People's Democracy

15TH WORLD TRADE UNION CONGRESS IN HAVANA

M K Pandhe

THE 15th World Trade Union Congress held in Havana, capital of Cuba, on December 1-4, 2005 brought together over 600 participants from more than 80 countries. The Centre of Cuban Trade Unions (CTC) which hosted the congress made excellent arrangements for the delegates and observers and effectively intervened in formulation of policies of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

The Indian delegation consisted of 60 members, of which the CITU contingent was 17. The delegates from Pakistan and Indonesia could not participate in the congress due to the refusal of European countries to grant them transit visa facilities. The participants in the congress consisted of more observers than delegates indicating wider response received even beyond the affiliated organisations. An overwhelming majority of the participants were from developing countries. Representatives from some of the ICFTU affiliated unions also joined the congress and actively participated in the discussions during the congress.

Pedro Ross, general secretary of CTC, in his welcome speech elaborated the steps taken by the Cuban trade unions to improve the standard of living of the working class and the people of Cuba. He pointed out the role played by the working class of Cuba in building a strong socialist economy. Explaining the role of US imperialism and its attempt to strangulate Cuban economy by its inhuman blockade, Ross narrated the struggle of the people under the valiant leadership of Fidel Castro to meet the challenges of US imperialism.

While highlighting the need for building unity of the working class in the common struggle against the onslaughts of finance capital, Ross emphasised the need for rejuvenating the WFTU as a militant organisation of the working class to strengthen the class struggles all over the world. "More and more action orientation is needed if the WFTU has to discharge its responsibilities in the present world situation", asserted Ross. In conclusion he expressed the hope that the congress would pave the way for a new worldwide unity of the class conscious working class in the worldwide struggle for social justice.

Alexander Zharikov, general secretary of WFTU, presented a report reviewing the international situation and the struggles being carried all over the world against the policies of globalisation. He also presented before the congress a review of activities conducted by the WFTU since the 14th congress held in New Delhi five years ago.

Zharikov noted the negative attitude of the ICFTU in building unity of the trade union movement at a global level to oppose the policies of global finance capital.

Reports of five regional committees of the WFTU were presented by the respective convenors who elaborated the work done in different continents to protect the interests of the working class. The leaders of the Trade Union Internationals also presented reports of their activities. Sukomal Sen, general secretary, TUI of Public Employees, submitted a report of the activities of the TUI during the last five years. A representative of All China Federation of Trade Unions conveyed greetings to the Congress on behalf of 11 crore membership of Chinese Trade Unions. He emphasised the need for strengthening the international cooperation of trade unions to protect the interests of the working class. The representative of the ILO conveyed greetings on behalf of the Director General who argued for collective efforts to introduce decent work all over the world.

Over 80 speakers spoke on the report of the general secretary who explained the struggles conducted by the working class in their countries against the policies of globalisation. Every speaker, including a US delegate, condemned the inhuman blockade against Cuba and congratulated the Cuban people for their heroic struggle against US imperialism. About 40 delegates who gave their names could not be accommodated due to want of time.

M K Pandhe, president of CITU, greeted the congress on behalf of CITU and stressed the urgent need to revitalise the WFTU. Venugopal, general secretary of All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) explained the struggles conducted by the Insurance Employees along with other sections of the working class to oppose the World Bank dictated policies in India.

UPSURGE IN LATIN AMERICA

Several rousing speeches were made in the congress by the participants from Latin American countries who expressed anguish against depredations by US imperialists and CIA which imposed poverty and destitution on the vast majority of their population. A reflection of the growing ferment in Latin America where working class and the people are increasingly coming in direct actions to oppose the machinations of US imperialism was found in these speeches. The growing influence of Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil and Uruguay on the working class of Latin America was clearly reflected in the speeches of the participants. Latin America, which was once a bulwark of US imperialism, is now once again becoming a stronghold of anti-imperialist movement. The delegates outside the American continent were deeply inspired by these developments.

