A Trade Union Digest of Organisations and Resources on International Development Issues
A Trade Union Digest of Organisations and Resources on
This is the seventh Digest compiled as a reference point for trade unionists, and trade union tutors in particular, interested in promoting greater understanding of international development. It is provided as a short cut and guide to information and resources, and is published at the end of Sept and Apr each year. It contains brief reviews of some of the resources directly appropriate to trade unionists (i.e. designed for use with them), useful web sites and contact details of organisations involved in international development matters. For this edition there are new reviews in each section. The Digest is available in hard copy, or on-line via the TUC web-site, International link (see below).
Written Resources
Action Aid (2004) Money Talks. How aid conditions continue to drive utility privatisation in poor countries. Action Aid. Report 28pp.
This is a highly informative read that draws together common factors driving privatisation across the world, their continuing failure to deal with the real needs of people in general and conditions of poverty in particular. The report details the key role played by institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in setting conditions for aid and debt relief - whether via direct imposition of privatisation or more indirect routes, such as getting countries to ‘own’ their development plans by proposing privatisation themselves.
The report deals with a subject that will be of interest to all trade unionists. The extensive use of country case studies highlights some common experiences of, for example, the privatisation of utilities in Africa, Asia and the UK. The difficulties for development and implications for poor people are sure to provide food for thought and debate.
The report is not over complex, but neither is it light reading. A keen interest or basic understanding of one or more aspects of the topic - utilities, privatisation, developing countries or the role of global financial institutions will help in getting the most from it. The case studies and country comparisons will be of particular use to trade union tutors, and the recommendations for the use of aid (including the UK government’s) a good focus for discussion.
Available from Action Aid. See Web-sites or Organisations listed below.
ACTSA, (2002?) Freedom to Grow. Bringing Down the Barriers to Southern Africa’s Trade With Europe. ACTSA.
For many people, forming a clear idea of the unequal impact of free trade across the world is hindered by the mystique of the language of economics. This campaign pack simplifies some of the issues, without being simplistic. It makes specific proposals for fair trade that dispel the notion that the problem is too complex to be understood or too problematical to be resolved.
It contains action sheet suggestions, including one aimed at trade unionists, and a very readable information booklet that explains the issues, illustrates them with short case studies, and gives examples of some successful actions.
Available from ACTSA. See Web-sites or Organisations listed below.
CAFOD (2004) Clean Up Your Computer. Working conditions in the electronics sector. Jan. CAFOD Report, 40pp.
A well-written and well-researched report that explores the far from ‘pc’ conditions of workers in the PC electronics industry. It makes strong comparisons between the conditions of production of personal computers in the developing world with those usually regarded with horror in textiles. These typically involve high profit brand managers at the head of the chain with low wages and poor conditions at the production and processing end.
Part I details The Personal Computer Supply Chain, part II The Computer Companies and Labour Standards and Part III Working Conditions in PC Supply Chains: Mexico and China. The Report provides an excellent resource for use on IT, union representative and health and safety representative training courses. For trade unionists in general this is a relatively easy, informative read, laying bare as it does the too often unfair employment practices of the global economic model.
See Web-site listed below for availability.
Canadian Labour Congress & Tony Biddle (2004) Globalization. Who’s winning and who’s losing? 12pp comic/booklet
This is a short, easy to read comic-format booklet of great value to all trade unionists and trade union tutors. In just 12 pages it works through What is globalization?, through How we got here … a quick history lesson to So how does the world look today? and Action for change. The booklet poses questions from a range of perspectives about globalization and its effects. It is both informative and a good stimulus to discussion and debate.
Available on-line at http://www.clc-ctc.ca/web/issues/globalization/CLC-globalization-english.pdf
Christian Aid (2002) Trade Justice. A campaign handbook. Trade Justice Movement.
This is a handbook produced by the campaigning organisation for fairer rules in international trade - of which the TUC is a member. It introduces the reader to what the campaign is about, gives tips on how to explain it to others and respond to their questions, and then moves on to the focus for campaigning and how to get involved. Both trade union tutors and reps will find this informative and stimulating - especially as it does not duck dealing with the tricky won’t that be bad for UK jobs? and won’t it mean we’ll get poorer? type questions.
Available from Christian Aid. See Web-site or Organisations listed below.
Co-operative College (2004) Make Your Town a Fairtrade Town. A guide for co-operators. The Cooperative College. Booklets and posters.
This is a great starter kit for those interested in promoting fair trade - a system of trading that supports sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers. Working on the principles of observation of core labour standards, a fair reward plus premium for social development, fair trade presents an opportunity for us as trade unionists to buy things we need, and at the same time avoid unwitting exploitation of workers overseas.
This is a pack that trade unionists can use in the branch, workplace or community as a focus for organising and campaigning. Trade union tutors could also use it as part of any course that develops issues of putting trade union principles into practice. It has everything that’s needed for awareness raising, discussion, campaigning (drafting press releases, leaflets, action planning etc) - plus details of how to find out more about the issues involved.
Available free from the Co-operative College (see Organisations listed below).
DFID (2004) The Rough Guide to a Better World and How You Can Make a Difference. DFID booklet, 96pp.
Produced by Rough Guide travel team in collaboration with the Dept for International Development, this pocket sized booklet deals with international development issues in easy to access format. The foreword by Bob Geldof, typically does not mince words about issues of poverty and development - ….those hidden worlds of decay, decline and death [that]whisper to us through the unfair trade of the supermarket shelves - and, of course, the need and possibilities for doing something about it.
The booklet then has 2 principal sections - one that explores globalization and development, and identifies the scale and scope of problems for development. The second part deals with how we can make a difference - Speaking out on behalf of poor people (including a small paragraph on trade unions), Making trade ethical, Ethical Tourism, and Charity.
The booklet is a welcome tool in raising awareness that we can all do something to help change the situation of the poor. Tutors and reps will be able to make good use of its availability and easy to read format. But, they will need supplementary information to speak with confidence about the role and significance of trade union activity in helping people access their rights and, thereby, improve the conditions of their lives.
Available from Post Offices, or see www.roughguide-betterworld.com for a downloadable copy.
Ethical Trading Initiative (2003) ETI Workbook. Step-bystep to ethical trade. ETI, first ed.
The ETI is an alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs. It seeks to ensure that the conditions in which work is performed in the supply chains of companies selling in the UK market meet or exceed international standards. Updated yearly, the ETI Handbook shares the experience and good practice of organisations opting for ethical trading. It is aimed at organisations, doesn’t profess to have all the answers, but is committed to sharing solutions and providing step by step guidance on securing functioning and observable minimum labour standards. This will make the Handbook of interest to both trade union tutors and, especially, reps wishing to work with their organisations in moving towards trading that does not generate or reinforce internationally unacceptable labour practices.
The Handbook is very readable. The early explanations of what ethical sourcing is, the importance of getting support, and understanding supply chains are done simply, and with a minimum of technical jargon - serving to make the process seem worthwhile and possible. Getting suppliers to comply, inspections, auditable standards, monitoring and capacity building are some of the other aspects covered. These are illustrated by reference to, for example, the ETI base code, the presentation given in one company to win support, and inspection and audit sample checklists.
There is a lot here for tutors to base activities around and for reps to use in their companies or union branches. As a first step in encouraging companies to move towards ethical trading, the ETI Handbook looks like a good investment.
Available from ETI. See Web-site or Organisations listed below. £176.25 companies, £58.75 trade unions/not-for-profit organisations.
