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> XII World Congress:TUI Public Services: “We demand social functionsin service of the people and the workers”(page 6)

> Cyprus: Massive rallyorganized against austerity(page 7)

> World Federation of Trade Unions:70 years of action and struggle(pages 1-2)

> European Regional Office of WFTUStatement on the Reportof the International LabourOrganisation - 2015(page 3)

> On the issue of peace and the roleof the class-orientatedTrade Union Movement(pages 4-5)

> Message of the European RegionalOffice of WFTUon the 8th MarchInternational Working Women's’ Day8th March 2015(pages 5-6)

> Farewell to comrade Cleanthis Cleanthous A big loss to the Cypriot and internationaltrade union movement(page 8)

EUROPEAN REGIONAL OFFICE-WFTUArchemos Str. 29, P.O.Box 1885 Nicosia - Cyprus

Tel.: 00357 - 22 866 477, 22 866 400

E-mail: info@eurof-wftu.cy

www.eurof-wftu.org.cy

EDITION 2015 No. 1

World Federation of Trade Unions:70 years of action and struggle

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founda-tion of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). The conference for the establishment of the World Federation of Trade Unions took place in Paris from 25th September until 8th October 1945 and was at-tended by 346 delegates from 56 countries.

On 3rd October the conference was evolved into the WFTU founding Congress. The composition of the first Executive Committee, which headed the newly established federation, was as follows: Walter Citrine (Great Britain) Chairman, Louis Sayan (France) Gen-eral Secretary, Vice-Presidents Kuznetsov (USSR), Hillman (USA), Jouhaux (France), Lombardo Tole-dano (Latin America), Xu (China), Di Vittorio (Italy) and Coopers (Netherlands).

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The WFTU since its founding Congress in Paris has marched on a path full of struggles and mobilizations in defence of the working people in all the continents.

Shortly before the establishment of the WFTU hu-manity had succeeded by defeating Nazism-fascism to emerge from the devastation of war; a war that had caused terrible destruction all over the the world and the loss of millions of lives, not only with the use of conventional weapons, but this time also with the use of nuclear weapons.

The newly established trade union movement of WFTU could not remain uninvolved and in one of its first resolutions it had adopted it set as it’s the prin-cipal task the struggle for the elimination of fascism. WFTU from the very outset was a key component part of the broad anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movement that had developed in many parts of the world after the Second World War.

The start of the Cold War brought the split within the ranks of the WFTU which was the result of the ac-tivities waged by the Governments of the US, Great Britain, France, Japan and other capitalist states.

On the initiative of the American trade unions AFL-CIO, who had left the ranks of the WFTU along with some Confederations from other countries and at the beginning of the 1950’s, founded the “International Confederation of Free Trade Unions» (ICFTU) which was later renamed “International Trade Union Con-federation” (ITUC)

From 1945 until the 1990’s, the World Federation of Trade Unions guided in its actions by the principles of international solidarity and internationalism due to its prestige, orientation and mass organisation, es-tablished itself as the leading force in the mass move-ments of the working class.

The WFTU made a significant contribution and played a decisive role inside the International Labour Organ-isation in the adoption of important Conventions and decisions to the benefit of working people. All the key International Conventions with regards trade union and democratic freedoms, collective agreements, social insurance, women’s rights, child labour, work-ing hours, training of workers, and many other reso-lutions that reflect the achievements of the working class, bear WFTU’s mark.

The contribution of the World Federation of Trade Unions both in the mass struggles of the working class, but also of humanity in general is great and multifaceted. The WFTU in its statutes has set the prevalence of peace in the world as a priority. It ac-tively supported the national liberation movements

and struggles of the peoples and the working class against fascist military dictatorships, for democracy and independence in every corner of the world.

The changes that have occurred with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the socialist camp brought dra-matic upheavals within the international trade union movement and WFTU’s activity was particularly af-fected badly.

In that crucial period two lines appeared within its ranks. The class approach set as its priority the re-construction of the WFTU and the other in practice favoured the dissolution of the WFTU itself in the name supposedly of renewal.

The 15th Congress held in Havana in 2005 was the starting point for WFTU’s new beginning. The dele-gates who took part laid the foundations for WFTU’s new course.

The 16th WFTU Congress HELD in Athens IN 2011 was an important landmark in the course of the inter-national workers movement which in the conditions of the world capitalist crisis and an all-out attack on working people’s rights, is confronted with new chal-lenges. Despite weaknesses and problems, the Con-gress enhanced the class orientation of the WFTU and projected its militant action.