Rieardo Alareon, president of the Cuban National Assembly, conveyed warm greetings to the congress on behalf of the Cuban government. In his forthright speech he condemned the draconian policies of US imperialism all over the world and called for an international movement to defeat the conspiracies of the Bush administration.

Alareon explained in detail the case of five Cuban patriots – Rene Gonzalez, Antonio Guerroro, Fernando Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez and Ramon Labanino – who have been falsely implicated on criminal charges and convicted to long term imprisonment. They are not even allowed to meet their family members. The whole trial was a sheer farce and no concrete evidence could be produced in the Miami Court.

Alazeon appealed to the WFTU to launch a world wide campaign against the gross injustice done to the Cuban patriots and demanding their immediate, unconditional release. After his speech the delegates gave slogans condemning US imperialism.

The participants visited the Latin American Institute of Medical Sciences in Havana during the congress. The institute is training about 12000 doctors free of cost from the Latin American countries. The participants were also shown a film depicting the help given by the Cuban doctors to the Latin American countries in extending medical facilities to the poor people.

The congress adopted about 30 resolutions expressing solidarity with the struggling people all over the world. They included resolutions on Iraq, Iran, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, Nigeria and other countries where imperialists are conspiring against the people of those countries. The congress condemned the blockade of Cuba despite various UN resolutions and demanded its immediate withdrawal. It further demanded the release of the five patriotic citizens of Cuba who have been illegally detained in USA. By another resolution, the congress condemned the Australian government for adopting laws to suppress the TU rights of the workers.

The congress gave a call for observing the May Day in 2006 as a day against globalisation and against imperialist conspiracies all over the world. It was agreed to approach trade unions of all affiliations to join the observations so that the voice of the entire working class is powerfully heard all over the world.

CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL UNITY AND STRUGGLE

The congress adopted a Declaration, ‘Havana Consensus’, which emphasised that "we are convinced that we can be victorious only through struggle and unity."

It noted, "The aggravations of the economic crisis of which financial crime is the engine, offers no alternatives for capital than to continue to exercise pressure on labour. In fact, the logic of profit maximisation underpinning the strategy and practices of transnational corporations, IMF, World Bank, structural adjustment programme, WTO free trade areas, unilateralism, corrosive measures, sanctions and blockades, and imperialist wars imposed on the peoples and their states, have destabilised international relations and multilateralism. It has increased inequalities to the detriment of the sovereign rights of the peoples and nations, their right to self-determination and control over their national wealth and resources, their environment, their culture and the fundamental rights of the minorities.

The declaration appealed for world wide unity of the working class to fight these policies of globalisation. Stressing the need to strengthen the resistance against the onslaughts of capital, it emphasised, "There is a broad range of economic and social objectives in respect of which trade union organisations share the same approach. This is true for the struggle against unemployment and for full employment, for the elimination of exploitation, poverty and misery, for the nationalisation and development of public services, against privatisation and relocation, for the improvement of real wages for a high level of social protection, respect for collective bargaining and labour legislation as well as respect for labour and trade union rights."

Pointing out the need for the struggle against imperialism, the declaration observed, "The politics of capital is inseparable from the aggressiveness and brutality that characterise imperialism at the international level. The blackmail against terrorist threats cannot mask the extractions, massacres and pillage carried out by the first terrorist state of the world. The US administration violates international law with total impunity, makes unilateralism the basis of its international relations and behaviour, engages in ‘preventive wars’ and overtly threatens a number of states with military intervention. This is intolerable attitude that we condemn… and is being increasingly rejected as recently demonstrated by the vote of the United Nations General Assembly condemning the inhuman and barbaric blockade against Cuba".

The declaration concluded "The participants of the XVth World Trade Union Congress commit themselves to widely disseminating the present consensus so as to promote, with combativeness and conviction, this contribution of the congress towards building a vital international trade union movement crucial for our epoch for the victories of workers struggles, and for realisation of their dreams."

The congress elected Mohammed Shabam Assouz (Syria) as president and George Markikos (Greece) as the general secretary of the WFTU.