Building Workers' Power

ITUC Newsletter - September 2021

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary

The situation in Afghanistan remains extremely concerning. All human rights activists, including trade unionists, must be given safe passage out of the country, and we are doing all we can to support this.

We must not forget the people of Afghanistan left to face the threat of Taliban rule. We are backing the call by the UN Secretary-General for the international community to use all possible tools to stop human rights abuses.

22 September – Global Day of Action to Climate- and Employment-Proof Our Work (#CEPOW):

There is still time to get involved in the biggest global conversation about our future.

Workers around the world will invite their employers to discuss plans for resilience and sustainable business on or around 22 September. On the #CEPOW sign-up page, you can find a free guide to how to have these conversations.

There is no time to lose. We must protect jobs, stabilise economies and reduce emissions in every workplace through Just Transition measures. Employers, small businesses, and local and national governments all need to have a plan, and their workers and their unions can help to develop this.

This is the third year of this action, and you can see how much we’ve accomplished to protect our planet and our jobs in 2019 and 2020.

15 September – Action for Myanmar National Unity Government (NUG):

If you have not yet done so, please use the letters here to lobby your government and politicians by 14 September to support the call at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to officially recognise the NUG and impose an arms embargo on Myanmar.

Then, on 15 September, to mark the International Day for Democracy and to put pressure on the UNGA, join the day of action for recognition of the NUG and against financial services and companies funding the military regime.

14 – 30 September – UN General Assembly:

Both democracy in Myanmar and the climate emergency are on the agenda for the 76th UNGA. The governments of the world cannot dodge these issues, and we must build pressure on them to take the action needed. The UNGA must show it is relevant and capable of doing this, as working together through multilateral institutions is the only way to tackle these common challenges.

In solidarity,

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary

@SharanBurrow

Call to Action