WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (WFTU) ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL MEETING RESOLVES ON AN ACTION PLAN, EVOLVING COMMON CHARTER OF DEMANDS
10 December 2007
On the 28th & 29th November 2007, the famous Gandhi Peace Foundation , New Delhi (India) witnessed an important event concerning the working class of the Region of Asia-Pacific. The WFTU affiliates and friendly organisations in the Region were involved in a serious discussion on “Impact of Neo-liberal Globalisation on the Working Class – Role of WFTU / Trade Unions in the Asia_Pacific Region.” Trade Union leaders from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Australia, DPR Korea, Mauritius, representing different national level trade unions and Federations from several sectors, including the Agricultural Workers organisations had two days brain-storming session on the main theme as well as on two specific topics: “(i) Political / Economic situation in the Asia-Pacific Region; Preparation of Common Charter of Demands in the Context of Neo-liberal Globalisation (ii) Strengthening of working class movement / WFTU organisation in the Asia_Pacific Region; Evolving Plan of Action.”
Representatives from VGCL (Vietnam), Zenroren (Japan) who wanted to participate in the meeting and booked their tickets could not reach, as the former became suddenly unwell and the later due to some sudden development in his country. They, therefore, sent their written messages.
Com. George Mavrikos, General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) along with his assistant came specifically to attend this meeting and guided the proceedings on both the days.
*Inauguration:
Com. Gurudas Das Gupta, General Secretary of the All India trade Union Congress (AITUC), the founder member of the WFTU, inaugurated this important meeting and exhorted the affiliates and friendly organisations of WFTU in the Region to resolve an Action Plan to defeat the neo-liberal globalisation policies having been persued by the Governments of these countries and to unite for the cause of the toiling masses in the region. He also explained the continuous struggles launched by the AITUC and unitedly with other major national centres of working class and independent federations over the years in India; The AITUC General Secretary informed that on the 4th & 5th December, 2007, several lakhs of workers, both unorganised and organised, will be launching a programme of Sathyagraha (law violation) Rasta Roko (blocking the Roads), Rail Roko (stopping the Trains) against the Govt’s anti-labour policies and on an 18- points Charter of Demands placed by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions.
*Condolences:
After paying rich tributes to Com. K.L. Mahendra, former President of WFTU and General Secretary of AITUC, as well as to the martyrs numbering several thousands who laid their lives in the various struggles in different countries of the Region and also the people of Bangla Desh who have been devastated due to natural calamity recently, the meeting observed two minutes silence before the commencement of the meeting on the 28th Nov.
*Greetings:
Coms. Dr. Pandhe, President, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Krishna Chakraborthy, President, United Trade Unions-Lenin Sarani (UTUC-LS), Rajiv Dimri, Secretary, All India Coordination Committee of Trade Unions (AICCTU), S.P.Tiwari, General Secretary, Trade Union Co-ordination Committee (TUCC), Sean Marshall, Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU), Australia, Nurul Islam, President, Bangla Desh Trade Union Kendra, Muhammad Saghir Malik, Pakistan National Federation of Trade Unions (PNFTU), Ganesh Shah, MP, President, National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), Nepal, D.W. Subasinghe, General Secretary, Ceylon Federation of Trade Unions (CFTU), Purmanansing Jhoomuck, Artisans & General Workers’ Union, Mauritius, amongst others, greeted the meeting, explaining the struggles being conducted in each country and the need to coordinate and extending solidarity to each others in the region. The Inaugural Session was chaired by Com. (Mrs.) W.D.De Silva, President, Sri Lanka Mahahjana Trade Union Federation (SLMTUF) and one of the Vice-President of the WFTU.
*Key-Note address:
Com. George Mavrikos, General Secretary, WFTU while delivering the Key-Note address, highlighted the following important aspects concerning the world working class movement.
- the situation of working class in the world (unemployment-privatizations-salaries-social security, child labor-safety and security-working women-trade union freedom).
- the imperialist aggressiveness (Iraq-Afghanistan-Venezuela-Cuba-Syria-Lebanon etc)
- the role of international organisations today UN-ILO-UNESCO-WTO-IMF etc.
