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This edition of the TUC’s Global Solidarity Update bulletin contains the latest international solidarity news and issues affecting trade unionists around the world, including reports, statements, blogs, interviews and events from a wide range of reputable sources. 

We hope you enjoy this edition and we thank you for your continual support in reading and sharing this bulletin.  

In this issue:

TUC NEWS

TUC solidarity statement for AFL-CIO (US elections)

TUC Solidarity with CUT Colombia

TUC Solidarity with Nigerian trade unions

OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS

End Impunity 2020: Journalists’ killings - masterminds are walking free

Global unions in solidarity with Indian union movement

ITUC calls on the Iraqi government to stop trade union monopoly in the country and respect ILO conventions

Thailand: Imprisonment of Railway Union Leaders a Travesty of Justice

IFI NEWS

IMF/World Bank: Inaction on Global Economic Crisis

CALLS TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Albania: Solidarity with the miners - end repression now

ACT NOW! Myanmar: Stop union-busting at sporting goods company

ACT NOW! Ukraine: Support miners in their fight for decent conditions

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

Global unions support European Health Action Week

EVENTS / CAMPAIGNS

The Nicaraguan Revolution:  Past, Present and Future – The Threat of a Good Example

Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Virtual Lobby Day 2020

Join ITF’s solidarity network

TUC solidarity statement for AFL-CIO (US elections)

Read the statement of solidarity from the TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady, regarding the US elections here
 

Joint solidarity by UK, French and Italian culture sector unions

Great example of global union solidarity between TUC affiliate PCS and our French sister union CGT and our Italian sister union CGIL, highlighting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the arts and culture sector.

Read the statement here is English, French and Italian
 

TUC solidarity with CUT Colombia

The TUC was horrified to hear about the recent death threats made to the Colombian trade union leaders of our sister union CUT Colombia and executive committee members of FECODE education union. We joined global calls and denounced these actions and demand an end to violence towards trade unionists and activists across Colombia.

Read the statement written by Justice for Colombia here in English and Spanish versions.

Read the ITUC letter to the President of Colombia here in Spanish

Sign the LabourStart action condemning the death threats against FECODE and CUT Colombia union leaders.
 

TUC solidarity with Nigerian trade unions

The TUC stands in solidarity with our sister union the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and condemned the shocking Lekki Toll Gate killings and we demand the President of Nigeria uphold commitments to the UN convention on the right to peaceful assembly.

Read the NLC statement here
 

OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS

End Impunity 2020: journalists’ killings - masterminds are walking free

On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (2 November) the IFJ launched a global campaign targeting those who order crimes against journalists but go unpunished, and demanding governments take urgent steps to put an end to impunity and protect press freedom. In the past decade, 999 journalists have been killed, IFJ reports show, 30 so far in 2020, most of them local journalists. Since 1990, 2,644 journalists lost their lives.

Read more here
 

Global unions in solidarity with the Indian union movement

Global union federation IndustriALL and the ITUC vowed to stand together in solidarity with the Indian union movement, supporting their struggle against the anti-worker policies of the Modi government.

Read more here and sign this Labour start action where workers' rights are continually under attack in India.
 

The ITUC calls on the Iraqi government to stop trade union monopoly in the country and respect ILO conventions

The ITUC wrote this letter to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq regarding the government’s institutionalisation of trade union monopoly in Iraq and called on the government to respect ILO conventions 87 and 98.
 

Thailand: Imprisonment of railway union leaders a travesty of justice

The three-year prison terms imposed recently by a Thai court on thirteen leaders of the State Railway Workers’ Union (SRUT) is a travesty of justice. The SRUT workers have been ruthlessly pursued by the State Railway of Thailand through the legal system for carrying out a national rail safety campaign following a fatal train derailment in October 2009 at Khao Tao Station. The Thai authorities also pursued a vendetta against the workers, including through the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

Read more here
 

IFI NEWS

IMF/World Bank: inaction on the global economic crisis

The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have failed to step up to the gravity of the global economic crisis, in particular for developing countries, where the economic outlook continues to worsen. No major decisions were taken to support these countries, and the initial emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic is becoming too little as the crisis wears on.

