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8 May, 2014The First IndustriALL Global Union Latin America and Caribbean Regional Conference, under the banner of “Building Global Trade Union Power for Economic and Social Justice” began in Bogotá, Colombia on 4 May, with a vote of unconditional solidarity for the Colombian trade union movement and its attempts to exercise its right to organise.
Igor Diaz, of SINTRACARBON and a member of the IndustriALL executive committee, and Luis Alejandro Pedraza, President of CUT Colombia welcomed delegates to the conference. Iris Deluque (SINTRACARBON) and Monica Veloso (CNTM/FS), representing young workers and women respectively, were the other speakers in the opening session.
Iris Deluque stressed the urgent need to open up space for young people in the trade union movement. Monica Veloso, who is also on the IndustriALL executive committee, reported on the women’s conference held on 6 May and the resolutions passed. She called on delegates to take action to promote female leadership.
On the first day, the more than 250 delegates discussed strategies and priorities to strengthen trade union power and confront global capital in the region, in the context of the anti-trade union practices particularly prevalent in the countries of Central America, Mexico, Paraguay and Colombia and the precarious nature of working conditions in most of the region.
Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL General Secretary, set out the union’s objectives and strategies, emphasising the five points of the action plan for the period up to 2016:
1. Build union power throughout the world by supporting the development of united, strong, democratic, independent, representative and sustainable trade unions.
2. Confront global capital by organising international campaigns to pressure multinational companies into recognising and negotiating with trade unions at the global level.
3. Campaign for workers’ rights, a living wage and healthy and safe workplaces. Increase women’s participation and the number of women in leadership roles.
4. Fight against precarious work.
5. Promote sustainable industrial employment.
Jorge Almeida, IndustriALL Regional Secretary, made a strategic analysis and listed the priorities for building union power and confronting global capital. He regretted the low level of unionisation in Latin America and said: “We must build strong unions and give young workers and women opportunities to participate in trade unions”.
The first afternoon session, chaired by Monica Veloso (Brazil), focused on the defence of trade union rights, the fight for a living wage and strengthening women’s participation. The second session, chaired by Alberto Roberti (Argentina), discussed how to unite trade unions.
On the final day of the conference, on 8 May, delegates discussed sustainable industry and precarious work, passed resolutions and decided priorities for the region.