The European Regional Office of the WFTU, despite the difficulties and always based on the decisions of the 16th WFTU Congress and the principles of class solidarity, is working for the rallying, unity and coordi-nation of the class forces and struggles of the work-ing class inEurope.

The current conditions working people are faced with are setting new responsibilities and new challenges for the movement of the WFTU. Despite the great difficulties and attacks working people are under, the WFTU at all times remains the pole of resistance to neoliberal anti-social policies.

Today 70 years since its foundation, the class based trade union movement of the WFTU with 82 million members in 120 countries, with the values of class trade unionism and solidarity, with its struggles and actions, remains the genuine voice and expression of working people’s interests.

The deep capitalist crisis should be the occasion for societies to resist the onslaught of neoliberalism and assert a different path for the construction of a soci-ety based on social justice and the abolition of the exploitation of man by man.

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European Regional Office of WFTU Statement on the Report

of the International LabourOrganisation - 2015

The annual Report of the International Labour Office on unemployment was published recently.

According to the Report’s data, the number of unem-ployed is expected to increase by at least 11 million in the coming years and inequalities in the world are growing.

The Report warns that in 2019 over 219 million may be unemployed, while due to the outbreak of the global crisis in 2008 more than 61 million jobs were lost.

Workers aged 15 to 24 years, who have been par-ticularly affected by the crisis with the international unemployment rate for this age group rising to almost 13%, will continue to be severely affected in the com-ing years.

The ILO warns that social instability is especially acute in countries where youth unemployment is high or increasing rapidly.

In Europe, the employment situation will remain diffi-cult with high unemployment rates. Still, WFTU finds ILO’s projections too optimistic, namely those con-cerning growth of real wages. Despite the low infla-tion rate predicted for 2015 and beyond, economic policies from European Union and implemented on its member-states, are expected to reinforce their anti-labour character and will keep pressuring wages down.

At the same time, the ILO Report notes that income inequality will continue to rise as the 10% of the rich-est will own 30 to 40% of total income, while 10% of the poorest will own from 2 to 7% and that high in-equality is a cause for economic slowdown. Accord-ing to the figures of the United Nations, global wealth has increased sevenfold and per capita income has tripled. But this has not also led to a reduction in poverty, rather inequalities, exploitation and poverty worldwide have intensified and grown.

The outbreak of the capitalist crisis has dramatically exacerbated social contradictions and maximized in-equalities and discrimination whilst unemployment is already worsening the already critical situation.

According to global data 50,000 people die every day from poverty and hunger, while one billion people sur-

vive on less than one dollar a day. Six hundred mil-lion children are growing up in extreme poverty and destitution, while tens of millions of them die each year as a result of hunger.

In the EU countries,the number of the poor keeps increasing since in practice what have been imple-mented are brutal austerity policies: Welfare State’s destruction, privatization of essential public services, deregulation of labour relations and strong wages’ growth constraints. Such policies have been the cause of deep social regression in several European countries, namely in those under the so-called “fiscal consolidation” programmes.

The Report confirms WFTU’s positions that is the very capitalist system which is responsible for unem-ployment, an inherent feature of capitalism itself. It has as its sole objective the pursuit of the maximi-zation of profit and perceives the labour force as a cheap commodity.

While the crisis of the capitalist system is increas-ingly deteriorating, while the capitalist system itself challenges organized struggle, it is obvious that the only path for workers, is to organize, class solidarity and struggle with the class labour movement for their survival. The time has come for working people to intensify their resistance and fights against the brutal attacks of big business and governments, for steady employment, with collective bargaining and full rights.

In the current bleak international economic and social scenario, only an ILO with an independent approach, not yielding to the employers and governments pres-sure, may deliver democratic responses to the very uneven balance in favour of capital and to the detri-ment of labour prevailing in the world today.

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On the issue of peaceand the role of the class-orientated

Trade Union Movement

Almost 70 years after the great victory over fascism the peoples of the world are still fighting for peace to prevail.

The current international situation does not meet the aspirations the people had after the end of the Sec-ond World War for a world free from wars, where all peoples of the world will live in peace.

Today the world is characterized by dramatic dis-parities of wealth and power and by imperialist wars since capitalism does not hesitate to act inhumanly to boost its profits. The dead from wars, the unem-ployed, homeless, poor and immigrants around the world illustrate that capitalism can only lead mankind into misery. The ongoing conflicts, imperialist wars for zones of influence, but also the unprecedented capi-talist crisis as a result of capital’s immunity leaves humanity no room to be complacent.

In a period marked by the deep crisis of capitalism, the United States, NATO and its allies are massacring peoples all over the world for the control of energy sources and promoting their geo-strategic interests at the expense of the sovereignty of states, human rights and freedoms.

