International Development Matters - Issue 159 December 2016
| International Development Matters |
| Issue number 159 December 2016 |
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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. |
TUC Aid supports a ‘just transition’ in Bangladesh
Strengthening solidarity links between teachers’ unions
World Aids Day, 1 December 2016
#KoreaGeneralStrike: Korean unions fight back
Workers demand union recognition at McDonald's Korea
Brazilian unions defend their rights and national industry
World Bank Report: Reducing inequality without strengthened labour rights?
IMF increasingly active in sub-Saharan African states
Pakistan: protest mass arrest of union members at Quetta Serena Hotel!
ACT NOW! Free Iranian teacher union leader Esmail Abdi
ACT NOW! PepsoCo, Stop attacking workers’ rights in Pakistan
Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General message for International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
#UNEVAW 25 November: Interview with Chidi King, ITUC Equality Director
Cuba Solidarity Campaign online shop
Nicaraguan Solidarity Campaign Solidarity & fair trade online shop
War on Want ethical online shop
TUC NEWS
TUC Aid supports a ‘just transition’ in Bangladesh
In July, TUC Aid agreed to fund a project run by the Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (BOSHE) Foundation to raise awareness of ‘just transition’, the idea that the transition to a low or no carbon economy must be based on principles of social justice and involvement of trade unions.
Read more here
Strengthening solidarity links between teachers’ unions
The National Union of Teachers, a TUC affiliate, visited Nicaragua in June 2016 to re-establish and strengthen relations with ANDEN, the Nicaraguan Teachers’ Union, and to visit both urban and rural schools with a particular focus on the teaching of English.
Read the report featured in the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign magazine here (scroll to page 12)
OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWS
World Aids Day, 1 December 2016
According to UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, an estimated 1.9 million adults have become infected with HIV every year for the past five years, with the decline in new infections having stalled. That’s why the ITF and its affiliates are backing the UNAIDS Hands up for HIV prevention campaign in the run-up to World AIDS Day on 1 December 2016.
To find out more about the ITF’s World AIDS Day campaign to keep vulnerable transport workers safe, click here
#KoreaGeneralStrike: Korean unions fight back
South Korea’s trade unions have been subject to a sustained attack. The following two stories show us why.
Under President Park, trade unionists are being sent to prison for carrying out normal trade union activities. The international trade union movement has been supporting workers in Korea in their fight for democracy. Tuesday 30th November was designated as a general strike day in Korea.
Read how global union federations including the BWI, ITF, IndustriALL and UNI Global have been supporting the campaign and how you can too.
Workers demand union recognition at McDonald's Korea
Representatives of IUF Asia/Pacific and the IUF-affiliated SEIU expressed their solidarity at a protest action in front of the McDonald's Korea head office in Seoul, organized by the Arbeit (Part-Time) Workers' Union. Arbeit Workers' Union has been campaigning and organizing in McDonald's Korea for the past three years, bringing attention to abusive working conditions.
Brazilian unions defend their rights and national industry
On 25 November, trade union centres in Brazil again took to the streets in a national day of action in defence of labour and social rights. Protests were held at company gates and factory workers stopped work for at least one hour.
Read more here
IFI NEWS
World Bank Report: Reducing inequality without strengthened labour rights?
In October the World Bank launched the first of what it says will be a series of annual reports on Poverty and Shared Prosperity, for tracking progress towards two key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): reducing extreme poverty and inequality. The theme of the first edition is “Taking on Inequality.”
Read more here
IMF increasingly active in sub-Saharan African states
The IMF is increasingly active in sub-Saharan states, with sixteen current loans to countries in the region and more being discussed. What are the implications for local civil society?
Find out here
CALLS TO ACTION
Pakistan: protest mass arrest of union members at Quetta Serena Hotel!
Sixty-three members and officers of the IUF-affiliated Quetta Serena Hotel Union were arrested on November 30 for peacefully gathering in front of the hotel after union members were denied entry and prevented from performing their jobs. The previous day, the union had held a rally at the Quetta Press Club to protest ongoing union-busting by management of the hotel.
Act now and call on the hotel management to respect the rights of the union and its members
ACT NOW! Free Iranian teacher union leader Esmail Abdi
Iranian teacher union leader, Mr Esmail Abdi has been sentenced to a six-year jail term on bogus charges, including one for “assembling and colluding against national security”. Please lend your support to Education International’s Labour Start online campaign, calling on the Iranian government to drop the bogus charges against Mr Abdi and release him immediately!
ACT NOW! PepsoCo, Stop attacking workers’ rights in Pakistan
PepsiCo workers in Pakistan are fighting for their right to have a trade union. The company has responded by harassing and threatening union officers, pressuring workers to leave the union and creating a bogus union. The International Union of Food Workers (IUF) has launched an international campaign to support these workers. Read the workers' stories in their own words and send a message to PepsiCo calling on them to stop violating workers’ rights.
FOCUS ON TRADE UNIONISTS
Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General message for International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
The right to be free of forced labour is both a fundamental labour right, as well as a human right, says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder in his message for International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on 2 December.
Read his message here
#UNEVAW 25 November: Interview with Chidi King, ITUC Equality Director
On 25 November, the United Nation’s Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, (UNEVAW) the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) called for action to end violence in the world of work. Listen to Chidi King, ITUC Equality Director as she explains why we need an ILO convention and how we can all play our part in making it a reality. (Scroll down the page in the link for Chidi’s interview).
EVENTS / USEFUL INFORMATION
Cuba Solidarity Campaign online shop
Why not treat your friends and family this Christmas to fantastic Cuba related gifts this year and support the work of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign at the same time. As well as the cards, gift packs and t-shirts, their online shop has a wide selection of books, films, music, food, artwork and much more.
Nicaraguan Solidarity Campaign Solidarity & fair trade online shop
Do your solidarity and fair trade Christmas shopping here. A range of t-shirts, bamboo socks & other clothing, jigsaw puzzles, books, CDs & DVDs, mugs, cards, calendars and many fair trade products, including; Nicaraguan coffee & peanut butter, Palestinian soap, Mexican tiles & earrings and more. For children they have fair trade Nicaraguan, Guatemalan & Peruvian clothing, toys, & books.
War on Want ethical online shop
A selection of ethical t-shirts, mugs, bags, Christmas cards and more gift ideas for the season can be found here
Tanya Warlock
Tel 0207 467 1357
E: twarlock@tuc.org.uk
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