Open World Conference of Workers

In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights

 Presentation by Jack Henning, Secretary-Treasurer-Emeritus of the California Labor Federation (AFL-CIO)

Introductory Note

Following are major excerpts from the presentation by Jack Henning, Secretary-Treasurer-Emeritus of the California Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), to the March 25th report back meeting on the Berlin Conference Against Deregulation and For Labor Rights For All. [See previous OWC postings for a full report on the Berlin Conference.]

Henning, who is a member of the Continuations Committee of the Open World Conference, was unable to travel to Berlin on account of his ailing health, though he sent greetings. The report-back meeting was held at the Plumbers' Hall in San Francisco, Calif., on March 25 and attracted more than 100 trade unionists and activists. Henning's remarks were followed by a prolonged standing ovation from all the participants.

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Presentation by Jack Henning

Sisters and Brothers:

The greatest force against Global Capitalism is Global Unionism. At the same time, the greatest barrier to Global Unionism is Global Capitalism.

The trade union movement can and must be the basis for preserving and advancing civilized society through this Global Unionist effort. But we have to recognize that there are regretful flaws that have to be overcome.

In the 19th century, the word "international" came to be used in our trade union language. We had the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the International this, and the International that. But Global Unionism, true working class internationalism, was the last thing in the minds of these great titans of our trade union movement -- many of whom used the term "international" to describe their unions.

The truth is that the only justification for using this term was the relationship of our unions with Canada. The term "international" came into our language only because of the extension of our organized union structures into Canada.

We have made important strides since this time, thanks, in part, to the work of the committee before you today [the Continuations Committee of the Open World Conference-ed.].

But we have to be realistic. Despite the steps taken in recent years, the concept of Global Unionism is held only be minority within the trade union movement -- even if the term is bandied about more often now. And this is true despite the fact that Global Unionism represents the only hope for trade unionism and democracy in the difficult period ahead.

We still have an immense task before us. We cannot underestimate the challenge.

Capitalism penetrates all aspects of our lives and all the institutions that surround us. And capitalism identifies with the flag. The tragedy is that it identifies with every flag on earth.

Germany rose to power stirring that passion for nationalism. Hitler gave it a perverse twist, playing up the instinct of nationalism, national loyalty -- particularly as it pertained to conflict between nations.

Now look at the situation today -- how easily thousands and thousands were to ready to answer the call to arms after the assault by the forces of madness in New York City. There is an instinct, an identification with the nation, within every working person -- even though we have no power, and when I say we, I am speaking of the masses of working people in this country.

We have no power in directing the authority or direction of America. We have no power to speak of.

Working people are concerned with their immediate needs, their jobs and working conditions, their families. It is not a given that they can see the need for Global Unionism to fight for their interests -- especially when all the institutions around them are promoting and fueling this nationalism.

We have to be realistic: We don't have a trade union membership with a Global Unionist instinct. We must not forget this. As I said, we must not underestimate the enduring and terrible effects of nationalism. But nor can we abandon ourselves to this fact, simply because we have not yet found the response that we must forge.

It is therefore our responsibility -- particularly the responsibility of all of you here assembled -- to educate and create this awareness. That is the challenge before this great effort we have begun to put together through the San Francisco Labor Council and its trade union friends around the world in this Open World Conference. It is an immense task, but we must carry it out. It is our destiny.

While we cannot have any fanciful views of how and when we will attain our goal of a truly Global Unionism, we would be the cowards of history if we didn't set out to muster the forces of labor to make these enduring choices.

And let us be clear: No other forces will do what has to be done.

Don't look to capitalism to help us with our efforts to achieve a civilized globe. Hardly! Don't look to any of those who wield economic and political power. They're not with us. We must rely on our own independent forces of labor. We must rally the labor movement for the tasks ahead; only this way can we prevail. If not, we will know the fate of those who died in the Second World War and all the other wars.

We must educate ourselves and our union membership to the blindness of nationalism and the blindness of Global Capitalism. These forces cannot do anything to help our people. On the contrary.

We have to rely on ourselves, on the independent trade union movement, which, I am certain, will prevail and show the way forward to a civilized society.

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