G20 : They were singing our song

The G20 Leaders’ Statement from Pittsburgh reads well. They put “quality jobs at the heart of the recovery”. They will “strengthen support for the most vulnerable”. They will establish “a framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth”. As they said in their first sentence, they met “in the midst of a critical transition from crisis to recovery, to turn the page on an era of irresponsibility…”. The ITUC was quoted as saying: “the Leaders got it” – on the need to place the emphasis on jobs, as the path to sustainable recovery. They also said some good things about training and skills. But the contribution of general education to society was not mentioned. They endorsed a proposal from President Obama to convene a meeting early in 2010 of G20 Employment and Labour Ministers, to support the ILO jobs pact and consider skills development policies. They reaffirmed their “historic commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals”.

These commitments and affirmations were not included by chance. They were the result of a coherent case put toward systemically by Global Unions with significant work in many different capitals and at the EU. In Pittsburgh, in the space of two hours, labour leaders met with 10 out of the 20 leaders, including Presidents Obama of the US and Lula of Brazil, as well as the heads of key international agencies. The advocacy work was done, and done well.

Today the ITUC and TUAC stated: “Progress in Pittsburgh, but still far to go", especially on measures to give real assurance that it will never happen again. But youth unemployment was not mentioned.

Nevertheless, Global Unions got several statements they wanted. Now comes the hard part – getting governments around the world – whether in the G20 or not, to follow through on the commitments. This is going to be tough.

If we read the G20 statement carefully, it’s quite specific on issues like financial regulation. Remember, the G20 is still essentially the creature of Finance Ministries and Central Banks. On jobs, skills and training the statement is long on principle, “singing our song”, but short on specifics.

The G20 will replace the G8 as the preeminent summit on global economic issues. 2010 will be the transition year, with Canada hosting the G8 and G20 in June. So this gathering of the heavy hitters in the global economy is here to stay. But what will count most is what happens far below the summit – in the countries and communities of the world.

Link for G20 statement: http://www.pittsburghsummit.gov/mediacenter/129639.htm