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Executive Committee - Brussels (Belgium)
Draft minutes | 05 - 06 February 2005 |
| ICFTU Congress, Miyazaki/Japan, 05-10.12.2004 |
The Executive Committee members take note of the document Willy Thys presents on his participation in the Congress of ICFTU. They deplore that Necie Lucero was unable to join the delegation on account of the breaks in the communications system as a result of the typhoons in the Philippines. Nor could she travel to Nepal for the Conference of APRO/ICFTU as she was stuck at Bangkok airport because of the coup in Nepal on the eve of this Congress.
The Executive Committee members had a debate on the affiliation policy of the new organisation and the relations with the non-affiliated organisations. The most salient issues were as follows:
 | It is clear that the member organisations of WCL and ICFTU can affiliate to the new organisation. This also holds good for the WCL affiliates in Cuba (CUTC and STC), whereas CTC, affiliated to WFTU, is not an independent organisation and therefore lacks the appropriate profile for affiliation. |
 | The Congress of ICFTU decided that non-affiliated organisations like CGT/France, CGTP/Portugal, OPZZ/Poland, PIT-CNT, CTA/Argentina and CUT/Colombia are not adorned with the title of "co-founders" anymore. During a meeting of Willy Thys and Guy Ryder with these organisations at the World Social Forum, the latter were invited to inform both secretaries-general of their positions to and views on the new organisation (Annex I). ICFTU and WCL will than have to reach an agreement on the way to involve these organisations in the process. |
 | The new organisation will be compelled to define a complex affiliation policy. In this sense, attention will have to be paid to the possibility of affiliating a number of independent but important organisations (eg the situation in Quebec). |
 | The kind of bilateral relations with non-democratic but important organisations will also be the subject of important discussions. |
| WCL-ICFTU negotiations: creation of the new organisations - state of affairs |
Willy Thys presents the document that starts from the decisions and criteria as established by the Casablanca Confederal Board and compares the results of the current negotiations between the WCL and ICFTU secretariats.
The most important elements of the discussion are as follows:
 | Of major consequence is the existing agreement on the values of the new organisation. The position of WCL is taken up in the "basic principles of the new trade union organisation" |
 | The heritage of WCL remains an issue of prime importance in the discussion. There is no consensus yet on the appropriate instrument for securing the values of WCL. The discussion on the creation of a foundation persists. |
 | There is a consensus on internal pluralism at the level of structures and representation, and this must now take concrete shape. |
 | There is an agreement on giving women responsibility. It has to be pointed out that the women's lobby is very active at ICFTU. |
 | There have been lots of discussions at the level of the regional organisations. In future, it will be necessary to think about new architectures that correspond with the regional socio-economic realities (eg ASEAN). ETUC remains a tender issue. Will ETUC become whether or not a regional organisation of the new organisation? |
 | The issue of Trade Action and the cooperation with the new organisation figure on the agenda of the meeting of the GUFs, early in March. |
 | There are little problems with the affiliation policy of the new organisation. The affiliates of WCL and ICFTU can join the new organisation. National pluralism will not be questioned and the application of Convention 87 will be guaranteed. There remains the issue of the ITFs that have not yet reached a cooperation agreement with the ITSs. We will have to wait for the meeting of the GUFs. |
 | Strong progress can be observed in the matter of unity of action. Joint programmes like the spring meetings with the World Bank and IMF have been worked out, whereas the representation at ILO remains a problem to be settled. |
 | A contact of WCL with John Monks, Secretary General of ETUC, has been scheduled to find a solution to the problem of the affiliation of USO to ETUC. |
 | At the level of the regional organisations there is a greater concurrence. Guy Ryder and Andrew Kailembo will attend the Executive Committee of DOAWTU, for instance. |
 | As regards the head office of the new organisation, Geneva seems to be materially impossible at short notice in view of the very high costs. It has to be pointed out that the staff on both sides are very worried. |
 | Dues are a difficult issue. The dues payable to WCL are much higher. ICFTU cannot raise its dues. But it is impossible to have two different dues systems. |
The note gives rise to a very lively debate, from which the following elements appear:
 | There is a consensus on the quality of the note, which is viewed as very practical and very clear, starting from the decisions of the Casablanca Confederal Board. |
 | The recent cooperation between ICFTU and WCL in Porto Alegre, on the occasion of the Trade Union Forum and the Social Forum, is looked upon as positive. |
 | It is not enough to simply mention the informal sector in the action programme. In the new organisation a balance must be sought between the industrial world and the informal economy. |
