SIGNIFICANCE OF
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
- M.K. Pandhe
(This is the last
article written on 18th August by Comrade M K Pandhe)
The 16th Congress of the World Federation of
Trade Unions gave a clarion call to observe October 3, 2011 as the
International Day of Action which will raise the powerful voice of the working
class all over the world on certain urgent demands of the working class
.October 3 is the foundation day of WFTU.
EMERGENCE OF WFTU
The foundation of the WFTU in
346 delegates from 56 countries representing
67 million membership decided to form the WFTU with
Sir Walter Citrine of
The emergence of WFTU created a sense of
confidence among the working class all over the world and a wave of enthusiasm
was clearly reflected among the workers of all affiliations. The membership of
trade unions increased in every corner of the world and growing trade union
activities put employers on the defensive. The affiliation of various national
trade union centres to WFTU went on swelling which
became a militant functioning trade union centre of the world.
However, the imperialist forces were extremely
unhappy at these developments and they commenced their conspiracies against the
global unity of the working class.
President Truman of the United states made a
most virulent anti-communist speech on March 12, 1947 and openly appealed to
the Western powers to come together to fight the rising tide of socialist
ideology in the world, he openly announced financial aid to countries who would
follow the reactionary Truman Doctrine.
On June 5, 1947 the U.S. Secretary of the
State George Marshall announced offering of big loans and financial assistance
to European countries in the name of revival of their economy. It was a clear
attempt to control the European economy and disrupt the trade union movement.
The Marshall Plan imposed several conditionalities
which affected the Sovereignty of the country.
A large section of the WFTU opposed the
The WFTU called a meeting of the Executive
Bureau on April 30, 1948. However, instead or attending the meeting the British
trade unions called a rival conference on 9th March 1948 in London knowing
fully well that majority of the Executive Bureau of the WFTU would not approve
the Marshall Plan.
The WFTU meeting on April 30, 1948 rejected
the Marshall Plan and called upon the working class of the world to oppose the
attempts of
SPLIT IN THE WFTU
The British trade unions in January 1949
demanded suspension of the activities of the WFTU which was rejected by the
WFTU. It further called a Conference in
The Second Congress of the WFTU was held in
With various international developments, WFTU’s international out look had negative impacts. WFTU
was not supporting the struggles of the working class in countries which had
good relations with the
In
In a later period WFTU documents failed to
emphasize the need for class struggles as well as anti-imperialist struggles.
WFTU even talked about de-ideolisation of the working
class. These issues were also criticized by the CITU. However, CITU was
participating in activities of the WFTU and co-operating with it since it
continued to remain a left oriented trade union centre internationally.
In 15th Congress of the WFTU in
NEW ROLE OF THE WFTU
WFTU took initiative in strengthening united
struggles all over the world against globalization. Its new headquarters at
The six point demands raised by the WFTU for
observing the International Day of Action are the most pressing issues faced by
the working class all over the world. They are as follows:
1)Government funded Social
Security for all,
2) Right to form a trade union and Right to
Collective bargaining,
3) Better wage for decent living,
4) Working hours – 7 hours per day, 35 hours per
week and 5 days per week,
5) Solidarity with the people of
6) Freedom to the Five Cubans who are
illegally kept in prison for years in the United states on false charges.
On the plea of cutting down the cost of
production in a competitive environment, the World Bank and the IMF have been
harping on the idea of drastically reducing social security of the workers
reducing the government commitment to these schemes. Even in major capitalist
countries workers have to fight against curtailment of social security
measures.
The concept of welfare state is being given a
go bye and elementary right of human existence is denied to the working class.
Hence, state funding of social security scheme has become a common demand of
the working class all over the world.
The workers wages are under attack and despite
rise in cost of living employees are resisting in enhancing the wages of
workers and trade union movement has to conduct bitter struggles to get a rise
in wages from the unwilling hands of the employers. In several undertaking
workers had to face wage cuts and increased hours of work as
a preconditions for continuing their job.
ATTACK ON TU RIGHTS
Trade union right has become a casualty while
several governments are enacting Labour Laws refusing
trade union right and right at collective bargaining in utter violation of the
ILO conventions.
Various Governments behave like silent
spectators when trade union rights are trampled under tout by the unscrupulous
employers. In
With introduction of new technologies and
automation, demand for reduction of hours of work is being raised by the trade
union movement. In
In many advanced capitalist countries 40hours
per week and 5 days week has been achieved while trade unions have been
demanding 35 hour week. This international demand needs to be popularized in
The struggle of the people of
The International Action Day should express
massive support to these demands by holding rallies and demonstrations. This is
an occasion to highlight the significant role played by the WFTU in
International trade union movement. The Indian working class will no doubt rise
to the occasion and observe the International Action day in a fitting manner so
that the voice of the Indian working class is powerfully raised in solidarity
with the international working class movement.
WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS
International Action Day
on 3rd October 2011.
Demands
* Government funded social security (pension and health) for all
* Collective Bargaining -Collective Agreements in all
sectors-public or private
* 35 hours work per week (7 hours per day with 5 day week)
* Better wages
* Recognition of the
*Freedom for the 5 Cubans illegally imprisoned by
Trade unions from 106 countries in all
the five continents
committed to class struggle and anti-imperialist orientation.