ICEM (2004) Contract/Agency Labour: A Threat to Our Social Standards. ICEM. Report 46pp.
The purpose of this report - to develop practical union responses, promote dialogue and partnership on the issue of contract and agency work - is not specifically educational. But, the way in which the research has been carried out and reported lends itself to use in an educational setting.
There is a section on the growth of flexible employment internationally, providing a short, (highly useable for tutors) context for discussing agency and contract work. This is followed by the detailing of the growth of non-permanent work in ICEM industries - mining, oil, gas, chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, power generation/distribution, glass, construction materials, pulp and paper etc. This is illustrated by information on the impact on women workers, specialist contractors, standards and agencies - all suitable case study material.
The bulk of the report then focuses upon union responses to contract/agency work - illustrating the use of ‘defensive’ and ‘offensive’ strategies, collective bargaining, global framework agreements, national legislation, union structures and union information and education. There are key recommendations that, although drawn up for ICEM unions, provide suitable points for discussion among unions generally.
Available from ICEM (see Organisations or web site listed below).
ICFTU/Oxfam (2004) Play Fair At The Olympics. Respect workers’ rights in the sportswear industry. Oxfam, Clean Clothes Campaign, Global Unions. Report, 77pp
This is an excellent report which, in spite of its topical focus will be of practical value for trade union tutors and trade unionists in general long after the Olympics are over. The impact of the report is heightened by the research that went into it. The experience of workers is gathered together (permanent, temporary, agency, union and non-union members in 6 countries), along with those of sportswear brand owners, contractors and sub-contractors(from the concerned to the unconcerned about labour rights).
The Report has 3 chapters - dealing with the experience of workers, the global market for sportswear goods and exploration of precisely where the difficulties lie in improving the situation of abuse of workers and their rights. Charts and diagrams are used to set out relationships in the supply chain, the mismatch in specific companies between inspection evidence and actual working conditions, and the gap between trade union rights in theory and the practical realities. These present a subtle lesson in the economics of globalisation - powerfully and painlessly.
Available from Oxfam (see Organisations listed below) or downloadable from www.fairolympics.org.
ICFTU (Dec 2001) A Trade Union Guide to Globalisation. ICFTU.
A handy book published together with the Global Union Federations (formerly ITSs), and intended for use in trade union education, and as a reference book for trade unionists in general.
Part I of the book - Globalisation and Solidarity - provides a level of analysis of globalisation that avoids over-simplification without being too complex. It also sets out the international framework for trade union action, and illustrates this with examples. Part II - The International Dimension of Trade Union Work - focuses more on the practical implications of meeting the challenges. This has lots of examples and case studies of the circumstances and way in which a range of international action can be initiated and sustained.
The appendices contain handy references to the ILO conventions and codes of conduct, together with some questions and answers on their value and use. A highly usable and valuable handbook for all trade unionists.
Available from ICFTU and online at www.icftu.org/pubs/globalisation
ICTU (2003) Global Solidarity. Campaigning for workers’ rights in the global economy.
This is a pack of good, short, and to the point materials that seeks to engage readers in using their position as trade unionists, consumers, pension holders, voters, in more effective action to protect workers’ rights worldwide. The pack presents 10 Information Sheets that work simply and logically through the trade union position on global solidarity - from Making Globalisation Work for People, through Union Rights to Making Companies Accountable. Each set of information provides ideas for action and further information details. For reps the pack provides a handy guide to the issues, and trade union education tutors could use these as a basis for further activities.
Available from ICTU. See Organisations listed below.
ICTUR (2003) Freedom of Association: the protection of Trade Union Rights Worldwide.
This is a great poster for any Union office or Trade Union Education Centre. It provides a visual image of trade union rights across the world, a reference point with key facts about trade union rights, international and regional law, the international trade union organisations and the ILO Conventions. It’s colourful, informative, a focus for maybe illustrating a point, or for browsing over, reflecting upon and coming back to.
Available from ICTUR. See Organisations listed below. £5 each or £40 for 10 copies, cheques payable to ‘IUR’.
ILO/NUT (2001) Work in the World. A guide to work issues across the planet. ILO.
A booklet/pack of information and activities, designed for use by teachers of students of age 14 plus. The first 3 sections (Work & Partnership, Global Work Issues, Organisational & Personal Work Issues) have been written as background information for teachers themselves. They provide non-complex explanations of key concepts and organisations in development/ international issues, illustrated by short case studies. The activities are less useful for trade union education tutors, though they may present ideas for drawing up activities at a pitch more suited to work with reps
Available from www.ilo.org/london or ILO-London, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London SW1P 4QP. Tel: 020 7828 6401
ITF, (2002) Globalising Solidarity. An ITF resource book for trade unionists in the transport sector. ITF. 64pp
An information packed A4 booklet aimed at educators and activists in the transport sector. It is designed to help unions and workers discuss and understand the way in which globalisation affects their lives, their jobs and how they need to organise themselves.
Its first section explores What is globalisation?, immediately engaging readers with different perspectives, and the identification and recognition of their own. The second part then looks at Globalisation in the Transport Sectors - detailing the practical effects of globalisation, including the experience of transport workers in defending their rights and conditions. The final section then works on Mobilising Global Solidarity - the need for cross sector support, communication and action.
This is a substantial booklet in terms of content and the activities at the end of each section, and taken as a whole is perhaps best suited to the more experienced rep or activist. The information and case studies it contains are well researched and provide a solid basis for discussion and an invaluable reference point for activists in the sector.
Available from ITF - see Organisations listed below, or downloadable from web-site.
ITF, (2002) Workers’ Rights are Human Rights. An ITF resource book for trade unionists in the transport sector. ITF. 67pp
This booklet is aimed at activists, educators, officers and officials in the transport sector. It presents a combination of information, case studies, key points for discussion and activities, encompassing all the transport sectors.
The first two parts examine the undermining of workers’ and human rights affected by neo-liberal globalisation. This includes a fairly powerful section on the implications of government/organisation policies on refugees and migrant workers - policies that transport workers themselves can be required to implement. It is followed by consideration of whether some rights (for some people) are more important than others, and the significance of changing attitudes.
The third part contextualises workers’ rights at their different levels - global, national, local, and the different structures through which they have legitimacy and can be upheld. This, and the following section on Taking Action for Rights has lots of case studies and examples - providing practical tips, guidelines and stimulus for activism.
Available from ITF - see Organisations listed below, or downloadable from web-site.
ITGLWF (2001) Women in the Global Economy. An ITGLWF handbook for educators, campaigners and activists. ITGLWF 34pp
This is a nicely presented, easy to read A4 booklet. It has 4 sections of information - Women in the Global Economy, Organising Bargaining and Representation, International Standards and Women’s Rights At Work. Each section has an activity that can be used on training courses, or for reps to use with branch committees or workplace groups. Briefly and simply the booklet links the global with the local, the individual with the collective, and workplace organising and bargaining with international standards. Suitable for developing activism at all levels.
Available from ITGLWF, Transport House, John Dobson St, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8TW. Tel: 0191 230 1704.
IUF, (2002) Getting to Grips With the Global Food Trade. IUF.
This is an education manual designed for use with workers in the food, agriculture, hotel, restaurant, catering, tobacco and beverages sectors, whose unions are IUF affiliates (these can be checked on the IUF website). It is made up of activities and resources and tutor notes. A video, The Globalisation Tapes, can be used alongside the manual.
