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30 March, 2000
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions is holding its Congress. The fact that this Congress is taking place in South Africa is a great achievement on its own, as not so long ago we could only dream of organising an international congress of a democratic organisation, such as the ICFTU, in the country where apartheid ruled.
South African trade unions, strongly supported by their international comrades the world over, made their own contribution to the struggle which finally brought freedom and democracy to South Africa.
Most congresses can claim to be historical. So can this one.
Historical, because the ICFTU has just turned 50 and is the only worldwide confederation of trade unions, together with the WCL, the World Confederation of Labour. (In fact, I do believe that the time has come to seriously start thinking of merging the two, instead of talking a lot of nonsense.)
Historical, also, because it is the first Congress in the new millennium.
But more important, because at this Congress a number of vital and fundamental issues are going to be discussed. Trade union rights, an end to discrimination in the workplace and organising international solidarity are three of the most important issues for debate by the more than 1,000 delegates.
I am sure that everyone can and will subscribe to the Declaration of Principles and support these statements. The problems will come when we discuss the implementation and practice of the decisions which the Congress will solemnly make.
That's why I believe we have to follow up the Congress with serious discussions on two items:
- What structure do we need for the next century to implement the decisions in order to be able to achieve the goals?
- How will trade unions globalise their activities to counterweight the globalisation of the economy?
I am afraid that, unless we find together the answer to these two vital questions, the entire trade union movement will not be able to respond to the challenges we are facing today.
The ICFTU Congress cannot provide the answers, of course. Congresses of this kind are too big, and debates are often limited to sumptuous declarations which sound good but do not have a major impact on daily trade union work at shop-floor level.
The same applies to all international organisations, including the IMF.
But if we do not find the link between our international job and the one that every dedicated and devoted trade union activist in every workplace is doing, we will have serious problems to motivate new generations to join trade unions.
The IMF wishes the ICFTU a great and successful Congress.
South African trade unions, strongly supported by their international comrades the world over, made their own contribution to the struggle which finally brought freedom and democracy to South Africa.
Most congresses can claim to be historical. So can this one.
Historical, because the ICFTU has just turned 50 and is the only worldwide confederation of trade unions, together with the WCL, the World Confederation of Labour. (In fact, I do believe that the time has come to seriously start thinking of merging the two, instead of talking a lot of nonsense.)
Historical, also, because it is the first Congress in the new millennium.
But more important, because at this Congress a number of vital and fundamental issues are going to be discussed. Trade union rights, an end to discrimination in the workplace and organising international solidarity are three of the most important issues for debate by the more than 1,000 delegates.
I am sure that everyone can and will subscribe to the Declaration of Principles and support these statements. The problems will come when we discuss the implementation and practice of the decisions which the Congress will solemnly make.
That's why I believe we have to follow up the Congress with serious discussions on two items:
- What structure do we need for the next century to implement the decisions in order to be able to achieve the goals?
- How will trade unions globalise their activities to counterweight the globalisation of the economy?
I am afraid that, unless we find together the answer to these two vital questions, the entire trade union movement will not be able to respond to the challenges we are facing today.
The ICFTU Congress cannot provide the answers, of course. Congresses of this kind are too big, and debates are often limited to sumptuous declarations which sound good but do not have a major impact on daily trade union work at shop-floor level.
The same applies to all international organisations, including the IMF.
But if we do not find the link between our international job and the one that every dedicated and devoted trade union activist in every workplace is doing, we will have serious problems to motivate new generations to join trade unions.
The IMF wishes the ICFTU a great and successful Congress.