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Read the General Secretary's full address to the ILO here or download the pdf version from the Related Files tab above.

"On behalf of UNI Global Union, I congratulate you, President, on your election. We welcome the outstanding report from the Director General. He is right to alert us to a predecessor’s observation of communities having “dangerous explosives” that 50 years later remain with us: unemployment, inequality, rupturing social contracts.



The World Economic Forum 2013 risk report warns of the dangers of severe income disparity. We have already seen social explosions, from Tahir to Taksim, London, Paris, Stockholm. Precarious jobs and incomes, youth unemployment means precarious societies. We welcome social dialogue. It is a principle Prime Minister Erdogan should be practicing in Turkey.



The DG has a “magnificent” seven ideas.



We have five suggestions.



First, for a world more ILO than IMF, the ILO must have a stronger place in global decision-making. “If you remain quiet, there will be silence.” You have won a seat at G20. You must be the global solutions provider for jobs, a living wage, gender equality, inclusive growth. The IMF has apologized for getting its economic analysis wrong. Research by the austerity economists, Reinhart and Rogoff, has been found to be full of errors. ILO, strengthen your policy analysis and policy capacity.



To beat inequality, the workers of the world “need a pay rise.” Every worker should be covered by a collective agreement. Time for a pay rise, from the bottom up and not top down.



When the Troika austerity assassins go to work in pursuit of lower unit labour costs, the ILO goes in to pick up the pieces, after the Troika wrecking ball has done its job.



Stop the destruction of labour market institutions and collective bargaining at its source. The Troika should have prior consultations with you.



Second, the ILO has a new department for sustainable enterprises. The ILO should create a new department to grow unions. A place to provide organising skills.



Too many workplaces are on the front lines of union busting behaviour. There is nothing fair about this fight. Corporate muscle unleashed against desire to organise. ILO, let’s free the world of union busting.



Walmart, the world’s largest private sector employer is Exhibit Number One. The workers are rising up. Let them organise.



Then comes:



· Prosegur sacking 300 security guards in Paraguay for going on strike and then blacklisting them.



· T- Mobile of Deutsche Telekom, encouraged by employers’ federations, twisting freedom of expression to sanction union busting in the USA.



· DHL in Turkey sacking Employee of the Year because she joined a union. Madame Merkel, this is not social dialogue of Germany. Take steps to correct this behaviour.





Everyday a thousand detonations to halt union growth. Even here in Switzerland, there is inadequate protection of workplace reps.



Third, support social dialogue, support action to build global partnerships through global framework agreements. There are over 100 in place. ILO, do more to promote global agreements. It’s consistent with the 2008 Declaration and the Ruggie “due diligence” principles.



Director-General, put an initiative in place. Global partnerships, a pillar of a strengthened sectoral dialogue. We reformed the ILO sectors; now let’s build content.



Fourth, we would like the 2015 Conference theme to be the Supply Chain.



The recent massive loss of life in Bangladesh and Pakistan garment factories means time for excuses is over.



UNI Global Union, IndustriALL Global Union, NGOs now have a global accord in place for factory safety with leading global brands. We are breaking through, with the aim of improving lives. We thank the ILO for their speedy intervention in Bangladesh and for chairing the talks to implement the accord. Over 50 brands have signed up.



The refuseniks - Walmart and GAP – are in isolation. Not sustainable that £22 pair of jeans; just 90c goes to cover costs of manufacture, including wages, health and safety. Cutting corners costs lives.



ILO, this is a worthy conference theme.



Fifth and final, we welcome the suggestion of a new initiative on the future of work. UNI Global Union is organising in the new world of work. Let’s get the best brains in the room to shape a socially responsible, sustainable world of work built on the idea of “including you.”



ILO, let’s get ahead of this change."