Read the full ITUC statement here
 

CALL TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Albania: solidarity with the miners - end repression now

The Trade Union of United Mineworkers of Bulqiza (Albania) have been under attack since 2019 from the employer AlbChrome, the biggest mine company operating in the region, the police, as well as being under a total media blackout. Dismissals of two trade union leaders led to workers boycotting work, demanding their colleagues’ reinstatement and subsequently an end to worker repression, and higher wages. Other union leaders and activists have also been detained and interrogated.

Read more and take action here and call on the government of Albania and Albchrome to uphold freedom of association and collective bargaining enshrined in Albanian law and end repression against workers and reinstate two the trade unions leaders.
 

ACT NOW! Myanmar: stop union-busting at sporting goods company

After the VIP 1 and 2 factory unions demanded Covid-19 safety measures inside the factory, the factory dismissed all union members in both factories and the VIP 2 factory union president was stabbed by company thugs. It is a clear, brutal case of union-busting. The factories make sporting goods for Mizuno, CCM, Evil Bikes, and Pivot Cycles. Despite months of direct outreach from the unions, the brands have refused to intervene or mediate whatsoever.

Take action here
 

ACT NOW! Ukraine: support miners in their fight for decent conditions

On 3 September, miners at Zhovtnev mine owned by Ukrainian Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Plant (KZRK), started an underground protest, demanding a wage increase and an end to workplace safety assessment breaches, improved working conditions and pension preferences due to difficult working conditions. The protests spread to three other mines, Gvardiiska, Ternivska and Batkivshchyna, including almost 400 miners. Since 18 September, 170 protesting miners still remain underground. The protesters' health is deteriorating due to the unhealthy environment. Family members have held solidarity protests in Kryyi Rih and Kyiv, and there are reports on the pressure put on the miners and members of their families.

Read more and take action here
 

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

Global unions support European Health Action Week

The European Health Action Week called by the European Public Service Unions (EPSU) and supported by the ETUC,  ITUC  ITUC Africa and several global union federations took place from 29 October. The week brought together doctors, healthcare assistants, social care and other frontline workers from over +20 countries demanding higher wages, better work conditions, more staff, and quality care for all.

Read this joint statement by the ITUC, UNI Global Union, Public Services International, Education International, International Domestic Workers Federation and Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO).

Watch these videos by ETUC and ITUC calling for Invest in care now! For recovery and resilience
 

EVENTS / CAMPAIGNS

The Nicaraguan Revolution:  past, present and future – the threat of a good example

Thursday 12 November 2020, 6:00 pm UK time
With the election of the FSLN to government in 2006, Nicaragua's revolution entered its second phase, building on the social, economic and political advances that have been the revolution's hallmarks. This webinar, by the Solidarity Campaign Action Group, will examine the periods from 1979 to the present day, looking at how the revolution has underpinned Nicaragua's democracy and transformed the lives of Nicaragua's people.

For more details and to register click here
 

Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Virtual Lobby Day 2020

Wednesday 2 December 2020, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Join the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Virtual Lobby Day for Palestine on 2 December and meet with your MP over Zoom to discuss Palestinian rights. Let politicians know that Palestine is an important issue for their constituents. You do not need to be an expert on Palestine to take part… just register to request a meeting with your MP by following this link, and PSC will do the rest!

More information and registration details are here
 

Join ITF’s solidarity network

The International Transport Federation (ITF) co-ordinates practical solidarity for transport unions around the world. By bringing unions together, ITF can ensure better working conditions, improve workers' rights, and create a just and fair society for everyone. Their solidarity network is a movement of dedicated campaigners working to mobilise direct and effective action, both online and offline.

Sign up to the ITF's solidarity network to help improve human and trade union rights here
 

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