 | The representation criteria in the new organisation are another important issue. It would be proper to find more positive criteria for the non-industrialised countries. Particularly in Belgium, CGSLB and FGTB together have less members than CSC, yet will be granted more votes according the proposed criteria. |
 | It would be proper to find mechanisms that ensure the representation of WCL in the activities of ILO. |
 | The regional organisations of WCL are in a better position than those of ICFTU. BATU is trying to make overtures to APRO. Unfortunately, the Secretary General of BATU could not attend the Conference of APRO on account of a coup in Nepal. ICFTU and APRO will be invited to the next Convention of BATU. |
 | The situation at the level of Trade Action is more complicated. At the moment there are three groups of international trade federations. The first group (WFBW, WFIW, WCT, WFAFW) is having talks with the GUFs in order to find joint structures, the second one (IFTC, FIOST) are not willing to enter upon talks with the GUFs as long as they are not respected by them. There is no basis for consultations yet. The third group (Infedop, WFCW) refuses straight out to negotiate with their counterparts on a possible cooperation. WFCW even turns down every cooperation between WCL and ICFTU, even if its representative had rounded to the Casablanca resolution. |
 | As far as the link between trade and inter-trade action is concerned, the GUFs are discussing their position to the new organisation. The leaders of ICFTU are aware of the importance of Trade Action to WCL. The GUFs will eludicate their position in four or five weeks' time. There are good hopes, but the outcome is unpredictable. |
 | As regards the affiliation of the international trade federation that will not cooperate with the GUFs in the new organisation, it is clear that each affiliate of WCL can become member of the new organisation. Yet, ICFTU had rather understood that this principle applies only to the inter-trade organisations. |
 | The current members of the European Section want to maintain this platform. This remains to be discussed. |
 | CNV, for its part, considers the note very clear and is pleased to see the open spirit and positive atmosphere on the part of ICFTU, yet admits that it remains rather sceptical of the process and is not convinced of the possibility of preserving the specific identity of WCL in the new organisation. On the one hand, it contends, both organisations pursue the same goals and results, but on the other there is a strong difference in culture and identity as this also appears at the level of national pluralism. In Casablanca CNV had not wanted to force a vote in order to arrive at a consensus, but the final decision will be made at Geneva Confederal Board. |
 | Reference is made to Annex 1 (basic principles of the new organisation) and particularly to the paragraph on mutual respect for heritage of both organisations. CNV deplores that no mention is made of the foundation, in order to get enough guarantees. |
 | The question is to see if there is already an improvement perceptible in the cooperation between WCL and ICFTU as far as the relations with the international organisations are concerned. |
 | Though national pluralism is not challenged in the negotiations, in the Netherlands FNV is using the debate at the international level to conduct it also at the national level. CNV disagrees and considers this a threat. |
 | The partner foundations, eg CNV International, want to continue their bilateral action. If it were to function within the new organisation, there is a real danger that the Ministry of Development Cooperation sees no difference between the different trade union projects anymore and will therefore treat them as one single project. |
 | There must be guarantees to occupy key positions in the new organisation. The second position in the new organisation should go to a representative of WCL, for instance. |
 | CLAT makes the following remarks:
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| - | As regards the unity-of-action movements affiliated to WCL, it will be necessary to observe the general rule that it must be possible for each member organisation of WCL or ICFTU to join the new organisation. |
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| - | In the single organisations it must be possible for the WCL-affiliated fractions to continue to exist. |
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| - | As far as the regional organisations are concerned, CLAT underlines the important weight of AFL/CIO in ORIT. |
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| - | CLAT is very critical of the GUFs. They are totally independent organisations having their own strategies. |
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| - | The informal sector must be part of the sectoral organisations. |
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| - | The new social sectors such as pensioners and marginalised workers (unemployed, women, young people, …) must have their own organisational structures. |
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| - | CLAT advocates unity at the international level, but this must be an organisation with values, an organisation against capitalist globalisation. It is not enough to create a foundation to preserve the values of WCL, they must be integrated into the new organisation. |
