Presented by Ken Georgetti on Monday, 21 June 2010

(Check Against Delivery)

President Burrow, General Secretary Ryder, sisters and brothers from around the world, I am extremely pleased to welcome each of you and the Second World Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation, to Canada, to British Columbia and to Vancouver – my home.

Consoeurs et confrères du monde entier, j'ai le grand plaisir de vous accueillir au Deuxième Congrès mondial de la Confédération syndicale internationale, ici au Canada, en Colombie-Britannique et à Vancouver, ma ville de résidence.

Let me be the first to offer our heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing General Secretary Guy Ryder, who united this movement and put the ITUC on the global map.

A man of commitment, passion and goodwill.

Thank you Guy.

Delegates, I extend to you greetings of solidarity from the Officers and the 3.2 million unionized workers who are members of the Canadian Labour Congress.

We are honoured that the International Trade Union Confederation has chosen to hold its Second World Congress – Now the people - From the crisis to global justice – here in Canada.

And we are very glad you are visiting Vancouver – which is not only the home of the recent 2010 Winter Olympics, but a city with a proud and militant history of trade unionism.

I encourage you to spend some time looking at the unique Labour Heritage Project here at the Vancouver Convention Centre, which was spearheaded by a labour hero of mine – Jack Munroe – who will be attending this Congress.

The Project features nearly fifty educational panels focused on the 'working history' of British Columbia and represent a commitment to include stories of both solidarity and strife, with a focus on equity, social justice, and labour issues – themes that this Congress will address.

Vancouver has been praised worldwide for its beautiful setting – breathtaking mountains, the mighty Pacific Ocean, giant rainforest trees and plentiful wildlife.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – the famous British author who created the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes – put it this way:

“Vancouver is lovely. There is no other word for it.”

Fellow delegates, this Congress takes place at a critical time in the history of our international labour movement.

The effects of the global economic crisis that the theme of this Congress refers to are still deeply felt by workers in every country.

Unemployment has soared dramatically since the start of the financial market meltdown – 34 million more workers are jobless globally since 2008.

And each of those workers has a personal story to tell – of fear, of loss of income, and in many cases, of family tragedy caused when they lost their livelihoods.
Those workers look to us – to the ITUC and its affiliated unions around the world – to be their voice today.

Those workers ask that on their behalf, we call for job creation, for support and for simple justice.

We must answer their call.

“Now the people – From the crisis to global justice.”

Because the promised recovery is at best fragile and incomplete – and at worst – completely absent.

What’s more, the corporations which dictate policy to right-wing governments around the world have given them their marching orders – cut economic stimulus, cut deficits, cut public services – cut everything – but unemployment!

The CEOs and bankers who place greed before need and caused the greatest financial crisis since the Depression are back in charge.

We just cannot let this happen.

Corporations neither have the hearts to bleed, nor the bottoms to kick.

They exist only to generate profit for themselves and their shareholders.

Starting with this Congress, with the mighty force of this international labour movement, we must stop them.

This is our moment.

Our path is clear, our task is challenging and our commitment unshakable.

We must raise our voices and show our politicians the faces of those who have paid the personal price for the greed of the financial establishment.

We must demand our governments impose a Financial Transactions Tax to reign in those speculators who turn our currencies into commodities.

We must insist on a recovery based on the creation of sustainable, environmentally-friendly, family-supporting jobs.

We must defend the public services that are needed more than ever in times of economic hardship – and reject the wrong-headed calls of the right for cuts that will deepen the crisis.

This is no time for mindless deficit reductions or for abandoning the urgent need to fight climate change.

And it is no time for governments to abandon workers.

We face a battle now that will determine the future of the world for decades to come.

And I am convinced we can and will win.

At this Congress we will determine the course best needed to protect workers, to defend public services and to improve the lives of workers.

Secrétaire général Ryder, présidente Burrow, membres de l'exécutif de la CSI et chers délégués, encore une fois, nous sommes honorés par votre présence, ici à ce Congrès d'une importance suprême.

Ici, dans notre pays, nous offrons notre solidarité à tous les travailleurs et travailleuses.

Secretary General Ryder, President Burrow, ITUC executive members and fellow delegates – once again, we are honoured by your presence here at this vitally important Congress.

In this land, our home, we offer our solidarity to all workers.

Welcome to Canada, welcome to Vancouver and know that as representatives of workers around the world, in this place, you are among friends.