- the struggles of working people all over the world
- what kind of trade union movement does the working class need today, the line of coordination of classes - the role of ITUC as against the line of class oriented struggles - persued by WFTU
- what kind of trade union movement we want? The WFTU- massive-united-democratic-modern-class oriented international organisation.
Com. H. Mahadevan, Dy. General Secretary, WFTU & Incharge Asia-Pacific Region while presenting the background paper, touched upon various the aspects such as “vanishing National Economies and diminishing labour survival under the Globalisation Regime, the Trio (WB-IMF & WTO) and the adverse effects of the 3 medicines prescribed by them (LPG), the ten Commandments of Washington Consensus and the ‘future shock.’ The serious after effects of flexibilisation affecting the world labour, as found out by ILO, the Case study of India and other similarly placed countries in the region on application of ‘reform process’ resulting in state retrenchment, employment degeneration, increase of offensive on labour, denationalisation of public sector by the capital friendly state, unfriendly role of judiciary against the working class actions, organisational challenges and the dominant role of Multi National (Transnational) Corporations as against the sovereign states, rampant Human Rights and Trade Union Rights violations, the twist in the International Trade Union Movement and the hegemonistic role of ICTU, the gradual improvement of activities under the new leadership of the WFTU, the resistance that opens up possibilities world over, in particular in Latin America and Asia-Pacific Countries, where number of struggles and political changes are also taking place, the imperative need of trade unions to play decisive role for social change. etc.
*The Sessions:
The four sessions, each one chaired by Coms. Sukomal Sen, Secretary-General, TUI (Public services), Sultan Khan, General Secretary, PCMLF, Dev Roy, President, TUI (Energy), Sean Marshall, CFMEU, Australia, discussed in detail the two topics and the speakers placed their Country Reports with reference to the situation prevalent and their proposals on the Common Charter of Demands as well as on strengthening Organisation, and Plan of Action. (Some of the Reports / Speeches in extracts are published in the December 2007 issue of “Flashes from WFTU.”)
Com. Venkatachalam, General Secretary of All India Bank Employees’ Association explained in detail the continuous united struggles by the Bank Employees in India against the Banks de-nationalisation moves of the Government of India, which have stalled these obnoxious moves. He also proposed towards the united movement of the Bank employees in the Asia-Pacific Region and that WFTU should extend support to this major unity move. Similar proposals also were made by speakers from the Telecom Sector Federations, Agricultural Workers’ Unions, Chemical and Energy Sector Federations and others. Coms. De Silva, Sri Lanka and Amarjeet Kaur (AITUC, India) brought out the various issues pertaining the working women and stressed the imperative need to empower them, besides bringing them in the trade union leadership. Com. Ganesh Shah and S.C. Amatya, Chairman, CONEP of Nepal explained the protest of the working class in the anti-monarchy struggle and emphasised the need for ‘right to organise’ at all sectors. They also welcomed the proposal of holding the next Regional Meeting of the WFTU in Nepal in 2008. Com. Nurul Islam and other leaders from Bangla Desh explained the existing situation in Bangla Desh where the working class is deprived of their legitimate right to organise and agitate.
*Two sub-Committees:
Two sub-Committees, drafting the final proposals on the two topics discussed in the earlier sessions, the first one consisting of Coms. Dakshi (CITU), Pirzada Imtiaz Syed, (APFUTU), Subasinghe, (CFTU), Nurul Ismal (BTUC), Ganesh Shah (NTUF) and Co-ordinated by Com. H. Mahadevan and the other sub-Committee consisting of Coms. G.R.Shivashankar (TUCC), M. Saghir Malik (PNTUF), Qumrul Ahsan (JSFB), Sushil Chandra Amatya (CONEP), Nizam-Ud-Din (APFUTU), Sean Marshall (CFMEU) and Co-oordinated by Com. Amarjeet Kaur (AITUC) came out with the following conclusions:
COMMON CHARTER OF DEMANDS
1) Full Employment for all; Salaries and Wages based on needs; Social security is a must.
2) Every investment should create employment generation.
3) Eradication of poverty shall be the first priority.
4) Application of economic policies with Social Security & Social Welfare Programmes
5) Unfettered trade union rights to all workers in all sectors.
6) No privatisation and dismantling of public sector / public services.
7) Paramount respect for Human Rights.
8 ) Abolish all atypical forms of employment; permanent employment for permanent and perennial nature of jobs.
