On July 21, 2010, AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka and Brazilian CUT President Artur Henrique da Silva Santos met to discuss a joint strategy for addressing the current job and financial crisis by supporting financial reforms and policies that lead to the creation of decent work.  Da Silva Santos and Trumka, together with the international trade union movement, support the crucial need for coordinated government action to maintain economic stimulus, avoid a double dip recession and create badly needed jobs for the estimated 34 million workers whose jobs were destroyed by the crisis. 

During the meeting, both labor presidents agreed to the urgent need to reform the financial system by pressuring governments and international financial institutions to support a Financial Transaction Tax that places a burden for the crisis back on the financial institutions and creates the funds needed for eventual fiscal consolidation and sustainable development.  Both federations will continue to coordinate efforts with the global labor movement to help establish a G20 Working Group on Employment and Social Protection so that the interests of workers are discussed as a key part to the global recovery.

Contact: Josh Goldstein (202) 637-5018