UNI APRO RESOLUTIONS AND CONFERENCE …mail.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/UNINews.nsf/vwLkpById...UNI Apro Resolutions and Conference Statements 2011 ... Shaping Social Asia-Pacific,

1 UNI Apro Resolutions and Conference Statements 2011

UNI APRO RESOLUTIONS AND CONFERENCE STATEMENTS

FOREWORD This publication contains the key policy decisions take by the Third UNI Apro Regional Conference held in Manila, Philippines, from 5 to 6 July 2011. The theme of the Conference, GROW UNI APRO: Shaping Social Asia-Pacific, Building the Future, reflects the unanimous endorsement to the UNI Breaking Through Plan with a focused agenda to grow unions, to grow unions and UNI presence and to grow in influence in decision making processes which affects the region and our affiliates in Apro. Nine (9) motions and four (4) statements were submitted by affiliates to the Conference of which all were referred by the Resolutions Committee to the Conference or adoption. As a result, nine resolutions and four conference statements were adtoped by the Third UNI Apro Regional Conference, thereby affirming our collective position on the following matters: Resolution 1: Grow UNI Asia and Pacific – Boleh: Expanding UNI Presence and Influence in Asia and Pacific Resolution 2: Contributions to UNI Apro Activities Fund Resolution 3: Breaking Through on Women’s Representation in UNI Apro Resolution 4: Addressing Youth Employment and Temporary Work Resolution 5: Securing Decent Work: Strengthening the Voice of Professional and Managerial Staff (P&MS) Resolution 6: In Support of Standard Chartered First Bank Union Resolution 7: Philippines Call for Solidarity Support Resolution 8: Labour Rights and Impunity in the Philippines Resolution 9: Jobs with Social Security for all in Indonesia Conference Statement 1: Towards Policy Coherence and Social Cohesion in a Post Global Financial Crisis World Conference Statement 2: Trade Unions Anticipating and Managing Change in a Global Economy Conference Statement 3: UNI Apro Solidarity Statement with UNI LC Japan Conference Statement 4: On Korea Amendment of Media Representative Act for Cultural Diversity and Independence of Media


The Resolutions Committee was composed as follows: Chair: Gerard Seno ALU Philippines Members: Akiko Gono UI Zensen Japan Ang Wah Lai SUBE Singapore Mohamad Rusdi Aspek Indonesia Jung Yong-Geon UNI KLC Korea Chan Chin-Te CTWU Taiwan Chris Ketter SDA Australia Andrew Cassidy FINSEC New Zealand John Mudaliar NUFCW Fiji Sharada Bangera AIBOBEF India Shankar Lamichhane UNI NLC Nepal Lankika Ariyasinghe FBSOL Sri Lanka Secretary: Jayasri Priyalal UNI Apro We count on the support of all our affiliates in the UNI Apro in implementing our strategy and aim to be able to report on many of the concrete achievements to the 4th UNI World Congress Cape Town 2014 and the Fourth UNI Apro Regional Conference in 2015. UNI Apro President UNI Apro Regional Secretary Tomoyasu Kato Christopher Ng


RESOLUTION 1

GROW UNI ASIA AND PACIFIC – BOLEH EXPANDING UNI PRESENCE AND INFLUENCE IN ASIA AND PACIFIC

UNI Asia and Pacific (UNI Apro) is committed to the UNI Breaking Through Strategy to ensure the credibility, relevance, focus and alignment of all parts of UNI Global Union around key objectives at global, regional, sectoral and inter-professional group level to bring real and visible results for our 20 million members and better lives for working people.

UNI Apro will ensure that all of its work leads to growth of membership and extension of UNI influence to improve the lives of service workers in the region in particular and globally in general.

The UNI Apro strategic approach involves UNI global and regional decision-making structures, based on implementation and accountability mechanisms involving affiliates, their members, leaders, officials and UNI global and regional staff – working together in partnership to “boleh” or “make it happen”.

The UNI Apro strategic plan is based on the five objectives of the UNI Breaking Through Strategy from Nagasaki to Cape Town: 2010 to 2014 - adopted by the UNI World Executive Board meeting held in Nyon, November 2009. It also includes strategic priorities adopted by UNI sector global unions in 2009-2010. Clear understanding of the key needs of UNI Apro members, workers and trade union challenges in services and allied sectors globally and regionally, together with strategic planning process, are the basis to the following strategic priorities and their related goals for UNI Apro in 2011-2015:

1. Organising and capacity development

2. Global, regional and domestic companies

3. Jobs with social security and justice for all

4. Political and regulatory influence

5. UNI Asia and Pacific as an innovative and inclusive organization

The GROW UNI Asia and Pacific – BOLEH! - Expanding UNI Presence and Influence in the Asia and Pacific, Strategy for Action 2011-2015 is an integrated part of the UNI Breaking Through Strategic Plan.


1. Organising and capacity development

Strategic objective: All parts of UNI Global Union work together to reach organising and collective bargaining strength in the services and allied sectors in Asia and the Pacific region.

1.1. Grow number of UNI affiliated unions

a) Identify potential affiliates, build relations with non-affiliated unions and bring them into UNI Global Union.

b) Analyse and develop strategic approaches to encourage and retain affiliation and the re-affiliation of unions that have left the UNI Global Union.

1.2. GROW in new strategic areas

a) Support UNI ICTS Global Union by working with UNI Telecom and UNI IBITS to prepare for the launch of UNI ICTS Global Union in 2011, including mapping exercise in the region and coordinating the merger of the two sectors in the region.

b) Participate actively in the UNI GROW Unions Strategy by working with UNI SCORE in formulating and implementing coordinated strategies for China, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos in close coordination with Sector Global Unions.

c) Support UNI SportsPro Global Union by participating actively in the preparation for the launch of UNI SportsPro Global Union: mapping, reach out to sports association representing both professional players and other workers employed in the sport sector.

d) Work in partnership with UNI Apro affiliates, UNI Sector Global Unions and UNI SCORE to initiate cross-sector recruitment campaigns in new growing sectors, including non-regular workers, contract/ agency workers and migrant workers and support the development of such unions.

1.3. Encouraging co-operation and reinforcing the spirit of trade union

solidarity

Work in partnership with UNI Sector Global Unions and UNI SCORE to encourage and facilitate co-operation among affiliates at various levels to develop the mechanisms and structures to ensure alignment of cross sectoral, sectoral and regional and sub regional strategic priorities, including the implementation of joint organising campaign. UNI Apro will continue to encourage and support the establishment of the following:

a) UNI National Liaison Council for UNI affiliates in the same country to facilitate co-operation and solidarity at the national level – such as the UNI MLC Malaysia, UNI SLC Singapore, UNI LC Japan, UNI NLC Nepal and UNI ILC India.


b) Sub regional council for UNI affiliates in the same sub region such as the ASEAN and SAARC .

c) Sub regional sector council for UNI affiliates from the same sector in the same

sub region such as the ASEAN Bank Unions Council (ABUC), ASEAN Telecom Employees Unions Council (ATEC), ASEAN Postal Unions Council (APUC), East Asia Telecom Unions Forum, East Asia Postal Unions Forum, SAARC Telecom Unions Council (SATUC) and SAARC Finance Unions Council (SAFSUC).

d) ASETUC – ASEAN Services Employees’ Trade Unions Council – a platform and mechanism initiated and supported by the Asia Pacific organisations of UNI, PSI and BWI to influence the ASEAN economic integration process. ASETUC is at present composed by unions affiliated to PSI, BWI and UNI from the ASEAN countries.

