Global trade union movement seeks official status in ASEM process

Trade union movement summit meeting, Helsinki, 7&#;82118 September 2006

The global trade union movement is to propose to Heads of State and Government convened in Helsinki this weekend for the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) that the movement should enjoy official status in the Asian and European negotiating process. The unions are also hoping that bargaining on labour issues will become an established part of the ASEM structure.

The leaders of trade union organisations representing nearly 200 million organised workers will meet in Helsinki on Thursday and Friday 7–8 September. This two-day conference will set out the goals of the trade union movement for the ASEM process.

The international trade union movement has long been lobbying for a similar position in various co-operation processes, such as the Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF).

The trade union movement will be exceptionally broadly represented at its own ASEM conference in Helsinki. This will include delegates from the two world organisations that are to merge in the autumn, and regional organisations from Europe and Asia. By this exceptional show of strength the unions hope to demonstrate that they cannot be ignored as interaction between Europe and Asia continues to grow.

The trade union movement has also proposed the inclusion of a social and working life dimension in ASEM, as the unions believe that this would enlarge and reinforce the overall process.

NGOs working together

The Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF) also takes place in Helsinki on 4-6 September. It is attended by more than 400 activists from about 30 countries. The principal themes explored by the Forum are peace and security, economic security and social rights, and democracy and human rights. The NGOs are also concerned about the inequitable division of benefits from globalisation.

The trade union movement and NGOs are calling for implementation in all of the ASEM countries of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, respect for human rights, and other issues such as the abolition of forced labour in Burma (Myanmar).

The trade union movement’s ASEM conference is organised by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the World Confederation of Labour (WCL) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The Finnish employee confederations SAK, STTK and AKAVA also assist in setting up the conference.

Participants will include ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder, WCL General Secretary Willy Thys and ETUC General Secretary John Monks, Finnish Minister of Labour Tarja Filatov, ILO Executive Director Kari Tapiola, and the leaders of Finnish labour organisations. Finnish President Tarja Halonen will speak at the conference on 8 September.

Photo

Representatives of Burmese refugee organisations gather in Paasipuisto Gardens opposite the AEPF conference building to demand the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The occasion was also a mark of respect for all of the victims of the current military junta. The international trade union movement is similarly campaigning for human rights and workers’ rights in Burma.

Documents

ASEM Trade Union Summit - Programme

Trade Union Statement on the Agenda for the 6th Summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (pdf)