ICTFU General Secretary Guy Ryder: Yesterday’s methods won’t solve tomorrow’s problems!
News from the 17th SAK Congress
The global trade union movement will make history this autumn when the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions - ICFTU, the World Confederation of Labour and some other like-minded organisations establish the new united International, ICFTU General Secretary Guy Rider announced at the 17th SAK Congress in Helsinki on Tuesday.
Ryder said that the Finnish trade union movement had provided a superb example of how a centralised collective bargaining system coupled with high levels of social protection and public spending could deliver economic success, high productivity and social cohesion.
He felt that the international trade union movement should promote the Finnish model with as much enthusiasm as the movement&#;8217s opponents showed for the notorious New Zealand model in the mid-1990s. This model became a symbol for marginalising the trade unions, dismantling collective bargaining structures and creating a McJob economy.
“The New Zealand model failed and has fortunately been overturned. The Finnish model has a much better record of success,” Ryder enthused.
He also praised Finnish President Tarja Halonen for her work as Co-Chair of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation. The report of the World Commission was warmly welcomed by the ICFTU.
“The many valuable ideas and proposals from the Commission must now be implemented,” Ryder insisted. The Helsinki process launched by the Finnish government provides further opportunities to do this, as does Finland’s upcoming European Union Presidency.”
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