Trade unions urged to boost global links

 THE trade union movement in PNG needs to be modernised in terms of organising tools and advocacy and increase links with the international trade union movement, a visiting union official said.

Apolinar Tolentino, regional representative of the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), said the unions in PNG were still an important group in society to help improve working and living conditions of working families.

“Union strength is in numbers.  To form coalition or network either for tactical or strategic purpose is always an important tool for a trade union,” Tolentino said.  

“Through the coalition, the union movement in PNG can provide a united voice for policy demands of national imports like privatisation of the power sector.”  Tolentino and his colleagues from Industrial Global Union and International Transport Federation, visited  organisations in PNG and they included the PNG Maritime Union , where meetings and discussions were held.

He said members could exchange experiences but unification was important. 

“The union has to advocate against privatisation of public services like power and lobby for strong regulatory framework on extractive industry like mining and commercial logging.

 “Without a strong safeguard for environmental and the social impact of these projects, itcould lead to irreparable damage.”