PAM’s Ann Selin to meet the Pope in the Vatican – workers’ rights are human rights
The President of Service Union United, Ann Selin, will take part in a seminar at the Vatican convened by Pope Francis on 23-24 November 2017. The seminar will look at the role of the union movement as part of a socially sustainable future.
PAM President Selin has been invited as a representative of workers in global service sectors. Selin has been President of Uni Global, the worldwide union of service sector workers, since 2014.
– It is a great honour to meet Pope Francis, who compared to his predecessors has been very active on various human rights issues. For me it a very valuable signal that Pope Francis sees the organisation of workers internationally as a key human rights issue and meeting representatives of the labour movement as a normal element in co-operation. In Finland we do not always remember how important the Pope is in Catholic countries and what impact his example can have, Selin says.
Selin points out that organisation is a basic human right and it is significant that in his own position the Pope wishes to meet representatives of the trade union movement to advance the issues he considers important.
– In his work the Pope has repeatedly spoken out on the importance of actions to reduce poverty. Therefore it is an honour to be able to discuss with him on practical ways to improve the conditions of work and workers’ rights around the world. These maters directly affect people’s well-being, reduce income disparities and reduce poverty around the world, Selin says.
UNI Global represents over 20 million workers worldwide. Around 70 influential trade union leaders from around the world will attend the Vatican visit. The seminar programme will be based on the “Laudato Si” policy paper published by the Pope in 2015 on the theme of caring for our shared home.
– As a young man Pope Francis worked, among other things, as a night club bouncer so it seems logical that he wants to promote dialogue between the trade union movement and the Catholic church. As President of Uni Global I would like to see this attitude shared more widely by policy makers, Selin says.
In Selin’s view it is important that in his elevated position the Pope wants to act on global inequality. Selin believes that the coming discussions will produce shared visions of equitable labour markets and how to promote the well-being of workers.
The Pope has strongly emphasised the growing importance of global co-operation in combating poverty.
– The international trade union movement aspires to the same goal of eradicating poverty. A living wage and safe working conditions pave the way for people to participate fully in society. They are also the best tools against marginalisation, Selin states.
– Poverty reduction is one of the basic values of the trade union movement. Social justice and caring for people are all the more important in this day and age, with an alarming rise in deprivation. Nobody gains if income disparities grow further and those living in poverty get into greater difficulties, Selin states.