Tasks :
World Federation of Trade Unions – Presidential Council Meeting calls for
April 1, Day of Action Decisions of the Presidential Council Meeting held
in Cyprus on the 8-9, March,2009
Dear Comrades,
The 3rd Meeting of the
Presidential Council of WFTU held on the 8th & 9th March at Cyprus, which
was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the detailed
report of activities in 2008 was presented by the Secretary-General Com.
George Mavrikos as well as the Action Plan for 2009. Com. Sukomal Sen, TUI
General Secretary attended the meeting. It was noted that the number of
affiliates are on the increase year after year since the Havana Congress
and the activities in all continents, in particular Lain America, Africa
and parts of Asia-Pacific & Europe are constant in the year 2008. WFTU’s
presence in ILO fora is also getting activised and we are consistent on
our demand for proportionate representation in the WFTU and to eliminate
the monopoly of one International Centre and towards parity and equity.
The next Presidential Council meeting will be held in Vietnam in February
2010, to be hosted by VGCL.
Important resolutions adopted in the Presidential Council meeting include
:
Solidarity with Palestine
Workers & Peoples.
1. Greeting the 50th Anniversary of Cuban Revolution and 60th Anniversary
of CTC.
2. Expressing solidarity with the people of DPR Korea.
3. Condemning the order of the International Court of Justice to arrest
the President of the Republic of Sudan.
4. Withdrawal of the occupying Turkish troops from Cyprus and towards one
united sovereign Republic of Cyprus, as per the UN Resolution.
A massive women workers meeting was held in Nicosia (Cyprus) on the
International Women’s Day which was addressed, amongst others, by the
President of the Republic, the only elected Communist President in an
European country, as well as the General Secretary of AKEL (Communist
Party of Cyprus).
Programme for Day of Action on the 1st April 2009
The WFTU has given a call, in accordance with the “Lisbon Declaration,”
and re-affirmed by the Presidential Council meeting of 8/9, March, 2009,
to observe International Day of Protest Action on the 1st April, 2009 on a
12 point Charter.
Extract of Lisbon Declaration is reproduced below :
Our first priority is to unite the international working class. To unite
the working class regardless of color, religion and sex, around aims which
reflect. the contemporary needs. To unite the working class in organized
struggles based on its class interests, starting in the workplaces. The
WFTU launches from here, from Lisbon, a call to all trade unions that want
to fight, whether they belong to the large family of the WFTU or are
members of the ITUC or they are independent, to coordinate our action at
the global level for:
Real increases in wages and pensions to strengthen the purchasing power of
workers and increase people's consumption.
Unemployment benefits for everyone out of work.
Increased social expenses and public investment. Strengthening of the
State social functions.
Stopping privatization of branches of strategic importance.
Reduction of working hours without loss of pay, with full and stable work
for everyone. With social security and public health systems.
Drastic cuts of military expenses, end of war and withdrawal of all
foreign troops from occupied territories.
Full respect of wages and labor rights of migrant workers.
Respect for trade union freedoms, collective bargaining and democratic
rights. Free trade union activities everywhere.
Adoption of special measures for young workers and women workers. We
extend a call to them to actively participate in the life of trade unions.
Cancellation of debts of third world countries.
Dear friends we believe
that under the current conditions there exists the need for planned
struggles both for the daily current problems and, at the same time, with
the perspective of a social system without exploitation of man by man.
So all the progressive forces at the trade union, social and political
level, have a duty to tell the workers the truth and to open new paths.
The day has to be observed in all countries in an appropriate manner.
The meeting also resolved to extend full support and solidarity to the
Sudanese working class and the SWTUF in fighting against the so-called
judgment of the International Court of Justice to arrest the elected
President of the Republic of Sudan and condemned it as a conspiracy
against Sudan by the imperialist forces.
SUKOMAL SEN
General Secretary,
TUI of Public & Allied Employees
