VI Presidential Council_Report of Action 2011_EN

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ACTION

!ACTION!ACTIO

VI Peidenil Council

World FederatIon oF trade UnIons

Febuy 9-10, 2012, Johnnebug, souh afic

repo of acion 2011

Mothly rport of WFTU actvts 2011

alog wth WFTU Postrs a Publcatos

APPendix:

2011 Rport a Assssmt of th

16th Worl Tra Uo Cogrss


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WFtU repo of acion 2011

Dear comrades,

The year 2011 was an historic year of

major importance for the WFTU and

the worlds trade union movement.

The year was marked by the holding

of the 16th World Trade Union

Congress held in Athens on April

2011 and moves on forward thanks to

the contribution of you all. This historic

class-oriented Congress for its record

of participations, the democratic-open proceedings and the adopted

Resolutions opened new roads, new

horizons and new prospects for the

global working class; at the same time

we all have in front of us new, great

and heavy duties. The assessment of

the Secretariat on this event you mayread on the special APPENDIX.

Thrty s tra uo

orgazatos from all over the

world were afliated to the WFTU

during the year.

At our Presidential Council to be heldin Johannesburg, South Africa on

February, 9-10, 2012, we will review

and analyze our activities over the

past year. We will seek to build on

the positive points and nd ways to

address any areas of weakness.


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6-9: 7th PUDEMO General Congressheld in South Africa. WFTU wasrepresented by SikhumbuzoPhakathi, from the InternationalDepartment of CEPPWAWU

and member of WFTUYouth Secretariat to expressinternationalist solidarity withPUDEMO and the People ofSwaziland.

31: The National Union of Rail,Maritime & Transport Workers(RMT) organized in Londonan International Conference

on Future public transport:Nationalization not Privatization.WFTU was represented byValentin Pacho, Deputy GeneralSecretary of WFTU.

9-10: Meeting between the leadershipof the WFTU and the Executive

Secretariat of the sectoralorganization UITBB (TradeUnion International of Workersin the Building, Wood, BuildingMaterials and Allied Industries),held in Athens, Greece. TheWFTU General Secretary andthe members of SecretariatValentin Pacho- Artur Sequeiraparticipated in the meeting that

debated on the outcome of thelast UITBB congress held inBrazil and discussed about thesituation of the constructionsector and its major problemswhich is UNEMPLOYMENT. Inaddition, the meeting decidedto conduct joint initiatives onissues of safety and health atworkplaces and the economicmigrants.

JAnUARY

FeBRUARY


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9-18:United Nations DPINGOConference for SocialDevelopment held in New York.WFTU was represented by WFTUPermanent Representative at

the UN, Dr. Frank Goldsmith.

15-16:TUI Transport organizedthe International TransportConference in Cyprus. WFTUwas represented by its GeneralSecretary George Mavrikos.

22: 55th Session of the UN Commissionon the Status of Women held in

New York. WFTU representedby comrade Lorena JaimeBueno. The main subject of theConference was Access andparticipation of women and girlsin education, training, scienceand technology, including forthe promotion of womens equalaccess to full employment anddecent work.

2 3 - 2 5 :F U N T R A E N E R G E T I C ACongress held in Colombia.WFTU represented by its GeneralSecretary, George Mavrikos.

24-25:The founding BIFU Congresswas successfully convened heldin New Delhi, India hosted byAIBEA on the coordination of

CH Venkatachalam. WFTU wasrepresented by the membersof the Secretariat ValentinPacho and H. Mahadevan.The spontaneous response of35 trade union organizationsand 167 delegates to attendthe new effort underlined theappropriateness of the WFTUsdecision to found an exclusiveTUI for the banking, insuranceand nancial sector.


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3-25:310th Session of the ILOGoverning Body held in Geneva.WFTU was represented byOsiris Oviedo de la Torre, WFTUPermanent Representative in

ILO.

8-9: GUPW Palestine held a Seminaron Working Women. Womenfrom different countriesexchanged their experiencesand views on the promotion ofwomens equal access to fullemployment and decent work.WFTU was represented by

comrade Chrisoula Lampoudifrom PAME.

12-13: The 13th Triennial NationalConference of Centre of IndianTrade Unions (CITU) was heldin Chandigarh, India and ourorganization was representedby General Secretary. Duringhis three day visit to India, the

General Secretary had series ofofcial meetings in New Delhiwith the Central Secretariat ofCITU. With enthusiasm andcomradely spirit the leadershipof CITU presented the resolutionof CITUs afliation to WFTU.A militant and massive tradeunion organization of India joinsWFTU which becomes stronger

and more militant.

14: WFTU General Secretary, GeorgeMavrikos visited Portugal andhad bilateral meetings with tradeunionists of Portugal.

