New international trade union seeks counterforce to globalization

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November 2006

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New international trade union seeks counterforce to globalization
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New international trade union seeks counterforce to globalization
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) was officially formed at the November 1 opening session of its Founding Congress in Vienna, creating a "a stronger and more united voice of workers' worldwide set to tackle the challenge of globalisation with renewed energy and hope."

The Founding Congress of the ITUC was preceded by the dissolution congresses of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions(ICFTU) and the World Confederation of Labour (WCL). The new ITUC will comprise the affiliated organisations of the former ICFTU and WCL together with eight other national trade union organisations that will for the first time affiliate to a global body.

According to organizers, the international trade union movement is adapting in order to remain a key player in an economic climate that is creating more losers than winners. According to ITUC, "The imbalances of economic globalisation are having a devastating effect, on millions of workers. Off-shoring, abuse of workers' rights and increasing poverty are all examples of the negative impact of these developments."

"The creation of the ITUC will solidify the trade union movement's capacity at the national and international levels," said Guy Ryder, the former General Secretary of the ICFTU and prospective General Secretary of the ITUC. "Stronger, we will exert more influence on companies, governments and the international financial and trade institutions. The founding of the ITUC is an integral part of the process of uniting the power of trade unionism."

Willy Thys, the former General Secretary of the WCL, said, "There is no doubt that the ITUC will become an effective countervailing force in a society that has changed enormously, with workers' rights being flouted under the pressure created by the current trajectory of " race to the bottom"globalisation.'"

The ITUC represents 166 million workers through its 309 affiliated organisations within 156 countries and territories.

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