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Public sector workers lash out at ‘arrogance’ of multinationals

PUBLIC-SECTOR workers hit out yesterday at the “arrogance” of multinational corporations and voted to support international regulations against the excesses of business.

Delegates at Unison’s annual conference voted to encourage nationwide support for a United Nations Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations.

The process to begin the treaty was agreed at the UN general assembly in 2014 but Unison has accused the US, Britain and the European Union of attempting to “kill” the treaty’s development.

The treaty would create an international mechanism that would be able to outlaw land-grabbing, the displacement of people, water pollution and the murder of trade unionists by corporations and their agents in different countries.

Retired members’ delegate Angela Harrington said: “Corporations behave with an arrogance that makes them believe they are not answerable to anyone.

“Their philosophy spills over into our workplaces.

“We need a binding treaty on transnational corporations, not only for us but for future generations.

“We need to work so much more actively to achieve this action.”

Yorkshire delegate Julie Forgan drew focus to the environmental damage caused by corporations, telling conference: “All of our society must call for fundamental change.

“We all need to join the fight to save our planet.

“If we show the relevance of trade unions in the fightback against corporate greed the young people at the front of this fightback will fill this union hall in the years to come.

“We have to stand together against corporate greed.”

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