Stop Climate Chaos

Georgios Altinitzis from the ITUC spoke on this subject. His main thrust was that this is the one major issue facing us all over the next few years. As members of the human race it is imperative on us to act. As members of a Trade Union we have to represent workers rights so to this end the ITUC are working on proposing a “Just Transition” which will allow a move to ‘green’ jobs and aid developing the green economy. An example was given from the floor about cleaners who loose their jobs when recycling is made mandatory. Georgios was quick to point out that this was not a result of trying to implement climate change but work practice change. Recycling is different to cutting carbon emissions and it is being used as a way of implementing cuts, hence the need for a Just Transition. Patricia McKeon from Unite spoke about how their union have been evaluating all they do from a carbon emissions point of view and encouraged other unions to set up working groups that will detail ways of reducing their carbon footprint.
Internationally: ITUC recently passed a resolution on combating climate change where it calls for a reduction of emissions of 40% by developed countries by 2020.
Nationally: ICTU are setting up a working group to look at the Climate Change issue
Colin Roche from Stop Climate Chaos gave a talk on their work to date. 25 million climate refugees anticipated over the next decade due to rising sea levels. There will be a bill going to Govt soon on climate law that the group have been actively pursuing. They have also been busy lobbying politicians to their cause and have received 70 signatories across the political spectrum to a climate commitment. Stop Climate Chaos is a conglomeration of 30 organisations from Civil Society with no union endorsement. This meeting was a first step towards changing that and it was mooted that if the Just Transition was put on to the agenda that unions could then be persuaded to join in.

Trade Union Friends Of Palestine

Mags O’Brien, from SIPTU gave a presentation on the Irish delegation that recently visited Palestine. Again she detailed stories of untold hardship being impressed on people. Mags showed pictures of deserted streets which are no go areas that contrasted greatly with the bustling activity on the streets of illegal settlements. She also spoke about the wall that Israel are building to shield itself off from the Gaza strip. This cuts through peoples gardens and rites of passage and is a massive structure being built against the wishes of the international community right around the Gaza Strip.
The BDS Campaign of Boycott, divestment and Sanctions was supported. Mags stated that Israel is an Apartheid State like South Africa once was and Sanctions and boycott have been called from Palestinian Unions in an effort to force Israel into a settlement. ICTU support this stance. There is a boycott of Israelis goods and of cultural activities. Artists, like Leonard Cohen, who have played Israel are being boycotted in a effort to stop them from going there. 150 artists from Ireland have signed up to a campaign pledging they will not travel to Israel to promote their music.

International Trade Union Confederation

ITUC
International Trade Union Confederation held their 2nd World Congress in June this year. Owen Tudor who is head of European Union and International relations of the TUC UK attended and gave a rundown on how the ITUC works. 13 Resolutions were passed on major issues such as Climate Change, Globalisation, gender equality, Peace, Israel and migrant workers. World Day for decent Work is taking place on October 7 and ITUC is the driving force behind this

Clean Clothes Campaign

The Race to the Bottom film was shown. This details the horrific conditions some workers in Bangladesh sweat shops face on a daily basis. How they need to work 16 hour days for no extra payment in inhumane conditions that no person should have to work.
CCC is an alliance of organisations in 13 European Countries. That number is set to increase on October 7 when Ireland joins the list. Its principle objective is to improve the working conditions and support the empowering of workers in the global garment and sportswear industries. CCC Ireland will be launched on October 7.

Justice For Colombia

Colombia is still the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist. 49 trade unionists were murdered in 2009. 31 activists killed between Jan to June this year. Of the 2,700 union members murdered there have been just 4 convictions.
Jack O’Connor spoke about the horrific sights that befell him and his colleagues on a recent trip to Colombia. He heard horror stories of people not returning home, about mass graves for the disappeared and about people being imprisoned for the crime ‘Rebellion’. This is an all encompassing term that can mean jail time for anyone without trial and proof. Currently there are 5,200 political prisoners in Colombia, the majority being held under the charge ‘Rebellion’
All Irish MEPS have signed a declaration that they are opposed to signing up to the Proposed Free Trade agreement with Colombia until Human Rights violations are reduced drastically. Under intensive lobbying that will seems to be dwindling. Pressure needs to be put on these MEPS to ensure they stay on board. It may go to all national parliaments so we may need to lobby td’s. Representatives from very small unions in Colombia are going to Brussels making false claims to MEP’s and some of this seems to be working. Democrats in the US have refused to sign up to this Agreement so the Justice For Colombia Irish group have been working to try and ensure that Irish representatives do as their American counterparts are currently doing.

Global Solidarity is good fun

Over 50 trade union activists were in attendance from all over the island for the 2nd Global Solidarity Forum last weekend. This was a 2 day event held in the Capital in ASTI’s hq near Christchurch Cathedral. The event was wonderfully organised by Stellan Hermansson who is Global Solidarity Officer for ICTU.

There was a number of themes over the two days, all very enlightening and unfortunately feature stories that need to be shared with colleagues. Whilst we may feel this is an extremely hard time for ourselves in Ireland we mustn’t loose sight of the plight of our less fortunate brothers and sisters throughout the world. This conference helped put a focus on that.

I'm gonna break it down by topic so will post a few seperate blogs on the following

Justice For Colombia

Clean CLothes Campaign

ITUC

Trade Union Friends of Palestine

Stop Climate Chaos