Global justice played a notable role at the 25th Canadian Labour Congress convention in Toronto May 26-30, with several of the 300 CUPE delegates joining the floor debate on some of the 73 international resolutions.
Among the resolutions were CUPE’s own on ending the war in Afghanistan, stopping free trade negotiations with Colombia, fighting human rights abuses in the Philippines, freeing the Cuban Five and concerns about Canadian pension fund investments that are propping up the military junta in Burma.
Other resolutions addressed problems in Bolivia, China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Somalia, and Venezuela.
In addition to the International Forum on Wednesday night, which brought together many of the 20 or so international guests, delegates were also invited to information sessions on the Americas, Israel and Palestine, and Africa.
CUPE and Oxfam once again set up their booth to inform delegates of the value of public services in the fight against poverty. Hundreds of them noted the display and many bought CUPE-Oxfam water bottles and signed cards to support the joint campaign.