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Union call for a more
open Davos 2002 Next year’s World Economic Forum must have a place for peaceful protest and an opportunity for dialogue with its critics – that was the clear message to a media conference today (Monday) from the Labour Leaders who have been at Davos 2001. The call came as union leaders criticised this year’s "Fortress Forum" in which a huge security operation turned away opponents of globalisation at borders and off trains and banned demonstrations near the Forum. The labour leaders welcomed the launch of the World Social Forum in Brazil and acknowledged the gradual broadening of the agenda and participation at Davos. As well as union leaders, 60 Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) were invited to the WEF this year and there has been strengthened participation from the developing world. "We would like to see the opportunity for people to assemble in a peaceful way and to have their views heard – and to have a resonance around the world," Philip Jennings, UNI’s General Secretary, told the media. The union delegation protested on Saturday to the WEF’s President Klaus Schwab at the over-the-top policing which including 900 armed police and security staff, water cannons and wire barricades. "In the run up to next year’s Forum we will engage in a dialogue to ensure that people from around the world and around Switzerland have the opportunity to peacefully gather," said Philip Jennings. But union leaders are in agreement on the positive opportunities offered by attendance at Davos, which first began for the labour leaders in 1995 In three days the labour leaders have met Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General; Mary Robinson, Human Rights High Commissioner; Juan Somavia (ILO); Stanley Fischer (International Monetary Fund); James Wolfensohn (World Bank) and Mike Moore (World Trade 0rganisation). "We should be here in Davos as trade unions to ensure that this unique collection of big business and governments hears it direct on the shortcomings of their policies," Bill Jordan, ICFTU General Secretary, told the journalists. "We welcome the launch of the World Social Forum – we think it is a brilliant idea," said Philip Jennings. "We want to see the WSF continue but we think it is also important that global unions are present here (in Davos) to discuss action with the international institutions and the corporate economy – and to develop the dialogue we have had since 1995 to include a more social agenda." The campaign with the WTO to tie trade agreements to core labour standards will not go away, said Sharan Burrow, President ACTU, Australia and President of the ICFTU’s Asia Pacific region. "It’s the Number One target of the trade union movement across the world," she said. "It’s about the right to negotiate a decent wage in every country in the world." From the Zambian trade union centre Fackson Shamenda (who is also world President of the ICFTU and UNI-Africa Regional Secretary) said: "We are talking about basic rights of a person at the workplace – it is not negotiable." "If there is an international institution that lacks credibility at the moment it is the WTO, because it is a one issue institution – profits, not trade," said Bill Jordan. Philip Jennings pointed out that WTO countries who oppose linking trade agreements to core labour standards have already signed up to the core ILO Conventions. In response to a question on the record of the ILO under its new Director General, Bill Jordan said: "Juan Somavia has been a breath of fresh air at the ILO – if anyone doubts that look at Burma. It’s been put where it should have been put years before – in the dock for its continued use of forced labour." "We welcome the fact that the ILO is becoming more vocal in its dealing with other UN constituents," said Philip Jennings. But he criticised the lack of dialogue between the WTO and the ILO. "It is illogical, it is a nonsense. They are only a kilometre apart in Geneva yet there is a chasm between organised discussion" |
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