Ciuseppi calls for labour protection
e on the financial crisis as it affects labour. He calls on governments to sit down with the trade union movement to find solutions.
Whatever happened to Robert Giuseppi ?
Well, Giuseppi who was ousted as President of the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUFGW) has bounced back. He was recently appointed President of The Trade Union Technical and Advisory Council of the Organization of American States, COSATE.
Giuseppi recently addressed the 16th Inter- American Conference of Ministers of Labour (IACML) in Argentina on the global financial crisis as it affected labour.
Speaking at the Palisco San Martin Hotel, Giuseppi told delegates who came from 32 countries, that he was concerned about the role various governments were playing with respect to the global financial crisis as it affected labour.
He urged:
“Our ministers of labour must now encourage our governments to sit down with the trade union movement. We need to formulate and implement policies, plans and strategies that would buffer and reverse in the short term, this adverse and life threatening situation that now exists.”
He stressed that it was workers who were the ones who helped businesses to grow, over the years and earn profits in the millions and billions. Now workers have become the victims of this failed economic order.
“Together we would not only find solutions but also cures to this global economic and social pandemic. You ministers of labour must act as the conduit between the workers and the common people and the state.
“It is not only about creating jobs, we must ensure that workers keep their jobs,” Giuseppi reiterated.
He told the delegates that the ministers of labour, labour officials and the trade union movement already have the principles that can be used as fundamental guidelines.
“These being the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda for the Americas, the Global Job Pact, the Declaration on Social Justice, and, fair globalisation, and, our own commitment to decent work and human prosperity.
“We can give these policies and options, our own brand that would result in national plans that are home grown and most democratic, and at all times we must ensure the principles are right to work.”