The purpose of the manual is to strengthen members’ capacity for organising and bargaining with employers. It sets out to do this by focusing on the role of transnational employers (TNCs) in world trade, and increasingly in setting the international and social agenda. While the manual is international in focus, it retains an organising approach to trade unionism that returns learners to their own situation, and to what they think and can do locally as well as nationally and internationally.
The manual is visually beautifully presented and the activities are varied - based on group discussion, quizzes, case studies, role plays and message-loaded games. These are supported by well-pitched resources that trade unionists will find accessible and thought provoking. It also has tutor notes that provide guidance on programming alternatives, timing, techniques and linkages.
Available for use by trade unions and other civil society organisations free of charge from IUF.
PSI (2000) We Can Do It! Putting Globalisation on the union agenda.
A 29 page booklet in comic format that engages readers with the experience of trade unionists in different countries, and their use of the internet to build solidarity. To cover globalisation and union solidarity in 29 pages of images and speech bubbles is ambitious, and there is a lot to grasp for the new-to-development-issues activist. The format is striking and does mean that it is easy to pick up, return to or browse through at any time. For trade union tutors, selected pages may provide a useful way of varying discussion materials for reps at different stages and levels.
Available from PSI(see web site listed below for details).
Tourism Concern (2004) Labour standards, social responsibility and tourism. Report, 20pp. Tourism Concern.
This report looks at the lack of attention given to labour rights and working conditions in the current dialogue on corporate social responsibility in the tourism sector. It draws on research in Bali, Canary Islands, Dominican Republic, Egypt and Mexico. The report explores some of the difficulties of workers in the sector, including health and safety, long hours, and sexual harassment.
While indicating the difficulties workers face in the industry - among them the capacity to organise in trade unions - the report gives less attention to analysis of what can be done, of successful organisation and actions, and of what trade unions themselves are doing in pressing for decent labour standards. Nevertheless, this is a welcome attempt to draw attention to the extent of poor labour practice in the sector and underlines the importance of trade union involvement in securing decent labour standards.
Available on-line and fromTourism Concern. See Organisations listed below.
TUC (2004) Trade unions and international health and safety. 2nd ed. TUC. Workbook, 115pp.
This welcome updating of the original CTUC workbook has been supported by the Department for International Development, as part of the Strategic Grant Agreement with the TUC. It is designed specifically for use with union health and safety reps - for either development of short courses, or as a resource for integrating in other courses. Individual reps, health and safety or branch committees would also find this an easy to use resource in terms of developing a broader understanding of health and safety issues.
The workbook leads reps from the contextual and motivating factors for developing an international perspective on health and safety, through campaigns, structures, issues, and future strategies. Each section is divided into activities with supportive fact sheets, providing a complete study pack - and is well-referenced for pursuing research and building contacts. A publication every health and safety rep and trade union centre would benefit from having access to.
Available from TUC (see Organisations or web site listed below). £40 each (£10 for member unions).
TUC, International Development Matters. TUC. Monthly Newlsetter.
International Development Mattersis a monthly newsletter for trade union members who want more information about development issues, and is distributed free by e-mail. It includes news about trade unions in developing countries, trade union visitors to the UK, trade and globalisation, funding opportunities for development projects, useful sources of information and events, and publications. Trade union educators could well use this it as stimulus material for discussing why and how the interests of trade unionists everywhere are inextricably linked. The new format uses hyperlinks and is now much easier to read on-line.
Available by registering on-line - www.tuc.org.uk , via the International link.
UNISON (2004) Twinning. How to develop contact with sister unions around the world. UNISON. Booklet, 17pp.
An easy to use, to the point booklet which could be used by any trade unionists looking to establishing links with unions in other countries. It considers different reasons for twinning, what is involved, and how to make it happen. This is accompanied by checklists on the practical arrangements, financing visits, and a pro forma for setting out a twinning project. It presents a practical guide for reps and members and a useful resource for trade union tutors.
The booklet can be ordered or down-loaded from www.unison.org.uk .
War on Want (2003) The Pension Business. War on Want.
This is a pack of 5 fact sheets designed to encourage trade unionists to find out and work to influence the kind of employment practices their pension schemes are supporting. These range through The pension business, Globalisation and Workers’ Rights, Model article for your local paper or trade union journal, Model Motion and a model letter that could be sent to the pension scheme supporting the Invest in Freedom campaign for socially responsible investment.
The pack presents useful support for trade union courses on pensions and representational issues, and for trade union activists is an excellent resource for debate and information in the workplace.
Available from War on Want (see Organisations below or web-site ).
War on Want (2003) Fighting Palestinian Poverty. War on Want.
Although this publication is not aimed specifically at trade unions, but at all civil society organisations, the poverty and the context for poverty it describes will be both enlightening and disturbing for trade unionists in general.
The first 3 sections trace the economic and social impact of political decisions and Israeli military operations on Palestinian people. The fourth section deals with the specifics in terms of restrictions on economic development, on access to water, on freedom of movement to work, of the struggle of women in this environment and the chronic malnutrition of two thirds of Palestinian children. The final section presents an appeal to organisations to help fight Palestinian poverty by working to secure an end to Israeli occupation. There are examples of what can be done - including War on Want Projects with trade unions.
Trade unionists in general will find this publication presents a snapshot of life behind the headlines and media images, and the kind of information they will not easily come across elsewhere.
Available from War on Want (see Organisations below or web-site ), £4 +p&p.
War on Want/ICTUR (2001) The Global Workplace. Challenging the race to the bottom. War on Want.
A 2-part pack designed for trade unionists, consisting of a loose-leaf training course together with a bound background information manual. There are 16 activities, ranging from Changes in the Economy, the impact on workers and trade unions, through to Codes of Conduct and campaigning. Most of the activities are supported by stimulus material in the form of quotes, and the quotes are pitched at 3 different levels of engagement - introductory, intermediate and advanced. Each activity is cross-referenced to further information in the bound manual.
There is much here to stimulate discussion and questioning of issues and concepts, and the suggested timing for activities (15/20 minutes) may need to be revised by tutors to do justice to the topics. The information in the bound manual provides good background reading for discussion, and tutors might consider carefully how this is to be used (some activities refer to 4 chapters for example), so that reps are not skimming over it too quickly in a drive to get group activities completed.
The pack presents a well-supported and stimulating course that will help individual reps to develop their perspectives and campaigning on global issues. This last includes writing letters of protest as well as making international trade union links. The importance of working with members at the level of the workplace, and of finding out about own union policies on international issues is underplayed within the activities, and tutors will need to consider how to ensure their proper treatment.
Available from War on Want for use with trade unionists free of charge (for contact details, see Organisations ).
Women Working Worldwide World Trade is a Women’s Issue. Promoting the rights of women workers in a changing world economy. Women Working Worldwide.
A 22pp Briefing Paper aimed at those concerned about the effects of trade liberalisation on women as workers, and what workers themselves can do. It breaks down ‘the big picture’ of the regulatory framework of world trade and the specific ways in which it affects women as workers. It looks at social clauses and the possibilities for integrating labour standards in trade agreements, and a range of other strategies for promoting the rights of women workers. This is a useful briefing paper for trade unionists and trade union tutors who already have some knowledge of the terms and concepts used in this field - it opens out the key issues and has lots of suggestions for acting on them.
Available from Women Working Worldwide, from whom a list of other publications can also be obtained
Videos
Banana Link (2004) Los Alamos. Banana Link. 9 mins. English/Spanish.
