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Scottish Health Care Branch
International Newsletter - Summer 2009
Contents
- Conference 2009 international visitors and rally
- International reception at conference
- UNISON-ACTSA delegation to southern Africa
- Twinning with southern African unions
- No real improvement in Zimbabwe
- What’s UNISON doing about the economic crisis?
- UNISON hosts pre-G20 meeting of trade union leaders
- UNISON takes up the case of Israeli Arab railway workers
- President of Palestinian health workers’ union addresses UNISON health conference
- Call for justice for Iranian workers 26 June
- Amnesty passes motion on trade union rights
- UK government reviews aid to Colombian military
- USA Free Choice Act
- World Water Forum
- Situation in Burma worsens
- Interview with leader of Burma trade union federation
- Sri Lanka’s human catastrophe
- Round up from the regions
- Events
- Publications
Conference 2009 international visitors and rally
This year, which sees the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban revolution, we will be welcoming two guests to conference from our sister unions in Cuba. One will address Local Government Conference and the other will speak at NDC. Other guests this year will include representatives from the CGT in France, from the biggest union, the CSPB, in Brazil, from Spain and the PSI representative from the Andean region of Latin America. Also present will be representatives from the SEIU our sister union in the USA who will address conference about their organising experiences. You will be able to hear some of the guests at the international rally in the Brighton Centre on Monday 15 June at 19.30 and be able to speak with them directly in the UNIZONE on Tuesday 16 June during the lunch break.
International reception at conference
On Wednesday 17 June UNISON will host a reception for international guests at conference. It will provide an opportunity for you to hear about developments in other countries and challenges facing sister unions overseas, and why it is so important for UNISON to develop and build on relationship with sister unions in other countries.
If you are a branch international officer and attending conference this year, you are invited to attend the international reception. If you would like to receive an invitation, please contact the international relations unit IRelations@unison.co.uk
UNISON-ACTSA delegation to southern Africa
The UNISON-ACTSA delegation to southern Africa in March 2009 was a huge success. It enabled UNISON to strengthen its relationships with sister unions in Malawi, South Africa and Swaziland, and discuss how we can work together more closely in the future.
Through the delegation, delegates were able to gain a deeper understanding of the priorities and challenges for public service trade unions organising in the region; learn more about UNISON’s HIV/AIDS project; and establish relationships with key representatives of sister unions. By involving UNISON regional representatives and members of the international committee and NEC, the delegation will play an important role in developing the union’s international work on public services and HIV/AIDS at national, regional and local level.
An eight-page summary of key points from the delegation and how UNISON branches and regions can get involved in UNISON’s international work is now available in hardcopy or download www.unison.org.uk/file/SAdel.pdf
Find out who represented your region on the delegation to southern Africa and how they got on www.unison.org.uk/international/unison_in_africa.asp
Twinning with southern Africa unions
Setting up more twinning agreements with UNISON branches was one of the recommendations of the recent visit by UNISON to southern Africa. Sister unions in South Africa said they are keen to develop twinning relationships with UNISON branches and regions. They are eager to share information, experiences and best practice on issues such as privatisation and outsourcing; equal pay; work to promote LGBT rights and gender equality; and Agenda for Change. Working together on joint campaigns was another area identified.
In Swaziland, where the trade union movement is at the forefront in the struggle for democracy, sister unions identified a number of areas where support from UNISON would be welcomed. These included: training more shop stewards; educating members about their rights; improving their negotiating and bargaining skills; and developing their infrastructure to organise more effectively.
In Malawi public service unions face considerable capacity and practical challenges and identified key areas for future support including capacity building around: recruiting and organising; lobbying and campaigning; strengthening women’s structures; and developing their infrastructure and IT capacity.
If your branch is interested in setting up a twinning agreement with a southern Africa trade union, contact IRelations@unison.co.uk for more information. Look at the recent summary report from the delegation giving details of the visit www.unison.org.uk/file/SAdel.pdf
No real improvement in Zimbabwe
According to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), there has been no real change in the situation in Zimbabwe despite the power-sharing agreement. In a press statement, the ZCTU said despite growing optimism things have not really improved for ordinary Zimbabweans. In one development the government is trying to force teachers to accept an ‘allowance’ in place of a salary. The effect of this is to deprive workers of pensions and gratuities in death as these are calculated on salaries and not ‘allowances’. The ZCTU also said that ‘the government and civic organizations are heading on a collision course as regards the issue of the constitutional making process. The ZCTU is for a people-driven constitution while government has already started a process that is Parliamentary led.’ You can read the statement in full here www.unison.org.uk/international/pages_view.asp?did=8885
What’s UNISON doing about the economic crisis?
UNISON is demanding urgent action from the UK government and international institutions to lay the foundations of a strong global economy, which puts people and the planet before failed banks and big business.
On 28 March, 35,000 people marched through London as part of a global campaign to challenge the G20 ahead of their summit demanding that they put people before profit. UNISON had a strong presence on the March which was led by general secretary Dave Prentis and UNISON president, Sue Highton.
As part of the ongoing work on the global economy, UNISON is actively involved with Put People First; a coalition of trade unions and NGOs. As a member of this partnership, UNISON has been lobbying the UK Treasury, Department for International Development, World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office to demand fundamental changes to our economic system and the international financial institutions.
Our demands relate to the UK and the international context and include:
· Investing in and strengthening public provision of essential services to meet universal human rights.
· Massively increasing public investment in sustainable social housing in the UK.
· Fundamental governance reform of the World Bank and IMF.
· Making financial institutions and multi-national companies operate transparently and be publicly accountable.
· Creating decent jobs and investing in a new green deal.
· Ensuring developing countries are able to determine their own social and economic policies and be free of World Bank and IMF economic conditions.
· Compelling tax havens to abide by strict international rules.
UNISON will continue this active engagement. We have contributed to a series of policy recommendations which will be submitted to key decision makers in the following weeks. Look out for the policy document ‘Beyond the London summit’ which Put People First will be producing soon.
Put People First www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk
UNISON hosts pre-G20 meeting of trade union leaders
General secretary Dave Prentis hosted a pre-G20 meeting with the leaders of the German union ver.di and Italian union FP-CGIL, and other European unions, to discuss closer cooperation to defend jobs and public services. Following the meeting a joint statement was signed and it was agreed to continue joint working around these issues.
Writing in the Guardian, the three general secretaries said: “We want [European leaders] to put aside the squabbling, unite in urgent action to protect families and communities, and lay down the foundations for a strong economy and a fairer society. The G20 gathering will be crucial, and we expect our governments to take measures that genuinely put people first - including maintaining levels of overseas development aid so the world's poor are not forced to pay for the financial crisis.”
Full article www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/27/dave-prentis-frank-bsirske-carlo-proda
UNISON takes up the case of Israeli Arab railway workers
UNISON has given its support to Palestinian railway workers who are Israeli citizens who have been threatened with being fired from their jobs because they have not served in the Israeli Army. The workers, who act as security guards, would be excluded because Israeli Arabs are exempt from military service and Israel Rail was attempting to make military service a condition for employment. Their case was taken up by the Palestinian Israeli NGO Sawt el-Amel (Labourer’s Voice) who took it to the Israeli Labour Courts and launched an international solidarity campaign. An initial ruling from the Labour Court instructed Israel Railways to remove the clause from the employment contract; however the case is on-going. More information about the case can be found at the Sawt el-Amel website www.laborers-voice.org
President of Palestinian health workers’ union addresses UNISON health conference
Sami Younis, the president of the Health Workers’ Federation of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions was the international speaker who addressed UNISON health conference in April. Sami spoke about the daily realities of all Palestinians living under the Israeli Occupation. However, he also highlighted the problems faced by workers and the attacks on the PGFTU. Conference responded to his speech by giving him a standing ovation. During his visit to the UK Sami also spoke at the international seminar in London and a seminar on Palestine organised by North West Region. One of the outcomes of his visit will be renewed co-operation between UNISON and the Palestinian health workers’ union, including a possible union development project.
Call for justice for Iranian workers, 26 June
The ITUC and three 3 global trade union federations (GUFs) have called for a global day of action in support of banned and imprisoned trade unionists in Iran. Building on previous actions in support of Mansour Osanloo and the Tehran Bus Workers’ Union this new action will also highlight the issues surrounding imprisoned teachers and the attacks on the Bakers’ Union and sugar factory workers. The TUC will be organising a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in London (details will be posted on UNISON’s website when known) but the ITUC are encouraging more local actions as well. More information from www.justiceforiranianworkers.org or from the international unit at Mabledon Place IRelations@unison.co.uk
Amnesty passes motion on trade union rights
At Amnesty International’s annual conference in April a motion calling for increased campaigning on workers’ and trade union rights around the world, especially in those countries where trade unionists are systematically targeted for imprisonment or murder, was passed unanimously.
NEC member Helen Jenner, speaking in favour of the motion submitted by UNISON, told delegates that public service workers were increasingly being targeted by employers and governments not only in countries considered ‘the usual suspects’ but in so-called developed countries where restrictions were being placed on union membership for workers ‘engaged in the administration of the state’.
UNISON has pledged to continue to campaign for the right of all public service workers to exercise their fundamental rights to join a trade union and engage in collective bargaining.
Full list of decisions taken at Amnesty International UK’s 2009 conference
www.amnesty.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_19324.pdf
Find out more about UNISON’s work with Amnesty and how your branch can get involved www.amnesty.org.uk/unison
UK government reviews aid to Colombian military
Some good news about Colombia: UNISON has welcomed a recent announcement by the British government that it is changing the way that it gives aid to Colombia.
The Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced that, instead of trying to deal with the drugs trade by giving substantial funds to the Colombian military, it will be providing funding for non-government organisations (NGOs) in the country.
In a statement Miliband said: "The government shares the concerns of many that there are officers and soldiers of the Colombian armed forces who have been involved in, or allowed, abuses …We will continue to offer our political, and, where possible, financial and practical support to UN projects that aim to help promote human rights adherence within the Colombian armed forces. Our bilateral human rights projects with the Colombian Ministry of Defence will cease."
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: "We welcome the shift from military aid to supporting NGOs in the fight against injustice, and we believe the Colombian government needs to do more to put human rights first."
Despite this news Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist. Between 2002 and 2008, more than 600 trade unionists in the country were murdered – more than in the rest of the world put together.
USA Free Choice Act
UNISON, through the TUC, is supporting our sister unions in the USA to secure the passage of the ‘Employee Free Choice Act’ which would, through giving unions greater rights of recognition, restore some balance to the US industrial relations system. The Act would also make it more difficult for employers to use the sort of aggressive anti-union tactics which have severely affected union activities in the past. Despite support from President Obama and the Democratic Party the Act will face a formidable battle to become legislation as the Republicans and business are mounting a massive and well-funded campaign against the measure. The TUC, in collaboration with sister unions in the States, is mounting a campaign of support which will include putting pressure on companies who oppose the Act through their UK arms, encouraging direct solidarity between UK and US unions and by using a range of political advocacy methods.
Find out more about the Free Choice Act and how our sister union, SEIU, is involved www.seiu.org/employeefreechoice
World Water Forum
What can 20 thousand people do in a week to help get water and sanitation to the many thousands who are without throughout much of the developing world? Well that's what two representatives from UNISON - Ruth Davies, Chair of the Water and Environment Service Group and Steve Bloomfield, Head of Utilities went to find out at the World Water Forum held in March in Istanbul.
UNISON has consistently campaigned for water and sanitation to be recognised as human rights and that governments must provide these vital services as essential public services, irrespective of people’s ability to pay. UNISON has recognised that in many cases local water municipalities are poorly resourced and lacking access to technical and professional skills. Part of what Steve and Ruth were doing in Istanbul was to drum up support for Public Public Partnerships.
Arguably the most significant development achieved at the WWF was the solidarity built up with other PSI affiliates and many numerous NGOs all of whom share a common vision about how water and sanitation should be provided. The final ministerial statement agreed at the WWF was very disappointing but it was extremely encouraging that over 20 countries agreed to an alternative statement drafted by PSI with input from UNISON and many other activists. This statement gave clear support for water and sanitation to be treated as a human right and a public service. In addition it supported our call for all future WWFs to be organised by the UN instead of an unaccountable group of elite businesspeople.
UNISON was delighted to sponsor Olivia Kunje’s attendance at WWF this year. Olivia is general secretary of the Water Employees Trade Union of Malawi (WETUM). She said her main focus was on the plight of workers in Malawi. 'Our members are being left out in all issues that deal directly with them and our members are losing their jobs due to the recent restructuring and decentralization.'
She thanked UNISON for the opportunity to attend the Forum and said: 'WETUM will continue to negotiate and bargain with the employer, hold meetings and lobby with the government, civil society groups and the community in order to come up with workable and sustainable solutions to the water problems that are facing workers and the community'.
Situation in Burma worsens
At the time of going to press, Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK), leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Burma and honorary life member of UNISON, was still awaiting the outcome of her bogus trial in Burma. She could be sentenced to between 3 and 5 years in prison having already endured almost 13 years of house arrest since 1990 when the NLD won a landslide victory in the general elections (subsequently overturned by the military). Any sentence imposed will seek to give the military dictatorship a ‘legal’ justification from allowing ASSK to participate in next year’s planned elections.
An international global campaign has sprung up calling for ASSK’s immediate release along with that of the over 2,100 other political prisoners (including between 30 and 50 trade union and labour activists). The current publicity campaign will seek to deliver thousands of messages on ASSK’s 64th birthday on 19 June.
Add your voice to that of UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis by recording a 64-word message (or 64-character twitter) at www.64ForSuu.org showing that ASSK’s 64th birthday will not pass unnoticed by the global community.
Sign the petition calling for UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon to make it his personal priority to secure the release of ASSK and all the other political prisoners www.burmacampaign.org.uk/fbppn.htm
Interview with leader of Burma trade union federation
Maung Maung the exiled leader of the Federation of Trade Unions Burma (FTUB) spoke recently to the ITUC about the Burmese trade union movement and the current state of affairs in Burma: international sanctions, the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, the 2010 elections, the economic collapse, among other issues. He called for the EU to extend sanctions to include banking and insurance as he said these would be a ‘means of hitting the junta without hitting the poor’. He also called for the ILO to open a second office in Burma to allow victims of forced labour to report abuses.
