Continuing the campaign
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| Photo: Jerry Galea/OxfamAUS |
That’s the message that UNISON is keen to impress on its members, in the wake of the formal winding up of the Make Poverty History campaign in February.
Established in 2004 to capitalise on the political spotlight offered by the UK’s presidency of the EU and hosting of the G8 summit, the coalition – of 540 charities, trade unions and activist bodies – was always going to have a finite existence.
No-one would pretend that Make Poverty History satisfactorily met its goals. Although $20 billion of additional aid was pledged and 19 countries had their debt to the International Monetary Fund cancelled, these changes fell well short of the demands for 100% debt cancellation of all poor countries, more and better aid and trade justice.
At the same time, many feel that the celebrity circus whipped up by Live 8, while highlighting the issues of Make Poverty History, also acted as a drain on the campaign’s resources in the brief time that it had to get its messages across.
And its ethos – not least the call for fair trade, not free trade – was sorely undermined by the global trade talks in Hong Kong in December. There, the world’s most powerful nations made progress towards a liberalisation of trade, through the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which UNISON believes will endanger the services and economies of developing countries.
The plus points
However, there were successes. As well as some movement on debt, the campaign won a commitment to provide universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment by 2010, and substantially boosted the public awareness of global poverty.
UNISON has vowed to build on those achievements.
"Make Poverty History struck a chord with thousands of UNISON members, bringing many into trade union activity for the first time,” says Alison Shepherd, chair of the union’s international committee.
“Campaigning for social justice and an end to poverty is an important strand to UNISON's internationalism. We didn't get everything we wanted in 2005, but as trade unionists we know that some campaigns take a little longer. We just keep working at it."
Central to Make Poverty History were the demands for a cancellation of world debt and an improvement in the economic and trading conditions that hold back the world’s poorest countries.
UNISON was the first trade union to join the campaign, playing a significant role in its key events, such as the Wake Up to Trade Justice vigil in London, the march and rally in Edinburgh ahead of the G8 Summit, and the mass lobby of parliament on trade justice.
This involvement with Make Poverty History galvanised UNISON’s membership, bringing many branches and members – in particular young members – into direct contact with the union’s international activities for the first time. The campaign also attracted new members to the union. And, in working alongside them, UNISON strengthened relationships with key development organisations such as the Trade Justice Movement, Oxfam, ActionAid, the World Development Movement and Trade Justice Movement.
“The response we’ve had from UNISON members has demonstrated their deep commitment to the issues of Make Poverty History,” says the union’s head of international relations, Nick Sigler. “They have also shown their enthusiasm for taking part in the fight for those issues – and to continue to do so.
“The aim now is to work with branches to ensure that we maintain the momentum of the work we’ve done and add to its achievements.”
Centrally, the union is to continue its campaign against the GATS process; add its voice to the current discussions as to the role public services should play in tackling poverty and securing sustainable development; and develop accessible information for its members about international issues and campaigns.
Members themselves can do a number of things to keep the ball rolling:
- make contact and start collaborating with the local offices of campaigning groups such as the World Development Movement, Oxfam and the Jubilee Debt Campaign;
- get involved with the broad range of UNISON’s international work;
- stand for election as branch international officer: officers attend the union’s biannual international seminars and could play a leading role in the union’s campaign for debt cancellation and trade justice;
- sign up to the urgent action email list, which suggests urgent action that could be taken to protect the lives of endangered trade unionists, for example in Colombia or Burma. To sign up, contact Mairin Power, assistant international officer on m.power@unison.co.uk.
story by Demetrios Matheou
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