Open World Conference of Workers

WFTU and Workers' Rights

1) Presentation by Adib Miro, secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) from Syria, to the February 12 plenary session of the Open World Conference

2) Should World Trade Be an Avenue to Ensure Workers' Rights?  by OWC Organizing Committee member Alan Benjamin, reprinted from The Organizer newspaper.

1) Presentation by Adib Miro, secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) from Syria, to the February 12 plenary session of the Open World Conference

On behalf of the World Federation of Trade Unions, I have the great pleasure to convey our warm greetings of international solidarity to all the participants at this Conference, and to wish the Conference all success.

The WFTU highly appreciates the initiative taken by the Organizing Committee and in particular, the leaders of the California Federation of Labor, to convene this world conference of trade unionists to exchange views on the major challenges faced by the trade union movement in all countries at the beginning of the new century and the new millennium - and what we can do together to defend the rights and interests of the working people all over the world.

We would like to inform you that the WFTU is organizing from 25 to 28 March this year in Delhi, India, the 14th World Trade Union Congress, which is open to all trade union organisations and which will also review all the questions which are before your Conference.

The recent period has witnessed a veritable upsurge in the struggles of the working people on the key issues of their day-to-day existence as well as on the broader issues of global economic and social development. They fought against anti-labour, anti-union, anti-social and anti-people economic policies of neoliberal orthodoxy which were imposed in the name of globalisation, opening up, liberalisation and privatisation but, in effect, were destroying their jobs, attacking living standards and social standards.

They protested against the privatisation of public services and the liquidation of essential services for the community and the forced transfer of these services to the private monopolies for unrestricted exploitation for private profits. They fought against the policies that breed unemployment, poverty, destitution and social exclusion for millions of working people.

The working people, trade unions and all democratic forces forcefully raised the question: For whom and for what purpose do they impose global and regional economic integration? Evidence and experience confirm that the promoters and beneficiaries of the neoliberal model of globalisation are the transnational Big Business and Big Finance. Democracy, independence, national sovereignty, trade union rights, basic human rights and people's participation in the formulation and implementation of policies which directly affect their interests are not only ignored but are casualties of neoliberal globalisation.

These basic issues echoed on the streets of Seattle at the close of the last century - only a few weeks ago, where thousands of trade unionists and concerned citizens in the USA and from other countries - questioned the policies of the World Trade Organisation and demanded that world trade and economic exchanges take into account people's interests and not the super-profits of the transnational corporations.

Such workers' demands as for democratic and just alternative economic and social polices are being raised everywhere. We think that this important conference has to think over such issues in order to find a way out of the crises and defend workers' interests and trade union rights.

WFTU expresses its international solidarity with all the trade unionists from the United States and other countries that declared that trade and economic policies should have a social content. It is now widely demanded that such policies should be formulated not in secret at closed-door meetings of so-called experts from the World Trade Organisation but in full consultation with all States and with all organisations, including trade unions, representing world public opinion.

As trade unionists, participants at this Conference are most concerned about trade union rights that could be protected and promoted through the united efforts of effective, independent and democratic trade unions and through international trade union cooperation and solidarity. The upsurge of the trade union movement in various countries and the broad and united campaigns and struggles organised by them are accompanied by a ferocious attack on trade union rights.

This anti-union offensive has caused considerable decline in trade union representation, effectiveness and membership in several countries - a situation that leads to weakening the role and negotiating power of trade union organisations in defending trade union rights and the interests of working people.

In its World Labor Reports, the ILO shows that much of the numerical decline in terms of trade union membership is attributable to such economic factors as reduced public sector employment, heightened economic competition and a falling share of manufacturing industries in total employment. The report also stated that in some cases union membership is repressed "for political or investment considerations" and that some governments have "adopted a restrictive policy with regard to recognising unions in the hope of attracting foreign investment."

While determined actions are being taken in various countries to organise the unorganised and thus augment trade union membership, it has become clear that national laws should be strengthened to ensure that all employers respect trade union rights, in particular, ILO Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining, as well as other core conventions.

The WFTU is ready to support and is taking part in the international campaign for the ratification, implementation and enforcement of ILO conventions. The WFTU therefore proposes that new laws should be enacted in all member countries of the United Nations, to provide that all business corporations, private and public sector enterprises, include in their annual reports appropriate statements on their compliance with international labour standards. Institutions should be established for a "Social Audit" with authority to look into the social consequences of all economic decisions by all private and public sector enterprises, the transnational corporations as well as governmental institutions.