5: Within a comradely and fraternalatmosphere, the PresidentialCouncil of WFTU was held inAthens, Greece, where the nalpreparations for the congress

MARCH

APRiL


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were debated. The President ofWFTU, Muhammad ShaabanAzouz, underlined in hisspeech capitalisms destructiveconsequences all over the

world and the disunity that hasbeen brought in between thepeoples by the imperialisticferocity with one and onlygoal, to prot. The Secretaryof WFTU stated that throughthe successful processing ofthe open, democratic, classoriented congress of WFTU, thegoal that should be achieved is

the giving of answers and therevival of the workers hopes.The President also pointedout that the success of theCongress is a duty of all theparticipants and a duty towardsthe expectations of the workersall over the world. The membersof the presidential council withinan atmosphere of unity and

internationalism committedthemselves to intensify theirefforts concerning the defenseof the working class rights andinterests around the world.

6-10: See the attached APENDIXSecretariat Assessment onthe 16th Congress

26: Activities of the WFTU friendsin Tunisia and of the WFTUCommittee of the YoungWorkers held in Tunisia. Theinternational day against theimperialism, a conference washeld with the participation ofyoung workers and students.Meetings were held also withworkers and young people.The WFTU General Secretary,George Mavrikos, with his visit


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expressed the WFTU solidaritywith the struggles of the workersand the people in Tunisia.

27-28:International Forum on Economic

Globalization and Trade Unionsheld in Beijing organized byACFTU. This forum saw theparticipation of tens of delegatesfrom many countries. TheWFTU was represented by ahigh level delegation headed byits General Secretary, GeorgeMavrikos.

1: With big success May Day 2011was celebrated in Havana,Cuba. A large delegation ofWFTU led by Joao Batista, VicePresident of the WFTU attendedthe celebrations.

14-18: 38th Arab Labor Organization

Conference held in Cairo,Egypt. WFTU was representedby comrades Alexandra Lymperi& Mohammed Iqnaibi, WFTURepresentative for Palestine,Advisor on Arab Issues.

18: A mountaineering team led bycom. Surath Pokhrel fromNepal Government Employees

Organisation (NEGEO) one ofthe CONEP afliates, laid WFTUand CONEP ags on the top ofMt Everest, the highest peakof the World and celebratedthe 66th WFTU anniversary.

19: The WFTU General Secretarymade an ofcial visit to Romeon May 17 and 18, 2011 at

the invitation of USB. Duringthe visit important bilateral

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discussions were held onthe importance of 16th WorldTrade Union Congress held inAthens, on the state of the classoriented trade union movement

in Europe, the role of TNCsand the need to strengthenthe sectoral organizations ofWFTU. The discussions tookplace in a brotherly spirit andthe optimist prevailed that thefraternal relations between USBand WFTU will become closer.

19: WFTU published a statement

on ILO referring equal proportional representation,democracy and transparencyat all levels and supporting thenomination of ACFTU in theelections of Governing Body fora Titular Member.

31: WFTU planned for the ILC annualSession in Geneva, Switzerland

and organized a PreparatoryMeeting for the participation inthe 100th ILC.

1-17:100th International LabourConferenceheld in Geneva. TheWFTU had a strong delegationthat took part actively in all

meetings and commissionsheaded by its General SecretaryGeorge Mavrikos.

3: A high level WFTU delegationmet Director General of ILO,Mr. Juan Somavia and ACTRAVDirector Mr.Dan Cunniah.They discussed about the ILOMonopoly and they asked equal proportional representation,democracy and transparency at

JUne


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all levels.

7: The WFTU organized theInformal Presidential Counciland Council of Friends in the

framework of the 100th ILC.WFTU afliated and friendsfrom more than 30 countriestook part in this initiative. TheGeneral Secretary presentedin his introductory speech andmore than 30 speakers that tookthe oor provided proposals forthe strengthening of WFTU inall countries.

WFTU also printed the posterStop the monopoly within theILO asking equal proportionalrepresentation, democracy andtransparency at all levels.

8: WFTU General Secretary, GeorgeMavrikosaddressed the PlenarySession in the 100th International

Labour Conference in Geneva.

15-16: 25th FTCCP Congress held inPeru. WFTU was represented bycomrade Jose Ortiz, Member ofthe WFTU Presidential Councilfrom Chile.

17-19:The Communist Party of Ukraineorganized its Congress in

Ukraine. WFTU was representedby Igor Urrutikoetxea, GeneralSecretary of TUI Metal. Duringhis visit there comrade Igorhad bilateral meetings withtrade unionists from EasternEuropean countries from theMetal Sector.

20-27:3rd Conference of the UISTAACTheld in Paris, France. The WFTUwas represented by Dr.Elsadig


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Ali, Member of the Secretariatof SWTUF of Sudan and RamonCardona responsible for theRegional Ofce of WFTU inLatin America.

1-2: 4th Ordinary General Assemblyof KESK held in Ankara, Turkey.WFTU was represented bycomrades Mohammed Iqnaibi& Ferchat Toum. The WFTURepresentative for Palestine,Advisor on Arab Issues

Mohamed Iqnaibi addresseda greeting message to theGeneral Assembly of KESK.

11-13:UITBB organized a Seminaron Labour Migration inDouala, Cameroun. WFTUwas represented by ValentinPacho, WFTU Deputy GeneralSecretary.