This is an excellent short video that tutors and branches can use in a variety of ways. Its focus is on families living and working on a banana plantation, owned by a multinational, beginning to organise in an attempt to improve the condition of their lives. It comes with a 4 page booklet that underlines the key points. It is simple, to the point and in just 9 minutes will impress viewers with its powerful messages.
It can be used to work on issues of organising, planning, campaigning, solidarity, core labour standards and workers’ rights. With its mix of English/Spanish dialogue and sub-titles, it is also a great resource for use in Spanish language classes run in many trade union centres.
Available from Bananalink, See Web-sites or Organisations listed below.
Banana Link (2000) Bananas Unpeeled. 26 mins
Introduced by Mark Thomas, and supported by some catchy regional rhythms, this video takes us from bananas piled high in Brixton market to the lowly conditions afforded plantation workers in Latin America and the Caribbean. It deals first of all with the control of the market by a handful of multinational companies, and their use of company or ‘yellow’ unions, and then looks at the effects of such control on living and working conditions. The footage moves from the statistics and devastation of lives resulting from widespread, poorly controlled use of chemicals hazardous to health, to companies’ rationale for their usage - the only difference between medicine and poison is the dosage.
The video moves on to the imbalance in the economic division of what is produced, and the difficulties of small farmers, in view of the power of multinationals to influence the international regulatory frameworks at a global level. It finishes with a look at the significance of Fairtrade arrangements for workers and consumers, as one part of the initiative being taken by producers to improve their situation.
Tutors and trade unionists in general will find this a good, awareness raising focus for discussion. It raises lots of opportunities for development - by linking to Target 2015 Poverty Reduction goals, to health and safety issues, international union solidarity, framework agreements, lobbying and more. There are lots of materials and activities (see under Written Materials above or via Web-site listed below) to support extended discussion - not forgetting the fruit itself, which is certainly food for thought.
Available from Banana Link. See Web-sites or Organisations listed below for contact details.
ICFTU (2003) Let the Children Go to School. Merlin Films. 22 mins
This production begins with the economic ‘logic’ that drives child labour, and then considers the situation of Bangladesh where working children number between 6 and 12 million. From here it follows a number of themes that are informative, but sometimes confusing. From the economic ‘logic’ of child labour in Bangladesh, it is suggested that lack of access to affordable education means children are more likely to work. Working children are not in a position to make demands, although the union in the garment sector has struggled against the violation of labour laws, intimidation and hostility to respond to workers’ prime concerns of access to decent health care.
The video then moves to explore the conduct of an agreement between UNICEF and the employers’ organisation following the threat of a US boycott. This aimed to remove child labour from the garment sector into education, and to provide compensation by way of income for the children. The unions it appears were excluded. It concludes with the employers and UNICEF claiming a successful project affecting the lives and aspirations of thousands of children, but with others pointing out that it is a fairly unique example that couldn’t be applied in other sectors where employers are weakly organised.
The video provides some useful materials for discussion and debate, but it will need to be used carefully in an educational setting if learners are to get the best of these and not become confused.
Available from ICFTU - see Organisations listed below.
ICFTU (2003) Philippines: a union foothold in the export processing zones. Merlin Films. 13 mins.
This video highlights the linkage between liberalisation of trade and the race to the bottom - the drive for continuous cost reductions at the expense of decent working conditions and workers’ rights - in places like the Philippines.
Following the working day of a female factory worker, the video traces the undermining of rights, lives and livelihoods that are the practical results of ‘success’ in establishing ‘liberalised’ trade enclaves in the form of EPZs (export processing zones). The rewards to the partners in production are contrasted - tax holidays and exemptions for the companies setting up production, with breaches of minimum wage legislation, health and safety regulations and excessive working hours for the producers.
The video is supported by a booklet Export Processing Zones - Symbols 0f Exploitation and a Development Dead-End that makes this an informative and highly useable resource for individual trade unionists and trade union Tutors. The video focus is the Philippines, but the outstanding themes are the links between trade liberalisation and workers’ rights and conditions anywhere in the world.
Available from ICFTU. See Organisations or Web-sites listed below.
ICTU (2002) Race to the Bottom. Esperanza Productions. 52 mins
The first part of this video explores the pros and cons of the garment sector in Bangladesh, 75% of whose workers are women. It deals with the reality of women’s lives - the independence afforded by employment on the one hand, and the high cost in terms of long hours, and health and safety abuses on the other. This is linked to the ever lower prices offered for goods by European and American retailers who maintain their profit margins by squeezing their suppliers.
Just as we might be lulled into thinking that life is different in other parts of the world, the scene shifts to the rise and fall of the garment industry in Northern Ireland since the 1960s. Working people chart having to leave school to work in the sector, their long hours, poor conditions, the fear of joining a trade union given the priority to ‘put food on the table’; and the moment when their cheap labour was no longer cheap enough, the decline of the sector.
Back in Bangladesh the new cheap labour is finding that their labour is no longer cheap enough either, as the retailers and buyers begin to contract in China where unit labour costs in garments is half that of Bangladesh. The pace of the Race to the Bottom is underlined by some comments (highly useable for trade union tutors) from leading trade unionists - We need to be aware of conditions in other countries, and why - our contribution at present is our ignorance. The video finishes on a chilling note of desperation from an employer - you must emphasise to Western buyers what they are doing - we only have the garment sector, there is no place else for our 1.6m garment workers to go.
This is a knowledge-building, thought provoking production which trade unionists and trade union tutors will be able to use in a number of ways. It is quite a lengthy video, but there is lots of scope for structuring work around the issues it raises.
Available from Esperanza Productions, 44 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Tel: 353-1-2888648 Fax: 353-1-2888649. £25 + £5 p&p e-mail: info@esperanza.ie web: www.esperanza.ie_
ITGLWF (2002) Global Companies Global Unions! 22 mins
A polished production, with a good mix of visuals, voice overs and interview clips. Its focus is on the low wages, harsh working conditions and long hours in the garment and footwear industry, and the value of International Framework Agreements in securing effective trade union organisation. Despite the industry focus, this is a video that can be used by trade union tutors with reps generally.
The video traces the movement of job around the world, and the drive by companies to seek ever lower unit labour costs at the expense of decent working conditions and wages. It provides excellent comparisons of retail costs versus manufacturing costs, and the controlling role of Brand owners - able to secure high profit margins by seeking out the cheapest production, wherever that may be in the world. Initiatives aimed at regulating such practices are assessed, with the conclusion that International Framework Agreements are the ones that can best guarantee minimum standards, and the freedom to organise and bargain at plant level.
This is a video that tutors and reps can use in different ways - it can be used as stimulus material for discussion of international trade union organisation and strategies, as general awareness raising material on globalisation, or as an aid in addressing fears that they’re taking our jobs. This video underlines just who has the control of job mobility, and the importance of not making mistakes about it.
The video is supported by a stimulating education pack that includes information and activities relating to globalisation, supply chains, action, international framework agreements, and organising strategies
Available from ITGLWF, Transport House, John Dobson St, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8TW. Cost £10 inc p&p. Cheques payable to ITGLWF.
Justice for Columbia/War on Want (2004) Columbia. Trade Unionists in the Firing Line. 25 mins.
This video has been produced as part of a War on Want/Justice for Columbia campaign against the continuation of British military aid which they see as only worsening the human rights crisis, poverty and inequality in Columbia. It reports the February visit by British trade unionists, parliamentarians and journalists to meet with Columbian trade unionists, and learn more about their situation.
