Z 8796
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BUILDING AND WOODWORKERS
!
MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Paris, 29- 30 July, 1957
General Secretary's Report
Item 1 of the Agenda
COPENHAGEN 1957

Item 1 of the Agenda
Appendix l
*
Stiftung
*
FriedrichGeneral Secretary's Report 1/4 1954
31/3 1955
Certain points in the present Report will be found to be a repetition of the verbal report given by the General Secretary at the IFBWW Congress in Brussels in September 1954, but as they concern activities that have taken place during the period under review I feel that they should be included in this Report.
During the period under review we have endeavoured to extend our international activities in collaboration with the organisations with which we naturally maintain contacts, namely primarily the ICFTU and its Regional Offices and permanent Housing Committee, and also the International Labour Organisation. We also maintain close relations with the Trade Union Advisory Committee, which has its seat in Paris, and we have the very best relations with the European Productivity Agency( EPA).
The President, Vice- President and General Secretary took part in the General Conference of the International Trade Secretariats in Brussels on 14th and 15th April this year. The detailed report of this meeting was taken up for discussion at the 1954 IFBWW Congress and is recorded in the Minutes of the Congress( English pages 67-73).
The IFBWW Conference on" Wage Systems in the Building Industry" was held in Copenhagen on 19th- 21st May this year. A full report of the Conference has been prepared and sent out to all concerned, and the only reference I shall make to it here will therefore be to quote the resolutions which were passed on that occasion:
Resolution on the Rights of Trade Unions to be
Consulted in Questions Concerning Productivity
The Conference of the IFBWW held in Copenhagen from the 19th to the 21st May, 1954, considering that an ever increasing number of national and international organisations concern themselves with the problem of productivity in the building industry and in this connection
Z 8796
- 1-

also with wage systems, and that in numerous cases the representatives of the building industry and especially the building workers' organisations have not, or only inadequately, been represented, protests vigorously against this development and demands that the IFBWW as representative of the wage earners of the building industry be a party to such deliberations. It is absolutely intolerable that the Productivity Agency of the European Organisation for Economic Cooperation recently set up an advisory panel for the building industry comprising seven members, in which the employers' organisations are pepresented by three voting members, while the trade unions were allowed only one, or two observers perhaps. The Conference must insist that in this and in all similar cases the workers' organisations be accorded the same rights as the employers' organisations.
In the matter of productivity itself, the Conference holds the view that any increase of production in the building industry must be designed to ensure better dwellings for the low- income groups of the population at lower prices.
The Conference further notes that a higher level of productivity is socially and economically justifiable only when continuity in building activity has been ensured for a term of years. Also on these grounds long- term building programmes are essential.
Finally, the Conference declares that payment- by- results must serve the purpose of securing the worker an adequate wage for his increased output, and not only as an instrument to achieve a higher level of productivity.
On the other hand, a fair system of payment- by- results and codetermination in the general economy and in the individual enterprises may serve to arouse the workers' interest in genuine productivity.
Resolution on Payment by Results
adopted at the special conference of the IFBWW held in Copenhagen 19th 21st May, 1954
That this conference of the IFBWW held in Copenhagen 19th 21st May, 1954, having considered the reports of the delegates in various countries with which affiliated unions are connected, concerning the
- 2-

