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“We need to revitalized the UNI ILC and it starts with us by building the network in India to be truly representing the workers inspiration” declared Bro Milind, UNI ILC President, “to achieve this, we must build up our capability and capacity!”, He said this in the opening of the 2^nd UNI ILC meeting in Mumbai, India on 8^th March 2009 as the 11 affiliates of UNI Apro deliberate on the plan for UNI ILC for the year.

Amongst its achievement is the growing network of women in UNI ILC. Anjali Bedekar, UNI ILC Women President and UNI Apro Women President were pleased to report that about 200 people attended the International Women’s Day Celebration for its UNI ILC Women members in Mumbai on the 7^th March 2009. Women in UNI ILC will be able to participate fully in UNI ILC events with the support of the trade union’s leaders.

“This global meltdown is effecting all the industries in different degrees with increasing number of workers retrenched and reduction is salary and benefits for workers who are still holding job,” said Bro Thomas John, the Secretary UNI ILC, “we need to look as this as opportunities for organizing and focus of what was done, and what needs to be done.”

“Focus on organizing the critical areas has started in India and with NgN (new generation network) activities we are confident to attract the new workers into trade unions” Christopher Ng, Regional Secretary UNI Apro mentioned, “One third of the UNI Apro activities funds in 2008 was utilized for India alone”. He also highlighted the need to cultivate harmonious Industrial Relations as a win-win situation for both workers as well as employers by quoting the case of HERO Supermarket, Indonesia which has industrial relations that facilitated open dialogs and discussions to improve the working conditions and productivity of the company.

“Are we meeting our objectives?” Phillip Bowyer, Deputy General Secretary UNI, said “we need to rethink of our strategy and look at how we do things – strategic planning to reach our targets is a must”. He also emphasis that India is important to UNI and that the organizing of the Security Services, Commerce, Call centers and IT has started. He welcomed the confirmation from the delegates that UNI ILC would like to be more involved and responsive to this organizing challenge in India. UNI Has about 30 Global Framework Agreements signed with a target of 50 by 2010. He challenged the UNI ILC to get a least one Global Framework Agreement signed before the Nagasaki Congress in 2010.

With the adoption of the UNI ILC Executive Board, it was agreed to create integration between the unions within the same city and build an alternate trade union movement. Some ideas of dedicated days (International campaigns) where the UNI ILC members can work together were discussed with a first event on 17^th October 2009 to campaign on Decent Work Day. That gender mainstreaming in particular gender balance is taken into consideration in all UNI ILC events.

Phillip Bowyer, Deputy General Secretary UNI, Christopher Ng, Regional Secretary of UNI Apro, Alice Chang UNI Apro Director for Commerce and the UNIDOC Officers attend the UNI ILC Board Meeting.