This is not a stand-alone video and will be most effective when used in conjunction with the accompanying Briefing Miliary Update and other factual information from Justice for Columbia. The video does reinforce the critical conditions - economic and social, not to mention threats, intimidation and assassination - that form part of the Columbian trade unionists’ daily experience. The appeal for British trade union action and pressure against UK military aid is underlined by the high level and degree of participation by union officers and officials in the delegation.
Available from Justice for Columbia, see Organisations or Web-sites below. £5 +p&p
Justice for Columbia/War on Want (2003) Mayday Columbia. 23 mins
This video is dedicated to the 3,800 trade unionists murdered in Columbia since 1998. Of these, teachers form the greatest number. Everyone knows a teacher - and this, if not the sheer horror of that statistic makes this video ‘one to watch’, trade unionist or not.
Supported by their Unions and the TUC, British education workers visited Columbia over the May Day period, the title for the video. The back drop to the union visits, interviews, and demonstrations attended by delegation is one in which governments have determinedly pursued the privatisation of public services, a condition for securing IMF loans. This has resulted in popular opposition to which the private armies of businesses and cattle ranchers have reacted with brutality, blood, and apparent impunity. They have declared trade unionists and human rights workers as valid ‘military targets’. One teacher is killed every week.
The video is supported a booklet of the same name, that has sections on the militarization of education, a case study on displacement, information on underlying causes and poverty, together with ideas for action. There is also a pamphlet Blood on our hands? that explores the links between UK military assistance to Columbia and Human Rights consequences, and a War on Want leaflet. These are best ordered with the video - it is stirring, and a real call to action.
Available from Justice for Columbia, see Organisations or Web-sites below. £4 + p&p.
ITGLWF (1998) The Thread of Life.35 mins
A well paced video that focuses on health and safety at work, and the importance of union health and safety reps in securing workers’ health and well-being. Trade union tutors will be able to use the video in a number of ways, and the ease with which it brings life/meaning to the dryness of some regs could make it a helpful tool for union reps in building a health and safety culture among members.
Textile, garment and leatherwork situations globally provide the visuals in this production, but reps from all types of workplaces will quickly identify with the health and safety links. There are good general sections on identifying hazards and preventing risks, on fires, electrical installations and machines, physical and chemical risks, and movement and posture. This makes the video good for using in sections or as a whole. Not to be omitted are the final sections on work organisation, and a very powerful piece on child labour.
An extremely useful video that can be used to support a range of issues and approaches, and that makes an excellent case in establishing the key role of trade unions to the health and safety of workers. Copying for the widest dissemination possible is encouraged.
Available from ITGLWF, Transport House, John Dobson St, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8TW. Cost £5 inc p&p. Cheques payable to ITGLWF.
KAS-KOR Labour Information, Education and Research Centre, Moscow (2001) McDonald’s. Conveyor belt of smiles. 23 mins
The video explores the difficulties of workers behind the marketing smiles of the Moscow branch of McDonald’s. Denied rights to health and safety and to organise, we are given a snapshot of workers’ 2 year campaign to organise and gain recognition - from building local organisation, to winning broader support, to using international agreements on freedom of association to win their case.
This is an interesting video, that provides a rare glimpse of trade union organising in Russia, and in this famous multinational. It provides the basis for much discussion on similarities in the experience of workers in the global economy.
Available free from IUF Moscow Office, Room 34-27, House of Unions, Leninsky prospekt 42, Moscow 117119, Russian Federation. E-mail: iufmoscow@iuf.org or via www.iuf.ru.
Public Services International (2003) Pay Equity Now! Merlin Films. 13 mins
Short and to the point, this is a video that literally brings home both the injustice and dangers of unequal pay. It starts with a snapshot of how in the Philippines, women’s pay in relation to men’s has actually gone down since the 1960s. Union campaigning on the issue is finding new resonance as the effect on poverty and the quality and levels of service is finally being acknowledged.
In Namibia, the legacy of injustice and discrimination affecting women in the labour market, has led Windhoek City Council to audit its workforce to identify the position of workers. The results underline the link between low levels of literacy and skills, and inequality. Here compulsory consultation has presented opportunities for the union to press pay equity and monitor progress towards it.
Finally, North Yorkshire dinner ladies show how privatisation reduced their pay and conditions, as contractors saw it as ‘pin money’. Recognising this as gender discrimination their union helped them win their case for equal pay.
Covering a number of clear, simple messages in a short space of time, this is a great video for use with workplacereps, equalities reps and union learning reps.
Available from PSI. See Web-sites or Organisations listed below.
Tobin Tax Network (2002) The Tobin Tax. 13 mins.
A short, focused production that outlines the enormous currency transactions that take place every day. It links international currency speculation to the damage affected on developing countries, and advocates a tax on such transactions as a means of both helping to prevent widespread impoverishment, and providing funds for development.
The film features commentary by Jon Snow, and contributions from economist Will Hutton and Guardian Economics editor Larry Elliott. It makes clear links to world poverty and the Millennium Development Goals, and proposes the Tobin Tax as a viable means of securing a 50% poverty reduction by 2015. Trade union tutors will find this a useful aid in exploring the economics of global poverty, and as a focus for discussion of how poverty reduction might be achieved.
The video is supported by summary information on the Tobin Tax, an index of Frequently Asked Questions, and a very useful transcript of the film. The TUC is a member of the Network.
Available from Tobin Tax Network - see Organisations below. Cost £3 p&p.
War on Want/UNISON (2002) Water for Sale.15 mins
This video, produced by workers in the water industry initiating international solidarity, provides a snapshot of the War on Want/UNISON water workers visit to South Africa. It follows meetings between water workers, health and community groups and their exchange of experiences following privatisation. It picks up on issues such as the effects for both workers and consumers in terms of prices, quality of service and health and safety. Also briefly discussed are the benefits of the public-public partnership in Odi. This will be of special interest to workers in the water industry. Used with the accompanying booklet it could also be used as a basis for discussion of privatisation/globalisation and international solidarity. Be prepared for sometimes weak sound quality.
Available from War on Want. See Web-sites or Organisations below for details.
Web-sites
As with any other information source, the web sites listed here vary in terms of language, structure, usefulness for specific issues, and ease of access. They have been selected and reviewed with the key question in mind What might trade union members and educators interested in development issues find useful on this site? As with all web-sites, users should check when the site was last updated - some sites, or sections of sites are not maintained or their subject material can date very rapidly.
