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Threats to workers' health and safety from hazardous chemical exposure poses a significant concern in Central America and the Caribbean
September has been a month of intense work with our colleagues from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Nicaragua with whom we are implementing a project to promote the sound management of chemicals and to strengthen trade unions´ capacities to reduce chemical risks.
Sustainlabour aims to know what the main challenges and what are the biggest barriers to advance trade union action on chemical risk. We have started to look at the situation in different countries and to research which are the major concerns for workers and the existing union capacities to cope with risks in some of the sectors most exposed to them. We are determined to improve union capacity in the subject and to train workers for action.
The workers are among the most vulnerable to chemical risks, they are part of the victims, but they are also part of the solution. Thus, it is important that trade unions take an active role in the discussion and implementation of the sectoral and national policies and strategies for the sound management of chemicals.
Sustainlabour and WEDO were in charge of the Jobs Hub at the Rio + 20 Partnership Forum on gender equality and sustainability. Indicators related to Just Transition (number of countries carrying out a gender impact assessment of environmental policies), Social Protection (rate of women covered by a Social Protection Floor) and Green and Decent Work (rate of women having access to green and decent employment opportunities) were agreed.
June 15 – 22 – The Rio+20 People´s Summit for Social and Environmental Justice brought together social and mass movements, indigenous communities, trade unions, environmentalist organizations, and women’s networks, among other groups.
"Rio Outcome does not shift us from this unequal and enviro-destructive model". The international trade union movement came to Rio with a set of clear demands and an agenda that integrates the three dimensions of sustainable development: supporting a social protection floor, decent and green jobs and a financial transactions tax.
Twenty years after Rio, a not-at-all revolutionary summit has been held, unlike the first one. Governments recognize, with a sigh of relief, that this agreement represents the maximum that they could have obtained at this time, yet it is completely separate from the challenges.
Impressive rally in the centre of Rio de Janeiro calling for action. CUT Brazil estimates the participation of 50,000 people, one of largest the city has seen in recent years. The international trade union delegation marched alongside the Brazilian workers.
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Europe’s crisis is manifold: while newspapers focus on public deficits and debt, Austerity policies and wage cuts are boosting poverty and inequality in many parts of Europe
The decision was adopted in response to EU Commission consultation on unconventional fossil fuels in Europe
