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UNI Global Union is celebrating this week after Philip Jennings scooped La Côte newspaper's coveted Personality of the Year award for the Léman region of Switzerland.

The UNI General Secretary saw off strong competition from ten other nominees including second placed Jonas Tavel, President of a youth festival attracting almost 120,000 people each year, and politician Nelly Tscharner who took third. The prize reinforces UNI's ever-deepening ties with its local community.

Jennings, who could not attend the award ceremony held in UNI’s hometown of Nyon, was on a long-planned visit to Cape Town ahead of UNI’s World Congress later this year. The General Secretary sent a message of thanks from Nelson Mandela’s former cell on Robben Island.

“I thank La Côte and everyone who has voted for me both locally and around the world. I am an ambassador for Nyon across the globe,” Jennings said.

“I stand here in this space of two metres by two metres in which Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. It is a very special place for civilization, a very special place for UNI Global Union, and for the fight against discrimination and injustice around the world.

“Personality of the Year, perhaps, but Nelson Mandela is the Personality of All Time. Thank you.”

Deputy General Secretary Christy Hoffman and Head of UNI Commerce Alke Boessiger received the award on Jenning’s behalf. Hoffman underlined the connection between UNI and the local community.

“Philip was so proud to have been selected as a finalist in this contest. He values his history in the La Côte region and his own connection to the community - as a fire fighter in Gingins, for example,” Hoffman said.

“But more importantly, UNI is proud to be Nyonnaise. Thousands of UNI members come to Nyon every year for meetings here and are taken by the beauty of the town, the views, its charm and restaurants.

“In short, even though our members come from every continent of the world, we see ourselves as part of the La Côte region in every sense. We are proud of Nyon and we hope that you are also proud that UNI calls Nyon its home.”

Alke Boessiger delivered a history of the groundbreaking Bangladesh Accord, which was crafted by UNI and IndustriALL in Nyon and Geneva. “During the past seven years 1,800 garment and textile workers have died in fires and building collapses in Bangladesh,” Boessiger said. “They died in factories from which rich, multinational western brands source the products that you and I buy in European clothes stores. At UNI Global Union, we knew we had to act.

“Today, the Bangladesh Accord has more than 150 signatories including many household names such as H&M and Zara, as well as the Swiss Charles Vögele and Switcher. But from a Swiss perspective, there are two big names still missing: Coop and Migros. We have begun inspecting 1700 garment factories. We are confident that this historical agreement will save lives.

“And while the labels on the clothing may say “Made in Bangladesh”, we are proud to say that the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety is labeled “Made in Nyon.”