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12/12/2007....
- Labour news from UNI global union - for trade unions in a global services economy. -
Some forty broadcasting trade unions from French-speaking African countries took part in the second UNI-MEI conference for the group in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon. The host union was SYNATMEC, the National Media Union of Cameroon.
The participants heard a number of presentations by representatives of the government and the national broadcasting authority of Cameroon. Among the issues which were examined at some length were the future of broadcasting in Africa and Cameroon, effects of new technology, changes in the structure of radio and TV and similar issues.
Particular attention was given to the conditions and rights of freelance workers in the sector, a growing number of people due to the tends mentioned above. Also, special concern was expressed for the growing (in some countries) private broadcasting sector, where very little unionization has yet taken place.
A number of participants linked questions freedom of association (unionization) with freedom of expression. They noted that in almost no countries in the region was press freedom fully operative in the broadcasting area, at least not to the degree it sometimes reaches in the print area.
The participants visited both the public broadcasting company and two new private television and radio broadcasters.
By way of conclusions the participants called for the following, among others:
- Greater training, both for professional purposes and for trade union development.
- More interchange of experiences between French-speaking African countries.
- More help from UNI and UNI-MEI in the sectors’ issues.
- Greater attention to gender equality of opportunity.
- Greater recognition of the role of freedom of expression in securing and sustaining democracy in general.
- Freedom of association must be assured for all, including in the private sector.
The participants thanked UNI-MEI for its encouraging such events and called for more of the same – though they noted that they also must take up their own responsibilities to maintain greater contact and cooperation with one another. They also thanked the Swedish LO/TCO for making this event possible.
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UNI DRD (Development & Regions Department)
http://www.union-network.org/DRD - DRD@union-network.org |