problems of Payment- by- Results and scientific management, declares in this connection:
The attitude of the trade unions to Payment- by- Results systems must primarily be determined by the respective national organisations in the light of the conditions prevailing in their own countries. Nevertheless, we consider where Payment- by- Results systems are introduced and suggest that the following guiding principles should be taken into account:
A) Adoption of Payment- by- Results systems must depend on the consent of the trade unions which must also exercise full control over their application. Rights and obligations of both parties should be laid down in a joint agreement.
B) Conditions of Payment- by- Results are:
1. Posssibilities of measuring targets.
2. Pre- planning of production
3. Encouragement of workers' initiative
4. Guarantee of basic rates not lower than those contained in time rate agreements
5. Compensatory allowances where production is not possible or held up by circumstances beyond workers' control.
6. Protection against discrimination, exploitation and
accidents; and observance of health and welfare regulations The conference requests the Executive Committee to promote an exchange of experiences of the operation of Payment- by- Results.
These resolutions have been sent to the ILO and the European Productivity Agency of the OEEC respectively, and both these bodies have informed us that the resolutions will be handed on to the industrial committees concerned for their consideration.
The General Secretary attended the meeting of the ICFTU Consultative Council in Brussels on 26th 27th May 1954. This Consultative
-
Council was set up in July 1953 in place of the previous General Council; it is a combined horisontal and vertical assembly covering the whole of the international free trade union movement and consisting of all the members of the ICFTU Executive Committee and representatives of the Regional Offices and International Trade Secretariats.
.
- 3-

The meeting dealt with problems mutually concerning the ICFTU and the International Trade Secretariats, particularly in the field of regional activities. The meeting emphasized the necessity of close co- operation in dealing with the various problems, and it was suggested that the Liaison Committee should as soon as possible work out a programme which the ITS would be invited to discuss.
In view of the fact that several trade unions belonging to national trade unions centres which are affiliated with the ICFTU have not joined their respective International Trade Secretariats, the meeting decided that the ICFTU should appeal to the national trade union centres to exert pressure on the unions to get them to join the ITS concerned. As far as we are concerned this appeal has so far not led to any positive results. On the other hand the meeting was particularly valuable as it provided us with an opportunity of meeting the representatives of the Regional Offices and the other overseas organisations.
The IFBWW Woodworkers' Conference in Hamburg in 1953 had expressed the wish that we should hold an investigation into the conditions of apprentices in the building and woodworking industries. Our Secretariat has undertaken an investigation into this question, and a full report has been circulated to all our unions and other interested bodies.
The Finnish Bricklayers' Union, which is a member of the communist International( WFTU) applied for affiliation with our International. In applying for membership with the IFBWW, the Finnish union did not disclose the fact that it was affiliated with the WFTU, and we therefore at first wrote saying that we accepted their application. Later, however, when we discovered that it was affiliated with the communist International we wrote saying that membership with us was incompatible with membership with the WFTU and that the Finnish union must make a decision either way. In reply to this letter, the Finnish Union wrote saying that it wished to maintain its membership with the WFTU and must therefore disassociate itself with us.
The European Productivity Agency of the OEEC wrote to us asking us to appoint representatives to the Committee dealing with the project " Human Relations in the Building Industry", and also project 302/2 " Training Methods for Foremen and General Contractors in the Application of Scientific Principles in the Building Industry".
We appointed Brother Brammer( England) and Schneider( Austria) to
- 4-

the first of the above committees and Brother Kaper( Netherlands) to the other.
Both the Committees are now working and they maintain close contacts with our Secretariat. In addition, we keep contacts with and are kept informed of EPA activities through the Trade Union Advisory Committee ( TUAC).
As far as the Organisation for European Economic Co- operation
is concerned, Ernst von Ins has attended meetings in the Timber Industry Committee as an observer. We have asked the ICFTU to take up negotiations with the OEEC regarding the question of the trade unions obtaining representation with full rights on its industrial committees. Obviously there will be difficulties in obtaining such permission, as the structure of the OEEC is subject to the general rules applying to the whole of the United Nations and its specialised agencies.
Dr. Heinz Umrath has represented the interests of the IFBWW in the OEEC Housing Committee( CIB).
The Seventh Statutory Congress of the IFBWW was held in Brussels on 15th 17th September 1954. A full report of the Congress proceedings has been sent out to the organisations concerned, together with all decisions and resolutions adopted by the Congress.
The General Secretary took part in the meeting of the ITS Liaison Committee in Brussels on 8th 9th March 1955. The meeting decided to recommend to the General Conference of the ITS( Vienna, May 1955) that the subscription to the Committee should be raised to 2/ 6d per 1.000 members per year. The suggestion that the contribution should be 3/ per 1.000 members so as to include coverage for expenses incurred by the ITS in connection with meetings of the ILO Industrial Committees did not get the required majority, as those ITS which do not participate in the work of the ILO Industrial Committees voted against it.
It was suggested that the contribution to be made by the ITS towards the regional activities of the ICFTU should be£ 1 per 1.000 members per year.
Regarding the question of possible amalgamations between certain of the International Trade Secretariats, it was decided that the Liaison Committee should send out a report when it had received all the answers to its questionnaire on this matter.
In view of the fact that the Communist International had sent invi- 5-

