THE DOWNFALL OF THE WCL 53 (trade action)

The Board of the World Federation of Industrial Workers at the 4th WFIW Congress held in Doorn, Netherlands, March 2000. WFIW President Jaap Wienen (in the middle) became after the merger of WCL and ICFTU Deputy Secretary General of the ITUC. Before the merger he was WCL Deputy Secretary General charged with Trade Action. To the right of the photo Leon Vanhaudt, WFIW treasurer. Next to him WFIW Secretary general Fons van Genechten.  On the left of the photo Executive Secretary Piet Nelissen. Next to him WFIW Vice President Carlos Gaitan.

The last and most difficult problem for the WCL was the question about what to do with the International Trade Federations (ITF's) during the merger of the WCL and the ICFTU into a new international organisation? One would expect that Deputy Secretary General Jaap Wienen, charged with Trade Action within the WCL secretariat, together with the Presidents of the ITF's had come to a certain kind of common strategy but this was not so much the case. 

The WCL discussion paper limits itself to conclude that “the WCL and the ICFTU Trade Action structures are quite different.” It says that “the WCL Federations -although autonomous in the management of their sectoral policy – are affiliated to the WCL, pay dues and have the right to vote in the Congress and the Confederal Board. Likewise, a vice-president representing Trade Action is elected by the Congress. He chairs the CTA (Trade Action Committee consisting of the presidents of the ITF's) and the WCTA (the World Trade Action Committee) meetings. Within the General Secretariat, there exists a Deputy Secretary General in charge of coordinating Trade Action and fostering the links between the ITF's and the other WCL departments.” (paragraph 3.1).

“Within the ICFTU, the ITS (International Trade Secretariats) are completely independent. They pay no dues to the ICFTU and have no right to vote within the decision-making bodies, where they do participate as observers. A couple of years ago, an informal agency called Global Unions was created. It frequently gathers ICFTU and ITS representatives in order to foster coordination among them.” (paragraph 3.2) 

They have also an informal coordination agency: the Global Union Federations (GUF's): “The GUF's are powerful organisations (146 million members), both at the political and financial levels. Sometimes they devise their own inter-trade policy, something that is aberrant in an increasingly globalized economy.” (paragraph 3.3)

In the paper it is said that these ITS's“despite their independency, they follow the ICFTU stand.” Therefore it is not surprising that “the affiliation of national trade federations coming from confederations with no international affiliation ( of France's CGT 12 sectors out of 32 are affiliated to the GUF's) often paves the way for ICFTU membership.” (paragraph 3.4).

The World Congress of the World Federation of Building and Woodworkers WFBW was held in Varna, Bulgaria in may 2004 with 77 delegates from 33 different countries all over the world. 

Years ago trade unions of the ACV-CSC and CNV had already left WCL: “after the 1980's, the trade federations of Belgium CSC (metal, employee, food, some transport sectors, culture) and Holland's CNV (food, metal) left the ITF's and joined the ITS, so as to strengthen their actions, especially vis-à-vis multinational companies.” It is very sad to read that “this evolution mainly led to the marginalisation of the WFAFW (WCL's World Federation for Agricultural and Food Workers), which could not afford deploying its action within the agricultural sector, which is a basic activity in developing countries and where male and female workers are particularly exploited.” (note 8 in the paper)

We can conclude that already since the 1980's the WCL was weakened because of the departure of ACV-CSC and CNV trade federations from the ITF's and their affiliation to the ITS. In a broader sense they became part of the ICFTU policy.

Now, the lack of a clear common vision and coordination between WCL and the ITF's led to a certain kind of divide and rule policy by the ITS's. While the WCL negotiated the merger it left its ITF's without real support.

The first ITF that started to negotiate about a possible merger was the World Confederation of Teachers (WCT) that, as far as I know, tried indeed to establish within Education International (EI) a special WTC platform. At the beginning of the negotiations it was told that such an arrangement of a WCT platform within EI was possible but after a while this possibility for whatever reason disappeared. Now, about 10 years later, there is no sign whatsoever on the EI website that there ever existed a WCT.

With the merger talks in the wood and building sector, between the WFBW and the IFBW, happened more or less the same. The core idea was to safeguard the WCL heritage (see The Downfall of the WCL 48) by way of a special foundation within the new world organisation.

Board members of the Latin American Federation of Industrial and Construction Workers FLATIC. From left to right: Domingo Moreyra, Carlos Gaitan (president), Miriam Berlak, Vicente Carrera and Rolando Arias. June 2004.

