‘WORKERS RISE UP! AGAINST CAPITALIST BARBARISM, FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, FOR A WORLD WITHOUT EXPLOITATION’ – 16TH CONGRESS OF WFTU

K Hemalata

The 16th World Trade Union Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), which concluded on 10th April 2011 in Athens, Greece, called upon the working class all over the world to unite in the struggle to protect their hard won rights, which were under intense attack on the pretext of global economic crisis. It called upon the workers to achieve their contemporary needs and those of all sections of the toiling people, and to achieve a just society. It has categorically asserted that this was not possible under the present capitalist system. 881 delegates and observers representing workers from different sectors and industries in 105 countries in 4 continents participated in the Congress. CITU, which has recently decided to get affiliated to WFTU, was represented by 20 delegates led by its president AK Padmanabhan and Swadesh Dev Roye, secretary and head of its international department. 6 representatives of All India State Government Employees’ Federation (AISGEF) led by Sukomal Sen, vice president of CITU and former general secretary of Trade Union International of Public and Allied Employees also participated in the Congress.

The WFTU Congress started at the Faliro Pavilion with great enthusiasm on the evening of 6th April 2011.Mohammad Shabban Azzouz, President and George Mavrikos, General Secretary of WFTU led the delegates and observers around the pavilion to a thunderous applause, waving of flags and slogans by more than 5000 people – most of them young women and men, workers and students - who assembled there to participate in the inaugural ceremony. A 35 member presidium comprising the Presidential and Financial councils of WFTU, and representatives of South Africa, Arab countries, ACFTU and CITU presided over the public meeting. CITU was represented in the presidium by its national secretary, Hemalata.

The delegates’ session started on 7th April and held serious discussions on the ‘Athens Pact’ presented by George Mavrikos. A K Padmanabhan, Swadesh Dev Roye and Sukomal Sen were in the presidium in the different sessions.

Being held in the background of the global economic crisis, the worst since the Great Depression of the early 1930s, the discussions in the Congress were mainly focussed on the impact of the global economic crisis on the working class and the strategies that needed to be adopted by the working class movement at the national and international levels to protect the interests of the workers. The report pointed out that the sharp rise in unemployment, dramatic shrinking of the real income of the workers, the reduction of social spending budgets, raising the retirement age etc show the parasitism and decay of the capitalist system. Hiding the real fact that it was the toiling masses who were actually bearing the brunt of the crisis, the problems arising out of the crisis were presented as ‘national problems’ to impose further burdens on the workers and the common people so that the capitalists, who were responsible for the crisis in the first place, could protect and further increase their profits. In Britain, the income of the rich increased by 30% last year; the number of billionaires increased from 43 to 53; 9 of them increased their wealth by more than 1 billion Euros in the last year.

In the USA, while the official unemployment rate is 9.5%, if the number of those who could not find full time jobs and those who, unable to find any employment, stopped looking for work were also included, a whopping 19% of the total workforce is daily confronted with the spectre of unemployment. In several countries, unemployment has reached alarming proportions of upto 30% driving large sections of youth to crime and anti social activities. While science and technology have recorded huge advances, the benefits of these advances are denied to the common people. Today the world has the necessary resources and expertise for increasing global food production to meet the needs of the entire population on the planet. Yet, the number of hungry and malnourished is increasing. As per FAO, more than 10 crores people joined the ranks of the poor after the beginning of the crisis. Hunger was not limited to the developing countries alone. In the USA, the richest country of the world today, 4.9 crores people suffer from malnutrition. 1.7 crores children in the USA live in households unable to provide daily meals; the number of children in the US who were left with no food at all for one day or more jumped from 7 lakhs to 11 lakhs within a year.

In 15 countries including Afghanistan and several African countries, life expectancy at birth is as low as 45 – 49 years. It is lower for women, hundreds of thousands of who die due to lack of medical care during child birth and suffer from anaemia and malnutrition. In 37 more countries, life expectancy at birth is 50 – 59 years.

