Goodbye from Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary
As we head toward Congress we know that the global economic model has excluded too many people. The price of extreme wealth for the few has cost the dignity of decent work, of just wages, of universal social protection and of equality for the majority of the world’s people.
When wealth is built on the dehumanising exploitation of our supply chains and the destruction of our environment, when prosperity is not shared, we see the levels of inequality, despair and anger today that are destroying trust in democracy and fuelling authoritarianism, fascism and xenophobia.
It is time for a new social contract and trade unions will all stand on the frontlines to win the changes to our economic model that are so critical. People and planet must sit at the heart of new economic thinking.
It has been a privilege to work for and with you for twelve years as your General Secretary and as your President since the birth of the ITUC in 2006.
The foundations of our global family are strong, democratic and driven by shared values. However, we need to double our efforts to organise in order to build workers’ power. The future we want depends on it.
Thank you.
In solidarity,
Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary
@SharanBurrow