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4 October, 2010
The World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) will be marked on 7 October by trade union actions all over the world. Last year, WDDW saw 472 actions in 111 countries and organisers are aiming for more this year. The significance of the Day this year is high, under a backdrop of a global financial crisis that shows no sign of ending in terms of the crisis regarding unemployment.
The global financial crisis has made 34 million people unemployed and pushed 64 million into extreme poverty. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has identified three core messages for this year’s WDDW: “Growth and decent jobs, not austerity, are essential to beating the crisis and ending poverty; Quality public services are essential for a decent life and must not be slashed in the name of fiscal consolidation; and, The financial sector must pay for the damage it has caused and be made to serve the real economy and real human needs.”
Visit the dedicated website of WDDW 2010 here.
On the issue of quality public services and in concert with WDDW, the Council of Global Unions is organising a landmark “Quality Public Services - Action Now!” conference from 12-14 October in Geneva.
The conference will bring together over 400 delegates from trade unions, governments, and civil society organizations from around the world. Delegates and supporters will develop a global charter and action plan for protecting and improving quality public services that are, along with workers in the sector, under threat as the world seeks to move out of the economic crisis.
Speakers at the conference will discuss evidence that investment, not disinvestment, in quality public services is the most effective way to job creation and a sustainable global economy.
Kumi Naidoo, leader of Greenpeace International and co-chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, will provide the keynote address.
View more here.