Getting ready to train some more Global Solidarity Champions
22 Dec 2011
Back row: Saranne O'Grady, INTO; Breedge Scanlon, INMO; Grainne Murphy ICTU; Ricky Moore UNITE; Joan McCrohan IMPACT;David Keenan CPSU; Eddie Soye CPSU; Front row: James Moore, CWU; Laura Dooley ICTU; Ingridalison Shortt CPSU; Wilson Mabvaro UNITE; Sue Kelly CPSU.Training programme 2012
We are pleased to announce another training programme for Global Solidarity Champions will be held in Dublin on Friday 16th February 2012 and finishing on Saturday 18th February. It is two and a half days of information provision, discussion and planning positive actions back in the workplace.
This course focusses on a number of topics related to global issues, the international trade union movement and workers rights. It is a tightly packed course which aims to provide participants with a very broad sweep of issues and give them food for thought. This course is not the end of participants' development education but rather the start. It should cue the start of real learning through action and experience.
The following is taken from an email sent to me by Ricky Moore, from Unite, a participant on the last course who wished to provide me with an update of the actions he has taken since the course. Read it for yourself and see if it is something you would like to become more involved in.
"Strike while the iron is hot is a saying well put to use in my case. I got in touch with Unite as soon as I was up home again and expressed my interest at the contents of the course,and how I'd like a more proactive role in this area within my trade union. Unite nominated me to ICTU as their representative for the Global Solidarity Committee. This will be the beginning of what I hope to prove a long project and personally my desire will be to seek linkages with unions related to the engineering background I come from.
At the first opportunity I will seek support from my union to research and make contact with the producers of the main raw material used in my workplace, in this case it will be with the aluminium miners. The main areas for this mining are Australia (the top producer) China, Brazil, Guinea, and India. With the exception of Australia, we know these other source countries can have quite dire labour rights, so establishing a link in these areas will not only highlight the ethical need for decent work, but hopefully as the awareness is raised by the buyer, the miners terms and conditions will see a positive effect also.
None of this will be an overnight fix, but thanks to the information provided on your course, I now have a much greater knowledge of how to put my ideas into practice and a network of different Government and NGO bodies which may aid in any future plans.
The course itself was an information whirlwind, so much to take in being condensed into a short time-frame but allowing no time for complacency or boredom, speaker after speaker brought forward a new platter of facts and information which fed one's appetite but also left one feeling greedy for more, an excellent feeling to leave a course with!
Being the only person from Northern Ireland, I was a tiny bit concerned as sometimes groups can be cliquey but my concern was in vain as everyone present was more than welcoming and friendly. I enjoyed the participation afforded to us by the speakers, and not to detract at all from any of them, but I must say, the presentation given by Gavin Harte on climate change was simply awesome!
In closing, I know this course will be of great use to all unions involved and invaluable to those candidates wishing to take an active role within the globalised labour structures. Can I just thank you Fiona for facilitating the course, the speakers who substantiated their causes and to ICTU and Irish Aid for providing the course, every one of your efforts is greatly valued and appreciated."
If you wish to take part in this course, please get in touch now to fiona.dunne@ictu.ie