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 | DOAWTU worries about the position of the regional organisations within ICFTU, whose general secretaries will henceforth be deputy general secretaries. Willy Thys and Guy Ryder will have to elucidate this matter. |
 | DOAWTU also points out the danger of preponderance of the organisations from the industrial countries in the new organisation and the importance of integrating the informal sector in the action; it refers in this respect to the importance of this topic in the VERBA programme. |
After having listened to the debate, the Secretary General reacts as follows:
 | In recent months there have been many contacts between WCL and ICFTU. The new organisation has to be an organisation of values, capable of mobilising for social justice. |
 | As regards the regional organisations, it is true that those of ICFTU receive endowments, yet do not always follow the policy lines of ICFTU. This very matter was raised and discussed during the Miyazaki Congress. At WCL, however, the absence of structural endowments for the regional organisations implies that the latter put a lot of energy in fund-raising. |
 | Trade Action poses an important problem, but the situation will be clearer in March. |
 | As for the votes issue, the system given by way of example is aimed to favour the smaller organisations. It will be necessary to seek balanced solutions. |
 | The new organisation must be open to all the democratic and independent organisations in accordance with ILO Convention 87. |
 | He advocates pluralism at the national level, but one must not confound pluralism and dispersion of the trade union movement, as is the case in some countries. |
 | Conclusion: it will be necessary:
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| - | to establish a new schedule for the talks with ICFTU; |
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| - | to place the documents on the Intranet; |
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| - | to ask the regional organisations to respect the Casablanca decisions; |
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| - | to urge the international trade federations to continue the talks with the international trade secretariats in an attempt to have solutions and options by the next Confederal Board session. |
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 | Finally, he points out the importance of an agreement on creating a foundation so to preserve the heritage of WCL. |
 | Jaap Wienen, Deputy Secretary General, adds that pluralism at the national level has never been challenged and that the current process concerns us all. |
 | Eduardo Estévez, Deputy Secretary General, insists on the contacts between the regional organisations. CLAT has to seize the opportunity of the next Board meeting of ORIT to provoke a meeting. |
 | Luc Cortebeeck finds it normal that there are doubts, but we have to move on and to develop more concrete proposals by the Geneva Confederal Board. It would therefore be proper to mandate the Secretariat to continue the negotiations. |
 | Doekle Terpstra wants to be confident and to give ICFTU the benefit of the doubt, but he remains realistic. |
 | Manuel Zaguirre points out that it is matter not of having confidence in ICFTU, but in oneself, and of seizing the historic opportunity to create a single organisation. |
Agenda item 6 is concluded with three observations from the Secretary General:
 | It is necessary to have confidence in the negotiation process. The negotiations have to continue on equal terms. |
 | There is no reason to doubt the honesty of ICFTU in the negotiation process. To this day, each commitment has been respected. |
 | AFL/CIO has to be induced to contact CLAT with a view to talks with ORIT. |
Finally, the Executive Committee mandates the Secretariat to continue the talks as provided in the decisions of the Casablanca Confederal Board and to give them concrete shape (particularly at the level of the Governing Body of ILO). The Geneva Confederal Board will hear the outcome and discuss it. The Executive Committee will follow up on the talks and, if necessary, an extraordinary Executive Committee meeting will be organised.
| Preparation of the 26th Congress of WCL |
The Secretary General introduced this item, pointing out that, at the request of the Confederal Board, a Congress budget was drawn up on the basis of the accommodation expenses for the Bucharest Congress and the travelling expenses for Porto Alegre. It appears from the talks between WCL and ICFTU on this matter that the Foundation Congress of the new organisation could be organised in early May 2006. The venue would be in Western Europe considering the central position of this world region, which would reduce the travelling expenses. Another argument is the ability to find affordable equipment that is up to this great event and its echo in the media. There is no denying that the financial situation of WCL does not allow it to hold these meetings at a few months' interval. As a consequence and in view of the completely exceptional nature of the project to create the new organisation, it is proposed to the Executive Committee that the ordinary Congress of WCL be postponed until early May 2006 and that the Confederal Board be requested to confirm the decision of the Casablanca Confederal Board to organise the ordinary, extraordinary and foundation congresses in the same period.
