Global Union Movement Mourns Loss of ITUC Leader

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/04/11/global-union-movement-mourns-loss-of-ituc-leader/

by Tula Connell, Apr 11, 2008

We extend condolences to the international union movement for the loss of Janek Kuczkiewicz, the longtime director of human and trade union rights at the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). This from the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center:

Kuczkiewicz died suddenly at his home in Brussels on April 8, 2008. A staunch defender of the International Labor Organization’s core labor standards, especially freedom of association, he worked closely with the Solidarity Center on worker rights issues and was an expert consultant on several Solidarity Center country worker rights reports. Under his direction, the ITUC published its annual survey of trade union rights violations.

Says Solidarity Center Executive Director Ellie Larson:

Every year, thousands of men and women all over the world are jailed, beaten, and killed for their union activities, tens of thousands lose their jobs for trying to organize a union, and millions are forced to work against their will. Brother Kuczkiewicz fought for all workers whose rights are under attack. We will miss him.