Fred van Leeuwen highlighted the crucial role of the trade union movement as “a cornerstone of any democratic system”, especially at a time when the global economic crisis is being used as a pretext for restricting the rights of workers in many countries worldwide.
In his address to the Conference plenary, van Leeuwen spoke positively on the election of Guy Ryder as new Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). “We are confident that our new director will carry forward the crucial work of the only tripartite body of the UN, and double ILO's efforts to protect the rights of hundreds of millions of workers”, van Leeuwen said.
He brought to the attention of the audience that, this year, the Employers’ Group at the Conference Committee had obstructed the work of the Norm Commission, impeding the discussion of some of the worst cases of workers’ rights violations worldwide. This, van Leeuwen pointed out, “is in total contradiction with the spirit of social dialogue which, I thought, we had decided would prevail in this house. “
Van Leeuwen raised his growing concerns that teachers’ human and trade unions rights are not being respected in too many places worldwide. “As I speak, we have teachers’ leaders in Bahrain – to give you just one example – sentenced to jail for exercising their rights. They have vested their hope for justice in our Norm commission. I guess they will have to wait until the employers come to their senses”, he declared.
EI’s General Secretary also reminded that educators and its unions have greatly contributed to the democratic, social and economic development of their nations. “May I remind our governments that countries with the best performing school systems are countries with strong professional unions, where teachers are respected”, van Leeuwen stated.
In parallel, teachers’ rights are widely ignored while employment conditions are deteriorating in the current context of the global economic crisis: “Our sector is suffering from what we call de-professionalization. The influx of unqualified teachers, and the restriction of our professional freedoms and autonomy, is directly affecting education quality,” he continued.
Against this background, van Leeuwen went on to explain, “the Public School is a crucial element of any social protection floor. It is also the most powerful tool to confront the global crisis and achieve sustainable growth, and give hope to young people”.
Van Leeuwen concluded by transmitting EI’s full support to Guy Ryder in his new post: “We expect the new Director General to stick to his guns. We gladly provide him with all the ammunition he may require”, he stated.