1.4. Organizing capacity and skills development

Work in partnership with UNI Sector Global Unions and UNI SCORE to develop and support implementation of programs and projects to support organising campaigns, including training program for organizers linked to UNI and UNI Apro Breaking Through Strategies and Action Plans.

a) Support capacity building activities for affiliates in order to improve their

organizational, financial and institutional capacity as well as sustainability.

b) Empower UNI Apro affiliates’ recruiters, organizers and trainers.

c) Continuously review, evaluate, develop and implement training programs for targeted groups of membership such as union leaders, organizers, women and youth to develop their capacity to effectively represent their members and propagate workers’ interests. This will include training program to develop their communication skills and in this connection, UNI Apro will continue to provide support to affiliates in the development and implementation of English language and IT Skills training programs to officials and key staff.

d) To implement the UNI Global Breaking Through Strategy integrated approach is vital. Skills’ development and engagement of UNI Apro staff is a key factor to success. Therefore, UNI Apro will work in close coordination with UNI SCORE to develop:

i. Guidelines for the allocation of specific responsibilities for research, organizing and campaigning to UNI Apro Staff.

ii. Engagement of UNI Apro Staff in all related activities from the very early stage.

iii. Development and implementation of regular training programs for UNI Apro Staff to further develop their organising and campaign skills, and mechanisms to facilitate their active involvement in UNI SCORE planning and implementation processes for organising campaigns and trade union development activities and projects.


1.5. Annual events of UNI GROW initiatives

a) Ensure active UNI Asia and Pacific expertise and input in the formulation of UNI Grow Initiative and UNI SCORE policies, strategy and activities.

b) Develop specific events in the region in line with UNI Apro Strategic objectives

and priorities.

1.6. Accountability to organizing and capacity development

a) Co-operate with UNI Apro affiliates and UNI Sector Global Unions to provide UNI Apro Executive Committee, UNI World Executive Board, UNI Apro Sector Committees, UNI Sector Global Union Committees with regular reports on progress in the implementation of GROW UNI Apro: Expanding trade union presence and influence in Asia & the Pacific program.

2. Global, Regional and Domestic Companies

Strategic Objective: UNI affiliates, UNI Asia and Pacific, UNI Sector Global Unions and

UNI SCORE shall work together to develop the organising and collective bargaining

strength in global and regional companies operating in the Asia and Pacific region. This is

critical to ensure respect for trade union rights, decent work and jobs with social security

and justice for all, including those employed in domestic or national companies.

2.1. Union Alliances in Global and Regional Companies

a) To develop the strength and influence of the trade unions in global and regional companies, UNI Apro will work closely with UNI Sector Global Unions to encourage closer co-operation among and between the unions representing the same employees in targeted global or regional companies operating in the Asia and Pacific region. Such Trade Union Alliances of Global and Regional Companies will enable the unions to develop joint policy and strategic responses based on information derived from joint research on corporate issues and industrial relations’ issues, including collective agreements, and have a social dialogue within the targeted companies.

b) Support the development of global and regional union alliances of multinational and regional companies, UNI Asia and Pacific will work closely and in partnership with the UNI Apro affiliates, UNI Sector Global Unions and UNI SCORE in developing strategy and the implementation of the strategic activities.

2.2. Existing and New Global and Regional Agreements

The concept of global or regional framework agreements is still relatively new to affiliates and regional companies in our region. Therefore UNI Apro will work closely with UNI Sector Global Unions and with support of UNI SCORE to:

a) Intensify effort to propagate the concept of Global and Regional Framework Agreements among our affiliates and encourage more companies to sign GFA or RFA with UNI.

b) Develop social dialogue with regional companies and negotiate regional framework agreements with targeted companies.


c) Through social dialogue, encourage global and regional companies to accept CSR linked with the ILO’s Decent Work Program, which is expressly anchored on core labor standards such as freedom of association and collective bargaining, non discrimination at work, ban on forced labor and elimination of child labor.

d) Empower affiliates on global tools for promoting workers’ rights in global and regional companies, such as International Labour Standards, OECD guidelines for MNEs, IFC’s Performance Standard and Global Framework Agreements.

e) Work in partnership with UNI Affiliates, UNI Sector Global Unions and UNI SCORE to monitor the implementation of global and regional agreements in the region.

f) Co-operate with UNI SCORE to develop research capacity in the region: staff dedicated to research, network of researchers from UNI affiliates and relevant research institutions, building expertise on regional companies’ within UNI GROW Research Place.

g) Undertake research into regional companies on corporate issues, union organization, collective agreements, working relationships, leverage points, organising opportunities.

3. Jobs with social security and justice for all

Strategic Objective: UNI affiliates, UNI Asia and Pacific, UNI Sector Global Unions, UNI Inter-professional Groups and other UNI Regions shall work closely to raise employment standards and improve the terms and condition of employment and work for all employees in the services and allied sectors in the region and worldwide.

3.1. Action-oriented research

a) In-depth research and monitor new regional cross-sector labour trends on regional sourcing of work, migration of workers and atypical work.

b) Actively participate in and support UNI Sectoral in-depth industry research and monitor trends in employment practices and work organisations in UNI sectors in the region.

c) Encourage affiliates to share the results of their own research.

3.2. Justice for all campaigns:

UNI Apro will co-operate closely with UNI affiliates, UNI SCORE and UNI Sector Global Unions to campaign for respect of trade union and collective bargaining rights and decent work for all workers and participate actively in the development and implementation of UNI cross-sector campaigns in the region, including the following on-going campaigns:

a) Co-operate with other GUFs in campaign for trade union rights and specific issues such as the campaign for the International Solidarity Levy.


3.3. Equal opportunities and equality Work with UNI Equal Opportunities towards better representation of women in all UNI’s decision-making structures, with the target of at least 40% representation of any one gender, and to promote equality in all UNI strategies.

3.4. Extend the reach of collective bargaining to all employees in the sectors

Assist affiliates in developing their capacity and capability to ensure rights of collective bargaining for all employees and for effective collective bargaining by:

a) Developing and supporting campaigns for trade union and collective bargaining

rights for all employees at all levels and in co-operation with other GUFs.

b) Providing support in organising the unorganised to improve their representativeness thus the bargaining strength.

c) Developing research and building up a data base of information to support affiliates in the development of their collective bargaining policies, strategies and demands.

d) Developing and implementing training programs to improve the skills of trade union officials in collective bargaining.

e) Developing strategy to organise Professional and Managerial Staff and implement activities to assist the affiliates in organising Professional and Managerial Staff.

