International Trade Union Confederation

UN Rio+20 Summit Must Deliver on Jobs, Poverty and the
Environment

ITUC OnLine
October 28, 2011

http://www.ituc-csi.org/rio-20-trade-unions-submit-their.html

Brussels/New York

With precarious jobs, unemployment and inequalities
rising around the world, the international labour
movement today formally tabled its proposals <
http://www.ituc-csi.org/rio-20-trade-unions-submit-their.html>
to the secretariat of the  sustainable
development summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2012.

"Governments must realise that unless there is a
drastic change in the way the world is governed, there
is no chance that social equity or environmental
protection will be achieved," said ITUC General
Secretary Sharan Burrow. "The trade union movement is
ready to mobilise for a real transformation of
production systems, for them to deliver decent work and
prosperity while protecting natural resources for
future generations".

At the heart of trade union demands are the need for
investment in social protection systems and in green
and decent jobs. Also stressed is the need for
governments to ensure that key principles such as
equity between and within countries, Just Transition,
gender equality and a dramatic reduction in financial
speculation, form the basis of any discussion on the
Green Economy.

"We are concerned at indications that little progress
will be made on climate change at the Durban Conference
Durban this December.  We are determined to push the
multilateral system to protect people and the planet,
and to recognise that trade unions are fundamental to
this.

The trade union demands for Rio+20 are based on the
notion that each measure and decision at Rio+20 must
deliver across all the three dimensions of
sustainability, as spelt out in a preparatory meeting
trade unions held in Madrid, Spain<
http://www.sustainlabour.org/documentos/The%20Madrid%20Dialogue1.pdf>.
The 'Madrid Dialogue' delivered a first
outline of unions priorities for Rio+20 through a
debate with members of the UN Panel on Sustainability
and representatives from civil society.

"The report of the Madrid Dialogue shows the strong
consensus around decent and green jobs, the social
protection floor and the need for fair and
environmentally-sound taxation policies," said Burrow.
"This dialogue gave us real impetus to push for these
proposals in the Rio+20 context."

The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 308
affiliated national organisations from 153 countries
and territories.

Website: http://www.ituc-csi.org and
http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

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