9) Protect sovereign rights of nations as against the imperialist hegemony / market driven Policies under WB-IMF-WTO dictates.
10) Universalisation of Maternity benefits to all women workers.
11) Stop sub-contracting and outsourcing of permanent jobs; Fill up all vacancies in the organised sector.
12) Comprehensive law and social protection for unorganised / informal workers including agricultural workers.
13) Abolish Bonded Labourers in any forms; provide them statutorily guaranteed protection and alternate employments.
14) Protect the rights of all migrant workers.
15) Stop the retrenchments, closures and lay-offs.
16) Abolish Child Labour; Guarantee all Children free, quality education.
17) Ensure empowerment of Women in all fields; Stern action against sexual harassment in any form. No night duty without adequate protection and facilities.
18) Right to strike is a Right under Collecting Bargaining.
19) Self-determination of political system and self-reliant economic growth without the interference of imperialist, financial / multinational economic institutions.
20) Protest against unjust wars launched by imperialism; blockades and sanctions against all countries, including Cuba, DPR Korea, Iran, etc. End occupation of Iraq & Afghanistan; Unification of Korea as one nation.
21) Class-based trade union movement to change the social order is the need of the hour.
22) ILO shall shed its partition attitude and treat all International Organisations judiciously without discrimination.
23) Restore Democracy in Pakistan, Bangladesh & Myanmar; Ensure fundamental Rights.
24) No degradation of Environment in the name of development; Protect natural resources. Ensure occupational Safety & Health, Environmental protection to the workers and community.
25) Fight against Communalism & Religious Fundamentalism.
1. WFTU to approach ILO & UN system for introduction of code of conduct by TNCs;
2. WFTU to hold regional meetings on an ongoing basis and to review progress and actions from previous conferences/meetings;
3. WFTU to hold regional conferences of women workers in the Asia-Pacific and SAARC regions;
4. Proposals regarding Guest Workers/Migrant Workers (GWMW) to lobby/agitate against national governments on the following;
ii. To centralize GWMW migration government immigration departments; Removal of private immigration agents from GWMW migration processes; Ensure the GWMW pay no fees to immigration departments for migration processes; Ensure GWMW are trained by host country labour departments in occupational health and safety/ personal protective equipment and industrial rights; For host countries to staff their GWMW inspectorates adequately to ensure that GWMW are treated fairly; Host governments to provide free language classes in the language of the host country;
iii. To ensure that GWMW are paid their wages in full; GWMW to have access to free medical services and full workers’ compensation insurance;
iv. Ensure that GWMW are adequately housed by their employer at no expense upon arrival until the GWMW finds their own rental accommodation; If no rental accommodation is available due to remote work then the employer to provide accommodation free of charge;
v. WFTU-AP to form a GWMW committee to report on the actions / efforts and to exchange information via email and telephone;
vi. AP national Governments to form a committee of foreign ministers to advance the interests of GWMW; Ensuring that market testing is undertaken by host countries to ensure the genuine needs for GWMW.
5. WFTU to treat labour law violations as human rights violations and fight against such violations;
6. WFTU to hold regional solidarity action day/programme to be established and observed with an initial focus on contracting out and outsourcing (e.g. Pepsi-Cola, Coca-Cola, Dow Chemicals, Wal-Mart.)
7. To demand all ILO conventions to be ratified by AP country’s governments and campaign towards that;
8. Special campaign to be done to ratifying the following ILO conventions C.87 Free Association, C.98 Collective Bargaining, C.102 Social Security;
9. Regional WFTU meetings to be organized in all AP countries by turn. Nepal to be given the opportunity to host 2008 meeting and the other countries to host them later; All national union affiliates and friendly organisations of WFTU to collectively take the initiative for holding meetings in each country;
10. Campaign comprehensive legislation to cover social security for workers in informal sector in the relevant countries;
11. WFTU AP to organise training programmes in each country disseminating information on the effects of capitalist globalisation on work and living standards of workers; WFTU to focus on strengthening class oriented trade unions;
12. WFTU Hq. to consult other national affiliated unions when new members apply for affiliation from those countries;
13. WFTU Day of Action to be established to publicise WFTU;
14. Solidarity messages sent to AP office to be sent by email alerting WFTU affiliates and friendly organisations to show solidarity with strikes and other actions taking place from time to time.
