Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

Unions back May Day call to Make Poverty History

A global alliance of trade unions, aid organisations, charities and religious groups aims to "Make Poverty History".

The alliance is being led by Nelson Mandela who launched the campaign in London earlier this year. Locally, LHMU National President, Helen Creed, is calling on unionists to support the campaign in Australia.

Slavery and apartheid are not natural - nor is poverty.
Nelson Mandela told a massive crowd in London's Trafalgar Square:
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural, It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the action of human beings.

"Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom.
" Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom. Ofcourse the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up."

The Make Poverty History campaign encapsulates the core values of a union like ours, LHMU National President, Helen Creed, said.
"Like us Make Poverty History campaigners are struggling for social and economic justice.

Key message of global economic justice is straightforward for unionists
" Their key message: that the global economic system is rigged against the poor when it comes to trade, debt and aid, is a straightforward one for trade unionists used to negotiating in their own workplaces," Helen Creed said.
" We also know from our own struggles that there is nothing natural or inevitable about millions living in want.moral argument for union solidarity with the developing world has always existed.
Direct consequences for LHMU members from unfair globalisation
" However in an age of ever increasing globalisation, the direct economic consequences to LHMU members workers of these unfair patterns of development and underdevelopment are increasingly clear," Helen Creed said.
" Never has the International Labour Organisation's claim that, 'poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere' been more true.
" When countries, desperate to attract foreign investment, adopt laws and standards which undermine decent standards for workers rights then working families in other countries - including ours - lose out."
Trade Unions and May Day: Global Call to Action Against Poverty
" This year trade unions are using May Day to promote this campaign around the world in a Global Call to Action Against Poverty. We are demanding that the grand promises made by governments at the United Nations and elsewhere should be put into action urgently.
" The world can no longer afford to ignore the plight of the hundreds of millions of women and men who live in less than one dollar per day."
Creating decent jobs for all
" Creating decent jobs for all has never been more important, as divisions between the haves and the have-nots in the global economy grow ever greater. One billion people are unemployed, underemployed or working poor: 60% of these are women.

Joining hands with other unionists to demand debt relief
"Unions like ours are joining hands with other unions to demand debt relief to the poorest countries, greatly increased development aid and justice in the global trading system. More than 200 million children are working instead of at school, while young people who have finished their education struggle to find decent jobs in countries across the globe.
" Millions of working people face exploitation, discrimination and insecurity, having to accept jobs which pay too little for them, and those who depend on them, to have a decent life."

Violating workers' rights
"Trade unions themselves face enormous pressures, as governments and employers in many countries violate workers' rights, including outright assaults on the trade union movement. Joint global action is critically important to put an end to union-busting, and to defend the rights of those, particularly women, who are the victims of the global race to the bottom."

LHMU members can meet the challenge
"LHMU members can be confident that we can meet the challenge to change the path of globalisation, especially as we partner with unions in other countries, such as our sister unions in North America - the SEIU and UNITE-HERE!
"We will act with them across borders and across continents to help organise the millions of workers who are denied union rights, to tackle the exploitation of migrant workers and to put women and men on an equal footing in our own movement, in the workplace and in society," Ms Creed said.

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