The UNI Europa Executive Committee at its meeting in Athens on 6-7 May 2014 discussed the dramatic situation of public service broadcasting in Greece and restated its solidarity with public service broadcasting workers and their union.
The UNI Post and Logistics world meeting is underway in Switzerland facing up to the challenges of the brave new world of post. Innovation and inequality are high on the agenda and the meeting will not shirk the big issues.
President Billy Hayes opened proceedings by evoking the spirit of British comedian Billy Bennett. “It’s the same the world over,” Hayes said, “It’s the rich who get the pleasure and the poor who get the blame. That’s what we’re here to address.”
Thousands of low paid Airport workers at three US airports have voted overwhelmingly for a union to represent and bargain with the 13 companies who operate there. The three airports - John F Kennedy, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia - operate services through 13 different companies in terminal cleaning, baggage handling and security. The workers, who recently won a community supported campaign for a minimum wage of 10 US dollars an hour, are mostly members of the SEIU Local 32 BJ and are now demanding that the company recognises it as their union to bargain better terms and conditions.
UNI MEI strongly condemns the recent attempts to restructure employment at the Polish public television TVP S.A. The management of TVP decided last year to outsource some 550 workers amongst its permanent staff. The main professional categories targeted are journalists, editors, graphic designers and make-up-artists.
The Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) of WIPO took place on 28 April – 2 May in Geneva. One of the topics currently on the agenda of the SCCR is limitations and exceptions for libraries and archives on one hand, and for educational and research institutions and persons with other disabilities on the other hand. It is of concern to many NGOs attending the SCCR that concerning limitations and exceptions, the SCCR is headed beyond its mandate which could have harmful effects on the copyright system and the creative industries of Europe.
ADB President Takehiko Nakao said that financial inclusion is priority for ADB but the introduction of mobile banking services by commercial banks is insufficient to achieve this goal. Nakao said that proper financial advice should be given to traditional small business units and SMEs so that they may identify risks and opportunities, increase and create jobs, and drive the real economy. He added that the ADB is pursuing its Regional Financial Integration Plan and the ADB Strategy 2020 which both aim to deepen financial inclusion and reduce poverty.
Korean UNI affiliate the KHMU will take strike action on June against the privatization of healthcare. This strike is a part of a wider campaign which has included conducting a million signature campaign against the further privatization of healthcare.
So far 300,000 people have already signed and the union expects to reach their target. To further their efforts, Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union president Yoo, Ji-hyun held a street event and signature-collection campaign at Seoul Station on May Day.
UNI Africa is the Regional Organisation of the 20 millions’ strong UNI Global Union, representing 760,000 workers in the skills and services sectors from 168 in 36 African Countries, including 12 affiliates in Nigeria.
UNI Africa expresses deep concern about the situation of terror in the North of Nigeria, which has included the abduction by Boko Haram militants of over 200 schoolgirls in mid-April in Chibok, as well as the reported abduction of eight girls earlier this week in Warabe.
UNI Europa is the Regional organisation of the 20 millions’ strong UNI Global Union, representing 7 million workers in the skills and services sectors in 50 different countries.
The UNI Europa Executive Committee, at its meeting in Athens on 6-7 May 2014, strongly condemned the abduction by Boko Haram militants of over 200 schoolgirls in the North of Nigeria.
In this new Working Paper, the European Think Tank Pour la Solidarité - PLS offers a new reading of the 2014 European elections through the prism of the challenges for the social economy. This paper includes interviews with MEP candidates: Heinz K. Becker (PPE), Karima Delli (Greens - EFA), Marc Tarabella (S & D) and Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE / NGL).
For the full paper please click here
