Unions Highlight Importance of Decent Work for Poverty Eradication at U.N. Commission for Social Development
As the 49th session of the UN Commission for Social Development opens in New York today with the priority theme of poverty eradication, the ITUC has urged UN member states to highlight the importance of decent work and social protection to achieve that goal.
Unions Mobilise Worldwide for Democracy in Egypt
Trade unions from all four corners of the world took part in today’s Day of Action for Democracy in Egypt following a decision by the ITUC General Council. The trade unions organised demonstrations outside Egyptian embassies and pressed their governments to demand democratic transition in Egypt and guarantees that those responsible for the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations be brought to justice.
Another Education Unionist Assassinated in Colombia
The ITUC, together with its affiliated organisations in Colombia, has strongly condemned the murder, on 30 January, of Humberto de Jesús Espinoza Díaz, a member of the education trade union of Risaralda, SER. The trade unionist worked as a head teacher at an agricultural school in Mistrato, Instituto Agrícola Mistrato, in the department of Risaralda. According to the latest figures received by the ITUC, 25 out of the 46 trade unionists assassinated in 2010 were teachers (see previous press release).
World Social Forum 2011: Focus on Africa Issues
An international trade union event at the World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal on 9 February will address the causes of and solutions to the global economic crisis. Open to all the organisations and movements present in Dakar, other ITUC-supported activities at the Forum will deal with migration, domestic workers, access to social protection and trade and investment. Yesterday’s opening march included a huge number of trade unionists coming from Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Georgia: Life Toll to Neo-liberal “Success” Policies
Georgian authorities are often very proud with the evaluation of the business climate in their country in the annual report “Doing Business” of the World Bank Group. Currently Georgia ranks 12th of 183 countries (2011), up one place from last year, just in front of Finland (13), Sweden (14) and much ahead of Germany (22nd). The tragic events in the mines of Tkibuli in the last several months, however, reveal a staggering picture about the social impact and human costs of the “success” story.