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Historic first for ITF regional conference in Arab World

14 Janeiro 2010

The enormous growth of the ITF in the Arab region over the past six years was reflected in an historic first ever ITF regional conference in the Arab World.

More than 100 delegates from 33 unions representing transport workers in 10 countries met in Amman, Jordan, from 12-14 January 2010. There they debated issues ranging from the impact of the economic crisis in the Arab World, to strategies for organising stronger unions involving women and young people.

Participants discussed how to develop a union perspective on climate change and influence government policy to protect the interests of workers and communities; the region is among the most vulnerable in the world to the impact of climate change. With one of the fastest growing rates of HIV/AIDS, more workplace programmes and campaigns would be initiated to combat stigma and discrimination, delegates concluded.

In addition, proposals for strengthening solidarity were discussed passionately; the ongoing struggles and hardships of transport workers in Palestine and Iraq received special attention.

Bilal Malkawi, ITF representative in the Arab World concluded: “Active participation by unions in the Middle East and North Africa shows that a full commitment to regional and international solidarity in the transport industry has grown. The importance of this industrial solidarity in a region with many political conflicts and tensions cannot be underestimated.”

Newly elected chair of the Arab World committee, Said Al-Hayrash from Morocco agreed: “This conference is itself significant given the difficulties in the region. We feel now that we do have a responsibility to lead the transport union movement forward towards better integration with all transport unions globally.”

ITF general secretary David Cockroft looked forward to the participation of Arab World unions at the ITF congress in Mexico and called for active support from affiliates around the world. “I am looking forward to having the voice of the Arab World loud and clear at the ITF congress,” he said.

The conference unanimously agreed to re-elect Muchtar Hili of Tunisia as a member of the ITF executive board; the new North African sub-regional coordinator is Abdulaziz Hamichi from Algeria.

The event was preceded by a women’s conference where delegates resolved to continue to fight for greater participation and recognition of women in union and international activities.

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