3.5. Extend the reach of collective bargaining to all employees in the sectors

a) Encourage the organization of agency workers and collective bargaining coverage in the companies operating in UNI sectors in order to achieve decent working conditions and equal treatment for all workers.

b) Support the development of global union alliances in the main private employment agencies.

c) Seek to enter into or continue existing dialogue with CIETT members and regional organizations, with the aim to ensure implementation of the UNI/CIETT MOU on all levels.

d) Assist and co-ordinate the development of union responses, in particular with affiliates from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia and UNI the India Liaison Council.

e) Work in close consultation with UNI Affiliates in the ASEAN countries and ASETUC to develop a campaign aimed at the adoption of an ASEAN regulatory framework for temporary work agencies, as is the case in the European Union.


4. Political and regulatory influence

Strategic Objective: UNI Asia and Pacific, UNI Apro affiliates and the UNI Sector Global Unions, UNI Inter-professional Groups and other UNI Regions shall work closely and with other GUFs and like minded NGOs to ensure that Trade Unions are recognized as partners in the global and regional processes of economic integration and economic and industry regulatory frameworks. This is essential to ensure a social dimension in global and regional economic integration and that people are always first.

4.1. Global and regulatory agenda

UNI Apro aims to intensify sub regional and cross regional co-operation, drawing on the UNI Europa experience and expertise in institution building and obtaining recognition as dialogue partners for the trade unions in the European Union. UNI Apro will counter corporatization of the political process by: a) Intensifying engagements and social dialogue with national governments,

regional institutions and regional and international financial institutions.

b) Continuing lobbying work towards the inclusion of trade unions in policy making structures of International Financial Institutions and Regional Financial Institutions, such as the Asian Development Bank.

c) Developing innovative approaches to reflect ways to ensure participation in the new constellation of ASEAN and G20 structures.

d) Ensuring that research policies being discussed in bodies such as the World Trade Organization that concern the service sectors to not negatively affect the workers or the region.

4.2. Regional economic institutions

UNI Apro will continue to support effort to enable trade unions to participate actively in policy making issues of sub regional and regional bodies such as ASEAN, EAS, SAARC, Asian Pacific Forum, APEC and ASEM. The immediate priority must be to campaign for “a seat at the table” of ASEAN for the trade unions, bearing in mind that the ASEAN Community will become a reality by the year 2015. For this reason, UNI Apro will: a) Intensify efforts to campaign for the respective grouping of sector unions from

ASEAN countries, such as the UNI ABUC, UNI ATEC and UNI APUC and future ASEAN-based sector councils be accredited to ASEAN and be recognized as, dialogue partners for the respective sectors.

b) Continue to co-operate with GUFs operating in the ASEAN region to support the development of ASETUC as the mechanism for dialogue and an effective union voice within ASEAN, ASEAN +3 and ASEAN +6.


c) Promote awareness and application of progress experienced at the regional level on incorporating the social dimension in integration processes, wherever possible with any necessary adjustments.

4.3. Strategic alliances with other social justice organizations

Increase collaboration and coordination with other GUFs and ITUC in the Asia Pacific region on trade union involvement in policy formulation at sub regional and regional levels e.g through joint campaigns must continue to be the core element of any strategic response. UNI Apro will further enhance cooperation and communication between UNI Global Sectors, with ILO, UN agencies, GUFs and ITUC AP and other like minded organizations e.g. NGOs in the region.

4.4. Commitment to human and trade union rights a) UNI Apro is fully committed to the struggle for human and trade union rights for

all people including migrant workers and will continue to support and initiate solidarity campaigns against any government authority and employers that jeopardize the principles of trade union freedom.

b) UNI Apro will continue to work closely with the GUFs and like minded

organizations operating in this region in the campaign for human and trade union rights for migrant workers and their families and to organize them into trade union.

c) Our immediate priority is to campaign for the adoption of an ASEAN Instrument

for the protection and promotion of the rights of migrants and their families. The ASEAN Instrument must facilitate a development approach based on a migration regime that successfully combines mobility and flexibility with social and human rights protection for the migrant workers and their families.

4.5. Combat Climate Change

UNI Apro will: a) Work with UNI SCORE to implement training and awareness-raising modules

into organising and capacity development programmes.

b) Work with UNI Post and Logistics Global Union to implement the UNI-UPU Sustainable Development Programme.

c) Work with UNI Graphical and Packaging Global Union to support implementation of Green Industry concept.

d) Promote regional cooperation on the Climate Change agenda with ITUC, ICEM, BWI, ITF, PSI and IMF.


5. UNI Asia and the Pacific as an Innovative and Inclusive Organization

Strategic Objective: UNI Asia and the Pacific shall continue to be innovative in its strategic response to the various challenges confronting the UNI Asia and Pacific affiliates and the workers under UNI jurisdiction. UNI Asia and Pacific shall, through existing decision-making structures in all parts of the organization, secure the active and committed involvement of everybody - including the affiliates and their members in the processes from planning to implementation and accountability.

5.1. To maintain our relevance and credibility

UNI Apro will seek to:

a) Make our meetings and conferences inspiring and oriented towards taking action which helps UNI Apro and UNI Global Union meet its strategic objectives and brings value to affiliates.

b) Ensure that our strategy and policies are relevant to all the affiliates.

c) Ensure that development projects are clearly linked to Breaking Through strategic priorities.

d) Ensure that our support, be it solidarity support and/or resource support for trade union development activities is constructive and relevant to the affiliates.

5.2. To continue to be innovative in our approach and response to strategic challenges UNI Apro’s campaign to promote partnership industrial relations in various countries, particularly in Indonesia, has proven to be effective as manifested by the significant increase in membership and the increase in influence of the various Trade Unions that are in partnership industrial relationship with their respective Employers. UNI Apro will continue to:

a) Encourage and promote the concept of partnership industrial relations and

support project and activities designed to facilitate the achievement of such a relationship between trade unions and employers at the company and industry levels.

b) Explore the feasibility of other approaches to counter the various challenges confronting the workers and their trade unions in an increasingly competitive and complex world of work in a global economy.

c) Intensify co-operation with our sister Global Union Federations, the ITUC and its regional organisations in order to build the strength and influence of the Global Movement in Asia and the Pacific.


5.3. To develop more effectively working methods and co-ordinated organisational structure UNI Apro will continue to review and evaluate the existing organisational structure with the view to adapt and if needed, reform it to enable the UNI Apro sectors and inter-professional groups, the staff operating from various countries and the UNI Global Sector Unions to co-operate more closely with each other, enabling knowledge and experience to be shared and co-ordinated in the planning and implementation of strategic plans and campaigns. In specific term, UNI Apro and UNI SCORE will work in close coordination to ensure implementation of our ambitious UNI Global Union’s Strategy; we all must work towards maximizing the strategic leverage by:

a) Discussing tactics together, with regular consultations to ensure alignment,

cohesion, leverage, synergy and focus through teamwork and to avoid contradictions in priorities.

b) Focussing on targets with achievable results, which are goal driven, results-oriented, credible and relevant, monitoring closely progress and results.

c) Ensuring that development projects are linked to UNI and UNI Asia and Pacific Breaking Through strategic priorities.

d) At the national level, the National Liaison Councils shall be the mechanisms to ensure alignment of cross sectoral, sectoral and UNI Apro strategic priorities.

