11.03.2004

Support in principle

European Social Forum

To general secretaries of affiliated unions, March 1 2004

Dear colleague

Proposal for a European Social Forum in the UK

You may have received an approach from the office of the mayor of London about plans to hold a European Social Forum (ESF) in London from October 14-16 2004. These plans have been developed in consultation with unions in London and further afield, and the TUC general council has expressed the view that the ESF should be supported in principle, subject to satisfactory arrangements for the practical aspects of the event. In the circumstances, unions will no doubt wish to give serious consideration to giving the plans a hearing. Should an ESF go ahead, the TUC executive committee has agreed that the TUC should be involved in some way (possibly in the same way as has been done at previous ESFs).

The ESF being planned would embody a three-day programme of plenaries, seminars, workshops and social activities in which it is expected some 35,000 people would participate. An ESF in the UK would be the third event of its kind, following on from Florence 2002 and Paris 2003 and would be in the same ‘family’ as the World Social Forums in Porto Alegre and in Mumbai in 2004.

The event might provide an opportunity for trade unions and non-governmental organisations to discuss issues such as economic and social justice, labour rights and global labour standards. As such, it is potentially an opportunity to demonstrate, to a potentially largely young audience, trade unions’ role as a progressive force for change.

The TUC has been discussing with the mayor’s office the objectives of the event, and an outline of the proposed venue, governance structures and budget - there is a clear need to identify funds for the event to succeed, on which unions will need to take their own decisions. A briefing from the mayor’s office, on behalf of the UK organising committee, would provide unions with the opportunity to explore the extent to which they can support the plans financially or otherwise.

Yours sincerely