International News

ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow has urged the heads of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, whose annual meetings take place in Washington this weekend (10-12 October), to champion a coordinated wage- and public investment-led recovery strategy that addresses the combined problems of deficient aggregate demand and rising…

This new report on trade, written by Ellen Gould, was launched by PSI and Our World is not For Sale (OWINFS) at a Global Trade Summit in Washington DC on 15-17 September 2014. Click here to read this on the PSI website Highly secretive talks began in 2012 to establish…

Fiji's Commodore Frank Bainimarama, reinstalled as Prime Minister following a deeply flawed election last month, is set to allow an ILO mission into the country to probe labour rights violations. A 2012 ILO mission was expelled from the country when its members refused to allow the authorities to dictate how…

ACTU President Ged Kearney said Australian Unions stand in solidarity with Hong Kong workers in the fight for democracy. "Australian Unions strongly condemn the Chinese Government for suppressing freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in Hong Kong," Ms Kearney said. "We further condemn the police for their violent attack…

The Government and Labor's support for the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement gives a potential greenlight for imports made in the misery of North Korean prison camps. ACTU President Ged Kearney said the Korea-Australian Free Trade Agreement goes against the core values of the ALP. "This disgraceful deal will not only…

Ahead of the People's Climate March on 21 September in New York City, PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, and author and activist Naomi Klein talk about Climate Change, Energy Democracy and the role of trade unions. Read this item on the PSI website here The meeting was part of a…

Reports of widespread fraud in the 457 visa scheme reinforces concerns unions have about abuse of the scheme. "Unions have always had concerns that employers were abusing the 457 visa program to bring in cheaper labour from overseas," said ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver. "Now we have reports that the 457…

UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings has told the Financial Times that higher wages are key to global growth. Click here to read this item on the UNI website Responding to news that Germany's Bundesbank has backed unions to bargain for higher wages (see further news item below), Jennings called on…

The Australian Services Union has written to the Australian Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee to express strong opposition to the inclusion of Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions in the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) and urges the inclusion of stronger provisions to protect the rights of workers…

A WikiLeaks exposé has revealed the true intent behind secret 50-country negotiations on a new "financial services" chapter of the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) at the WTO in Geneva. The draft agreement being discussed by government officials is aimed at weakening financial regulation and giving extra market access to…