You can read the full interview here www.ituc-csi.org/spip.php?article3833
Sri Lanka’s human catastrophe
UNISON's international committee recently issued a statement as civilians were caught up in Sri Lanka's bloody war. The UN estimates that as many as 300,000 people are displaced and that over 7,000 have been killed in the fighting since January 2009 when the government pulled out of the ceasefire agreement and the conflict escalated.
The full statement can be viewed here www.unison.org.uk/international/pages_view.asp?did=8621
Round up from the regions
Cymru/Wales
The first branch international officers training course took place in Cardiff in May. It looked at how the role fits into other branch work and how it could be supported more. Outcomes from the weekend included an update of the current twinning arrangement with Guantanamo Province in Cuba and prioritising future work to take in Gaza, supporting the Miami Five campaign and also lending support to the pro-democracy movement in Burma.
The region hosted a delegates’ dinner at the recent Wales TUC in Llandudno and welcomed Carmen Mayusa from Colombian health workers’ union ANTHOC who addressed the Wales TUC and a Justice for Colombia fringe meeting. Until recently Ms Mayusa was held without charge in prison in Colombia. Cymru/Wales supported the fundraising campaign to pay for Ms Medusa's legal defence.
UNISON Cymru/Wales Regional Health Committee will soon host a visit from Cuban Health Minister and have arranged for her to have a meeting with Welsh Assembly Government Health Minister Edwina Hart. There is currently a Memorandum of Understanding between the Welsh Assembly and the Cuban Government and the regions is hopeful that this can be enlarged upon following the meeting.
Northern region
The three UNISON Northern Region branches twinned with the FTUK (Federation of Trade Unions Kawthoolei) arranged an evening of music and poetry in support of their Burma trade union comrades at a city centre pub in Newcastle-upon-Tyne recently.
At the packed event the audience were treated to rousing and uplifting performances from radical punk poet Atilla the Stockbroker and from Canadian singer-songwriter and political activist, David Rovics (fresh from a performance the previous day at the Trafalgar Square rally in support of the Palestinians).
The highlight of the evening was the powerful presentation by Nang Seng, a young Burmese woman working with the Burma Campaign UK in London, who spoke eloquently and movingly of the appalling human rights abuse being perpetrated by the military regime in Burma and of what we as trade unionists can do to support those struggling to bring social justice and democracy to her country. One of the organisers Mick Bowman said: “We are committed to further developing the twinning arrangement with the FTUK and to continuing to raise awareness of the need to support our Burmese trade union comrades.”
Events
15 June, international rally, Brighton
Alpha Hall West (Brighton Conference Centre) 7.30-9.30pm
International rally at UNISON’s NDC on Monday evening with international speakers. Chaired by general secretary Dave Prentis and Alison Shepherd, chair of international committee
16 June, meet and greet international guests, Brighton
UNIZONE (Hewison Hall) - lunchtime
Come and meet the international guests on Tuesday 16 June. Ask how US union SEIU helped to get Obama elected or find out how the French CGT and Spanish CCOO manage to mobilise mass protests.
19 June, Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday, Burma
Aung San Suu Kyi (UNISON honorary life member) will be 64. Global campaign to send messages of support and to call for her release and that of the over 2,000 other political prisoners, including labour and trade union activists. http://www.64For.org
26 June, Demonstration outside Iranian Embassy, London
Part of the global day of action calling for trade union rights in Iran
27-28 June, Cuba Solidarity weekend, London
A cultural weekend of music and dance at London’s Barbican
www.cuba-solidarity.org/events.asp?EventID=255
7-8 July, Branch international officers training, London
For Eastern and Greater London region members
Sue Carrington, tel: 0870 889 0373 x200(ER)
Amanda Mayers, tel: 020 7535 6645 or 0845 355 0845 (GLR)
17-19 July, Tolpuddle festival, Dorset
175th anniversary of the Tolpuddle martyrs
http://www.tuc.org.uk/the_tuc/tuc-16170-f0.cfm?regional=8
Publications
UNISON-ACTSA delegation to southern Africa
Summary report of the recent delegation to the area
www.unison.org.uk/file/SAdel.pdf
UNISON international newsletter
The current edition of the international newsletter in Word format
http://www.unison.org.uk/international
UNISON’s international work
Leaflet on UNISON’s international work explaining why we do international work, current priority areas and countries, why members should get involved and why non-members should join UNISON
http://www.unison.org.uk/file/intwork.pdf
Action on HIV/AIDS leaflet
Working with sister unions worldwide to tackle HIV/AIDS
http://www.unison.org.uk/file/HIV.1.pdf
Sewerage works
PSIRU report on how sanitation systems can save lives in developing countries
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