THE L20: A VEHICLE FOR UNIONS’ ENGAGEMENT WITH G20

Asia-Pacific Trade Union Training on ‘Global Governance and Roles of Trade Unions, Chiang Mai, September 3, 2015 Georgios.Altintzis@ituc-csi.org

WHO ARE THE G20?

WHAT DO THEY DO?

The G20 Leaders and Ministers: make decisions about the course of the world

economy e.g. if they all decide to spend $1 trillion in infrastructure,

global growth will increase and jobs will be created create a narrative (“the way you tell a story”) about

global challenges example 1:“the job crisis is created by high levels of labour

protection and lazy workers” example 2:“the job crisis is created by low wages and lack

of demand”

HOW DO THEY WORK TOGETHER?

World Leaders Summits Sherpas Ministers Meetings Finance Ministers Meetings

Finance track

Labour and Employment Ministers Meetings Employment Working Group

And other ministerial meetings (energy, agriculture) Working Groups Working groups on development, anti-corruption, energy efficiency, and other topics

WHO IS WHO?

L20 are for Labour B20 for Business other outreach groups C20 (civil society), Y20 (youth), T20 (think tanks), W20? (women) L20: leadership of trade unions from the G20 countries L20 Secretariat: the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the OECD Economic Policy Working Group, Regional L20

workshops, the L20 list

WHAT ARE WE (THE L20) AIMING AT? 1. Influencing the outcomes of Ministerials and Leaders’ Summits so as to induce policy change to: reduce poverty and inequality, increase demand and investment, create decent jobs, strengthen freedom of association and collective

bargaining – avoid further flexibilisation improve working conditions address tax base erosion eliminate speculation and regulate financial markets… 2. Improving implementation of the commitments of Ministers and Leaders with monitoring and goals-based assessments so as to improve the situation on the ground

HOW DID WE START? October 2008, the ITUC and TUAC organised a high-level delegation to the first G20 Leaders’ Summit in Washington

A success: Fiscal expansion (public expenditure increased to create jobs)

Meetings with Leaders and outcomes were hopeful Meetings continued: London and Pittsburgh 2009 Toronto and Seoul 2010: the B20 is recognised

change of tide: Fiscal consolidation (cutting public expenditure) Cannes 2011: the L20 is recognised Los Cabos 2012 St Petersburg 2013

Slow departure from fiscal consolidation Brisbane 2014 Antalya 2015

HOW DOES THE L20 WORK? Statements prepared at ITUC/TUAC Working Groups with Global Union representation Official participation in: Employment Working Group (since December

2011), some Sherpas’ meetings (since Russia 2013)

G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meetings – G20 Social Partners Consultations (Washington, Paris, Guadalajara, Moscow, Melbourne, Ankara)

G20 Leaders Summits – G20 Social Partners Consultations (Los Cabos, St Petersburg, Antalya)

SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP IN G20 Social Partners Consultations convey joint messages

from the world of work to Ministers and Leaders Los Cabos Summit - Joint L20-B20 Statement and letter to

host Head of State Moscow Ministerial – Joint L20-B20 Principles on Quality

Apprenticeships, Joint letter on the future of the Employment Task Force

St Petersburg Summit - Social Partners Consultations Melbourne Ministerial – Joint Survey and Conclusions on

VET and Quality Apprenticeship frameworks and joint letter Ankara Ministerial – Joint Statement and Social Partners

Consultations Antalya Summit – hopefully Social Partners Consultations

SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP IN G20 Agreed issues for cooperation between B20-L20: Infrastructure, investment, quality apprenticeships (youth unemployment), reducing informality, gender… Depending on the B20 leadership, there are years with strong joint messages or not. Ankara Ministerial, 2015: “Support for systems of social dialogue and collective bargaining as a means to promote fair wages in line with national law and practice”

OTHER MEANS OF INFLUENCING DECISIONS MEDIA

OTHER MEANS OF INFLUENCING DECISIONS Infographics

LOBBYING FROM CAPITALS

Certain governments are friendlier than others Certain governments have priorities that align with

ours more than others’ Certain unions are more influential than others

Host country sets big part of the agenda The local politics between unions and government in

the host country can make the L20 work easier or more difficult

CONCLUSION

It is important for workers to influence the G20 because it comprises governments of strong countries that write the narrative of global politics and make decisions for the world economy.

The L20 is the trade union vehicle in the G20 process. All G20 unions participate in the process All G20 unions voice their concerns in a democratic, collective and transparent process