UNI holds first world congress

Union Network International's first world congress, held on 5-9 September 2001, discussed a broad range of issues, including the rights of workers in the 'new economy' and the importance of forming and nurturing global union alliances.

The first world congress of the global trade union organisation, Union Network International (UNI), was held in Berlin on 5–9 September 2001. Formed in January 2000 (EU9909192N), UNI brings together some 1,000 member trade unions worldwide, representing 15 million 'skills and services' workers in sectors such as commerce, finance, property services, the graphical industry, posts and telecommunications, the media, industry, business services and information technology.

The congress debated many issues of current interest and importance, and one particular focus was on protection for workers in the 'new economy'. Delegates at the congress stated that they would campaign to protect the rights of these workers, which include those in the information technology sector, those on 'atypical' employment contracts and those on zero-hours contracts, which the congress characterised as 'the new economy's equivalent of the 19th century dock-gate queue for casual work with its 'no call to work, no pay' system'. UNI plans to mount a range of campaigns in this area, including:

• an attempt to ensure that the International Labour Organisation's Decent Work concept includes workers in the new economy;

• the extension of social dialogue between employer and employee representative organisations to include new economy workers;

• supporting efforts to help online workers keep in touch with trade unions and works councils; and

• improving international cooperation between groups representing these workers.

A further topic debated at the congress was that of forming trade union alliances as a way of countering the increasing power of multinational companies. UNI delegates stated that they would work 'hand-in-hand' with other global union organisations in order to ensure a united union response to large corporations. More specifically, UNI delegates stated that they would like to see the creation of a 'world competition authority' which would have the power to prevent the emergence of global monopolies and to ensure the good behaviour of large corporations. In terms of action, UNI stated that it is: launching a programme to build global councils, based on the experience of European Works Councils; signing global labour standards agreements with multinational companies (EU0105213F); supporting the United Nations Global Compact initiative; and coordinating unions' attempts to use pension funds held on behalf of workers to improve corporate conduct.