International Officer annual Report 2009/ 2010

8/9/2019 International Officer annual Report 2009/ 2010

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International officers report 2009/2010

Southern AfricaFollowing the national delegation visit to Southern Africa earlier this year and the call for regions to build links with Southern Africa, We Have had meetings with Barnet healthbranch regarding joint delegation to Southern Africa next year. Barnet have existingtwinning arrangements within Southern Africa and it is felt a shared delegation based ontheir experience and links would give us a head start in making our own twinning.We have now agreed a draft proposed programme for a joint delegation in Octiober.The proposals have been sent to the National International committee who can agree tosubsidise the cost of such a delegation to a total of 1500

Similarly we have facilitated better links with ACTSA and now have a nominated

member of the regional forum to act as our link. We have also requested that our region

become part of any planned ACTSA delegation tours. AS a result of this we were

informed of two African trade unionists visiting the country, As part of a visit to Britain

Vemi Zinyama of ZCTU (Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions) and Victor Dlamini

General Secretary of NAPSAWU (Swazi Public sector Workers) made a brief visit to the

Regional Office. As well as receiving an update on the political situation in both

countries, informal discussion took place on building links between our organisations.

It was agreed that the first step in this would be to invite both organisations back to the

region for a longer and more focused visit to the region .It is hoped to involve the

Midlands TUC in this. Of particular interest to Vemi was capacity building of women

trade unionists , it was particularly interesting to hear that the Dignity campaign (which

this union had supported) had resulted in a rise in women's active involvement in the

trade unions in Zimbabwe. Women who had beensignificantly involved in the logistics of the campaign saw the value and role of trade unions.

Both also expressed an interest in learning more about UNISONs approach to activist

training and development. It was agreed that we would look at building on their visit

.Malawian nurses Four regional activists recently completed a sponsored mountainwalk in aid of the wellness centre being built by the Malawian nurses union. To date1000 has been raised! so thanks to all who have contributed. As part of our proposeddelegation to Southern Africa a meeting will thke place with the MNU to build on thoselinks.

PalestineWe have built better links with the regional PSC and hope to make what is a nationalpriority more of a headline issue within branches. In light of the fact that out of 1200UNISON branches nationally only 50 are affiliated to the PSC we have written to allbranches and provided literature on the Palestinian struggle and the role of the PSC andwould encourage all branches to affiliate.


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ColombiaDespite a recent hiccup which led to a planned joint tour by Colombian activist AidaQuilque all but bypassing the region, Discussion continues on joint works with thenorthern region, specifically a joint delegation to Colombia next year.

VenezuelaHaving risen with the national international office, our regions willingness to be involved

in tours by international visitors, we have recently been advised of a tour of three

Venezuelan trade unionists (including a public sector worker.

Egl Sanchez Elias Rodriguez from the Venezuelan print workers union (accompanied

by Francisco Dominguez of the Venezuela Solidarity campaign) gave a report (to the

Regional International forum )on the progress being made by the Bolivarian revolution .

Both campaigns urged all branches to affiliate to their respective organisations.

you can affiliate to the VSC at www.vicuk.org

and the CHRP at http://www.chrp.org.uk/The Regional Centre later hosted a Birmingham VSC meeting.

Discussion will continue regarding future

co-operation including building closer links with our brothers and sisters in the

Venezuelan trade union movement

National International seminar Was attended by myself and three delegates from regional branches. A full report wasincluded in the international newsletter

PhillipinesUNISON has relaunched their campaign regarding the Phillipines and the situationfacing trade unionists. I attended the meeting and will through my branch, and will bebringing a motion to the next Regional Council.

Edre Olalia a peoples lawyer in the Philippines and Andy Whitmore from the campaign

for human rights in the Philippines also spoke at the region of the dangers faced by trade

unionists and social activists (in what is the second most dangerous place in the world

for trade unionists)

FETE HUMANITEThe region held a stall at this years fete with many positive outcomes. There were alsolessons learned. A full report has been circulated

CUBAFollowing on from a motion at this years conference calling on regions to form twinningarrangements with Cuban trade unions (and on the basis of not wanting to reinvent the
http://www.vicuk.org/http://www.chrp.org.uk/http://www.vicuk.org/http://www.chrp.org.uk/


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wheel , we have agreed to organise a joint visit with the East midlands form public sector workers union sometime next year .NEWSLETTERI continue to produce a newsletter,BlOGSPOTI continue to try and keep this as upto date as possibleURGENT ACTION EMAILI am continuing to email branches and international contacts on any international issueswhich require urgent action or support. I make no apology for this as of course you donthave to read them (a course of action that many seem to take!)

AFFILIATIONSThe regional priorities have tended to be Southern Africa, Palestine, Cuba andColombiaAnd within Regional Council we have said regularly stated our solidarity with thestruggles of our comrades in these areas.It has to be of concern therefore thatless than 6% of branches in the region are affiliated to any of the solidaritycampaigns in these areas.Financing the activities of solidarity campaigns is the simplest form of solidarity

and is relatively cheap (50 is the general cost of affiliation to the abovecampaigns).If our support for international struggles is to be more than empty rhetoric weneed to gain support from activists and members within our union, and this oftenmeans having the discussion (and sometimes argument) within our branches of the importance of international solidarity.Taking motions calling for affiliations to your branch is an opportunity to have thisimportant debate and I would encourage all branches to do so.If anyone wants advice or support on this issue please contact me.

Documents

International Officer annual Report 2009/ 2010