At the level of the ILO, the WTO and other forums, a lively debate is currently going on within the world trade union movement on the best ways to unite their forces and remove all misunderstanding and lack of clarity. The trade unions in the developing countries do need heightened solidarity on the part of trade unions in the industrially developed countries, particularly when the transnational corporations seek to confuse world public opinion on the real issues blocking international cooperation for economic development.

Oversimplifying the basic issues, leading figures and supporters of the "new world order" argue that state regulation and state intervention in the economy in public interest would be contrary to democratic principles and can even constitute a violation of basic human rights!

On the other hand, the trade unions and democratic forces have to continue their struggle and point out that the persistence and a further increase in mass poverty despite the tremendous development of productive forces which can satisfy all material and other basic needs of the world population, constitute the greatest violation of human rights as we enter the 21st century. This is, indeed, as the WFTU repeatedly pointed out, the greatest threat to the security and stability of nations and peoples at the present time.

The world economy cannot grow and world trade cannot develop when more than two-thirds of the world population are deprived of their purchasing power by the mechanisms of brutal exploitation, unequal exchange and other survivals of colonialism and neo-colonialism.

Trade unions in all countries came into being in order to eliminate exploitation of people by other people and this had to be achieved through sustained struggle for trade union rights and human rights, as well as for a just, New International Economic Order which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1974, based on the full participation of all member states of the UN on a full and equal basis and their collective efforts towards the elimination of all forms of unequal economic relations which still prevail today.

The shocking true story of the current epoch is that stock prices are boosted on the stock exchange by announcements of mass dismissals of workers from jobs. The perverted logic of perverted minds distorts reality and destroys the future of humankind.

The WFTU and its affiliates in 130 countries are in favour of greater international economic cooperation which can certainly accelerate global economic and social development and in the interest of all nations, states and peoples and each social partner in every society all over the world.

We believe that this Conference has also to pay particular attention to the development of solidarity actions in support of the struggles against increasing mass poverty and hunger, wars, blockades and economic sanctions which constitute the greatest violation of human rights.

We believe that this Conference is also called upon to support people's struggles for national liberation, self-determination of peoples, against military aggression and occupation and for human rights, the elimination of nuclear and other mass destruction weapons as well as for disarmament and for development and peace.

A stable political and economic situation in each country and all over the world is an essential condition to guarantee and promote national independence and democracy and, consequently, to build independent and democratic trade unions. The working people will be able to do so when they and their countries get sincere support to create an economic, political, social, cultural and legal environment that will help them to build and strengthen institutions of civil society, including active, effective and independent trade unions.

World trade does not measure up to its actual potential mainly because demand is inhibited by the falling purchasing power of the vast majority of the world population. Moreover, the outflow of resources from the developing countries resulting from declining terms of trade and the high cost of debt service to the foreign banks show up in their declining import capacity. Most developed countries have not fulfilled their commitment to devote 0.70 per cent of their GDP as Official Development Assistance (ODA). Moreover, the overall purchasing power of the working people, both in developed countries and developing countries is declining because of the decline in real wages. This is a major reason for the recession in several industrial sectors, which affects trade growth as well.

The voice of the trade union movement today is the voice of sanity and social progress. This voice can prevail if the trade union movement is united on its aims and objectives.

We appreciate all UN Summit Conferences but we have to remind that the NGOs, all sections of the international community and the trade unions demand that the first task of the United Nations and all member states is to seriously implement the agreed strategies and policies adopted at these conferences, i.e., to create jobs and eliminate unemployment and underemployment, end all discrimination against women and protect women's rights, fight against hunger and poverty, assure education for all, health services for all, housing for all and all human rights for all.

As per its statutes, the World Federation of Trade Unions declares its independence from governments, political parties and employers. This struggle for the independence of the movement is closely linked with the national independence of countries and their sovereignty as well as democracy, trade union rights and human rights.

No country can take upon itself to decide what economic or political structure another country can have. All sanctions and boycotts imposed to advance foreign policy objectives should be unconditionally lifted. People's right to national liberation should be respected. All military forces should be withdrawn from occupied territories.

We believe these and other basic principles of the United Nations Charter should be respected by all and that all international institutions should preserve their universal character so that these institutions become truly representative. We believe that all trends in the world trade union movement can agree on these matters, thus promoting greater united action and unity of trade unions of the world to defend trade union rights and advance social progress.

2) "Should World Trade Be an Avenue to Ensure Workers' Rights?"

