STATEMENT BY THE GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL DISASTERS IN JAPAN
The General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU) affiliating national trade union centres of the 10 countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and 30 industry-based Trade Union Internationals is deeply shocked at the series of earthquakes and resultant tsunamis that lately hit Japan causing a loss of many thousands of human lives, large-scale destruction of dwellings, industrial enterprises, infrastructure and public establishments, and a threat of nuclear contamination of part of the country’s territory and the adjacent areas.
On behalf of its member organisations, the GCTU extends its deep and sincere condolences and sympathy for all victims of this natural disaster, their relatives and friends, all Japanese workers and their trade unions who are mourning over the death of their dear ones, comrades, countrymen.
The peoples of the CIS countries still keep fresh the memories of the Chernobyl disaster, and the earthquakes in Armenia and Uzbekistan. Our trade unions played a prominent role in alleviating their consequences, and from our own experience we know the real price of friendly words of support and solidarity in such a situation. It is with deep gratitude that we recall the moral and material assistance we received those days from trade unions, workers, experts, all people of Japan. Today we welcome the humanitarian relief being provided to Japan by CIS countries and other states of the world.
The GCTU and its affiliates express solidarity with their counterparts – the Japanese workers and their trade unions, share their anguish over the irretrievable losses, and wish them a successful liquidation of the consequences of the appalling natural disasters that have befallen their country, and a speedy restoration to normal life.
General Confederation of Trade Unions
Moscow, 18 March 2011