Leaders and representatives of 38 international and Asia-Pacific trade unions and associations representing workers in the media, entertainment, graphical and arts industry resolved this week to encourage close and strong cooperation to build a regional IFJ-UNI network.
More than 50 union leaders and activists called for strengthened links among industry unions at a meeting of affiliates and associates of global union federations the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia-Pacific, UNI Global Union and UNI-APRO, UNI-MEI (Media, Entertainment and Arts) and UNI Graphical & Packaging, in Bali, Indonesia, on September 29-30.
The joint IFJ Asia-Pacific and UNI meeting, under the banner of Working together to build power: Unions in the media, entertainment, graphical and arts industry in the Asia-Pacific, was hosted by IFJ affiliate Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI).
Representatives and leaders of unions from Afghanistan across to the Pacific said they would seek to ensure the priorities of media, graphical and entertainment unions in Asia-Pacific are determined and implemented in the region.
More formal cooperation and networking between IFJ Asia-Pacific and the UNI Asia-Pacific Regional Office is encouraged to maximise effectiveness and efficiency of union-building activities in the region.
The meeting determined that the IFJ Asia-Pacific Steering Committee, UNI-APRO, UNI-MEI and UNI Graphical & Packaging would continue discussions on formalising an alliance, and look to develop a joint organising strategy and coordinated project work.
The network, representing workers in print, broadcasting, graphical, film, entertainment and arts, would maintain and build connections with related organisations.
Amid the significant challenges confronting media, graphical and entertainment workers and unions in Asia-Pacific, the meeting’s delegates said they would seize the opportunity to lead the way in shaping the future of their industry and unions in Asia-Pacific.
The meeting further committed to undertake actions to build the campaigning and organising capacity of unions, and seek to ensure media institutions invest in the long-term future of media by building new audiences and wisely managing the introduction of new technologies.
Participating unions will build the power and influence of journalists, media, graphical and entertainment workers in Asia-Pacific to achieve improvements in press freedom, freedom of expression and freedom of association, and to foster a democratic, professional and ethical media culture.
The organisations represented at the Bali meeting and endorsing its resolutions are as follows:
- International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific
- UNI Global Union
- UNI Media, Entertainment & Arts
- UNI Graphical & Packaging
- UNI APRO
- Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association
- Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, Indonesia
- All India Newspaper Employees’ Federation
- Asosiasi Serikat Pekerja Indonesia
- Association of Taiwan Journalists
- Bangkok Post LU
- Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists
- Engineering, Printing, and Manufacturing Union, New Zealand
- Federation of Independent Media Workers’ Unions, Indonesia
- Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka
- Hong Kong Journalists’ Association
- Indian Journalists’ Union
- Journalists’ Association of Korea
- Maldives Journalists’ Association
- Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Australia
- Maharashtra Media Employees’ Union
- National Alliance of Broadcasting Unions, Philippines
- National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
- National Union of Journalists, India
- National Union of Journalists, Malaysia
- National Union of Media Workers, Korea
- National Union of Newspaper Workers, Malaysia
- Nepal Press Union
- Nepal Television Employees’ Association
- New Zealand Public Service Association
- Pacific Freedom Forum, Pacific Islands
- Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists
- Shimbun Roren - Japan Federation of Newspaper Workers’ Unions
- Sindicato dos Jornalistas de Timor Leste
- Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association
- System Television Malaysia Berhad Employees Union - KSKSTMB
- Timor Lorosae Journalists’ Association
- Union of Public Services, Nepal
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific