By Doug Cunningham

Union Network International - a global labor organization with more than 15 million members from 140 countries - just wrapped up its World Congress in Chicago. Formed in 2000 to strengthen global unions so workers can effectively bargain with multinational corporations, UNI leaves Chicago with an agenda to globalize the labor movement. UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings.

[Philip Jennings 1] : "We are going to go for union growth not just here i n the states but everywhere else in the world. And the global union movement is fighting back even though we are in challenging times. And we intend to succeed. It's our job to make sure that the working people's voices is heard in the places that matter - from the United Nations to the boardrooms of those distant and difficult multinational companies."

One of UNI's top priorities is the campaign to organize Wal-Mart. Jennings says the unprecedented gathering of international unions in Chicago marks a turning point in the labor movement's effort to coordinate its actions globally to advance working families' interests worldwide.

[Jennings 2] : "I think this congress is a turning point. I think that the national union leaders in this room - speaker after speaker - said it's not enough for us to think and act in our own national communities. We have to make a bigger and stronger commitment to cooperating and coordinating our work across borders."