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IFWEA MONTHLY BULLETIN December 2004 |
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Dear Friends, Welcome to the IFWEA Bulletin for December.
New trade union educators’ manual published by IMF The International Metalworkers Federation has produced an excellent new manual to assist educators to develop and improve trade union education programmes. The manual gives an overview of active learning and adult education. It also addresses basic questions such as: What is trade union education? Why do unions need it? How do we carry out trade union education programmes and workshops effectively? How do we evaluate the effectiveness of our programmes? How can trade union education be used to meet some of the new challenges unions face in the 21st century? The manual is available online at http://www.imfmetal.org/main/index.cfm?n=399&l=2
Proposal for European project on political values in adult education The Verband Wiener Volksbildung (Vienna association for people’s education) is proposing a new two-year project under the EU Grundtvig Programme to explore social and political values and the training of adult educators. Euro-WEA member organisations are invited to participate. For details see social_and_political_values.pdf.
Launch Conference for Moroccan Affiliate IFWEA’s affiliate in Morocco, the Centre for People’s Rights (Centre des Droits des Gens – CDG), will be holding its formal launch conference in Rabat on February 6-7. For details, contact Hasan Barghouthi, IFWEA Arab Regional Secretary (extr@dwrc.org).
WEA-ILO Geneva Study Visit Since the 1930s, the Workers’ Educational Association in the UK has organised annual summer study visits for trade unionists to the ILO in Geneva. In 2005, for the first time, the WEA and ILO welcome applications to attend the course from trade unions and labour movement NGOs outside the UK. See WEA-ILO Study Course.pdf. Applications should be received by the 31 January 2005. For details, contact lcumberbatch@wea.org.uk.
ILO Masters Programme on Labour Policies & Globalisation Applications are welcomed for the 2005-06 ILO Masters Programme on Labour Policies and Globalisation, run at the University of Kassel and Berlin School of Economics. A limited number of scholarships are available for trade unionists from developing and transition countries. The closing date for applications is March 15 2005. Full details are available at www.ilo.org/lpg.
ICFTU Congress resolution
on education and co-operation
New edition of ICFTU Trade Union Guide to Globalisation The ICFTU has published a revised and updated Trade Union Guide to Globalisation, an essential primary resource for workers’ education on the global economy and the international trade union movement. The guide is available in printed form or online at http://www.icftu.org/pubs/globalisation in English, French and Spanish. The original 2001 edition is also available online in Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian.
IFWEA / Global Network at World Social Forum As reported in the November Bulletin, IFWEA, Solidar and Global Network partners will be working closely with the Global Unions, the Global Progressive Forum, and other partners in organising discussions around the themes of the ILO’s World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation. IFWEA is responsible for organising a panel discussion around the informal economy, working closely with War on Want. For details, contact the Secretariat. IFWEA’s input to the World Social Forum as a whole is being co-ordinated by Juan Carlos Vargas, from PLADES, Peru. Contact: jcvargas@plades.org.pe.
Challenges facing the WEA in the UK In common with other European workers’ education associations, the WEA in England and Scotland faces major challenges in reorganisation in the face of shifting educational policies. A new article published in the Guardian newspaper gives a sympathetic insight into the tasks facing the General Secretary, Richard Bolsin. See http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,1356860,00.html
New IFWEA Intern In February, IFWEA will be welcoming Sunghee Park from South Korea to our Secretariat as an intern. Sunghee works for the education department of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), and is currently undertaking the ILO Masters programme.
Jimmy Kasuzumira It is with great sadness that we have learned of the untimely death of Jimmy Kasuzumira, the National Organiser of Malawi Congress of Trade Unions, and the President of the Private Schools Employees Union. He died on 8th December at his home after a short illness. Many IFWEA affiliates worked closely with Jimmy, and he will be sorely missed. For messages of condolence, contact Austin Kalimanjira, MCTU Secretary-General (mctu@malawi.net).
Affiliation Fees and Finance All IFWEA affiliates should have received invoices for 2005 affiliation fees. IFWEA, in common with other international organisations, has been badly affected by the dramatic fall in the value of the US Dollar. If you wish to pay in either US Dollars or Euros, please ensure you pay the equivalent of the British Pound value as stated on the invoice. We urge you to please pay the fee as soon as possible. If you have any questions regarding fee payment, please contact anne.webley@ifwea.org. There are a number of affiliates who have not yet paid their fees for 2004. We would be most grateful if those organisations could pay as soon as possible, or contact the secretariat. 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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