The WFBW World Congress in Varna, Bulgaria on the 20^th of May 2004 decided to continue with the merger talks. “During the Congress and the seminar it was agreed to continue the process of unity in a new World Sectorial Federation, which allows to participate more strongly at the negotiation tables and agreements with multilateral agencies that impact politics and global economy and multinational companies, who are the ones that impose the economic, productive, and technological conditions of incorporation, investment, employees and consumption. The participation in this United Federation will be based on our identity and participation with the WCL and its regional organisations. Also should be allowed the continuation of national and regional diversity and respect for local particularities.” ( Nueva Epoca, revista de FLATIC, Ano XVIII-No.90, Junio de 2004, page 5)

But there were also some critical remarks made by president Carlos Gaitan of FLATIC (Federacion latinoamericana de Trabajadores de las Industrias y la Construccion): “The procedures onto unity so far has been only European, without sufficient consultation with the other Continents. We believe more participation, information and consultation of the affiliates is essential.” (Nueva Epoca, page 5). The Swiss trade union SYNA represented by treasurer Werner Rindlisbacher was opposed to the merger. 

The BWI website refers to the merger of IFBWW and WFBW. However, a foundation dedicated to the WCL/WFBW heritage does not exist.

“At its World Congress in Buenos Aires, on 9 December 2005, the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW) and the World Federation of Building and Wood Workers (WFBW) created a new global union federation, the Building and Wood Workers' International - BWI. The BWI is the Global Union Federation grouping free and democratic unions with members in the Building, Building Materials, Wood, Forestry and Allied sectors. The BWI groups together around 326 trade unions representing around 12 million members in 130 countries. The Headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland. Regional Offices and Project Offices are located in Panama and Malaysia, South Africa, India, Burkina Faso, Curaçao, Chile, Kenya, Russia, Peru, Brazil and Thailand.”

The World Federation of Industrial Workers WFIW decided on its World Congress in Dakar, Senegal (July 2005) to start negotiations with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions ICEM in Brussels. The French CFTC Metal Union and the German CMG Metal Union voted against it. Because the WFIW had no powerful affiliates in terms of money and members like the WFBW with its powerful member ACV-CSC Building and Industries and to a certain extent also CNV Wood and Construction, the negotiations were limited to a collective affiliation.

President Reinhardt Schiller of the German Metal Union CGM together with the CFTC Metal Union refused to support the integration of WFIW in the ICEM. After the merger between WCL and ICFTU the CGM became a member of the World Organization of Workers WOW ( the former World Confederation of Clerical Workers WFCW). Photo taken in Vienna 2012 at the board meeting of the European Organization of WOW 

The German CGM refused the invitation made by WFIW President Bart Bruggeman to be part of this collective affiliation. CGM President Reinhardt Schiller did not believe that it is possible to have a fair cooperation with the socialist trade unions. According to his view, at the start you get some qualified positions but after a few years the majority will go back to business as usual which means that as a minority must follow socialist policies.

The WFIW Board at the Dissolution Congress, June 2007. 

From left to right: Justin Daerden; Carlos Gaitan (Vice-President); Italo Rodomonti (Secretary General); Bart Bruggeman (President); Manfred Warda (ICEM); Achille Dutu and Romuald Nuwopke.

On the website of the International Federation 'Industriall' you find the following text on the WFIW Dissolution Congress:

"The World Federation of Industry Workers (WFIW) held its Dissolution World Congress in Houffalize, Belgium, on 14 June 2007. The 80 participants at this historic meeting, from 25 countries, unanimously took the decision to integrate the WFIW structures into the ICEM, a process which will be finalised at the ICEM's 4th World Congress in November 2007 in Bangkok.

The WFIW is one of the International Trade Federations formerly affiliated to the World Confederation of Labour (WCL), the international trade union confederation which, together with the former ICFTU, recently merged to create the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

The Dissolution Congress, with ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda present, was just one step in a longer process to prepare the WFIW’s integration into the ICEM.(...) WFIW General Secretary Italo Rodomonti said he strongly believes that “after the integration of the WFIW members into the ICEM, pluralism within the international trade union confederation will form a firm basis for a stronger international trade union federation.” The Dissolution Congress elected Italo Rodomonti, as well as Achille Dutu from Romania, as future ICEM Presidium members. Brazil's Wilson Wanderlei Viera and Alphonse Beya Tshimbu from the Democratic Republic of Congo were elected to become ICEM Executive Committee members."

THE DOWNFALL OF THE WCL 48 (the building and woodworkers merger)

WFBW Secretary General Bert van der Spek (CNV Construction and Wood trade union)
and WFBW President Jacky Jackers (ACV Construction and Industries)
talking with a delegation of strikers in Indonesia
during a WFBW mission in April 2004.