3: The World Federation of TradeUnions continuing its long lastingsolidarity with the Palestinianpeople and its resistance againstthe occupation announces thelaunching of an internationalcampaign for the recognition

of the Palestinian State withthe 1967 boarders and EastJerusalem as its capital. TheWFTU demands: The end of thesettlements and the withdrawalof all settlers who have settledacross the borders of 1967; thedemolition of the separation wallin Jerusalem; all the Palestinianrefugees to be granted the rightto return to their homes, based onthe relevant decisions of the UN;

JULY

AUGUST


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the elimination of any exclusionagainst the Palestinians inthe West Bank and the Gazastrip; the immediate releaseof imprisoned Palestinians

and other political prisonerskept in the Israeli prisons; thewithdrawal of the Israeli armyfrom all the occupied territoriesof the 1967, including the GolanHeights and the Shebaa area ofSouthern Lebanon.

A huge number of trade unionorganizations from all over the

world took part in this WFTUcampaign by sending solidaritymessages.

18-19: comrade Valentin Pacho, Dep.Gen.Sec. held two meetingsof WFTU afliates, one inGuatemala and on 22-23 Augustin Honduras

25-27: 4th Nuestra America Meetingheld in Nicaragua with thepresence of more than 300trade unionists from 134organizations in 27 countries ofAmerica. Comandante DanielOrtega, President of Nicaragua,was present at the closingceremony. Before the start ofthe meeting, the WFTU held ameeting of afliates and friendswith the presence of WFTUDeputy General SecretaryValentin Pacho, RamonCardona from the RegionalOfce of Latin America andseveral WFTU Vice-presidentsfrom the region.

31: 4th National Congress ofCEPPWAWU held in Durban,

South Africa. WFTU wasrepresented by Swadesh Dev


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Roye, WFTU Deputy GeneralSecretary.

Also, a seminar on Safety andHealth at work organized by

WFTU in South Africa. WFTUwas represented by SwadeshDev Roye, WFTU DeputyGeneral Secretary

3-5: 64th Annual United NationsConference for Non-Governmental Organizationsassociated with the Departmentof Public Information, on the

theme Sustainable Societies;Responsive Citizens. The WFTUwas represented by comradeFrank Goldsmith, WFTUPermanent Representative forthe UN. Comrade Goldsmithwas appointed to co-chair theafternoon workshops duringthe Conference and he activelyparticipated in the preparations

for the Conference throughoutthe year.

10: CONAT Congress held inArgentine.WFTU was represented by JoseOrtiz, Member of the WFTUPresidential Council from Chile.

13-14:WFTU organized anInternational Conference in

the European Parliamentin Strasbourg, France onThe developments in NorthAfrica and Middle East-Imperialist aggressiveness.Internationalism and Solidarity-The role of Trade UnionMovement. The WFTU wasrepresented by its GeneralSecretary and the members ofSecretariat. Representativesof trade union organizations

SePTeMBeR


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from Libya, Algeria, Palestine,Iran, South Africa, Senegal,RD Congo, France, Portugal,Greece, Peru, Cuba, India,Sudan and the International

Confederation of the Arab TradeUnions (ICATU) etc. participatedin the International Conference ofWFTU and unanimously agreedon resolutions regarding thedevelopments in Libya, Syria,Egypt, Palestine, Swaziland.

13-14: Trade Union Seminar organizedby WFTU on Struggle for

the Young Generation inStrasbourg, France

22: An International Action Dayin solidarity with the Greekpeople and their strugglesagainst the strangling antilabormeasures being implementedon the excuse of the internationalcapitalist economic crisis by the

European Union and the Greekgovernment, organized by theColombian WFTU Team.

WFTU Deputy GeneralSecretary, Valentin Pachoaddressed the workers of thechemical factory Papoutsanisin Athens, where the unioncalled a strike for an hour to

endorse the campaign.

Also, the WFTU GeneralSecretary and Member of theParliament George Mavrikosintervened in the discussion ofthe Greek Parliament on thenew austerity measures adoptedby the Greek government.Those measures, among othersinclude the dismissal of 30,000civil servants and deep cuts


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in the pensions and salariesof workers. George Mavrikosgreeted from the GreekParliament the initiative of theWFTU Colombia Team to call

on September 22, InternationalDay of Solidarity with the peopleof Greece.

23: A WFTU delegation headed bythe WFTU General SecretaryGeorge Mavrikos with membersof the General Union ofPalestinian Workers in Athensand PAME delivered at the

Israel Embassy in Athens anofcial resolution of the WFTUto support the recognition of theIndependent Palestinian Statein the 1967 borders and EastJerusalem as its capital.

3: International Action Day of WFTU.

This day was chosen by theSecretariat of WFTU becausethe 3rd October is the day whenFSM was founded in 1945.

The main slogans were: Workingweek of 35 hours 7 hours aday 5 days a week; SocialSecurity; Collective bargaining;Trade union freedoms.

Thousands of workers celebratedthe international day of actionwithin the workplaces anddiscussed on the consequencesof the capitalist crisis. Membersand friends of the WFTU in tensof countries organized strikes,demonstrations, protests, eventheatric performances andcollecting signatures, migrantsprotests, etc. Strong demands

OCTOBeR


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for social security, for collectivecontracts, 35hours of work, andincreases in wages were heardall over the World.

