IV Cumbre
de los Pueblos
A
Worker’s Forum of the Americas
Fifth
Summit of the Americas
Port of Spain, 15-16 April 2009
DECLARATION
We, trade unionists
of the Americas, representing over fifty million workers across
the entire continent, have met in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
on 15 and 16 of April 2009, on the occasion of the Fifth Summit
of Heads of State of the Americas, and following the G-20 Summit
held recently in London, and hereby declare:
The
current crisis deepens the crisis of distributive justice
In recent months, our region has sunk into a new
recession worse than the great depression of the 1930´s, but
it is one that is different in depth and magnitude. Because it coincides
with the food, energy, social and environmental crises, this indicates
a systemic crisis of global proportions. As usual, those first and
most seriously affected are women, youth, informal sector and migrant
workers. Another effect has been the deepening of a social crisis
which affecting primarily women, making access to employment difficult,
widening the gaps in wages and reducing investments in health, education
and universal public policies, replacing formal employment with
sub-contracting and labour flexibility, provoking a crisis on social
security systems and social protection in general.
In their analysis
which predicted this crisis, international trade unions had already
highlighted the a “crisis of distributive justice” (or
crisis of inequality), in other words, a disconnect between wage
increases and increased productivity, which seriously affects fundamental
human rights such as the right to live in a healthy environment,
with access to education, health care, social protection and food
security.
Finally, the
crisis is now causing a reversal in the flow of migration from destination
countries in the North to countries of origin in the South, as well
as a significant reduction of remittances, affecting millions of
working people and their families.
The
environmental, energy and food crises
We share the view of the International Trade Union
Confederation which affirms that countries of the South cannot be
denied the right to development, and that at the same time, the
planet’s natural resources do not allow us to spread the consumption
patterns of industrialized countries to the entire world population.
Added to this, are the effects of climate change, and the fact that
social inequalities remain exposed to the negative impacts of climate
change because, clearly, it is the poor who suffer the most.
This is why we believe that especially in the rich
North, the failure of the neo liberal model calls for a change in
the production/consumption pattern which will permit sustainable
development respecting the values of social justice and pluralism.
This also involves reformulating the energy matrix towards clean
and renewable sources of energy. The current drop in the oil price
(clear evidence that there was high speculation on this price before
the crisis) should not be a reason to stop looking for alternative
sources.
Although the drop in agricultural commodity prices
tends to regulate the food crisis, there are three negative aspects
which continue to have an effect on it – excessive food consumption
in the North, financing of the global food market, and the unacceptable
genetic control and manipulation of seeds by transnational companies.
These elements, together with the concentrated agribusiness export
model, in opposition to agrarian reform policies, threaten the survival
of the peasant populations and improved living standards through
food consumption in poor countries.
For the trade union movement in the Americas the
greatest responsibility for this crisis rests with the governments
of the world powers. They are the ones who shaped the world (that
fell apart) by means of their political and economic power. These
governments used or neutralized international institutions in the
interests of multinational companies, leading to high levels of
corruption and impunity.
To lay the blame solely on irresponsible bankers
is to deny the responsibility of those who were supposed to regulate
financial markets. To blame only the industrialists and consumers
for the overflow of the planet’s capacity is to deny the responsibility
of those who should have curbed this type of production and consumption
a long time ago, and should have moved to another development model.
The
“London Consensus” of the G-20 is not up to the circumstances
Years ago, the international trade union movement
sounded the alert with regard to the crisis of the capitalism of
financial hegemony which neglects to give credit to productive activities
and engage in unproductive speculation. Recently, the trade union
world came to agreement responding to the declarations at the G-20
Summits in Washington and London. They also said “No to the
casino economy” at the World Social Forum in Belem, a coherent
proposal en relation to the crisis.
In spite of
our expectations of the possibility of a new multilateralism emerging
in response to the crisis, we see that the two G-20 Summits have
fallen short in many ways. The financial regulation for which the
world is clamoring did not reach the levels that even governments
feel necessary, and there was agreement only for a Financial Stabilization
Council, with a mainly supervisory role. Except for measures dealing
with high risk funds, tax havens, risk assessment companies and
the banks themselves, the other measures are specific and limited.
One example is the set of resolutions adopted concerning executive
bonuses, since there are no limits set on this type of remuneration.
We have been
deeply disappointed with the reuslts of efforts to bail out financial
institutions which are the paradigm of the neo liberal model. This
is why it is a mistake to place the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) in a coordinating, financial and supervisory role as a way
of ensuring the salvation of the system, without setting new criteria
for changing its conditionalities, or with no serious criticism
of its responsibility through the implementation of policies which
were dismantled by States and governments, thus eroding their ability
to exercise economic control and allowing markets to destroy their
sovereign ability to set economic and fiscal policies.
