CNV

Dear Friends,

Just a few more days and then 2011 lies behind us. A year that has been very strenuous and difficult. Throughout the world the effects of the financial and economic crisis are felt. The current crisis shows us that we live in a world where the financial and economic markets are more than ever interconnected. This will lead to challenges that we will have to overcome together. And I am more than certain that we will!

When we look at the developments within the World Organization of Workers – WOW we see that we again have managed to enlarge our circle of friends in 2011. This is a clear sign that what we are doing is well-regarded and respected. WOW is more and more becoming a force to be recognized. There are various reasons for this. The first and foremost reason are our principles. These are the backbone of our work and of our vision. And it is a strong attracting force. A second reason is that many trade unions are unsatisfied with how things are currently going. They have lost the feeling of attachment and are looking for a way to retrieve this. Another reason is the respectful manner in which we treat our member-organizations. We are never telling them what they should do. They are autonomous entities. What we can do is to try and give them advice and support them in the best possible way. Subsidiarity is an important part of our believe. 

Apart from the challenges on world-level, 2012 will also be a challenging, but interesting, year for the World Organization of Workers. This year we will organize our four-yearly 32nd Statutory Congress, which will be the second time under our new name. 

Next years  Congress will be held in Vancouver, Canada from 12 – 14 September. Thanks to our colleagues from the Christian Labour Association of Canada – CLAC we will be able to organize the Congress here. The first organizational matters have been dealt with, but there will be many more issues to be taken care off. And for this we will need your support, remarks and observations too. We want to further professionalize and profile ourselves, but we cannot do this alone. I am expecting your help. Together we can come to the best possible results. I am certain that you will do your utmost to further our organization and to make this the best possible Congress ever. I am already looking forward to welcoming you at our Congress.

But let us not rush into things. There is a long period before the Congress. A time that will be challenging, interesting, and demanding. A time also with sometimes a tear, but hopefully more so a smile. Starting with Christmas and the New Year. 

On behalf of the Board of the WOW I would like to wish you a very nice Holiday Season. I hope you will be able to spend this with the people close at the heart. It is at these days that we should remember the importance of having people around who you care about and who care about you. In all honesty this should be the case always and throughout the year. If you surround yourselves with these people and you are able to do the things you like you may consider yourselves fortunate people.

Once again a very Merry Christmas and a truly Happy New Year. That all good may befall on you!

Roel Rotshuizen – president of the World Organization of Workers – WOW