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22 September, 2008
The global labour community’s upcoming World Day for Decent Work, Decent Life, 7 October, is already marked by activities scheduled in 70 countries, activities ranging from marches and mobilisations to workshops and seminars to media events. The day is intended to draw attention to the urgent need for a new globalisation in the world of work, including stable and quality jobs that broaden social protections, and ensuring that every worker has the right to form and join a trade union and to bargain collectively with their employer.
Originating with the late 2006 founding congress of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the merged national labour centres’ organisations of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labour, the day has been in planning stages for well over a year in order to draw public attention to the many shortcomings in the world of work.
Consider these facts: half of all of the world’s workers earn less than the equivalent of US$2 per day; 200 million children under the age of 15 work rather than attend school; 2.2 million people each year die because of work-related accidents or illnesses; and 12.3 million people work in slavery.
The ICEM has designated the day as a launching point for its 467 trade union affiliates in 132 countries to start earnest efforts to organise into their trade unions contract workers and those employed by labour agencies.
Elsewhere, national labour centres, trade union federations, and union groupings are embarking on unique and novel – and traditional – means to mark the day. In Canada, for instance, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is sponsoring an event in 13 communities and on university campuses called “Gapzilla,” where youth groups will sell cakes. The cakes will be sold to men for C$1 and to women for C$.68 to highlight the wage disparity in performing equal work.
In Germany, the national centre Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB) will conduct mobilisations, seminars, and draw press attention in several cities to the German federation’s campaign to raise the minimum wage. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) in the UK will transform its London headquarters to a massive town hall meeting, in which UK trade unions, community groups, and other constituencies will conduct over 50 workshops, films, and exhibits on fair and ethical trade, discrimination and the gender dimension to employment, and on income generation issues.
In Ireland, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) General Secretary David Begg will hold a press conference and the federation will submit articles to Irish newspapers. The ICTU will also engage Ministers of the European Parliament from Ireland over work topics as political issues inside the EU. In Brussels, the ITUC will deliver a “Decent Work/Decent Life” petition to the European Commission on 7 October, while the Belgian labour federation, la Centrale Générale (FGTB/ABVV) will team with CSC/ACV and ACLUB to start a two-year campaign on Decent Work. That will include unique street theatre in cities in Belgium, occurring on the 11th day of each month, on the theme “Workers’ Are No Tools,” in which a replica worker emerges from a giant tool box.
In Norway, ICEM affiliate Fellesforbundet, in concert with national centre LO, will conduct a seminar on 30 September in Oslo on the increased use of temporary workers and fixed-term contracts by employers. In Sweden, as well, LO-TCO has planned events for 7 October.
In Spain, national labour federations CC.OO, UGT, and USO will conduct 7 October activities in 13 cities, including manifestations, seminars, and cultural events. In Paris, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), in coordination with French federations, CFDT, CGT, FO, and CFTC, as well as ETUC affiliate UNSA, will hold a rally at 17h00 followed by a concert performed by noteworthy musicians. The event is scheduled for La place des Droits l’homme, behind the Palais de Chaillot near the Trocadéro Metro station.
In Assisi, Italy, the CGIL, CISL, and UILCEM will hold an event. Two events will be held in Russia, a seminar by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR) on youth and the direction of work for young persons, and trade unions in Krasnoyarsk will hold a mass meeting on 7 October. A number of labour centres in Central Europe, as well as in Turkey and North Africa will also conduct events.
In Africa, the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions will focus on gender at work and HIV/AIDS in the workplace, while “wage indicator” themes will be featured at media and rally events in other African nations, including South Africa and Zimbabwe. In Latin America, several events are planned in Brazil, as well as in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Activities will also occur in Guatemala, Costa Rico, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico as well.
In Japan, Rengo will use the period 4 to 19 October to focus on a score of international initiatives in the quest for a fairer globalisation. At home, the Japanese federation will press its government to Ratify ILO Convention 111, the Discrimination in Respect to Employment and Occupation Convention, and ILO Convention 105, the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention. In South Korea, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) will conduct a mass rally on 7 October over abolishing precarious work.
Already in Kathmandu, Nepal, the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) is underway with a women’s symposium entitled “For Decent Work and a Better South Asia” that has brought together 500 participants from some 14 Asian nations. Conference coordinator and GEFONT Deputy General Secretary Binda Pandey identified common issues relating to Decent Work for women, and the forum pledged to bring the conference’s work plan before the ILO’s 2009 focus on gender equality. The GEFONT conference started on Saturday, 20 September, and concludes today.
The ICEM encourages its affiliates, as well as all trade unionists to find an event in their home countries and to participate. A map of country-by-country and city-by-city events can be found here.