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15 December, 1999The International Metalworkers' Federation and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions have sent a joint open letter to the Socialist International.
GENEVA/BRUSSELS: In a joint open letter dated December 15, addressed to the leading officials of the Socialist International -- Antonio Guterres, president, and Luis Ayala, general secretary -- the IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, and ICFTU general secretary, Bill Jordan, state that in order to respond to all challenges facing the labour movement today, trade unions and political parties need to intensify their cooperation.
The labour movement has been the driving force for progress and development in many countries around the world, and when these two components -- the political parties and the trade unions -- join forces, results soon become visible, say the two trade union officials. "For more than a hundred years, we have been fighting to achieve our common goals for democracy and social justice." Although not always successful, the balance sheet of their common effort was definitely positive.
In addition to employers and conservative forces attempting to destroy the trade unions, Jordan and Malentacchi refer to the new challenges: globalisation, liberalisation of the economy, privatisation, new poverty and misery, the growing gap between rich and poor countries, racism, intolerance, lack of participation in the political process, political alienation among young people, violations of human and trade union rights.
In order to respond to these challenges in a united and strong manner, it was essential that the SI, together with the IMF and other ITSs, the ICFTU and TUAC work together to develop a common strategy. Malentacchi and Jordan felt the total absence of a debate and dialogue with the trade unions at the last Congress of the SI was a missed opportunity and hoped the contacts between the SI and the trade unions would be renewed.
The labour movement has been the driving force for progress and development in many countries around the world, and when these two components -- the political parties and the trade unions -- join forces, results soon become visible, say the two trade union officials. "For more than a hundred years, we have been fighting to achieve our common goals for democracy and social justice." Although not always successful, the balance sheet of their common effort was definitely positive.
In addition to employers and conservative forces attempting to destroy the trade unions, Jordan and Malentacchi refer to the new challenges: globalisation, liberalisation of the economy, privatisation, new poverty and misery, the growing gap between rich and poor countries, racism, intolerance, lack of participation in the political process, political alienation among young people, violations of human and trade union rights.
In order to respond to these challenges in a united and strong manner, it was essential that the SI, together with the IMF and other ITSs, the ICFTU and TUAC work together to develop a common strategy. Malentacchi and Jordan felt the total absence of a debate and dialogue with the trade unions at the last Congress of the SI was a missed opportunity and hoped the contacts between the SI and the trade unions would be renewed.