If the turn of events in Minnesota in the US and Greenland have anything to teach us, it’s that defending our rights and livelihoods depends on re-discovering our common humanity and forging a path of unity together to win.
Authoritarianism and neocolonialism may be on the rise but so are the forces which have forever countered them – organised people. Social movements and their strategic interventions sit at the centre of how we redress crises – be it the climate crisis, the crisis of labour under capitalism, continuing patriarchal and gendered roles, the threat of growing militarism or the crushing of human rights under state repression.
This is why we prioritise movement-building - strong labour movements and allied social movements.
In leaving the role as Executive Officer of Union Aid Abroad, it’s been such an honour to stand witness to and support the struggle for peace, freedom and justice of those we work with around the world. To be part of providing strategic skills and knowledge development, financial support, and moral solidarity to movement-building, has been awe-inspiring.
I’ve been proud to watch our asbestos campaign, ‘Asbestos. Not here. Not anywhere’, stretch from a 4-country campaign to now a region-wide and global force.
Our climate justice and just transition program was just a strategic idea when I started, now it has developed into a collaboration with unions in Indonesia, the Philippines and Nepal, the ITUC and our sister union solidarity organisations.
Australia now recognises trade unions as civil society organisations that should be supported through development funding, and we are now working with global unions and the ACTU to support 18 new projects in 10 countries in the Indo-Pacific.
We’ve supported our long-time partner organisation in Palestine, and raised nearly $2 million for Gaza since the genocidal Israeli attack that followed the Hamas assault in October 2023. In Myanmar, following the military coup in 2021, we moved from working supporting the union movement inside the country to helping establish a new Australian national coalition, the Myanmar Campaign Network, to help coordinate internationally for democratic, civilian rule.
From Samoa to Timor Leste, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Gaza, Vietnam, Laos, Lebanon, Nepal, India, Indonesia, South Africa and more, people fight for dignity at work and in their communities every day, and we’re proud to act in solidarity with them.
When I started in 2013, I already knew what an amazing organisation this was, as I had been a member of Union Aid Abroad since about 1997. But nothing prepared me for its extraordinary partnerships with unions and community organisations around the world, or its place in the Australian union movement in providing practical solidarity.
Many unions and thousands of Australians, place trust and confidence in our organisation, one which I honour and respect. The depth of APHEDA’s 40-year legacy, for example, in Palestine and Myanmar reverberates today, and our organisation remains a key vehicle in the struggle for justice.
I thank the Australian union movement for fostering the establishment of our organisation back in 1984, and continuing to provide financial support to international projects, technical in-kind support and advocacy on key campaigns. Without this practical support, our expressions of solidarity would not be possible.
Clare Middlemas will be taking on the role of Executive Officer shortly and I’m happy such a dedicated, experienced and proven leader will be stepping in.
In closing, I want to formally acknowledge Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA staff, volunteers, activists and board members - past and present - and our partner organisations around the world. Special thanks to our country managers – Hoang Thi Le Hang in Vietnam, Vilada Phomduangsy in Laos PDR, Veasna Nuon in Cambodia and Elisabeth Lino de Araujo in Timor Leste – for their leadership and passion, for their commitment to a better world. To Sharan KC, my colleague, comrade and mentor over these last 13 years, thank you.
Together our creative acts of unity make it all possible! Solidarity, a luta continua!