International Development Matters - Issue 177 August 2018

TUC NEWS

TUC calling out Swazi government’s crackdown on workers’ rights

TUC welcomes visit from General Federation of Iraqi Trade Unions

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

International community condemns murders of Colombian trade unionists

Zimbabwe Elections: Military unleash violence on peaceful assembly of protesters, gunshots fired at trade union offices

IRAQ: Trade Unions Stands in Solidarity with Protestors’ Demands

Somalia: European Parliament Calls on Government to End Repression of Unions

IFI NEWS

BRICS unions discuss decent work and sustainable development

Argentine workers march against government and IMF

ITUC Urges Full Implementation of the World Bank Labour Safeguard

World Bank leaves door open to slavery in Paraguay

CALLS TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Make a stand to end Modern Slavery

ACT NOW! Terrible Tetley denying tea workers their human right to safe drinking water

ACT NOW! Coca-Cola is becoming a serial human rights offender

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

African workers’ voice stronger and united in banana exporting countries

Trade union voices at the UN HLPF 2018

High Court slams Bridge International Academies

EVENTS/ JOBS / COURSES

EVENT: “Free Lula” Protest, Brazilian Embassy (London)

EVENT: Nelson Mandela: The Centenary Exhibition 2018

EVENT: Nicaraguan Ambassador to the UK meeting with trade unions

JOBS: TUDCN Outreach Communication Officer at ITUC

JOBS: Strategic Lead - Apparel and Textiles at ETI

COURSE: 31 August 2018: deadline to apply for GLU Programmes 2019 in South Africa

TUC NEWS

TUC calling out Swazi government’s crackdown on workers’ rights

In the aftermath of shocking violence meted out by the Swazi government towards trade unionists at a peaceful demonstration in July, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady wrote to the High Commissioner of Swaziland to condemn the Swazi government’s actions.

Read the TUC’s blog about King Mswati III – the absolute monarch cracking down on workers' rights in Swaziland.

TUC welcomes visit from General Federation of Iraqi Trade Unions

In July, the TUC welcomed the visit of Sister Korea Goda, the international representative of ITUC affiliate, the General Federation of Iraqi Trade Unions (GFITU) to Congress House to discuss future co-operation.

Read more here and listen to the RadioLabour interview with Sister Goda here (from 4:51 onwards)

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

International community condemns murders of Colombian trade unionists

Relentless murder of trade union activists in Colombia within recent months has alarmed the international community. Trade union and political activist Luis Dagua was found murdered, appears to have been tortured and then killed and trade union leader Robert Jaraba founder of the miners’ union, was shot dead in north west Colombia. Read the UN statement released on 5 July 2018 regarding the severe escalation in violence against human rights defenders and social leaders in Colombia.

Zimbabwe Elections: Military unleash violence on peaceful assembly of protesters, gunshots fired at trade union offices

The ITUC condemns the post-election violence by the Zimbabwean military and security forces, including gunshots fired at the offices of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), following spontaneous assemblies of protesters expressing fears about potential stealing of the election and democratic mandate of the people of Zimbabwe.

Read more here

IRAQ: Trade Unions Stands in Solidarity with Protestors’ Demands

Protests broke out two weeks ago in Basra and extended to other provinces, to denounce unemployment, poor public services and widespread government corruption. Iraqi Unions are playing a key role to mobilize against sectarian divisions and corruption.

Read more here

Somalia: European Parliament Calls on Government to End Repression of Unions

The ITUC has welcomed the adoption by the European Parliament of a Resolution on Somalia strongly condemning violations of freedom of association in the country against national union centre FESTU and journalists’ union NUSOJ and demanding that the government implement decisions of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.

Read more here

IFI NEWS

BRICS unions discuss decent work and sustainable development

The BRICS Trade Union Forum (BTUF), an alliance of union federations from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is demanding a developmental and democratic model as an alternative to the dominant global financial institutions, especially the IMF and the World Bank.

Argentine workers march against government and IMF

In Argentina, social organizations and thousands of workers marched on Tuesday 7 August to reject the government of Mauricio Macri, its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and to demand the approval of five laws: food emergency, urbanization of working-class neighborhood, social infrastructure, family-based agriculture and an addiction law.

Read more here

ITUC Urges Full Implementation of the World Bank Labour Safeguard

New materials from the World Bank will help borrower countries uphold fundamental worker rights, decent employment and safe worksites. Dialogue and cooperation with trade unions will ensure the realisation of fair treatment and quality jobs.

Read more here

World Bank leaves door open to slavery in Paraguay

In an exclusive report, investigative journalism platform Reporter Brasil reveals how international investments are generating a severe environmental and human rights crisis in Paraguay. The investigation, supported by the ITUC, highlights a loan of US$ 85 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank, to Minerva.

Read more here

CALLS TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Make a stand to end Modern Slavery

The International Labour Organization's Protocol on Forced Labour could restore hope and freedom to millions of people trapped in modern slavery. But first it has to be ratified by countries around the world. Join 880 other supporters in the UK, including trade unionists, who have already signed up for the campaign calling on governments to ratify the Protocol by the end of 2018. (The UK has already ratified it, but there many more nations to go!)

