Latest updates on Cape Town
Participation
Registrations continue to arrive at UNI head office and we are approaching records numbers, with 1,900 participants representing 400 unions in 111 countries already registered.
Ebola
We would like to reassure participants that serious measures have been taken by the South African Government to prevent the introduction of the disease into the country.
There have been no recorded cases of Ebola in South Africa.
We are in close contact with the World Health Organisation who has suggested no ban on travel or international gatherings and meetings in South Africa. The WHO counts South Africa as a low risk country.
Our Congress secretariat is in direct contact with the South African authorities, including the Ministry of Health and the President’s office. The Government introduced preventative measures from a very early stage and several weeks ago put an entry ban on citizens from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Government has also introduced a screening process at major points of entry. The ban on travel from affected countries as well as passenger screening underlines South Africa’s steps to go beyond the World Health Organisation guidelines.
IndustriALL Global Union recently held a major event in South Africa which went ahead with no health concerns whatsoever. IndustriALL took the opportunity to convey solidarity with affiliates from the three affected countries who could not attend the event, and passed a resolution in support of workers in those countries.
Cape Town is a modern city with an advanced infrastructure. It is thousands of miles and several hours’ air miles from West Africa. There are no common borders.
It is only belatedly that the global community has put into action a comprehensive plan to deal with and eradicate the disease. We were very happy to note that Nigeria and Senegal have been declared Ebola free.
We realise that wide press coverage has provoked feelings of apprehension among members of some delegations. We therefore want to reassure you that the South African authorities are taking all possible measures to secure a safe passage to and from Cape Town.
The head of our Tokyo office, Eiichi Ito, was recently in Cape Town on a fact-finding mission. Here is a link to his report:
Motions and Proposed Amendments
As agreed by the UNI World Executive Board, a pre-meeting of the Congress Resolutions Committee was convened at UNI Head office on October 21-22.
Chaired by Benson Okwaro, General Secretary of the Kenyan Communications Workers Union (COWU), and with UNI Deputy General Secretary Christy Hoffman acting as secretary, the members examined the eighteen motions and the proposed amendments submitted by affiliates for consideration by the Congress.
The role of the Resolutions Committee is to composite, re-draft and/or delete part or all motions and amendments with the aim of expediting the business of Congress.
Following two days of intense work and concentrated effort, the members of the Resolutions Committee were able to meet their goal of being able to circulate their report and recommendations with respect to the motions and proposed amendments well in advance of the Congress. This includes two composite motions agreed by the Committee for presentation to the Congress. The secretariat continues the work of ensuring that the different language versions are in place, with the aim of circulating the first report of the Resolutions Committee by the November 7 deadline.
I am sure that you will join me in expressing appreciation to the members of the Resolutions Committee for accomplishing their task in such a constructive and timely manner.
Documentation
We remind all affiliates that we will not be distributing printed documentation.
Affiliates and participants will receive an email to inform them when documents are online.
Documents requiring adoption by the Congress, as well as information on Congress procedures and practical matters will be online by the statutory deadline of November 7. Other documentation will follow prior to the Congress, including reports on breaking through on union growth, the future of work and a report on the UNI mission to Palestine and Israel in September.