The WFTU General Secretaryaddressed his speech entitledWhat is the WFTU before thestart of a play in a theater incentral Athens. This play heldby PAME and it was dedicatedto the 66th Anniversary of thefounding of the WFTU.

10-12: WFTU General Secretary

George Mavrikos visited theWorkers House of Iran inTehran, Iran accepted theinvitation of Alireza MahjoobSecretary General of IransLabor House and member of theWFTU board of administrators.They had bilateral meetingsand discussions on tradeunions issues and exchange

experiences and points ofviews in serious matters. Whileattending in ILNA, WFTUGeneral Secretary visiteddifferent services and answeredto news agencys reporters.

11-14: The XII ILO African RegionalMeeting held in South Africa.The WFTU delegation was

composed by Lulamile Sotaka,WFTU Regional Ofce Africaand Mzwandile Makwayiba,President of NEHAWU and Vicepresident of WFTU.

18 -19: ILO Global Dialogue Role ofprivate employment agenciespromoting decent work. WFTUwas represented by OsirisOviedo de la Torre, WFTUPermanent Representative in


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ILO.

19-20:International Solidarity andsupport with the General Strikein Greece on 19 and 20 October

and the struggle of PAMEexpressed by WFTU. 163organizations from 80 countriesall over the world sent solidaritymessages that were read atthe demonstration of PAMEwith more than 70 thousanddemonstrators.

20-21: KESK Trial in Izmir, Turkey. On

invitation of KESK the WFTUparticipated in the trial of tradeunionists and was representedby Apostolos Sotiropoulos,Permanent Representativein UNESCO who expressedour internationalist solidarityand made bilateral meetingsto deepen our relations withTurkish trade unions.

24: 2nd Annual Conferenceof JointTrade Union CoordinationCenter (JTUCC)held in Nepal.WFTU was represented by H.Mahadevan, Deputy GeneralSecretary of WFTU whodelivered a speech on behalf ofthe WFTU.

25-10: 36

th

Session of the GeneralConference of the UNESCOheld in Paris, France. WFTUwas represented by ApostolosSotiropoulos, WFTU PermanentRepresentative in UNESCO.

26-27: TUI Public and AlliedEmployees, a sectororganization of the WorldFederation of Trade Unions(WFTU), held in Rome its 1st


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Conference for Europe, hostedby the Italian Unione Sindacaledi Base (USB), to carry out thedecisions of its 9th Congress,held in 2009, in Brasilia, and

the decisions of the WFTU16th Congress, held in 2011, inAthens. The growth of the TUI-Public and Allied Employeesin the European continent andthe resulting consolidation of itsorganization is a fundamentalcondition for the success ofthe class-oriented trade unionaction, in defense of the rights

and interests of the publicservice employees, as well asin defense of these services ascommon good and of democracyfor the peoples of Europe. Theafliation of USB Italy to WFTU,which is ghting trade union ofItaly ghting against the Italianopportunism, the bureaucracyand the careerism that dominate

in the big traditional Italian tradeunions is an important stepfor the strengthening of classoriented movement in Europeand the development of WFTUspresence in Europe.

3: The delegation of WFTU, PEO andPAME visited Damascus in Syriaand had discussions with GFTU

Syria and other organizations.Comrade George Mavrikos,comrade Sotiris Fellas andcomrade Giannis Pasoulastook part in this delegation.The World Federation of TradeUnions and the whole delegationexpressed their support to thepeople and the workers of Syriawho struggle for their rights. Ourdelegation underlined in eachmeeting that the Syrian people

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are the only ones that havethe right to democratically andfreely choose their own presentand future. We expressedour support for political and

democratic freedoms, for anew constitution and for notprivatizing the strategic sectorsof the economy. We expressedour support to GFTU Syria intheir attempts to improve thewages of workers, social securityand free access of workers tofree, public social benets likehealthcare, education and all

social services. Our delegationcondemned the interventions ofthe USA and its allies, the meaninterventions of the governmentof Turkey and the sultans ofQatar, who hypocritically wantto show to the world that theycare about democracy. Inreality the imperialists, theirallies and instruments aim at

creating the so-called NewMiddle East consisting of smallcountries with puppet regimes,where the government of theUSA, the EU and NATO willdetermine the exploitationof the natural resources, willsupport the policy of Israel, willhit the Palestinian people andthe Lebanese resistance, will

propagandize at ideological,political, economic and culturallevel the kind of man that worksfor the interest of the capital andthe transnational corporations.

3-18:312thSession of the ILO GoverningBody held in Geneva. WFTU wasrepresented by Osiris Oviedode la Torre, WFTU PermanentRepresentative in ILO, ApostolosSotiropoulos, WFTU Permanent


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Representative in UNESCO.

5-6: 3rd International Session of theRussell Tribunal on Palestineheld in Cape Town, South

Africa. WFTU was representedby comrade Alexandra Lymperiand comrade Ba Bziz Ali Ibn AliElfaki from SWTUF,Sudan.

