Branch International Officers Updates

Dear Colleagues

The following items publicise campaigns and events that UNISON either sponsored or supports. Please publicise these to your members to take action. There are a number of links, logos, e-actions, postcards, model letters, etc for the campaigns which you can use in your newsletters or websites and there are flyers advertising the events. 

Help ban Israeli settlement goods (campaign)

Get involved in the TUC/PSC joint campaign to end the sale of settlement produce in Britain. This is a major new campaign to get illegal settlement goods off our supermarket shelves as their sale contravenes international law. The campaign webpage includes activities such as model letters to MPs, MEPs and local supermarkets, e-tools, a media strategy and a postcard campaign (postcards will be available direct from PSC soon – more details to follow but PSC's campaign web page here: Help take Israeli settlement goods off the shelves

Join the call for global arms embargo on Burma (campaign)

Burma Campaign UK, with UNISON support, is upping its campaign calling for the UN to impose a global arms embargo to stop Burma terrorising its own people. Take action and request the postcards addressed to the Foreign Secretary telling him the UK government must act.

Change trade not our climate! Public meeting (event)

A public meeting in London organised by Trade Justice Movement on 15 April calls for a just global trading system as unfair trade is pushing millions into poverty. The meeting will look at how we move to a low carbon and just global trading system. UNISON has brought John Mawbey, from the South African Municipal Workers Union, to the UK to give a southern trade union perspective. Come and take part in the debate and please publicise the event in your own publications.

Zimbabwe 30 years on: rights, challenges and opportunities, London (event) 
17 April, 1115am, Unite head office, London
To mark the 30th anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) is holding a major conference conference in London on 17 April with Lovemore Matombo, Irene Petras, Gabriel Shumba and John Mawbey. The conference will examine the country’s current challenges and opportunities for the future from a diaspora, trade union and human rights perspective.

Zimbabwe 30 years on: Rights, challenges and opportunities, Bristol (event)
19 April , 4 – 5pm, Colston Hall, Bristol
To mark the 30^th anniversary of Zimbabwe’s independence UNISON and Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) are organising a meeting for trade unionists in the South West.  The meeting will examine the country’s current challenges and opportunities from a trade union and human rights perspective. Speakers include Lovemore Matombo, President, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and Mark Beacon, Campaign Manager, ACTSA, Thompsons are supporting this event.
Location: www.colstonhall.org/visitorinformation/howtofindus

Iraqi workers standing up for their rights (campaign)

Join Iraqi workers in their campaign for fundamental rights at work. Workers across Iraq have recently launched a campaign to finally overturn the repressive laws still in place seven years after the fall of Saddam, and to give them their fundamental rights at work. In the wake of the recent national elections, international support is urgently needed to press the new Iraqi government to put in place a fair and just labour law. You can get involved in a number of ways such as signing the online appeal, contacting the Iraqi embassy and publishing articles in your own publications and website.

In solidarity

Hamid Rasheed

Branch International Officer.