We believe that
it is important to defend the countries of the South in terms of
the importance of expansion programs, and the emphasis given to
the regulation of the financial system. But, it is a bitter surprise
to us that the resources promised are especially aimed at countries
of the North, with very little allocated to countries of the South
(about 10%). Similarly, we have to wait and see if the promise of
a change in the voting system within the IMF and the World Bank
will be fulfilled.
With regards to trade, the call by the G-20 to complete
the Doha Round based on the agreements reached last year, is of
great concern, since it provides a new opportunity for the block
of countries which proposed an unbalanced and unsatisfactory focus
for the countries of the South and emerging states.
Finally, call
attention to the place assigned to labor in the London Declaration,
recognizing the need to create jobs and to have the International
Labor Organization (ILO) assume the role of evaluating labor related
issues in the policies of the G-20.
The
Fifth Summit of the Americas must approve changes
This Fifth Summit has created high expectations
in public opinion in general and for the trade movement of the region
in particular, not only because of the maturity of a number of progressive
Latin American governments and the assumption of a new US leadership,
but because it provides an opportunity for dealing with the crisis
at a hemispheric level. From a trade union perspective, it is also
important, as it is the first Summit since the defeat of the FTAA
at the Mar del Plata Summit in 2005. However, the draft of the declaration
does not reflect the political sensitivity of this situation. It
is just “one more document”, with only a brief generic
paragraph in which the governments state that they are determined
to strengthen cooperation, work together to restore growth in the
world and adopt the necessary reforms to the world financial systems.
There are no
concrete policy proposals for regional coordination or actions for
the effective improvement of the quality of life and employment
of people. The document should be start from the decisions of the
G-20 and advance much further, namely to completely turn around
economic, political and social orientations in the region.
Furthermore, it seems to ignore the fact that many
countries are still encouraging and negotiating free trade agreements
(FTAs). As we have seen in the experiences of some countries such
as Mexico or Chile, these do not lead to the development of the
weakest economies nor to the improvement of the quality of life
of workers in the strongest economies. These attempts to maintain
the system are made primarily at the expense of women’s lives,
through massive dismissal of workers, cuts in public spending in
social areas and by reaffirming the model of production and development
that directly impacts these areas, in that it increases reproductive
work and sustainability increases. FTAs arise as a constant threat
and undermine the integrity and progress of regional integration
processes, which undoubtedly, since they are more equitable, could
lead to alternative solutions to the crisis.
We are absolutely
certain that one of the ways to move towards this model of development
in the Americas is through the strengthening and deepening of the
processes of regional integration in a coordinated, complementary
way and in solidarity, so that member states can each strengthen
their economies and ensure the well-being of their societies. We
have no doubt that integration must go beyond trade issues. This
is why trade unionism in the Americas has opposed free-trade agreement
negotiations and investments for more than 15 years and demands
a review of current agreements, which, as we have warned, have brought
great sorrow to our peoples.
We,
the workers of the Americas, have proposals
Almost four
years ago, the trade union movement, together with other social
movements, mobilized for the Fourth Summit of the Americas (Mar
del Plata, November 2005) against the FTAA and in defense of the
Labor Platform of the Americas (LPA), presenting a broad agenda
on public policy to promote “sustainable development with
decent work”.
The LPA proposal
is highly relevant today and shows the urgency of establishing a
model of sustainable development that integrates social, economic,
environmental, political and cultural dimensions in a framework
of intra- and inter-generational justice. This is the only suitable
response to the multiple crises in the world today: in other words,
development with social justice, distribution of wealth, preservation
of the environment, gender equity, protection of health, participatory
democracy, respect for diversity, and equity among nations and generations.
At present,
and in response to the crisis, it is essential to keep in mind the
following issues:
Multilateralism
and the new global institutionality
- The defense
of multilateralism is key. Fair standards for international trade
must be established and mechanisms for enforcing labor rights
must be strengthened in order to contribute to the development
of nations and to reduce inequalities between nations. The new
multilateralism must give priority to labour issues.
- The United
Nations is the natural venue for debating this crisis, and as
such, it should be strengthened. We believe that the proposal
to create a Global Economic Council, at the same level as the
Security Council, is important to define concrete guidelines for
resolving the crisis.
- It is time
to take up again the debate on the “Tobin tax” and
mechanisms for controlling monetary and financial flows worldwide,
to restrain and avoid speculation and put an end to tax heavens.
The establishment of new financial services for the solidarity
economy must be given priority.
