|
|
|
Editor South China Morning Post The article that appeared in the September 27th edition of the South China Morning Post entitled US Unions Resume Talks After 20 Years contained inaccuracies that I wish to correct. This delegation was not an AFL-CIO delegation as implied in your article. The visit, therefore, did not in any way represent the views of or a change in AFL-CIO policy regarding China and the ACFTU. The AFL-CIO shares the view with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), which represents over 157 million workers in 148 countries, that the ACFTU is not an independent trade union but rather part of Chinese government and party structure. The AFL-CIO has supported the work of its affiliates working through their Global Union Federations in specific sectors to assist Chinese workers as they struggle to protect their interests. The commonly held view, not surprisingly, is that China's workers would best be able to protect their collective interests and benefit from the economic reforms by organizing into independent trade unions of their own choosing. Tragically, this is not tolerated by the ACFTU. The AFL-CIO actively participates in the Global Union campaigns aimed at seeking the release of worker activists currently detained throughout China, some for well over a decade, for attempting to exercise their freedom of association rights, including four leaders of the March protests in Liaoning Province. The AFL-CIO will continue to stand in solidarity with China's workers until their rights to organize into independent unions of their own choosing and to bargaining collectively are achieved, both in law and practice. Sincerely,
Barbara Shailor |
|
|