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UNI Global Union’s President Ann Selin opened the World Executive Board at UNI headquarters in Nyon Switzerland. The two day gathering of union leaders are setting the agenda for the global union as it plans ahead to its next World Congress in Liverpool in 2018.

Selin began by referring the anti-union attacks by the government in her own country Finland. Finns are taking the streets to urge the government to #Stop anti-union legislation.

“I never thought I would see a time when a Nordic country would launch an attack on the Nordic social model but we are seeing it now. We do not accept it and we will continue the fight.

“Over the next two days we will hear from other frontlines of this widespread anti-union offensive – the UK, Spain and Indonesia to North Africa and moves in America to turn back the democratic clock.”

The UNI President also touched on the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, revealed last week which she said was “worse than we thought”.

On a more positive note, Selin congratulated the Tunisian trade union movement, including UNI affiliate the UGTT for winning the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in promoting workers’ rights and peace in the country. She was also joined by the entire World Executive Board in voicing their delight at the election victory of democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar.

Unions and NGOs would continue to work for peace and decent conditions for people despite terrible setbacks, such as the terrible atrocity in Ankara recently when many union brothers and sisters lost their lives.

Participants showed their full support for the President’s call for more to be done about the refugee crisis. The consensus was that the world could not turn a blind eye while certain countries were taking the brunt of the crisis by opening their borders and others notably the UK were doing very little. World Executive Board members urged everyone present in the room to do more to convince their governments to do more to solve the crisis and help the migrants, many of whom are still dying as their seek sanctuary.

On Bangladesh and the Accord, Selin said, “We stood our ground to win compensation for the Rana Plaza victims. We helped raise $30 million and got Benetton to pay its full share. Every day UNI/IndustriALL are working to apply the agreement.

“The Breaking Through strategy to go for union growth in the regions and sector global unions is a success, one great example being the call centre victory in Morocco. We will continue the fight for equality and end of domestic violence through 40 for 40 and other campaigns led by UNI Women’s President Denise McGuire.

“Affiliates, sectors, regions, we are all “making it happen” on the road to Liverpool. Let’s be inspired by the organising and bargaining win at Prosegur in Chile and Colombia. They did it with courage and heart! ” Selin concluded.