Congress pledges more global action

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AT ITS 41ST CONGRESS IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, IN AUGUST THE ITF COMMITTED ITSELF TO FURTHER ESCALATE ITS CAMPAIGNING ACTIVITIES IN AN INCREASINGLY GLOBALISED WORLD

Congress is the ITF’s supreme decision making body. During its deliberations,from 2 to 9 August, 1,194 participants from 387 unions mandated the organisation to carry out a strategic programme entitled Organising Globally: Fighting for our Rights during the next four years. This programme (approved by the adoption of three linked resolutions) commits the ITF to developing and exploiting the strengths of international solidarity – especially given transport workers’ key role in globalised supply chains.

The organising globally programme will initiate new campaigns and organising projects,targeting specific companies, strategic supply chains, strategic transport hubs and specific industrial groups. Key to this will be a process, already begun, of mapping out union presence and identifying targets for organising. The programme will also set out to equip unions to challenge the international financial institutions, especially by developing alternatives to privatisation and liberalisation, and by developing strategies to respond to the emergence of regional economic blocs.

Valued campaigners
Some of the ITF’s most valued campaigners and former servants were honoured during the final session of Congress.

A dedicated internationalist
Umraomal Purohit has been active in the Indian trade union movement for over five decades.

The programme commits the ITF to more work to build alliances with the wider social movements that challenge neo-liberal globalisation and its affects on labour and human rights. It envisages practical action by unions to adapt themselves to organise new workers.The ITF and its affiliates will be focusing on strategic employers and key groups of workers– including traditionally unorganised groups such as informal, casual and self employed workers – in their education and campaigning work.

Other decisions

A resolution aimed at strengthening the ITF’s internal organisation considered the impact of the organising globally strategy on the ITF secretariat, and called for a review,aiming to minimise duplication of resources, maximise resources and evaluate progress across the ITF in implementing a strategy.

The congress saw the launch of a campaign to ensure decent work conditions in ports worldwide (see pages 25-28). Delegates also voted unanimously to initiate a worldwide campaign against HIV/AIDS, which will be launched on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2006.

Other initiatives taken at the ITF congress included:

The election of Satawu (the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union) general secretary Randall Howard as the ITF’s new president.
The setting up of My ITF, a new electronic notification service designed to keep members informed of key issues in the global transport industry (see page 5).
The endorsement of the first ever continent-wide framework for civil aviation across Africa.
Support for a 12-month research project into fatigue in the civil aviation industry.
An emergency resolution condemning the conflict in the Middle East (which was then ongoing) and calling for an immediate ceasefire. It also supported humanitarian efforts, called on the ITF to assist transport workers’ unions in the Lebanon with reconstruction and recovery of damaged infrastructure, and stated that lasting peace would only be ensured in the Middle East through the implementation of UN resolutions and the full implementation of a two state solution for Israel and Palestine through the "Road Map for Peace".
Another emergency resolution was passed backing the ITF and ICFTU’s campaign against the government of Iran’s abuses of workers’ rights, and demanding the release of imprisoned trade unionist Mansour Osanloo of the Vahed bus workers’ union. In the last 10 minutes of the congress delegates received the news that he had finally been freed.
A motion on youth secured a commitment to begin ITF activities for young workers.
Congress awarded Gold Badges for distinguished service in the international trade union movement (see "Valued campaigners").

During its final Plenary Session congress condemned terrorist attacks on civilians in Mumbai, London and Madrid and commended the professional and courageous response of emergency services and transport staff.

Other resolutions called:

Affiliated unions to support investment in companies that respect human and trade union rights.
For the ITF and its affiliates to prioritise the participation of women throughout their organisations.
For the ITF to promote further engagement with Chinese transport workers.
For initiatives to strengthen trade union rights in Pakistan.

In his closing address the newly re-elected ITF general secretary David Cockroft thanked the Satawu trade union for its help in organising the huge congress, and said: "This has been the biggest, most effective and representative congress in ITF history. The over 100 countries represented here want the ITF to be an even more action-oriented organisation."

"We have taken decisions on organising and on fighting for trade union rights that will strengthen transport unions everywhere."– For a comprehensive list of Congress resolutions, including all resolutions of the industrial sectors, see www.itfglobal.org/congress/resolutions.cfm

Welcome for trade union unity move

Congress unanimously voted to accept members of FIOST –another, smaller, international federation for transport unions– into membership of the ITF. Against the background of the new trade union international confederation being created by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the World Confederation of Labour and a number of other national union centres, the move is being seen as an important step towards unity in the trade union movement.

ITF general secretary David Cockroft said: “FIOST and the ITF both represent free transport unions. We want to bring FIOST into the ITF family. We have many relationships with international financial institutions, UN bodies and so on. If we have one voice, things will be easier for us. The trade union movement is under attack, and we have to fightback. Being more united will help us.”

Michael Bovy, president of FIOST said: “Finally we have found a way of uniting workers. We should see it as a principle, making unions stronger, not weaker. We need a global programme to work together, as transport workers.”

Randall Howard is new ITF president

The first ITF Congress to be held in Africa ended with the election of its first president from Africa – Satawu general secretary Randall Howard.

In his speech Howard, who replaces outgoing president Umraomal Purohit, stated:"Satawu (the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union) recognises that our international work has strategic importance for our movement. There is recognition thatthe most effective way to challenge global capitalis through global organising and trade union work."

Howard pointed to the process of unity and consolidation now underway between the ITF and the smaller transport workers’ grouping FIOST. He said: "This will give transport trade unions globally an even better voice under one organisation, which can challenge employers more effectively.

"I am looking forward to seeing the ITF expanding with new memberships following this process of unity, and also because of our renewed commitments to recruitment and organising, particularly of women and young workers."

Howard was anxious to acknowledge and recognise the role that has been played by the ITF’s outgoing president, Umraomal Purohitof the AIRF Indian railway workers’ federation,who has retired after eight years in office:

"He has given great leadership, and allowed space for debate, allowing delegates to speak their minds openly. His tolerant approach has been important. We are not a homogenous organisation. We need to have the ability to debate hard questions, but still arrive at resolutions that can have real impact."

One of his priorities would be to support the ITF women’s programme. "We need to become more deliberate about the advancement of women," he said. "We want to improve their involvement in trade unions and ITF structures, and their representation in leadership positions."

Referring to the ITF’s commitment to aworldwide anti-HIV/AIDS campaign, he concluded:"The resolution we have adoptedbuilds on our previous work on HIV/AIDS, andwe must now intensify our efforts. In 2010, wemust be able to report back to the next congressabout what we have done, not on why wedidn’t do it. The ITF must invest a lot more intothat struggle, as effectively as we can."

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Issue 25 October 2006

Other pages for Congress pledges more global action:
Valued campaigners | Umraomal Purohit

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