N° 115 / 15 November 2000
Willy Thys in Santo Domingo : the responsibility of the political world
Willy Thys in Santo Domingo : the responsibility of the political world
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In a speech he made in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) on 13 November, WCL general secretary Willy Thys pointed out the dangers of economic globalisation for democracy: "We, who are present in the companies, at the side of the workers, we observe that working conditions that allow competitive strength and growth violate the workers’ rights in many cases." He asked the following question: "Can one speak of genuine democratic participation if a sizeable part of the population only thinks about how to survive the following day? And is there really an international community if countries are kept in a stranglehold because they must pay their international debts?"
In the presence of the president of the Dominican Republic and other political dignitaries Willy Thys reminded of the fact that in the WCL’s opinion the economy serves just one purpose: ensure the welfare of as many people as possible. Social justice is the priority. Employment is the key to it, not social aid or charity. He pleaded for the government taking purposeful measures to create jobs, taking into consideration the real needs of the population, which the marked is unable to guarantee, and ensuring a universal social security based on solidarity. He concluded his speech as follows: "The globalisation indeed threatens democracy, but it is possible to offer resistance, for globalisation is not inevitable. It is a model among other models. In the first place it is the responsibility of the political leaders throughout the world. They are elected to exercise power on behalf of their citizens, including the poorest. Not to submit that power to the influence of national or transnational companies or of WTO or World Bank experts, who are elected by nobody." Maintaining or enlarging the state’s intervention powers requires from the political decision-makers a new awareness of their role in the protection of democracy.
Chile
WCL general secretary Willy Thys conducted a mission to Chile (12-14 October). He visited the Central Autónoma de Trabajadores (CAT), affiliated to the WCL, in support of its initiatives to be recognised as a partner in the country’s social dialogue. The CAT was denied legal personality as a national organisation on account of the provisions of the labour code worked out under Pinochet’s dictatorship. This denial is hampering its progress, despite its considerable progress and it recognition as a dynamic social actor. Chile ratified the basic ILO conventions, but they are not applied because neither the Constitution nor the national laws were modified. The CAT has drawn up a memorandum containing the modifications that need to made to the labour code. This is a key issue both for trade union development and for the progress of democracy, which otherwise would not exceed the formal stages. In the economic field the neo-liberal model as applied in Chile has resulted in extreme privatisation. The solidarity-based social security systems (health care, pensions, ...) have been dismantled. Energy, infrastructure, transport, telecommunications and services are in private hands now, causing enormous problems for the poor sections of the population, 50% live in the "poblaciones".
Switzerland: information campaign of the CNG-CSC
The Christlich-Nationale Gewerkschaftsbund (CNG-CSC), affiliated to the WCL, recently launched a campaign to inform mothers and future mothers of their rights at the workplace. This information campaign of the CNG-CSC, its federations and other partners, which is entitled Infor-Mutterschaft (Info-Motherhood) is intended to inform women who wish to combine motherhood and occupational life in the best possible circumstances, of their rights by means of the booklet "Schwanger am Arbeitsplatz" (Pregnant at the Workplace) and an information line where women can seek personal advice. Most mothers in Switzerland have a job before giving birth. Around 65% of them keep that job after having given birth. From a legal perspective, the Labour Act, the Obligations Act, the Equality Act and the Social Insurances Act contain stipulations regarding pregnancy and motherhood at the workplace. This makes it difficult to get an overall picture of this theme. The new Labour Act became operative last August. It provides a much better health protection for pregnant and breast-feeding mothers.
Enlargement of the EU with Eastern Europe : effects on the transport sector
On 16-19 September 2000, FIOST conducted in Budapest a seminar on the "effects of the enlargement of the EU to Eastern Europe on the transport sector". FIOST received the aid of its affiliate National Federation of Workers’ Councils - NFWC.
The following organisations took part in the seminar: Slovakia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, France, Luxemburg, Belgium, Holland, Austria.
The participants were welcomed by Imre Palcovics, president of the confederation MOSZ, and Lászio Sostinszky, president of the transport workers’ federation in this confederation. Both speakers stressed that the fact of conducting this seminar in Budapest was a great honour for Hungary, which celebrates this year its millennium. FIOST president Michel Bovy said that the seminar in Budapest had a symbolic value and was intended as an expression of thanks to the Hungarian trade union, which affiliated to FIOST immediately after the opening of the borders. He pointed out that the transport federations with their international contacts in many countries were the driving force behind social progress.
Preparation for EU membership
Niklós Pásztor, economic adviser to our Hungarian affiliate NFWC and teacher at Budapest University, pointed out the importance and the challenges of an entry into the EU and gave a survey of the activities of the NFWC.
Zoltan Kasatsay, assistant secretary of the Ministry of Transport and member of the delegation in Brussels that negotiates the entry into the EU, represented the Hungarian minister of Transport at the seminar.
The minister of Transport told the seminar that the government intended to build a new road infrastructure and improve the railway infrastructure and that it would lend the trade unions the necessary support.
Koen de Vos, European official from the Directorate-General "Employment and Social Affairs", the former DG V of the European Commission, informed the participants on the tasks of this important body, which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou and is led by Odile Zuentin.
The participants discussed in two working parties the trade union strategy to be followed during the entry process.
Indefatigable women marched in solidarity for change
The World March of Women has mobilised millions of men and women from across the planet since March 2000 and more particularly on 16 and 17 October 2000.
On October 16, in Washington, a delegation of women from around the globe met with Mr. Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank, and Mr. Köhler, managing director of the International Monetary Fund
The World March of Women re-affirmed its fundamental differences with the economic policies implemented by these two institutions.
The march culminated on 17 October. Before the United Nations in New York, women from all over the world demanded from the UN and its member States concrete measures to put an end to poverty and the different forms of violence against women. Roughly five million signatures collected all over the planet in support of the two demands, the elimination of poverty and violence against women, were delivered to the UN deputy secretary-general and to the special advisor to the UN secretary-general on women's issues
At the end of World March of Women, participants expressed their wish to continue working together to create a truly world-wide feminist network and to have a common voice to make themselves heard at international organisations. They showed their determination to build an international civil society in solidarity that would be feminist, united, peaceful and would participate fully in the fight against neoliberal globalisation that makes women poorer and sharpens the inequality between rich and poor countries, between men and women, and between privileged and non-privileged classes.
Basque country : ELA condemns fatal attack
ELA, the Basque WCL-affiliate, has radically condemned the attack of the Basque separatist movement ETA which cost the life of prison warder Máximo Casado. ELA believes that Casado ‘s function was the reason for which he was killed.
Namibia
On the occasion of the peaceful demonstration of civil servants, organised on 21 October in Windhoek on the initiative of the organisations PSUN et TUN, the WCL has sent a message of solidarity to both organisations. The WCL supports in its message the legitimate demands set out in a petition to the Namibian President.
It was the first demonstration of its kind since the independence of Namibia.
Pakistan : decease of A. Shirazi
It is our sad duty to inform you of the decease, on 18 November, of Ahmed Hussain Shirazi. He was the founder and honorary president of our affiliate APTUC - All Pakistan Trade Union Congress. For more than forty years he contributed to the development of his organisation and the national trade union movement, which has lost one of its most respected members, known for his integrity and sincerity in action. A. Shirazi was also vice-president and Executive Committee member of the BATU.
The WCL has offered its condolences to his wife and his son as well as to his trade union.
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