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In the UNI Commerce Global Union session, Ian Blandthorn, President of UNI Apro Commerce in his report highlighted that the Apro region is diverse politically, geographically, economically and its development with a retail industry that ranges from local companies to multinationals where most multinational are anti union. However this had not stopped the region in organising workers into trade unions and listed the successes in Nepal, Malaysia & Indonesia. The success of signing a Global Framework agreement with Takashimaya and campaigns to organise retail workers in India, Hong Kong, Vietnam and varies other trade union initiatives in the region.

From the floor, the contributors:-

“One size fits all concepts do not work but we need to tailor the needs of the affiliates and workers” said Tadashi Ueno (UI ZENSEN). He further explained that UNI enjoy strong regional organisation and we need to capitalise on that. Regional level must be actively involved in each level of decision making as each affiliate has different need, different conditions which require a different approach to solve the issues and strengthen trade unions. UNI Nyon can support these initiatives.

Joe De Bryun (SDA) highlighted the successful partnership approach with HERO Supermarket chain in Indonesia. Chris Ng (UNI Apro Regional Secretary) called him and seeks his assistance to start a dialog with the company’s manager from Australia to set up a meeting. Since then HERO Supermarket trade union and the management had established a different and constructive way to develop both the union and the company. This model of “Social Partnership” in HERO can be extended to other countries. It is based on open dialogs and respect. UNI Apro is now extending this partnership model to TESCO LOTUS in Thailand.

In the “More and better employment in the commerce sector” session, Yoko Yokoyama highlighted the need for work life balance in this industry. She questioned the “high consumer demand” push to compel the stores to be open 24 hours a week resulting in a negative change of life style for millions of workers. Consumers need to be educated about their action. This has resulted in 1 out of 3 workers in Japan working as non-regular workers. These workers need to be provided with equal treatment. She further stressed that Decent Work should be continues process as to attract workers into this sector.

Decent work should not only be confined in a company’s setting said Tomoyuki Umemoto (JSD). He explained that job stabilisation is important to achieve this aim. For example in Japan the high employment at 5.5% is an issue compounded with an aging society of which one in four people are more than 65 years old (and growing). There is a shortage of labour and it might get worse in future if this trend continues. Thus job creation, gain confidence during this financial downturn and revitalising the economy is very important steps to provide long term decent working conditions. JSD has embarked upon town revitalisation and thus far the results had been encouraging.

Katsutoshi Matano (JSD) touched on Social responsibility as a tool to provide decent working conditions for workers. JSD has a guideline on the companies to observe the Social responsibility. The Union’s focus on Social Responsibility is that the role of trade unions and the rights of its workers needs to be respected.

Global Companies, Global Organising, Global Agreements were the theme of the second day morning session where Gaurav Aurora (UNICOME India) spoke about the aims, objectives and methodology used in organising the retail workers in India in particular in Bangalore, Hyderabad and New Delhi.

Takaaki Sakurada (President LC Japan) highlighted the importance of open dialogs and working out clear objectives together of its signing of framework agreement with Takashimaya of Japan. He emphasized that a framework agreement should not be on paper but a living document that translate into better working conditions and increased standards in the workers working in this departmental stores and environment globally. He highlighted the common objectives agreed by the company and trade union on implementation of the Global Framework Agreement and the review process.

From the floor the UNI Apro delegates made the following contributions:-

Shoichi Hachino (JSD) highlighted the need to organise the large portion of the part time workers of which his union has managed to organise 40% of these workers in their unionised companies. The union is now trying to ensure that these workers get equal terms and conditions. He also emphasised that while organising can be done at a local level, global issues need to be tackled globally. In the case of H&M Stores in Japan, the union are talking to the management on organising the workers and is determine to approach them via the Global Framework Agreement signed between UNI and H&M.

“Strengthen UNI’s relationship with the members of the Global Union Federations” suggested Yamamoto Suguru (UI ZENSEN) as the global companies such as Inditex had already signed Global Framework Agreement with another GUF. As an example, with these GFAs the dispute by the textile workers in Bangladesh was solved amicably as the GFA meant that the employer is responsible for all its employees thru out the world. He hope that with stronger cooperation with the other GUFs, we could reach out and support more workers globally.

In the case of Korea, Kang Gyu Hyok (KPSU) report that they were hit hard by the economic crisis with large lay off of workers, higher anti-trade union sentiments by employers and aggressive government to suppress trade unionism in the country. This had not stopped the union is campaigning for better working conditions for its workers. TESCO Home Plus workers union in Korea decided to campaign for “a chair for each cashier” as the cashiers were required to stand up to perform their duties. As the stores open 24 hours a day for 365 days, the strain for these workers were tremendous. In the end the union won and the cashiers were provided with a chair each, however it was not a total success as their supervisors still forbid them to sit while doing their job and fearing for reprisal, the cashiers are not making use of the chair. In fact, the cashier and most retail workers in Korea are now forced to work longer hours with compensation (pay).

Manikam Nadarajan (UNICOM Malaysia) statement that they had already organised 15,000 retails workers into trade unions and they target 100,000 organised workers by 2012 drew applause from the delegates. He spoke about the Malaysian Liaison Council’s (UNI MLC) project to organise the unorganised retail sectors in Malaysia and the successes in getting retail workers represented both by the courts and employers a step forward for the workers in Malaysia.

From the panel speakers and feedback from the delegates, it was felt that today is the most exciting time for trade unions! We have real global unions, real workers issues – and we are doing something that nobody has done before. As Nick Grisewood the panel moderator concluded, “Change the world of trade unionism, we can change the world!”.

While highlighting the messages in the campaign t-shirt worn by the delegates today (as its T-shirt day) Philip Jennings said clearly that “Breaking Through” is not just a slogan. Trade union movements are the organising centre of the world. UNI is committed to this will endure that resources required will be put into organising. Today UNI has an organising fund. One pressing issue is the need to overcome the gender gap – UNI wants to see at least 40% at every level of representation. A resolution as such will be passed in Nagasaki 2010 congress. He is also happy to announce that Joseph De Bryun, UNI Apro President will be the new UNI President during Congress.

To gear up for the UNI Congress in Nagasaki, Bro Sakurada UNI LCJapan’s President demonstrated the Japanese way to show solidarity that got the whole delegates on their feet!

And the final message from Philip Jennings is more of a challenge – yes - “UNI Commerce Global Union, you must raise!”