2nd ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up
A trade union delegation participated in the second ECOSOC follow-up Forum on Financing for Development at the UN Headquarters in New York on 22-25 May 2017. This forum is considered one of the hallmark achievements of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. Due to the relative disappointment of the first forum and outcome in 2016, expectations were tempered going into this year’s meeting, but from the outset things appeared to have improved.
Trade Unions at the UN regional forums on sustainable development
In preparation for the 2030 Agenda High Level Political Forum in New York, the central platform for follow-up and review of the SDGs, the United Nations regional economic commissions have organised regional forums on sustainable development. Member states and stakeholders have gathered in different regions to discuss progress towards achieving the SDGs. Find out more about the trade union participation:
UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
17-19 May 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
New EU development framework: decent work as a driver to achieve the SDGs
The Trade Union Development Cooperation Network (TUDCN) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcome the new Consensus’ recognition of decent work as priority to achieve sustainable and inclusive development. Trade union demands to mainstream the Decent Work Agenda in EU development policy can be found throughout the adopted text. Concerns remain regarding the role given to the private sector in development.
Trade Unions contribute to the consultation on the External Financing Instruments of the European Union
The European Commission recently undertook a public consultation on the External Financing Instruments of the European Union (EU). These instruments come under the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of the EU. The consultation marks the half-way point of the current MFF, which covers the period 2014-2020, and serves to kick off the debate on the MFF post-2020.
First Steering Committee meeting of the Asia-Pacific Trade Union Development Cooperation Network
Representatives of ten national trade unions gathered for the first meeting of the Asia-Pacific Trade Union Development Cooperation Network (AP TUDCN) Steering Committee. They discussed regional engagement approaches for the 2030 Agenda, joint action with broader civil society, coordination with local UN and ILO bodies and future work of the AP TUDCN.
The Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC) held its annual Labour Symposium for 2017 in Gaborone, Botswana under the theme “Promoting Decent Work for Migrant Workers”. The Symposium brought together SATUCC and affiliate leadership; trade union researchers, educators, and research institutes; civil society activists; and academia to discuss important thematic issues of relevance to trade union struggles and inclusive regional development and integration in Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Unlocking the potential of Southern trade unions through South-South Cooperation
Southern trade unions possess relevant experiences and practices that can inform their counterparts in other countries to address similar challenges. In cooperation with ten Southern trade unions, the Belgian trade union ACV-CSC carried out a capacity-building programme to unlock this knowledge by facilitating exchanges. This policy brief presents the main characteristics of the ACV-CSC strategy as well as good practices of how South-South exchange can induce organisational and policy change.
Links in the chain: workers in the global system of production
On the first of May this year, international workers day, trade union organisations, workers from around the world and civil society took to the streets to demand employment stability, better salaries, decent pensions and more social protection as pillars for a sustainable and inclusive development. These demands are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
European Commission reflection paper on ‘harnessing globalisation’
This paper on ‘harnessing globalisation’ is the second in an exercise launched by the European Commission to reflect on the future of the EU. It aims to make a fair and evidence-based assessment of what globalisation means for Europe and its partner countries. Today more than ever, local issues go global and global issues become local.
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Upcoming events
European Development Days (Brussels)
7-8 June 2017
Africa Trade Union Development Network Steering Committee Meeting (Abuja)
20-21 June 2017
2030 Agenda High Level Political Forum (New York)
10-19 July 2017
TUDCN Working Group EU Meeting (Brussels)
27-28 September 2017
This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the ITUC and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.