The WFTU Congress strongly criticised the prescriptions of the World Bank, IMF and WTO for the development of the third world countries and demanded that the debt of the third world countries should be cancelled now. It declared that the debt in fact, does not exist; it has been repaid by these countries many times. The real debtors are those who exploit the people and the rich resources of the third world countries.

The ‘Athens Pact’ asserted that the present global economic crisis was neither the first nor would it be the last under capitalism. Such crises were systemic of the capitalist mode of production; there can be no convergence of economic and social achievements in a capitalist society.

The WFTU Congress noted the experiences of the great struggles of the working class in different countries such as in Greece, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Asia, Africa, Latin America etc, Mexico, and the USA etc against the attacks on their working and living conditions. Similarly the recent struggles against rising food prices, unemployment and democracy in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Jordan, etc indicate that people, particularly the young were getting mobilised to fight for their rights. These were positive developments indicating that the crisis provided opportunities for the awakening of the working class and the people, though equally serious problems coexist.

Unless there was a class oriented approach, there is a risk of these various outbursts or spontaneous movements to be quickly deflated or manipulated. Without persistent and consistent struggle against monopolies and imperialism and their associations, and without showing a complete alternate perspective, it would be easy for imperialism to redeploy its forces and to counterattack.

The Congress stressed the need for united struggles and united tactics of the labour movement. Such unity should not be just for the sake of unity, but to overthrow the power of monopolies and for convergence of the movements for another way of development. With such unity, solidarity and coordinated struggles, the working class could achieve gains and protect them. It was decided to organise an international meeting of trade unionists to discuss the issue ‘Our work and coordination within Multinational/ Transnational companies’ by the end of 2011.

The ‘Athens Pact’, unanimously adopted by the Congress also pointed out that the working class, when united on a class basis, can bring to their side other sections of the people like the poor farmers, the self employed, and the tradesmen, as allies in its struggle against the monopolies and big capital. It warned that the opponents and enemies of the workers were uniting forces under their own umbrella with the single minded objective of suppressing the working class movement. The workers must be made conscious of the need of united struggles. Highlighting the importance of paying special attention to organise women workers, it was pointed out that in all capitalist countries working women face cruel exploitation. Unemployment among women is higher than among men. They are the last to get jobs and the first to lose them. They mostly work in part time, insecure, uncertain and casual jobs; they are paid less than men; women get lower pensions; violence against women is increasing in all countries; prostitution was spreading; hundreds of thousands of women are forced to migrate within and across countries in search of employment. The proportion of illiteracy, poverty and hunger are disproportionately high among women. For example, 3/5 of children who do not go to school in the European Union are girls; 90% of the 1 million people who are victims of trafficking every year are women and girls.

Significantly 32% of the delegates to the WFTU Congress were women. A separate session of women delegates was held on 7th April, which was attended by the general secretary of WFTU. It was decided to organise an international conference to discuss the issues of working women in detail and constitute a preparatory committee for this.

The Congress also noted with concern the low level of trade union organisation among the young workers. From the state of trade union organisations in the sectors, which had huge presence of young workers, it was clear that the young workers were mostly out of the purview of the trade union movement. They are compelled to keep a distance from the collective action and struggles. They become the target of multifaceted exploitation not only because at work they perform the more precarious, casual and low paid jobs but also because they are targeted by the spread of drugs, child prostitution, illiteracy etc. The need to reach out to the young workers and make special efforts to organise them and to convince them to play a decisive role in revitalising the trade union movement of the working class and not to remain as spectators, was emphasised.

The 16th Congress of WFTU was informed of the progresses made in the activities after the last Congress in Havana on 4-5 December 2005. The headquarters of the organisation was shifted to Athens and the meetings of the presidential council were regularised; efforts made to improve proper functioning of the different Trade Union Internationals (TUIs), though still there were some which were not functioning regularly; several international conferences and conventions om several important issues were held; an international conference of working women was held in Brussels. These efforts were reflected in the increased and enthusiastic participation in the 16th Congress. It was decided to further improve the coordination among the regional offices and the TUIs and the relations of TUIs with the WFTU.

