BWI: Stand with Hong Kong in the fight for freedom and democracy

1 min read

Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) passed a resolution in its world congress this month in support of the democracy movement in Hong Kong. BWI is a global union federation representing 12 million building and wood workers around the world.

The resolution, titled “Solidarity with Hong Kong People’s Struggle to Defend Freedom and Democracy“, urged the Hong Kong government to scrap Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL), release all union leaders immediately and unconditionally, and cease all political suppressions on civil society organisations, including independent trade unions.

BWI World Congress 2022. (Photo: BWI)

The BWI World Congress was held on October 5 in Madrid, Spain. 750 union representatives around the world attended the congress. In his opening remarks, Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary, paid speical tribute to the courageous trade unionists from Hong Kong, Myanmar and Ukraine.

I also want to recognise our courageous trade unionists who have put their lives on the line for freedom and democracy. Let’s show them our solidarity for their fight for democracy, peace and freedom in Ukraine, Myanmar and Hong Kong.

Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary
Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary (Photo: BWI)

The resolution from BWI underlined a significant number of trade unions disbanded since the implementation of the NSL. The largest sectoral trade union, the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, and the only democratic and independent trade unions Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), for example, were forced to dissolved or cease operations, along with other independents trade unions. 

The resolution further stated that the Hong Kong authorities cancelled the registration of the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists and arrested its members. It also underscored the plights of trade union leader who have been imprisoned for their participation of peaceful assemblies and political events.

The resolution condemned the persistent suppression on the independent trade union movement and political prosecutions of union leaders under the pretext of “national security”, which contravened international human and labour rights laws and standards. It called on the HKSAR Government to observe core international labour standards, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) principles of freedom of association and ILO Convention C087, which is applicable to Hong Kong. 

BWI pledged to continue to mobilise its affiliates, build support, and express solidarity to those who lost their freedom in defending human rights and freedom. Trade unionists and workers will fight until democracy is fully restored in Hong Kong. 

國際建築工會:與港人團結捍自由和民主

1 min read

代表全球1200萬會員的國際建築林木業工會聯盟(簡稱BWI)本月剛舉行大會並通過「與香港人團結捍衛自由和民主」決議案,呼籲特區政府立即取締國安法,無條件釋放在囚工運人士,及停止政治打壓公民社會。 

BWI World Congress 2022. (Photo: BWI)

BWI的大會於10月5日在西班牙馬德里召開,來自全球750名工會代表出席參加,BWI秘書長Ambet Yuson 致詞時特別提到香港:

我想向那些來自緬甸、烏克蘭及香港勇敢的工運人士致敬,他們為了爭取民主和自由而不惜犧牲,讓我們為他們仍然持續的戰鬥展示團結!

Ambet Yuson, BWI秘書長
Ambet Yuson, BWI秘書長 (Photo: BWI)

大會通過的決議案指,在國安法下,多個工會先後被迫解散,包括香港最大行業工會香港教育專業人員協會(教協)、香港唯一民主及獨立工會聯盟職工盟,又特別提到香港言語治療師總工會被香港當局取消其工會註冊,五名工會成員被捕。此外,決議案又提到多名工運領袖因參與和平集會及政治活動而身陷囹圄。 

BWI 譴責香港政府持續打壓獨立工會運動及政治打壓工會領䄂,批評特區政府以「國家安全」之名,肆意壓制個人和平集會、表達和結社自由,促請當局遵守適用於香港的國際勞工公約規定。 BWI重申,會繼續動員來自全球屬會支持那些因守護自由和民主而被囚禁的人。工會和工人會繼續戰鬥,直至香港實現民主。