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3 November, 1999During the first 40 years of its existence, the ICFTU was busy fighting the other half of the world. Now, the situation has completely changed.
Fifty years ago, on December 7, 1949, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was founded.
After years of discussion and ideological conflicts, the unions in Western Europe and the USA decided to leave the World Federation of Trade Unions, to go their own way.
Some of the International Trade Secretariats, such as the IMF, the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers and the International Transport Workers' Federation, played a central role which, I think, it would be useful to recall here.
Although the upcoming Cold War was the main reason for the split, there was another important motive: the WFTU wanted to control the entire international trade union movement by forcing the various ITSs to just be departments of the organisation.
Democratic centralism, preached by the Communists, should rule the trade unions.
The ITSs believed that such a structure would be catastrophic for the workers and for their organisations - thus the reaction against and total opposition to the attempts by the Communists to control them.
There is no doubt that our predecessors were right to make that decision and to pick up the fight. They were able to build up strong ITSs which are much closer to the problems of their members than anyone else can claim to have done.
This was the real reason for the founding of the ICFTU, and we should not forget it.
During the first 40 years of its existence, the ICFTU was busy fighting the other half of the world. Now, the situation has completely changed - for the better, of course - and the ICFTU is able to concentrate its efforts on fighting for basic trade union rights for every worker worldwide.
Since the collapse of the Communist system and the end of the Cold War, the ICFTU has grown considerably. It is now the only international trade union confederation left, and this is very exciting.
But to be the only organisation representing the entire working class is also a great responsibility, which cannot be carried out by the ICFTU alone.
The ITSs constitute an asset which can contribute greatly to the achievement of our goals, but more important is whether the affiliates of the ICFTU and ITSs finally decide to commit themselves, devote resources and time to international affairs in the amount and numbers necessary, to correspond to the need.
Goals must be established, and the ICFTU has to decide what actions it wants to take to achieve these goals. The next Congress of the ICFTU, in Durban, South Africa, in April 2000, will present a great opportunity.
The ICFTU is not just one NGO among thousands. It is the only one which can claim to represent the workers of the world. The ITSs are the only legitimate representatives of the workers at the workplace.
Workers are expecting the trade union movement to clearly state what our goals are, and then to work towards their realisation.
However, the IMF would like to congratulate the ICFTU on its 50th anniversary and for the excellent special edition of their magazine "Trade Union World," giving the history of the ICFTU year by year with the major events which have taken place.
After years of discussion and ideological conflicts, the unions in Western Europe and the USA decided to leave the World Federation of Trade Unions, to go their own way.
Some of the International Trade Secretariats, such as the IMF, the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers and the International Transport Workers' Federation, played a central role which, I think, it would be useful to recall here.
Although the upcoming Cold War was the main reason for the split, there was another important motive: the WFTU wanted to control the entire international trade union movement by forcing the various ITSs to just be departments of the organisation.
Democratic centralism, preached by the Communists, should rule the trade unions.
The ITSs believed that such a structure would be catastrophic for the workers and for their organisations - thus the reaction against and total opposition to the attempts by the Communists to control them.
There is no doubt that our predecessors were right to make that decision and to pick up the fight. They were able to build up strong ITSs which are much closer to the problems of their members than anyone else can claim to have done.
This was the real reason for the founding of the ICFTU, and we should not forget it.
During the first 40 years of its existence, the ICFTU was busy fighting the other half of the world. Now, the situation has completely changed - for the better, of course - and the ICFTU is able to concentrate its efforts on fighting for basic trade union rights for every worker worldwide.
Since the collapse of the Communist system and the end of the Cold War, the ICFTU has grown considerably. It is now the only international trade union confederation left, and this is very exciting.
But to be the only organisation representing the entire working class is also a great responsibility, which cannot be carried out by the ICFTU alone.
The ITSs constitute an asset which can contribute greatly to the achievement of our goals, but more important is whether the affiliates of the ICFTU and ITSs finally decide to commit themselves, devote resources and time to international affairs in the amount and numbers necessary, to correspond to the need.
Goals must be established, and the ICFTU has to decide what actions it wants to take to achieve these goals. The next Congress of the ICFTU, in Durban, South Africa, in April 2000, will present a great opportunity.
The ICFTU is not just one NGO among thousands. It is the only one which can claim to represent the workers of the world. The ITSs are the only legitimate representatives of the workers at the workplace.
Workers are expecting the trade union movement to clearly state what our goals are, and then to work towards their realisation.
However, the IMF would like to congratulate the ICFTU on its 50th anniversary and for the excellent special edition of their magazine "Trade Union World," giving the history of the ICFTU year by year with the major events which have taken place.