Congratulatory Solidarity Message from Committee for Asian Women

To Ela Bhatt, SEWA

The Committee for Asian Women sends warm fraternal greetings, congratulations and solidarity wishes to Ela ben o­n winning the George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Awards. The award is an acknowledgment of your courage and strong commitment to women and social justice. This recognition is also a victory for the women workers movement in India and Asia.

The Network Groups of CAW make up the vision and work of CAW in giving rise to a conscious women workers movement in Asia. Ela Ben�s and SEWA�s contribution to CAW as a network group has been valuable and pioneering. SEWA�s work and vision has contributed tremendously in bringing to light the issues of informal sector women workers. Ela ben�s commitment to fighting against socio-economic injustice and standing up for the rights of the marginalised women is commendable.

On behalf of all the Network Groups from 14 countries in Asia, CAW Executive Committee, Secretariat, friends and supporters of CAW; we extend our warmest congratulations to you, Ela Ben and we shout our strong solidarity support with the women workers of SEWA.

In Solidarity

CAW Secretariat

Revolutionary greetings from All Pakistan Trade Union Federation!

APTUF is holding its National Conference in this crucial time when the multinationals; the financial speculators; the international financial institutions such as the WTO, World Bank and IMF; and all the governments in their service -- have declared an economic and political war against the workers, against their organizations, and against the peoples. The struggles of resistance of workers against discriminatory policies will succeed in unitying working people the world over -- from North to South and from East to West. This requires a united struggle of oppressed and exploited workers/peoples to stop the offensive of war and destruction, which is leading the world to the brink of barbarism.

This is the statement from Hong Kong organisations sent to The Limited and Clover Group International denouncing them for not fixing a meeting with the union as agreed o­n 23rd NOvember in HK. Time has been passed and it is not acceptable that the Limited is just backing itself out in front of all the international campaigners and GIna workers sitting everyday outside the empty factory.

1 November 2006 

We are agitated by the lack of response from The Limited/Victoria�s Secret to the request of the Gina Relations Workers Union (GRWU) for a tripartite meeting with the union and Clover Group International in Hong Kong. The demand was made to The Limited/Victoria�s Secret by GRWU o­n 23 October and the US company consented to it. Yet it is deplorable and indeed causing an outrage in the international community now as in nine days� time The Limited could not even propose a fixed date for the meeting while more than 1000 workers are faced with joblessness and are struggling hard against it everyday outside the empty factory building. Gina Form Bra has officially closed down by now.

November 1, Vienna- Much awaited new trade union international has been launched today comprising 306 affiliated national trade union centres of 154 country & territories representing some 168 million members.International Trade union Confederation (ITUC) as the umbrella of pluralistic, dynamic, democratic and independent trade union centres is declared amidst the presence of over 1,800 delegates and hundreds of dignitaries such as H.E Heinz Fischer, Federal President of Austria & Juan Somavia, Director General of ILO.

At 11:00 am AST Mr. LeRoy Trutman, Chairperson of Workers Group of ILO declared- " sisters & brothers now I here by declared foundation of International rade Union Confederation (ITUC)", who was chairing the historic event. The motion was forwarded by Emilo Gabaglio, former general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), who had facilitated unification process between ICFTU, WCL and group of non-affiliated national centres known as Contact Group.