Published: 17 Mar 2011
Global union federation the International Transport Workers Federation is to donate £200,000 (Aust$324,363) to relieve the effects of the Japanese earthquake, in order to spearhead an appeal among its 781 member trade unions for help.
The federation will also approach other global union federations and the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) to help coordinate trade union aid for those affected by the quake and tsunamis. As soon as appropriate, the ITF’s general secretary, David Cockroft, and president, Paddy Crumlin, will travel to the country to see how best to help further.
The decisions on how to offer support came today following meetings between the organisations’s general secretary, president and finance group at the ITF HQ in London.
ITF president Paddy Crumlin said: “Every day more devastation is discovered, revealing just how important it is that help gets through. Just a month ago the same.
Japanese trade unions who are today trying to reestablish the transport links that are vital to the rescue effort were sending financial aid to victims of the Queensland flooding. We in the ITF worldwide family are now able to do all we can to help them in their great need.”
ITF general secretary David Cockroft commented: “We’re in constant touch with our colleagues in Japan and they identify funds and aid as immediate priorities. I am glad to report that we have been moving on these since the first news of the quake, and today we’re taking that even further.”
For more details of solidarity with those affected by the destruction, please see
