No. 88/1 October 1999
First ordinary congress of DOAWTU
TopThe first ordinary Congress of the DOAWTU assembled in Lomé, Togo, on 8-10 September in the presence of 28 national organisations and eight pan-African federations. The Congress was attended, further, by many guests who represented a variety of organisations such as the ILO, the IMF, the ACV-CSC, the CNV, the CFTC, the CLAT, the SBSI and WSM. Willy Thys, general secretary of the WCL, and Toolsyraj Benydin, confederal secretary, represented the WCL. The Congress passed resolutions on child labour, free trade zones, armed conflicts in Africa, the African economy against the background of globalisation, human rights in Africa, trade action, dimensional development and the institutional dynamics of the DOAWTU and its national affiliates. The DOAWTU and its national affiliates committed themselves to raising the awareness of the trade union activists and to mobilising them for all the themes dealt with during the Congress; they will also develop a trade union movement that advances alternative proposals. Besides this, the Congress adopted specific motions on the situation in the Central African Republic (decreasing rate of employment) and in Burkina Faso (mass dismissals of trade union leaders). In conclusion, the Congress elected a new, extended Board (from 10 to 14 members), which is composed as follows:
president: Fernand KIKONGI; vice-president: Mahamed Samba KEBE (new office); general secretary: Alioune SOW; first assistant general secretary: Adrien B. AKOUETE; second assistant general secretary (new, not permanent office): Mohamed OUEDRAOGO; and treasurer: PA Modou FAAL.
Two new offices were created co-ordinate the women's action and the action in North Africa respectively. In this connection Angélique CORREA and Mohamed Larbi KABBAJ were elected members of the new Executive Committee of the DOAWTU. Trade action will be represented by A. BALLUCK from Mauritius.
TopA solidarity mission to Cambodia was conducted by a joint delegation of BATU and WCL last 01-05 September 1999. The visit was made to the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) which was founded just two years ago. During that year 1997, the WCL filed a complaint with the ILO on violations against Conventions 87 and 98 which were acted upon during the ILO Conference in 1998. Since then, a close contact was established for the defence of workers' rights most particularly in the garment industry. This is the second mission undertaken in relation to the BATU-WCL's transformation into a trade union-social movement. In order to establish initial contacts with BATU officials, the FTUWKC President, Mr. Chea Vichea has bee invited to participate in the BATU Trade Action Seminar which is taking place from 09-15 September 1999 in Malaysia.
TopWilly Thys, general secretary of the WCL, has signed together with his colleagues of the ICFTU, the ETUC and the TUAC a letter by which they affirm that the WTO's main challenge consists in convincing the world of labour of the fact that the globalised economy does not harm the workers. The human rights violations, the health issue, the growing inequalities, the job insecurity and the environmental pollution go to show that a lot remains to be done. At its next ministerial meeting, at the end of November in Seattle, the WTO has to take measures to create jobs and to raise the standard of living, otherwise its policy will meet with public disapproval. According to the trade union leaders who signed the letter, the WTO can do this by regulating world trade and accepting the ILO as an interlocutor.
TopWilly Thys, general secretary of the WCL, met on 2 September John Evans, general secretary of the TUAC/OECD (Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD). They exchanged views on the international trade union structures. According to John Evans, a rapprochement between the international trade unions would benefit the workers in the present context of globalisation. He pointed out that the OECD, under the pressure of the TUAC, is attaching increasing importance to the trade union rights when its expansion is at issue (eg South Korea). In conclusion he asked the WCL to continue and extend the contacts.
TopOn 8 April 1999, the Ukrainian parliament began discussions on a new law on trade unions. This new law, which is being pushed through parliament by the communist majority, not only violates the Ukrainian constitution but also several provisions of ILO conventions 87 and 98 which have been ratified by Ukraine. Moreover, it hampers the action of democratic and independent trade unions such as the VOST, our affiliate in Ukraine. The draft law enables employers to become members of the workers organisations, places restrictions on the rights of workers to freely establish and join organisations of their own choosing, encourages the interference of the government in trade union activities, etc. The VOST has succeeded in blocking the passage of the bill twice through its concerted campaign. However we have just been informed by VOST that on Wednesday 15th September, this anti-democratic law will once again be discussed in parliament. The WCL has addressed the Ukrainian authorities to express its concern about the new law on trade unions; it has urged them to see to it that the new law is fully in line with the international labour standards of the ILO.