8-10: Founding Congress of CBT CCP held in Venezuela. WFTUwas represented by ValentinPacho, WFTU Deputy GeneralSecretary.

9-12: 18th WFDY Assembly held inLisbon. WFTU was representedby comrade Philippe Soulierfrom CL-CGT France.

11-13: 8th National Conference ofAICCTU held in the town ofBhilai, Chattisgarh, in India.WFTU was represented by

Osiris Oviedo de la Torre, WFTUPermanent Representative inILO who delivered a speech onbehalf of the World Federationof Trade Unions referring to theIndian trade unions afliatesand their active role, the WFTUcelebration of its 66 anniversaryin the framework of a successfulinternational day of action in

October 3rd and the successfulXVI Congress held at thebeginning of April in Athens.

AICCTU submitted an ofcialAfliation request as a fullmember of WFTU that approvedat the WFTU Secretariat Meetingon December 12.

11-13: XVII Ordinary Congress ofthe National Union of Workers


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of Panama (CNTP) held inPanama. WFTU GeneralSecretary George Mavrikosparticipated in the Congress.

In the framework of hisvisit to Panama, the WFTUGeneral Secretary GeorgeMavrikos met with young tradeunionists of FAT Panamaand coordinated a regionalmeeting with representativesof the trade union movement ofCentral America and discussedon the challenges to be met

and the priorities to be tracedby the WFTU and its afliatesin the region. After the CNTPCongress, the WFTU GeneralSecretary placed owers at theMonument dedicated to workerimmigrants who worked in thePanama Canal.

16-19: 13th Congress of CGTP held in

an atmosphere of excitement inLima, Peru with the participationof over 600 national delegatesand 35 trade unionists foreignguests from around the world.The ofcial opening of theconference was declaredby the Secretary of WFTUGeorge Mavrikos. WFTU wasrepresented also by its President

Shabban Azzouz and WFTUDeputy General SecretaryValentin Pacho, who contributedalso to the preparative works ofthis Congress.

In the framework of theCongress, an internationalconference was organized jointly by WFTU - CGTP Peru,with the participation of morethan 600 delegates from Peru


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and more than 30 internationaldelegates from WFTU afliatesand friends from all over theWorld. Keynote speakerswere the General Secretary of

WFTU George Mavrikos, thePresident of WFTU MohammedSabban Azzouz, Fikile MajolaGeneral Secretary of NEHAWUSouth Africa and Joao BatistaLemos, WFTU Vice-presidentfrom CTB Brazil. The themeof the conference was theglobal economic crisis, itsconsequences for workers, the

response of class unions andthe role of the WFTU. WFTUDeputy General SecretaryValentin Pacho played a mainrole in the preparative works ofthis Conference.

In the framework of his visitto Peru, the WFTU GeneralSecretary George Mavrikos

coordinated a regional meetingwith WFTU afliates of Adinaregion.

17-19:The 1st International Symposiumon the situation of women inMetal and Mining held in Cuba.Organized by the Trade UnionsInternational of Workers inthe Metal Industries (TUI-M)

of the World Federation ofTrade Unions and the NationalMetalworkers Union of Cuba(SNTM), the event was attendedby over 40 delegates, both menand women, from America,Africa and Europe. Unionsfrom Cuba, Mexico, Brazil,Haiti, South Africa, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Cyprusand the Basque Country wererepresented at the gathering


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and, in addition to discussingthe issues that women face inmetal and mining sectors allover the world, participants gavea detailed explanation of the

situation in their own countries.

19: The WFTU Chile organized inthe capital city Santiago, Chilea seminar with the participationof 120 militant trade unionists.Main speaker was the GeneralSecretary of WFTU GeorgeMavrikos and the subject of hisspeech was The corruption

of trade unionists - socialphenomenon. ComradeMarcela Maspero, Member ofWFTU Presidential Council fromVenezuela, as well as WFTUrepresentatives from Argentinaand Uruguay participated in thisSeminar.

19-20: UITBB Secretariat Meeting held

in Lisbon, Portugal. The WFTUSecretariat was represented byArtur Sequeira.

22-23: 5th Congress of NASU heldin Abuja,Nigeria. WFTU wasrepresented by comradeKareem Motajo, Member ofWFTU Presidential Council fromNUATE, Nigeria who delivered a

speech on behalf of the WFTUon the subject ITS TIME TOREBUILD THE CLASS ACTIONBASIS OF OUR TRADE UNIONSTRUGGLE.

26-27: 6th Congress of BMP heldin Philippines. WFTU wasrepresented by comradeVladimir Tupaz, Member ofWFTU Presidential Councilfrom TUPAS, Philippines who


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delivered the greeting messageto the Congress from the WFTUGeneral Secretary.

28: 143th Session of FAO Conference

held in Rome, Italy. WFTU wasrepresented by comrade RitaMartu, WFTU PermanentRepresentative for FAO.

28: RMT Meeting on the subjectNationalization notPrivatization held in Lisbon,Portugal. WFTU Secretariatwas represented by comrade

Artur Sequeira from Portugal.