As a result of the foreign interventions in the Middle East the peoples are suffering from bloody wars and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean in general is explosive, creating dangers for humanity. Among the countries suffering from the horrors of war are Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The notorious policy of equal distances is observed between the Palestinian people and the State of Israel, whilst daily attacks and bloodshed against the Palestinian people are being committed. The military occupation and colo-nization of Cyprus - an EU Member State - is being tolerated. Islamic fundamentalism and the phenom-ena of terrorism did not arise from nowhere. In their attempts to control resources and impose their eco-nomic and political influence, the US and EU govern-ments either tolerated or cooperated with and funded various extremist groups which have resulted in the chaos and the bloody massacres humanity is follow-ing in awe. Furthermore, they are imposing on the countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Atlantic their demands for capital’s unbridled activity in order to help them financially. In Europe, Ukraine, as a result of the cooperation be-tween the imperialist powers with the fascist forces, has been led to a civil war. Despite the Nobel Peace Prize it has been awarded, the EU has its hands

drenched in the blood of the people of Yugoslavia. It participated in the occupation and subsequently il-legal declaration of independence of Kosovo. It took part in the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

With the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009 a significant step was taken towards the full milita-rization of the Union’s external action and foreign policy. Today the EU is playing an increasing role in military interventions and fully coordinates with the structures and plans of NATO and the US expansion-ist strategies.

The European Union is pursuing an increasingly deeper neoliberal and pro-Atlantic path. It is rapidly being set up into an imperialist pole participating in the division of the world. The EU has already legiti-mized a series of wars and interventions, participated in them, as it indeed actively participates in the “war” against terrorism. Operational missions that the EU can assume beyond its borders have been expand-ed, given that now besides the “humanitarian” and rescue missions, conflict prevention and peacekeep-ing missions.

At a time when the workers and peoples of Europe are suffering from the tragic consequences of severe anti-worker and anti-social austerity policies imple-mented by the EU and governments, new military spending is being promoted that will result in increas-ing the armament industry’s profits. Furthermore, “Member States shall undertake progressively to improve their military capabilities” and towards this end the European Defence Agency (EDA) is being institutionalised for the development of defence re-search, supplies, equipment and the expansion of the European military industry and technology. It is characteristic that the EDA in 2004 had a budget of around € 2 million, while last year it exceeded € 30 million without calculating the costs of each separate program. This is a mechanism that is inherent in the giant business companies of the military industry.

International organizations such as the IMF, the World Trade Organisation and the World Bank are acting as pillars of capitalist exploitation, in order to strengthen neo-liberalism and neo-colonialism with the imposition of the Memoranda of the Troika and economic agreements against the people’s interests.

The example of Ukraine is characteristic. The sup-port given to the new regime of Ukraine is part of a more general policy that includes the arrival of the IMF in the country, the conclusion of the EU-Ukraine Association, the creation of a free trade area, the liberalization of economic sectors of the country and NATO’s involvement in the restructuring of the country’s defence. This is the same policy that is de-

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manded from all the countries that are not part of the so-called “Eastern Neighbourhood Policy of the EU”, which includes besides Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbai-jan, Georgia, Belarus and Moldova.

NATO as the military arm of imperialism and a key tool for fulfilling the goals of governments and the monopolies through its expansion increases uncer-tainty and confronts humanity with serious dangers.

For these reasons, peace is a huge issue with a broad content. Peace is an ideal, which refers to the strug-gles of the peoples against imperialism, wars, exploi-tation and the policies that promote injustice. Thus, the struggle for peace is not only related closely with the struggle against war, but also with the struggles of the peoples and workers against the globalization of monopolies and has for this reason also a class character.

Apart from the struggle against imperialism in the field of war a struggle against imperialism is also re-quired in the field of the economy, society and socio-economic policies of neoliberalism, exploitation and injustice.

The WFTU for 70 years remains enduringly the in-ternational class-orientated trade union force that defends peace and struggles against imperialist in-terventions. The statutes of the WFTU approved in its Paris founding Congress state that one of its main objectives is to fight against war and in favour of es-tablishing a permanent and lasting peace.

Today the global anti-war peace movement is as-suming an increasingly anti-imperialist character and is becoming more massive and mature. The unre-lenting brutality and aggression of the so-called New World Order urgently raises the need to combat it on a more broad and militant level. Today when imperi-alism appears invincible the struggle of the peoples and workers is the most effective weapon against war. The working people must strengthen and broaden the peace movement’s activity, demand-ing from governments not to participate in imperialist wars and rivalries.

