Judy McKnight's Napolog

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Web log of Napo's general secretary

November 12, 2007

China

Last week I was in China as part of a TUC delegation, wearing my “Chair of the TUC Womens Committee” hat.

Our visit was hosted by the ACFTU – the All China Federation of Trade Unions.

The ACFTU has 170 million members, of whom 37% are women.

Although the Chinese trade unions have not been seen as the most independent of trade union structures over past years, that is necessarily changing with the introduction of marketisation, privatisation and the impact of globalisation with multi-national companies arriving all over China.

The trade unions reps we met we very keen to ask us about collective bargaining and were seeking trade union recognition with multi-national companies.

Unless trade unions around the world have a concerted strategy, which represents the interests of all members, globalisation will only make the rich richer, and there will not be equality in sharing the fruits of its economic benefits.

Specific groups, including women, also stand to lose out from the benefits of globalisation unless clear action is taken. Just as Britain has a 17% pay gap between men and women despite equal pay legislation, (and a staggering pay gap of 35% for part time workers), China, which also has equal pay legislation, has a similar pay gap between men and women

The need for trade unions around the world to swap notes, support and keep in touch with each other, to ensure that the benefits of globalisation are shared equitably, for all members, was never more important.

Posted by jmcknight at November 12, 2007 08:04 PM

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