International Development Matters - Issue 144 August 2015
| International Development Matters |
| Issue number 144 August 2015 |
| IDM - Monthly newsletter reporting international development matters and issues affecting trade unionists around the world. Including reports, statements, interviews and events. |
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TUC demands trade union rights in Cambodia TUC condemns mass dismissal of Paraguayan workers for forming trade union Zimbabwe: Trade Union Leaders Arrested Ahead of Planned Demonstration Determined struggle brings Iraqi workers new labour law Industry bargaining for living wages The IMF’s chameleon-policies on unions are changing colours UN Financing for Development: the Fund and Bank's role & influence TUC briefing on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) TUC briefing on EU-Canada free trade agreement (CETA) ACT NOW! Drop the charges against Andy Hall now! Act now! Free Ismail Abdi, Iranian teacher union leader ILO interview, Carmen Benitez, Regional Specialist in Workers' Education Nigerian Labour Congress and ILO to jointly promote Decent Work Application for Global Labour University Programmes in Brazil and South Africa Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign public meeting London Labour Film Festival 2015 Indonesia: 50 years after the coup TUC NEWS TUC demands trade union rights in Cambodia TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has written to the Cambodian Prime Minister as part of a global trade union movement campaign to press for improvements to the draft Cambodian trade union law. Read the Stronger Unions blog on how employers are pleading poverty despite global brand pledges to pay Cambodia’s minimum wage. TUC condemns mass dismissal of Paraguayan workers for forming trade union The TUC has written to the Paraguayan ambassador to the UK demanding justice for 51 workers dismissed for forming a trade union. The workers, who were drivers for the Ascuncion based bus company Line 49, had organised after 10 years of exploitation. OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS Zimbabwe: Trade Union Leaders Arrested Ahead of Planned Demonstration The ITUC has strongly condemned the arrests of trade union officials in Zimbabwe ahead of a planned demonstration early this month against job losses. Read more here Determined struggle brings Iraqi workers new labour law A ten-year national and international campaign has resulted in the enactment of a new labour code in Iraq. Read more here Industry bargaining for living wages In garment industry supply chains, exploitative working conditions are standard. Workers are forced to work long hours, often far beyond legal boundaries, for poverty wages and in poor conditions. IndustriALL is working with major clothing brands in a process known as ACT to create a system that can increase wages in a sustainable and enforceable way. Read more here We need more women leaders! Women and men together take better decisions and organize more workers than men alone. That is why we need more women in the leadership of trade unions at the local, national and global level. Read more here IFIs The IMF’s chameleon-policies on unions are changing colours New IMF research has shown the positive impact of trade unions have on reducing income inequality, however, the Fund's own European austerity programmes indicate that the IMF ignores its own evidence. Read more here UN Financing for Development: the Fund and Bank's role & influence This briefing analyses the role of the World Bank and IMF in the UN Financing for Development negotiations. TUC briefing on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) This briefing outlines the TUC's key concerns with the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the trade deal currently being negotiated between the EU. In September 2014 the TUC adopted a position of outright opposition to TTIP due to concerns, among others, that the deal seriously threatens our public services, jobs and labour standards. TUC briefing on EU-Canada free trade agreement (CETA) Canada and the EU have ‘finalised’ and published online the text for the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). On the basis of concerns raised by this text the TUC’s General Council adopted a position of outright opposition to CETA. This is in line with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) who are also opposed to the deal. Read why here CALLS TO ACTION ACT NOW! Drop the charges against Andy Hall now! Andy Hall is a migrant workers’ rights activist who faces 7 years in prison for contributing to research that revealed allegations of worker abuse and slavery-like practices in the Thai pineapple processing industry. In just a few days he'll find out his fate. Can you help call on the Thai authorities to drop the charges against Andy Hall? Sign the petition here ACT NOW! Free Ismail Abdi, Iranian teacher union leader Esmail Abdi, a leader of the Iranian Teachers' Trade Association, was arrested on 27 June following his attempt to obtain a visa to attend the 7th Education International World Congress in Ottawa, Canada in late July. Act now and sign the Labor Start action calling on the government of Iran to immediate release Mr Abdi and to secure the rights of Iranian teacher unionists to travel to attend union meetings. FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS ILO interview, Carmen Benitez, Regional Specialist in Workers' Education Nigerian Labour Congress and ILO to jointly promote Decent Work The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Nigerian Labour Congress agreed to work together towards the promotion of Decent Work for all Nigerian Workers. Read about the discussion here EVENTS Application for Global Labour University Programmes in Brazil and South Africa Apply between 12 August - 1 October The Global Labour University (GLU) invites trade unionists and labour activists to apply to its Masters in "Labour and Development” at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and "Social Economy and Labour” at the University of Campinas, Brazil. Full details here Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign public meeting Wednesday 16 September 6.30 – 8.30pm, Unite, 128 Theobalds Rd, Holborn, WC1X 8TN The Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign will be holding a public meeting with Flor de Maria Avellan (street seller from Nicaraguan Self Employed Workers Union), Dr Francisco Domingo (Venezuela Solidarity Campaign), Helen Yuill (Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign), Dave Spooner (Global Labour Institute), welcome is a FREE glass of Nicaraguan rum! Full details here London Labour Film Festival 2015 24-26 September The Arthouse Crouch End, 159a Tottenham Lane, London, N8 9BT “Cinema celebrating working people”. This year's festival will be held at the Arthouse Crouch End from 24-26 September.
Indonesia: 50 years after the coup Wednesday 30 September – 5.30pm to 7:00pm TUC Regional Office, Commercial Union House, 39 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6QE Cost: Free The TUC International Forum is holding a public event to highlight the global significance of the military coup in Indonesia in 1965 after which some 1 million people, trade unionists amongst others, were slaughtered. Event information here Cuban Futures Conference 2015 Saturday 3 October, 9.30am-5pm Tickets £10 (£8 unwaged) Want to know what’s happening in Cuba and the reality behind the headlines on US-Cuba relations? Then come along to the Cuban Futures Conference for a Cuban perspective on what’s really happening in the country. |
The person responsible for the e-bulletin is:
Tanya Warlock
Tel 0207 467 1357
E: twarlock@tuc.org.uk
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