The reviews below are not summaries of the sites - surfers will find far more on them than is commented upon below. The comments are provided as guidance to those trade unionists who want to find out more about international issues and to develop their activism in some way. There is a wealth of information available on international development, and much of it is produced or targeted for specific groups. The purpose of this listing is to help those using the internet to find answers to questions they have as trade unionists do so more quickly and effectively.
www.actionaid.org
Action Aid is a charity that works to overcome the poverty and injustice that causes it, key to which is its work with poor and marginalized groups to help them build their ability to defend their own interests. The Our Priorities link on the website lists education, emergencies, food rights, HIV/AIDS, international aid and peace-building. These priorities provide the sub-sections for other links, including worldwide activities, Take Action and Resources. Action Aid works with a range of community groups at home and overseas. The Take Action link lists local groups, for those wanting to get involved, and also lists local actions that are imaginative and targeted at a wide ranging level of engagement.
www.actsa.org
Action for Southern Africa (the successor organisation to the Anti-Apartheid Movement) campaigns to support peace, democracy and development across the region. The web-site has links to information on specific campaigns - Angola, Debt, Trade, HIV & Aids, Tourism and Mining, and to News, Partners and Orders. It now has a Unions link, providing access to information on the national trade union centres ACTSA works in collaboration with, plus trade union related publications. The free newsletter for trade unionists, Partners in Action, can be ordered here
. The links provide briefings and ideas for action - lots here of interest to reps and Tutors. The Orders link has additional information packs - on the Cape asbestos case, for example, and Ideas for Action for Individuals and Trade Union Members.
www.bananalink.org.uk
The banana coloured web-site of the campaigning organisation for sustainable production and trade in bananas. The banana - and the wealth of information, campaign options and resources on it here - provides a symbol for the discussion of the injustices of international trade.
The site is a fairly comprehensive guide to everything you might want to know about bananas. There are links to further information on the banana trade, the companies involved (and their approach to trade unions), the EU/US trade war, human and environmental costs, alternatives for the future, campaigns and resources. There are also activities, games, posters that could be used for working on the situation of banana workers in Latin America.
There is something about the familiarity of the banana that makes this site compelling.
www.cafod.org.uk
www.christian-aid.org
This is the site of a Christian charity that works with poor people in over 60 countries, regardless of religion or race, to improve lives and tackle the causes of poverty and injustice. Its campaigning is often direct and does not mince words - see the Home Page items. The site is easy to use - the Campaigns/Take Action and In-Depth link provide a wealth of information, and opportunities for individuals and groups (including trade unions) to engage.
Tutors may find the Trade Campaign Case Studies easy to use with reps (also available in print) , or the section that deals with how to get local resolutions on trade justice. There are useful sub-sections on how to get involved locally, hints for lobbying MPs, writing letters, and the facility to join an activists web group for exchange of information. More detailed reports, position papers and reports on trade, aid or debt can be accessed too through an In-depth link.
www.dea.org.uk
This site gives information on how the Development Education Association supports development education programmes in the UK. It has links that detail its approach to work with adults, including community education, higher education, schools and youth work. The site describes its approach to these aspects of its work and contact points for obtaining its twice yearly Global Learning Newsletter, as well as information on training courses for educators. There are no specific references to work with trade unions, but there is a list of Development Education Centres for those interested in joining a group in their local area.
www.dfid.gov.uk
The Dept for International Development (DfID) has a specific remit to promote development and reduce poverty (set out in the 2002 International Development Act). The web site provides news and updates on topical issues and projects, and a facility to subscribe to the free quarterly magazine Developments. There are useful links to Statistics on International Development (e.g. Debt Relief and Aid), and to New Publications (e.g. for strategy papers, consultation documents, briefing papers and more). For more specific information, the Search facility can be used e.g. inserting <trade unions> and selecting sort by date will provide a list of meetings, statements, policy approaches etc affecting trade unions, with most recent first.
www.ei-ie.org
The site of Education International - the Global Union Federation for the education sector. UK affiliates can be found through the About link, which also details structure, policy and partnership of EI. The site also has the latest international News on campaigns, events and topical issues, plus a section on Trade Union and Human Rights. Its free quarterly journal Worlds of Education and other publications can be ordered online, and the Resources section provides resolutions, speeches and international campaign details that will be of value to UK activists.
www.ethicaltrade.org
This site will be of interest to both reps and trade union tutors. The Ethical Trading Initiative involves companies, NGOs and trade unions in working together to identify and promote ethical trading. Its Resources/English language resources link has information on auditing supply chains, the business case for ethical sourcing, and implementation issues which will be of interest to trade unionists interested in progressing ethical trading. It has examples of joint work in promoting and implementing Labour Codes of Practice, ethical sourcing and other initiatives. A list of existing members can be accessed, and there’s information on how new members can join.
www.global-unions.org
This site provides up-to-date news on unions internationally, together with links to its constituent organisations (via the About link). It also provides an invaluable short cut to Ongoing Campaigns, Framework Agreements with MNEs, Global Unions Research Network, and World Social Forum among others.
www.globalworkplace.org
The site lists the members of Global Unions and provides news on its campaigns. More detailed information for individual sectors can be found on member Global Union Federation sites, to which About Global Unions provides links.
This is a sub-site of the main War on Want web-site. White script on a black background does not make for an easy read, but the information on the site is worth persisting. There are two sets of links - one with information, facts and figures on globalisation and the importance of workers’ rights; the other on campaigns and solidarity. For trade union tutors and trade unionists generally, this is a site worth recording under ‘favourites’ - for easy access to succinct, usable information. It is also worth noting there is also a facility for downloading part or whole of the Global Workplace training manual (reviewed above under Written Resources).
www.icem.org
The site of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Federation is clearly structured, with links that are not overwhelming in number, and contain what their title suggests. These cover ICEM Basics (good summary statement on what ICEM does), Action (for examples global agreements, sector/company networks and campaigns), Media (lists resources and publications), Links (some excellent links to affiliates, e.g. Ditsela in S. Africa), Resources (contains e.g. useable labour cartoons), plus ICEM Events and News. UK affiliates include AEEU, CATU, EMA, GMB, GPMU, MSF, TGWU, and USDAW.
www.icftu.org
The International Confederation of Trade Unions brings together the work of 221 National Trade Union Centres. As might be expected, its web site is packed full of useful information for trade unionists. Its home page is especially busy, and those unsure of which link to follow may be well advised to go to Site Map first as this lists the pages available.
Trade Union tutors will find the links to Multinational Enterprises, List of Framework Agreements and Trade and Labour Standards particularly useful in working with reps.
A Trade Union Guide to Globalisation can also be accessed/ordered on-line, as can articles from the ICFTU publication Trade Union World. Whether your interest is in Health and Safety, Equality, Organising or Basic Skills, there is lots here to warrant adding this to the list of Favourites for regular return visits.
www.ictur.labournet.org
The web site of the International Centre for Trade Union Rights is quite small. It has an About section and some of the latest News items from Labourstart. The Global Workplace (produced in conjunction with War on Want) can be ordered free here. Articles from its journal International Union Rights can also be accessed and subscribed to online.
www.ifbww.org
The site of the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers, whose UK affiliates include UCATT, TGWU and GMB-CFTA. This is a relatively small site, but there is information on IFBWW policies, activities, publications and affiliates. The links are easy to use e.g. the Policies link provides a strategic plan overview, with hyperlinks to actions taken on them. There is also a log-on facility for members.
www.ifj.org
The site of the International Federation of Journalists provides information and is being relaunched this month with a new design and associated web-sites. There are links to Human Rights, Labour Rights, a new Globalisation link, and news items relevant to trade unionists in journalism. There is much here of specific interest to journalists interested in international activism, but not so much that specifically deals with issues of globalisation and development.
www.ilo.org
This is the site of the tripartite International Labour Organisation (ILO), at which the TUC represents the interests of British workers. Resources on development issues frequently quote the ILO labour standards, and these are listed on the site, together with a list of those countries that have ratified them.
