the draft “labour safeguard” that was recently issued for consultation.

Wage-led growth exposes fault-lines in G20

G20 labour ministers have put unemployment, demand and growth on the agenda for the G20 leaders meeting in Brisbane but failed to reach consensus on the big issue that the world needs a pay rise. Read more here.

Unions criticise proposed trade deals

United Steelworkers (USW), representing workers in the US and Canada and Unite the Union from the UK, collectively Workers Uniting, have declared their opposition to a number of provisions in the proposed Canada and EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Although repeatedly criticized by the trade union movement, the provisions still remain.

Calls to Action

Stop the suppression of democratic movement in Hong Kong

The Chinese government has broken its promise to implement true democracy in Hong Kong. On 28 September the Hong Kong government deployed anti-riot police and fired tear gas at tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators. HKCTU calls for the support of the international community and asks you to send protest letters to PRC President Xi Jinping and HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun Ying.

Thailand: Drop the charges against Andy Hall!

The case against Andy Hall for exposing serious abuses at Natural Fruit's pineapple factory has yet to come to a conclusion and therefore it is not too late to show your support for Andy and send your letter here.

Desperate fight for recognition of workplace accident

Since 2002 Rubén Montoya has been fighting for compensation after a workplace accident led to his disability and being fired from his company twice. Rubén has since been on hunger strike and attempted suicide twice to escape the emotional distress this has caused. You can show your support for Rubén Montoya and demand he receives the compensation he deserves here.

Focus on Trade Unionists

President of NGWF receives prestigious Human Rights Award

Amirul Haque Amin, president of NGWF, will receive the prestigious City of Nuremberg Human Rights Award as a recognition of his and NGWF’s struggle to improve the rights of garment workers in Bangladesh including his continuing efforts after the Rana Plaza disaster to get major companies to sign an agreement concerning Fire and Building Safety and help prevent a repeat event. You can read more on Amirul Haque Amin’s work and his award here.

International labour movement fights for the release of unionist falsely imprisoned in Colombia

Huber Ballesteros, one of Colombia's most recognised unionists, was arrested in August for leading mass strikes. The international labour movement is organising a global campaign for his release. ARadioLabour interview with Mariela Kohon, Director of Justice for Colombia.

Stop the attacks on unionists in Guatemala! An interview with one of the victims

Guatemala is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for unionists. Public Services International (PSI) sent a delegation to investigate and ask the Guatemalan government to stop the attacks on unionists in the country. You can listen to a RadioLabour interview with one of the unionists who was wounded in an attack - Melvy Lizeth Camey Rojas, Secretary General of the Santa Rosa section of the health care workers' union of Guatemala (SNTSG) here

Events

SERTUC International Committee - Open meeting: Understanding the TTIP

Thursday 23 October 2014 - 18:30 to 20:30

TUC Congress House

SERTUC will be hosting an open meeting which aims to discuss what TTIP is and the impact it will have. You can read more on this event as well as view the agenda and venue details here.

Alke Schmidt: Tangled Yarns Exhibition

Saturday 25 October 2014 – 25 January 2015

William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow

William Morris Gallery will be hosting a free exhibition exploring the politics and morality of the textile industry and the cotton trade, from the 18th century to the present day. It is the work of artist AlkeSchmidt. You can read more on this event here.

Bond Annual Conference

Monday 10 November 2014

Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Westminster

Bond Annual Conference, this year will be held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster on Monday, 10 November. The packed programme includes high profile speakers from across the sector.  To register, click here.

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