A new international trade union confederation is born

A new trade union international, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) was officially formed in the Founding Congress in Vienna on November 1-3. The new ITUC comprises the affiliated organisations of the former International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and World Confederation of Labour (WCL), together with eight other national trade union organisations that for the first time affiliate to a global body.

The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 154 countries and territories and has 306 national affiliates, including the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions - SAK, the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees &#;8211 STTK, and the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland – AKAVA.

The Congress elected Guy Ryder, the former General Secretary of the ICFTU, to the post of ITUC General Secretary. Sharan Burrow, the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, was elected to the post of ITUC President. SAK President Lauri Ihalainen was elected for the General Council, which comprises of 70 members. The General Council meets once a year and steers the ITUC’s work between Congresses, which occur every four years.

More information on the ITUC can be found at www.ituc-csi.org.