In Depth back to UNI In Depth home page 09/10/2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development: Johannesburg 2002 Good intentions, but a lack of concrete commitments ICFTU OnLine... 154/060902/CL Brussels, September 06, 2002 (ICFTU News): For trade unions, the results of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) which concluded on Wednesday in Johannesburg, were a mixed bag. The ICFTU welcomes the social nature of some WSSD conclusions, but is highly critical of the lack of strong commitments on vital questions including heath and safety, agriculture, energy, biodiversity and, to an extent, water. As ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder explained, "work, workplaces, and working people are the essence of the social pillar. It is through opportunities for decent work that millions of those who are today trapped in poverty can have access to sustainable livelihoods. It is by making workplaces safe and healthy that people can meet their needs in acceptable conditions. And it is only through the respect of the fundamental rights of workers that they can be fully engaged as architects of sustainable production processes." Throughout the summit, the trade unions fought for a firm commitment to defend fundamental workers' rights, at the centre of the concept of rights-based human-centred development. Nevertheless, the ICFTU is highly aware of the missed opportunities and lack of genuine political will. "The opportunity was before us in Johannesburg to redirect the path of today's unsustainable globalisation, to steer it clear of the spectre of entrenched global apartheid and towards social justice, equity and a better future for coming generations," added Ryder. "Despite the reality of our common future; despite the acknowledgement of common if differentiated responsibilities, the perspective of short-term, narrow gain weighs heavily. It is as if individual governments, each placed precariously on the rockface of economic development, are struggling to gain for themselves a higher foothold of advantage, blithely unaware that the rockface is crumbling and that all will be thrown to the bottom if we don't start working together now." The ICFTU, which battled during the Summit for "the agenda for action to be an agenda for fundamental change. Change in development priorities, change in governance, change in attitude and behaviour." And yet, it is faced with the reality that "such change is not welcome to all. But for the countless millions, the poorest and the most vulnerable to whom the Summit owes most, only fundamental change can bring hope." In spite of the disappointments, trade unions are genuine partners in sustainable development and the ICFTU is committed to moving change forward. Trade unions are determined to fully play this role after Johannesburg in the negotaitions they have with governments and employers, in forming civil society partnerships and every time they make their voices heard within international organisations. As Guy Ryder concluded, "trade unions have real experience of change. And that experience shows that successful change comes through partnership, participation and negotiation." More details about this event is available on the ICFTU website at http://www.icftu.org/focus.asp?Issue=wssd2002&Language=EN The ICFTU represents 157 million workers in 225 affiliated organisations in 148 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org ______________________ Union Network International http://www.union-network.org - contact@union-network.org