UNEP supports a partnership with trade unions and employers in the transition towards a low carbon economy

Angela Cropper, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme, in her keynote address to the Commonwealth Peoples Forum (CPF) held in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2009, argued passionately for an ecological civilization and supported a partnership between the UNEP, International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) focused on green jobs and the quality of employment in the transition towards a low carbon economy.

The Commonwealth People’s Forum which brought together representatives from civil society organizations in the Commonwealth held in Cascadia Hotel, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, was attended by a number of trade union delegates from the Commonwealth Trade Union Group. Sue Ferns, TUC General Council member, Sunil Prasad, CTUG Contact Person (ITUC), Mujuru Blessings, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Dr Allagumuttu Nandakumar, Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), Mduduzi Gina, Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU), Canjeevaram Ananthakrishnan Rajasridhar, Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) and Bandula Kothalawala, Trades Union Congress (TUC) were among the trade union delegates to the CPF.

Trade union representatives participating in the Assemblies took the opportunity to raise a variety of issues of concern to them. They were vocal in condemning human rights violations in a number of countries including the Gambia, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe and in demanding urgent and effective action. Sue Ferns, taking part in the Assembly on Environment and Climate Change, stressed the need for active involvement of trade unions in the transition strategies towards a low carbon economy. The Assembly on Health and HIV/AIDS identified stigma and discrimination as a major impediment to the efforts at prevention, treatment and care and focused on the rights of those affected by or infected with the pandemic. There was heated discussion on the desirability of the focus on vulnerable groups such as the gay community, intravenous drug users, armed forces, sex workers and minority groups. Bandula Kothalawala, TUC delegate, emphasized the importance of more active trade union involvement in the fight against the disease, gave a brief account of workplace initiatives carried out by trade unions in collaboration with employers and informed the participants of best practice and the usefulness of the implementation of ILO Code of Conduct on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work. The Port of Spain Civil Society Statement[1] to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) called upon the Commonwealth member states to, inter alia, adopt and follow the ILO Code of Conduct on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work by 2011 and support the adoption in 2010 of the draft ILO Recommendation on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work. Many of the key concerns expressed by trade union delegates were reflected in the Statement which called upon the Commonwealth leaders to ensure that trade unions can freely operate, realise workers’ rights, hold annual meetings of Commonwealth Labour Ministers and promote women’s full and equal participation in the labour market, through relevant education programmes including technical and vocational training. In addition, the Statement made specific reference to the freedom of expression, association and assembly and reflected many of trade union concerns in this regard.

The CPF was addressed by a number of ministers from Trinidad and Tobago. Dr Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde, Minister for Housing and the Environment, speaking on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, detailed some of the measures taken by the Government to protect the environment and promote sustainable development in her country. In his address to the closing session of the CPF, Dr Amery Browne, Minister for Social Development in Trinidad and Tobago, said that, in partnering for a more equitable and sustainable future, there was a role for everyone and that the CPF had been the voice of the people and that of democratic process, inclusion, participation and representation. Dr Mark Collins, Director, Commonwealth Foundation was among the speakers in the Plenary Session.

[1] http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/uploads/fckeditor/00000202_Civil%20Society%20Statement.pdf

Briefing document (700 words) issued 20 Jan 2010

http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-17451-f0.cfm