News

Over 30 participants from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand

Switzerland and Sweden attended a seminar on Organizing and Building Networks in multi national companies in Mumbai, India on the 25^th and 26^th November.



The seminar which is held annually was part of the LO TCO Project for Multinationals in the graphical and packaging sectors in Asia Pacific, in addition to the 30 participants the Head of department Steve Walsh and the International Secretary of the Swedish Union GS Leif Mettavainio also attended.



Each country provided a report on the activities undertaken and discussion was held on identifying organizing targets for 2011. Participants broke into work groups and talked about the issues that workers are facing as well as the challenges unions’ have in organizing workers.



The numbers of contract and agency workers in this region is increasing at an alarming rate and this is placing even more workers in the category of precarious employment. The seminar heard reports from all countries about the inconsistency of wages and conditions between those permanent workers and those who are classed as contract workers.



The unions committed to redoubling their efforts to organize these workers so that their living standards can be improved.



The potential for union growth in the Asia Pacific region particularly among multi national companies is significant and as part of the activities in Mumbai a 2 day training course for Indian organizers was also conducted. Training and education of union activists is critical to organizing workers in this region.



As part of the project, national activities are being planned for 2011 which will provide the opportunity for more union activists to be trained and developed.



Further details contact steve.walsh@uniglobalunion.org