UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Sunday 25 October 2009

German President harks back to beer and sandwiches past‏

The German newspaper Deutsche Welle reports on line that Horst Koehler the conservative German President (and former IMF big shot) has called on unions ‘to get involved’ in the G20 led reforms of the global financial system. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4758992,00.html

Which is all well and good speaking within the cosy confines of German TUC (DGB) 60th anniversary celebrations which took place in Berlin recently?

We know from our own experience that senior politicians find it very easy to tell trade unionists what we want to hear in conference halls. Just think agency workers, Gordon Brown and the Liverpool BT Convention Centre only 5 weeks ago.

Perhaps Herr Koehler can explain why the ILO was not invited to the G20 summit in London in April 2009?
http://guardian.co.tt/news/business-guardian/2009/04/21/reform-imf-g-20