The conference about labor, which was discussed on February 1st, closed the debate with a primary consensus: It is necessary that world trade unions build alliances with each other and also with the other social movements. This idea had already been launched at the Forum of Trade Union Confederations, which occurred on January 31st, in Porto Alegre.
One of the conclusions achieved at the conference was that neo-liberal economic globalization develops at the expense of growth of unemployment, wage reduction and reduction of rights, and consequently worsens living conditions. It is time to change this situation. " We have criticized this process, but that's not enough. It is necessary to develop practical work and bonds of solidarity", declared the president of CUT (Central Union of Workers), João Felício, who coordinated the conference. The secretary of ORIT (Labor Iteramerican Regional Organization), Luís Anderson, emphasized the need for unity. " There are countries that have up to seven groups, which represent the dispersion of our resources and energy. We must get together and put an end to the prejudice against non- governmental organizations too". Yet, he proposed objectivity in action: " We have to identify the workers priorities and be ready to answer them."
Global Social Justice
The proposal, with different tones and contributions, was reiterated throughout the morning. Willie Madisha, from Cosatu- the central union of workers of South Africa- defended a leadership role in the fight for global social justice. " It is necessary that a revolutionary trade union force rise, with a social, political and economic agenda. And solidarity is essential to build alliances against the Washington Consensus", he asserted.
Basing his ideas on the South African experience that fought Apartheid, Madisha believes that in order to meet the interests of great corporations, to which many governments are subordinated, it is necessary to find a common base of action for the globalization of rights. In his opinion, fundamental steps towards this aim are the identification and exposure of the ones who actually retain power and decide the current world directions, and the control of financial funds and efficient measures for distribution of income. These steps could benefit from using experiences like the participatory budget in Porto Alegre or the people's budget that is discussed in South Africa. "There will be resistance from local and global elites, who have their hearts where their money is, in a Swiss bank, for instance. But we must accept the challenge. Or else, they will lead us to a social and ecological disaster", he warned.
Social equality
The representative of the World Women's March, Sylvia Estrada-Claudio, put forward the need of the trade unionism include on its agenda the defense of human rights, especially women's. " They are the last ones to be hired, the first to be fired, have the worst job positions and incomes and are the majority of the informal sector. In addition to that, they are minority in the fields of power and decision, including the trade unions movement. To have a full picture, they are threatened at home, at work and on the streets", she reported.
Sylvia urged the trade unions movement to offer women and youth, another discriminated class, real means of demanding rights. " Unless this democracy is achieved, all the talk about another possible world is empty." According to her, the vision of a new society includes equal conditions at work, protection of informal and domestic labor, warrant of freedom to women's trade unionism, promotion of the division of tasks and complete support to family, with child care, community kitchens, etc. "States must put an end to patriarchal values and violence against women must stop everywhere, in war or in peace".
Decrease of income
The representative of CTA's youth (Central of Workers of Argentina), Pablo Reyner, talked about the situation in his country, a great victim of a policy that ignores the interests of citizens and labor. "We have been living a model of social exclusion that led us to this point". The director of the Global Policy Network, Jeff Faux, confirmed the damage that neoliberalism has caused to the world in the last 25 years." Even in the NAFTA area, there was a decrease of income and a rise of informality that stamps out rights, a common occurrence in rich and poor countries alike", he said. He denounced how fallacious the theory is that growth, which was supposed to be generated by the Washington Consensus, would solve all problems. " The IMF says that a rising tide lifts all boats. Unfortunately, all statistics show that, for the last 25 years, inequality has only grown and that the concentration of income has brutally worsened".
Faux believes that the fight for changes should be based on the two great advantages of workers: " They're the majority everywhere and are essential. It is possible to imagine a world without financial investments, but not without workers." "Placing decent labor in focus of the response to globalization" is also the thesis of the general director of OIT (General Organization of Labor), Juan Sornavia. " The current model is weak because it does not answer to the people's demands. It is necessary to put ourselves against it and create one that will ensure social justice". He considers fundamental among the points fundamental to this process the end of the exploitation of children.
Traduçao por: Mariana de Lima Medeiros