Condolences and solidarity

Progress report for members and supporters

22nd December 2005
Public sector unions have responded magnificently to the PSI’s call for assistance following the earthquakes and tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. Together we have raised more than 370,000€. Solidarity Certificates have been issued as a way of expressing thanks for these donations, and we are keeping affiliates informed about how this money is spent by way of PSI World News, the website and FOCUS.

Tsunami fund income as at 22/12/05

PSI staff have been visiting the worst hit areas of India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia to assess the damage, and speaking to local affiliates about how this money can best be spent. We have made the following donations to date.

Tsunami Fund expenditure as at 22/12/05

* PSI and other global union federations have, together with ICFTU, set up a joint solidarity fund to combine resources and co-ordinate solidarity efforts on behalf of workers and their families. The fund will establish global unions workers’ centres in Sri Lanka and Aceh and vocational training and education centres.

Any further decisions relating to expenditure will be advised as above, and once approved, this and subsequent reports will be published on http://www.world-psi.org/tsunami 

One of the thirty motorbikes donated by PSI is pictured to left.

We will keep affiliates and members advised about expressions of solidarity by way of this web page, which can also be reached at http://www.world-psi.org/tsunami 

Extracts from PSI World News

Union-to-union solidarity fund
PSI has initiated a fund to deliver direct assistance to trade unions whose infrastructure and capacity has been damaged by the tsunamis of 26^th December. The fund will help these unions rebuild and play their full role in restoring public services in the region. This is a union-to-union fund, and donations should be made by or through affiliated unions. An initial contribution of $100,000 from JICHIRO in Japan has helped launch the fund, with more still being collected. For further information email communications@world-psi.org

Public service unions respond
Aceh was one of the areas hardest-hit by the tsunamis. We made an initial donation of $10,000 to assist with construction of an emergency shelter in Aceh Banda, matching donations by local unions and management. $20,000 more has been set aside locally. PSI representatives are currently at work in Thailand, India and Indonesia, and are visiting disaster sites to find out how we can help.

After the cameras have gone
What happens further down the track? Long after the cameras have gone our affiliates and their members will be struggling to rebuild infrastructure and services in the region. After the Iranian earthquake in Bam last year government officials reported that $1.1bn aid had been promised by foreign countries and organisations. Of this, only $17.5m ever materialised. Much of the money was redirected from existing aid budgets, and there were strings attached relating to the privatisation of services. PSI will be monitoring the reconstruction efforts to ensure that unions are involved in planning as well as the delivery of restored services.

A small selection of union responses

In Indonesia…
The Indonesian electric power company workers’ union (SP PLN) had 4,000 members in Aceh, on the west coast of Sumatra. They have received confirmation of 700 fatalities among their members and immediate families, with 1,000 still missing. Power plants, distribution lines and offices were destroyed. This area was closest to the epicentre of the magnitude-9 earthquake that triggered the giant waves and killed more than 95,000 people in Indonesia. In spite of this, by January 5th, 85% of electric power had been restored in Aceh’s cities. The President and other officers of SP PLN union went to assess the situation two days after the tsunami, and subsequently SP PLN organised teams of up to 115 volunteers to travel to Aceh on consecutive days with truckloads of food. Within one week, the SP PLN had raised $26,200 to finance an emergency shelter. The union plans to send additional teams with food next week, as well as fresh water drilling teams.

In Sri Lanka…
The south-eastern coast of Sri Lanka was directly in the path of the tsunami and was the first to be hit. On January 1st members of the Public Service United Nurses Union drove vans loaded with medical supplies, nurses, doctors and food into the area. Amid scenes of devastation they tended to the injured, checked supplies in local clinics, and passed out supplies and clothing. They are now planning their next steps, and PSI has offered to provide support.

In Thailand…
Unions set up an emergency relief fund on the first day after the tsunamis and have collected about $15,000. A joint network set up by unions to resist privatisation (Public Utilities Protection Network) has been taking trucks from Bangkok since December 28^th carrying food, clothes, medicine, bottled water and coffins.