RESOLUTION on ILO
The meeting noted with grave concern the discriminatory attitude of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) allowing the hegemony of one International trade Union in its Governing Body and the partisan attitude of the ILO in the Standards Committee etc. and unanimously adopted the following Resolution, to be sent to all concerned including DG of ILO, and - UN/UNESCO/International Organisations ; Trade Union Organisations; International Mass Media; Regional offices; TUIs.
This Conference of W.F.T.U. affiliates and friendly organisations in the region of Asia-Pacific held in New Delhi on November 28-29, 2007, discussed the situation prevalent in the I.L.O. In pursuance of these discussions, the following Resolution is adopted.
The I.L.O., on the basis of its foundation and operation is obliged to face equally and in a democratic way all the trade unions, independent of their political, ideological, religious and racial differences. The discriminations for and against people are prohibited in the framework of the moral values and the objectives of the I.L.O.
Unfortunately, this meeting notes, that for the last 15 years, the values of equality are being violated in an unimaginable way. These violations not only take place in the Geneva office, but they are also spread in the countries and regions where the I.L.O. has its services. In the Asia – Pacific region also this kind of evaluation is justified by many cases.
Several discriminations are made against the W.F.T.U. and against its affiliates and friendly organizations, though W.F.T.U. was the first trade union organization to become member of the I.L.O. The violations and indifference are against the W.F.T.U. at all levels and in all sectors. This is also evident from the very composition of the Governing Body, to draw conclusions. The stock answer of the Director General is that “elections take place..”, is totally unsatisfactory as we are all aware as to how these elections are conducted. There is also involvement of money and corruption. The results are well known in advance. The way these “elections” are made, exposes the I.L.O. and those who organize them.
The character and the orientation of the I.L.O. are also slowly alienated. In place of promoting and defending the rights of workers and poor people, during the last decade, past achievements accomplished through struggles are already withdrawn or sought to be withdrawn.
Ironically, even decisions adopted by the I.L.O. are not equally applied. While the decisions concerning the dictatorship of Colombia are not implemented, almost every year we see how Cuba, Venezuela and certain other countries resisting the imperialist plans of USA and NATO are slandered.
On the basis of all these facts, the meeting demand that this situation has to be altered positively. We demand that the I.L.O., has to treat again with objectivity and equality both the international trade union organizations.
We demand change in the way that the Governing Body is elected. We demand transparency in the forthcoming elections of 2008. The two International Trade Union Organizations must be proportionally represented on the basis of their forces and support enjoyed by them. This is what is democracy based on the foundational principles of I.L.O. and the United Nations. We demand objectiveness and justice at all levels in all sectors in I.L.O.
*Concluding Session:
The Concluding session, adopted both the final documents presented by the sub- Committees on the two Topics of discussions.
Com. George Mavrikos, General Secretary of the WFTU, in his concluding remarks hailed the efforts taken by the Asia-Pacific Regional Office in organising this successful meeting of the affiliates and friendly organisations which debated the specific issues in a rich and qualitative manner. He proposed that while follow up actions should be undertaken by the units/unions affiliated to all constituent affiliated and friendly organisations as soon as they return back, similar meetings and at least one Seminar to be organised in the Region every year in any one of the countries of the Region. The Regional Women Conference, is to be organised in Pakistan in 2008. The next meeting of the Regional Trade Unions in Nepal in 2008. Comrade Mavrikos wanted the active participation of all the affiliated and friendly organisations in the functioning of the Regional office, including financial and physical support. “We have successfully conducted the TUI Conferences of Construction Industry and TUI Energy recently and in the next few days the TUI on Transport will be organised in Brazil. There are proposals to hold the Conference of the Metal TUI, Tourism TUI and Conference on Entertainment Industry in the coming period. These and other important decisions will be finalised in the Presidential Council Meeting scheduled to be held in Khartom, Sudan on the 14th & 15th January, 2008, he said.
It was unanimously agreed by all participating national centres and unions that this meeting will be a turning point in strengthening the organisation of WFTU in the Asia-Pacific Region and to carry on further struggles, independently and collectively, mobilising the working class on Common Demands on class-based principles.