All posts by Cath Ager

Lebanon: Construction workers halt work to join 28 April campaign – GSTU

Members of GSTU BWI affiliate in Lebanon in campaign to protect workers against COVID-19 for the IWMD 2020 celebration #BWI2020IWMD #iwmd20

 

Dominican Republic: Under quarantine FETRACOM joins the ‘Protect Workers Stop to COVID-19’ campaign

Amid national quarantine, FETRACOM, Dominican Republic joins ICM’s campaign: ” Protect Workers! Stop to COVID-19 ”

 

Tanzania: TUICO supports the BWI campaign ‘People before profit’

Jacqueline Sarungi from TUICO, Tanzania, supporting the BWI Campaign #Lifebeforeprofit #BWI2020IWMD #iwmd20

Myanmar: Young workers take time off to express support for Covid-19 campaign – BWFM

Young workers from Myanmar (BWFM) take some time off to express their support for BWI’s workers’ memorial week campaign. Protect workers! Stop COVID-19! #Lifebeforeprofit #BWI2020IWMD #iwmd20

Tunisia: Workers say ‘No’ to COVID-19-related employment termination!


Sisters and brothers from FGBB – Tunisia join BWI in campaigning to protect workers’ health, safety, jobs and income from the ill-effects of COVID-19. No to COVID-19-related employment termination! #LifebeforeProfit #BWI2020IWMD

Global: BWI launches ‘protect workers, stop COVID-19’ video

As part of BWI’s week-long campaign to mark the International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April, we prepared a short video on how unions and workers can protect their health and safety against COVID-19. 

 BWI cannot overemphasis the need to do these simple, yet life-saving acts.

✅ Wash your hands.
✅ Wear a mask.
✅ Keep your distance.

Please help BWI share this message. Share this video.  Help us save lives.

Protect workers. Stop COVID-19. #BWI2020IWMD #iwmd20

Cambodia: BWTUC sends global 28 April solidarity greetings

Greetings to all the young workers around the globe. BWTUC Cambodia extends its solidarity to all unions and workers marking the International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April. #Lifebeforeprofit #BWI2020IWMD

Brazil: Protect the Workers! Stop the COVID-19 – SINTEPAV-BA

SINTEPAV-BA, Brazil joins the ICM campaign: ” Protect the Workers! Stop the COVID-19 “.
#BWI2020IWMD #28Abril2020

Argentina: UOCRA youth join ‘Protect workers”‘ campaign

UOCRA Youth, Argentina joins ICM campaign: ” Protect Workers! Stop COVID-19 “. #Lifebeforeprofit
#BWI2020IWMD #28Abril2020 #iwmd20

Global: COVID-19 should be classified as an occupational disease – ITUC/Global Unions

The ITUC and its Global Unions partners are calling for COVID-19 to be classified as an occupational disease in order to ensure stronger workplace protections and access to compensation as well as to medical care. The call is being made today [28 April], on International Workers’ Memorial Day.

“While there are many aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which are yet unclear, one thing that is clear is that most transmission is occurring in workplaces such as hospitals and care facilities, as well as in workplaces where transmission can occur between workers with the public.

“There is already evidence that in numerous countries, protective workplace measures such as distancing and personal equipment are insufficient or even absent. Workers are being made to take risks that shouldn’t be taken, and in some cases, such as in Amazon warehouses, they face sanctions or dismissal for raising safety concerns. Bringing COVID-19 into occupational disease classification is crucial to stopping this and reducing the spread of the virus. This is becoming even more urgent as countries begin to relax restrictions on economic sectors and public spaces,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

Occupational disease classification would mean that where workers are infected with the virus, the presumption would be that it is workplace-related unless conclusive evidence is presented to the contrary. It would also reinforce public health measures which are in place and which will evolve in the coming months and years.

“We are also calling for occupational health and safety to be given the status of a fundamental right at the International Labour Organization. This is a long-overdue measure which would give workers’ protection from death and disease the same priority as freedom of association, collective bargaining and protection from discrimination, forced labour and child labour,” said Burrow.

Council of Global Unions Statement on Recognition of COVID-19 as an Occupational Disease * ITUC news release * COVID-19 Pandemic: News from unions