“A Biden-Harris administration will help boost multilateralism and international security and functionality at a time when it is needed most
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is hailing the historic election victory of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the 46th President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States as a win offering hope to millions of American workers.
The ITF looks forward to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris working with unions and the labour movement to deliver on their election promises and bridging the growing economic and racial disparities in the US.
“Workers got Biden and Harris elected, and workers must be repaid for their faith. We look forward to, and strongly anticipate their delivery on key pledges to return decent and secure jobs; to strengthen collective bargaining and the right to strike; bring liability to companies for anti-union behaviour and wage theft; and secure pension reform,” said Stephen Cotton, ITF General Secretary.
“It is critical that they lose no time addressing income inequality, for example combatting the misclassification and erosion of worker rights by gig economy employers and other corporations who prioritise profit above workers’ dignity,” said Cotton.
Rejoin the Paris Agreement will be a historic tipping point and boost to international action on climate change
ITF President Paddy Crumlin said that the ITF was looking forward to Biden-Harris more proactively handling the coronavirus pandemic to protect American workers.
“Their planned response to the Covid-19 pandemic will be critical to keeping American communities safe, particularly frontline transport workers and their families. Policies must rapidly translate into concrete actions that provide economic relief to keep families out of poverty, fed and in housing. The pandemic has reinforced that the US still needs to tackle access to quality healthcare and education on an equal basis for all its people,” said Crumlin.
Crumlin said that the ITF also welcomed pledges from the Biden-Harris administration to boost multilateralism and a return of US international cooperation on the issues that matter most to working people.
Paris Agreement
“A Biden-Harris administration will help boost multilateralism and international security and functionality at a time when it is needed most.
President-elect Biden’s commitment to rejoining the World Health Organization will restore US leadership in the fight against Covid-19, and his pledge to rejoin the Paris Agreement will be a historic tipping point and boost to international action on climate change amongst other badly depleted initiatives
This leadership is urgently needed for further peace and stability in many international conflicts and crises,” said Crumlin.
ITF congratulates
On behalf of the 20 million international transport workers in our family, the ITF congratulates and celebrates Vice President-elect Harris for helping to further pave the way for all women and girls, for diversity in leadership in the US and internationally, as the first Black and South Asian woman elected as Vice President.
“As workers and trade unionists, we will continue to unite and strive with every fibre of our humanity, organisation, courage and determination in the ongoing fight to win justice, peace, economic and political stability, and social and racial justice. We welcome leadership from the new President-elect and Vice President-elect on behalf of all the working women and men, families and communities that we represent internationally,” said Crumlin.
ITF applauds the Argentine Chamber of Deputies vote in favour of ratifying the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Convention
On the other hand, ITF applauds the Argentine Chamber of Deputies vote in favour of ratifying the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Convention 190 (C190) on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.
Argentina’s vote on Wednesday, which was almost unanimous, will make it the third state to sign C190 once the ratification instrument is deposited with the ILO. Uruguay and Fiji have already ratified, meaning C190 will enter into force on 25 June 2021.
Key priority for the ITF
“Argentina’s decision to ratify C190 is vital in the ongoing struggle against gender inequality, eliminating violence and harassment at work, and for women to have equal access to decent work,” says Jodi Evans,
ITF Women Transport Workers and Gender Equality Officer. “The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the injustice many women workers face around the world. To have more countries recognising the link between gender-based violence, and inequality in the world of work offers hope that we can rebuild safer, more equitable and just societies for women and men.”
women’s activism
“Ending gender-based violence is a key priority for the ITF and we are committed to supporting our affiliates to lobby for ratification and implementation of C190 within their respective countries. We applaud the hard work of our affiliates and in particular women’s activism in Argentina in building support for this important legislation and look forward to more countries following suit.”
press release
