|
More
Info |
|
|
All the main ICEM Congress documents, proposed resolutions and
other background material can be read and downloaded from a special
ICEM website ("Cyberpower
is Yours").
Documents are available in English, French, German, Spanish and Swedish.
For media correspondents, the site includes an online registration form for the
Congress.
CYBERPOWER IS YOURS
can be found at www.icem.org/congress99/choixlg.html |
|
Global corporate power is already an undisputed reality. Now, mergers are concentrating that power within fewer and fewer, bigger and
bigger corporations. What does all this mean for workers and their trade unions?
How can they defend their vital interests in the age of the mega-corp?
Union leaders from all parts of the world will be tackling
these issues when they meet in Durban, South Africa, on 3-5 November for the World Congress of the
20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General
Workers' Unions (ICEM).
POWER IS OURS
"Amandla Awethu" will be the Congress slogan - "Power Is Ours".
That motto also underlines the key role played by ICEM-affiliated South African
trade unions in overcoming apartheid and building the new South Africa.
But, as the background documents and resolutions for the Congress make clear,
trade unions worldwide have much to do if they are to defend and build their own
power.
A FULL AGENDA
The world union leaders meeting in Durban will be assessing the ICEM's
achievements and future priorities in a number of important spheres, including:
-
global agreements between the ICEM and multinational companies in its sectors,
covering such issues as union rights, equality, workplace health and safety, and
the environment
-
worldwide and regional trade union networking within companies and sectors
-
cooperation with other campaigning groups - for instance, on human rights,
development and environmental issues
-
integrating the unions' regional structures and agendas with both their
national and their global efforts
-
realising the potential for organising women workers, and ensuring equality of
access within the International
-
targeting trade union development effectively, so as to build trade union
strength on the ground worldwide.
In short, the Durban Congress will be voicing the ICEM's call to workers
everywhere: UNITE AND ORGANISE.
UE is affiliated with the ICEM
