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Trade unionists must join forces with the rest of the global movement against capitalism, says Wilhelm Haberzettl

Even before the start of last year’s event, it was clear that not everybody was happy with the decision for a trade union to participate in the second World Social Forum. The idea that the majority of the anti-globalisation movement is prepared to use violence – while their organisational structures are chaotic – has taken root in many people’s minds and created a lot of resistance.

Pictures we have seen in the media of the violent incidents involving a small minority of participants at the protests surrounding the international meetings of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), G7 and World Bank (in Seattle, Prague, Salzburg and so on) have left a deep impression. This even went so far as to raise widespread doubts as to whether the World Social Forum should go ahead.

All the more reason to stand up and talk about it! A first look at the website (www.forumsocialmundial.org.br) provided us with sufficient evidence that the power of opposition against neo-liberal globalisation, generated by the event, was a force to be reckoned with. And the subjects chosen for the more than 800 meetings, seminars and workshops demonstrated the vital importance of this movement for the trade unions (possibly for their survival) in advocating fair globalisation.

The activities of neo-liberal global institutions, such as the WTO, International Monetary Fund and NAFTA, affect the core aspects of trade union work. And if nobody stops the richest individuals, and the big multinational companies, in their efforts to redesign the world according to monetary principles alone, then labour and social regulations, human and environmental rights are threatened to such an extent that they might suffer irreparable damage.

Discussion on these issues must be part and parcel of their day-to-day work for all trade unions. Enormous efforts must be made to create awareness and educate officials as well as members at the grassroots level. Each and every union must be prepared to cooperate with each and every NGO in the framework of a worldwide network. And we must all recognise that dividing lines are becoming increasingly blurred. “There is a first world to every third world and a third world to every first!” – these are the words of Claus Offe, a German academic, and that, really, says it all.

Openness instead of isolation

What can a trade union member and what can our organisation learn from this event? Once more we have realised that isolated action is doomed to failure in a world like the one we live in. Openness vis-à-vis potential allies with similar or identical interests is an urgent necessity and reflects the spirit of Globalising Solidarity, the work programme adopted by the ITF Congress in August 2002.

By participating in the World Social Forum and preparing the ground for alliances with anti-globalisation organisations we have taken a deliberate and determined step not just towards mutual solidarity but also towards developing a political strategy. In her presentation at the forum Naomi Klein, author and journalist, highlighted the power that unions can bring to an alliance with the global movement.

“For the WTO,” she said, “ the real danger starts when an alliance is formed with the trade unions, because then the movement’s organisational structures would reach right into the workplace and thus provide a direct channel for protest.”

Unions need alliances

At the WTO, negotiations have entered a critical stage (submission of offers and demands by March 2003). I tried, at the ITF Congress, to highlight the need for the trade union movement to develop a policy of building strategic alliances.

But co-operation will also add value even to our day-to-day work at the national level as transport unions, as well as at the international level as ITF. Solidarity is no one way street! Therefore it may be important for the ITF to inform a great number of interested WSF participants and discuss with them at special workshops the ITF’s own worldwide campaigns and Days of Action. These examples of international action show that campaigns – just like trade union activities – can often be successful and effective only if they gain the positive support of the general public.

In January 2003 there is another chance to participate in the World Social Forum. Just as in previous years, the World Social Forum is meeting in Porto Alegre to discuss the globalisation of democracy, of workers’ and human rights, and to develop global strategies. This time, continent-wide regional meetings have been organised in the run-up to the event. We will have to wait and see how far the labour movement is able to contribute to this bridge-building effort. It is possible to create a different kind of world!

Wilhelm Haberzettl is President of the Gewerkschaft der Eisenbahner (GDE) in Austria, Vice-President of the ITF, and President of the ETF.