The class-orientated trade union movement in Eu-rope continues to struggle against imperialism and war and through its struggles:

• Confirms in practice its determination to defend peace and the sovereignty of peoples and countries. • Expresses its solidarity with the peoples struggling for peace and democracy.

• Supports the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of independent sovereign states, as

well as the principle of respect for territorial integrity and expresses its opposition to the establishment of puppet governments.

• Opposes increased military spending and the es-tablishment of new bases all over the world.

• Supports initiatives against the development of nuclear weapons.

Message of the European Regional Office of WFTU

on the 8th MarchInternational Working Women’s’ Day

8th March 2015

The European Regional Office of the WFTU on the occasion of 8th March addresses a warm class mili-tant greeting to all women.

Honouring today 158 years after the uprising of work-ing women in the New York textile factories on 8th March 1857, the struggle of women workers remains a shining example and guide for millions of women all over the world struggling and asserting a society of equality and progress, a society that will abolish exploitation.

Equality and parity are not granted, but won and the struggle is only effective when it is linked to the wider struggle of the working people’s movement.

This is so because the struggle of women for parity and equality is first and foremost a class struggle. It is an integral part of the struggle of the entire working class against exploitation, for a just society without class, social or other discriminations.

This year’s Celebration of 8th March 8 is taking place in unfavourable conditions for workers around the

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world and especially in Europe, where working peo-ple are faced with the harsh consequences of the profound crisis of the capitalist system, witnessing cruel and relentless attacks on their rights. Today the working women suffer under the offensive of the capital and the European Union, an attack against the social role of motherhood through flexible work-ing conditions, equalizing the retirement age for men and women, abolishing the rules and legislation for the protection of motherhood and by privatizing the health and childcare functions.

It has been proven once again in practice that capi-talism cannot ensure stable growth and social prog-ress.

The European Regional Office of the WFTU assures working, migrant and unemployed women that in their struggles and assertions they are not alone.The European Regional Office continues to work in line with the decisions of the class-based trade union movement of WFTU against the brutal European Union anti peoples policies, against the attacks of capital and the multinationals, for working women’s joint action in Europe and for real equality between men and women and for the fulfilment of the great vision for the abolition of exploitation and injustice.

Long Live March 8!

Long live the solidarity of working people!

XII World Congress:TUI Public Services:

“We demand social functionsin service of the people

and the workers”

XII World Congress of Trade Unions of Public Ser-vice Employees and Allied (TUI-PSEA) which was held in Kathmandu, Nepal on the 13-14th February 2015 has been completed with great success.

The Congress discussed on the developments in the public sector and the economy worldwide, about the impact of the capitalist reforms and the anti-labour policy and concluded to the important Main Resolu-tion included below.

A new leadership was elected by the Congress with comrade Pierpaolo Leonardi (Italy) newly elected General Secretary and comrade Artur Sequeira (Por-tugal) President of the Organization.The Congress concluded with a mass demonstration in the center of Kathmandu with the participation of all delegates and great number of Nepali workers.

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Cyprus: Massive rally organized against austerity.

On the 4th of March 2015 thousands of people re-sponded to the call issued by the Platform of Trade Union and Social organisations “Society reacts and asserts” to voice their anger, but also their resolve to continue mass organised struggles against the policies of the directorate and ruling circles of Brus-sels. Outside the European Central Bank Governing Council’s session in Nicosia workers, unemployed, teachers and students, farmers, pensioners and many others denounced the vicious Memoranda pol-icies serving capital’s interests. The Cypriot people are resisting, demanding and fighting for growth, jobs and progress, an end to the dismantling of the wel-fare state, privatisations and the selling off of pub-lic wealth, the respect of labour relations, collective agreements and working people’s rights and gains.

Three mass marches were organised that later came together at the big rally organised by the Platform of 18 trade unions and social organisations. The class-based trade union of the Pancyprian Federation of Labour PEO, the biggest trade union federation in our country, has played the pivotal and decisive role in the forging of a broad front of various trade unions and social movements around specific goals and based on a mutually agreed framework.

Among the slogans shouted were: “Enough of aus-terity - we demand dignity”, “Money for education and health - not for the bankers and the plutocracy”, “Students - workers, one voice, one fist”, “Forward people, do not yield - the only path is resistance and struggle”, “Cyprus, Greece, Spain - the plutocracy must pay for the crisis”, “Capitalism is not our future”.