- There should be a clear mandate on the role and structure of
the WTO, in order to make the way it functions more transparent
and democratic.
Social protection,
decent jobs and sustainability of the planet
- In the social
arena, it is necessary to have a social bailout, based on public
policies and the strengthening of the State’s role in the
economy.
- We must
ensure that the new global arquitecture for development fully
integrates gender equality and women’s human rights on the
basis of internacional commitments and treaties. According to
paragraph 20 of the United Nations Millenium Declaration, “The
States commit to promoting equality between the sexes and the
economic autonomy of women as effective means for fighting poverty,
hunger and illnesses, and for stimulating truly sustainable growth”.
The way this objective has been formulated implies an acknowledgement
of the fact that once the different needs and realities of men
and women are contemplated, only then will it be possible to improve
the situation of alarming inequalities that are present in the
Continent, strengthen democracy and social peace.
- The ITUC
proposes a plan for recovery and sustainable growth, based on
a public investment policy geared towards social development and
job creation. As such, the building of productive and social infrastructure,
which includes improving public services for everyone, must be
prioritized.
- It is crucial
that the income of the low and middle classes be increased and
to have policies focused on the groups that are most affected:
youth, women, migrants, the elderly, individuals with special
needs, indigenous groups, and temporary, underemployed and part-time
workers. Finally, it is necessary to insist on the right of workers
to form free trade unions, elect delegates and to negotiate collectively,
putting special emphasis on the redistribution of benefits.
- We support
the initiative of the ILO to, through the Global Employment Pact,
debate the creation of a Global Employment Fund that takes into
account existing asymmetries between developed and developing
countries in terms of their fiscal capacities.
- More than
ever, it is necessary to insist that the Fundamental Labor Regulations
remain in force, especially those ensuring trade union freedom
and collective bargaining and to accompany the ILO in its potential
actions on the crisis, including the creation of the Forum and
its participation in the G-20.
- We reaffirm
the importance of the ratification and implementation of the “Ibero-American
Multilateral Social Security Agreement”, on disability,
old age and survival. There is already a similar agreement in
effect (since 2005) within Mercosur, which can serve as a reference
in order to move forward with its enforcement in the continent.
- We also
value the agreement of the International Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), as we consider that the environmental crisis must take
into account the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
- The international
trade union movement calls for the fulfillment of what was agreed
upon at the X Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean,
held in Quito in 2007. We will not accept that the crisis lead
to setbacks in advances made toward achieving gender equality
in relation to the participation of women in the labour market.
- Finally,
governments must restart the Social Dialogue processes, make them
more transparent, democratic and guarantee social and civil participation
in the debates on solutions to the crisis.
A call
to action
The trade union
movement demands concrete policies from the governments of the region
that make the proposals being debated a reality. We demand spaces
for participation at the national and international level in order
to present our proposals. In this sense, it is essential that more
and better consultation mechanisms be established between governments
and social movements.
We have expectations
with regards to the political process of the United States, where
the new President has made a commitment to consider trade unionism,
not as a problem, but as part of the solution to the crisis. We
forcefully support the adoption of the Employees Free Choice Act
(EFCA), which defends the right of workers in the United States
to organize freely and to negotiate collectively, and prevents employers
from interfering in the organization of workers. In addition to
contributing to the strengthening of the North American economy,
this will have positive impacts on the international scene and in
the Americas.
We support the
recent decision of the Obama administration to allow people from
the United States to travel and send money to Cuba, to establish
fiber optic and satellite connections with the island, and to broaden
the list of humanitarian products that may be exported to the island.
The recent mission of US Congressmen to Cuba is also encouraging.
These positive steps should result in a definitive end to the blockade
against Cuba. Trade unionism in the Americas has demanded an end
to the blockade against this country for decades.
As part of
the international trade union movement, we demand that in the next
G-20 Summit, actions and effective changes in the regulation of
the world economy be approved. On the financial level, the creation
of regional institutions for regulating and monitoring financial
activities should be supported and we must move ahead with the process
of strengthening the Bank of the South.
We hope and
we demand that the priorities of the decisions of the G-20 and other
multilateral organizations will be to make changes to the policies
that gave rise to the crisis, combat its effects and the consolidation
of multilateralism focussed on social equity, decent work with decent
pay and sustainable development.
We call upon
all the workers of the Americas to mobilize: on May 1st, International
Day of Workers and of Mobilization to face the Crisis; and on October
7th, World Day for Decent Work in face of the Crisis, and November
25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women.
FOR
THE VALIDITY OF TRADE UNION FREEDOM AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING!
FOR
SOCIAL PROTECTION!
FOR
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LABOR PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAS!
Port of Spain,
April 16th, 2009.
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