The 16th Congress of WFTU re elected Mohammed Shabban Azzouz from Syria as president and George Mavrikos as the general secretary. A 40 member new presidential council including AK Padmanabhan and Swadesh Dev Roye from CITU was also elected by the Congress. AK Padmanabhan was elected as vice president and Swadesh Dev Roye as secretariat member. The Congress expressed confidence that by the time of the next Congress when WFTU would celebrate its 70 years, thousands of new trade union cadres, young men and women workers would be developed and promoted to strengthen the class struggles and will deliver to the next generations a world without exploitation.

Courtesy: www.citucentre.org/

16TH WORLD TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (WFTU)

AGAINST CAPITALIST BARBARISM, FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

Hemalata

THE 16th World Trade Union Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) concluded on April 10, 2011 in Athens, Greece, calling upon the working class all over the world to unite in the struggle to protect their hard-won rights which are under intense attack on the pretext of the global economic crisis; to achieve the contemporary needs of the workers and all sections of the toiling people; and to achieve a just society which, it categorically asserted, is not possible under the present capitalist system.

As many as 881 delegates and observers, representing workers from different sectors and industries in 105 countries over 4 continents, participated in the congress. The CITU, which recently decided to get affiliated to the WFTU, was represented by 20 delegates led by its president A K Padmanabhan and its secretary Swadesh Dev Roye who is also the head of its international department. Six representatives of the All India State Government Employees’ Federation (AISGEF) led by its vice president Sukomal Sen, a former general secretary of the Trade Union International of Public and Allied Employees, also participated in the congress.

PARASITIC AND DECAYING SYSTEM

After a rousing welcome to the delegates and observers by thousands of workers, mostly young men and women and students, at the inaugural session at the Faliro Pavilion on April 6, the congress had a serious discussion on the “Athens Pact” presented by the WFTU general secretary George Mavrikos. A K Padmanabhan was in the presidium of the first session.

Being held in the background of the global economic crisis, the worst since crisis of the early 1930s, the discussions in the congress focussed mainly on the impact of the global economic crisis on the working class and the strategies that needed to be adopted by the working class movement at the national and international levels to protect the interests of the workers. The report pointed out that the sharp rise in unemployment, dramatic shrinking of the real income of the workers, the reduction of social spending budgets, raising the retirement age etc, show the parasitism and decay of the capitalist system. Hiding the real fact that it was the toiling masses who were actually bearing the brunt of the crisis, the problems arising out of the crisis were presented as ‘national problems’ to impose further burdens on the workers and the common people so that capitalists, who were responsible for the crisis in the first place, could protect and further increase their profits. In Britain, the income of the rich increased by 30 per cent last year; the number of billionaires increased from 43 to 53; and 9 of them increased their wealth by more than 1 billion euros during the last year.

In the USA, the official unemployment rate is 9.5 per cent. But if we include the number of those who could not find full time jobs and of those who, unable to find any employment, stopped looking for work, a whopping 19 per cent of the total workforce is daily confronted with the spectre of unemployment there. In several countries, unemployment has reached alarming proportions, driving large sections of the American youth to crime and anti-social activities.

While science and technology have recorded huge advances, the benefits of these advances are denied to the common people. Today the world has the necessary resources and expertise for increasing global food production to meet the needs of the entire population on the planet. Yet, the number of the hungry and malnourished is increasing. As per the FAO, more than 10 crore people joined the ranks of the poor after the beginning of the crisis. Hunger was not limited to the developing countries alone. In the USA, the richest country of the world today, 4.9 crore people suffer from malnutrition. About 1.7 crore children in the USA live in households unable to provide daily meals; the number of children in the US who were left with no food at all for one day or more jumped from 7 lakhs to 11 lakhs within a year.

In 15 countries including Afghanistan and several African countries, the life expectancy at birth is as low as 45 – 49 years. It is lower for women who die in hundreds of thousands due to lack of medical care during childbirth and suffer from anaemia and malnutrition. In 37 more countries, life expectancy at birth is 50 – 59 years.

The WFTU strongly criticised the prescriptions of the World Bank, IMF and WTO for the development of the third world countries and demanded that the debt of the third world countries should be cancelled now. It declared that the debt, in fact, does not exist; it has been repaid by these countries many times over. The real debtors are those who exploit the people and the rich resources of the third world countries.