Present at the rally were G. Mavrikios General Secre-tary of the World Federation of Trade Unions WFTU, the GUE MEP Fabio di Masi on behalf of the Blockoc-cupy movement, leading officials from the All-Work-ers Militant Front PAME of Greece, General Confed-eration of Greek Workers GSEE, National Federation of Workers in the Chemical Industry of France, Left Bloc section of the Trade Union Federation of Aus-tria, Unione Sindacale di Base USB of Italy, Regional Energy Trade Unions Network of South Eastern Eu-

rope - RETUN SEE, Panhellenic Federation of En-ergy. Solidarity messages were also received from other unions and movements in Europe.

The World Federation of Trade Unions WFTU Gen-eral Secretary George Mavrikos expressed WFTU’s militant class solidarity with the working class and people of Cyprus who are struggling - as he said – for their rights and a better future. “We are here to de-nounce the Troika’s policies, the policies of the ECB, the European Union, the IMF, which bring suffering, problems, unemployment, privatizations, poverty, unemployment, misery and lead dignified workers to poverty and begging. We are here today to underline that the working class in Europe and around the world will keep on fighting for our rights, so that workers will know they will have a collective agreement, that the agreement will be implemented and that workers will have a specific working time, that they will know that the working people’s residences will not be fore-closed and auctioned. We are here struggling for all people to have social insurance, a pension and the right to dignity, for the people’s present and future, to ensure conditions for people to live as human beings and not as animals”, the WFTU General Secretary declared.

The General Secretary of PEO Pambis Kyritsis stressed that the “restructuring” of the European financial sector, which collapsed due to the unre-strained greed of financial capital for easy gain and the drive for maximization of profit, is being shoul-dered by the people. That is to say, the working peo-ple, whose rights are being abolished and are at the mercy of the bosses immunity, whilst pensioners and the unemployed are condemned to social exclusion, farmers are being wiped out, along with the SME’s, whilst young people’s dreams are being shattered.

He pointed out that this economic and social policy of the EU ruling circles has been imposed in Cy-prus through blatant blackmail and threats. The ECB has played a leading role in these efforts. Unfortu-nately our own government, the GS of PEO pointed out, was also an accomplice, since it does not miss an opportunity to also declare that even though a Memorandum might not have been imposed on us, it would implement these policies because it considers the Memorandum as its own ideological Manifesto. The General Secretary of PEO called upon the peo-ple not to yield and submit, not to surrender to all that is being imposed on us. In any case, he said, things will definitely get much worse for the workers and the people.

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Farewell to comradeCleanthis Cleanthous

A big loss to the Cypriotand international trade union

movement

The Secretariat of the European Regional Office of WFTU with profound grief and deep sorrow an-nounces the death of veteran trade unionist Clean-this Cleanthous who after many months of struggle lost his battle with cancer.

Comrade Cleanthous was born on 22/06/1942 in Li-massol. In 1965 at the age of 23 he became a full-time cadre of PEO Limassol assuming the position of Secretary of the Young Workers Branch. Between 1977- 1987 he served as Secretary of the Transport and Dock Workers Trade Union. From 1988 he of-fered his services to the mechanism of the Depart-mental Council of PEO Limassol, where in 1991 he was elected to the position of Secretary of the De-partmental Council, a position he held until 2006.

He was for many years a member of the General Council of PEO, a member of the Executive Council of PEO and the Executive Bureau of PEO.

His contribution to the international class-based trade union movement, the World Federation of Trade Unions, was exceptional. He was for many years the President of the Audit Committee of the WFTU, mem-ber of WFTU Presidential Council for many years, and in the period 2006-2011 assumed the leadership of the European Regional Office of WFTU.

After the reversals of period 1990-1992, when WFTU was going through rough moments, comrade Klean-this Kleanthous was standing stable on the defence of the World Federation of Trade Unions.

In all the positions he served, what stood out was his vigour, militant spirit and commitment to the just cause of the working people.

Delivering the eulogy the General Secretary of PEO Pambis Kyritsis referred to the life and struggle of Cleanthous, saying that ‘’he realised from an early age that working peoples social struggles for a bet-ter tomorrow assume a greater meaning and content when they are connected with the revolutionary vi-sion for a qualatively more advanced society with-out exploitation and discrimination. Cleanthis Clean-thous worked to fulfil this vision not only as an active trade unionist, but also as a communist with strong ideological beliefs.’’

The Secretariat of the WFTU in a statement issued, but also with the personal attendance of the WFTU General Secretary himself at the funeral Georgos Mavrikou paid homage to the memory of Cleanthis Cleanthous. In addition, many organisations sent messages of condolences. The Secretariat of the European Regional Office of WFTU says goodbye to a great representative of the working class, a militant, internationalist and devoted trade unionist, whose personal contribution for the continuation of WFTU in general and in Europe spe-cifically has been crucial. Farewell...