tations to various unions to attend a Conference in East Berlin on
17th March 1955, the General Secretary sent out the following circular letter to all IFBWW affiliated unions:
THE COMINFORM TRIES TO ATTRACT BUILDING AND WOODWORKERS
Certain Moscow- Communist cover- organisations have recently been concentrating their interest and activity very particularly on the workers in the building and woodwork industries in Western Europe. As part of this campaign they have, for instance, recently sent out invitations to take part in a Conference to be held in Berlin during the period of 17th to 23rd March this year. The Conference is alleged to be dealing with the following problems:
1. The situation of workers in the building, wood and building materials industries and their unity in the struggle to
get their economic and social claims recognised.
2. The problems to be solved by the trade union organisations in the building, wood and building materials' industries in developing a unified campaign for the expansion of housing construction and in attaining stable conditions of employment in the building trades.
The invitation is very persuasively worded and endeavours in a demagogic manner to appeal to the democratic spirit of the workers, but at the same time the promotors have not the moral courage to disclose either who are behind them or whom they really represent, merely contenting themselves with signing themselves" The Administrative Committee of the International Union of Workers in the Building, Wood and Building Materials Industries", the General Secretary of which is Aarne Saarinen of Finland. The said Mr. Saarinen is also President of the Communist- dominated Finnish Building Workers' Union which is affiliated with the Communist International.
We wish to make it quite clear that the real promotore of this Conference are the Building and Woodworkers' Section of the Moscowcontrolled Communist International.
As usual this organisation prefers to sidetrack the constitutional organs of the workers- that is to say it does not address itself to the trade unions but endeavours to make direct contact with branch
-6

offices and first of all of course with branches where the communists
are known to have a certain amount of influence
-
in the belief that
their efforts to split the democratic trade unions and sow seeds of
unrest among them will be more difficult to see through at this level.
T
It is an insult to the workers of the free world and a slap in the face of the millions of workers now in slave camps in the countries behind the iron curtain when the promotors of the Conference generously suggest that the workers should elect their representatives in a democratic manner.
It would be naive and stupid to believe that an organisation. like that to which the promotors of the Conference belong and which in its entirety works to establish the principle of dictatorship and which is a willing mouthpiece for a system that has long ago succeeded in stifling and burying the free organisations of workers in the countries in which it is established can have qualification for or ability to speak for the workers, either in national or international matters.
It is symptomatic of all the cover- organisations of the Cominform that the invitation is not sent from Moscow but from one of its centres in a democratic country, i.e. in this case Finland. This is of course supposed to make the whole thing more plausible. Under the cover of democracy the enemies of democracy try to smuggle the seeds of doubt, dissatisfaction and dissension in among our organisations.
They talk about unity but they mean reducing to conformity, as the promotors have already beforehand ensured that there will be unanimous decisions. The fact is, namely, that the invitations say that all organisations are entitled to send OBSERVERS to the Conference. This means, in other words, that all those not willing to vote in favour of the ready- made resolutions concoted in the Kreml will be denied the right to vote and be relegated to being observers.
Fellow Trade Unionists! The housing problem is one of the most burning problems of the present day. The free and democratic trade union movement has carried out a purposeful campaign to relieve this situation, and although there is still much to be done a good deal has already been achieved. During the postwar years this work has been further intensified. Organised workers in the building and wood industry have in fact carried out a gigantic task through their action on the building site, in the trade unions and also through their co- operative housing
- 7-

