News

The UNI Global Union Breaking Through Awards 2011

The UNI Global Union Breaking Through Awards are in recognition of outstanding organizing success by a UNI affiliate to meet the organizing objectives of the UNI Global Union Breaking Through strategy.

The Awards are presented annually at a ceremony organized either at the UNI World Congress in Congress years or at the World Executive Board meeting in non Congress years.

The first UNI Global Union Breaking Through Awards were presented during the UNI World Congress in Nagasaki in November 2010.

The UNI Liaison Council of Zimbabwe (UNI LCZ)

In recognition of the work of 4 UNI affiliates who have joined together to rebuild and strengthen their unions. This has included a cross sectoral, member-driven organizing programme including training more than 80 organizers, establishing cross sectoral organizing teams, implementing organizing plans. Results have included more than 1,000 new members, the establishment of permanent cross sector organizing teams, increased visibility of unions, increased participation of female members.

On behalf of the UNI Liaison Council of Zimbabwe, Bones Skulu, President of UNI Africa, receives the UNI Breaking Through Award from Joe de Bruyn, President of UNI Global Union. The Award was later officially presented to the UNI LCZ at a ceremony in Zimbabwe.

Federación Argentina de Empleados de Comercio y Servicios - FAECYS, Argentina

In recognition of an organizing campaign in call centres by the Commerce Trade Union of Buenos Aires, which has so far led to some 1,000 new members. In the absence of national collective bargaining guidelines and with most call centre workers being university students working to finance their studies, this has involved considerable challenges. The union now has negotiating rights with two call centre multinationals, Teleperformance and Action Line.

Ruben Cortina from FAECYS, President of UNI Americas, receives the UNI Breaking Through Award from Joe de Bruyn, President of UNI Global Union

Canadian Union of Postal Workers – CUPW STTP, Canada

In recognition of an organizing campaign targeting postal clerks in pharmacies and convenience stores, following the union’s decision to begin organizing workers in the private sector in 2010. After just one year and in difficult conditions, the organizing drive has resulted in the successful unionizing of 51 of the 2,000 postal counters in Canadian pharmacies.
 

Lynn Bue, Second National Vice President of CUPW receives the UNI Breaking Through Award from Joe de Bruyn, President of UNI Global Union.

Association of Indonesia Trade Union - ASPEK, Indonesia

In recognition of its membership growth to become the largest union in Indonesia and its building of social partnership industrial relations leading to constructive labour-management relations between the union and employers. The union is a social partner in the first tripartite government/employer/union cooperation for the retail sector. It has supported efforts to conclude global agreements with Indonesian-based multinational companies Antara, a news and multimedia company and Telkomsel Indonesia, the largest service provider in the country, as well as an MOU with IOA-ABADI, the only business association representing temporary work agencies in Indonesia.

Anwar Faruq, President of ASPEK, receives the UNI Breaking Through Award from Joe de Bruyn, President of UNI Global Union

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers - USDAW, United Kingdom

In recognition of the fact that in 2011 the union broke the 400,000 membership mark.