Blog Archive
Not yet time to drop sanctions on Burma
Posted on February 23, 2012
Congress General Secreatry, David Begg, has written to the Tanaiste noting that while there have been some inprovements in Burma of late, it is the strong view of Congress, the International Trade Union Confederation and The European Trade Union Confederation that the time is not yet ripe for a major revision of sanctions policy. Full letter available here. See ITUC document on benchmarks re consideration of removal of sanctions here
EU highlights trade led growth as central to a modern development agenda
Posted on January 30, 2012
In its latest proposals on trade and development the EU identifies trade as one of the key drivers to support development, growth and helping lift people out of poverty.
In order to effectively reduce poverty across the world, the EU wants to focus on those countries most in need. This will require a better differentiation between developing countries and emerging economies.
Guiding principles of the new policy are:
- Better inclusion of Least Developed Countries into the multilateral trading system
- EU aid should support domestic reforms in developing countries to help them reap the benefits of increasingly integrated world markets
- The need to look beyond lowering tariffs on to meeting international technical, social and environmental standards, intellectual property rights, investment, services, competition policy and public procurement.
Christmas Card Appeal for Colombian Political Prisoner
Posted on December 14, 2011
Send a Christmas Card to Liliany as part of our new campaign
On August 8th 2008 Liliany Patricia Obando was detained by the Colombian authorities. She was dragged away in front of her two terrified children and her elderly mother. The Colombian regime has accused her of 'rebellion' and is currently holding her in appalling conditions in jail without having convicted her of any crime.
Freed Colombian Political Prisoner comes to Ireland
Posted on December 08, 2011
Rosalba Gaviria Toro, a former Colombian political prisoner, visited Ireland this week to meet with those who campaigned for her release, among them two second-level students from Kenmare.
She is a trade union and human rights activist who visited Ireland this week, as a guest of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and campaign group, Justice for Colombia Ireland. Detained and imprisoned, without trial, by Colombian authorities in March, 2009 she was released without charge in June 2011.
The head of the Women's Movement for Peace & Human Rights, Ms. Gaviria Toro arrived in Cork on Sunday December 4 and met with trade union activists and members of the Cork Council of Trade Unions.
12 more dedicated champions
Posted on November 21, 2011
Twelve more union activists have now been added to the Congress Global Solidarity Champions' network.
Training took place between 3rd - 5th November 2011 in the salubrious surrounds of the MANDATE Organising & Training Centre in Dublin. Participants came from a cross section of unions including ASTI, CPSU, CWU, IMPACT, INMO, INTO, TUI and UNITE. There was a packed agenda with participants eager to learn about the plight of workers and union members from Colombia to Palestine and Bangladesh to Dublin.
Aid effectiveness needs decent work and private sector regulation
Posted on November 21, 2011
Congress today (23 November 2011) met with Ms. Jan O'Sullivan, Minister for State of Trade & Development to make the case that Aid effectiveness needs decent work and private sector regulation. Governments will gather in Busan, South Korea, to discuss aid effectiveness at the end of November,. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is pressing for a conclusion that promotes pro-poor growth and favours working people. Congress letter to the Minister available here.
For more on the ITUC's work on development cooperation - see here
More on the 4th high level meeting on aid effectiveness in Busan here
Report from 3rd Annual Global Solidarity Summer School
Posted on September 12, 2011
The 3rd Annual Global Solidarity Summer School, took place on 2nd & 3rd September 2011 in the Carlton Holiday in Galway.
It was well attended by trade unionists from all over Ireland who were eager to learn about making links between the Climate Change and Decent Work Agenda.
A number of guest speakers took part in the Summer School presenting on a range of topics including climate change, economics, taxation, labour and disability in the workplace.
Urgent action: Six FENSUAGRO activists now arrested!
Posted on August 10, 2011
Last week many of you signed our urgent action regarding the four FENSUAGRO agricultural trade union activists who have been arrested in Putumayo and accused of 'rebellion.' We have now received news that two more trade unionists and members of FENSUAGRO has been arrested on the same charges.
We now need you to take urgent action.
To protest against the arrest and detention of these six trade unionists and the threats against their colleagues in Sucre please sign this letter to the Colombian ambassador.
Congress backs Palestinian statehood bid
Posted on July 30, 2011
Congress is calling on the Irish Government to support the Palestinian National Authority's bid to be recognised as a member state of the United Nations. Read letter here
Famine in Horn of Africa - Trade Unions acting in solidarity
Posted on July 22, 2011
On 20 July, the United Nations (UN) declared a state of famine in parts of southern Somalia - highlighting a crisis that has killed tens of thousands of people, and urging the international community to greater action. UN officials have described the drought as the worst humanitarian crisis in the troubled country in two decades.