5.4. To improve communications UNI Apro will explore the use of new technology and develop communication tools to facilitate communications between staff and with affiliates and with the all parts of the UNI Global Union in an easy, direct and convenient manner. Develop tactics together with UNI sector global unions and UNI SCORE through regular consultations to ensure alignment, cohesion, leverage, synergy and focus through teamwork and to avoid contradictions in priorities.

5.5. To ensure that UNI Apro continues to operate financially in a prudent and

effective manner

a) Maintain stringent control on expenses and ensure that all expenses, including allocations for projects and activities, are within the budget.

b) Urge all affiliates to donate regularly and generously to the UNI Apro Activities Fund.

c) Monitor the payment of affiliation fees to ensure that all affiliates pay their affiliation fees regularly to UNI and in accordance with the membership under UNI jurisdiction, and keep the World Executive Board, Regional Executives and sectors briefed on status of payment of fees in the region.


d) Seek more paying membership, together with the UNI sector global unions and

UNI SCORE.

e) Conduct regular risk assessments.

5.6 Accountability

a) UNI Apro will produce an annual report on its implementation to UNI Apro Executive Committee, UNI World Executive Board, UNI Apro Sector Committees, UNI Sector Global Union Committees will to review, measure success, identify the capacity to implement the strategy and make adjustments if necessary.

b) UNI Apro will provide report to the 4th. UNI Congress in Cape Town 2014 and the

4th UNI Apro Regional Conference in 2015 to showcase results of the various initiatives.


RESOLUTION 2

CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNI APRO ACTIVITIES FUND 1. Noted that the generous contributions of affiliates to the UNI Apro Activities Fund,

particularly UNI Apro affiliates in Japan and the SDA Australia, has enabled UNI Apro to implement various trade union development activities designed to develop the capacity and capability of trade unions in this region. These activities has empowered a number of trade unions and instrumental in the establishment of a number of unions in Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Bangladesh and India.

2. Records deepest gratitude to these affiliates for their staunch support and generous contributions.

3. Recognizes that the UNI Apro Activities Fund has been and will always be, an integral part of the funding for UNI Apro to provide critical support to affiliates and developing unions in this region. The Activities Funds are needed to organize the large potential membership under UNI Apro jurisdiction into trade unions and empower them so that they can effectively confront the globalization challenges faced by workers at the enterprise, national, regional and global levels and expand the influence of UNI Apro in this region.

4. Accepts that the financial burden should be shared by all affiliates and call upon all UNI Apro affiliates to make annual contributions to the UNI Apro Activities Fund.

5. Proposes that all affiliates contribute at least a minimum sum, equivalent to Chf0.33 per member per year of their membership affiliated to UNI by the 31 March each year.

6. Reiterates that the Activities Fund be used to fund trade union development activities and that the Regional Secretariat continue, as it is the present practice, to prepare an annual budget for the Activities Fund for approval by the UNI Apro Executive Committee and provide an annual report and audited financial accounts on the Activities Fund to the UNI Apro Management Committee and the UNI Apro Executive Committee.

7. Reminds affiliates, wishing to benefit or has benefited from the activities supported by the Activities Fund, that they are expected to make contributions to the funds based on the suggested rate and on a regular and annual basis.

8. Agreed that the proposed rate and mode of contributions will be reviewed at the 4th UNI Apro Regional Conference to be held in the year 2015.


RESOLUTION 3

BREAKING THROUGH ON WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION IN UNI APRO

1. In order to achieve gender parity in UNI and UNI Apro, with the adoption of a

resolution to commit to a break through in terms of the representation of women in decision making structures and meetings at global, regional and sectoral levels, UNI Apro aims to obtain 40% representation for any one gender in all UNI Apro decision making structures, including the UNI Apro Management Committee and Executive Committee, all delegations to UNI Apro Conferences and meetings.

2. The goal of 40% should be achieved over the period of 2011-2014, after which an

assessment should be carried out. 3. The Third UNI Apro Regional Conference decides, until such times as this aim has

been achieved: a) The UNI Apro Statutes will be modified:

1) to provide one additional titular seat to be attributed to a woman for each

area, as well as the addition of one titular women’s seat to the reserved seats for UNI Apro Graphical and UNI Apro MEI respectively on the UNI Apro Executive Committee

2) to expand the UNI Apro Management Committee to include the Deputy President of the UNI Apro Women’s Committee.

b) That the nomination for these additional women’s seats on the UNI Apro

Executive Committee should be made by representatives of the area/ sector concerned in consultation with the representatives of this area/ sector on the UNI Apro Women Committee.

c) UNI Apro should establish and implement a nomination system with the intention of achieving better representation of women to be used for the UNI Apro decision-making structures in all sectors and groups.

d) That UNI Apro and its affiliates in the region are invited to take the necessary measures to reach the aim of 40% representation of any one gender in all its decision making structures and meetings. That these provision will be reviewed every four years, with additional seats and other pro-active measures being removed as and when 40% representation of any one gender has been achieved.

e) That all affiliated unions are strongly encouraged to help in achieving this aim and to ensure that the composition of their delegations to UNI and UNI Apro activities is a true reflection of the ratio of their female/ male membership.

f) The Conference appeals to all its member unions to take stock of the distribution between women and men in leading positions and to draw up action plans for the structuring of equality work in their organizations. The aim of changes


proposed should be for the composition of the decision-making bodies of the union to reflect the gender composition of their membership. Unions should report back on the results of these efforts at the next World Congress and Regional Conference.

g) UNI Apro and its affiliates to allocate funding to promote their equality work.


RESOLUTION 4

ADDRESSING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND TEMPORARY WORK

1. According to the UN1, more than one billion people today are between the ages of 15 and 24 years. The majority of the world’s youth, close to 85 percent of them, live in developing countries with approximately 60 percent in Asia alone.

2. However, young people are among the most vulnerable groups of people in the

labour market. The problem has worsened in recent years because of the global financial crisis but the disturbing fact remains is that economic growth is not always accompanied by growth in employment. The difficulty of finding decent employment is compounded by a host of other problems confronting young people, including illiteracy and insufficient training, and is worsened by periods of global economic slow-down and by overall fiscal changes.

3. The global youth unemployment rate was 12.6 per cent in 2010, 2.6 times the adult unemployment rate. In South-East Asia and the Pacific it was 14.2 per cent, in South Asia 9.5 percent and East Asia 8.3 per cent.

4. According to estimates of the International Labour Organization, more than one

hundred million new jobs would have to be created within the next twenty years in order to provide suitable employment for the growing number of young people in the economically active populations of developing countries.