4: NUMSA organized a internationalseminar on Trade Unions, ClassStruggles and Climate Changein Durban, South Africa. WFTUwas represented by its GeneralSecretary who addressed theSeminar and presented theposition and proposals of class

oriented trade union movementon the issue of environment. OnDecember 5 comrade Mavrikosattended a joint seminarof NEHAWU, NUMSA andCEPPWAWU in Inkosi AlbertLuthuli Hospital in Durban andinteracted with the participantson all current ideological andpolitical matters related to the

international class trade unionmovement and the dutiesof militant trade unionists toovercome the capitalist crisis.

4-7: XVth ILO Asia and PacicRegional Meeting held in Kyoto,Japan. The WFTU delegationwas headed by H. Mahadevan,Deputy General Secretarywho addressed a speech in

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the Meeting on behalf of theWFTU.

7-9: The Second Meeting of the TradeUnion Youth in Central America

promoted by the WFTU Sub-regional Ofce for CentralAmerica together with theWFTU Youth Secretariat held atthe ofces of UNDECA in CostaRica. The wide participation ofyoung workers (72 participants)from the countries of CentralAmerica, (Costa Rica, Panama,Guatemala, Nicaragua, El

Salvador and Mexico) was a veryimportant progress that showthe efforts of the class orientedtrade union movement andthe WFTU in Central America.The subjects of the Meetingwere: the economic crisis of thecapital, the social and economicsituation of young workers inevery country of Central America,

workers rights and trade unionfreedoms, the working solidarityand the organization of the classstruggles of the young workersin Central America.

10-20: A WFTU delegation of 15women trade union leaders fromLatin America visited China toparticipate in the annual seminar

jointly organized by ACFTUand WFTU. On the occasionof this meeting, the delegationstarted the coordination to forma WFTU Women Secretariat forLatin America.

10-11: In the framework of the 13thInternational meeting ofCommunist and labor partiesin Athens, a bilateral ofcialmeeting between WFTU


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leadership and NEHAWU,POPRCU and SADTU, majortrade unions of South Africatook place. The discussionfocused in the analysis of the

present economic situation andits consequences to workersglobally and particularly in SouthAfrica and resulted in concreteinitiatives to take place during2012 in sectoral level to promotecooperation and coordination ofaction in South Africa.


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The leadership of the All-Italianmilitant trade union Organisation USB(Unione Sindicale di Base) held anofcial visit in Athens.USB submittedan ofcial Afliation request as afull member of WFTU. On behalf ofWFTU, the General Secretary thankedthe leadership of USB and stated thatWFTU is satised because a classoriented, ghting trade union wasfounded and functions in Italy.

The leadership of the ETUF Egyptheld an ofcial visit in WFTU CentralOfces.

A delegation from the Youth Federationof Vietnam composed by its PresidentNguyen Phuoc Loc and othermembers of the Youth Committeehad a bilateral meeting with membersof the WFTU Youth Committee inWFTU Headquarters. They hadmeaningful discussions in a friendlyand comradely spirit. They discussedabout the international situation forthe young working class, the roleof the trade union movement in thecurrent international situation and theproblems they have to face under theconditions of international capitalist

crisis. They also discussed about thesituation in Vietnam. The delegation

Hosting of Foreign

Delegations:

During 2011, many delegationsfrom a wide range of countries

visited the Central Ofces ofthe WFTU.

July 5-6:

July 6:

novmbr 23:

OTHeR ACTiViTieS THROUGHOUT 2011


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was accompanied by the Ambassadorof Vietnam in Athens, Mr. Vu Binh. Inthis context it was decided to workmore closely together and to organizecultural events, seminars, international

meetings and conferences in Vietnamon timely issues.This meeting openednew possibilities for the co-operationand coordination between the YoungCommittees in Greece and Vietnam.

A delegation from Malaysia visitedthe WFTU Headquarters after anofcial invitation from the WFTU. Thedelegation composed by Michael

Tan Eng Hong, President of NUBE,J. Solomon, General Secretary ofNational Union of Bank Employees(NUBE), Narenthra Rao, Treasurerof NUBE, S.Nadarajan , GeneralSecretary of National Union of DrinkIndustry Workers Peninsular Malaysia(NUDIW) and Abdul Razak, Presidentof The Railwaymens Union of Malaysia(RUM). At the meeting participated

also the President of the TUI BIFU,comrade C.H.Venkatachalam fromAIBEA India. The visit was completedwith the afliation request that thethree Trade Unions deposited toWFTU headquarters.

Poster for the 16th World Trade UnionCongress - poster for the 16th World

Trade Union Congress held in Athenson April 2011.

May Day Poster Workers Rise Up!Against the capitalist barbarism andexploitation

Poster for the international campaignfor the recognition of the PalestinianState with the 1967 boarders and East

Jerusalem as its capital.

novmbr 23:

Posters


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Posters for the International ActionDay on 3rd October

Athens Pact in 7 languages

Report of Action 2006-2010

Congress Regulation

Thematic Documents for the Water, theHealth and Safety in the Workplacesand the Planetary Problems

Documents for the Working Women,the Media, the HIV/AIDS, theInternational Organizations, the LatinAmerica and the Caribbean, theCapitalist Crises and Asia

Handbook of the Congress

CD with Congress Materials

Congress Bags, Notepads, Hats andPens

Participants Cards and others

During the Congress, a four pagenewspaper in three languages wasdistributed to the participants coveringthe daily news of the Congress.