How you can help
Your union can make a donation through the PSI’s solidarity fund (see above). Individuals can also help in a number of ways. The WHO has set up a web page including suggestions on how health professionals can help. It provides information about cash donations, donations in kind (including drug donations), and the recruitment of emergency specialists. See http://www.who.int/hac/crises/international/asia_tsunami/en/

You can also help through:

CARE: http://www.care.org/ then choose country

Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: http://www.ifrc.org/helpnow/donate/donate_response.asp

UNHCR: http://www.unhcr.ch/donate/redirect.html

UN World Food Programme: http://www.wfp.org/how_to_help/support_wfp/online.html

UNICEF: http://www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=iuI1LdP0G&b=276341

PSI Media release            

10th January 2005  

"What happens once the cameras are gone?" asks Hans Engelberts of Public Services   
International. "Our members are struggling to rebuild public services in the wake of the 
earthquakes and tsunamis. This work will continue long after the media's attention has  
shifted. But will these workers get the ongoing support they need? Our fear is that donations  
will come with strings attached, requiring privatisation of services. We have seen this all
too often  before. We challenge the international community to do the right thing - to  
rebuild public  services from the ground up,  and in the public, not private, interest."
 
"The union response to these disasters has been overwhelming, both locally and internationally",  
says Engelberts. He gives the example of the Indonesian electric power company workers'  
union (SP PLN), which had 4,000 members in Aceh, on the west coast of Sumatra. They have  
since received confirmation of 700 fatalities among their members and immediate families,  
with 1,000 still missing. Power plants, distribution lines and offices were destroyed. And yet in  
spite of this, by 5th January 85% of electric power had been restored in Aceh's cities. The  
President and other officers of SP PLN union went to assess the situation two days after the  
tsunami, and organised teams of up to 115 volunteers to travel to Aceh on consecutive days  
with truckloads of food. Within one week the union had raised $26,200 to finance an emergency 
shelter. They are planning to send additional teams with food this week, as well as fresh water 
drilling teams. 
 
"Workers and their unions are playing a critical role in this rebuilding effort," says Engelberts.  
"What we need is a partnership approach, so that governments and unions can rebuild public  
services in a planned way. The public must not be tricked into giving up ownership of services  
at a time when they  need them  most."
 
PSI donated $10,000 to assist with building the emergency shelter, and has set aside another 
$20,000  locally. A union-to-union solidarity fund is being  launched  today, with a donation of  
$100,000  from the  Japanese public sector union JICHIRO. 

To all PSI-affiliated trade unions 
10th January 2005  

Dear colleagues,
In the wake of the dreadful earthquakes and tsunamis in the Asia-Pacific region, Public Services
International is offering to co-ordinate union-to-union solidarity efforts.

We propose managing a fund on behalf of trade unions in the region who have been hit by
this disaster. Your support will help them rebuild their  infrastructure and capacity so they can
play their full role in delivering public services.

We realise that many affiliates have already given money directly through NGO's and relief
organisations working in the field. Volunteer labour and supplies are also being sent. Several
affiliates have also set up mechanisms to encourage their members to donate in a collective
manner. We applaud these efforts and we send our thanks on behalf of staff and affiliates in
the stricken region.

This union-to-union fund should be seen as a complementary vehicle for assistance. We will
not be seeking donations directly from the public.

If your union would like to help other unions who have been affected please send your
contribution to:

Account No. 298 630 31 06 90-0   or   IBAN CH72 0844 0298 6303 1069 0
Banque Coop
CP 3828
CH-1211 Geneva 3
Switzerland
Swift code: COOPCHBB

Important: Please make sure there is a  reference to ''Tsunami fund'' in the text of all  
bank transfers. 

It would also be appreciated if you could inform PSI at communications@world-psi.org  
when making a transfer. 

Enquiries can be addressed to Marie-Odile Reymond on +33 (0)4  5040 6464 or email
marie-odile.reymond@world-psi.org

Yours in solidarity

Hans Engelberts
PSI General Secretary

   
Following the recent earthquake and tsunami the PSI sent the following message to affiliates in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Malaysia.

Dear brothers and sisters
On behalf of all PSI affiliates we would like to offer you our condolences and support as your union copes with the loss of members and activists following the recent earthquake and tsunami in your region.

We send you our sympathies and our best wishes in dealing with the grief of those who have lost family members, work mates and friends.

It is at times like these that public services are most visible and appreciated. We wish your members all the best in their critical work in rescue, disaster relief and rebuilding efforts.

It may be some time before the world knows the full extent of the tragedy, and we see the degree in which offers of international support actually materialise. We hope that you will let us know, as the situation unfolds, of any way in which we or our affiliates can provide assistance.

Yours in solidarity,

Hans Engelberts, General Secretary
Ylva Thörn, President