5. At the same time, jobs in all sectors including the services sectors are being outsourced or subcontracted from employment agencies or labour “cooperatives” at an exponential rate. In many countries, employment services are even a booming industry itself, providing businesses and clients with “staff solutions” and “human resources services”.

6. Hence, it is no surprise that unpaid internships, temporary agency work and limited

period working contracts are the reality for many young people today who are struggling to secure employment. Without secure jobs, they are unable to plan for a secure future. They are more prone to job instability, lower wages, more dangerous working conditions as they often do not receive coverage of social benefits that regular workers typically enjoy.

7. Temporary and contract workers also rarely receive healthcare or retirement

benefits and denied the right to join a union. Even where there is union representation, most fear of being fired when they know their jobs are impermanent. In return, unionised workers also suffer because with fewer members, they have less power to bargain for better conditions at work.

8. Both the stark trends of increasing un- and under- employment of young people and the increasing replacement of temporary and contract over regular jobs are core

1 http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/qanda.htm


issues that adversely affect the growth and sustainability of the trade union movement and there has to be coordinated actions to addressed them now.

9. UNI Apro Youth calls upon UNI Global Union, UNI Apro and all affiliated unions to:

a) Review and draw up strategic action plans regionally and nationally by making use of the UNI-CIETT global agreement.

b) Proactively seek appropriate, innovative, including unorthodoxy approaches

to organize and recruit young workers into trade unions regardless of their employment status.

c) Strive to better represent young workers: this means both statutorily by

ensuring youth representatives are formally included in decision making bodies and procedures; and informally by encouraging the youth to take strong stances and develop their own campaigns in the union movement.

d) Involve young members and young union leaders in the planning and

decision making process related to organizing and collective bargaining activities.

e) Raise awareness and take up the issue of non-standard forms of employment,

including contract, despatch, informal, precarious work in global, regional and local campaigns.

f) Cover contract workers, temporary workers and other non regular workers

in collective bargaining agreements. g) Make use of ILO Convention 181 on Private Employment Agencies which

states that governments should ensure that workers hired by private employment agencies must be allowed to join trade unions and bargain collectively and are entitled to regular workers’ rights. This should be used as a tool to empower agency workers.

h) Investigate the realities of non regular employment relations in the region

under UNI sectors especially in the commerce, telecom, post/logistics and finance sectors and examine selected cases in the region where (un)successful campaigns have been undertaken.


RESOLUTION 5

SECURING DECENT WORK: STRENGTHENING THE VOICE OF PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGERIAL STAFF (P&MS)

1. Job insecurities arising from globalization-industrial restructuring, flexible labour markets affect not only the rank-and-file but also the middle-level people, especially the managers and supervisors.

2. Constant ‘optimizing’ and productivity-enhancing exercises such as programs

linking pay and job retention to performance, impacted heavily on high stress levels and work-life balance of Professional and Managerial Staff.

3. Absence of ethical principles at the corporate level of the leading financial

institutions contributed towards the current global financial crisis and economic downturn.

4. Professionals executing the decisions of the top management in companies; needs

to voice their concerns, air their views over unethical short term profit oriented business models, environmentally harmful research activities in the best interest of the society.

5. Collective voice and solidarity support of trade unions is strength for Professionals

and Managerial staff (P&MS) to practice ethics and take independent judgments for sustainability of businesses for the common good.

6. Efforts to deprive P&MS of their rights to form unions or associations and the

consequent absence of a system of dialogues and communication as well as a system of processing grievances of PMS deprive top management of the opportunity to understand what is really going on at the enterprise, at the shop or office level.

7. Emerging highly mobile global, regional labour markets must be able to guarantee

the PMS their core labour rights, in particular their freedom to associate, bargain for their common interests collectively and enjoy equal or fair treatment in various aspects of work.

8. Professional and Managerial Staff have a great stake in the Decent Work challenge – to develop a labour market that respects their sense of dignity, sense of security, of the PMS and provides them a work environment characterized by relative freedom to discharge their responsibilities with a sense of community.

9. In this context, we propose that UNI Apro, UNI Apro P&MS sector to formulate general policy guidelines for all affiliates in the respective sectors to reach out:

a) to engage in organizing the Professional and Managerial Staff members through

increasing their awareness about their rights at work. b) to help P&MS to secure decent work through collective efforts by supporting

them to form trade unions/associations or by recruiting them to trade unions.


c) to protect their professional integrity through supporting for best standards and ethical practices in business.

d) to provide collective voice to strengthen P&MS role in “Whistle blowing” for the common good of the society.


RESOLUTION 6

IN SUPPORT OF STANDARD CHARTERED FIRST BANK UNION The 3rd UNI Apro Regional Conference expresses its solidarity with the leadership and membership of the Standard Chartered First Bank Trade Union - an affiliate of the Korean Financial Industrial Union in their dispute with the management. We share their concern about the impact of the introduction of performance related pay system on the income and employment security of the bank employees and join them in protesting strongly against the unilateral introduction of the performance related pay system. We call upon the Management of the Bank to suspend the implementation of the performance related pay system and commence serious negotiation with the union to conclude a new collective agreement to cover the terms and condition of employment, including salaries for all employees. UNI Apro stand ready to facilitate discussions and dialogue between the Management and union to find an amicable settlement and conclude a collective agreement in line with the standard compensation and incentive scheme as practiced in the financial sector in Korea. We urge the Management to respond positively and promptly to avert the escalation of the disputes, further straining the relations between the Management and trade union, demoralizing the employees and injuring the reputation of the bank. We call upon the Management and Union to work in smart partnership to manage the challenges confronting the financial institutions in the aftermath of the global financial crisis to enhance the competitiveness of the Standard Chartered First Bank and secure income and employment security for all employees.


RESOLUTION 7

PHILIPPINES CALL FOR SOLIDARITY SUPPORT The 3rd UNI Apro Women’s Conference in Manila, Philippines on 2-3 July 2011 noted with concern the gross human and workers’ rights abuses at various multinational shipyards and electronics companies operating in the Philippines. We urge the UNI Apro Regional Conference to investigate and extend its solidarity support to our Philippines affiliates.


