International Trade Union Confederation

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is the main international trade union organisation, representing the interests of working people worldwide. The ITUC was founded at its inaugural Congress in Vienna, Austria, on 1 -3 November 2006. It groups together the former affiliates of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the World Confederation of Labour (WCL), along with trade union organisations which had no global affiliation. The ICFTU and the WCL dissolved themselves on 31 October 2006, to pave the way for the creation of the ITUC.

Unions alarmed by police violence

Aug 222012

Workplaces

ITUC condemns killings at Lonmin Marikana platinum mine.

from the ITUC

Every worker should be able to go to work knowing that their life and physical safety is guaranteed.
– Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary

BRUSSELS, August 20, 2012 — The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), of which the National Union of Public and General Employees Union (NUPGE) is a member, has described the wave of violence at South Africa's Lonmin Marikana platinum mine as appalling, with as many as 36 killed yesterday when police opened fire on striking miners. Ten people had previously been killed in the past week as violence at the mine escalated.

“Open season” on collective bargaining

Jun 122012

Workplaces

ITUC accuses Harper government of attacking worker rights.

from the International Trade Union Congress

OTTAWA, June 7, 2012 — A report released this week in Switzerland by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) accuses the Canadian government of leading an attack on worker rights and for signaling to the country's provinces and territories that it's "open season" on freedom of association and collective bargaining. The ITUC, a confederation of national trade union centres of which the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is a member, released its annual survey of trade union rights at the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and reported on trade union right violations throughout the world.

The report provides a damning analysis of the situation in Canada and is critical of the Canadian government's disregard for the freedom of association, despite Supreme Court rulings that make it a cornerstones of industrial relations in the country.