World Congress of TUI :

X World Congress calls for broader mobilization of public employees for the struggle to win their demands and to press for progressive socio-economic changes

The X Congress of Trade Union International of Public & Allied Employees was successfully held at Johannesburg, South Africa from 20-21 March 2006. About 60 delegates and observers from 12 countries – Cyprus, Ghana, Japan, Lesotho, Mauritius, Vietnam, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, India and South Africa - representing 20 organizations participated in the Congress. Several delegates from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Cuba and Nigeria could not attend the Congress due to non-receipt of Visa in time. Several messages were received from various organizations wishing this Congress success.

The Congress, which met under the theme; ‘FACING THE CHALLENGES’, took stock of the international, social, economic and political situation that the working class is faced with, since the IX Congress held in Calcutta, India on the 4-6 November 1998. Sukomal Sen, General Secretary, TUI, placed the main Documents – Policy Document and Social Charter. While placing the document he said that world capitalism has become more aggressive and furious severely attacking the working people all over the world. Not only economic but trade union and democratic rights are being taken away. So everywhere big struggles are going on against the attack of working people’s rights and living conditions. As the capitalist forces are trying to enforce an alarming deterioration of employment conditions and of guarantees and rights won in decades of struggles, the trade union movement as part of their response to these challenges must amongst others:

	Accentuate the struggle against imperialist or neo-colonial oppression, against capitalist globalization, against neo-fascist and racist terror, the rise of religious fundamentalism and terrorism in all its manifestations;
	Establish a New International Economic Order with equality between nation and nation and people and people;
	Fight against all exploitative methods of the capitalist society and for social progress;
	Fight for an advanced social system where democracy, employment, food, medicare, educare, education, housing, social security measure, cultural facilities and social justice are guaranteed and exploitation of man by man will be ended;

All the delegates in their address supported the Policy Document and the Social Charter. There was a commonality in the deliberations as all of them have to struggle against the onslaught of privatization and to defend their trade union rights. Speakers were unanimous that TUI has an important role in uniting the workers’ and employees’ movement. They called united action against the offensive of capitalist globalization. They also called for greater international solidarity and opined that a strong public sector is essential prerequisite for sustainable national development.

Willy Marisha, President, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) also addressed the meeting. Sukomal Sen, General Secretary, TUI of PAE replied to the discussions on the Policy Document and Social Charter. He said that for implementing the slogan Facing the Challenges – working people of all countries must unite. Only interpreting the situation is not enough but how to change it – the political, social and economic system should the matter for consideration.

The Policy Document, the Social Charter the constitutional amendments were adopted unanimously.

Three new applications for affiliation from Inter-Bank Associations of Nepal, All India Bank Officers Association, All Pakistan Federation Of United Trade Unions (Public Services) were approved.

A panel of office bearers was unanimously accepted with Lulamille Sotaka from South Africa as President and Sukomal Sen from India as General Secretary.

The following important 16 resolutions were adopted in the Congress:

1.	Resolution on solidarity with the Cypriot working people - for peace and the reunification of the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
2.	Resolution against killing and persecution of trade union leaders in Philippines;
3.	Resolution on solidarity with the workers and people of Iran;
4.	Resolution on solidarity with workers and peoples of Iraq and support for their legitimate struggle to end the occupation and to build a free, democratic, united and independent Iraq;
5.	Resolution on pensioners, retired workers, disabled and old aged people;
6.	Resolution on restoration of democratic rule in Nepal;
7.	Resolution on intensification of trade union struggles against blockades and sanctions and their consequences;
8.	Resolution against political pressure, blockade and military aggression of the United States on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea;
9.	Resolution on working women;
10.	Resolution on the International Labour Organization;
11.	Resolution on the demand for the immediate release of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters, political prisoners in the United States;
12.	Resolution on literacy as a basic human right;
13.	Resolution on Zimbabwe in its present struggle for recovering the lands still occupied by the ex-colonial masters;
14.	Resolution in solidarity with the working people of Venezuela and their Bolivarian revolution;
15.	Resolution on HIV/AIDS;
16.	Resolution in support of the democratic movement in Swaziland.

The Congress ended with a sense of unity among the public employees and with a pledge to expand the organization and to be an active participant of the international struggle of the working class against imperialism and globalization.
 

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