The ‘Athens Pact’ asserted that the present global economic crisis was neither the first nor would it be the last under capitalism. Such crises were systemic of the capitalist mode of production; there can be no convergence of economic and social achievements in a capitalist society.

POWERFUL STRUGGLES

The WFTU congress noted the experiences of the great struggles of the working class in different countries such as in Greece, Portugal, Spain, France and Italy in Europe, in Mexico and the USA, and in other countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, against the attacks on their working and living conditions. Similarly, the recent struggles against rising food prices and unemployment and also for democracy in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Jordan, etc indicate that people, particularly the young, were getting mobilised to fight for their rights. These were positive developments, indicating that the crisis provided opportunities for the awakening of the working class and the people, though equally serious problems coexist.

Unless there was a class oriented approach, however, there is a risk that these various outbursts or spontaneous movements would quickly get deflated or manipulated. Without persistent and consistent struggle against monopolies and imperialism and their associations, and without showing a complete alternative perspective, it would be easy for imperialism to redeploy its forces and to launch a counterattack.

The congress stressed the need for united struggles and united tactics of the labour movement. Such unity should not be just for the sake of unity, but aim to overthrow the power of monopolies and effect a convergence of the movements for another way of development. With such unity, solidarity and coordinated struggles only could the working class achieve gains and protect them. It was decided to organise an international meeting of trade unionists to discuss the issue of “Our Work and Coordination within Multinational/Transnational Companies” by the end of 2011.

The “Athens Pact,” unanimously adopted by the congress also pointed out that the working class, when united on a class basis, would bring to their side other sections of the people like the poor farmers, the self-employed, and the tradesmen, as allies in its struggle against the monopolies and big capital. It warned that the opponents and enemies of the workers were uniting forces under their own umbrella with the single-minded objective of suppressing the working class movement. The workers must be made conscious of the need of united struggles.

ORGANISING THE WOMEN, YOUTH

Highlighting the importance of paying special attention to organise women workers, it was pointed out that in all capitalist countries working women face cruel exploitation. Unemployment among women is higher than among men. They are the last to get jobs and the first to lose them. They mostly work in part time, insecure, uncertain and casual jobs; they are paid less than men; they get lower or no pensions; violence against women is increasing in all countries; prostitution is spreading; hundreds of thousands of women are forced to migrate within and across countries in search of employment. The proportions of illiteracy, poverty and hunger are disproportionately high among women. For example, 3/5 of children who do not go to school in the European Union are girls; 90 per cent of the one million people who are victims of trafficking every year are women and girls.

Significantly 32 per cent of the delegates to the WFTU congress were women. A separate session of women delegates was held on April 7, which was attended by the general secretary of the WFTU. It was decided to organise an international conference to discuss the issues of working women in detail and constitute a preparatory committee for this purpose.

The congress also noted with concern the low level of trade union organisation among young workers. From the state of trade union organisations in the sectors, which had huge presence of young workers, it was clear that young workers were mostly out of the purview of the trade union movement. They are compelled to keep a distance from collective actions and struggles. They become the target of multifaceted exploitation not only because they perform the more precarious, casual and low paid jobs at work but also because they are targeted by the spread of drugs, child prostitution, illiteracy etc. The congress emphasised the need to reach out to the young workers and make special efforts to organise them and to convince them to play a decisive role in revitalising the trade union movement of the working class and not to remain as spectators.

The 16th congress of the WFTU was informed of the progress made in the activities after the last congress held in Havana on December 4-5, 2005. The headquarters of the organisation was shifted to Athens and the meetings of the presidential council were regularised. Efforts were made to improve the functioning of the different trade union internationals (TUIs), though still there were some which were not functioning regularly. Several international conferences and conventions on different issues were held and an international conference of working women was held in Brussels. These efforts were reflected in the increased and enthusiastic participation in the 16th congress. It was decided to further improve the coordination among the regional offices, among the TUIs and also improve the relations of TUIs with the WFTU.

