São Paulo – The secretary general of the Tunisian General Labour Union, Abdessalem Jerad, and the assistant secretary to the association, Mohamed Shimi, are currently in the capital of the state of São Paulo to exchange union-related experiences with professionals in the field from developing countries. They will participate in the 9th Congress of the Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights (Sigtur), which will continue in São Paulo up until Thursday (22th), and had a positive experience at the meeting, as reported to ANBA.
"We are interested in exchanging experiences and gaining more in-depth knowledge of the actions of Brazilian union members. Discussing political issues is very important in order to improve the situation of Tunisian and Brazilian workers," said Shimi. This is the first time that union representatives from Tunisia attend the Sigtur, whose objective is to strengthen the connections and joint actions in the union sector, so as to empower the working class in the face of the economic crisis.
Besides Tunisia, the event will be attended by representatives of 26 different countries, such as South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, South Korea, and India. The event counts on support from the Brazilian Unified Workers Union (CUT). On Tuesday, one of the lecturers was the head of the Secretariat General of the Presidency, Luiz Dulci, who underscored the important role of unions for building a more fair and equal society.
Also yesterday, professor Emir Sader, executive secretary to the Latin American Council of Social Sciences participated in the congress, during which he criticized the press, which, according to him, "plays a key role in the competition for hegemony in our societies."
The Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights was established in 1991 by unions based in countries in Indian Ocean Basin. This year, the congress is being held in Brazil with the objective of implementing in the Latin American country the proposal of solidarity and South-South union relations, and also of exchanging experiences.
According to the assistant secretary general Shimi, Tunisia has its doors open to welcome union members for from other countries, for them to be able to discuss and become acquainted with Tunisian actions for fighting the crisis and neoliberal globalization. "We want to invite the Brazilians too," stated Shimi.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