Another document that throws light on the debates about the so called cooperation and/or merger between ICFTU and WCL organizations is a note of 12 December 2003 written by Bert van der Spek, Secretary General of the World Federation of Building of Woodworkers WFBW affiliated to the WCL. The note was sent by letter of 16 December 2003 to Doekle Terpstra, President of the CNV, to which the Wood and Construction union of Bert van der Spek is affiliated.

“For a long time there is pressure from the IFBWW. The pressure exists in terminating cooperation if the WFBW is not willing to proceed to a merger. This has been discussed with the Wood and Building Trade Union CNV. At that time it has been clearly said that a merger is not on the agenda and that at most there can be cooperation in relevant fields. ACV/CSC Building and Industry has adopted the same attitude, although a remark must be made here. ACV/CSC Building and Industry is under high pressure of ACV /CSC. Within ACV/CSC there are movements that can lead (and perhaps will lead) to a unification with ICFTU International Federations. This can become dangerous. ACV/CSC Building and Wood has chosen not to leave the WFBW but wants more cooperation with the IFBWW. Wood and Construction CNV can accept this, however somewhat reluctantly.

In the first place one must take into account the dominance of the Belgians. They are a strong decisive factor. If they stop engaging in activities (and money) in the WFBW and consequently WCL, then the question is whether the Netherlands still can continue in the same way. Secondly, it is not possible to beat the IFBWW. A certain way of co-operation can be an alternative and be of advantage for the WFBW if it is well organized. That advantage can exist of being represented at the ILO and the World Bank but also the use of experts.

On the 18th of November a delegation of board members of the WFBW ( Jackers, Van der Spek, Nelissen and Bonnewijn) has negotiated with board members of the IFBWW. Again there was pressure to merge. IFBWW wished the elimination of IFBWW and WFBW. It was a difficult process of negotiation. The WFBW confirmed again that a merger is not on the agenda. There can be searched for a way of cooperation that keeps intact trade union pluralism. As a result of the (prolonged) negotiations the following has been established. Obviously this is a proposal that must be presented at the Congresses (for WFBW in May 2004).”

WFBW President Jacky Jackers and WFBW Secretary general Bert van der Spek
visited a construction factory in Indonesia in April 2004.

The text of the agreement:

“The presidiums of the International federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW) and the World Federation of Building and Woodworkers (WFBW) met on 18 November 2003 in Geneva and discussed further developments of co-operations based on the letter of intend of 28 January 2003.

Both organisations agreed to start a process leading to a new international organisation bringing together IFBWW and WFBW and other potential organisations in our sectors. The intention is that members of the two organisations become member of the new global organisation.

For the realisation of this project it is proposed to establish a joint steering committee on the highest level in January 2004 in order to:

1. further develop the existing co-operation on ILO and other international institutions and Multinational Companies to define a more wide reaching joint action program including a proposal for financing to be implemented as soon as the terms of agreement have been established.

2. develop statues and new structures for the new global trade union organisation.

The WFBW will put forward the proposals for statutes and new structures for the new global organisations at its World Congress in May 2004 and the IFBWW at its World Congress in December 2005.

After these congresses both organisations will define the necessary steps for the establishment of a new global organisation.”

“Therefore there will be a continuation of the independence of the WFBW (and the IFBWW). Pluralism remains. Cooperation will be intensified and brought together in a new world organization to which WFBW and IFBWW will be affiliated.

In this construction, there remains room for WFBW and also a place for the WCL. For me no lines may be cut to WFBW and WCL. Perhaps there can be made a comparison with the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers EFBWW. The independence of CNV Wood and Construction and FNV Construction continues, while both cooperate as two national organizations that affiliated to the EFBWW.” (end of the note)

Incorrect comparison is made in the last two sentences of the text. It's not about that two unions from the same country but with a different identity can be members of the EFBWW, but that the EBFWW itself is not a federation of two different European trade union organizations, each with their own ideological identity. This observation brings us back to the problem that from the outset trade union pluralism has not been institutionalized within the European trade union organizations, beginning at the ETUC itself. Rather, the social-democratic oriented unions have opposed institutionalized pluralism on ideological and power political grounds.

On the one hand they still cling to the old idea of the unity of the working class and therefore insist on the creation of unitary trade union organizations, on the other hand they believe in trade union pragmatism. Ideological beliefs about society, government, state, labor other than those laid down in human rights and ILO conventions would no longer be relevant to trade union action, which of course in everyday practice is not sustainable. In this context, the great English miners' strike of 1984-1985 is a perfect example of how two conceptions of state and society clashed. On one side stood the Thatcher government, on the other hand, stood the National Union of Miners (NUM) under the leadership of Arthur Scargill.

