The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)* recently held their Congress in India. Tgwu General Secretary, Randall Howard, who was elected onto the executive board, reports on the key issues coming out of the Congress.
Tgwu as a member of the Itf for the last 10 years, took part in the 39th Congress of the ITF in New Delhi, India from the 29 October – 5 November 1998.
This in itself was historic as it was the first time that a congress was held in the Asia / Pacific Region and a developing country.
The first key resolution adopted was against nuclear arms under the banner "STOP ARMS RACE, SAVE THE HUMAN RACE". The adoption was unanimous. It was preceded by an input from a victim of the nuclear bomb which the Usa dropped on Hiroshima in 1944.
International solidarity
Another key issue debated was international solidarity and how to build it more effectively among affiliates and transport workers across the world, particularly in the context of globalisation and its negative effects on the industry. Congress endorsed a strategic document as the basis of a programme to develop international solidarity.
The struggle of Western Australian dockers and the Maritime Union of Australia was hailed as an example of how effective practical solidarity can push back the agenda of capital and right-wing governments. Cosatu and its two transport affiliates -- Tgwu and Sarhwu -- played an important role in providing concrete solidarity action.
The role of transnational companies received a lot of attention in the globalisation debate. Delegates resolved that solidarity should be directed at these profit-seeking companies who have little or no regard for human and trade union rights, particularly in developing countries. In this regard, Congress also rejected the Multi Lateral Agreement on Investment adopted by the Oecd. This effectively gives international capital the right to hold governments to ransom in respect of claiming damages.
The elections were very significant politically. The new Itf President comes from the Asian Pacific Region. He is also the President of the biggest Union in India, the All India Railwaymens’ Union. This should ensure that the work of the Itf will not be dominated by a first world agenda.
Congress also elected the first woman vice President. She comes from Zimbabwe. Another vice president was elected from Nigeria. The African continent now has four seats on the Executive Board of the ITF, including myself. All in all Africa played quite an effective role in the Congress deliberations and was able to make important interventions.
The most serious challenge facing African transport workers now is to build strong, democratic and independent trade unions. We must build the capacity of our unions to both manage and sustain our unions financially. We must also build unions that are able to co-ordinate their policy development work and provide effective solidarity against right-wing employers, governments and dictatorships who do not respect human and trade union rights.
Apart from the fact that I returned with a "Delhi Belly" the conference was extremely successful from a political point of view. The ITS is excellent in mobilising solidarity and has a proven track record of defending workers the world over.
Randall Howard
General Secretary, Tgwu
The Itf is one of the International Trade Secretariats (ITS). These are giant federations of trade unions that unite trade unions from the same industry in all countries across the globe. Other important ITS that Cosatu affiliates are affiliated to are: Icem – the ITS for the chemical, energy, mining industry; Psi – the ITS for public servants worldwide; Imf – the metalworkers ITS.
OECD - 24 member countries. Its aims are to achieve the highest sustainable economic growth and employment; promote economic and social welfare troughout the OECD area; stimulate and harmonise its members' efforts in favour of developing countries. Has special committees that deal with economic policy; trade; environment; steel; industry amongst others.
Multilateral Agreement on Investment – this is a law that some of the OECD countries are trying to push through. If it is passed it will mean that companies will be able to sue governments for having laws that are more onerous than other countries. At the moment, a company in Canada is trying to sue the Canadian government saying that its environmental laws are much harsher than other countries and therefore it must compensate the company for having to spend so much on making its company ‘clean enough’ for Canada.
| In brief |
Germany
German metal workers are threatening strike action after employers offered them a 2% pay rise and a one-off payment of 0.5% of their basic salary. Workers wanted a 6.5% pay rise.
Employers' offer comes after a boom in company profits last year and after employers
gave themselves a 4.7% pay rise in 1998.
(Info from International Metalworkers Federation)
South Korea
Korean Metal Workers' Union President, Dan Byung-ho, has just been sentenced to 2 years in jail for his part in the 2-day strikes during 1998.
Commenting on the judge's sentence, the Union said that the judge seemed to be saying that the "strikes must be illegal because of Korea's recessionary economic times."
However, the Union believes that Korea's economic woes are more tied up with "the lack of manegerial transparency and reform of the chaebols" (giant Korean conglomerates), than unions' protest action.
The Union further accused the Korean government of double-speak. Early in January government announced it would recommend the release of trade unionists but a week later sentenced trade unionists to terms in jail and arrested others.
Workers have vowed to "fight and condemn government repression of the workers'
movement."
(Info from KMWF)
Swaziland
After poor turnout by voters at the elections held just recently, Swazi police raided Jan Sithole’s house, Swaziland Federation of Trade Union’s general secretary.
Sithole was surprised to find that the police had no search warrant. However, the police told him that under a recent amendment, any police officer from the rank of an Inspector can demand to search someone’s house, without a search warrant.
When Sithole questioned why they wanted to search his house, they said that he "was a suspect in the mysterious bomb blast on 28 October" and they wanted to try and clear his name.
After nearly 4 hours of searching and questioning, they took him off to Manzini police station. They continued to question him until late in the afternoon.
But what puzzled him the most, was that "99,9% of the questions asked, had no relevance or relation to the bomb blast which occurred on October 28," said Sithole.
They asked him questions such as: "Why do people whistle when you talk during meetings? Why do marshals hold an umbrella for you during meetings particularly when it is hot?"
Meanwhile, the Sftu is no closer to winning the demands it put to government last year.
Zimbabwe
Late last year, President Mugabe slapped a ban on all strikes until mid 1999. This was after protest action by Zimbabwean workers had forced the government to impose price controls on basic foodstuffs and petrol.
Now the Zimbabwean Congress of trade Unions is challenging the government in court saying that its ban "breeched workers' freedom of association.... and freedom of expression" as the Constitution. The challenge still has to be heard in court.
Meanwhile, workers seem set for more confrontation with government this year. Just recently, the Icftu reports, Zctu deputy general secretary was beaten unconscious by 3 men, 'one of whom is believed to be a policeman. The incident occured after he had been followed by 3 men in a car trough Harare. When he got out to ask them what they were doing, they beat him unconscious with an iron pole". This happened just after government detained, tortured and then released 2 journalists for writing a story about an attempted coup plot.
And now government has just announced that it will remove price controls to comply with the International Monetary Funds' (IMF) conditions on granting it much needed balance of payments aid. Since the beginning of 1998, the value of the Zimbabwe dollar has dropped by almost half against the US dollar, leaving the country and its people reeling from the effects of massive price rises.
Watch this space!
