Solidarity
Issue One, Spring 2009 Contents
Workers in New Zealand helping workers overseas
Page 1 Successful launch of UnionAID Dalit workers get organised
The Newsletter of the Unions Aotearoa International Development Trust
Successful launch of
UnionAID Thanks to all our supporters in the union movement UnionAID has got off to a great start since the launch on May Day 2009. UnionAID is unique among overseas development agencies in putting workers’ rights at the centre of our work. Generous financial support from both unions and members will mean that we can develop new projects as well. Our projects help vulnerable workers in developing countries to organize as unions and take their own action to improve life for their families. Unions have a long tradition of international solidarity. Providing funds for education and training work is a modern way of expressing that solidarity. Union centres in other developed countries, including Australia, have development agencies, and now with UnionAID we have joined them. We are small by comparison but, with support from unions and union members, UnionAID will grow steadily over the next few years.
Dalit workers get organised More than 30,000 Dalit workers in Tamil Nadu have formed local unions over the past 2 years as part of the UnionAID project with the Tamil Nadu Labour Union. 164 local unions work together under TLU leadership and 10,600 of the members are women. This is a tremendous achievement by workers who have historically been oppressed, abused and exploited by upper castes. The TLU also reports a huge list of achievements for
Become a Kiwi Solidarity member - Support real change
the project, but probably the most impressive is the sense of pride and confidence which their collective work has given them. The project has also helped them with leadership training and the development of communication and organising systems. A particular focus on the role of women and leadership and gender training has ensured a prominent role for women in a culture where women have had few rights. Working together the union has developed their cooperative employment ventures, established micro-banks, organised representation and campaigns to local and national government on a range of issues. But perhaps their most enduring achievements will be the changes of attitudes which the education work is bringing.
Page 2 My name is Kaleeswari Madurai Women’s Development Resource Centre Page 3 FTUB project Profile on Saw Min Lwin Leadership training for women Page 4 Young leaders from Burma Comment from Ross Wilson How to donate to UnionAID At this stage this is mainly among union members and their families with gender training, but the confidence that collective action is bringing is changing other relationships as well. The current UnionAID project will continue over the next three years with support from NZAID through the KOHA-PICD funding programme. (See Kaleeswari’s story on page 2 for more information on Union AID‘s work with the TNLU.)
You can help vulnerable workers in developing countries in our region get a fairer deal by making a small monthly donation by direct debit by emailing unionaid@nzctu.org.nz with your contact details. We will then contact you and make the arrangements. Unions Aotearoa International Development Trust is a registered charity - Reg. No.CC42051