Former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and global union leaders convened at Geneva’s Club Suisse de la Presse last Friday to kickstart a transnational dialogue on the need to strengthen trade unions and building a global coalition against economic inequality which Lula called “the great struggle of our age.”
“It was an honor to meet the world’s leading warrior in the fight against inequality,” said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. “As President, Lula set an example for the world. He reversed inequality by lifting millions from poverty and providing unprecedented access to education. He now wants to continue that fight with allies across the world and UNI is proud to be among them. We could not agree more that today’s raging inequality is the central crisis of our time – and there is no solution to inequality without strong unions.”
Hoffman joined Valter Sanches, General Secretary of IndustriALL, and representatives of IUF-Uniting Food, Farm and Hotel Workers World-Wide, Building and Wood Workers’ International, Public Services International, and the #LulaLivre committee.
Lula is touring through Europe, where he has met Pope Francis, French economist Thomas Piketty, Director-General of the International Labour Organization Guy Rider, and representatives of the World Council of Churches among others.
In his remarks, the former president stressed the importance of a strong and united trade union movement to fight against the tide of hatred and bigotry represented by Trump, Bolsonaro, and other populist leaders.