The ILO magazine World of Work can be accessed online, and copies of its well-known journal International Labour Review can be ordered. There is also up to date information on World Summits, Assemblies and Conferences, as well as ILO Databases referring to labour statistics, occupational safety and more. This is a large, photo-rich site, and trade unionists are advised to keep clearly in mind what they want from the site, so as not to become overwhelmed by the volume of information on offer, and the time it may take to get it.
www.imfmetal.org
An easy to use web site for union affiliates in the steel, non-ferrous metals and ore mining, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, automobile, aerospace, electrical and electronics industries. It is easy to use, has a good About section and Union Women link that provides updates and a useful Snapshots link to articles on the experiences of women trade unionists in different countries. The Publications link provides access to a range of materials - from reports on specific multinationals to information on International Framework Agreements - all available in a format that can be downloaded.
www.iraqitradeunions.org
This is the site of the independent trade union movement in Iraq. The site, like the movement, is growing and provides scarce information on what Iraqi trade unionists are themselves doing to make life better in changed but extremely difficult circumstances. There is an interesting History link, plus lots of news items - testimony to the ongoing struggle and threat to trade unionists in this part of the world. Well worth a few clicks to find news from Iraq that rarely makes The News, and ideas as to the practical support you can give.
www.itf.org.uk
The International Transport Federation (ITF) site is user friendly, with easy to identify links to news and information on its specialist sectors and sub-sections. There’s up to date news on the constituent sectors, resolutions and reports of its Congress, and information on campaigns. The About ITF link has Information Sheets that provide lots of useful data on different aspects of the ITF’s work - valuable for both members and those with a general interest in trade unions and development. Its latest publications are available on-line or to order, as is its quarterly magazine Transport International.
www.itglwf.org
The International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation site is easy to use and has a wealth of information that both reps and Tutors will find useful. It has the usual About Us, Press Releases and Affiliates Only links, supplemented by topic specific links that have a common structure, enabling the user to access the related Federation Agenda for Action, publications, press release, news items and resources. The Agenda for Action provides plain English background information and ITGLWF proposals for dealing with the issues - representing accessible explanations and highly useable materials for both reps and tutors.
The Priorities links include MNCs, EPZs, Linking Trade and Worker Rights, Homeworking, Women’s Issues, Wages and Working Conditions, Eliminating Child Labour, Health & Safety, and Organising and Defending Workers’ Rights. This last then provides information on basic trade union rights, how to report a violation, the importance of organising and the Federation position statement. The Health & Safety section has the facility to order a video entitled The Thread of Life, and provides a good link to a web site of the same name, which promises to answer all health & safety questions from trade unionists in the sector. You can then follow the Education link to access to a simulation activity with tutor notes, and information on Globalisation, Workers’ Rights and Codes of Conduct.
This is an information and resource rich site for all trade unionists interested in development issues, and it is well worth spending time exploring the links.
www.iuf.org
The website of the global union federation for food, agriculture, hotel, restaurant, catering, tobacco and beverages sectors. The site lists its affiliates worldwide and is available in 6 different languages. There are links to regional offices, urgent actions, viewpoints and editorials on topical issues and a News and Information link relevant to general membership. For more specific news and items, a sector or company search can be selected. The number of items varies considerably between companies, but there is a facility for Members Only to log on, and for whom a larger selection of items is available. UK members (AMICUS, BFAWU, GMB, TGWU, USDAW) can apply to their national HQ, or national secretaries for IUF sectors, to obtain log-ins.
www.justiceforcolumbia.org
Here you can find a wealth of information about the work of the coalition of British trade unions and other organisations in supporting the rights, and struggle for peace and social justice of Columbian people. The site has easy to use links: About giving further information on Justice for Columbia; Campaigns and Get Involved - a must once an image of Columbia today has begun to reveal itself (see Videos above). Especially valuable is the Research/Bulletins link - from which you can order the quarterly journal, posters (suitable for the Union office), booklets and articles. The link also includes a Photo Album, and an example of the daily threat to Columbian trade unionists’ lives….. Click on the web page link now.
www.labourstart.org
This is an invaluable site for all trade unionists. It provides up-to-date information on the trade union movement around the world. It has a facility for single country searches, and links to online forums, campaigns, subscription to weekly mailings, plus guidance on how to set up and maintain a website. For trade union educators this is a rich source of items for background information and potential case studies, using current or archived articles.
www.makepovertyhistory.org
This is the UK site of the Global Call to Action against poverty (see www.whiteband.org for other country links). The TUC is one of the more than 200 civil society organisations organising events and actions. The links provide information on why 2005 is important and the call for urgent action on Trade Justice, Drop the Debt and More and Better Aid. All trade unionists are called upon to take part in the mobilisation in 2005. (For more information on what the TUC is doing on Make Poverty History, visit www.tuc.org.uk/makepovertyhistory )
www.newint.org
The co-operative that publishes the monthly magazine New Internationalist has a large website that includes on-line copies of the magazine, links to action groups created to work on the issues it publicises, and to its publications on world development. Information also extends to reviews of books, music and theatre that deal with developing world issues, as well as using calendars and cook books to spread information and generate interest.
The focus of the site is world development, and because this always involves what ordinary people can do to improve their lives, trade unions are a frequent theme of individual articles. Monthly issues such as Poverty, Aid and Activism, Transnationals, Bread and Roses. The trade union revival. can be viewed and subscribed to online.
It is worth taking time to follow through the links, or use the search facility for specific items. A valuable research site for both trade union educators and members.
www.oneworldaction.org
The homepage of this NGO opens with a few simple words that will find sympathy with trade unionists. The words Democracy, Justice, Human Rights and Gender Equality and Equity provide some of the simple, uncluttered links that make navigating this site a stress free exercise. One World Action partners include a range of workers’ groups and there’s information on development news and events for those wishing to find out more or get involved. Follow the OWA 2015 link for information and lively discussion of the Millennium Development Goals and democracy.
www.oxfam.org.uk
The web-site of the charity Oxfam is structured in themes - Trade, Education, Debt & Aid, Human Rights etc . These provide extensive news, reports, and information on activities. There is no specific link here to work with trade unions, but the site does offer information trade unionists may find useful. There is a link to the Make Trade Fair site, that is action focussed, but also has background papers, reports and the debates on trade. There’s a What you can do link with activities to appeal to a range of levels of time/commitment, and a Publications section with books, journals and even reading for the kids.
www.tgwu.org.uk/TGWUInternatEd/index.htm
Education in International Development is a sub-section of the TGWU website, providing materials and activities, and designed specifically for use in trade union education. The resources are provided as part of a DfID sponsored project with a view to raising awareness and understanding of the processes of international development, and ensuring that an international perspective is integrated into all TGWU educational programmes. They cover a range of sectors, and can be downloaded and easily adapted to meet different situations/sectors.