However, the most important European WCL trade unions accepted these ideas about pragmatic and unitary trade unionism and accepted therefore a unitary ETUC. (see for example also 'The downfall of the WCL 33 - the ongoing story of the International Trade Federations)'  Some WCL members did not agree. They insisted to form their own WCL fraction within the ETUC. This was rejected by mainly the Belgian and Dutch trade union confederations ACV / CSC and CNV. They believed that the new reality of the European Union asked for more unity of trade unions, neglecting that the European union is not just a pragmatic project of cooperation between European states but that it is from the start a political project. This becomes more and more clear if we look to the political debates on the future of the European Union which have become more intense than before.

THE DOWNFALL OF THE WCL 47 (federalization and pluralism)

Second from right: WFBW President Jacky Jackers at the congress of the 
Panafrican Federation of Wood and Building Workers in Lomé, Togo 
at the FOPADESC Centre of ODSTA, august 2003

About a year after the WCL World Congress in Rumania more and more was heard about a possible merger between WCL and ICFTU. It was hard to believe that the ACV/CSC would agree with a merger because what would they win with such a merger? In practice the WCL was more or less an extension of the ACV/CSC which meant that the ACV/CSC could play a bigger role on international level than what normally could be expected from a strong confederation in such a small country as Belgium. Of course the ICFTU could try to isolate the WCL on international level but on long term this could damage the image of the ICFTU as an international organization that respects democracy and pluralism.

Besides, what was there to win for the ACV/CSC by becoming a member of a new big international trade union organization? Now everybody still listened to ACV/CSC as one of the most important organisations of the WCL. What would remain of this ACV/CSC influence at international level if it was only one of many voices. A voice lost between the powerful German DGB, the Brittish TUC and above all the North American AFL/CIO? Asking the question, is answering it.

 Bert van der Spek, Secretary General and Jacky Jackers, 
President of the WFBW, talking to trade union leaders 
of a construction union in Indonesia. 
The union members were on strike because of a wage conflict. April 2004

The first strong sign that a debate was going on within the ACV/CSC about a merger of WCL with ICFTU was a letter from President Jacky Jackers of the World Federation of Building and Woodworkers WFBW addressed to ACV/CSC President Luc Cortebeeck of 25th october 2003:

“attitude WFBW (including ACV Building and Industry) regarding the developments between WCL / ICFTU and WFBW / IFBWW / EFBW.

1.With regard to WCL and ICFTU:

– ACV-BI stands for more cooperation. Even more, we must not wait longer but instead take initiative.

– We prefer a Federation. In such a system each organization will pay for activities that have been agreed in advance. We are well aware that the ICFTU would prefer to talk about a merger!

– Setting up a new organization so WCL and ICFTU disappear, corresponds to a merger where only changes the name. Pluralism is not structurally guaranteed! We believe that the WCL must continue to exist on confederal level. In Africa, Latin America and Asia, one is not ready to process further steps.

2. With regard to WFBW and WCL:

– Here the central debate is about that the members of WFBW are actually willing to pay their dues, but they question why the WFBW has to pay the same amount of dues to the WCL?

– In other words one says that the functioning of the WCL does not match with the investment made, that is to say one chooses very clear for more resources for trade union action.

3. With regard to WFBW, IFBWW and EFBW:

– I mention here also the European Federation because within the IFBWW one believes that because of the past, the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers is part of the IFBWW. About pluralism is not spoken here!

– Some remarks with regard to the EFBW:

1. Since 1989 ACV - BI is a member of the European Federation and has developed well its place.

...

...

2. Since the last general meeting of the EFBW, the WFBW is recognized. This means that where you in the past had to be a member of the IFBWW before you could become a member of the EFBW, now it is allowed to be only a member of the WFBW.

3. The Building & Wood trade union of the ACLVB (the liberal Confederation) has asked for membership of the EFBW. We as ACV-BI accept this, but the socialist trade union has inmediately asked the trade union to become a member of the ...IFBWW! A good start!

Construction workers on strike in Indonesia, april 2004.

4. With regard to WFBW and IFBWW

– The last years there have been several meetings about cooperation. Roel de Vries, President of the IFBWW, has always insisted on a merger and was surely not for pluralism.

– Tuesday 18/11/2003 there will be another meeting with the IFBWW. Our position will be: active cooperation (ILO, European Works Councils, World Works Councils) structured in a Federation to which dues are agreed. This proposal is also supported by the Netherlands, France and Suisse.”

According to this letter the following commitments were proposed to the ACV/CSC President with regard to the future relations with ICFTU and the ICFTU oriented International Trade Union Federations:

– No merger but the creation of federal structures with the aim to cooperate as much as possible and to guarantee pluralism on all levels: confederal level (WCL) as well as on the level of the International Trade Union Federations.

– It is expressed explicitly in the letter that the WCL must continue to exist.

– The continental organizations of Africa, Asia and Latin America are considered to be not ready for a merger.