ITF to make £200,000 donation to Japan

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/5778

17/03/2011

The ITF will donate £200,000 (US$320,400) to ameliorate the effects of the earthquake in Japan; the money will also be used to initiate an appeal for help among its affiliated unions.

The federation took the decision to make the donation at meetings held yesterday. It will also approach other global union federations and the International Trade Union Confederation to help coordinate union assistance for people affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

ITF general secretary David Cockroft and ITF president Paddy Crumlin will visit Japan as soon as appropriate to assess how best to provide further assistance.

Paddy Crumlin said: “Every day more devastation is discovered, revealing just how important it is that help gets through. Just a month ago the same Japanese trade unions who are today trying to re-establish the transport links that are vital to the rescue effort were sending financial aid to victims of the Queensland flooding. We in the ITF worldwide family are now able to do all we can to help them in their great need.”

David Cockroft commented yesterday: “We’re in constant touch with our colleagues in Japan and they identify funds and aid as immediate priorities. I am glad to report that we have been moving on these since the first news of the quake, and today we’re taking that even further.”

For more information, including details of sending a solidarity message, visit: www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/japan.cfm