TUAC - TRADE UNION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE OECD

26/06/2009

A Global Unions’ delegation led by TUAC presented its G8 statement today at tripartite consultations with the host of the G8, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, and the employers’ delegation, BIAC (the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD). 

All parties agreed that employment is now the central issue, recognising the urgent need to break the vicious circle whereby the effects of workers losing their jobs, incomes and homes combine with falling house prices to fuel the crisis in the credit markets and to further reduce demand, so leading to further job losses.

There was unanimous support for the recently approved Global Jobs Pact of the ILO and all parties agreed on the value of reinforcing social dialogue in solving the crisis.

ITUC representatives stressed the need to step up efforts to support developing countries and for G8 members to honour past commitments on official development assistance. The ITUC underlined the need for response to the crisis to be designed in partnership with developing counties to ensure that actions support national strategies – in line with agreed principles on aid effectiveness.

Trade unions called on the G8 to abandon the failed policies of the past and undertake a paradigm shift in the existing model of economic growth. This should place transparency and decent work at its core and provide for a more balanced, more sustainable and fairer global economy.

The trade union delegation pushed for the G8 to actively support the development of the Lecce Framework of common standards on ‘Propriety, Integrity and Transparency’, as well as the G20-led Global Charter for Sustainable Economic Activity.  

The G8 consultation came just after the OECD’s annual Ministerial Council Meeting, on the 24th -25th June where the TUAC President, John Sweeney, warned Ministers of the anger felt by workers around the world and called on the OECD "to explain exactly what it means by a 'stronger, cleaner and fairer world economy'".