WFTU TRADE UNION INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE &
ALLIED STATEMENT ON FREE& SAFE VACCINE FOR ALL WFTU CAMPAIGN
“Workers of the world
unite you have nothing to lose but your chains”
The World Federation
of Trade Unions [WFTU] Trade Union International Public Services and Allied
[TUI PS & A], a class oriented union representing more than 30 million
members around the world, joins millions of workers around the world in support
of the WFTU FREE AND SAFE VACCINE FOR ALL CAMPAIGN.
2020 has been a
devastating year for the global economy as well as the health of millions of
citizens around the world including frontline workers, most of whom were forced
to combat the COVID 19 virus pandemic without adequate PPEs.2021 will not be
different as COVID 19 infections will be worsened before it becomes better. Indeed,
more lives will be lost if vaccines do not reach the healthcare workers, the
most vulnerable and poor people on time.
WFTU-TUI-PS&A
welcomes the quick response by a number of countries in developing vaccines in
a short period of time in order to help cabbing the spread of the COVID 19 pandemic
and really applaud countries like Russia, China, Cuba, India UK and USA.
We also welcome the
progressiveness of the World Health Organisation (WHO’s) “Fair allocation
mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility”
According to the WHO,“Equitable
distribution is particularly important in the area of vaccines, which, if used
correctly and equitably, could help to stop the acute phase of the pandemic and
allow the rebuilding of our societies and economies”.
We further note the
article published by Cuban Journalist Cuban Randy Alonso on the online Magazine
People’s World that,“While high-income countries represent only 16% of the
world’s population, they currently hold 60% of the vaccines for COVID-19 that
have been purchased so far.” It is our firm view that the distribution of
vaccines through WHO COVAX program is so critical important for all.
As WFTU-TUI-PS&A,
we are very concerned though with the behavior and conduct of the richest
nations with regards to the procurement and distribution of vaccines as we have
noticed the gradual growing of nationalism where countries have moved away from
international co-operation and solidarity into narrow national interest.
It is imperative to
point out that the unnecessary stocking up of vaccines, even up to more than
quadruple times of doses per capita in these countries, thus wiping out
supply of vaccines in the market at the expense of the periphery is not
acceptable.The TUI PS&A is of the view that these countries must be
challenged to release their excesses to the struggling and underdeveloped
countries. Vaccines are use-values, not commodities, but public goods; yes not
profits before people but not profits at all but health, lives and livelihoods
first.
We further notice
that many countries have no plans to vaccinate migrants and asylum seekers or
populations under their occupation.
In light of this, we
call upon all multilateral organisations such as International Labour Organisation,
United Nation, European Union, African Union, etc to put pressure on all
governments in the world to support the call by the WHO for vaccine to be
distribution through the COVAX program to ensure access to all.
In this regard as
WFTU Trade Union International Public Service and allied, we therefore say:
·
No to nationalism on the distribution of
COVID 19 vaccines,
·
All nations should promote cooperation and
solidarity.
·
No to Xenophobia with regard to access to
COVID 19 Vaccines.
·
All Vaccines must be distributed through the
WHO COVAX program.
We finally call upon
all our members and friends around the world to support the WFTU campaign by
fighting for “FREE AND SAFE VACCINEFOR ALL”.
Issued
by Zola Saphetha General Secretary TUI-PS&A
For
media enquiries: Clever Banganayi, the Information & Publicity Officer at +27663050598 or clever@nehawu.org.za.