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10/25/2006.... Going for growth in Hong Kong
- Labour news from UNI global union - for trade unions in a global services economy. -
UNI global union is stepping up its organising efforts in Hong Kong. The new focus will be on security guards, cleaners and workers at Disney’s theme park - with other groups under consideration.
Earlier this year a project to organise logistics giant DHL’s Asia hub in Hong Kong was launched with the support of UNI, ver.di Germany and the FES foundation.
A UNI development and organising centre - a UNIdoc - has already been established to support campaigns in Hong Kong and Macau.
There are well-established multinationals in both Special Administrative Areas of China including Brinks, Chubb, DHL, Disney, Group 4 Securicor, HSBC, Sands and Vodafone.
Promoting democratic unions in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan is a key ingredient in UNI’s strategy for greater involvement in China.
Last week a UNI Graphical delegation made the first ever visit to mainland China by a UNI sector. They discussed the rapid changes taking place in the country with the official trade union the ACFTU and visited a number of joint venture printing operations in Beijing and Shanghai.
“Hong Kong needs strong, democratic and independent unions,” said UNI Deputy General Secretary Philip Bowyer.
“Building union strength and giving Hong Kong workers greater influence over their working lives are our targets.
“What’s happening in Hong Kong can provide many pointers for the future development of unions in mainland China.”
In Hong Kong intensive training is underway with a team of organisers with the help of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and US affiliate the SEIU.
A weekend camp brought the organisers and HKCTU affiliates together with the SEIU’s Michael Crosby who has been leading the training sessions.
Many of the areas being targeted suffer from low pay and long hours - including the security guards and cleaners. Unions in Hong Kong are currently campaigning hard for a minimum wage for the SAR (region).
With unions facing rapid changes and - in many cases - declining membership, new and innovative approaches to recruitment and organising are being developed.
In Hong Kong the union movement is divided with pro-Beijing and pro-Taiwan factions as well as the HKCTU and there are few collective agreements.
“If we don’t organise we don’t have a future,” says Michael Crosby, who is Regional Organising Director of SEIU global partnerships.
“The HKCTU have a ton of good, passionate young organisers and this week we are giving them access to organising experiences from around the world.
“They know they have a lot to learn but they are taking to it like ducks to water.”
Workshops have explored new ways to reach out to potential new members well away from the workplace and the hostility of many managements. |  |  .
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UNi-Asia & Pacific (UNI-Apro)
http://www.uni-apro.org - uni-asiapacific@union-network.org |