The International Labour Movement ________________

The International Labour Movement

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International Labour Movement________________________________________________

What is the WTO and why does the ICFTU work with GUFs to bargain framework agreements with MNCs while being concerned about EPZs and PRSPs?


The labour movement consists of: – organizations such as unions, labour councils, federations

and congresses,

– plus organizations which support unions with activities aimed specifically at union members such as co-operatives and some non-governmental associations (NGOs), and

– individuals who work to support the goals of labour organizations.


Labour education● Union education is educational activity conducted by labour

organizations (unions, branches, labour councils, federations and congresses) for their members.

● Labour studies refers to post-secondary courses and programmes which focus on labour and the working class.

● Labour education encompasses union education, labour studies and other non-vocational activities aimed at unionists.

● Worker's education refers to non-vocational education for all workers, unionized or not.


National Unions and Federations

● Local unions or branches represent workers in one or more workplaces

● National unions represent multiple local unions or branches

● Federations (labour centrals) represent multiple national unions


International Confederations(International federations of national unions)

● International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)

– 231 affiliated organizations in 150 countries

– 158 million members● World Congress of Labour (WCL)

– 26 million members● World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)


ICFTU Regional Organizations

● AFRO (Africa)

– 13 million members and 53 affiliates in 44 countries● ORIT (North and South America)

– 45 million members and 33 affilates in 29 countries● APRO (Asia-Pacific)

– 30 million members and 40 affiliates in 28 countries


Global Union FederationsEI - Education International

IMF - International Metal Workers' Federation

ICEM - International Federation of Chemical, Energy and Mine Workers

PSI - Public Services International

UNI - Union Network International


Global Union FederationsITGLWF - International Textile, Garment and Leather

Workers' Federation

IFBWW - International Federation of Building and Wood Workers

IUF - International Union of Food...

ITF - International Transport Federation

IFJ - International Federation of Journalists


Regional Organizations

ETUC - European Trade Union Confederation

OATTU - Organization of African Trade Union Unity

SPOCTU - South Pacific Oceania Council of Trade Unions


Other Organizations

TUAC - Trade Union Advisory Committee (OECD)

APLN - Asia Pacific Labour Network (APEC)

FES - Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

JILAF - Japan Labour Foundation

Solidarity Centre - AFL-CIO international foundation


International Labour Organization

● UN specialized agency which legally declares

international labour rights

● Founded 1919

● 175 members states

● 1969 Nobel Peace Prize

● Operates in tripartite manner: gov'ts, employers, unions

● All international labour confederations represented



● Annual Conference of representatives sets policies

● Governing Body acts between conferences

● Workers' Group consists of all labour delegates



● International Labour Office acts as secretariat

● ACTRAV – supports labour organizations

● ACTRAV – Turin: educational branch of ACTRAV


ILO Annual Conference● Ultimate decision-making body of the Organization

● Each country sends four delegates:

Governments: 2

Employers: 1

Labour Organizations: 1● Meets every June in Geneva


ILO Governing Body ● Acts between annual conferences

● Consists of:

Governments 28 members

Employers 14

Labour organizations 14● Meets three times a year

● Workers representatives elected from

ICFTU, WCL, OATTU list● Elects ILO Director-General (Juan Somavia)


ILO Workers' Group● Consists of all labour delegates

● Elects a President and Secretary

● Secretary represents Group between Conferences


ACTRAV● Part of ILO secretariat

● Works to develop capacities of labour organizations, especially in developing countries

● Headed by Director (Jim Baker)

● 37 professional staff (18 Geneva; 19 in regional offices)

● ACTRAV- Turin

– Labour education branch of ACTRAV

– 6 labour educators

– 12 residential courses in Turin plus other activities


ILO Activities

Decent Work

International Labour Standards● Conventions● Recommendations


ILO Core Conventions● Freedom of Association

# 87 - Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize (1948)

# 98 - Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining (1949)

● Abolition of forced labour

# 29 - Forced labour (1930)

# 105 - Abolition of Forced Labour (1957)


ILO Core Conventions● Equality

# 100 - Equal Remuneration (1951)

# 111 - Discrimination - Employment and Occcupation (1958)

● Elimination of Child Labour

# 138 - Minimum Age (1973)

# 182 - Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999)


ILO Conventions

Labour EducationConvention # 140 – Paid Educational Leave

● “leave granted to a worker for educational purposes for a specified period during working hours, with adequate financial entitlements”.

● Union education specified as one of the purposes of PEL

● 33 ratifications


ILO Declaration onFundamental Principles and Rights at Work

● Freedom of Association and collective bargaining

● Elimination of forced labour

● Abolition of child labour

● Elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation

All ILO members states are obliged to respect the fundamental principles related to rights at work whether or not they have ratified the relevant Conventions


Follow-up to the Declaration

● Annual review of countries which have not ratified one or more of the four categories related to fundamantal rights

● Began a series of annual reports outlining the state of affairs related to the four categories in all countries.

The International Labour Movement

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Documents

The International Labour Movement ________________