International Development Matters - Issue 182 May/June 2019
| International Development Matters |
| Issue number 182 May/June 2019 |
| IDM - Monthly newsletter reporting international development matters and issues affecting trade unionists around the world. Including reports, statements, interviews and events. |
TUC NEWSTUC calls for the release of imprisioned Colombian peace negotiator Jesus Santrich Solidarity with Indian Trade Unionists TUC and affiliates join global stand against racism on 16 March
INTERNATIONAL NEWSOrganising in the garment and textile sector in Ethiopia and Thailand Safety crisis in Bangladesh shipbreaking yards continues Trade Unions in Latin America defines the next steps in the fight against privatization A trade union guide to a Just Transition for workers IFI NEWSUnions stand up to austerity in Argentina Strikes overturn wage cuts, but IMF blindness risks ruining Tunisia Ecuador: ITUC warns of IMF agreement’s attack on workers ITUC calls for a more ambitious IDA CALLS TO ACTIONACT NOW! Pakistan: Reinstate the Karachi 8! ACT NOW! China: Freedom of association is a right, not a crime FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTSTUC General Secretary on The BBC’s The Conversation – Union Women RadioLabour interview with MCTU Secretary General Denis Chalera Kalekeni Education International (EI) blog by David Edwards, General Secretary of EI EVENTSTUC General Secretary on The BBC’s The Conversation – Union Women Celebrate 40 years of UK - Nicaragua solidarity TUC calls for the release of imprisoned Colombian peace negotiator Jesus SantrichThe TUC calls for the immediate release of imprisoned Colombian peace negotiator Jesus Santrich. The TUC and its union affiliates have campaigned jointly with Justice for Colombia for the freedom of Mr Santrich since his unjust imprisonment in April 2018. Read more here Solidarity with Indian Trade Unionists The TUC took part in an ITUC global call to action in solidarity with our trade union colleagues in India supporting the #ModiMustGo campaign. TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady wrote to the Indian High Commission in London to raise our concerns shared with our Indian trade union colleagues about developments in India’s labour market and labour laws by the government of India. Read more about the #ModiMustGo campaign here TUC and affiliates join global stand against racism on 16 March The TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady spoke at the Stand Up to Racism march and rally in London on Saturday 16 March 2019. The UK marches are part of an unprecedented partnering of anti-racist and anti-fascist campaigners for demonstrations in at last 22 countries and 60 cities around the world under the banner #WorldAgainstRacism. Read more here Organising in the garment and textile sector in Ethiopia and ThailandRead how IndustriAll has been working with their affiliated unions in both Ethiopia and Thailand to organise workers within the garment and textile sectors. Safety crisis in Bangladesh shipbreaking yards continues At least eight workers have been killed, and 35 injured this year in accidents in Bangladeshi shipbreaking yards. The number of fatalities since 2017 is around 47. The series of recent accidents point to a massive safety crisis in the Bangladeshi shipbreaking industry. Read more here Trade Unions in Latin America defines the next steps in the fight against privatization Union leaders gathered in Costa Rica to discuss how to take the global response against the privatisation of education to the next level. “Students before profit” is the name that the Global Response against the commercialisation and privatisation of education, Education International (EI) has taken on among its Latin American members. Read more here A trade union guide to a Just Transition for workersIndustriAll have recently released a trade union guide to a Just Transition for workers calling for a ‘Just Transition’ to a cleaner, more sustainable economy which must be economically and socially just and fair for workers and their communities. Further reading is here including What do trade unions demand? Unions stand up to austerity in Argentina Trade unions have called a general strike on 29 May 2019 to oppose austerity measures in Argentina imposed as part of the government’s loan agreement with the IMF. The Macri government has brought the country to the brink of economic collapse, with workers’ purchasing power decreasing due to high inflation, unemployment, recession and a sharp increase in poverty. Read more here Strikes overturn wage cuts, but IMF blindness risks ruining Tunisia Read how Tunisian trade union strikes overturned IMF-backed wage cuts and how IMF policies ignore Tunisia's real economic problems. Click here for the full analysis Ecuador: ITUC warns of IMF agreement’s attack on workersEcuador’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund will impoverish people and damage the country’s economy, with its strategy of deep cuts to the public sector and changes to labour law that will make employment more precarious. Read more here ITUC calls for a more ambitious IDA The ITUC proposes five key measures to promote quality jobs and sustainable transformation in the next programme of the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). To find out more about the IDA, click here. CALLS TO ACTIONACT NOW! Pakistan: Reinstate the Karachi 8!Eight union leaders in Karachi, Pakistan have been sacked by Hutchison Ports for leading their union's fight for dignity and fairness for their members. This is the latest union-busting attack against the leaders and membership of SAPT Democratic Workers' Union (SAPTDWU). Read more and support the workers here ACT NOW! China: Freedom of association is a right, not a crime The government of China continues its relentless repression of workers seeking to exercise their right to freedom of association. Over 40 workers and labour rights supporters are currently in criminal detention following efforts by workers to form a trade union at Jasic Technology in Shenzen last summer. The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) has launched an online campaign with labourstart to pressure the government to release the detained workers and their supporters CLICK HERE to support the campaign! FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTSTUC General Secretary on The BBC’s The Conversation – Union Women What happens when women head up workers' unions? Joanna Impey brings together two powerful women in charge of the rights of millions of workers in the UK and Kenya. Frances O'Grady TUC General Secretary and Rose Omamo, General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Kenya Metal Workers talk about how they're trying to tackle the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace and how they're trying to make unions more relevant to younger women. Listen here to the full interview here RadioLabour interview with MCTU Secetary General Denis Chalera KalekeniListen to an interview with MCTU Secretary General Denis Chalera Kalekeni on how the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions has been successfully working against child labour and helping informal workers. Listen here Education International (EI) blog by David Edwards, General Secretary of EIRead the blog by David Edwards, General Secretary of Education International (EI) regarding learning for the future and reflecting on the fundamental values for democracy and human rights, while celebrating May Day this year. EVENTSCelebrate 40 years of UK - Nicaragua solidarity Saturday 29 June 13:30 – 17:30 45 White Lion Street, London, N1 9PW Please join the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign (NSC) group for an afternoon of talks, video clips, music, displays, messages from their partner organisations in the Nicaragua trade unions and co-operative movement. Full details here RMT Garden Party for CubaWednesday 12 June 19:00 until late Maritime House, Clapham, London SW4 0JW Celebrate and show solidarity with Cuba alongside friends and activists from the labour and trade union movement with live music, buffet, free bar, guest speakers and the chance to win two return flight tickets to Cuba in a special raffle. Contact the Cuba Solidarity Campaign group here for tickets |
Tanya Warlock
Tel 0207 467 1357
E: twarlock@tuc.org.uk
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