Unite and USW Global Union Sets out Response to Global Crisis Ahead of G20

LONDON - Workers Uniting, the first global union created through the coming
together of Unite, the UK’s biggest union and the USW, the largest private
sector union in the USA and Canada, has today (Tuesday) set out their
response to the global crisis ahead of the meeting of G20 world leaders.

Workers Uniting, which represents three million working people from every
industrial sector in Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada and the Caribbean, is
challenging the G20 global leaders to protect working people as the current
financial crisis jeopardises millions of jobs and livelihoods.

The global union is calling for support for the manufacturing sector,
particularly the auto companies and their suppliers. Workers Uniting has set
out immediate and medium term strategies to address the consequences of the
financial mismanagement exercises over recent years in the private sector.

Workers Uniting will be campaigning politically for job retention and job
creation through policies which facilitate sustainable growth and the
transition to a greener economy. Unite is the Labour Party’s biggest
affiliate and donor and the USW is a major contributor to and supporter of
the Democrats in America and the New Democrats in Canada.

Derek Simpson, Joint General Secretary of Unite, said: “Workers Uniting
has today set out our demands for G20 global leaders to support workers
through this period of recession, and beyond. The action taken so far by our
national governments are simply not enough.

“We have seen that the free market policies advocated by most domestic
governments are totally discredited. We need fundamental change to ensure we
put people first. There can only be one solution to this downturn and that is
through worker prosperity and the creation of supportive jobs.”

Leo W Gerard, USW President, said: “Governments around the world must
step forward to provide meaningful economic stimulus to mitigate the impact
of what is rapidly becoming a devastating worldwide recession. They must also
begin to re-establish their role in regulating economic activity in a manner
that ensures that the interests of working people are properly addressed.”

Tony Woodley, Joint General Secretary of Unite, said: “Workers Uniting is
fighting to ensure individual workers are not made to suffer in the current
downturn. G20 world leaders must take decisive action to mitigate the
recessionary impact to build sustainable growth.

“Workers across the world are calling for an end to the unregulated
markets and a new approach is needed. We now have a unique opportunity to
lift people out of poverty and create good quality jobs.”

Notes to editors:

Workers Uniting is a fully functional and registered trade union
organisation in the UK, U.S., Ireland and Canada, with the ability to fully
represent all of the members of its founding unions. It is governed by a
Steering Committee with equal membership from each participating union.

The merger document to create Workers Uniting was signed USW’s
Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada on 2nd July 2008.

Source: Unite the Union

For more information contact Unite (UK) Saba Mozakka on: +44-7768-693-953 or +44-2074-208916