Labour and Environment Conference 27- 07 - 06

Trade Union African Conference on Labour and the Environment

Johannesburg, South Africa, 28th & 29th July, 2006

The media are invited to attend an important international trade union conference in COSATU House, Braamfontein, Johannesburg on 28-29 July 2006, starting at 09h00 each day.

The African Trade Union Conference on Labour and the Environment aims to establish a framework for discussion, development and adoption of common strategies for the trade union movement on sustainable development at the workplace, community, national and regional level.

80 trade union leaders from 22 countries will be gathering to follow up on decisions taken at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development and on the legacy of the First Global Trade Union Assembly on Labour and the Environment, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour organisation (ILO) and Sustainlabour, on 14-16 January 2006.

The Global Assembly was a giant step in the unfolding of the trade unions’ environmental and sustainable development agenda. The time has now come to examine its outcomes in the context of regional and local realities. Incorporating the environmental dimension into trade union work, encouraging decent and sustainable job creation and setting in motion the necessary just transition measures.

The objectives of the African Trade Union Conference on Labour and the Environment are to establish a framework for discussion and the adoption of common strategies for action on sustainable development by African trade unions to:
· Improve the understanding of African trade union concerns and needs regarding environmental issues.
· Raise awareness about the linkages between Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and other areas of trade union action, e.g. asbestos and HIV/AIDS.
· Identify the training needs of African workers, so as to enhance their role as agents for change toward sustainability, through actions at the workplace and within the local, national & regional settings.
· Promote an exchange of experiences and good practices.
· Build action networks for empowering national organizations to implement the decisions taken regionally and to incorporate them within international processes.
· Support the development of regional actions, i.e. campaigns or action plans.

The conference is sponsored by the United National Environment Programme, the World Health Organisation and the International Labour Organisation.

Among the many speakers will be:

· Andrew Kailembo, General Secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions - Africa Region
· Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of COSATU
· Blessing Manale, Director of Sustainable Development, SA Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
· Joaquin Nieto, President of Sustainlabour Foundation
· Representatives of African trade unions, UNEP, ILO, WHO and Global Action against Poverty

The media are invited to a press conference to receive a report on the conference. The details are:

DATE: Saturday 29 July
TIME: 11h00
VENUE: COSATU House, 1 Leyds Street, cnr Biccard, Braamfontein.

Please find the full programme for the conference below

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets
Braamfontein, 2017

P.O.Box 1019
Johannesburg, 2000
SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24
Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667
Cell: 0828217456
E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za

friday, 28Th JULY

9:00 10:00 1st Session: Labour and environment. A way out of poverty Chair: Zwelinzima Vavi, COSATU General Secretary § South African Government, Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Blessing Manale, Directorate of Sustainable Development § Integrating TU action within the Sustainable Development paradigm: decent jobs & environment Andrew Kailembo, ICFTU - AFRO General Secretary GREETINGS: § Paz y Solidaridad Foundation Marisol Pardo, Confederal Secretary of International cooperation for Development from Comisiones Obreras, Fundación Paz y Solidaridad § United Nations Environment Programme Bob K. Kakuyo, Coordinator South-South Cooperation. Division of Regional Cooperation § Sustainlabour Foundation Laura Martin Murillo, Managing Director
10:00 Break
10:30 12:00 2nd Session: Environment, Decent employment and Poverty Eradication Chair: Joaquin Nieto, President of Sustainlabour Foundation § The central role of Decent Employment in poverty eradication and environmental protection Mohamed Mwamadzingo, ILO/ACRTAV Africa Regional Office § Health in the World of Work Thebe A. Pule, Regional Advisor, Occupational Health, WHO Africa Regional Office § Environmental challenges in Africa: Facts and figures from sub regional perspectives Charles Sebukeera, Programmer Officer. African Region. Division of Early Warning and Assessment. UNEP and Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong from NEDAP Secreteriat § Addressing poverty eradication in the way to Sustainable Development Kumi Naidoor. Chair. Global Action Against Poverty § Open discussion & summary from the Chair
12:00 12:30 3rd Session: Trade Union Assembly on Labour and the Environment § Presentation of the Resolution of the TU Assembly on Labour and Environment Fatou Ndoye, Programme Officer, Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch, UNEP Joaquin Nieto, President of Sustainlabour Foundation
12:30 Lunch
14:00 15:30 4th Session: Introduction to working groups & Practical Examples of Trade Union action on Environment Chair: Adrien Akouete Yaovi Beleki, General Secretary DOAWTU Identification of common challenges: gender perspective; health: with HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases; rural/urban Angela Lomosi, ICFTU- AFRO. African Regional Organisation 1. Equal and sustainable access to resources and services: water, energy and land Têko Kpodar Regional Secretary for Africa and Arab countries, IPS. International of Public Services 2. Vulnerability to Climate Change: consequences on Labour and the Environment Thomas Mbeyela, TUCTA. Trade Union Congress of Tanzania 3. Hazardous substances in the workplace & the communities - linking occupational to community health Yahya Msangi, IUF, International Union of Food, Agric. Hotel, Rest. Cater. Tobacco and Allied Workers 4. Labour and Environment: making companies accountable Gabou Gueye, Vice President UNI Africa, Union Network International 5. Sustainable Forests Inviolata Chinyangarara, Regional Coordinator, BWI, Building and Wood Workers International
15:30 18:00 5th Session: Working Groups 1. Equal and sustainable access to resources and services: water, energy and land Petrus Mashishi, President SAMWU, South African Municipal Workers Union 2. Vulnerability to Climate Change: consequences on Labour and the Environment Geoffrey Kabi, Treasurer General, NOTU, National Organisation of Trade Unions Uganda 3. Hazardous substances in the workplace & the communities - linking occupational to community health Hella Alikuru, IUF 4. Labour and Environment: making companies accountable Thabo Tshabalala, Regional Coordinator, ITGLWF Africa. International Textil, Garment and Leather Workers Federation

saturday 29th JULY
09:00 6th Session: Presentation of Working Groups recommendations
10:00 12:30 7th Session: Building trade union environmental action plans in Africa: sub-regional perspective Introduction: Marga Ferré, Member of the Board of Sustainlabour Sub regions groups. The objective of these groups is to identify common problems and join actions: Northern and Western Africa; Central Africa; Southern Africa and Eastern Africa
12:30 Lunch
14:00 15:00 8th Session: Presentations and discussion of the sub-regional plans for TU action in Africa Northern and Western Africa: Chris Uyot, NLC, Nigeria Labour Congress and Kadidiatout Sow, CSTM, Confederation Syndicale de Travalleurs du Mali. Central Africa. Angelique Katanai Kipulu, CSC, Cenfederation Syndicale du Congo and Tshikali Kalubye, CDT, Confederation Democratique du Travail. Southern Africa. Tecla Masamba, ZCTU, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. Eastern Africa. Wafula Musamia, COTU, Central Organisation of Trade Unions, Kenya.
15:00 16:30 9th Session: Debate & adoption of the Johannesburg Accords and action plans Andrew Kailembo, General Secretary, ICFTU-Afro Bheki Ntshalintshali, Deputy General Secretary, COSATU
16:30 17:00 Closing Ceremony UNEP Sustainlabour ICFTU-Afro COSATU