Logos of the Congress

Posters of the Congress: MainInternational Poster, Posters for the

Publications

CongressDecoration

Propaganda

There was an effort to present aunied and modern artistic concept in


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Opening Ceremony in Greek

Banners for the Congress that wereused to propagate the Congress allover Athens

In total about 45 different designswere prepared and printed for thedecoration of the Congress Venues(backgrounds of the Presidium, largebanners, hanging banners, 3D logos,ags, stands and poster for the Airport,rostrum design etc.)

Video on the 65th Anniversary ofWFTU (1945-2010)

Video Action of WFTU 2006-2011DVD Collection on the 16th WorldTrade Union Congress

Photo-Album on the InternationalAction Day

Photo-Memorabilia from the 16thWorld Trade Union Congress

Reects Edition Issue 3 on September

2011

Numerated copies of thecommemorative picture of the openingceremony of the 16th Congress.

the Congress Decoration that wouldgive a militant tone and working class

optimism.

The venues were measures and the

designs were made.

Dear comrades,

This strong and diverse record of working-class activity throughout 2011 providesa rm foundation on which to developfurther initiatives for the newyear 2012.

We cordially thank all our members andfriends.

We thank all our organizations, our

Regional Ofces and our TUIs and allthose who move forward with us.


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APPendix

ASSeSSMenT

OF THe 16TH WFTU COnGReSS

Workers Rise up!

Against capitalist barbarismFor social justice

For a world without exploitation

A new glorious chapter has been added to the history of the World

Trade Union movement with the resounding success of the 16th World Trade

Union Congress of WFTU held during 6-10th April 2011 in the national capitalof Greece, Athens. It was a historic event in the annals of the International

progressive working class movement in the recent decades.

The participation of 828 representatives from 101 countries of the

world, from all the continents, speaks volumes about the widespread popularity

of WFTU and the deep penetration it has made since the 15th Congress in

Havana.

The projection of a video dedicated to the 65 years of WFTU and

its contribution to the working class movement vividly exhibited the WFTUsworthy role against exploitation, imperialism, colonialism and apartheid.

Similarly the Audio visual report of the last ve years of the actions of

WFTU remained a testimony to the growing role of the organization since the

last Congress.

The ILO representative who attended the delegates session, Mr.

Dan Cunniah exclaimed about these peak of activities by WFTU in the last 5

years.

This document was prepared by comrade H. Mahadevan, Deputy GeneralSecretary of WFTU and approved by the Secretariat


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The inaugural session, attended by over 4000 in the jam-packed

stadium of Tae Kwon Do was a marvelous experience to all the international

participants also The militant songs and thunderous slogans with the ags,

banners and mottos of those young workers, men and women, who came from

all parts of Athens was a tting tribute to the commencement of the memorable

Congress.

The participation of the delegates in the proceedings of the Congress,

was extensive, 115 speakers representing all the major trade unions from each

and every participating country, took part in the discussions.

It was not just quantity of participants and speakers, but their

presentations and interventions were qualitatively enriched, with full of political

and ideological contents; they explained the struggles of the working class in

each country to counter of the capitalist offensive.

Athens Pact the main document presented to the 16th Congress, in

continuation of the Havana Declaration, not only analyzed the international

economic crisis and their adverse consequences on the working people, but

also clearly identied that the crisis is of the capitalist system and our duties

are very important for the reconstruction of the movement in class perspective,

the organization of the struggles for the overthrow of the anti-popular policies

and of the system that creates it. The role of the ITUC in collaborating with the

instruments of imperialism was well traced in the document, by advocating

cooperation with the IMF &WB, by not participating in the militant initiatives suchas strikes, demonstrations etc, transforming the trade unions into bureaucratic

structures, by often taking the side of the employers at various levels.

Athens Pact correctly summed up the characteristics of the present

situation thus:

- Deeper exploitation of work force

- Depreciation of workforce with sweeping anti labour changes

- Increase of productivity with contemporary or newer technology

- Mergers, re-purchases in all essential branches and gigantism of

monopolies

- Intensity of imperialist aggressiveness and promotion of plans for the so

called New Middle East

- Putting the burden of the crisis on workers and countries

- Generalization of limitation of social allocations


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The tasks underlined by the Athens Pact, based on the worldwide

experiences of the working class, as was revealed in their speeches, were:

- Decisive, unyielding trade union struggles against monopolies unied in

each country, industry, region

- Unication of the working class on class basis

- Politicization of trade union struggles with the objective of changing

the correlation of forces, with the perspective of defeating the slavery

pursued by monopolies and imperialism

- More coordinated struggles with other movements like peace movement,

the youth movement, the womens movements etc.

- WFTU must, de facto, take a role of rallying and mobilizing for action andstruggle of the working class and its allies.