The 16th congress of the WFTU re-elected Mohammed Shabban Azzouz from Syria as its president and George Mavrikos as the general secretary. A 40 member new presidential council, including A K Padmanabhan and Swadesh Dev Roye from CITU, was also elected by the congress. A K Padmanabhan was elected as vice president and Swadesh Dev Roye as secretariat member. The congress expressed confidence that by the time of the next congress when the WFTU would celebrate its 70 years, thousands of new trade union cadres, young men and women workers would be developed and promoted to strengthen the class struggles and that they would deliver to the next generations a world without exploitation.

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/

WORLD TRADE UNION CONGRESS BEGINS IN ATHENS

THE 16^th World Trade Union Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) started at the Faliro Pavilion or the Taek Wan Doo auditorium with great enthusiasm in Athens, Greece on April 6, 2011.

The 828 delegates and observers representing the trade union organisations of workers and employees from 104 countries in four continents across the globe gathered near the stadium for the inaugural session. Azouz M Shaban, president and George Mavrikos, general secretary of WFTU led the delegates around the pavilion to a thunderous applause, waving of flags and slogans by more than 5000 people – most of them young women and men - who assembled there to participate in the inaugural ceremony. A 35 member presidium comprising the presidential and financial councils of WFTU, and representatives of South Africa, Arab countries, ACFTU and CITU presided over the public meeting. CITU was represented by its national secretary, Hemalata.

The general secretary of PAME, the militant Greek trade union which led a series of struggles against the attacks on the workers on the pretext of the global economic crisis hosted the congress. Welcoming the delegates, he said that the struggles of the millions of workers around the world led by the class oriented trade unions and their experiences would give them the strength to further advance their struggles to protect the interests of the workers in Greece. He expressed confidence that the working class would be successful in countering the single minded attack of the ruling classes to suppress their rights and bringing about a change in the society.

Addressing the gathering, the president of WFTU emphasised the need for unity of the people against imperialist aggression and domination. Mavrikos, general secretary of WFTU observed that WFTU and its activities have expanded since the last congress five years back. He outlined the efforts made during this period to advance the class oriented trade union movement and to develop solidarity among the working class in different countries. He emphasised that the need of the hour is to unite the entire working class and strengthen the fight against the exploitative capitalist system.

The first vice president of Greek parliament, the speaker of Greece and the mayors of Athens and Pierus also addressed the gathering. All of them referred to the serious impact of the global economic crisis on the people of Greece and expressed their hope that the 16^th congress of the WFTU would address the issue and provide the necessary direction to the trade union movement in the world to change the present exploitative system.

The cultural team of the reception committee presented inspiring songs and music which enthralled all those present.

The delegates’ session on April 7-10 will discuss the ‘Athens Pact’ that will be presented by the general secretary, the amendments to the WFTU constitution and other matters and elect the new presidential council and secretariat.

The 16^th congress of the WFTU is expected to be an important milestone in the advancement of the world trade union movement and in strengthening world wide struggles against the attacks on the working class and the toiling people and in establishing a world free from exploitation.

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/

WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS GENERAL SECRETARY VISITS CITU HEADQUARTERS

In the background of the ensuing 16th Congress of World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and the CITU decision to affiliate to the WFTU, the General Secretary of the WFTU George Mavrikos visited India on 11- 12 March 2011.

On 12th March, he held discussions with the CITU leaders in BT Ranadive Bhawan, the headquarters of CITU and said that the formal affiliation of CITU to WFTU is significant not only for the CITU and WFTU but for the entire working class the world over, particularly in the background of the world economic crisis and the people’s uprisings in West Asia and North America.

A K Padmanabhan, President, Swadesh Dev Roye, Secretary and head of the international Department, Dipankar Mukherjee, Secretary, Ranjana Nirula Treasurer, Amitava Guha and AR Sindhu, working committee members of CITU participated in the discussions.

In the press meeting held at BTR Bhawan in the afternoon, Mavrikos explained the background and developments in West Asia and North America and how the working class movement was being suppressed by the authoritarian rulers there.

Mavrikos, an elected MP of the Communist Party of Greece, in the Greek Parliament, explained the situation in Greece and the adverse circumstances in which the WFTU headquarters was functioning there.

