PRESENTATION
T
his Practical Guide to Trade Union Action at the International Labour Organization is a fundamental tool for the exercise of trade union work in the international arena. It is not an academic piece of work, yet it contains all the required elements thereto including quality, accurate, and detailed information. Rather, this guide has been conceived with the aim of bringing practical information to the leaders of trade union organizations affiliated to Public Services International in Inter-America in order to deepen their trade union work in the different spaces of supervision, complaints, and political action of the International Labour Organization (ILO). As detailed by Professor Carlos Ledesma in this guide, the ILO is the only multilateral organization in the United Nations system that operates with a tripartite structure, where the constituents – Governments, Employers, and Workers – make decisions on the basis of ‘social dialogue’, a dynamic that is fed by the generation of inputs – including complaints and proposals – that are discussed at every level, jointly by all three social actors. Public Services International has a global and regional strategy in relation to the ILO that is hinged on supporting its affiliates, strengthening
their actions, and amplifying their voice in the highest international arenas, with the strength of trade union solidarity and the power of representation wielded by an organization representing more than 20 million workers in over 200 countries worldwide. This guide is an instrument for affiliates to make the most of the work PSI has been carrying out at the International Labour Organization. This work is a fundamental cornerstone of our Global Union Federation struggle, and of the entire trade union movement, in our permanent pursuit of social justice and equality. PSI’s work at the ILO It is important that our affiliates fully understand the work that PSI carries out in the different spaces, forums, areas, and departments of the International Labour Organization. This Guide outlines the objectives, structure, and functioning of the ILO so that the unions that are part of PSI can join the work that our international team has been doing for years in the region and at the central office. This ongoing work includes claiming institutional and representation space for unions, developing experience and technical capacity, and building a solid track record of
PRACTICAL GUIDE TO TRADE UNION ACTION AT THE ILO
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