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IFWEA MONTHLY BULLETIN February 2004 |
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Dear Friends Welcome to IFWEA’s February Bulletin. We welcome items of news, information, education materials and notices of forthcoming events for inclusion that may be of interest to IFWEA affiliates. Items for inclusion should be received by the Secretariat on or before the 23rd of each month, for translation and then circulation during the first week of the following month.
Trade Union Organisation and Recruitment In recent years many unions, faced with declining trade union membership and an increasingly hostile environment for trade union organisation, have developed innovative training and education initiatives designed to encourage a new union “organising culture”. Following informal discussion with IFWEA members in Australia, USA, Japan and Europe, IFWEA is exploring – in partnership with the Transport & General Workers’ Union (UK) – the possibility of a specialist seminar on the subject in 2005. If you would be interested in participating or contributing, please contact the Secretariat.
Global Network Regional Seminar, Bangkok, 21 February. The third Asia-Pacific regional seminar will be to discuss the outcomes and aftermath of the 5th Ministerial Meeting in Cancun, to evaluate the work of Global Network and IFWEA in the region, and consider future plans for trade union / NGO co-operation and the development of workers’ education on globalisation. Further information and background can be found at: http://www.globalnetwork-asia.org/
Women Working Worldwide / IFWEA Partnership Agreement IFWEA is to deliver the workers’ education component of a Women Working Worldwide project, funded by the European Union, on women workers in global production chains in the period up to March 2005. This enables IFWEA to assist trade union education programmes in EU countries with educational materials and speakers from Africa and Asia, with particular emphasis on labour rights for women in textiles and garments, and the horticulture / agriculture industries. For more information, please contact the IFWEA Secretariat. For information on Women Working Worldwide, please see: http://www.women-ww.org.uk.
International Conference on Organising Workers in the Informal Economy An international conference on "Organizing in the Informal Economy" was convened jointly by the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), StreetNet, Ghana Trade Union Congress, Nigerian Labour Congress, and HomeNet Thailand in Ahmedabad, India from 3-6 December 2003. Forty-seven organizations from 23 countries participated in the Conference. IFWEA was represented by Elizabeth Tang (Hong Kong Congress of Trade Unions), IFWEA Asia-Pacific Coordinator. Conference resolutions and documents (English only) can be found at http://www.sewa.org/events/index.htm
Strengthening Union Responses to Port Reform The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is publishing a new education resource pack aimed at assisting unions to develop a strong and focused strategy in response to port privatisation. The pack, to be published in several languages, will be available mid-February. Further details from dave_alana@itf.org.uk.
Affiliation Fees Many thanks to all IFWEA members who have paid their affiliation fees promptly for 2004. We would be most grateful if all others pay their fees as soon as possible. To remind you, affiliation fees for 2004 are:
You should transfer the affiliation fee to: National Westminster Bank
Forthcoming Meetings
Dave Spooner This Monthly Bulletin is produced from the IFWEA Secretariat. Contributions and news from affiliates and fraternal
organisations are most welcome. Please send all items to
bulletin@ifwea.org. |
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