After the press meet, he addressed a meeting attended by a selected audience which included the state leaders of CITU from Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, leaders of All India State Government Employees’ Federation, All India Insurance Employees’ Association, and Bank Employees’ Federation of INdia, at BTR Bhawan.

Mavrikos spoke on the political situation in West Asia and North Africa and also on the significance of the CITU joining the WFTU. The meeting was presided over by A K Padmanabhan, President CITU. H Mahadevan, Deputy Secretary and coordinator South Asia, WFTU spoke on the occasion. Swadesh Dev Roye proposed the vote of thanks.

Courtesy: www.citucentre.org/

WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS RECOGNISES CITU

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ON THE VISIT TO WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS’ HEAD QUARTERS- TAPAN SEN

Following an invitation from the leadership of WFTU a delegation consisting of A.K. Padmanabhan, Tapan Sen and S. Dev Roye visited the WFTU Head Quarter from 31st October to 3rd November.

CITU representatives held detailed discussions about the situation in the International Trade Union movement, the functioning of WFTU, coming 16th Congress of WFTU and various other issues of mutual interest. There were also exchanges of opinions and informations about the present situations and struggles in India, Greece and also in countries in various continents. The WFTU Secretariat was represented in the discussions by Comrades George Mavrikose (General Secretary), Valentine Pacho (Deputy General Secretary), Apostolos Sotripoulose ( WFTU representative in UNESCO), Mohammed Iqnaibi (WFTU representative for Palestine and Adviser on Arab issues) and Arthur Sequeria from Portugal.

CITU delegation had also meeting with the leadership of PAME (All workers militant front), the central trade union of Greece which is an affiliate of WFTU and the major organization in helping the functioning of the WFTU Head Quarters. PAME is in the forefront of struggles against the Greek Govt’s anti-workers, anti-people policies and is also a major force co-ordinating struggles in Europe. PAME was represented by its General Secretary Coms. George Perros, Head of International Dept., George Pantikos, Chrysoula Lamboudi (Head of Immigrants Secretariat) and other office bearers.

CITU delegation also had discussions with the leaders of Greek federation of Construction Workers, Federation of Textile and Clothing workers of Greece, Trade Union of Metal of Piraeus (A militant union of workers of ship building and repair works in the port of Piraeus near Athens).

A meeting of immigrant workers was organized by PAME in which CITU leaders participated. Com. Tapan Sen addressed the workers, numbering more than 150. These workers were from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. There are lakhs of immigrant workers in Greece, who, with the deepening economic crisis are facing a serious situation of unemployment, reduction of wages and intimidation and threats from the Govt. and also from various other forces. PAME has been organizing these workers and are leading the struggles on their demands.

Com. Tapan Sen, explained the deepening effect of the crisis on the working people all over the world and also the situation prevailing in the subcontinent. He congratulated the immigrant workers for getting organized and also thanked the leadership of PAME for leading the immigrant workers struggle. A cultural programme, of songs in Bengali was conducted by the cultural wing of the immigrant workers. PAME has started its cultural wing in various parts of the country.

The delegation also met the General Secretary Com. Aleka and other leaders of the Communist Party of Greece and exchanged greetings. The delegation was able to know the details of struggles that has engulfed the whole of Europe in this period. PAME has taken initiative to co-ordinate the struggles in Europe with a meeting of trade unions from 13 countries in Europe which was held on 17-18th September. A meeting of the various TUI leaders was organized by WFTU Head Quarters on 30th October. S. Dev Roye, President of TUI Energy attended this meeting.

The delegation was in Athens, when the whole country was busy with the ensuing local body elections. At the same time, hectic preparations are on for the 16th Congress of WFTU, to be held in the city of Athens from 6th to 10th April 2011.

Leaders of PAME told the delegation that efforts are being made to approach all the workers for the fund collections and other campaigns in connection with the Congress.

Source: www.citucentre.org/

WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS CONGRATULATES WORKERS OF INDIA FOR SUCCESSFUL RALLY AT NEW DELHI ON 23-02-2011

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