CNV

From 03 – 08 November 2008 the World Organization of Workers organized its 31st World Congress on the Mediterranean Island of Malta. This event, which was the first as independent international federation in the private services, was very important for the further establishment of the World Organization of Workers as trade union.

After the merger WCL and ICFTU into ITUC the then World Federation of Clerical Workers, being part of the WCL structure, was left without umbrella organization. This left our organization with a lot of practical issues to solve. The Congress in Malta was therefore an important marker in time. The event was a confirmation of the decisions taken by the World and European board and gave confidence to our member-organizations that we will continue as independent trade union organization.

At the Congress, with as theme “Workers Sold Out”, there were trade union leaders from 32 countries worldwide. This very international group of people and unions have in the past two years been confronted with global developments on trade union level that are strongly influencing their organizations. The realization and consolidation of the World Organization of Workers was especially important for these countries and organizations that feel the pressures most. It was one of the reasons why the atmosphere during and after the meetings was so optimistic. There was a clear feeling of relief of still existing and an even stronger believe in a fruitful future.

The first two days of the Congress were reserved for the EZA Seminar. The focus was the Social Dialogue on the flexible European labour market. Specialists from Europe gave lectures on the various forms and levels of Social Dialogue. The third and fourth day were reserved for the International Seminar supported by CNV-Internationaal. On these days too, the country reports were interwoven in the program. The final day was the actual Congress day on which the formal decisions regarding the future of WOW were taken. The most important decisions of the Congress were the formal change of the name from World Federation of Clerical Workers into World Organization of Workers, the elections of both the European and World Board and the acceptance of the new Statutes and Principles.

Regarding the content of the Congress I feel that the invited speakers were of a high level, contributing to our work as trade unions on regional and global level. Workers in various regions of the world still face difficulties with regards to working-conditions, social security, work-and-life balance etc. The changing labour-contracts (more temporary work, part-time work, self-employed workers) often result in problematic societal adaptations. These adaptations consequently affect the role of trade unions. It is our obligation as trade union organization, founded in the Social-Christian tradition, to assist where possible to provide solutions for these people. The Congress in Malta was a good means to spread our message. It is now the task of local trade union leaders to pick up and continue the work that we as WOW have started and are promoting.

For me personal the Congress was an eye-opener, since it was my first Congress ever in which I was responsible for the organization and daily activities. From the moment I started as Executive Secretary of the WOW, in February 2007, the discussions about the importance of this Congress to our members and as statement to the outside world who did not believe that there would be a future for an organization like ours, were continuous. With the sheer efforts and support of WOW President Roel Rotshuizen, EO/WOW President Günther Trausznitz and the assistance of WOW Board Member Piet Nelissen, and all others who I did not mention, we have been able to consolidate our organization and even make it stronger through the affiliation of new member-organizations.

The preparations for the Congress started approximately half a year ago when we organized our EO/WOW Board meeting in Malta. Thanks to the tremendous help of UHM, most profoundly UHM Secretary General Gejtu Vella, we have managed to organize a Congress of which the course went very well. The atmosphere among the participants was one of friendship and mutual respect and the discussions about the current trade union situation as well as the ideas of the member-organizations were all in cohesion regarding the future path of the WOW. It was a very positive event, where I felt that all trade union leaders shared the same believe and ideas.

The Congress in Malta was a tremendous support for my believe in people. I feel that if we all do the best we can to make changes, even be it small ones, that we are contributing enormously to the betterment of the working-conditions and thus the lives of workers around the globe. That is our main reason of existence. The World Organization of Workers exists by virtue of its member-organizations. We should never forget this. Together we have a bright future.

Bjørn van Heusden
Executive Secretary World Organization of Workers