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| Left to right: Rasmus, Tobias, Alma, Petteri, Silje. |
Since the group´s formation at Runö, Sweden, in April, we decided to make as much preparations as possible before leaving for Geneva. Still at Runö we made a first priority list to help us get going in the process of reducing possible angels and directions of our work.
We then had three online meetings where we narrowed the list down and decided to focus on union density and union influence, in a global perspective as well as reflections on the Nordic model - but also how to influence within the ILO/ILC context. We were curious about how unions in different countries tackle the sometimes very hard conditions regarding union influence, but also to hear about positive wins.
About the Nordic model, we are very aware of the different conditions that exist around the world, that our way of handling the social dialogue is not the only one and that it may not work in the same way outside the Nordic countries. With that said, the approach was to have an open mind and a respectful attitude towards other solutions and angels.
As a preparation we also agreed on a plan where we would interview a number of representatives at the ILC and that both the interviews and a presentation of the group and our work would be published on the blog we set up in advance.
Our plan was to interview:
1) Magnus Nordahl, the workers´spokesperson in the committee for Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, FPRW
2) Nordic delegates
3) Representatives from a diverse selection of countries around the world
We prepared in advance the questionnaires for each group, so that when we got to Geneva we could focus on attending the different meetings and connecting with people to set up time for interviews.
During the stay in Geneva, we all tried to make connections and set up interviews. Filming most, but also arranging written questions and answers when the person didn’t speak English. We used all our social, language and technical skills in the group - here we completed each other very well, even when it came to attending meetings all hours of the day (and night).
Even though it was quite easy to make connections, we soon realized that there were some language barriers and that everyone is very busy at the ILC. The solution was to make some of the interviews in writing and accept that we could not follow every contact through.
But as a whole, we are quite happy with both the connections we made, the conversations we had and the answers we got in our interviews.
List of interviews
- Magnus Nordahl, workers´spokesperson for the committee of FPRW
- Blake Harwell, TUAC senior policy advisor
- Naiti del Sante, senior advisor and labour law specialist
- June Barrett, second vice president of IDWF, International Domestic Workers´ Federation, executive Board Member at the Miami Workers Center and a leader in NDWA’s (National Domestic Workers Alliance) We Dream in Black Project
- Antoine Robinson, secretary general of SFWU, the Seychelles Federation of Workers Unions
- María Rosalba Gómez Vasquez, executive of International Relations in CUT (Unitary Central of Workers), Colombia
- Christopher Moreno*5 Trigo, President of FENASENF, the National Federation of Nurses Associations of Chile
- Nina Mjøberg, LO Norway
- Miriam -Lena Horn, German confederation of trade unions. Head of section, International and European policy
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