RESOLUTION 8

LABOUR RIGHTS AND IMPUNITY IN THE PHILIPPINES Noting that the 3rd UNI APRO Regional Conference is hosted by the Philippines, and appreciating the good will shown by the Government of the Philippines to the promotion of workers’ rights in the Philippines and beyond, we are moved also to note that trade union activists, media workers and others continue to be targeted for murder, violent assault and intimidation in the Philippines. We note that a culture of impunity for these crimes has prevailed in the Philippines for too long, obstructing the realisation of fundamental human rights for all, including the rights of all workers in the Philippines to conduct their work and to do so safely and without fear of violent retribution. We note that among 58 people massacred at Ampatuan Town, Maguindanao, on November 23, 2009, were 32 journalists and media personnel of whom several were union members. The conduct of trials for those accused of this atrocity has been lamentably slow, though we welcome approval for live broadcast of the court proceedings. We also note that extrajudicial killings of others including trade unionists, union organisers, agricultural workers, fisher folk and farmers continue unabated with very few killers ever called to account. We commend the courageous advocacy of our colleagues in the Philippines who continue to fight for justice for the families and colleagues of those murdered at Ampatuan Town and in other provinces across the Philippines. We also commend our fellow UNI affiliates for the support they are continuing to provide to the families and colleagues of those murdered at Ampatuan Town and in other cases of extrajudicial killings. We further note our deep concerns at the spread of precarious work in the Philippines, noting that many of our colleagues in the trade union movement and beyond are increasingly contending with insecure working conditions. In the media sector in particular, we note that poor working conditions and job insecurity, especially in provincial areas, are identified as significant factors contributing to the risk of injury and targeted violence as a result of conducting media-related work. Also in the media sector and elsewhere, employers are actively seeking to marginalise legitimate union membership and the rights associated with union membership, including the right to associate freely and to bargain as a collective. We refer to two resolutions on the above issues which were adopted on September 30, 2010 by the first joint regional meeting of UNI Global Union and UNI-APRO, UNI-MEI


(Media, Entertainment and Arts) and UNI Graphical & Packaging, and the International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific, held in Bali, Indonesia. The resolutions (1) called for solidarity actions by trade unions around the world to seek justice for the families and colleagues of those murdered at Ampatuan Town, and (2) demanded that media employers in the Philippines end violations of worker’s rights to decent and secure working conditions, including management efforts to prevent media workers from organising and joining unions. We note the Bali meeting’s call for media employers in the Philippines to abide by International Labor Organisation (ILO) conventions and the Philippines Labor Code, under which Article 280 entitles workers to regularised work contracts granting them security in their employment status after six months of employment with one company. We therefore urge the Government of the Philippines, as the host country to our conference, to acknowledge the concerns of the global and Asia-Pacific trade union movement, as expressed in the present resolution and the Bali resolutions, and act on the recommendations of national and international organizations to end impunity, to redress past injustices and to provide assurance of support for the right of workers in the Philippines to organise as unions without fear of losing their jobs or their rights at work, and to conduct their work without threat of lethal violence.


RESOLUTION 9

JOBS WITH SOCIAL SECURITY FOR ALL IN INDONESIA The current social security system in Indonesia does not cover all Indonesian workers and people. The Aspek Indonesia, together with like-minded trade unions and other people’s organizations in the country, are urging the Indonesian government to implement the reforms on social security, including the setting up of an organizing body with tripartite representation. We call on the 3rd UNI Apro Regional Conference to extend its solidarity support for our endeavour.


CONFERENCE STATEMENT 1

TOWARDS POLICY COHERENCE AND SOCIAL COHESION IN A POST GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS WORLD

At its Nagasaki Congress in 2010, UNI pointed out that the 2008-2009 global financial crisis (GFC) was not an accident. It is rooted in capitalist greed, in the unbridled financial speculation by the big banks and private equity companies, and in the abysmal lack of economic, labour, social and environmental rules governing the global economy. In the Asia-Pacific, UNI Apro, which was organized shortly after the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, has been calling for the regulation of the financial system and for the greater social accountability of the transnational corporations. UNI Apro has also been pushing for the transformation of the regional and global “Race to the Bottom” into a “Race to the Top”, challenging governments and civil society to help build a more balanced, equitable and sustainable regional and global economy. Likewise, we have been calling for an end to the neo-liberal development model that has contributed to the endless cycles of crises and instabilities in the economy and society. Neo-liberalism sacrifices labour, human and social rights in the abstract name of global competition. It is putting humanity’s future at risk by degrading the environment and deepening social and national divisions through an exclusivist program of governance almost everywhere. And yet today, we are shocked to see that the neo-liberal globalizers, still occupying the commanding heights of the economy, are bent in pushing for the same policies that caused the Asian and global financial crises. Most have stopped using the term “neo-liberal”, which has acquired a universal derogatory sense that the term richly deserves. And yet, the neo-liberal globalizers are not only continuing but also strengthening the old neo-liberal programs of social austerity, mindless privatization and obsessive corporatization of virtually every conceivable social and economic activity. They have even come out with outrageous policies for the dismantling of the social security system and the protective regimes of unionism and collective bargaining in Europe and North America, regions which, ironically, owed their post-World War II stability and prosperity to these labour institutions. In the Asia-Pacific, the same anti-social policy measures are being proposed in the labour law “reform” agenda of some governments, with some out rightly calling for the elimination of job security laws and bargaining rights of some workers. Social and economic imbalances, at the national and regional levels, can be seen across the Asia-Pacific continent. Clearly, the post-GFC global and Asia-Pacific economy is still an unreformed economy. The trajectory of economic globalization is still towards the narrow profit-making for a few. This is unsustainable and is a guarantee that economic crises shall keep recurring and social and labour instabilities shall keep exploding. Already, the threat of a new global financial crisis and economic recession is hovering in the economic firmament, along with the triple threats of the food, fuel and environmental crises. And like in the past, working women and men – in the government and private offices, in the shop and


retail floors, and in the farms or off-the-farms – are among the most vulnerable, facing grave threats on their jobs, incomes and unions. We, at UNI Apro, therefore, shall not stop reiterating the global call of UNI to change the trajectory of present-day globalization. Coherence in economic, social, labour and environmental policy regimes is missing in the present architecture of globalization. This is why there are numerous and endless social and labour conflicts virtually everywhere. We, therefore, call on all affiliates of UNI Apro to press their national policy makers and to enlist the civil society groups and other stakeholders in society:

In bringing a human face to globalization,

In building a more balanced and equitable national, regional and global economy,

where there is a more equitable sharing of wealth through decent jobs and fair

and ethical trade, and

In mobilizing all resources to develop an inclusive process of national, sectoral,

regional and global economic and social integration.



TRADE UNIONS ANTICIPATING AND MANAGING CHANGE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY

The economic and social problems facing workers and the pains and sufferings

associated with structural adjustments and globalization have awakened the workers’

will to unite. A unified, powerful and issue-based proactive movement of workers has

already emerged in some countries and will spread to others.

Despite all difficulties, the trade union movement must move forward. It must remain

united to promote the growth and influence of the trade union movement as an

instrument to:

protect and advance human and democratic rights for all people,

defend workers’ rights and their dignity,

eliminate poverty and inequality,

ensure social and economic justice for all within and among nations,

enhance equal opportunity for all people,

preserve and create jobs, and

build peace and prosperity within a nation and the interdependent world.

All of us in the labour movement have a vital role to play in fostering a strong spirit of

international solidarity and developing the capacity and capability of trade unions to

renew the trade union movement and infuse it with a new vitality capable not only of

providing services to its members but also in leading the struggle of humanity for

growth with equity and justice, for a global economy where people really matter.

Breaking Free - Struggle for Trade Union Rights

The struggle for the enjoyment of trade union rights by all workers must remain a trade

union priority at all times. The large majority of workers in various countries in the

region are still deprived of their rights either by legislations or by various anti-union

techniques of employers. These include the increasing number of professional and

managerial staff and a-typical employees, including casual employees and contract

employees and those working part time. In fact, the presence of a large army of non-

unionized workers is used by employers to weaken the ranks of the unionized.

In a network economy, collective bargaining as an institution must be strengthened – by

reaffirming it as a fundamental trade union right, by allowing new forms of negotiation

to cover new workers and by exploring new areas of bargaining such as co-management

of the enterprise.


Some unions, restrained by laws and constrained by circumstances, are forced to resort

to ‘collective begging’ with employers. There should be a campaign to reaffirm the

fundamental right of workers to bargain through their unions and to remove the

obstacles to free collective bargaining, particularly anti-union unfair labour practices of

employers such as refusal to bargain, sponsorship of alternative employee

organizations, etc. Without collective bargaining, unionism and industrial democracy

become hollow.

The struggle for trade union rights is a global challenge that requires a global trade

union response. The campaign for global respect for core labour standards must be

intensified. National trade unions must assume greater responsibility by generating the

support of the larger society for international trade union campaigns for respect of

workers’ rights, now directed at ILO and various inter-governmental organizations such

as WTO, IMF, World Bank and the ADB and regional economic co-operation bodies such

as ASEAN, SAARC, APEC and ASEM.

Trade Unions Adapting to Change

Trade unions must upgrade, if not modernize, their organizational structures and

processes to make the trade union movement relevant to a changed work environment,

responsive to the emerging issues and demands of a network economy and meaningful

to all workers, including the new groups of workers.

Traditional union structures are increasingly outdated and unions must make conscious

and deliberate efforts to upgrade them, in particular re-positioning union work in the

light of the following developments:

the globalization of the economy;

the rapid expansion of science and technology;

the revolution in communications and media;

the restructuring and re-concentration in business and industry;

the blurring of sectoral and professional boundaries; and

the impact of market forces on union organizing and bargaining.

Adapting to the Organising and Collective Bargaining Challenge

Trade unions must also be open to new forms of bargaining and representation. The

new professional and management staff in the network economy has demands that are

distinct from the rank-and-file blue-collar and white-collar workers such as portability

of benefits (when going in other areas or countries), skills certification and professional

license. Thus, the traditional form of organizing and bargaining cannot apply to them –

even if the same principles that motivate traditional organizing and bargaining apply to

them, e.g., the need to coalesce to protect common interests and negotiate collectively to

have unified strength.


Confronting the Challenges of Multinational Companies – Global Organising

One of the obvious consequences of globalization, driven by the WTO and similar global

agreements and facilitated by technological innovations, is the tremendous expansion of

the influence of multinational companies (MNCs) in all spheres of life. Their investments

and international outsourcing activities are spurring the globalization process. The

wave of mergers and acquisitions, especially in the finance, commerce and

telecommunication sectors, are further consolidating the power of a few super

multinational companies and financial institutions. The concentration of investments of

some MNCs has enabled them to achieve monopolistic control over some sectors of

economic activity.

Multinational companies also influence industrial relations practices. Weak or

ambiguous legislations have enabled multinational companies to dictate employee

relations’ policies that exclude trade unions. Developing countries, desperate to retain

and attract investments, have been forced to make concessions that always include

suppression of national labour standards.

Cross-border convergence of work organization facilitated by an organization structure

that splits the corporation into a number of separate companies has been used by MNCs

as mechanisms for retaining tight and consistent control of operations to undermine

legislations enacted to protect employees. Using their extensive network of branches or

subsidiaries, they are able to transmit their industrial relations practices across national

borders.

Their power and influence are directed not only at developing countries but also felt by

industrialized countries. These MNEs are increasingly using the threat to relocate their

production facilities or to resort to outsourcing to force trade unions to compromise,

thus influencing the outcome of collective bargaining. Some unions have also reported

attempts by MNEs to undermine the process of negotiation by withholding corporate

information and in extreme cases, de-recognizing the trade unions.

There is obviously a need to scrutinize the power of multinational companies to keep

them in check and ensure that workers’ rights are fully protected and respected.

National legislations need to be reviewed to make it more effective to deal with

industrial relations practices in a global economy.

But for unions, the influence of multinationals can only be matched by the united

strength of the unions themselves, especially at the regional and international levels

through the various Global Union Federations such as UNI. Through global organizing,

global framework agreements and eventually global bargaining, we counter the

influence of these multinationals and cause them to be more responsible and compliant

with international labour standards as outlined in the ILO Tripartite Declaration of


Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and the OECD

Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Global Framework Agreement and Eventually Global Bargaining

The trend towards regional and even global bargaining is already evolving as is the case

now in countries of the European Union. The establishment of European Works

Councils (EWCs) for multinationals operating within the European Economic Area as

mandated by the European Union has provided a genuine opportunity for workers and

unions to gain greater influence over the international activities of multinational

companies.

The progress towards global negotiation is expected to be slow, gradual and uncertain.

Global framework agreements (GFAs) with multinationals will strengthen the influence

of trade unions and reinforce trade union rights. The numerous regional or global

framework agreements negotiated by UNI is qualitative in definition, covering broad

areas such as employment policies, basic principles for acceptable industrial relations

practices and equitable standard of terms and conditions of employment and working

conditions. It is envisaged that the global framework agreements will evolve into more

comprehensive agreement to better protect and promote trade union members’ rights

and interests, especially in enhancing job security and insuring a fair sharing of

productivity gains, not to mention, the possibilities of increasing union membership.

Social Dialogue and Social Partnership

For an Enduring Asia-Pacific Community

Policy makers in the Asia-Pacific – from Japan to Pakistan, from Mongolia to New

Zealand -- have been articulating the need to develop a vibrant and prosperous Asia-

Pacific community consistent with the image of the region as the most successful under

globalization. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is also promoting the

ideal community, a “caring and sharing” regional community dedicated to the

elimination of poverty.

We, at UNI Apro, share the vision of a vibrant, prosperous and caring regional

community. Indeed, community building is meaningless if it is not directed to the well-

being of the people in the region and to the stability and sustainability of the community.

However, the dream of an Asia-Pacific community cannot and will not happen if the

people, the working people in particular, are not involved in the visioning, design and

process of building the community. There should be a clear people’s terms of reference,

a social contract with the people. There should be social dialogue on the terms of

community building.

As it is, the social and labour realities in the region are very different from the official

rhetoric on community building in the Asia-Pacific. There is so much dis-harmony


within and across nations in the region, especially between and among the productive

sectors of society: the workers and employers. Due to the “Race to the Bottom”, workers

rights are often sacrificed on the altar of free trade and global competition. There is

even a “Race to the Bottom” among some countries, with a few willing to roll back

labour rights and lower social and environmental standards just to get ahead in the

competition. In some ways, the Asia-Pacific is a divided region, not a united community.

And yet, a united, prosperous and caring Asia-Pacific community is not only desirable

but also attainable. For this to happen, the rules of regional and global integration

should change.

