Johannesburg Declaration by Trade Unions

(This text was originally posted at www.pes.org - it is here for those who cannot access the PES Activists Bloggers' Corner.)

Talking about cooperation with developing countries, surprisingly many Europeans still have a 'von-oben' attitude: we'll give, they'll receive. Colonialism remains with us, not least in attitudes.

I'm starting to see that when it comes to political will, drive and visions, we in the cold "North" have a lot to learn from "the South".

Mayors in cities like Bogota and Cape Town have had visions about equity and urban sustainability that we can only dream of, and they've put their plans into action while we still keep talking.

Another example was a recent e-mail from ICFTU informing about the TRADE UNION AFRICAN CONFERENCE ON LABOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT, which was held in Johannesburg, South Africa in July this year.

To my amazement in my own country Finland, some trade union representatives often use the same arguments as people from the industry associations: employment first, sustainability second, or, more energy first, no matter what kind of energy, and energy efficiency, conservation and renewables some time later. Growth first, environment only if we have to, this has been the tone of voice.

Let me quote a couple of paragraphs from the Johannesburg Declaration of the Trade Unions of 18 African countries, and their international associations:

"We agree to:

1. Strengthen our understanding of the links between the environment, labour and poverty. Decent Work should be taken to embrace environmental sustainability, as essential to sustainable livelihood.
2. Make the fundamental rights of workers and their unions a central feature of sustainable development strategies, e.g. for freedom of association, collective bargaining and the right to refuse dangerous and hazardous work.
3. Ensure gender equity and women worker issues as indicators of environmental and social sustainability and integrate such indicators into sustainable development strategies for designing and implementing change."

I'm immensely proud of my COSATU and other friends in Johannesburg.