Civil society and trade unions working together for a fair globalization

The Global Network

The GN started in 2001 and works to empower activists in civil society organisations and trade unions to improve their capacity for dialogue with international institutions such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

It is a worldwide alliance of trade unions, NGOs and social movements. It was established by SOLIDAR and the International Federation of Workers’ Education Associations (IFWEA) in order to unite organisations concerned about the effects of globalisation on people’s lives. The GN project has three regional networks: Asia, Africa and Latin America. Overall coordination is provided by Solidar from Brussels.

The GN currently operates in 29 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, bringing people together to promote a constructive engagement with the processes of globalisation and to improve the capacity of civil society activists to engage in dialogue with key decision makers at the national, regional and international levels. It is not an organisation in itself, but a network of NGOs and trade Unions.

The main connecting factor between all the organisations is concern or interest in the effects of globalisation and decisions taken by international institutions.

Global Network ObjectivesEradication of poverty and the advancement of social and economic rights through improving the capacity of activists in civil society for dialogue with public authorities

Empowerment, by building coalitions across borders among the wider social and labour movement

Education of workers and civil society activists concerning the effects that international trade policies and the behaviour of governments and companies have on their rights and livelihoods

Engagement with national governments, regional organisations, international institutions and multinational enterprises to advance the rights of women and men in the global economy

ActivitiesThe organisation of public events at international conferences such as WTO meetings and the World Social Forum. Regional coordinators’ meetings to develop regional and global strategies.

Dialogue between Global Network participants and national, regional and international institutions The conduct and participation in research activities National, regional and international seminars to build alliances, share learning and develop strategies to promote the social dimension of globalisation

Preparation of educational materials for training and Writing reports to use as educational material and as basis for lobbying

The Global Network in the World

AFRICAThe Global Network in Africa is the most participative project.Egypt – Centre for Trade Union & Worker Studies, Ghana – Ghana Trade Union Congress Labour CollegeMalawi – Malawi Congress of Trade UnionsMauritius – Mauritius Labour Congress and State Employees FederationNamibia – Labour Research and Resource InstituteSouth Africa – Labour Research ServiceUganda – Uganda Workers’ Education ServiceZambia – Workers’ Educational AssociationZimbabwe – Ishmael Nedziwe College of Labour Studies

ASIABangladesh – Bangladesh Institute of Labour StudiesCambodia – Cambodia Women’s Movement Hong Kong – Hong Kong Confederation of Trade UnionsIndia – Self-Employed Women’s AssociationIndonesia – Labour Working GroupKorea – Korea Labour and Society InsitutePakistan – Institute of Labour Education and Research Philippines – Labour Education and Research NetworkThailand – Centre for Labour Information Service and Training

LATIN AMERICAArgentina – FOCOBolivia – LaborBrazil – Observatorio SocialChile – Mujer y Trabajo/Alianza Chileana por un Commerco Justo y ResponsabileColombia – Escuela National SindicalDominican Republic- InfosEcuador – SerpajMexico – CILAS Peru – PLADES

Achievements and Projects

In Zambia, the Global Network activities brought together leaders from associations of market traders, street vendors and home workers. Through a succession of local meetings held during 2002 & 2003, the Global Network has assisted in the promotion of sustainability of partnerships and alliances of informal economy associations and trade unions.The Global Network Hong Kong (under the name of the Hong Kong People’s Alliance on WTO) acted as the umbrella organisation for all civil society activities at the 6th WTO Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong in 2005. The Global Network has been a major player in global seminars• At the ICFTU* World Congress 2004 in Miyazaki, Japan• At the World Social Forum (WSF) 2005 in Porto Alegre, Brazil and Nairobi, Kenya 2007* ICFTU - International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

The Regions

The Global Network Latin America focuses on the capacity of civil society to influence international institutions and the effects of globalisation on the lives of workers around the world. To achieve this the Global Network Latin America developed a long-distance course on international trade and the implications for labour and social rights, for agriculture and food security rights, for public health rights and through this has built understanding of trade agreements and their effects.

The Global Network Asia works towards strengthening cooperation between trade unions, NGOs and other civil society groups in the Asia region regarding globalisation issues. Particular focus is placed on how civil society can respond to the effects of globalisation and the implications of WTO agreements, bilateral free trade agreements, trade and development, global civil society and labour. At the same time the Global Network Asia focuses on the dissemination and coordination of information exchange, resources and perspectives among participating organisations.

The Global Network Africa provides a space for dialogue on alliance building between trade unions,organisations of workers in the informal economy and other civil society organisations around a common decent work agenda for Africa. Its aim is to displace the current neoliberal practices and policies of corporations, governments and multilateral institutions with alternatives that eradicate poverty, unemployment and inequality. The Global Network Africa, therefore, focuses on new forms of organisation and new organisational strategies for the labour movement in Africa.

“The Global Network is the most participative project I’ve ever been involved with, it’s from the ground up, it deals with local issues and local organisations design it and it works globally” Participant in GN Africa

The Global Network and Decent Work

The Global Network is actively taking part in promoting the concept of Decent Work introduced by the ILO* in 2001. Since then, a global momentum has taken place to promote the four pillars of Decent Work which are: rights at work, employment, social protection and social dialogue.

The Global Regions have been partners in SOLIDAR’s “Decent Work, Decent Life” Project through providing research into aspects of Decent Work. Furthermore several seminars are being conducted on the principles of decent work to educate the partners in the Global Network. * ILO - International Labour Organisation

CONTACT

SOLIDARProject coordinator: Andrea Maksimovic22, rue du Commerce, B-1000 Brussels, BelgiumTel +32 2 500 1020, Fax +32 2 500 1030Contact: andrea@solidar.orgwww.solidar.org

AFRICA:Saliem PatelLabour Research Service (LRS), South AfricaTel: +27(21) 447 1677, Fax:+27(21) 447 9244Contact: saliem@lrs.org.zawww.lrs.org.za

ASIA:Rey RasingLabour Education and Research Network (LEARN), PhilippinesTel/Fax: +632 9276713 or +632 9276709 Contact:infomail@learn.org.phwww.globalnetwork-asia.org

LATIN AMERICA:Juan Carlos VargasPlades, PeruTel: +51 1 470 0954, Fax:+51 1 471 5642Contact: jcvargas@plades.org.pewww.redglobal.plades.org.pe

Chair of Steering Group: Rodney Bickerstaffe, Vice-President SolidarResponsible Editor : Conny Reuter, Secretary-General Solidar

The Global Network is sponsored by: