juntos en accion - together in action - agir ensemble

Background

We (the IYCW) are an international movement of young workers, who need to define ourselves as a movement of action and formation in our globalised world .

India is a nation changing rapidly and is immersed in the culture of globalisation . It is relevant that we will be there for our World Council in 2008; a council to evaluate our action, its impact, and how to strengthen and develop this in the future. We need to become fully aware of the environment in which we are meeting, in India as well as in our home countries, and make the connections between our reality, our action and this globalised society.

What is YOUR vision for international coordination?

The international team has been reflecting on the different means, strengths and challenges of the coordination of our movement for the past few years.

During our council the delegates will make some important decisions to develop a new type of coordination.

We want a coordination that works to strengthen our actions being developed at all levels. We want a coordination that develops the links BETWEEN our actions, - that is dynamic, young, that is relevant to our actions, that promotes confrontation and dialogue between the actions themselves.

To start the reflection process, we want to present you our reflections in order to motivate your contribution and participation in the preparation process towards the world council.

“Things need to be good for workers everywhere”, says Catherine Van den Meersschaut, graphic artist and member of the KAJ Flanders. Catherine has been a long time member of the KAJ in Belgium, and brings her experience of the movement to the world council in order to design the logo that will represent our vision for a world of young workers together in action.

“When I was designing the logo for the World Council, I thought about the idea of “working together”, “together in action” and the image of the hands seemed to be a natural part of that” says Catherine.

“I wanted to create something that could be simple and understood by different cultures – to be something international. It's strange to think the logo has been designed here and will be used in India – but it's also kind of a nice connection!”

So what is Catherine's dream for the future?

“I am very happy in my life right now. I feel I have freedom and feel I am very lucky. I also think that the workers movement and unions here in Belgium, are starting to see that the reality of other countries is not so far away. I don't feel I need any more than what I have in my life now, but I think is that things need to be good for workers everywhere. We might not see this result in our lifetime, but we need to start. There is a lot of work for us to do!”

Story of a Young Woman Worker, Tamil Nadu, India
I am Suja from the village of Karungal in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India. I am 20 years of age. I have 1 elder brother and one younger brother. I finished Secondary level education in a government school. I have been working in a cashew nut factory for the past 4 years. My father is a mason (in construction work) and my mother is a house wife. My elder brother is 22 years of age and he studied for a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering in a private college and now he is working in a company that makes motors that pumps ups water. My younger brother is 17 years of age and doing his Higher Secondary education.