18 June, 2012Dorje Khatri, who conquered the highest mountain in the world and set an IndustriALL Global Union flag on top, was awarded 1,000 Swiss Francs at the IndustriALL Founding Congress to support progressive gender activities of his union.
Dorje is a Central Committee member of the Union of Trekking Travel Rafting and Airline Workers (UNITRAV), affiliated to the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), a Nepalese IndustriALL affiliate.
On 25 May Dorje, accompanied by two co-workers and four climbers from UK Adventure Peaks, conquered the top of the world. This was his eighth climb of Everest. Dorje went down to the base camp the same day and returned to Kathmandu on 1 June.
During his previous attempts Khatri marked Everest with flags of GEFONT and some of its affiliates and other Global Unions including Building Workers’ International (BWI). Last year he had hoisted the International Trade Union Confederation (ITC) flag under a GEFONT coordinated campaign ITUC @Mt Everest 2011. Now this is an impressive tradition!
In the last years Nepalese union federation GEFONT fought all existing discriminatory laws in the country – and won. GEFONT has an extensive women’s leadership development program, which includes training and support for women organizing plan.
At the IndustriALL Founding Congress today Jyrki Raina praised Dorje’s incredible achievement and awarded him 1,000 Swiss Francs to support progressive gender activities of his union.