International Development Matters - Issue 175 June 2018
| International Development Matters |
| Issue number 175 - June 2018 |
| 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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TUC welcomes release of Korean Trade Union Leader Han Sang-gyun TUC attends #FreeLula protest in solidarity! TUC hosts the ITUC General Council and celebrates 150th Anniversary TUC affiliate NASUWT’s international solidarity newsletter Colombia: Workers murdered in Valle del Cauca Towards a convention on gender-based violence in the workplace Global unions unite to support independent trade unions in Algeria Brazilian oil workers temporarily suspend national strike Thousands protest Argentina's negotiations with IMF The World Bank Should Stop Dodging Accountability World Bank staff warn about trying to do more, while getting paid less ACT NOW! Stop anti-union harassment and victimization @AB InBev Sonepat India! ACT NOW! Support the UMT in Morocco Iran: FIFA Called on to Enforce Human Rights and non-Discrimination Policy Stop the repression of Somalia’s independent trade unions RadioLabour interview with Girlie Magagula, Organizing Secretary, Womens' Committee, Trade Union Congress of Swaziland RadioLabour interview with Joel Odijie, Coordinator of Human and Trade Union Rights, ITUC-Africa TUDCN job vacancy: Advocacy Officer Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum, Dorchester Road, DT2 7EH Dorset TUC NEWSTUC welcomes release of Korean Trade Union Leader Han Sang-gyunThe TUC has welcomed the announcement by the Korean Ministry of Justice that Han San-gyun, former president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), will be released from prison on parole. Han was imprisoned for organising union protests under the corrupt regime of former Korean President Park Geun-hye almost three years ago. TUC and its affiliates had been part of an international campaign led by the ITUC to call for the release of Han. TUC attends #FreeLula protest in solidarity!The TUC along with trade unionists from all over the world and local Brazilian residents took part in a PT Londres organised protest to demand #Freedom4Lula outside Brazil's Embassy in London on 24 May. For background information on the issues, click here. TUC hosts the ITUC General Council and celebrates 150th AnniversaryA special ceremony to mark the 150th anniversary of the TUC, the first national trade union centre established in the world, took place during the 18th meeting of the ITUC General Council at Congress House on 25 May. Trade union leaders from around the world took part in a panel discussion on democracy, rights and peace involving trade unionists from each region. Read more here TUC affiliate NASUWT’s international solidarity newsletterOne of the TUC’s education affiliates, the NASUWT has released their summer edition of the International Solidarity newsletter which gives news and reports of the latest international solidarity work they have engaged in over the recent months. Read the newsletter here INTERNATIONAL NEWSColombia: Workers murdered in Valle del CaucaColombia’s main trade union federation, the Central Unitary of Workers (CUT), has denounced the murder of three trade unionists involved in a dispute with the Nestle corporation in Colombia. Read more here Towards a convention on gender-based violence in the workplaceThe annual International Labour Conference (ILC) started in Geneva on 28 May, where Director-General Guy Ryder opened the conference calling for strong action to end violence and harassment at the workplace. Delegates from governments, workers and employers from the 187 ILO Member states came together to negotiate the nature and the scope of a future instrument on violence and harassment at work. Read more here Watch and share this new video by Solidarity Center (USA), summarises the arguments in the ITUC’s campaign for an ILO Convention and Recommendation on Gender-Based Violence. Global unions unite to support independent trade unions in AlgeriaGlobal unions rallied outside the United Nations in Geneva on 6 June 2018 to protest against the persecution of independent trade unions in Algeria. The rally, supported by IndustriALL Global Union, IUF, PSI, ITUC plus trade unionists from many countries, took place during the International Labour Conference being held at the United Nations from 28 May to 8 June. Read more here Brazilian oil workers temporarily suspend national strikeIndustriALL Brazilian affiliate FUP temporarily suspended their 72-hour national strike when the court threatened the union with an extortionate fine of 2 million reais (US$540,000) per day, a clear violation of trade union rights. Read more here IFI NEWSThousands protest Argentina's negotiations with IMFOn Friday 25 May, thousands of Argentines including trade unions, protested the government’s bid to secure a credit line from the International Monetary Fund, which they blame for hardship during a past financial crisis. Read more here The World Bank Should Stop Dodging AccountabilityThe private sector arm of the World Bank has long come under fire for funding projects that run afoul of human rights around the developing world. But, because it enjoys full legal immunity in the United States, it has not been possible for anyone to hold the International Finance Corporation (IFC) accountable in US courts. That may change. Read how here World Bank staff warn about trying to do more, while getting paid lessWorld Bank staff representatives are worried the historic capital increase deal reached at the annual meetings last month will mean bank employees are asked to do more while being paid less. Read more here CALLS TO ACTIONACT NOW! Stop anti-union harassment and victimization @AB InBev Sonepat India!Management at global brewer AB InBev's plant in Sonepat, India is escalating its attacks on trade union rights at its plant in Sonepat, India. Since February, the union has been defending its rights with an ongoing non-stop protest at the factory gate and needs your support. Take action here ACT NOW! Support the UMT in MoroccoShow your support for the Union Marocaine du Travail (UMT) in their fight to stop limits on the right to strike and push for constructive dialogue with the government over the economy, jobs and wages. Read more here Iran: FIFA Called on to Enforce Human Rights and non-Discrimination PolicyPlease continue to support this action from the International Trade Union Confederation who, along with several union and civil society organisations, is calling on FIFA to ensure that its human rights policy is fully respected and ensure that Iran ends its ban on women attending men’s football matches. We must tell FIFA Iran must play by the rules and end the ban on women in stadiums before the World Cup’s opening ceremony. Sign the petition in support of all female Iranian football fans! FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTSStop the repression of Somalia’s independent trade unionsOmar Faruk Osman, the General Secretary of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) and Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) writes about the challenges trade unions face in Somalia. Read his words here. For more information, please read and share widely the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) 3rd Annual Report of trade union & worker rights violations in Somalia released in London on 24 May 2018. RadioLabour interview with Girlie Magagula, Organizing Secretary, Womens' Committee, Trade Union Congress of SwazilandListen to the RadioLabour interview with Girlie Magagula, Organizing Secretary, Womens' Committee, Trade Union Congress of Swaziland discussing the struggle for womens’ rights in Swaziland and how the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland is fighting to have the rights of women in Swaziland respected. RadioLabour interview with Joel Odijie, Coordinator of Human and Trade Union Rights, ITUC-AfricaListen to the RadioLabour interview with Joel Odigie, the Coordinator of Human and Trade Union Rights of ITUC-Africa discussing the countries the ITUC-Africa are most focused on when it comes to human and trade union rights in Africa. EVENTS / INTERNATIONAL JOBSTUDCN job vacancy: Advocacy OfficerDeadline 15 June 2018 The Trade Union Development Cooperation Network (TUDCN) is looking for an experienced Advocacy Officer with a strong interest and motivation in promoting sustainable development premised on workers priorities such as labour rights, social dialogue, social protection, gender equality and environmental sustainability. You can find the full vacancy description available on the jobs section of the ITUC website. They are accepting applications until 15 June 2018. Applications should be sent, together with a CV, to luc.vermeersch@ituc-csi.org. Tolpuddle Festival 201820 July - 12:00 to 22 July - 18:00 Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum, Dorchester Road, DT2 7EH Dorset Every year in July, thousands of people to enjoy the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival. It is a weekend of family entertainment, stalls, political debate, comedy, music and a grand procession through the village. Full details here |
Tanya Warlock
Tel 0207 467 1357
E: twarlock@tuc.org.uk
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