G20 London: Detailed Evaluation of Summit Statement

The ITUC and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) have today released a detailed evaluation of the Statement issued by last week’s G20 meeting in London, pointing to the high profile given to jobs and social issues by the Summit, and the support for discussion of a new charter to achieve a new global consensus on the key values and principles for sustainable economic activity.

Brussels, 7 April 2009 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) have today released a detailed evaluation of the Statement issued by last week’s G20 meeting in London, pointing to the high profile given to jobs and social issues by the Summit, and the support for discussion of a new charter to achieve a new global consensus on the key values and principles for sustainable economic activity. The evaluation also dissects all the key elements in the Summit Statement including on financial regulation, action against tax havens, new funding for the International Monetary Fund and the development, trade and environment aspects of the Statement as well as the scope for further action to combat the jobs crisis over the months ahead.

The ITUC also initiated a new webpage gathering articles, statements, press releases and opinions from trade unions on the financial crisis, its causes and impact and the trade union response

At the same time, the Council of Global Unions (CGU) has launched a special publication “Getting the World to WORK: Global Union Strategies for Recovery”, that sets out alternative strategies focused on getting people back in work and a recovery plan based on humanitarian values. The report can be downloaded here

“This evaluation provides a clear blueprint for the next phase of trade union work to ensure recovery and reform of the global economy. We welcome the fact that in key areas, including employment and the role of the International Labour Organisation, the intensive effort made by national and international trade union bodies before the Summit put jobs at the centre of the recovery process. Our challenge now is to ensure that there is real progress in the lead up to the next G20 leaders’ meeting this year – that in the words of their own communiqué, they translate their words into action,” said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

To read the Summit Statement

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For more information please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018