First, employers and governments should understand that there is a better way in

competing other than the Race to the Bottom, that is through the Race to the Top, which

can and should be done at the industry, national, regional and global levels. The Race to

the Top means raising a firm’s productivity and bottom lines through team work, better

work performance, skills and value adding-activities. To achieve this, there should be a

mutual recognition by labour and capital of each other’s rights and each other’s

interests. This requires social dialogue, which can graduate into an enduring social

partnership or social contract between them.

This is why UNI Apro has been documenting the experiences of UNI Apro affiliates with

outstanding employers in the Asia-Pacific region to show that social dialogue leading

social partnership works, to the mutual advantage of labour and employer. This is best

illustrated by the successful business of the UNI-unionized Takashimaya in Japan, Hero

Supermarket in Indonesia and Banco de Oro in the Philippines.

All these companies have landed on top of their respective industries in their respective

countries. All have also common ingredients for a productive, profitable and sustainable

partnership: recognition of each other’s rights and needs, ability to open up to each

other on each party’s concerns, transparency and sharing of critical information,

reciprocating to each other’s needs and social dialogue eventually becoming an

enduring social partnership on varied union and management initiatives, including

dialogue on difficult organizational and job adjustments in crisis situations.

This is a Race to the Top in action. Of course, this social partnership can only happen it

the corporation is socially responsible. True CSR means a company treats its workers

and their host community fairly. A company should have the capacity to listen to the

workers, the union and the community and sit down with them and hold dialogues,

seriously and continuously.

On the other hand, social partnership also requires a socially responsible union. CSR

should be matched by union social responsibility (USR). This means unions should have

the capacity not only to assert their rights and make collective demands based on the


workers interests; they should also have the capacity to understand the position of the

company and make reasonable demands and adjustments, if needed.

Moreover, social partnership is not a one-time thing. It has to be sustained, continuously,

through dialogues, communication and joint programs, e.g, health and safety, market

adjustments, training and re-training and so on.

Finally, social partnership requires a shared vision, a shared understanding of common

problems and each other’s concerns, and a sharing of the gains and sacrifices.

This concept of social partnership can be done at the firm level, at the industry level, at

the national level and in the Asia-Pacific level. This, in fact, is what UNI Apro has been

trying to promote in the ASEAN, as it seeks to nurture its continuing dialogue with the

ASEAN on how to build a caring and sharing ASEAN community.

In this context, we, at UNI Apro, are committed to push and intensify the social dialogue

process at all levels in the Asia-Pacific in the coming years based to bring about a

genuine social contract for a caring and sharing Asia-Pacific community.

Solidarity at Every Levels

At the international level, we must promote closer co-operation between the unions in

the various countries grouped under inter-governmental organizations such as ASEAN,

APEC and ASEM in pursuing dialogue at the regional and international levels. We shall

vigorously support the campaign for the inclusion of a social dimension to the ongoing

regional economic integration process and for trade unions to be involved in the

formulation of development strategy and policies of international financial institutions

(IFIs) such as the IMF, World Bank and ADB.



UNI Apro Solidarity Statement with UNI LC Japan UNI Apro Shares the Pains and Hopes with the People of Japan The Tohoku quake, tsunami, and still unfolding nuclear crisis are clearly having a traumatic effect on Japan, the worst crisis Japan has suffered since World War II. We, at UNI Apro, are shocked at the scale of destruction suffered by Japan due to the giant tsunami and the nuclear power meltdown unleashed by a killer 9.0 quake on March 11, 2011. Over 15,000 dead, more than 8,000 missing, half a million houses were destructed and millions more facing nuclear radiation risks. We, at UNI Apro, share the pains being endured by the Japanese people. This is a natural disaster that is unprecedented in human history. And yet, through it all, the humanity, stoicism and steely endurance of the Japanese people are shining through. Yes, tears are falling down but quietly. No panic, no riots, no loud complaints. In other climes, such a disaster would have provoked widespread chaos and disorder. Post-tsunami Japan shows the resilience and discipline of the Japanese people. Some of the Japanese UNI affiliates and members, especially in the Tohoku Region, have been affected by the disaster. We commiserate with them and their families and with the countless other victims. We also note that the affiliates of the UNI LCJ, all over Japan, are among the first to respond to the crisis. They are actively helping the affected citizens pick up the pieces to rebuild lives, homes and communities. We, at UNI Apro, wish the Japanese people, especially our UNI brothers and sisters in Japan, full success in their national re-building program. At UNI Asia-Pacific and UNI Global, UNI LC Japan has always been a source of strength, contributing the most to UNI’s varied continental and global union-building programs. Now is the time to express our solidarity with our Japanese brothers and sisters and exert our utmost efforts to ease their suffering, in whatever limited individual and collective capacities we may have. The disaster in Japan threatens to significantly impede the nation’s economic recovery and inevitably spreading to other nations, especially on the Asia and Pacific region where Japan economy is an important and integral part. As it was for the development of trade unionism, Japan has for many decades provided leadership, consistent economic assistance and political co-operation in this region. In the sprit of solidarity, we call on all nations to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Japanese brothers and sisters as they deal with the recovery and reconstruction efforts


We extend to the Japanese people our unity, our deepest solidarity, in this hour of their national grief. We feel your suffering. We feel your pains. We feel your anguish. We share your hopes for speedy recovery. Likewise, we share the hopes of our UNI LC Japan affiliates that the re-building of Japan shall form part of the global effort to make Planet Earth habitable, climate-change ready and sustainable for all humanity. We are one with Japan.



ON KOREA AMENDMENT OF MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE ACT FOR

CULTURAL DIVERSITYAND INDEPENDENCE OF MEDIA The 3rd UNI Apro Regional Conference meeting in Manila from 5-6 July 2011 expresses its support and solidarity with Bro Lee Kang-Taik, the President of NUMW who was on hunger strike for 8 days to protest against the recent bill to increase KBS TV License Fee. He also called for the amendment of the Media Representative Act which will lead to major TV channels such as Chosun, Joongang and Donga Daily Newspaper Companies to apply for the regulation of KOBACO. KOBACO, as an independent advertising agency, is responsible for balancing the distribution of advertisements to ensure that minor media organizations also benefit from the advertisement revenue. We commend NUMW for their persistent efforts to defend the public value of broadcasting and the media in general. This is a great concern not only for our affiliates in Korea but the entire membership of UNI MEI across the world. The diversity of opinion within society should be protected and maintained to safeguard democracy. Ensuring the freedom of expression and the press, media pluralism and a level playing field for smaller players in the advertising market are prerequisites to achieve these goals. We call upon the Government to resume dialogue with the NUMW leaders to amend the Media Representative Act to promote cultural diversity and protect the independence of media.

Documents

UNI APRO RESOLUTIONS AND CONFERENCE …mail.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/UNINews.nsf/vwLkpById...UNI Apro Resolutions and Conference Statements 2011 ... Shaping Social Asia-Pacific,