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30 November, 1999An international metalworkers' official says that the World Trade Organisation's meeting will mark a watershed in changing public perceptions about international trade and how it affects us all.
GLOBAL: Addressing the IMF Executive Committee, in Santiago, Chile, upon his arrival from Seattle, where he had participated in trade union meetings prior to the start of WTO talks, IMF General Secretary Marcello Malentacchi declared that the WTO meeting would mark a watershed in changing public perceptions about international trade and how it affects us all.
Malentacchi said that as he spoke the WTO meeting was in progress and it would be hard to predict the outcome of these crucial discussions. But if agreement is reached in Seattle, he declared that "the die will be cast for WTO activities well into the new century, and it will be difficult, if not impossible, to alter."
The trade unions' position was quite clear. Any agreement had to include, or be based upon, the recognition of core labour standards and the need to protect the environment. A task force on trade and international labour standards, made up of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the International Trade Secretariats, including the IMF, met in October in Geneva to take stock of developments in the trade unions' trade and labour standards campaign. And on November 28-29, in Seattle, just prior to the commencement of the WTO meeting, the ICFTU organised a conference on "Globalisation and Workers' Rights."
"Make no mistake about it," maintained Malentacchi. "What we discuss in Seattle will be one of the most significant issues facing the international labour movement. If the decisions go against us, we will live to regret them well into the future."
In a very real sense, observed the IMF General Secretary, Seattle would be as much a test of the power of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to influence international agendas as of the ability to drive that agenda forward.
Nearly 1,200 NGOs in 87 countries have signed a statement calling for a fundamental reform of the WTO.
Malentacchi said that as he spoke the WTO meeting was in progress and it would be hard to predict the outcome of these crucial discussions. But if agreement is reached in Seattle, he declared that "the die will be cast for WTO activities well into the new century, and it will be difficult, if not impossible, to alter."
The trade unions' position was quite clear. Any agreement had to include, or be based upon, the recognition of core labour standards and the need to protect the environment. A task force on trade and international labour standards, made up of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the International Trade Secretariats, including the IMF, met in October in Geneva to take stock of developments in the trade unions' trade and labour standards campaign. And on November 28-29, in Seattle, just prior to the commencement of the WTO meeting, the ICFTU organised a conference on "Globalisation and Workers' Rights."
"Make no mistake about it," maintained Malentacchi. "What we discuss in Seattle will be one of the most significant issues facing the international labour movement. If the decisions go against us, we will live to regret them well into the future."
In a very real sense, observed the IMF General Secretary, Seattle would be as much a test of the power of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to influence international agendas as of the ability to drive that agenda forward.
Nearly 1,200 NGOs in 87 countries have signed a statement calling for a fundamental reform of the WTO.