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International Trade Union Confederation
Trade unions on the move for Rio+20
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11-22 June 2012

No Jobs on a Dead Planet

This is the fourth in a series of messages we will be sending to keep you up to date on the plans we have put together for the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development - Rio+20, as well as our own associated event - The Trade Union Assembly on Labour and Environment (11-13 June).

In order to receive updates, please register to our newsletter here.

Don't know what Rio+20 is? read more

Where are the negotiations at?

The last informal Rio+20 negotiations session closed on Saturday, 2 June and the least we can say is that governments will have a heavy duty to give their Heads of State a draft Declaration that is worth signing.

When it comes to union priorities there is overall support for the broad concepts of Decent Work and Social Protection (including the floor). However, we face fierce opposition to concrete proposals: on the one side, developed countries (notably some more than other like the US, Canada, Australia and Japan; with EU and Switzerland as exceptions) oppose the launch of initiatives aimed at « doing something » with these concepts - the launch of a 'social protection for all by 2030' initiative supportive of ILO work on this issue as well as the adoption of a 'decent work for all' objective, aimed at eliminating working poverty, reducing unemployment, growing green and decent jobs and ensuring gender equity at the workplace. This leaves us wondering if some developed countries think that the challenges of unemployment and working poverty can be solved without cooperation at the international level.

On the other side, G77 (representing developing countries) opposes references to the need to promote the greening of all jobs and the creation of green jobs. How do they think we will build sustainable development if the world of work is not part of the transformation?

On a more general note, major discrepancies remain between governments on references to Rio principles such as

• Common but differentiated responsibilities and equity;

• the need for new financial resources and technology transfer to promote sustainable development (the Financial Transactions Tax has not been included yet as an option); and

• the extent to which Sustainable Development Goals will be developed in Rio or after.

Key union amendments will be distributed this week to all affiliates, for you to contact your government prior to the next PrepCom, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro (13-15 June) and the Rio Summit (20-22 June).

 

What is happening and where in Rio?

There are many things going on at the same time in Rio. This is an overview to help you navigate between different activities. It is said that 150 heads of state will be in Rio and some 50,000 people for the meetings.

• The People's Summit, 15-23 June


• The Rio Dialogues, 16-19 June


• PREP-COM, 13-15 June (United Nations Preparatory Committee to the Rio+20 Conference)

 

• Daily Trade Union Meeting 14-22 June (12 o'clock in Major Group Pavilion, Room T1 - Big Room)


• UN Sustainable Development Conference -Rio+20 Summit- (20-22)


read more about these events

 

Trade Union Assembly 11-13 June

The Assembly in Rio to prepare all delegates for the Rio+20 summit has now almost 500 participants! The Assembly will take place in Hotel Windsor-Guanabara Palace Hotel at Avenue Presidente Vargas, 392 in Rio de Janeiro.

The programme for the assembly


More information about the Assembly on the website .


Please read and send us comments on the discussion documents prepared for the working groups leading up to the Assembly:


Green Jobs


Access to resources


Chemicals


Collective Bargaining


Climate Change

Checklist and logistics

To make your life easier we have made an updated checklist on what you could do concerning the Rio+20 meeting – whether you are going there or not!

For those of you who are going to Rio – [do these things BEFORE!] (Remember to bring posters from your organisation on Rio+20 issues as well as banners/flags for the rally!). Please check out the list in full in order not to forget anything! Also bring a copy of your UN registration letter – with your individual name and registration number (for you to access the UN venue).

And these are the things you should do [WHEN in Rio].

If you are not going to Rio you should still check out the ITUC Rio+20 website regularly and make sure you keep pressuring your government and also that your members are informed about what is happening in regards to Rio+20.

For those of you going to Rio please also check out the updated logistics.

Registration and list of participants

Logistics