and construction guilds.
It is a fact that the democracies- both those which took part in the war and those which were able to avoid the effects of wardamage are miles ahead of the Soviet Union and the other countries behind the iron curtain as far as housing construction is concerned. No amount of angled or trick statistics can disprove this fact.
On the other hand it is also a fact that wherever the Communists have gained a foothold inside the organs covering the building trade they have used these organs as cells and cover- organisations for their own special political activities.
We advise all democratic and progressive workers to refuse the invitation to the Berlin Conference and thus to repel this communist attempt to manoeuvre politically with the most profound interests of the peoples. Rally to the work of your own local branch and your own trade union, which is collaborating closely with free and democratic unions in all countries through the International Conferederation of Free Trade Unions and also through the International Trade Secretariats.
We shall never relax our efforts in the struggle to ensure that every person shall have a decent dwelling place at a reasonable rent.
Copenhagen, February 1955
With fraternal greetings, International Federation of Building and Woodworkers Arne Hagen( S) General Secretary
As our affiliated union in Nigeria had been having difficulties, particularly in the matter of registering members, the President of the IFBWW got into touch with the British Colonial Office, and these negotiations have resulted in the union now having obtained official recognition.
The IFBWW Vice- President paid a visit to Toulouse in order to investigate the conditions of the Spanish Building and Woodworkers' Union in Exile. His report is quoted in the Minutes of the Congress ( English page 118).
8-

In accordance with the decision made by the Congress, we opened a Fund for the assistance of the Spanish union, as the result of which we collected the sum of about 60.000 Danish kroner(£ 3,000) out of which 20.000 kroner(£ 1.000) has been sent to Toulouse.
In January 1955 we received the sad news of the death of Brother Hermann Kochmann, Vice- President of the German Building Workers' Union and member of the IFBWW Executive Committee and Management Committee. Brother Niels Madsen attended the funeral as the representative of the IFBWW and expressed our deepest sympathy with Brother Kochmann's family and the German Union.
During the year under review our Executive Committee has held one ordinary meeting, two meetings during the Congress, and one extraordinary meeting. The Management Committee has held two meetings. Minutes of these meetings have been sent to all concerned.
During the year under review the IFBWW has been represented at the following congresses:
Algemene Centrale
( General Workers' Union)
Norsk Treindustriarbeiderforbund ( Norwegian Woodworkers' Union)
Nordisk Bygnings-& Træindustri Føderation
( Nordic Federation of Building and Woodworkers)
Norsk Murerforbund
( Norwegian Bricklayers' Union)
Svenska Målareförbundet ( Swedish Painters' Union)
Dansk Stenindustriarbejderforbund ( Danish Stonemasons' Union)
French Building Workers' Union
N. F. B. T. 0.
Dansk Tømrerforbund
( Danish Carpenters' Union)
Dansk Skibstømrerforbund ( Danish Ship Carpenters' Union)
Dansk Træindustriarbejderforbund ( Danish Woodworkers' Union
Brussels, 15th 17th May, 1954 Arne Hagen
Oslo, 23rd 27th May, 1954 Ernst von Ins
Oslo, 30th May, 1954
Arne Hagen
Oslo, 23rd-
26th May, 1954
Alfred Ljøner
Stockholm, 23rd May, 1954
Is. Smets
Bornholm, 9th 12th June, 1954
Erik Johansson
-
Paris, 5th 7th June, 1954
E. Janssens
Rhyl, 22nd- 25th June, 1954
Arne Hagen
Odense, 15th August, 1954 Sir Richard Coppock
Esbjerg, 27th August, 1954
Arne Hagen
Copenhagen, 23rd- 26th August, 1954 Arne Hagen
- 9-

