Unite and USW global union sets out response to global
crisis ahead of G20
31 March 2009
Workers Uniting, the first global union created through the
coming together of Unite, the UK’s biggest union and the USW, the
largest private sector union in the USA and Canada, has today
(Tuesday) set out their response to the global crisis ahead of the
meeting of G20 world leaders.
Workers Uniting, which represents three million working people
from every industrial sector in Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada
and the Caribbean, is challenging the G20 global leaders to protect
working people as the current financial crisis jeopardises millions
of jobs and livelihoods.
The global union is calling for support for the manufacturing
sector, particularly the auto companies and their suppliers.
Workers Uniting has set out immediate and medium term strategies to
address the consequences of the financial mismanagement exercises
over recent years in the private sector.
Workers Uniting will be campaigning politically for job
retention and job creation through policies which facilitate
sustainable growth and the transition to a greener economy. Unite
is the Labour Party’s biggest affiliate and donor and the USW is a
major contributor to and supporter of the Democrats in America and
the New Democrats in Canada.
Derek Simpson, Joint General Secretary of Unite, said: “Workers
Uniting has today set out our demands for G20 global leaders to
support workers through this period of recession, and beyond.
The action taken so far by our national governments are simply not
enough.
“We have seen that the free market policies advocated by most
domestic governments are totally discredited. We need fundamental
change to ensure we put people first. There can only be one
solution to this downturn and that is through worker prosperity and
the creation of supportive jobs.”
Leo W Gerard, USW President, said: “Governments around the world
must step forward to provide meaningful economic stimulus to
mitigate the impact of what is rapidly becoming a devastating
worldwide recession. They must also begin to re-establish their
role in regulating economic activity in a manner that ensures that
the interests of working people are properly addressed.”
Tony Woodley, Joint General Secretary of Unite, said: “Workers
Uniting is fighting to ensure individual workers are not made to
suffer in the current downturn. G20 world leaders must take
decisive action to mitigate the recessionary impact to build
sustainable growth.
“Workers across the world are calling for an end to the
unregulated markets and a new approach is needed. We now have a
unique opportunity to lift people out of poverty and create good
quality jobs.”
- Ends -
For more information contact Unite (UK) Saba Mozakka on:
0044 7768 693 953 or 0044 2074 208916
Notes to editors:
Workers Uniting is a fully functional and registered trade union
organisation in the UK, U.S., Ireland and Canada, with the ability
to fully represent all of the members of its founding unions. It is
governed by a Steering Committee with equal membership from each
participating union.
The merger document to create Workers Uniting was signed USW’s
Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada on 2nd July
2008.
