CNV

A European seminar, a World seminar and a Congress; all in one week and all, not just in a very good atmosphere, but also with good speakers, good discussions, and participants who enjoyed working throughout week. With the results of the seminars and the Congress, the World Organization of Workers has paved the road to work hard and serious, the next four years, for the benefit of our member organizations. It was really a unique congress with unique results.

The situation was rather a strange one. On the one hand it was the 31st Congress of the former WFCW and on the other it was the 1st Congress of structurally the same organization, but now under a new name and in a completely new setting.

The World Organization of Workers is now a completely independent international trade union organization. The Congress has taken the decision to change the Statutes, the Principles and the name.

This Congress has formally ended the period of rediscovering, reconsidering and rebuilding our European and World organization. We can now leave the past behind and look towards the future.

It was clear that all the organizations that were present at the Congress had the same goal and intention: Let’s make things better for our members and our member-organizations. The Congress showed that all believed in this aim.

In the adopted Declaration of Principles, in the Statutes and in the work-plan it was very clear:

• the WOW wants to organize good and professional trainings to fruitfully benefit to workers around the world;
• wants to be very active in the lobby-activities on European level and on Global level;
• wants to set up projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America;
• and wants to practice solidarity.

It was very positive to see that there were no discussions anymore about the new Declaration of Principles or the new Statutes. Although everyone had the chance to present amendments, the continental organizations’ main focus was on their plan of action for the coming four years. The theoretical discussions were over and less important; the practical issue ‘how are we to realize our goals?’ was the main focus and main topic of discussion.
During the Congress we have collectively taken the decision that all the continental organization are going to work out their plans for the next four years, and before the end of this year, the secretariat will unite all those different plans into one overall plan for the World Organization of Workers.

Personally I look back on a very good Congress, with colleagues who were open to listen to each other and to help each other where possible. A Congress where everybody was actively involved. A Congress where I felt amongst friends. I look back on the best Congress ever!

Roel Rotshuizen
President World Organization of Workers