We live in a troubled world.
Gaps between poor and rich are growing. We workers are receiving an increasingly small share of the values being created. Working conditions are under pressure from companies’ constant pursuit of higher profits. At the same time, there is a global climate crisis that hits hardest against the world’s poor.
We also see how wars and conflicts hit people and societies hard. For more than two years, there has been a brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. In Palestine, Israel has responded to the Hamas terror attack with excessive force, leading to one of the worst humanitarian disasters of modern times.
Democracy is more threatened than for a long time. Trade union and other human rights are being attacked. In Belarus, Hong Kong, Myanmar and many other countries, trade unionists are imprisoned and persecuted
In our own country, the Sweden Democrat backed government has abandoned the one per cent target and made drastic cuts in development assistance that goes through civil society, which has an adverse effect on trade union development cooperation, among other things.
This trend can be reversed. Another world is possible. But it requires organisation and international solidarity. No chain is stronger than its weakest link. If we allow trade union rights to be restricted in one country, it can happen here too.
LO’s thirtieth Congress calls for:
More countries to ratify the ILO core conventions on human rights at work. Trade union rights are human rights.
Work to restore Sweden’s previous target of one per cent of GNI to be used for development assistance.
Sweden to continue to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable development, as well as a just climate transition.
Sweden’s active participation in European cooperation. Competition in the EU’s internal market must take place on a level playing field. Work-related crime must be combated. The EU must respect the Swedish collective agreement model.
Sweden, together with the rest of the EU, to continue to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian trade union movement in resisting the Russian war of aggression.
Sweden, together with the rest of the EU, to work towards an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The only possible path to long-term peace is an end to Israel’s occupation and two independent states where Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side.