UNI americas “Breaking Through”

Publicado: 25 Febrero 2010
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 The 11th UNI americas Regional Executive Committee Meeting unanimously approved the “Breaking Through” paper submitted by the President and the Regional Secretariat. Among other issues, the paper proposes the following actions: strengthening trade union rights and decent work in national, regional and global companies; enhancing the organization’s training; strengthening collective bargaining processes to create a socially sustainable work environment; reinforcing the political and regulatory influence of trade unions; thinking more strategically; implementing a growth policy; and improving work methods in order to increase membership and make existing organizations stronger.



Learning about the campaign experiences of the new UNI SCORE Department headed by Adriana Rosenzvaig and UNI sectors was very useful. UNI SCORE works on three fundamental aspects: training, mobilizing, and unionizing through cohesion, advocacy, synergy, and focus. Its objectives include: to support strategic campaigns; to support trade union alliances; to develop projects in line with UNI’s objectives; and to gear research efforts towards action; organizing; global agreements; and human rights, as well as those of trade unions and labor.



The Youth group presented its campaign with the launching of a book entitled “Problemática del Trabajo Infantil en las Américas, Empleo y Desarrollo Sustentable” [The Problem of Child Labor in the Americas, Employment and Sustainable Development]. The UNI-ISCOD-UGT Agreement made possible the research and publication of the book, which was warmly welcomed by the attending delegates.



Women presented their “Decisions for Life” campaign, a project carried out by UNI in cooperation with the ITUC and targeted at women between the ages of 15 and 25 working in the fields of economy, commerce, finance, and telecommunications, among other equally important sectors.



Reports were given on various campaigns: Santander – HSBC in the finance sector, presented by Márcio Monzane; DHL, presented by Cenise Monteiro; UNI-CENCOSUD, presented by UNI americas President Rubén Cortina.



Within the framework of the “Free from Fear” campaign, an extensive report was given on the coup d’état in Honduras; Marvin Largaespada’s participation in the UNI americas mission was highlighted. Reports were also given on the serious situation of human rights violations in Guatemala as well as in Colombia, where the situation has not improved but worsened. Mexico is experiencing serious problems of violence, which are compounded by mass redundancies in the electrical and mining sectors along with the promotion of protection agreements by businesspeople, an issue that deserves special attention from UNI. The representative of the Paraguayan postal sector denounced violations of union rights in her country, specifically in the form of non-compliance with the collective agreement. She requested that a UNI mission be sent to Paraguay. UNI americas agreed to send missions to both Mexico and Paraguay.



UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings said that the invitations for the 3rd World Congress in Nagasaki would be sent the following week and urged affiliates in the region to have a strong presence in this transcendental event. He also thanked the region for its support to the “Breaking Through” strategy “because our affiliates have spoken out and our members have spoken out, and now it is our turn to take on the task and do it in the best way possible,” he concluded.



The REC adopted in general terms the declaration on the situation in Haiti resulting from the earthquake that hit the country, taking into account the report of UNASED―a Dominican affiliate―submitted by sister Minerva Magdaleno as well as the research conducted by the Regional Office and other affiliates in the region. The Committee also adopted the Declaration of Montevideo, which means the Committee’s recognition of the political and trade union situation faced by the Uruguayan people today. This declaration acknowledges the progress made in the social and trade union spheres through the passing of laws and decrees in the interest of workers. These policies are expected to be further pursued by the new administration. The Caribbean Finance Sector submitted a declaration on the global crisis and its impact on the banking sector.



The next REC meeting will be held in April 2011, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, while the Third Regional Conference will be held in May 2012, in Mexico City.



Contact: raul.requena@uniglobalunion.org