The site not only provides activities, but handy links to supportive readings and materials that Tutors and reps will find useful.
www.tradejusticemovement.org.uk
Baby Milk Action, Campaign Against the Arms Trade and the TUC are a few of the more than 60 groups that make up the Trade Justice Movement, which campaigns for fundamental changes in unfair international trade rules. The News link provides up-to-date press articles and statements on campaign issues, including the TUC Congress resolution on trade. Trade union tutors may find this a good starting point for further exploration of the site contents. The Briefings and Resources link provides supportive information, notes and arguments on the campaign, together with tricky questions and simple answers.
www.tuc.org.uk
The new Trades Union Congress (TUC) website format presents a much easier ‘at a glance’ visual summary as to its contents. Clicking on the International link provides a fuller list of sub-themes - including information on Human Rights, MNCs, Migration and Globalisation. The latest on-line version of this Digest can be accessed here, as can the DfID/TUC booklet Target 2015, Halving World Poverty. There is also plain English background information on globalisation, and a Trade Unions in Action link with examples of a range of campaigns and associated web sites, including the global union federations.
www.union-network.org
Union Network International was formed from a merger of FIET, MEI, IGF and CI. The web site is not always easy to read or to navigate and there did not seem to be a list of UK affiliates for the sectors covered (includes Casino, Commerce, Electrical, Finance, Graphical, Hair and Beauty, Postal, Tourism and others). There is a lot on this site, and lots of value to reps and tutors. The Themes link has useful info, especially on multinationals.
www.waronwant.org
The website of War on Want which was founded by Victor Gollancz (who founded the Left Book Club in the 1930s) and Harold Wilson in 1951 to fight the war against poverty. It is an easy site to use - there are a small number of links, and these have drop down menus so that you can review what’s in them before making a connection. The Campaigns link is particularly useful for both Tutors and reps. It has a series of sub-sections e.g. Just Trade, Privatisation and Poverty and Columbia , that provide an overview of the issue, with further links to specific actions (NB The Trade Unions link has information on Tax Issues, not trade unions, but see review under www.globalworkplace.org - a War on Want sub-site dedicated to workplace issues).
The Country Profiles link is well worth a visit - it gives a background political/social/ economic sketch that is needed to better understand the context for specific campaigns and activities.
www.world-psi.org
The revised web site of Public Services International - representing public sector unions - has links with drop-down menus, making it easy to use. There are global/regional links, each providing handy summaries of information and issues. Using the Meetings & Networks links reps can quickly identify PSI’s scheduled meetings as well as latest news affecting the public sector. The Policy & Issues links has info, reports & policies grouped both thematically (e.g. Worker Rights) and according to sector (e.g. Health, Utilities). Valuable to reps and trade union Tutors alike, the Campaigns link has detailed information on action such as the Pay & Equity and HIV/Aids campaigns. Similarly the Resources Centre has a list of publications available on-line and, importantly, the offer of paper-based publications available at no cost to affiliates.
Organisations
Action Aid
Hamlyn House, Macdonald Rd, London N19 5PGTel +44 (0)20 7272 0899
E-mail mail@actionaid.org.uk Web www.actionaid.org.uk
ACTSA 28 Penton St, London N1 9SA
Tel: 020 7833 3133
E mail actsa@actsa.org
Web www. actsa.org
Banana Link 8a Guildhall Hill, Norwich NR2 1JG
tel 01603 765670
e-mail info@bananalink.org.uk
Christian Aid PO Box 100, London SE1 7RT
tel 020 7523 2225
e-mail campaigns@christian-aid.org
Co-operative College Holyoake House, Hanover St, Manchester M60 0AS
tel 0161 246 2926
e-mail enquiries@co-op.ac.uk
web www.co-op.ac.uk
Development Education Association (DEA) 29-31 Corsham St, London N1 6DR tel 020 7490 8108 e-mail dea@dea.org.uk web www.dea.org.uk
Department for International Development (DfID) 1 Palace St, London SW1E 5HE tel 0845 300 4100 e-mail enquiry@dfid.gov.uk web www.dfid.gov.uk
Education International , International Trade Union House, Bd du Roi Albert II, 5 B-1210 Brussels, Belgium tel 00 322 224 0611 e-mail headoffice@ei-ie.org web www.ei-ie.org
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), Cromwell House, 14 Fulwood Place London WC1V 6HZ tel +44 (0) 20 7404 1463 e-mail ethicaltrade@eti.org.uk web www.ethicaltrade.org
European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), International Trade Union House, Bd du Roi Albert II, 5, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium tel 00 322 224 0411 e-mail etuc@etuc.org web www.etuc.org
International Centre for Trade Union Rights (ICTUR), 177 Abbeville Road, London, SW4 9RL tel 020 7498 4700 e-mail info@ictur.org web www.ictur.labournet.org
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Trade Union House, Bd du Roi Albert II, 5, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium tel 00 322 224 0211 e-mail internetpo@icftu.org web www.icftu.org
International Federation of Building and Woodworkers (IFBWW), 54 Route des Acacias, PO Box 1412, CH 1227 Carouge-Geneva, Switzerland tel 00 4122 8273777 e-mail info@ifbww@org.uk web www.ifbww.org
International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), 109 avenue Emile de Béco, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium tel 00 322 626 2020 e-mail info@icem.org web www.icem.org
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Press Centre, Rés Palace, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium tel 00 322 223 2265 e-mail ifj@ifj.org web www.ifj.org
International Labour Organisation (ILO), ILO London Office, Millbank Towers, 21-24 Millbank, London SW1P 4QP tel 020 7828 6401 e-mail london@ilo-london.org.uk web www.ilo.org
International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF), Route des Acacias 54 bis, Case Postale 1516, CH-1227 Carouge-Geneva, Switzerland tel 00 4122 308 5050 e-mail info@imfmetal.org web www.imfmetal.org
International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation ((ITGLWF), 8 Rue Joseph Stevens, (Bte 4), B-1000 Brussels, Belgium tel 00 322 512 2606/ 512 2833 e-mail office@itglwf.org web www.itglwf.org
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), 49-60 Borough Rd, London SE1 1DS tel 020 7403 2733 e-mail mail@itf.org web www.itf.org.uk
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), Rampe du Pont Rouge, 8, CH1213 Petit Lancy, Switzerland tel 00 4122 7932233/37 e-mail iuf@iuf.org web www.iuf.org
Irish Congress of Trade Unions , 32 Parnell Sq, Dublin 1 tel + 353 (01) 889 7777 e-mail david.joyce@ictu.ie web www.ictu.ie
Justice for Columbia , 9 Arkwright Rd,London, NW3 6AB tel: 0207 794 3644 e-mail info@justiceforcolombia.org
Oxfam , 274 Banbury Rd, Oxford OX2 DZ web: www.oxfam.org.uk
Public Services International (PSI), BP9, F01211 Ferney-Voltaire, Cedex, France tel 00 33 (0)4 50 406464 e-mail psi@world-psi.org web www.world-psi.org
Tobin Tax Network Fenner Brockway House, 37-39 Guildford St London SE1 0ES
tel: 020 7620 1111 e-mail tobintax@waronwant.org web www.tobintaxnetwork.org.uk
Tourism Concern Stapleton House, 277-281 Holoway Rd, London N7 8HN tel 020 7133 3330 e-mail info@tourismconcern.org.uk web www.tourismconcern.org.uk
UNI (Union Network International), Avenue Reverdi, 8-10, CH-1260 Nyon, Switzerland tel 00 4122 365 2162 e-mail contact@union-network.org web www.union-network.org
Universal Alliance of Diamond Workers (UADW), Langekievitstraat, 57 - Bus 1, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium tel 00 323 232 4860
War on Want , 37-39 Great Guildford St, London SE1 0ES tel 020 7620 1111 e-mail mailroom@waronwant.org web www.waronwant.org
Women Working Worldwide , Rm 412 MMU Manton Building, Rosamund St West, Manchester M15 6LL tel 0161 247 1760 e-mail women-ww@mcr1.poptel.org.uk
For further information or comments on this Digest please contact Liz Rees, TUC National Education & Training Officer tel 020 7467 1240 email lrees@tuc.org.uk or Jackie Williams, TUC Education & Training Officer tel 020 7467 1253 email jwilliams@tuc.org.uk
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