N° 123 / 15 March 2001
Death of Former WCL Vice-president Eugène Akpemado
Death of Former WCL Vice-president Eugène Akpemado
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Eugène Akpemado died in night to 15 February 2001 at the age of 62. Man of influence in his country, Togo, he was Vice-President of the WCL until 1995, representing Africa. Eugène Akpemado had been President of the Confédération Syndicale des Travailleurs du Togo (CSTT) and created the Democratic Organisation of African Workers’ Trade Unions (DOAWTU), formerly FOPADESC, of which he was General Secretary.
Eugène Akpemado was an outstanding personality in the African trade union world and exerted a strong influence on the WCL, favouring an autonomous representation of the African continent. Refusing to yield to the pessimism of those who considered Africa a lost continent, he incessantly pointed out to the developed countries that they had to take on their responsibility, while underlining the importance of solidarity between the continents of the South.
Eugène Akpemado was also always opposed to trade union monopoly.
Côte D’ivoire: Dignité Open to All
Whereas Côte d’Ivoire is weighed down by tensions between communities, Basile Mahan Gahé, General Secretary of the trade union confederation Dignité, has specified in an interview that «in our trade union all the leaders, those of grassroots-level unions as well as those of the National Board, stem from 62 tribes, a variety of religions - Islam, animism, Catholicism, Protestantism and others- from the South, the Centre and the North. They all express themselves very freely at DIGNITÉ and there is never question of these problems».
About the events in the country he said: «It is the fact of a very active minority that wants to maintain - hence the "Ivoirité" concept - or to accede to power. (...) The inhabitants of Burkina Faso, Mali and other countries are in the first place, like the poor masses in Côte d’Ivoire, victims of an increasingly global capitalist system.»
Mission to the International Institutions in Geneva: WTO, ILO, UNCTAD
On 12-14 February last, a WCL delegation, led by General Secretary Willy Thys and composed of Confederal Secretary Eduardo Estevez, Director of the Human Rights and International Labour Standards Department Claude Akpokavie and Permanent Representative in Geneva Béatrice Fauchère, conducted a contact mission with the WTO, the ILO and the UNCTAD. During the interview with WTO Director-General Mike Moore, the exchanges of views bore in particular upon the social dimension of globalisation and world trade, upon the progress made in the debate on the integration of the international labour standards into international trade agreements and upon post-Seattle. Mr Moore informed us of his will to help the 32 WTO member states that have no Mission in Geneva. In his opinion it is one of the reasons for the WTO’s existence to help the Least Developed Countries but that this is not an easy task. He affirmed his will to be closer to the countries in the South and said that he had paid several visits to those regions. The WCL proposed organising a meeting between trade union leaders and the WTO during the International Labour Conference next June. Another meeting with the WTO is scheduled to take place prior to the WTO Ministerial Conference that will take place in Qatar on 9-13 November. With ILO Director-General Juan Somavia the delegation discussed the stakes of the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre. J. Somavia had chosen to be present in Davos in an attempt to convince a world that is not necessarily open to social questions. In his opinion the purpose of the Forum in Porto Alegre was to build an alternative to the current economic world, and it is the duty of the trade union world to take an active part in this. According to the ILO Director-General the various summits and forums do not substitute for the social struggle. The mobilisation must transform itself into a movement. Juan Somavia announced his visit to China next May and underlined the difficulty of preserving a delicate balance between affirming his belief in the role of the ILO, remaining firm on basic issues and maintaining the dialogue. The delegation met, further, several high ILO officials within the framework of the follow-up on the programmes the WCL is developing in co-operation with the ILO.
Sabotage of the ILO Principles
This heavy expression was used by members of the workers’ group when during the session on conclusions of the ILO’s tripartite meeting on "the employment impact of mergers and acquisitions in the banking and financial services sectors" (Geneva 5-9 february) the employers left unexpectedly but well co-ordinated the meeting. An until that moment constructive ILO tripartite meeting suddenly became a failure. Indeed, the employers had been reluctantly during the plenary sessions to accept some proposals like for example that "a strong and dynamic financial services sector provides the essential means for a healthy economy, which is prerequisite to employment generation", but nobody expected such an extreme position to walk out of the meeting.
The government representatives during the plenary sessions had sided the workers on the above mentioned proposal and others like fore example that "governments, employers and workers have a mutual interest in ensuring that mergers and acquisitions outcomes conform to the overriding need to maintain a prosperous and competitive financial industry".
This walk out of the employers is very dangerous not only for the future development of the social dialogue on international level but also for the future of the ILO itself as the only tripartite organisation within the United Nations family.
Besides that the ILO in general and especially the sectoral tripartite meetings are the only international instrument workers have to develop a social dialogue with employers and governments. As the representative of the WFCW during the opening plenary session of the above mentioned tripartite meeting clearly stated: "the social dialogue is the only instrument left for the development of civilised and acceptable labour relations on all levels, there is no other way left".
The workers’ group was composed of bank employees of all corners of the world organised by the UNI as well as the WCL oriented WFCW. The discussions between the workers representatives was open, clear and with a spirit of solidarity. Together they agreed on the proposed resolutions and conclusions. The more sad it is that the employers decided at the end of the meeting to sabotage the conclusions. Let us hope that in the next future employers will open their minds and understand that in the world of finances reliable and well trained workers are more important for their business than huge profits and efficiency at all costs.
Honorary Distinction for C. Tan
On 24 March next, Juan C. Tan will receive from ATENEO University in Manila the "LUX IN DOMINO AWARD". Through this Award the Ateneo de Manila would like to recognise the selfless devotion and unflinching commitment to the labour movement in the Philippines and inspired leadership in the Federation of Free Workers. The Award also gives witness to the personal commitment to Ateneo’s preferential option for the poor at great sacrifice to a promising and affluent professional career of Juan C. Tan.
Kosovo: Joint ETUC-ICFTU-WCL Declaration
On 26 February last, the ETUC, the ICFTU and the WCL adopted a joint declaration on the importance of trade unions as factors of stability and actors in the struggle against corruption and the criminalisation of the economy.
The signatories encourage the adoption of the draft new labour code which, despite its imperfections, takes up the minimum standards. The international trade unions also support the workers in their struggle for their rights, their jobs and social justice.
Africa: Assessment of the Institutional Strengthening Programme
Within the framework of the institutional strengthening programme of our African affiliates, a seminar was conducted on 12-16 February to assess the plan of action for 2000 and the five-year plan 1989-2003. Faustina Van Aperen represented the WCL. The seminar highlighted the achievements and the challenges to be taken up by our affiliates.
Moreover, our affiliates were invited to take part in the drawing up of next five-year plan 2003-2007 so that it satisfies possibly well the needs and expectations of the affiliates at the national and the regional level.
The WCL is pleased with this excellent partnership work.
Human rights Violations: Update
Paraguay: On 23 February last, peasants, blue-collar workers, trade unions and popular organisations organised a march to demand answers to the needs of the people. During the march, the police attacked and injured eleven people; most of them needed to be taken to the hospital. The WCL sent the President of the Republic a letter of protest.
Colombia: The Red Cross workers go on with their strike by which they denounce the non-observance of the agreements concluded after the collective bargaining. The WCL again sent a letter of protest to the President of Colombia, requesting him to intervene with the Red Cross and demanding respect for the agreements signed and for the conventions 87 and 98, which Colombia has ratified.
Schedule of Activities
9 April: WCTA: extraordinary session
23-24 April: European Board of FIOST, Ostend
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