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The minister gave UNI and its affiliates his full backing. Tomada said Argentina’s FAECYS commerce union was “a model for social progress and social rights for workers”.
 

He said that “employment was key to growth and unions were a pillar of society.”

He called for unemployment to be replaced with work and gave his support to collective bargaining and an end to precarious work

Tomada said that inclusion was necessary to grow an economy constructively and made special mention of the need to include, women, youth and the elderly.

In his closing remarks, Tomada said that UNI had set an example with the Bangladesh Accord which was helping to change the face of global business.

Picture: UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings, Argentine Labour Minister Carlos Tomoda and FAECYS President Armando Cavalieri at UNI Commerce Global Conference in Buenos Aires

Later in the day’s proceedings UNI America’s Regional Secretary Adriana Rosenzvaig said that UNI and its affiliates in Latin America were reaping the rewards of their hard work with a number of substantial victories, including organising Carrefour in Colombia and Prosegur in Peru. Rosenzvaig said UNI has Walmart in its sights, “When Walmart changes, the world changes and that is our goal.”

Both Rosenzvaig and President of UNI America’s Ruben Cortina noted the significance of the presence of the first union member from China. His participation was the result of closer ties with the Chinese unions after a visit to China led by UNI Commerce.

The Head of UNI Commerce, Alke Boessiger, summarised the successes across all the regions since the last UNI Commerce Global Conference held in Dublin two years ago and said there was more to come.

“We’re organising we’re fighting and we are winning – can safely say UNI Commerce is breaking through.”