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Powerful debate on decolonization and anti-racism in the world of work marks morning of Day 3

"For workers who suffer exclusion because of the color of their skin or any other form of discrimination in the world, it is imperative to change the reality," said Agripina Hurtado, chair of PSI's Inter-American Committee against Racism, Xenophobia and All Forms of Discrimination, who was responsible for moderating an important and powerful debate at the 31st World Congress of Public Services International (PSI).

Nancy Kachingwe, from Zimbabwe and co-founder of Southern Feminist Futures, was one of the speakers in a debate that still needs to be appropriated by the international trade union movement, but is beginning to take shape now. PSI is reinforcing its decolonial, intersectional and feminist approaches to the struggle against racism, xenophobia and all types of intolerance in Section 3 of its Program of Action: Respect and Dignity for All. This facilitated discussion detailed the theme and examined how PSI affiliates can actively participate in the decolonization of labor regimes.

"Decolonization is an opportunity to break free from discrimination and for women it is a way to break free from oppression," said Kachingwe. For the expert, one of the great changes imposed by neoliberalism has to do with blaming individuals for a system that is racist in its structure "The post-decolonization international order no longer tolerates discrimination, but has made it taboo to talk about racism. We can no longer say that discrimination and racism are to blame, but we blame blacks who are left behind for their situation. 'They're not doing enough,'" she said.

For the gender and public policy advisor, understanding the nature of capitalism is the answer to understanding how this debate relates to the world of work. "Capitalism does not exist without racism and patriarchy. All capitalism is racist from the beginning, that's why it is based on racial differences," she pointed out, recalling that this is a system integrated with patriarchy. "The creation of sexual and racial divisions of labor was essential to the survival and growth of capitalism," so "decolonization was not just a process, but a political principle: fighting racism and xenophobia is the key to the struggle for gender rights.

“Indigenous people deserve to be consulted on changes in the workplace and in society. Too often, policies are developed without taking into account indigenous concerns and culture.”, Lesley Dixon

Lesley Dixon, a mental health worker for the Maori population in New Zealand and a member of PSA, stated that "discrimination and racism is an international struggle and colonization has affected indigenous peoples for centuries. Racism contributes to the colonization and discrimination of indigenous peoples".

For the panelist, racism and xenophobia continue to survive invisibly, but we know that they continue to exist and affect us." "The Maori are the indigenous people of my country. The history of colonization is not over and there are more and more racial struggles that tell us that all is not lost. Solidarity is fundamental, but not unconditional. The dominant groups have to fight with the indigenous, but leave room for indigenous leadership. The violation of human rights is a human story and not a direct phenomenon."

Advancing the rights of indigenous workers and their communities.

PSI public workers spoke about the role of unions in education and in promoting labor rights for indigenous peoples.

"PSI is committed to supporting the struggles of indigenous peoples as elaborated in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ILO Convention 169" with this introduction Kate Lappin, PSI Asia-Pacific regional secretary, opened the workshop on Indigenous Peoples on the afternoon of October 17, in Geneva - in the framework of the World Congress - to reinforce section 3.7 of the Program of Action and present some actions carried out by the unions to promote solidarity and the rights of indigenous workers.

Verónica Montúfar, from PSI Ecuador and PSI global gender officer, told of the support given by PSI in 2021 to its affiliated unions in this South American country, such as CONASEP and FENOGOPRE, when they filed a complaint on Convention 169 before the ILO, on behalf of the Shuar Arutam People of Ecuador, for having been dispossessed of their lands by a mining company and with the endorsement of the government, which did not carry out the respective consultation.

In turn, the Inter-American Committee against Racism, Xenophobia and all forms of Discrimination told of the work promoted by Sandra Marin Cheuquelaf (Mapuche nation - Chile) and Renan Puc Chi (Mayan nation - Mexico), who in their interventions agreed on the need to educate union members working in public services and mapping to make visible the reality of indigenous publics in public services.

"In Yucatan, 25% speak the Mayan language in addition to Spanish, and 8% speak only the indigenous language, which hinders their access to public services and justice," said Puc Chi, from SUTPAMPJY (from the judicial sector) in Mexico, referring to the experience of indigenous people in his country who do not understand the dominant Spanish language, and who are stigmatized or discriminated against.

