CTU Policy: (11) International: General Issues

From the CTU policy book, produced November 2000.
11. INTERNATIONAL : GENERAL ISSUES

11.1 General
11.1.1 The CTU recognises the right of all peoples to:
(i) Self determination;
(ii) Freedom from oppression in any form;
(iii) Basic human rights; and
(iv) The right to organise, form and join trade unions.
The CTU recognises that these freedoms are threatened in many countries in the world by colonialism, neo-colonialism, invasion and other acts of aggression, the occupation of smaller nations, military dictatorships, and repressive Governments.
11.1.2 The CTU recognises that in the nuclear age peace and disarmament are centrally important objectives and the only sound base upon which the further well-being of all people can be built.
11.1.3 The CTU recognises the particular role of the international trade union movement in supporting the struggle of workers in all countries for self determination, freedom from oppression, freedom from repression of human and trade union rights, based upon lasting peace.
11.1.4 The CTU sees a need in assisting the peoples of other countries by:
(a) Distributing information as may be appropriate to publicise the position of workers in other countries and promoting freedom from oppression in any form and the right of self determination for the peoples of all countries.
(b) Sponsoring public education activities in support of the struggles of workers in specific overseas countries against oppression in any form and in establishing the right to self determination.
(c) Encouraging international, economic and trade boycotts which will effectively assist the workers of countries who face oppression in any form and in particular the repression of trade union rights.
(d) Urging the New Zealand Government to act both unilaterally, and through such agencies as the United Nations, to support international action to find just settlement to disputes between countries which bring oppression, repression of trade union rights or basic human rights, or threaten the well-being of the workers of these or other countries.

11.2 Peace and Disarmament
11.2.1 The CTU recognises that nuclear weapons and biological/chemical warfare constitute a total threat to the human race, particularly in the context of the current international situation and resolves to support peace and disarmament. To that end, the CTU rejects the concept of security through increases in nuclear and conventional arms and resolves to work with other organisations nationally and internationally:
(a) For the elimination of nuclear weapons and, in the interim, for a moratorium on the manufacture, further development, and deployment of nuclear weapons and the destruction of nuclear stockpiles.
(b) For progressive reductions in all forms of arms.
(c) For the withdrawal by New Zealand from all aggressive military alliances such as ANZUS and the withdrawal of New Zealand's active military forces from overseas countries.
11.2.2 The CTU recognises the responsibility of the trade union movement nationally and internationally to work for peace and disarmament and calls upon unions:
(a) To give priority to participation in educational activities both within their own membership and in the wider community on the peace issue and to work to achieve active rank and file support for CTU policy and the anti-nuclear policy of the Labour Government.
(b) To recognise the United Nations recommendation that the 1st day of September in each year should be a day for World Peace and to organise appropriate activities on that day.
(c) To work positively with other groups towards peace and disarmament.
11.2.3 The CTU supports the Labour Government on its firm stand against nuclear armed and propelled ships and its contribution generally to World Peace in the face of heavy international pressure and urges the Government to heed strong public opinion within New Zealand and not back down to such international pressure.
11.2.4 The CTU urges all countries to reach agreement on the early elimination of nuclear weapons and supports all initiatives to achieve this.
11.2.5 The CTU condemns the staggering amount of world resources devoted to the production of weapons and joins with other international organisations to support the ICFTU to promote discussion in the international trade union movement on the socio-economic implications of disarmament.

11.3 Nuclear Free Pacific
11.3.1 The CTU recognises that the Pacific has borne the brunt of the nuclear age and hence supports the concept of a nuclear free peace zone in the Pacific and to that end opposes:
(a) The presence, testing or manufacture of nuclear weapons or the dumping of nuclear wastes in the Pacific area.
(b) The presence of nuclear power in the Pacific until such time as it is proved conclusively that nuclear energy is not harmful to the ecology of the region.
(c) The presence of military installations in the Pacific or installations such as communication facilities which have a military related purpose.
(d) Uranium mining and/or the transport or storage of uranium/uranium wastes in the Pacific.
11.3.2 To these ends, the CTU resolves:
(a) To urge unions that they actively protest against nuclear powered or armed warships in the Pacific and commends trade unionists and others who actively protest against such warships.
(b) Any union directly or indirectly involved in the servicing or handling of shipping that chooses to resort to direct action opposing nuclear powered or armed vessels shall have the unqualified support of the CTU and affiliates.
(c) To actively promote a co-ordinated approach against nuclear power and arms amongst Pacific trade union organisations and in particular to participate actively in the concept of nuclear free zones in particular regions of New Zealand.

11.4 I.L.O
11.4.1 The CTU supports voluntary funding of the ILO by the New Zealand Government in order that the organisation can continue to contribute to better working conditions throughout the world.

11.5 Political Prisoners
11.5.1 The CTU endorses the work of Amnesty International and urges all affiliates to support Amnesty's work for the release of political and trade union prisoners throughout the world.
11.5.2 The CTU recommends that individual unions affiliate with Amnesty International.

11.6 Overseas Aid
11.6.1 The CTU believes that trade is the best form of overseas aid and hence New Zealand should help developing countries by buying more of the goods they produce.
11.6.2 The CTU supports the activities of CORSO and other recognised aid agencies in New Zealand and urges those groups to promote public support to developing countries and increased public awareness on the causes of under development.