The ensuing debate gives rise to the following observations:
 | It comes to the Geneva Confederal Board, in May, to make a final decisioin. |
 | It is not likely that all the problems will be solved between now and the next Confederal Board session. |
 | The period between the Geneva Confederal Board, in May, and the Congresses in May 2006 is too long, and a way must be found to meet in this ever so important year. |
 | The importance of the statutory Congress in combination with the extraordinary Congress and the constitutive Congress of the new organisation will be less explicit and could convey the impression that the whole thing had been "precooked". |
 | WCL lacks the financial resources to realise both events at such a short notice. |
 | It would be good to have a limited and modest statutory Congress in October 2005. |
 | Trade Action would agree to organise no Congress in 2005, but deems it necessary to meet before May 2006 with a view to an optimum preparation of the decisions to be made. |
 | Democratically speaking, it is not a good thing to organise a statutory Congress on the eve of the constitutive Congress of the new organisation. |
Consequently, the Executive Committee members decide:
 | to propose that the Confederal Board organise, in order to guarantee the democratic process, a statutory Congress, limited in time and in attendance, by November 2005 at a venue that would allow a reduction of the costs; the theme of the Congress would be creation of a new organisation. |
 | that the financial resources will have to be sought through the various current projects so to save the available reserves for the extraordinary Congress in May 2006; |
 | that only the organisations in order with their dues on 31.12.2004 can participate in this Congress with the right to vote and benefit from grants. |
Willy Thys presents document 8, pointing out the importance of such an instrument on the new trade union scene. He points out, further, that more and more people from outside WCL intend to create a platform of Christian inspiration. He feels that it comes to WCL to see what it will do in this respect.
Luc Cortebeeck, on behalf of CSC, reminds that the existing network is our historical heritage and constitutes a platform for contacts between the organisations having the same view on trade union action. If we want to preserve this view, training is a very important element. On the other hand, a solution has to be found for the current bilateral projects. He believes that such a foundation could be created outside the new organisation, but in that case we have to see to it that our historical heritage is not left to third people.
Doekle Terpstra affirms that CNV finds itself in the same situation and that the leaders are reluctant to cooperate with a foundation for international cooperation. He wants to engage in the process because he acknowledges the arguments and considers the issue very delicate.
Eduardo Garcia adds that it is also important to propose that the new foundation can make studies in the field of social promotion, training…
Manuel Zaguirre points out the importance of starting with a political and economic commitment. Before ideas can be launched, the founders of this foundation have to write down their aims and the means to achieve them.
In view of the difficulty of building this up without the participation of the two most important partners, ie CSC and CNV, Luc Cortebeeck and Doekle Terpstra accept the proposal as presented to the Executive Committee, yet stress the fact that their commitment so far bears only upon having a debate, not yet upon the creation of the foundation itself.
As a consequence, the Executive Committee agrees with the policy lines and invites CSC and CNV to find a common basis. Then ISF will be in a position to convene a meeting on the basis of a better-developed project to preserve the joint historical heritage.
| Preparation of the 210th Confederal Board, 27-28.05.2005, Geneva |
The Secretary General reminds briefly of the points contained in document 9. He confirms the reservation of an ILO meeting hall with translation equipment, but it is the usual team that will ensure the interpretation.
As far as the lodging is concerned, Hotel Bernina has been replaced by Hotel des Nations (5 rooms) and Hotel Grand Pré (10 rooms).
The meeting with the WTO secretariat, scheduled for 30 May, will have a favourable effect on the budget for the Confederal Board itself.
In the margin of this Confederal Board session, CNV will organise a reception on the occasion of the departure of Doekle Terpstra, President of CNV and Treasurer of WCL. |
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