In New Zealand, PSI has worked with its Maori leaders and affiliates to close the racial wage gap. Through PSI meetings, videos and materials, they have inspired other unions to take a more structured and deliberate approach to organizing and advocating for indigenous workers.

Lesley Dixon (Maori, Aoterroa), from New Zealand, shared the experience and role that unions in her country have played in promoting indigenous rights such as ending the racial wage gap.

The workshop was moderated by Trimita Chakma, from Asia-Pacific who stated that "When indigenous languages die, it is a sign that the planet is dying. Extractive mining companies are our biggest enemy because they are killing people and their cultures. For them, profits come before people and trade unions have an important role to play in this".

Panel 4 - The Way Forward for Trade Union Rights

In the panel discussion, speakers shed light on the challenges and opportunities facing trade unions worldwide. The event, led by Marcelo di Stefano, CONTUA, explored the crucial role of trade unions in shaping democratic movements and addressing pressing issues within the labour force.

Frank Hoffer of the Global Labour University kicked off the discussion with a critical perspective on recent events, particularly the controversy surrounding the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Hoffer highlighted the moral catastrophe and betrayal of not just the global trade union movement, but more importantly of the Qatari workers who believe in trade union movements but lack the fundamental rights to access them. He emphasised the importance of the right to strike, stating that it's what sets trade unions apart from the standard organisation: they possess the power to withdraw labour and thereby exert significant influence.

Sue Longley, General Secretary of the International Union of Food Workers (IUF) stressed the need for an inclusive and welcoming trade union movement that empowers the voices of workers, particularly the younger workforce. She discussed the importance of a global definition of an independent trade union and the challenges associated with government controlled trade unions.

Françoise Geng, a representative from CGT Santé in France, shared the story of the landmark Orpea scandal. Following several years of concerted effort between CGT Santé, CFDT Santé Sociaux and EPSU, a journalist published a bombshell book in early 2022 exposing the scandals surrounding France’s for-profit care model, a model exported across the world by massive French care corporations. The book exposed the mistreatment of workers, patients, and union representatives; abuse carried out in the name of profit. The scandal brought to light issues of abuse, mistreatment, and a lack of collective agreements, ultimately leading to significant public interest, prosecutions and fundamental changes within the structures of Orpea. Geng highlighted Orpea’s conclusion of a Global Framework Agreement with Uni, a non-representative global union, and without consultation with French unions as a key example of companies using illegitimate global framework agreements to gloss over their reputations, emphasising that trade union democracy must begin with the workers themselves and not global corporations.

Sunghee Oh, from the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), stressed the importance of a trade union strategy to bring about societal change following the ratification of ILO conventions. She gave an overview of the union struggle to ratify ILO conventions in South Korea, paying particular attention to the tools that can be used to achieve legitimate change. Oh's union has been involved in various efforts, including online petitions, debates, press conferences, and hunger strikes to secure the right to collective actions and political rights for teachers and civil servants.

Dahlia Yasser Fetiha, representing the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Solidarity Staff Union in Egypt, touched upon the dangers faced by workers and activists in the Arab world. She compared life-threatening situations in places like Colombia, Egypt and Palestine and the need for global solidarity to support those facing these daily challenges.

In the final comments, the speakers collectively expressed the need for optimism and the importance of solidarity in the battle for trade union rights. They emphasised that, despite the tough journey ahead, maintaining militancy and unity are the keys to success. They underscored the critical role of trade unions in protecting workers' rights and highlighted the need for strong, unified, and courageous efforts to create lasting change. The fight for trade union rights must continue, regardless of the obstacles they face.

PSI Gala dinner

In the evening, we had our gala dinner filled with joy, dance, theatre, and karaoke!

This Congress wrap-up newsletter was produced by:

Trimita Chakma, Jyotsna Singh, Mayra Castro, Carlos Verdugo Ortega, Nayareth Quevedo, Leo Hyde, Bojan Kanižaj, Caroline Taleb, Sarah Bittel, Marko Janžić, Marcelo Netto, Jamie Caldwell, Pablo Sanchez Centellas, Chloe Kenny, Sonia Sanchez.