[Note: The following article by OWC Organizing Committee member Alan Benjamin is reprinted from the Winter 1999-2000 issue of The Organizer newspaper.]

One of the main points made in the AFL-CIO's new packet titled "Workers' Rights at the World Trade Organization and in U.S. Trade Policy" is that the WTO is "uniquely positioned to enforce workers' rights."

The top AFL-CIO officers argue that the International Labor Organization (ILO) has no enforcement powers to deal with the issue of workers' rights in the global economy. "The ILO neither has nor seeks enforcement powers, making it all the more critical that international trade and financial organizations repair a trading system that now rewards those who abuse workers' rights."

The AFL-CIO statement continues: "The most efficient way to protect workers' rights is through a worldwide trading system that rewards or penalizes products depending upon how they are produced. For example, when companies use child labor and when governments repress independent unions, their goods would be subject to such trade restrictions as tariffs or import bans that would eliminate the profit gained by violating workers' rights."

On the face of it, the argument seems compelling.

True enough, the ILO has no enforcement powers. The reason for this is not hard to grasp. Under ILO procedure, the governments that ratify the ILO Conventions must enact national laws that correspond to the substance of the conventions. The implementation and enforcement, therefore, takes place at a national level. It is up to the organized working class and its political representatives in each country to demand that the laws are respected and enforced.

What about the argument concerning child labor? Will banning imports produced with child labor help eradicate this worldwide scourge?

This is not what the record shows.

The ban on imports with child labor into the United States and other industrialized countries does not affect the bulk of child labor that is taking place throughout the world. Amar Jeet Kaur, a delegate from India to the first session of the International Tribunal Against Child Labor, held in Mexico City in March 1995, explained that the Child Labor Deterrence Act in the United States affects only 8 percent of the products made with child labor in India; the remaining 92 percent are produced outside the export-oriented industries.

Jeet Kaur, who is the coordinator of the Child Labor Task Force of the All India Trade Union Congress, went on to denounce the Deterrence Act as a "weapon of commercial warfare" against India. "The U.S. government's main concern is to ban imports that compete with U.S. manufacturing. What is paramount is the protection of U.S. economic interests."

This argument echoes the strong objection raised - albeit for different reasons - by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir at the first WTO Ministerial Summit in Singapore in 1996. The prime minister spoke strongly against the inclusion of labor standards within the WTO, stating:

"It is obvious that the professed concern about workers' welfare is motivated by selfish interest. Sanctimonious pronouncements on humanitarian, democratic and environmental issues are likely to be motivated by a similar selfish desire to put as many obstacles as possible in the way of anyone attempting to catch up and compete with the West."

Both Jeet Kaur and Mahatir gave detailed accounts of how certain goods produced with child labor are allowed to be imported into the advanced capitalist countries while others are not. "It all depends on which industries these countries seek to protect," Jeet Kaur said. "It is unrealistic to think these tariffs or bans will be used for anything other than protectionist goals."

Another problem with this strategy, according to Jeet Kaur, is that it compels the workers and unions in India and elsewhere to place a clearance (or "social") label on the manufactured products, or else face losing their jobs. It is unacceptable blackmail, she said.

Yet another problem with making the deterrence of child labor depend on trade sanctions is that it simply relocates child labor from one country to another or one economic sector to another. As Jeet Kaur pointed out, "carpet production in India, which was hit by the import ban, was simply moved to Afghanistan, where legislation governing child labor is more elastic and hence not subject to the provisions of the Deterrence Act."

Moreover, a 1996 study produced by Oxfam, a British charity, reveals that of the 30,000 children thrown out of their jobs in the textile industry in Bangladesh in a two-year span as a result of U.S. boycott pressures, most ended up in far more dangerous employment: welding shops and prostitution.

The only real solution to child labor is for countries the world over to ratify, implement and fully enforce ILO Convention 138, which bans child labor altogether. And such a ban, as Convention 138 itself stipulates, must be accompanied by enforceable legislation, with no escape clauses, that establishes free and compulsory primary and middle-school education for all.

This approach, of course, is incompatible with the "trade liberalization" policies promoted by the WTO, IMF and World Bank. These institutions are imposing in every country Structural Adjustment Plans that slash state budgets for education, healthcare and welfare while promoting a mass privatization and deregulation drive that is creating widespread unemployment - all of which are the ideal breeding ground for child labor.

A solution to child labor and to all other such scourges requires abrogating the "free trade" agreements and defeating the global corporate agenda. That is the perspective offered by the Open World Conference in Defense of Trade Union Independence and Democratic Rights.