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IDM - Monthly newsletter reporting international development matters and issues affecting trade unionists around the world. Including reports, statements, interviews and events.
International Matters E-Bulletin
 
International Development Matters
 
Issue number 171 December 2017
IDM - Monthly newsletter reporting international development matters and issues affecting trade unionists around the world. Including reports, statements, interviews and events.

TUC NEWS

TUC Aid: Zimbabwe Appeal

UK teachers support English teaching in Nicaraguan schools

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Togo: Education trade unions join forces to improve teachers' living and working conditions

Iraq approves ratification of ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association

Protest action in Indonesia against Coca-Cola Amatil continues despite Bali airport shutdown

ITUC Joins Call for Action to End Migrant Slave Trade in Libya

IFI NEWS

IMF Programme Has Far-Reaching Implications for Ghanaian Workers

Global developmental financial institution needs to be accountable on Lonmin and Sassa

CALLS TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Libya: End campaign of intimidation against Nermin Al-Sharif

ACT NOW! Independent unions challenge the zero rights regime at Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia

ACT NOW! Indonesian food workers fighting for their rights following instant closure of their factory by GreatGiant Pineapple

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

IndustriALL video: Violence against women at work - a trade union issue

Guardian news report: Madagascar’s dockworkers: 'We're neglected as if we're nothing'

Interview with Mary Vargas NUBCW Philippines

EVENTS

Latin America Conference 2017

Iran parliamentary event: BBC Persian harassment by the Iranian authorities 

TUC NEWS

TUC Aid: Zimbabwe Appeal

TUC Aid, the trade union charity for working people in need around the world is raising funds of £5,000 to help Zimbabwe’s trade unions support ordinary Zimbabweans’ rights during the current politically precarious time.

Read more and support the appeal here

UK teachers support English teaching in Nicaraguan schools

TUC affiliate, NEU-NUT section in partnership with the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group (NSCAG), the Asociación Nacional de Educadores de Nicaragua (ANDEN), and the Ministry of Education in Nicaragua (MINED) organised a trade union delegation of 11 teachers who travelled to Nicaragua to learn about the country’s education system, connect with colleagues, and exchange learning and best practice in teaching second languages.

Read about the successful exchange here on page 4 and watch a video summary report here

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Togo: Education trade unions join forces to improve teachers' living and working conditions

Public sector primary and secondary education teachers embarked on a three-day strike to obtain better living and working conditions from the Togolese government.

Read more here

Iraq approves ratification of ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association

Trade unions in Iraq are celebrating after the country’s Parliament approved ratification of core ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association. On 20 November the House of Representatives voted in favour of a draft law that allows the Republic of Iraq to join the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, which upholds trade union freedoms.

Read more here

Protest action in Indonesia against Coca-Cola Amatil continues despite Bali airport shutdown

IUF members from across Indonesia held a protest against attacks on trade union rights at Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia at the Coca-Cola Balinusa Operation Headquarters and distribution centre in Bali on November 29. Despite the closure of the airport due to volcanic activity, IUF members travelled overland to Bali to demand the reinstatement of unfairly terminated union leaders and an end to the ongoing attack on independent, democratic unions.

Read more here

ITUC Joins Call for Action to End Migrant Slave Trade in Libya

The ITUC condemns in the strongest terms the abhorrent practice of the sale of migrant workers in Libya. Recent journalistic investigations have revealed that in the absence of the rule of law, migrant workers are increasingly being sold as slaves in Libya and elsewhere.

Read more here

IFI NEWS

IMF Programme Has Far-Reaching Implications for Ghanaian Workers

Achieving the objectives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme is expected to have a far-reaching implications on the economy including the welfare of Ghanaian workers, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei Asare has said.

Read more here

Global developmental financial institution needs to be accountable on Lonmin and Sassa

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the largest global development institution with an exclusive focus on the private sector in developing countries. It has not been held accountable for the violation of its own policy in a number of instances, including cases relating to high-profile issues in South Africa.

