Sustainlabour and the IUF: Global Pesticides Project in francophone Africa

In 1998 several African trade unions from Ethiopia, Malawi, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe began a project entitled ¨Global Project on Pesticides¨ with the objective of reducing and minimizing the impacts of pesticides use on farmers´ health and the environment. The project included a wide range of activities: the elaboration of materials, training, trade union activities, and projects related to the substitution of the use of harmful chemicals. Leer más...

Sustainlabour delivers training session in renewable energies with workers in Peru

From June 18-23, 40 workers from the Cajamarca region of Peru participated in a professional training course on photovoltaic solar energy. The course covered topics such as the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of photovoltaic energy systems while serving to promote the creation of sustainable employment in the region and in the country.
The session took place in the Centre for Technical Training in Applied Technologies (CEDECAP) in Cajamarca. Sustainlabour organized the event in cooperation with Engineers Without Borders (EWB) and Practical Solutions ITDG. This project is part of the joint UNEP-Sustainlabour programme on Labour and Environment. Leer más...

Trade Unions at the OECD Conference on Nanotechnology

The OECD Conference on Potential Environmental Benefits of Nanotechnology: Fostering Safe Innovation-Led Growth will be held in Paris from July 15 -17, 2009.
Trade Unions will participate in the Conference in order to bring forward general concerns and input as food for thought in the area related to the occupational health aspects of nanotechnologies. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) will participate in the opening plenary to address these issues. Leer más...

Climate change: Sustainlabour continues its work on the road to Copenhagen

A large delegation of trade-unionists took part in the preparatory meeting for the Copenhagen Summit (1st to 12th June in Bonn, Germany). Sustainlabour was also there, supporting trade union positions, and reinforcing their weight in these vital international negotiations.
Over the past few weeks there has been positive news for the trade union movement. The “chair’s official negotiation text”, which was published a few weeks prior to the meeting and which will form the basis for climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, includes the recognition of the need for a just transition for workers who will be the most affected by the carbon emission reduction efforts. Trade unions’ and the ITUC’s hard work has paid off. More information is available here. Leer más...

Sustainlabour: launching of the training guides in Russian

The UNEP and Sustainlabour training guides on Climate Change and the Rational Management of Chemical Substances have just come out in Russian. They can be downloaded from our website. Leer más...

The trade unions make themselves heard during the CSD

Sustainlabour actively participated in the 17thssion of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) which took place in New York City from the 4th the 15th of may. During this session, the focus was on Africa, agriculture, droughts and desertification, among others. The trade union movement, with 24 delegates from 14 countries, insisted on the need to include key issues into the debate: the need to protect and give a voice to agriculture workers, the need for a right to food, or the urgency to promote social protection and decent work in rural areas in order to advance towards a more sustainable agriculture.
Sustainlabour and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) organized an event on the 11th May entitled “In the context of a multiple crisis (food, labor, financial, climatic): a new global compromise on agriculture?”. 40 delegates, of which a number of governmental representatives, took part in the workshop. Speakers included Danila Boneba, the United Nations rapporteur on the right to Food, and Katishi Masemole, general secretary of COSATU, among others. The director of Sustainlabour, Laura Martin (who also made a presentation) and Anabella Rosemberg of the ITUC were present at the meeting. Leer más...