"Choose allies carefully"

PORTO ALEGRE: A seminar at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre set out to explore the potential -- and the limits -- of recent alliances between trade unions, non-governmental organisations and social movements. This issue is on the agenda for many trade unions -- also international ones like the IMF and the other Global Union Federations -- in light of "new organisations" gaining power and attracting interest from young people. The seminar, which attracted 250 visitors, was organised by the NGO "Focus on the Global South", and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. As the moderator pointed out, many of the new and old organisations share the rejection of neo-liberal globalisation, criticism of the World Trade Organisation, etc. In a number of countries -- exemplified by Germany, where the trade union movement, Attac and another NGO recently submitted a joint declaration to the federal government -- they begin to speak with one voice. However, old demarcations still exist. The IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, first of the panellists to speak, stressed the fundamental democratic and representative nature of trade unions, that is not guaranteed for NGOs. "But I would like to argue," said Malentacchi, "that we must not continue to let such thinking divide us. Just as there are some less than perfect NGOs, the same may be said of the trade union side. "Nonetheless, we must choose our allies carefully, no matter where they come from, to ensure that they are sincerely dedicated to our social, political and economic goals, and that they are backed by a democratic mandate." He gave examples of successful cooperation between trade unions and NGOs and said he believes these alliances must be reinforced. Malentacchi also urged the audience not to forget that there are organisations other than NGOs which are sympathetic to trade unions: "I am referring to the UN system, and organisations such as the ILO, WHO, UNCTAD, FAO, UNEP, etc. We must insist that the economic institutions of global governance begin a close and effective cooperation with them." Trevor Ngwane, of the South African Anti-Privatisation Forum, vehemently argued that the South African trade union congress Cosatu should break its ties with the ANC (African National Congress), which, in his opinion, had betrayed the working class. In the debate which followed, and which now tilted to discussing South Africa more than the trade unions versus NGOs, both representatives of the Cosatu, the metalworkers' trade union Numsa (affiliated to Cosatu and the IMF) and the IMF general secretary objected to Ngwane's stance. The discussion back on track again, a man from the audience met with much approval by claiming that trade unions were increasingly transforming themselves "from the inside", more and more relating to a changing society with less manual workers, more non-manual workers and with atypical workers -- part-time working, or in the informal sector - becoming the norm. He called this phenomenon "the new social unionism". The Numsa general secretary, Silumko Nondwangu, while not ruling out alliances with NGOs, made the policy of the union he represents very clear: "Trade unions - given their position at the workplace, their representativity - must provide leadership to other social movements. Not vice versa."