International Campaigns & Issues 2010



As the peak union body for Australia, the ACTU participates in a range of international forums on behalf of unions and Australian workers, including the International Labour Organisation and the International Trade Union Confederation.



Australian unions are also active players in the global union movement, joining international campaigns and solidarity actions on a regular basis.



In this section, you will find statements by the ACTU on international issues, details of current international campaigns, and news from around the world.


Recent International Campaigns & Issues

International Migrants Day 2010

December 20, 2010

To mark International Migrants Day, the ITUC is condemning the violations of migrant workers’ rights taking place all over the world.

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Opposition to the re-opening of the Jeffrey Asbestos Mine in Canada

December 14, 2010

The organisations we represent are very concerned about the proposed re-opening of the Jeffrey asbestos mine in Quebec. We understand that the new mine may have annual exports of 200,000 tons of asbestos for the next 25 to 50 years.

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Statement of solidarity with the Saharawi people following recent attack on civilians

December 2, 2010

We abhor the aggression against Saharawi civilians and calls on the Kingdom of Morocco to fully respect the basic human rights of the Sahawari people and allow them to exercise their rights to self-determination.

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Labour activists jailed in Vietnam

November 30, 2010

Australian unions have condemned the jailing of union organisers in Vietnam and call for their immediate release.

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Trade unions Say NO to violence against women

November 25, 2010

To mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, the ITUC and its affiliated organisations across the globe are rallying to say NO to this violence and to fight the discrimination underpinning it.

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ILO deals the ‘death knoll for asbestos’

September 30, 2010

A statement from a United Nations body confirming its desire to see the end of asbestos use worldwide is the ‘death knoll’ for a substance which claims one life every five minutes around the clock.

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World Day for Decent Work: Unions step up pressure for jobs and social Justice

September 15, 2010

Trade unions across the world are stepping up pressure for decent jobs and social justice, in the lead up to the World Day for Decent Work, October 7.

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Second ITUC World Congress concludes by electing its first female General Secretary

June 25, 2010

On the final day of its second World Congress in Vancouver, Sharan Burrow was elected to succeed Guy Ryder as first General Secretary of the ITUC – the world’s largest international trade union organisation.

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International trade unions to adopt historic resolution on climate change

June 24, 2010

Unions from all over the world are to adopt today an ambitious resolution on climate change.

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Millions of workers demand nuclear disarmament

May 5, 2010

Following the opening of the UN Nuclear Disarmament Summit yesterday in New York, international trade union representatives will today hand over a petition for nuclear disarmament signed by more than 6.7 million workers to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

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The ACTU Network

Australian Unions

Whether you want to join a union, take action in campaigns, or make the most of the benefits of being a union member, Australian Unions is the place to go for information and resources.
Visit Australian Unions

Mind Your Head

We’re taking action to protect workplace mental health.
Visit Mind Your Head

Worksite

Your rights at work for students and for people entering the workforce for the first time.
Visit Worksite

OHS

Information and resources for health and safety representatives and workers about how to speak up at work for health and safety.
Visit OHS

Union Aid Abroad

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is the overseas aid and development agency of the ACTU. Our work aims to build self-reliance through support to educational and training projects for workers and their organisations in the developing world.
Visit Union Aid Abroad

ACTU National Union Directory

Find who you are looking for from the who’s who of the union movement.
Visit the ACTU National Union Dictionary
Australian Council of Trade Unions

Representing Australian workers and their families.