Unions Call For IMF and ILO To Work For Recovery And For Jobs
At a major conference organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Oslo on September 13, a high-level international union delegation led by ITUC President Michael Sommer and ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow will be arguing that priority must be given to maintaining economic stimulus policies, and achieving a real and sustained economic recovery with jobs at the centre.
Unions Step up Pressure for Jobs and Social Justice – One Month to World Day for Decent Work
Trade unions across the world are stepping up pressure for decent jobs and social justice, in the lead up to the World Day for Decent Work, October 7. The ITUC’s affiliates in India are taking part in nationwide strikes against national and state government employment and industrial relations policies today, and its French member organisations are organising national rallies and strike actions to protest against major changes to retirement and pensions proposed by the Sarkozy government. Millions of workers in the two countries are taking part in today’s actions.
Swaziland: Dozens Arrested at Peaceful Democracy Assembly
The ITUC has condemned the arrest of as many as 50 pro-democracy campaigners by the Swaziland police today, and called on Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini to cease harassment and detention of trade union and civil society representatives opposed to the unilateral rule of the country’s autocratic King Mswati.
Japanese Prime Minister Backs Call for APEC Labour Forum
In a meeting today with a delegation of the ITUC Asia Pacific Labour Network (APLN), Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan stated that he would work to achieve agreement on establishing a Labour Forum to enable trade union representation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
Swaziland: International Solidarity Actions around Independence Day
Trade unions and other civil society groups around the world are organising solidarity actions starting on 6 September, Swaziland’s independence day, to highlight the ongoing repression of workers’ rights and the autocratic nature of the Southern African kingdom. King Mswati controls virtually everything in the country, press freedom is non-existent and meetings organised by civil society groups are often violently dispersed by the police. The country has existed under a “state of emergency” since 1973.