Reconstruction project launched for tsunami area

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محتوى الصفحة: Home > مجلة النقل الدولي "Transport International" > Issue 19 April 2005 > After the Tsunami

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The Global Unions launched an international trade union initiative* in January to provide funding for reconstruction work in the Asian coastal areas struck by the tsunami disaster of December 2004.

Many transport workers and their families died in the disaster, which at the time of writing had claimed over 165,000 lives, with thousands more people still missing. Giant waves, created by an earthquake under the Indian Ocean, devastated fishing communities in particular, destroyed or damaged ships, port equipment, coastal roads, railway lines, trains and buses as well as trade union buildings and facilities.

The Global Union initiative sets out to help ensure maximum cohesion in the trade union movement’s response to the tragedy. It aims to identify reconstruction work where trade unions have a specific role to play and where union expertise is most needed, for example in the rebuilding of trade union infrastructure.

Under the terms of the initiative, affiliates of the Global Unions partners in the countries affected can submit requests for funding, while other unions are invited to contribute to the fund. Contributing unions can indicate if there are specific countries, industries or projects where they want their support to be directed.

In the meantime, GU partner organisations have been gathering information about the situation on the ground.

Fishing workers among hardest hit

Beyond the most immediate needs, the vital question is raised of what can be done to enable the millions of workers who have lost their livelihoods, particularly the fishing workers who have been massively affected, to find new means of ensuring their survival and that of their families.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that around a million people have been left jobless in Sri Lanka and Indonesia alone, mostly fishing workers, but also many small farmers and small traders.

Backing the view of the ILO, which insists on the need for an “intensive job creation strategy to be integrated” into post-tsunami humanitarian and reconstruction programmes, the Global Unions mission also insisted on the need to develop aid programmes for occupational training and increased support for sustainable employment creation projects, through the creation of cooperatives.

The local unions also stressed the need for the international trade union movement to assist them in the fight against the erosion of workers’ rights and the danger of more ruthless exploitation of both adult and child workers.

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Extract from ICTFU news report, January 2005.

A mission of international union leaders travelled to Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the two worst affected countries, in January. Based on numerous meetings with local trade unionists and other social activists, they were able to supplement the reports already received from the trade unions in the region, with a view to drawing up priorities for tackling the urgent and longer term reconstruction needs. ITF regional officers also visited these countries to assess the special needs of transport unions and they have been in close contact with national coordinating committees.

Union members in the affected countries, including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, mobilised immediately to provide funds, transport of essential items, and other humanitarian relief services.

In India transport workers nationwide pledged a day’s salary to the prime minister’s relief fund. In Indonesia, the ITF-affiliated union IKAGI negotiated an extra baggage allowance for cabin crew of the national airline Garuda on flights into Banda Aceh. This enabled them to transport tonnes of medical supplies and other relief materials donated by union members and the public. Many other transport unions, both within and outside the tsunami affected areas, have made major contributions to the relief effort. The Maritime Union of Australia had raised US$75,000 as TI went to press. The ITF website (www.itfglobal.org) continues to publish updated reports of their ongoing work and experiences.

Unions wishing to contribute to the Global Unions fund can transfer money to the ITF. The ITF has contributed £10,000 (US$18,850) to the Global Unions Tsunami Fund and donated £10,000 to the Tsunami Maritime Relief programme established by the International Maritime Organisation.

Report from Banda Aceh

Shigi Wada, ITF Asia Pacific regional secretary, reports on his trip to banda Aceh, capital of the Indonesian province at the epicentre of the tsunami. more >>

The ITF and other sector-based Global Union Federations (GUFs), with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) representing national trade union centres, agreed the tsunami reconstruction initiative at their meeting on 11-12 January near Geneva, Switzerland. www.global-unions.org

الصفحة الرئيسية للأقسام:
Issue 19 April 2005

صفحات أخرى لـ After the Tsunami:
Report from Banda Aceh

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