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    • USi Supporters

    “Unite is proud to support USi. I believe it has the potential to involve trade unionists all over the world through social media. Unite looks forward to strengthening our internationalism with USi and it has our full support.”

    Len McCluskey – Unite General Secretary

    “The General Federation of Trade Unions is delighted to support this new initiative. The great tradition of trade union internationalism is alive and well and we looking forward to working with USi to develop it amongst a new generation using modern media and through our education programmes. We encourage every trade unionist and Branch and region of our unions to make use of this new resource.”

    Doug Nicholls – GFTU General Secretary

    ‘Thompsons is pleased to support an initiative designed to connect trade union members and progressive people across the world. By using social media and technology we believe USi can play an invaluable role in building international solidarity on a daily basis.’

    ‘Thompsons Personal Injury Solicitors Scotland is delighted to support and be involved in Union Solidarity International. We all realise the importance of communicating and campaigning online for trade union rights but across the world but USi is also making a real difference on the ground in communities particularly in India. Thompsons Scotland has no hesitation in supporting this project and we would encourage others to do so.’

    Pat McGuire, Thompsons Solicitors Scotland

    “The USi project in my view helps facilitate and helps join up all of the progressive campaigns in a coordinated response. RMT had no hesitation in affiliating to USi.”

    Bob Crow – RMT General Secretary

    “GMB wishes USI every success in its new endeavour. Any initiative that brings working people’s struggles to the attention of the wider public is to be applauded.”

    Paul Kenny – GMB General Secretary

    “PCS is pleased to support USi and the significant role this initiative can play in building international solidarity. We look forward to working with USi on our international agenda to help better inform and campaign amongst the membership.”

    Hugh Lanning – PCS Deputy General Secretary

    “We endorse USI as a forum for the exchange of ideas and communication, we commit to participate with our experiences and strategies, and encourage the participation of our affiliated unions. We agree that such participation is done through written articles, podcasts, video conferencing and social media. Certainly this initiative will put us closer and enable us to understand in depth what our fellow workers face in their realities.

    Paulo Cayres (Presidente) & João Cayres (Secretário Geral)                                                           

     

      “The BFAWU are happy to be associated with this brilliant initiative of USI. As global markets open and companies shift operations around the world the need for co-ordinated, international trade unionism becomes more important. The BFAWU are committed to promoting a structured approach that benefits trade unions and trade union members across the world. USI provides this valuable structured approach.” Ronnie Draper, General Secretary

     

      “We endorse USI as a forum to exchange ideas and build up transnational initiatives, we commit to  participate by bringing in our experiences and proposals, and encourage the participation of our trade-union structures at local level and company/group level. We agree that such participation is done through written articles, podcasts, video conferencing and social media. We look forward to testing the potential of USi particularly in terms of involving young generations of members, delegates and officers.”

    Agostino Megale, General Secretary, FISAC-CGIL, Italy

     

     

    USi is a great initiative that will help unionists around the world collaborate and organise. It is crucial that union members everywhere have a news source and outlet that responds to the world they work in. The National Union of Workers represents workers across many industries in Australia, including warehousing, manufacturing, food and pharmaceuticals. We look forward to members in these industries sharing their stories and helping other workers in their campaigns.

    Charlie Donnelly, National Secretary, NUW, Australia

     

    “The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) is very pleased to be associated with Union Solidarity International (USi)l. We believe that the principles on which USi is based, and especially its emphasis on worker to worker contact, South-South-North linkages, and its commitment to transforming and strengthening international solidarity are completely in line with the policies of this union.

    Furthermore there is an urgent need to stimulate critical thinking on the role and purpose of trade union international solidarity work at this time. USi is increasingly well placed to provide examples of good practice, and to help us to look at what we need to change in order to ensure that we effectively address the challenges we face. We have much to learn from one another regardless of our resource base, geographical location, or organisational and political culture. We are living in a world where the workers movement is currently on the defensive, but does not need to be!

    We hope that other unions, will seize the opportunity to engage with USi and its growing network of associates, and we look forward to working together with them.”

    Stephen Faulkner, International Officer

    “Visiting the UK in Nov/Dec 2012 was the best thing that have happened to Sikhula Sonke because it allowed us to meet with USi and therefore we were able to become part of an international trade union movement that builds practical solidarity between workers in different countries. It also gives our workers the strength and courage to continue the struggle against injustice against the most vulnerable workers in the world. We salute USi for taking a stand in creating a home for trade unions across the world and showing us that unity is the way forward. Amandla!”

    Patricia Dyata, General Secretary, Sikhula Sonke, South Africa

     

     

    “I would like to wish you every success in the future. I have always been a strong believer of international solidarity and more so now with so many multi-national companies branching out throughout the world and trying to exploit workers where there is no or very little trade union presence. Interrelationship is the only way to highlight and eliminate injustice suffered by workers in their daily life in some part of the world.”

    Steve Murphy, General Secretary

     

    “I’m extremely proud to be supporting USI. Globalisation is making the world more inter-connected and the need for solidarity across borders has never been more necessary. USI’s aim to involve trade unions in building practical grassroots support for struggles across our globe is something that we should all welcome with open arms.”

    Manuel Cortes, General Secretary

    “Red Ladder Theatre Company is proud to support USi. At Red Ladder we strive to provoke social change through our work on and off the stage by bringing worker struggles to the attention of our audiences.   Our work aims to provoke debate and we see USi as an extension of that work using the power of social media. We will encourage our audiences to register with the USi website.”

    Red Ladder Theatre Company

    “Across Europe and across the world we are now seeing in the open a battle that has been going on behind the scenes for years. The battle is between the interests of people and the interests of corporate profit, and until now the people have been losing. Initiatives like the USi are crucial in making sure that the voice of people is heard and that the power of the corporation is balanced.The opportunity for a decisive shift in global politics sits in front of us, but we have to work across international boundaries to realise it.”

    Robin McAlpine, Editor, Scottish Left Review

    “It is not just Scottish workers, not just British workers, not just European workers but workers everywhere who are paying the price of 30 years of irresponsible looting of the global economy by a tiny gang of corporate leaders. They we well organised and well funded. To face up to them workers need to be just as global in their response. That’s why it is so important that we show our support for the USi.”

    Bob Thomson, Convener, Jimmy Reid Foundation


    The following Greek union boards have decided to support USI officially:

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