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UNI Global Union says Guy Ryder election, as the tenth Director-General of the ILO, is the right choice to take the organisation forward and will build on the legacy of the current Director-General Juan Somavia who has made jobs and justice a focal point in both the UN system and the G20.



Jennings said, “The bottom line is that Guy Ryder understands that the jobs challenge and social justice are paramount to getting us out of the global crisis. UNI and the other global union federations will stand shoulder to shoulder with the ILO and take that message to the G20 next month.”



Jennings added, “At UNI we are delighted, not only for Guy who I have known professionally and personally for more that thirty years, but also for global workforce who can rely on his dedication to fighting their corner. Guy is the first union leader to be elected as head of the ILO. This is an historic step for our movement. He will build on the astute work of Juan Somavia who has conscientiously repositioned the ILO as focal point of the new global institutional architecture.”



“Guy will be a strong voice against the austerity measures that have wreaked havoc across the global workforce and stand-up for job growth. He has the knowledge and the leadership to bring workers employers and governments together under the umbrella of the ILO. He is committed to tripartism and defending social dialogue. He has a strong union background and understands our concerns on decent work and social dialogue from ground level,” Jennings concluded.



Ryder won through after an unprecedented six rounds of voting and UNI also paid tribute to the supporters who have backed him, including DGB and ITUC President Michael Sommer, ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow and the ILO Workers Group Chairperson, Luc Cortebeeck. Their tireless and ultimately successful campaign has ensured that Guy Ryder has been elected to the position where his outstanding leadership skills can best serve the ILO and the workers of the world.



Ryder, who will become the tenth Director-General when he begins his five-year term in October 2012, said “I am really excited about this chance: this is a tremendous opportunity, in the middle of this global crisis, to make a difference to the lives of millions of people, including those who never heard of the ILO, to change their lives for the better.”



He added “I thank the governing Body for their confidence. The significance of what happened here today will be judged by what we do, and that is to put the people and the world of work at the heart of everything we do.”



Guy Ryder received 30 of the 56 votes of the titular members of the ILO’s Governing Body. The vote was conducted at the ILO’s headquarters in Geneva. There were eight other candidates for the position.



Before becoming ILO Deputy General Secretary Ryder served as the organisation’s head of the Workers’ Activities Bureau, and as chief of the Director General’s office. In 2002 he was elected General Secretary of the ICFTU and successfully led the process of unification of the international trade movement culminating in the creation of the ITUC in 2006. In the 1980s Ryder was responsible for professional and technical employees at the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees (FIET) which was one of the founding unions that would form UNI Global Union.



Guy Ryder’s empathy with and knowledge of the trade union movement coupled with his clear vision for the ILO make him the right choice for workers and the nearly 200 million unemployed looking for a chance back into work.



Find attached Guy Ryder’s CV and his vision statement by clicking Related Files tab above.