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UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings is calling on UNI affiliates to support Guy Ryder in the run up to the election in May for the post of Director General of the ILO.

Jennings said, “We are living in extraordinary times with a financial crisis we have not seen the likes of since the era of Gatsby and the 1930s. Extraordinary times require extraordinary leadership and Guy Ryder is the candidate of merit to take the ILO forward and deliver on decent jobs and social justice. All UNI affiliates should back him.”

It is important in this period of economic and social crisis that the role of the ILO is at the forefront and in the centre of policy support and technical assistance for its member countries. There is no candidate in the field with more experience of the ILO, greater knowledge of the role and the detail of labour standards, the supervisory system, labour market institutions, social dialogue or employment policies.



Jennings added, “Guy Ryder understands the value of partnership and building good working relations with employers which he has achieved throughout his career. He recognises that the global labour market and the global business environment are changing and that the ILO will have to change too in order to direct resources to provide analysis, ideas and solutions at a time of financial squeeze. He will dedicate himself to the jobs challenges which are ahead, including ensuring that the ILO influences the G20 to move forward on jobs and inequality.”

Ryder sees clearly that jobs and social justice are central to the challenges facing the ILO in the teeth of the crisis. He said, "The challenge before the ILO today is to demonstrate its capacity to bring its values, capacities, and mandate successfully to the task of bringing the world of work forward from the crisis. It must be forceful in its commitment to the principles of social justice, responsive to the demands of its tripartite constituents, and agile in responding to rapid change."



Before becoming ILO Deputy General Secretary Ryder served as the organisation’s head of the Workers’ Activities Bureau, and as chief of the Director General’s office. In 2002 he was elected General Secretary of the ICFTU and successfully led the process of unification of the international trade movement culminating in the creation of the ITUC in 2006.

In the 1980s Ryder was responsible for professional and technical employees at the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees (FIET) which was one of the founding unions that would form UNI Global Union.

Guy Ryder’s empathy with and knowledge of the trade union movement coupled with his clear vision for the ILO makes him the candidate of choice.