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UNI Global Union affiliates send delegations as part of the ITUC's Global Action Day in support of democracy in Egypt.



From Sydney to Paris, unions around the world rallied at Egyptian Consulates and Embassies to express support for democracy in Egypt.



In Geneva, a strong delegation from UNI joined representatives of other global union bodies ITUC, BWI, IUF and ICEM at the Egyptian Mission.



The group pressed its key demands upon Counsellor Yasser Hassan, who met with leaders of the delegation.



As UNI Deputy General Secretary Christy Hoffman reported to him,



"All of our 900 unions are cheering for the Egyptian people as they so tenaciously press for freedom and democracy. But reform must be real and immediate." On the discussion of labour law reform, global unions stressed that freedom of association must be embedded in law and independent unions alive in practice.





Unions also stressed that those responsible for violence against protestors and the independent media not go unpunished.



The government's representative responded that "measures will be taken to pursue the legitimate demands of the protestors" and that there will be a "rapid investigation into the perpetrators of the violence."



UNI affiliates along with their national trade union centres continue to hold demonstrations and actions throughout this week in support of Egyptian workers.



French and Italian unions are meeting at their respective Egyptian embassies this evening in Paris and Rome to deliver their message. In London, unionists will demonstrate on Saturday 12 February.



The ITUC will convene an urgent meeting in Amman Jordan in two weeks to discuss the way forward for union development in the region in order to ensure that independent unions are given sufficient support.



In Tunisia, UNI affiliates continue to press for social improvements for the most precarious workers and in particular to upgrade the social conditions of cleaners and security guards.



For more information about the Global Day of Action, please follow this link:

http://www.ituc-csi.org/unions-mobilise-worldwide-for.html?lang=en