Event: From Africa to Europe: Connecting trade union struggles, ending neoliberal austerity policies, creating debt justice!
As part of a Speaker's Tour organized by DGB, ITUC Africa, Erlassjahr.de and the Global Labour University on the topic of "Connecting labour and debt relief struggles", an event with Akhator Joel Odigie, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation Africa (ITUC Africa), and Frauke Banse (University of Kassel) will take place on Tuesday, 28.10., 18:00.
Input by AkhatorJoel Odigie, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation - Regional Organization Africa (ITUC-Africa):
Africa's Debt Crises and Workers' Rights - Towards a Sovereign Debt New Deal
Commentary by Frauke Banse, University of Kassel: Debt, Austerity and Trade Union Struggles in Germany
The discussion will be moderated by Paula Bünger, consultant at the German debt relief network erlassjahr.de.
Venue: University of Kassel, Universitätsplatz 9, ASL 1 (building Architektur, Stadtplanung), Room 0106
Background:
More than half of African countries are extremely indebted. Observers declared it as the worst debt crisis in history.
High interest and repayment obligations to foreign creditors are putting state budgets and therefore public services under massive pressure. Wage earners are particularly affected: despite high inflation, wages are stagnating, jobs remain unfilled, clinics and schools are closing and unfair consumption taxes are being raised.
Due to the interests of multinational (financial) companies and countries of the Global North, there is no fundamental improvement in sight.
The African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC Africa) is committed to debt cancellation and structural reforms of the international financial and debt architecture. In their work towards these goals, African trade unions also rely on solidarity support from Europe.
In the discussion, we want to explore the following questions, among others: What has ITUC-Africa been able to achieve so far, what opportunities and challenges does it see? What contribution must Germany and Europe make to fair debt relief for African countries? What role can German trade unions play in this context? How can national struggles against austerity be linked and mutually strengthened?