Take action here

ACT NOW! Terrible Tetley denying tea workers their human right to safe drinking water

Please continue to support and forward this action. For the past two years, women workers on plantations in the states of Assam and West Bengal which supply tea to UK-based Tetley have been organising to demand decent water and sanitation - a fundamental human right. For years, workers complained to management; their complaints were ignored. With the support of the IUF, the workers, mainly women, formed water and sanitation committees on 6 plantations to document the abominable conditions and to propose concrete improvements.

Take action now and send a message to Tetley insisting they address human rights violations now!

ACT NOW! Coca-Cola is becoming a serial human rights offender

Please continue to support and forward this action. The International Union of Foodworkers (IUF) has launched a major online campaign in response to the reports of human rights abuses accumulating at The Coca-Cola Company’s various bottler subsidiaries around the world. The most recent trade union oppression has taken place in Indonesia (Coca-Cola bottler Amatil), Haiti (bottler La Brasserie de la Couronne) and Philippines (Coca-Cola bottler FEMSA).

Please send a message here to The Coca-Cola Company, insisting the company act to remedy the growing number of human rights violations within the Coca-Cola System.

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

African workers’ voice stronger and united in banana exporting countries

After five years of efforts to bring together the different organisations in the three main African banana exporting countries, the trade unions came together last week in Abidjan affirming that the voice of African workers is increasingly strong and united. Whilst significant progress for workers has been made, there is still much to do.

Read the full report from BananaLink here

Trade union voices at the UN HLPF 2018

On 9-18 July 2018, trade unions were at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2018 in New York. The theme for this year’s annual follow-up and review mechanism of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was ‘Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies’.

Read the blog by Sharon Burrow, ITUC General Secretary and listen here to a selection of RadioLabour interviews with other key trade unionists prior to and during the HLPF.

High Court slams Bridge International Academies

In a groundbreaking ruling, the High Court of Uganda has determined that Bridge International Academies (BIA), a for-profit edubusiness, deliberately set up illegal operations in the country with blatant disregard for national laws and regulations.

Read statements from Angelo Gravielatos, Project Director, Education International (EI) and Dulunga Buni Philip, former Ag. General Secretary of Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) about the ruling here

EVENTS/ JOBS / COURSES

EVENT: “Free Lula” Protest, Brazilian Embassy (London)

Monday 13 August 5:30pm

Brazilian Embassy, 14-16 Cockspur Street, SW1Y 5BL

The TUC would welcome your support in getting a good turnout (despite summer holidays) for this protest calling for the immediate release of Brazil’s former President Lula. Unions in Brazil, with some allies in the country’s legal system, are doing their best to free him, but international pressure is vital if they are to succeed.  

Read more about Lula here and find details of the protest here

EVENT: Nelson Mandela: The Centenary Exhibition 2018

A series of FREE events to mark the centenary of the iconic world leader

Now - until Sunday 19 August 2018

Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, London SE1 8XX

This exhibition explores the life and times of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918 – 2013) and marks the centenary of his birth. It provides insight into Mandela’s journey from young freedom fighter to becoming the inspiration for an international movement against South Africa’s violent and oppressive apartheid system. The role of trade unions was also vital in the struggle and so unions are encouraged to attend these events taking place up until 19 August.

For more information, click here

EVENT: Nicaraguan Ambassador to the UK meeting with trade unions

Thursday 13 September 2018, 5pm

TUC Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

The TUC’s London, East and South East (LESE) International Affairs Committee welcomes the Nicaraguan Ambassador (Embassy of Nicaragua in London) to Congress House for an update briefing and statement on the current situation in Nicaragua followed by Q&A.

FREE admission. Please register: lese@tuc.org.uk or 020 7467 1220

JOBS: TUDCN Outreach Communication Officer at ITUC

The TUDCN (based in Brussels) is looking for an experienced Outreach Communication Officer with a strong interest and motivation in promoting sustainable development based on workers priorities. Application closes on 17 August 2018.

Click here for full details

JOBS: Strategic Lead - Apparel and Textiles at ETI

The ETI are seeking an exceptional Strategic Lead for Apparel and Textiles. The Strategic Lead will provide leadership and expert insight within the Apparel and Textiles sector to drive and manage the design, development and implementation of key global supply chain programmes and other related initiatives to better protect the rights of workers around the world. Deadline 23 August 2018.

Click here for full details

COURSE: 31 August 2018: deadline to apply for GLU Programmes 2019 in South Africa

Applications are now open for the 2019 batch of the GLU Masters programme and the GLU Honours  programme in South Africa on Labour and Development at WITS University. Located within Africa’s leading School of Social Sciences, these GLU programmes have a special focus on “Labour and Development” and aim to build critical capacity and competence for trade unions and labour organizations to engage our complex world in order to improve the position of working people and society.

More information here and on https://www.global-labour-university.org/3.html  

In case of any queries, interested persons should contact Programme Coordinator Ms. Pulane Ditlhake Pulane.Ditlhake@wits.ac.za  (Tel: 0027 11 717 4443).