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Unions identify eight
global divides Union leaders have identified eight global divides that remain large - or are getting wider under the pressures of globalisation. They are wealth, power, rights, health, education, environment, technology and ownership of the global economy. The labour leaders suggest a range of solutions to bridge the divides - many of which would involve governments and corporations carrying out commitments already entered into like the Rio and Millennium Summit Declarations and core labour standards incorporated in International Labour Organisation conventions. The eight divides: Wealth - more than one billion people live on less than a dollar a day. Globalisation has increased wealth divisions within countries and between countries, many of the poorest countries do not benefit from growing world trade, women are more likely to be unemployed, part time or low paid. Power - many multi-nationals have more power than nation states, out of control financial markets create regional and global instabilities that harm the poorest most. Rights - democracy still not universal, workers rights are often abused or curbed. Health - Infectious diseases still the world’s biggest killer, life expectancy has fallen in some countries, medical research concentrates on rich markets. Education - illiteracy still widespread, spending hit by debt re-payments and restructuring programmes. more/… Environment - global warming, depletion of world’s resources, developed world consumes most of the reources. Technology - a digital divide, a pharmaceutical divide, a patent divide. Ownership of the global economy - still the prerogative of some governments, financial institutions largely unchanged since 1945 - and multi-national corporations. The solutions: Wealth - global commitment to halve number of desperately poor by 2015, dump the debt of poorest countries, fairer access to world trade, fairer income distribution, minimum wage, equality of opportunity. Power - end irresponsibility of some multi-nationals, global financial authority, global merger authority. Rights - Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO core labour standards for trade union rights and collective bargaining and against discrimination. Health - Dump the debt, increased aid to meet 0.7% of GDP target, Millennium Declaration to provide universal basic health. Education - Dump the debt, increased aid, Millennium Declaration for primary schooling for all by 2015. Environment - Rio and Kyoto commitments, sustainable environment for all. Technology - Dump the debt, government investment within countries and international investment effort, greater assistance for developing countries to meet UN targets. Ownership of the global economy - More inclusive decision-making for the global economy, people and their organisations to be included, to have a voice, more dialogue between global unions and global corporations. Press contact: Noel Howell (mobile) ++41 79 446 2703 |
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