It is more tragic than ironic that the state owned Qatari Airways
displaced UNICEF on the front of FC Barcelona’s shirt. That the global footballing institution - which styles itself as ‘more than a club’ - compromised its ethics big time is brought into sharp relief by the report of an ITUC delegation into the slave labour conditions of migrant workers building the 2022 World Cup infrastructure for the oil rich authoritarian statelet. Qatar is expected to ship in at least an additional 500,000 construction labourers —mainly from Nepal, Bangladesh and India — in preparation for the 2022 World Cup. According to the ILO, ‘more than 4,000 migrant workers could die between now and 2022 during construction of the infrastructure for the world’s biggest sporting event’
UNISON South West London Community Health Branch arranged a 'Defend Our NHS - Join the Resistance' advert and pitch-side board at high flying Dulwich Hamlet FC (Ryman Premier Division). Dulwich play in Pink and Blue and have concessionary admittance for unwaged and NHS workers. Over 700 watched Dulwich Hamlet beat Billericay on Saturday to go second in the League. Recently UNISON had electronic billboards at the Scotland v Croatia international and for many years the South Ayrshire Branch has done pitch-side boards at several grounds for Show Racism the Red Card backed by UNISON's General Political Fund.
Good to see UNISON
Active acknowledging Socrates. Here’s a shot of him with Lula in 1985 from Sao Paolo press.
MS
Brazilian footballer Socrates was a qualified medical Doctor as well as an active and brave Socialist who campaigned on and off the pitch against Brazil's military Dictatorship. He led the Corinthians team in 1982 to wear pro democracy slogans on their shirts and proclaimed his heroes were Che and Fidel. What a fantastic contrast to many modern footballers.
http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-12/05/socrates-brazil-football-captain-tribute/world-cup
Bob Abberley, UNISON Assistant General Secretary, gives his perspective on the racism allegations involving footballers John Terry and Anton Ferdinand and comments on how it might be dealt with in other workplaces:
http://www.srtrc.org/news/
news-and-events?news=2782
