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VOICE OF ELECTRICITY WORKERS
VOL.
3-4
NO.4-5
IEMO
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
15-16-17 NOVEMBER 2002
KOCHI, INDIA
RESOLUTION
The International Energy and
Mineworkers Organisation Congress Meeting in Kochi 15-17 November 2002 resolves
that every human being has a right to energy heat and light, a right to work, a
right to decent standard of life which provides not only energy, heat and light
but clean water, food, housing, free education, health care and a decent pension
at the end of their working lives.
The IEMO reaffirms a need
for an international integrated energy policy based on each nations indigenous
fuels thus ensuring security of supply and security of employment for those who
produce heat light and energy and people who uses it.
Congress condemns the
closure programme of the international coal companies and the closure programme
of energy producers whose policies are resulting in a massive loss of jobs, the
destruction of communities and the replacement of indigenous fuel supplies with
imported fuel at a substantial cost to its balance of payments and which in
many cases is deliberately politically designed and subsidized in the interests
of shareholders and against the interests of workers and consumers.
The IEMO condemns the continued
introduction of anti-trade union legislation, which is designed to emasculate
trade unions and prevent them from defending the interests of members. In
particular we condemn the introduction of trade union legislation, which outlaws
strike action, the only real weapon which organized labour possess.
The real reason for the attacks
on Afghanistan and the threat to invade Iraq is because the trans-national
corporations are desperate to gain control of Iraqi oil and gas particularly in
view of the fact that Iraq is the world’s second largest producer of oil!
The IEMO Congress also condemns
the unjustified threats by the United states against Iran, North Korea and Cuba,
a country which has been the victim of a blockade for over 40 years and a
country which has to endure the spectre of a United States war base on Cuban
soil against the wishes of the Cuban people.
Congress unequivocally condemns
the State of Israel for its continued unlawful fascist policy of genocide
against the people of Palestine and its unlawful occupation of all territories,
which belong to the people of Palestine. Congress demands that Israel
immediately complies with United Nations Resolutions and withdraws from all the
territory it has occupied illegally since 1967.
We salute the courage and
determination of the Palestinian people in their campaign for self-determination
and in their demand for the return of their land. We call upon all affiliates
of the IEMO to boycott all goods produced by Israel and to participate in
demonstrations worldwide against the continued unlawful Israeli occupation, a
policy that is leading to a loss of life on all sides.
The IEMO calls upon Turkey to
withdraw from the north of Cyprus and demands that there should be the
restoration of self-determination to the people of Cyprus in line with United
Nations resolutions.
The IEMO expresses concern at
the growth of fascism and racism both of which are products of imperialism and
global capitalism. We emphasise our determination to do everything and anything
to combat racism and fascism wherever and whenever it raises its ugly head.
We call for the right to
establish and maintain free and independent trade unions, free from interference
by governments of trans-national companies, trade unions which must have the
unfettered right to strike in defense of their jobs, terms and conditions of
employment and their standard of life.
Congress demands that an
international integrated energy policy must be accompanied by a world integrated
environmental policy thereby ensuring that we protect the environment in order
that future generations shall benefit and not suffer. All countries including
the United States-which produces 25% of the worlds pollution-must accept such an
international agreement to protect the environment and future generations.
The IEMO condemns the increasing
growth and influence of trans-national companies (TNC’s), the market economy and
global capitalism.
Congress condemns the increasing
concentration of energy and resources into the hands of a small number of
trans-national companies – a situation that leaves the majority of the worlds
population with insufficient energy food, health care, education and a decent
standard of life.
Congress condemns the advocates
of international aggression against countries whose only crime is to adopt
policies not acceptable to the trans-national corporations and global
capitalism.
We unequivocally condemn the
attacks on the World Trade Centre in America, but equally condemn the bombing
and invasion of Afghanistan by the United States and Great Britain.
We condemn the continued bombing
of the people in Iraq by the United States and Britain and disassociate the IEMO-a
United Nations NGO – from any attempt the USA and Britain to invade a sovereign
nation such as Iraq.
The IEMO which now has 109
affiliated unions from 66 countries recognises that to achieve the objectives of
this Congress we need the same unity of purpose as our enemies.
We call upon all energy, mining
and chemical workers trade unions to join one unified international trade union
organisation. We reiterate our call for the ICEM members and those trade unions
who are not in any international organisation to support this principal so that
at the beginning of the 21st Century we can achieve the dream of our
forefathers who sought to create an international trade union organisation with
the power and ability to defeat global capitalism.
We salute all those trade
unions, who have participated in this historic Congress in India and record our
deep appreciation to the Indian workers who have made it possible for this
Congress to take place and be a success.
The IEMO
reaffirms its commitment to assist all energy, mining and chemical unions and
their members who are involved in struggle. We assure them and all workers
that the IEMO will continue to give support to them whenever they are involved
in struggle anywhere in the world. | 