The WCL has followed closely the evolution of the events in East Timor and taken action in consultation with its contacts in Indonesia. It exerted pressure on the United Nations Security Council to send without delay a UN peacekeeping force in order to restore peace in East Timor and to disarm the Indonesian militias and soldiers. The WCL also insisted on bringing to justice all those involved in the acts of violence and on lending immediately humanitarian emergency aid in combination with a long-term development project.
TopIt is our sad duty to inform you that our former colleague, André Delaveau,
died on 29 August 1999 at the age of 80. He worked for a long time at the WCL
secretariat, based at the time in the rue Joseph II. Many people will remember
André Delaveau. He was chairman of the Fédération des fonctionnaires de la
fonction publique CFTC-CFDT. Then he was appointed general secretary of
Eurofedop, where he continued the work of François Staedelin, his predecessor
at the secretariat of the organisation.
André Delaveau was a very open man, a worker, a colleague much appreciated for
his human qualities. He spoke with a lot of authority in the Council of Europe
and the EEC. In the struggle for the workers' rights, his dynamism and
enthusiasm were always particularly devoted to the protection of the civil
servants' interests. In the early 1980s, he left Eurofedop to enjoy a
well-deserved retirement. The WCL offered its condolences to his wife and family.
May he rest in peace!
TopIn view of the current evolution of the political situation in Venezuela, where its head office is established, the CLAT has published a declaration on the current events in this country. In the opinion of the CLAT, prudence is called for, because we are witnessing here a delicate evolution towards a supposedly more democratic, more participatory and more social regime that will see arise new political, social and trade union actors as well as new managers. It seems to be a favourable evolution, yet one that holds a number of uncertainties which, according to the CLAT, make a final diagnosis impossible. Our Latin American regional organisation is keeping a close eye on the talks about a new Constitution, which have been correct so far. Though the Venezuelan process has special characteristics, the CLAT remains vigilant on account of the multiple experiences confronting several Latin American and Caribbean countries.
TopThe WCL has written to the governor of the Province of Santiago del Estero after having been informed of the imminent oral and public judgement to which Mrs Alba Luna Aguirre de Castillo, trade union leader, will be submitted. She has been accused of mismanagement of trade union assets. This person, who has won a very great prestige both at national and at international level and who is the symbol of the women's struggle in Argentina, has fallen prey to threats by "unknown" people. Their acts are attempts at trade union persecution and violate the personal guarantees. According to the WCL and the ATE (Asociacion Trabajadores del Estado), of which she is a member, this trade union leader has to be protected by the international standards, among which ILO Convention no 87, which Argentina has ratified. Both organisations are examining the possibility of filing a complaint with the ILO.
Top4-8/10 Macedonia and WCL liaison office (Romania)
7/10 WFIW miners Luxemburg
7-15/10 Technical mission India/Pakistan
9-11/10 FIOST Board Sofia (Bulgaria)
15-16/10 Contribution of civil society to European construction (Economic and
Social Committee) Brussels (Belgium)
6-9/10 2nd European Health Forum Gastein (Austria)
13/10 Trade Action Committee (TAC) Brussels (Belgium)
15/10 WFIW: celebration affiliate CGM Germany
11/10 FCG/ÖGB Congress
12-15/10 ÖGB Congress Vienna (Austria)
24/10 Infedop World Board
25/10 Executive Committee
26-28/10 WCL Confederal Board Washington
29/10 Executive Committee
25-28/10 ILO Tripartite Meeting on the Human Resource Implication Geneva (Switzerland).
CMT - WCL - WVA - TELE FLASH is a two-weekly information bulletin
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