Read more here

CALLS TO ACTION

ACT NOW! Libya: End campaign of intimidation against Nermin Al-Sharif

Nermin Al-Sharif, leader of the Dockers’ and Seafarers’ Union of Libya, works relentlessly for the protection and advancement of human, workers' and women's rights in Libya, in the Arab region, and globally. As a result, she has been subject to ongoing attacks on her freedom and personal safety including several attempts on her life. In the latest incident Nermin was detained for a number of days and has had her passport confiscated subject to 'an investigation'.

Take action here

ACT NOW! Independent unions challenge the zero rights regime at Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia

Please continue supporting the campaign for workers at Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia who are organising to form independent democratic unions. The company has responded by systematically attacking their members and elected leaders. A recent update received from IUF informs us that TCCC and Coca-Cola Amatil have begun blocking e-mails from our supporters. So your message will be delivered to both companies as part of a signed petition, found here.

ACT NOW! Indonesian food workers fighting for their rights following instant closure of their factory by GreatGiant Pineapple

In May 2016 management at the Umas Jaya Agrotama factory in Lampung, Indonesia announced the plant’s immediate closure, without prior notice or negotiations with the union. After more than one-and-a-half years, two hundred workers at the facility, the majority of them members of the IUF-affiliated SBMUJA, have still not received their final month’s pay, and the company refuses to negotiate.

Demand justice by taking action here

FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS

IndustriALL video: Violence against women at work - a trade union issue

IndustriALL Global Union launched a new video to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women that took place on 25 November. To learn more about what unions are doing and for campaigning and collective bargaining resources, see the ITUC portal on gender-based violence and listen to the RadioLabour podcast on the global campaign for the 16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Violence Against Women

Guardian news report: Madagascar’s dockworkers: 'We're neglected as if we're nothing'

Union-busting and dismissals at Madagascar’s main port highlight the struggle facing workers on this impoverished island. Read the Guardian newspaper account of Madagascar’s dockworkers such as François Bia, who in 2012 joined a union, hoping to improve his pay and conditions, but managers at the port fired him, along with 42 other dockworkers who had joined the same union.

Interview with Mary Vargas NUBCW Philippines

Watch the brief video with Mary Vargas, organiser for National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW) Philippines talking about organising women within the construction industry in the Philippines.

EVENTS

Facebook Live discussion with IndustriALL General Secretary and ILO Wage expert 

1 December, 1pm

Global Labour University together with IndustriALL is going live with a Facebook live discussion on 1 December 2017 at 1pm (UK time) with IndustriALL's General Secretary Valter Sanchez and ILO wage expert Dr. Patrick Belser. They will discuss ILO standards on minimum wage setting and trade union campaigning for industry-wide bargaining to achieve fair wages. Join the live conversation and ask your questions live!

How to participate: Register on https://www.facebook.com/events/352789971853127/ and "like" our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GlobalLabourUniversity to get a notification when we go live. Not on Facebook? You can still watch the discussion on https://www.facebook.com/GlobalLabourUniversity

Latin America Conference 2017

Saturday 2 December 09.45am (registration from 9.15am)

Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS

Tickets £10 (£8 unwaged)

The largest event of the year for Latin America solidarity in Britain – now in its 13th year –will feature an impressive line up of ambassadors, academics, MPs, trade unionists, activists, campaigners, journalists and artists to discuss the politics of the region including plenary sessions in the main hall and many smaller, interactive seminars, film and much more.

Full details and tickets here

Iran parliamentary event: BBC Persian harassment by the Iranian authorities 

Tuesday 5th December, 5.00-6.30pm

The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House, London

The Iranian government has started a criminal investigation against journalists working for the BBC’s Persian Service in London, alleging their work is a crime against Iran’s national security. This has been accompanied by an asset-freezing injunction preventing 152 current and former BBC Persian staff from buying or selling property inside Iran. A parliamentary briefing with these panellists will take place Jamie Angus, Deputy Director, BBC World Service; Michelle Stanistreet, General Secretary, NUJ; Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, Doughty Street Chambers; Maryam Afshang, BBC Persian; Chair – Lord Hannay of Chiswick; Sponsored by Madeleine Moon MP.

RSVP: worldservice.events@bbc.co.uk

  The person responsible for the e-bulletin is:
Tanya Warlock
Tel 0207 467 1357
E: twarlock@tuc.org.uk

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