Apart from the main document the Congress had enriched the

participants with the various additional , specic documents dealing with

important topics such as HEALTH & Safety of Workers in our time, International

Labour and Trade Union movement in the 21st century, Developing countries

debts - The trap and the way out, For the management of water resources, The

global environmental problems and WFTU, The current situation of workingwomen, International Organizations- their role today; International co-relations

and beyond and others written by progressive experts in various elds and

translated into many languages.

The 16th Congress thus remained a knowledge building event to the

leaders and cadres of the class oriented working class movement.

The Congress laid great emphasis on the improvement of sectoral trade

union organization (TUIs) and Regional ofces. Separate, specic meetings

were organized for the Regions of Europe, America, Asia Pacic, Africa, Middle

East and their problems on organization, future tasks were considered in these

discussions. Each such Regional meeting was widely participated by the trade

unions of the concerned regions and conducted by the presidium consisted of

the leaders of the respective region.

The need for strengthening the various TUIs of WFTU viz Agriculture,

Financial Services, Construction & Allied employees, Education / Teachers,

Energy, Metals & Mining, Public Services, Hotel & Tourism, Transport were

also considered in the Congress. The main document, Athens Pact extensivelydealt with the various aspects of TUI & Regional ofces and their role in


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mobilizing the workers on sectoral/ regional levels based on the objectives

and principles of WFTU.

Every participant in the Congress was able to fully involve in the

deliberations because of the excellent arrangements for translating the

proceedings in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese andRussian. A eet of professionals were working continuously for the translation

of the documents and the utilization of modern technology was very much in

sight in this world congress.

The new leadership of the WFTU was elected by secret ballot. Ballot

papers were distributed to all the delegates. Already, the Nominations Forms

for different posts were circulated to the delegates.

Openly and democratically, for the posts of President and General

Secretary Com. Mohammad Shaaban Azouz and Com. George Mavrikos were

directly elected in the delegates session, unanimously by lifting of hands by

all delegates. The election of the functionaries took place and the delegates

elected the members of the Presidential Council and Finance Commission

casting their votes in the Ballot Boxes.

The 40-member Presidential Council met and elected the 17 Vice

Presidents, 15 members and a 6 member Secretariat besides of the President

& General Secretary. The members of the Presidential council in an atmosphere

of unity and internationalization committed themselves to intensify their effortsfor the defense of the working class rights around the world. The elections,

thus was yet another experience by itself for all the delegates who took part in

the process.

The success of the 16th Congress mainly dependent on the meticulous

and elaborate preparations made at various stages, from the inception to

the end. The documentation of these preparations at different stages, were

presented to the congress. It is no exaggeration to declare that the important

role played by PAME, the militant trade union of the Greek working class, was

the prime mover in the successful launching of the Congress. The delegatesof the 16th Congress cordially appreciated the assistance of the working class

of Greece for the big success of the Congress; we remind the a big part of

the Congress cost was covered by money collected through an open nancial

campaign organized by PAME inside the sectors and workplaces.

The volunteers, young men and women, tirelessly and smilingly

worked and earned the admiration of all delegates world over. They were

everywhere at the hotels where the delegates were accommodated, in the

several transports that conveyed the delegates to the conference & back aswell as at the conference. A comradely and fraternal atmosphere prevailed


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throughout the Congress.

A special mention has to be made and rich encomium must be paid to

the staff of the WFTU headquarters who worked for several months, night and

day, for the successful conduct of the 16th congress. They were totally devoted

to the cause and deserve all admiration and encouragement, is the unanimousand considered view of the Secretariat.

In order to meet the present and future requirements of our world body

and improve the organizational democratic functioning, the WFTUs Constitution

was suitably amended. The terms of the ofce of the Chief functionaries

were accordingly prescribed under the constitutional amendments, besides

amending the preamble. This was felt to be a long outstanding organizational

requirement and the 16th congress fullled that

Working women meeting was a special event in the 16th Congress.

WFTU has fully taken the task of defending the economic, political and social

rights of the working women as a primary moral obligation and the congress

resolutions have approved this responsibility. Many interventions centralized

on the signicance of the opportunity given by WFTU to the new trade unionist

women to enhance such important experience. The conclusion of the women

meeting underlined the necessity for WFTU to establish Women Sector

Committee.

The International Action Day and the demands therefore viz (i)Government funded Social Security for all (ii) Right to form trade unions and

Right to collective bargaining (iii) Better wages for Decent living (iv) Working

hours 7 hours per day, 35 hours per week on a ve day week (v)Solidarity

with the people of Palestine (vi)Freedom to the 5 Cubans who are illegally kept

in US Jail on false charges are very signicant and this has drawn the attention

of the world working class to carry forward the future, collective struggles.

In ne, the historic 16th Congress re-conrmed that the World Federation

of Trade Unions (WFTU) shall continue to march forward as a class oriented,

open democratic, militant organization, engaged in class struggle and againstimperialism and capitalism.

December 2011

The WFTU Secretariat


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VI Presidential Council_Report of Action 2011_EN

Documents

Transcript of VI Presidential Council_Report of Action 2011_EN