NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #16/NN_1992_16.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/5475

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From: [e-mail] (Harel Barzilai)
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Subject: LABOR/AGENDA 21: post-UNCED Worker's Rights, Freedoms, Participation
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Date: 30 Jul 92 23:24:25 GMT
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    "Governments and employers should promote the rights of
    individual workers to freedom of association and the e right to
    protection of thorganize as laid down in ILO
    conventions.

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Topic 199       Agenda 21 and Trade Unions (final)
jagdish apc.labour       4:23 am  Jul 29, 1992
(at chasque.apc.org)
******************************************************************
Subject: Agenda 21 and Trade Unions (final)
From: Jagdish Parikh <[e-mail]>
******************************************************************
Dear friends, Here I am posting a pre-final chapter from Agenda 21
describing trade unions role during post-UNCED period. Those interested
Please send your request by email for more information.
Thanks. Jagdish

A-21: TRADE UNIONS
United Nations Conference on Environment & Development
Conference des Nations Unies sur l'Environnement
                   et le Developpement

160 Route de Florissant              Tel: [phone]
P.O. Box: 80                         Fax: [phone]
CH-1231 Conches           InterNet/EcoNet: [e-mail],
Switzerland                D41:tcn4091, GeoNet:mcr1:unced

                  AGENDA 21, CHAPTER 29
          STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF WORKERS AND
                   THEIR TRADE UNIONS

NOTE:     This is a final, advanced version of a chapter of
          Agenda 21, as adopted by the Plenary in Rio de
          Janeiro, on June 14, 1992.  This document will be
          further edited, translated into the official
          languages, and published by the United Nations
          for the General Assembly this autumn.

                     PROGRAMME AREA

Basis for action

29.1.  Efforts to implement sustainable development will
involve adjustments and opportunities at the national and
enterprise levels, with workers foremost among those
concerned.  As their representatives, trade unions are
vital actors in facilitating the achievement of sustainable
development in view of their experience in addressing
industrial change, the extremely high priority they give to
protection of the working environment and the related
natural environment, and their promotion of socially
responsible and economic development.  The existing network
of collaboration among trade unions and their extensive
membership provide important channels through which the
concepts and practices of sustainable development can be
supported.  The established principles of tripartism
provide a basis for strengthened collaboration between
workers and their representatives, Governments and
employers in the implementation of sustainable development.

Objectives

29.2.  The overall objective is poverty alleviation and
full and sustainable employment, which contribute to safe,
clean and healthy environments - the working environment,
the community and the physical environment.  Workers should
be full participants in the implementation and evaluation
of activities related to Agenda 21.

29.3.  To that end the following objectives are proposed
for accomplishment by the year 2000:

     (a)  To promote ratification of relevant conventions
of ILO and the enactment of legislation in support of those
conventions;

     (b)  To establish bipartite and tripartite mechanisms
on safety, health and sustainable development;

     (c)  To increase the number of environmental
collective agreements aimed at achieving sustainable
development;

     (d)  To reduce occupational accidents, injuries and
diseases according to recognized statistical reporting
procedures;

     (e)  To increase the provision of workers' education,
training and retraining, particularly in the area of
occupational health and safety and environment.
Activities

(a)  Promoting freedom of association

29.4.  For workers and their trade unions to play a full
and informed role in support of sustainable development,
Governments and employers should promote the rights of
individual workers to freedom of association and the
protection of the right to organize as laid down in ILO
conventions.  Governments should consider ratifying and
implementing those conventions, if they have not already
done so.

(b)  Strengthening participation and consultation

29.5.  Governments, business and industry should promote
the active participation of workers and their trade unions
in decisions on the design, implementation and evaluation
of national and international policies and programmes on
environment and development, including employment policies,
industrial strategies, labour adjustment programmes and
technology transfers.

29.6.  Trade unions, employers and Governments should
cooperate to ensure that the concept of sustainable
development is equitably implemented.
29.7.  Joint (employer/worker) or tripartite
(employer/worker/Government) collaborative mechanisms at
the workplace, community and national levels should be
established to deal with safety, health and environment,
including special reference to the rights and status of
women in the workplace.

29.8.  Governments and employers should ensure that workers
and their representatives are provided with all relevant
information to enable effective participation in these
decision-making processes.

29.9.  Trade unions should continue to define, develop and
promote policies on all aspects of sustainable development.

29.10.  Trade unions and employers should establish the
framework for a joint environmental policy, and set
priorities to improve the working environment and the
overall environmental performance of enterprise.

29.11.  Trade unions should:

     (a)  Seek to ensure that workers are able to
participate in environmental audits at the workplace and in
environmental impact assessments;

     (b)  Participate in environment and development
activities within the local community and promote joint
action on potential problems of common concern;

     (c)  Play an active role in the sustainable
development activities of international and regional
organizations, particularly within the United Nations
system.

(c)  Provide adequate training

29.12.  Workers and their representatives should have
access to adequate training to augment environmental
awareness, ensure their safety and health, and improve
their economic and social welfare.  Such training should
ensure that the necessary skills are available to promote
sustainable livelihoods and improve the working
environment.  Trade unions, employers, Governments and
international agencies should cooperate in assessing
training needs within their respective spheres of activity.
Workers and their representatives should be involved in the
design and implementation of worker training programmes
conducted by employers and Governments.

Means of implementation

(a)  Financial and cost evaluation

29.13.  The UNCED Secretariat has estimated the average
total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the
activities of this chapter to be about $300 million from
the international community on grant or concessional terms.
These are indicative and order of magnitude estimates only
and have not been reviewed by governments.  Actual costs
and financial terms, including any that are non-
concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific
strategies and programmes governments decide upon for
implementation.

(b)  Capacity-building

29.14.  Particular attention should be given to
strengthening the capacity of each of the tripartite social
partners (Governments and employers' and workers'
organizations) to facilitate greater collaboration towards
sustainable development.
                         * * * *