Journalists and Media Workers’ Unions Pledge Asia-Pacific Cooperation to Build Stronger Unions for Stronger Media

Journalists and media workers in the Asia-Pacific commit to building stronger unions to build power in our creative communities for a stronger media.

 

Strong unions that represent journalists and media workers are central to an independent media in democratic societies. Media workers through their unions are also engaging in shaping the emerging regional structures.

 

Over 70 leaders and representatives of 35 Asia-Pacific trade unions and associations representing workers in the journalism, media, entertainment and arts industry met in Kuala Lumpur to commit to organise to shape the future of the media industry in the Asia-Pacific.

 

Following on from the IFJ-UNI Bali resolution on 1 October, 2010, the 2012 joint meeting – “Strong Unions, Strong Media: Organizing for Power at Work” further demonstrates our commitment to deepen cross regional and cross sectoral cooperation and linkages. 

 

The group resolved to address a series of priorities through joint cooperation and national and regional actions.

 

These include:

 

1.     Safety and security for all journalists and media workers and an end to impunity

 

2.   Legal reforms that respect core labour and freedom of expression standards including all positive obligations through international conventions..

 

3.     Employment arrangements that respect our careers and professionalism by empowering media workers to build their careers both inside and outside traditional employment relationships.

 

4.     Independent public broadcasting that reflects the communities they serve;

 

5.     Strengthened unions of journalists and media workers as the democratic arm of the industry with greater cooperation and unity at a national and regional level.

 

The IFJ AP and UNI APRO will continue discussions to formalise our alliance including through a joint organising strategy and coordinated project work.

 

Our network, representing workers in print, broadcasting, film, entertainment and arts, will continue to maintain and build connections with like-minded related organisations with an understanding that regional solidarity means stronger unions and a stronger media.

 

The meeting further commits to undertake joint actions to build the campaigning and organising capacity of all our unions as the democratic voice of our industries that reach out to emerging work in new media, among freelance and contract workers and young workers.

 

We will work to ensure governments and media institutions invest in the long-term future of media by creating needed infrastructure, building new audiences and wisely managing the introduction of new technologies.

 

We welcome the launch of International News Safety Institute Asia-Pacific to be hosted by UNI APRO and commit to work with INSI AP on safety and security issues as part of our continuing campaign to create a safe environment and end impunity.

 

Participating unions will build the power and influence of journalists, media 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.

 

We will also create regional networks of unions in public service broadcasters to promote solidarity in support of PSB values.

 

The trade unions and associations represented at the Kuala Lumpur meeting and endorsing its resolutions are as follows:

 

1.      International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific

2.      UNI APRO and UNI MEI Global Union

3.      Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, Indonesia

4.      Asosiasi Serikat Pekerja Indonesia

5.      Association of Taiwan Journalists

6.      Astro Productions Employees Association, Malaysia

7.      Burma Media Association

8.      Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists

9.      Engineering, Printing, and Manufacturing Union, New Zealand

10.   Federation of Independent Media Workers’ Unions, Indonesia

11.   Federation of Nepalese Journalists

12.   Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka

13.   Hong Kong Journalists’ Association

14.   Indian Journalists’ Union

15.   Maldives Journalists’ Association

16.   Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Australia

17.   Myanmar Journalist Association

18.   Myanmar Journalist Union

19.   National Alliance of Broadcasting Unions, Philippines

20.   National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

21.   National Union of Journalists, India

22.   National Union of Journalists, Malaysia

23.   National Union of Journalists, Nepal

24.   National Union of Media Workers, Korea

25.   National Union of Newspaper Workers, Malaysia

26.   Nepal Press Union

27.   Nepal Television Employees’ Association

28.   Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists

29.   Portal Creatif, Malaysia

30.   Radio Nepal Employees Association

31.   Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees

32.   Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association

33.   System Television Malaysia Berhad Employees Union - KSKSTMB  

34.   Timor Leste Journalists’ Association

35.   UNIME Nepal

36.   Union of MCOT, Thailand

37.   Union of Public Television Service Foundation, Taiwan

38.   Vietnam Television Union

 

 

For further information, contact:

IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

UNI APRO/ UNI MEI on [email protected]

 

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide

UNI MEI represents 140 unions and guilds and over 300,000 media, entertainment and arts workers globally 

 

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find UNI MEI on Twitter: @unimei