International Labor Strategy
The national alliances that came together to create the United Workers Congress envisioned a space for developing international strategies and connecting their local and national work to a larger labor movement. The international conference was UWC's first step in introducing international labor struggles and providing a space for our leaders to think larger than their own sectors. We plan to continue that trajectory and provide a space for our alliance leaders to engage with international strategies and talk to labor organizations in other countries.
Affiliates' International Work
• NGA's historic organizing of guest workers is an example of organizing "contract workers" – in a global context. Their partnership with the SLD in India has been groundbreaking.
• NDWA's historic campaign for Decent Work began at home and spread internationally.
NDWA worked with organisations around the world for the First ILO Convention on decent work for domestic workers. On June 16, 2011, Governments, Employers and Workers of the world at the 100th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland adopted the First Convention and accompanying Recommendation on Decent Work for Domestic Workers.
Activities
• Strategic Research
UWC supports the work of its affiliates internationally through enabling and facilitating strategic research across countries.
• Local-Global Alliance Building
UWC supports affiliates in identifying international allies and facilitating relationship building through visits and exchanges, working together, and sharing information. The basis of such relationships is grounded in the grassroots priorities of the affiliate so that domestic and international work can be meaningfully linked.
• Capacity Building
UWC creates training modules so that affiliates can train their leaders on global labor issues, organizes workshops and lectures to expose affiliates to international labor leaders, and facilitates in streaming relevant news from around the world to its affiliates.
• Visits and Exchanges
UWC organizes affiliate leaders' visits and exchanges to countries of their international partners to further strategic planning and information sharing.
READING materials for our upcoming India trip:
Priority:
Extra:
- GVC governance
- How Fair Are Wage Practices
- Toyota Labour Practices
- Offshoring and Development
- SLD Construction Report
- Trends in Urban Poverty
Campaigns and Alliances
• Asia Floor Wage Campaign
In 2006, labors leaders in Asia decided to think about an international strategy to address the impact of globalization on workers. The Asia Floor Wage campaign was born to create a bargaining strategy in a global industry – something that has not been attempted before in any industry. AFW is a regional (in this case, Asia) bargaining campaign for a minimum living wage regardless of the country they are working in, in the most widespread industry in the world, namely, garment.
• International Domestic Worker Network
The International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN) is made up of domestic workers' organizations and other trade unions around the world. The IDWN believes in strong democratic domestic workers' organization to protect domestic workers' rights, and in changing power relations in society, to promote gender equality and human rights for the benefits of domestic workers.
