GLOBAL SOLIDARITY FORUM
Issued on September 02, 2010
International Trade Union Solidarity and Climate Change on the agenda
On the 27th and 28th of August Congress held its Global Solidarity Forum in ASTI's Head Office in Dublin. 57 trade unionists from the north and south of Ireland met to listen to interesting speakers and discuss how to develop our international trade union solidarity work.
Congress' Assistant General Secretary, Sally Anne Kinahan opened the Forum and emphasised how hard the economic crisis has hit the global south, where millions of people have been forced into extreme poverty after losing their jobs. She said that the international solidarity work is of utmost importance and was happy to see so many trade unionists coming to the Forum.
Sign the Global Petition on Child Labour and the Millennium Development Goals!
Issued on August 20, 2010
The Global March against Child Labour: "Your support is vital"
The continued existence of child labour is an obstacle to achieving the MDGs and, without achieving the MDGs, child labour cannot eliminated. The development goals of achieving the MDGs and eliminating and preventing child labour are inextricably linked and yet child labour remains as an invisible ninth MDG.
While not explicit in the list of eight Goals, eliminating child labour is nonetheless as critical as the others and cuts across the themes of them all. As long as millions children are forced by poverty and others circumstances into situations of exploitative labour, then they will continue to swell the ranks of those out of school.
Pakistan Floods - how you can help
Issued on August 12, 2010
The deadliest floods in Pakistan's sixty-three-year history have killed over 1,600 and affected nearly fourteen million people. The immediate challenge is an emerging food crisis, with millions of acres of farmland destroyed. The World Food Programme says at least six million people are at risk of going hungry and food shortages are expected to rise. Several Development NGOs are working to provide humanitarian assistance to help flood survivors, and many have set up some emergency responses.
Visit Dochas How you can Help site for further information.
ACT NOW on 2015
Issued on July 30, 2010
Keep the 0,7% development aid target!
Congress and 64 other organizations have joined the campaign "Act now on 2015". The campaign, which follows up last year's "We Do Care" campaign, calls on the government to deliver on its promise to reach the UN target of spending 0.7% of national income on overseas aid by 2015.
Ireland international reputation is built on its long held commitment to the world's poor. Even in tough economic times, aid is affordable. 0.7% is not just a number - it is trained teachers and doctors; t is more schools and hospitals; it is people living their lives with hope and dignity. Our aid promise is something to be proud of. Ireland must act now to keep it.
Congress protests against Iraq
Issued on July 28, 2010
Banning of trade unions in the electricity sector
In a letter of the 27th of July to the Prime Minster of Iraq Mr. Nori Al-Maliki, the General Secretary of Congress David Begg protests against the latest violation of trade union rights in Iraq.
On July 20, the Minister of Electricity on behalf of the government issued a Ministerial Order, which prohibits all trade union activities in the electricity sector. It orders the ministry in coordination with the police to close all trade union offices and take control of the trade unions' assets, properties, documents, furniture and computers. Finally, the Ministerial Order grants the police authority, under the terrorism act of 2005, to arrest any trade union activist who tries to protest against this unjust action.
