1. EI/PSI TRADE UNION RIGHTS NETWORK Asia Pacific Region

2. Commonly Asked Questions about TUR Network TUR Network

3. What is the TUR Network? A joint project of Education International (EI) & Public Services International (PSI), two of the largest GUF’s with combined membership of over 49 million trade unionists A joint project of Education International (EI) & Public Services International (PSI), two of the largest GUF’s with combined membership of over 49 million trade unionists Piloted in South East Asia sub-region with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines as participating countries Piloted in South East Asia sub-region with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines as participating countries

4. Why it was formed? A response to the continuing violation of the trade union rights of existing and potential members Violations include: Persecution of union members who seek to exercise their trade union rights Persecution of union members who seek to exercise their trade union rights Severe legal restrictions on freedom of association Severe legal restrictions on freedom of association Prohibitions and/or restrictions on collective bargaining Prohibitions and/or restrictions on collective bargaining Gender-based discriminations Gender-based discriminations

5. How about your mission? To develop an effective model for a trade union rights network through a long and systematic approach in three stages: To develop an effective model for a trade union rights network through a long and systematic approach in three stages: Stage 1 (1999) Develop and pilot education materials and a network resource handbook network resource handbook Stage 2 (2000-2003) Implement a trade union rights network in the South East Asian sub-region network in the South East Asian sub-region Stage 3 (2004-2005) Extend the South East Asia TUR Network to the Asia Pacific region Network to the Asia Pacific region

6. What are your objectives? Our Project Objectives are as follows: Develop and test a model for establishing an effective trade union rights network Develop and test a model for establishing an effective trade union rights network Evaluate and form the basis of a strategy to extend the network to the entire Asia Pacific Region Evaluate and form the basis of a strategy to extend the network to the entire Asia Pacific Region

7. Our Development Objectives are as follows: Improve the trade union rights of public sector workers, teachers and other educational staff in the AP region with particular emphasis on the ILO core labor standards Improve the trade union rights of public sector workers, teachers and other educational staff in the AP region with particular emphasis on the ILO core labor standards Improve the understanding of public sector workers, teachers and other educational staff of core labor standards and their rights Improve the understanding of public sector workers, teachers and other educational staff of core labor standards and their rights

8. Our immediate objectives are the following: Develop and test appropriate curriculum and education materials and their translation into local languages Develop and test appropriate curriculum and education materials and their translation into local languages Train 20 union activists as trainers focused on trade union and human rights Train 20 union activists as trainers focused on trade union and human rights Establish a network of over 400 trained trade union rights activists in the pilot area Establish a network of over 400 trained trade union rights activists in the pilot area Publish a quarterly trade union rights newsletter that is distributed to network members Publish a quarterly trade union rights newsletter that is distributed to network members Develop and commence implementation of proactive national level TUR campaigns, as part of an international strategy on trade union rights Develop and commence implementation of proactive national level TUR campaigns, as part of an international strategy on trade union rights

9. Who comprise your target group? Members of EI/PSI affiliates who are: Elected officials including executive board members Elected officials including executive board members Workplace representatives Workplace representatives Union trainers Union trainers Women and Youth Committee members Women and Youth Committee members Unionists who indicate a particular interest and commitment to become members of the TUR Network Unionists who indicate a particular interest and commitment to become members of the TUR Network

10. How is the Project managed? A Steering Committee oversees the project, consists of: A Steering Committee oversees the project, consists of: 1. EI Chief Coordinator 1. EI Chief Coordinator 2. PSI Regional Secretary 2. PSI Regional Secretary 3. Two Representatives of EI/PSI affiliates for each 3. Two Representatives of EI/PSI affiliates for each participating country (gender-balance) participating country (gender-balance) 4. Project Coordinator- Secretary of the SC 4. Project Coordinator- Secretary of the SC National Coordinating Committees National Coordinating Committees

11. What are your major activities? Development of modules and resource kits Development of modules and resource kits National workshops for key officials of participating unions National workshops for key officials of participating unions Training of Trainers Training of Trainers Network Member Training Network Member Training Skills Training Skills Training Translation of Education Materials Translation of Education Materials Trade Union Rights Campaign/Lobbying Trade Union Rights Campaign/Lobbying Urgent Appeals Urgent Appeals Protests/mobilization Protests/mobilization Reporting and Documentation of TUR Violations Reporting and Documentation of TUR Violations Research on Legislation and Practice Research on Legislation and Practice Production and distribution of newsletter Production and distribution of newsletter Steering Committee Meetings Steering Committee Meetings Internal and External Evaluation Internal and External Evaluation

12. How is the Project financed? Stage 1- partly funded by ILO and counterpart contributions from EI and PSI contributions from EI and PSI Stage 2- primarily funded by LO-Norway and counterpart contributions from EI and PSI contributions from EI and PSI Stage 3- proposal will be developed in detail at a later stage stage Most of the participating unions also give contributions: office space, transport, web-site hosting,etc.

13. Summary of Progress More cases of violations reported More cases of violations reported Joint protests and actions of affiliates Joint protests and actions of affiliates Replication of training in workplaces on the initiative and funding by affiliates (sustainability) Replication of training in workplaces on the initiative and funding by affiliates (sustainability) Exchange of information by the network members Exchange of information by the network members Improved joint efforts with strategic partners and general public Improved joint efforts with strategic partners and general public Inclusion of sessions on ICLS & TURN in union education programs Inclusion of sessions on ICLS & TURN in union education programs Consolidated the fragmented unions Consolidated the fragmented unions Better newsletter Better newsletter

14. Challenges & Constraints Insufficient number of trainers Insufficient number of trainers Lack of face to face meetings of TURN-NCCs Lack of face to face meetings of TURN-NCCs NCCs have no secretariat nor full time support staff NCCs have no secretariat nor full time support staff Difficulties in getting leaves Difficulties in getting leaves Efficient and effective communication process Efficient and effective communication process Anti-union management Anti-union management Threats and victimization faced by activists Threats and victimization faced by activists Governments’ resistance to favorable labour laws Governments’ resistance to favorable labour laws

15. TRADE UNION RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS