Dear John,
This week’s highlights in the global fight for freedom of association, decent work, and just migration, include:
Global Labor Allies Demand the Government of Guinea Enforce Freedom of Association and Health and Safety Rights as IUF Brings Complaints to the International Labor Organization
More than 90 international labor groups coming together and calling on H&M, Gap PVH and their supplier to sign a binding agreement to end gender-based violence
Global rights experts filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court to protect the rights of farmworkers
International labor rights congressional briefing to promote decent work and social justice worldwide
Honoring the legacy of former CTU president Karen Lewis after her passing
Celebrating the establishment of the second migrant fishers union in Taiwan
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Global Labor Allies Demand the Government of Guinea Enforce Freedom of Association and Health and Safety Rights as IUF Brings Complaints to the International Labor Organization
Last week, GLJ-ILRF participated in a press conference hosted by the The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) and its affiliate the Fédération de l’Hôtellerie du Tourisme Restauration Catering et Branches Connexes de l’Organisation Nationale des Syndicats Libres de Guinée (FHTRC-ONSLG), and joined by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network (ILAW) where they announced the filing of complaints against the government of Guinea for failing to protect the freedom of association and occupational health and safety of workers at the Sheraton Grand Conakry. You can read more about it here.
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Negotiations Stalled as 90+ International Labor Groups Call on H&M, Gap, PVH and their Supplier Eastman Exports to Sign Binding Agreement to End Gender-Based Violence
More than ninety unions, women’s organizations, and other allies including The AFL-CIO, The Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU), Workers United – SEIU, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW), and All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) join Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union (TTCU)’s call on garment brands to negotiate a binding agreement to end systemic gender-based violence, which was exposed after the rape and murder of a worker in the supply chain of global brands earlier this year.
As awareness and international outcry grows over the murder of TTCU member and Eastman Exports garment worker Jeyasre Kathiravel, further negotiations have stalled. Retaliatory and exaggerated criminal charges instigated by Eastman exports against 18 community members from Jeyasre’s village related to an incident where glass was broken on an Eastman Exports vehicle have not been resolved. Those who have been charged include family members and factory employees. Eastman has used these charges as leverage to pressure the family and TTCU to withdraw from negotiations on fair compensation and an enforceable brand agreement on GBVH issues.
In light of this, more than 90 trade unions and allied groups from around the world have come together to support TTCU’s demand for fair compensation for the family and protection for all other workers through an enforceable and binding agreement with H&M, Gap, PVH and their supplier, Eastman Exports, to end the supply chain model relying on systemic gender-based violence. This agreement would include future monitoring, remediation and prevention of gender-based violence and barriers to freedom of association, mutually agreed terms for an independent investigation, and family compensation using established benchmarks for apparel workers. You can read more about it here.
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Global Rights Experts File Amicus Brief in Crucial Supreme Court Case Involving a Key Principle of Farmworkers’ Freedom of Association
Labor rights advocates in the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network (ILAW), International Commission for Labor Rights (ICLR), Global Labor Justice–International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF), and the Cornell Labor Law Clinic submitted an amicus curiae brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on February 12 in the case of Cedar Point Nursery v. Hasid. The case involves a key principle of farmworkers’ freedom of association. You can read more about it here.
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International Labor Rights Congressional Briefing with the ILO, Solidarity Center, and GLJ-ILRF
The promotion and protection of workers’ rights globally is central to ensuring lasting, sustainable and inclusive recovery from COVID-19. On Friday, February 19th at 11 AM, the congressional session provided an overview of the International Labour Organization, Solidarity Center, and Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum’s work to promote decent work and social justice worldwide, with examples of current trends and challenges related to COVID-19, promoting freedom of association and collective bargaining, and combatting child labor, violence and harassment in the world of work. The discussion included examples of engagement on global garment supply chain, child labor in agriculture, and other areas, as well as suggestions/opportunities for further engagement.
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GLJ-ILRF Offers Its Condolences After the Passing of Former CTU President Karen Lewis
Legendary former Chicago Teachers Union’s president, Karen Lewis, passed away Sunday night after a long and fierce battle with brain cancer. Lewis was one of the most influential labor leaders, dedicated to democratic militant unionism and racial justice who fought for the entire working class, inspiring unions and teachers all over the country. As one of our labor defender awardees last year, the Chicago Teachers Union has served as an exemplary model of 21st-century labor organizing and a powerful voice advocating for educational and community justice in Chicago. GLJ-ILRF offers its deepest condolences to the Chicago Teachers Union, Karen’s family and all those mourning her loss and continues to stand with labor rights leaders and activists from across the globe who have committed their lives to defend workers rights and build power across a range of sectors and communities.
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Celebrating the Establishment of the Second Migrant Fishers Union in Taiwan
After two years of preparation, the Keelung Migrant Fishermen’s Union (KMFU), the second legal migrant fishermen’s union in Taiwan, was successfully established on February 7th 2021, with around 100 members. The Secretary-General of the new union is an Indonesian woman, Liu Li-Hung (her mandarin name). She owned a snack bar in Keelung, where many migrant fishers enjoyed her meals and shared their struggles. To support these workers, she organized a union similar to the Yilan Migrant Fishermen’s Union (YMFU) and invited YMFU’s Secretary-General, Allison Lee, to assist in the establishment process. The union will empower and unite migrant fishers to negotiate and strive for better working conditions with vessel owners and will assist in dealing with labour disputes. The establishment of this union is expected to be a huge step forward in labor rights protection for migrant fishers in Taiwan.
GLJ-ILRF’s Seafood Working Group recently turned its attention to Taiwan and in 2021 will focus on bringing greater international attention to the plight of migrant workers in the distant water fishing fleet to help them win their demands.
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In Solidarity,
Jennifer (JJ) Rosenbaum
Executive Director, GLJ-ILRF
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