Our two publications, the News Bulletin and the International Housing Bulletin, have been issued regularly. All correspondence has received due attention by the Secretariat.
The Secretariat has again approached the American Building and Woodworkers' Unions regarding the question of affiliation with the IFBWW, but all attempts to interest these unions have been in vain.
We have established good contacts with organisations in several of the under- developed areas of the world and have given them advice and assistance.
Throughout the period under review we have maintained the best possible relations and contacts with our affiliated unions.
During the period under review the Executive Committee of the IFBWW has consisted of the following members:
Sir Richard Coppock
Is. Smets
Arne Hagen
John Wivegh
Knut Johansson
Niels Madsen J. H. Mills
G. Klein
Franz Olah
E. Janssens L. Fréour
Ernst von Ins
H. Seeger
H. Kochmann
Great Britain Belgium
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Great Britain
The Netherlands
Austria
Belgium
France
Switzerland
President
Vice- President
General Secretary
up to 15/9 1954 as from 17/9 1954
up to 15/9 1954 as from 17/9 1954
Died January 1955
Germany
Germany
Georg Lober
Germany
as from 20/2 1955
Alfred Ljøner
Norway
Andreas Karlsson
Sweden
Erik Johansson
Sweden
Forestry Workers Group
Painters' Group
Stonemasons' Group
Auditor:
A. A. Lawder
Committee of Auditors:
Ingvard Dahl
Edvard Olesen
Great Britain
Denmark
Denmark
10up to 15/9 1954 as from 17/9 1954

Committee of Auditors
John Wivegh
Knut Johansson
Sir Luke Fawcett.
Harry Weaver
Norway Sweden
Great Britain Great Britain
uo to 15/9 1954
as from 17/9 1954 up to 15/9 1954 as from 17/9 1954
The Management Committee has consisted of the following members:
Sir Richard Coppock
Great Britain
Is. Smets
Arne Hagen
Niels Madsen
H. Kochmann
Georg Leber
Belgium
General Secretary
Denmark
Germany
Germany
up to January, 1955 as from 20/2 1955
The membership of the IFBWW as at 31st March, 1955 was 2,208,168 from 76 trade unions in 22 countries.
Copenhagen, 1st April, 1955
ARNE HAGEN
( General Secretary)
General Secretary's Report 1/4 1955- 31/3 1956
During the period under review most of our affiliated unions have been able to register considerable gains. Through the numerous and difficult negotiations which have been conducted with the employers, the unions have succeeded in improving the wages and working conditions of their members. With two exceptions it was possible to obtain these results without serious disputes.
Our two affiliated Finnish unions have participated in a threeweek general strike, which was won by the workers, their claims being
met.
Just now a rather extensive strike is developing in Denmark, comprising for the time being, the plumbers, electricians, labourers and the employees of a number of other industries. At the moment, it is difficult to predict the outcome of this dispute, as the employers take
11

up a most unresponsive attitude.
The first IFBWW- sponsored conference in the period under review was the Second Youth Conference, held at Blankenberg from 17th to 23rd April, 1955. 66 young trade unionists from 10 countries took part in the Conference, which dealt with the following subjects:
Trade Union Unity. Lecturer: Sir Richard Coppock
European Problems, Productivity and Working Hours. Lecturer: Is. Smets
The Attitude of the Trade Unions to the Problems of Rationalization. Lecturer: Heinz Seeger.
International Trade Union Cooperation. Lecturer: Arne Hagen
Accident Prevention. Lecturer: Anders Lif.
The participants of the Conference urged the Executive Committee of the IFBWW to continue the activity in regard to youth conferences and to organize a special conference for the union officers charged with educational and youth work. Furthermore, the presidium of the Conference was asked to call on the IFBWW to help maintain the contact among the participants in future.
All recommendations have been submitted to the Executive Committee. The presidium of the Conference were composed of Sir Richard Coppock, Is. Smets and Arne Hagen.
Our Belgian union had placed one of its hotels at the disposal of the Conference at very favourable prices.
The Minutes of the Conference will be forwarded to the member unions and the participants.
In collaboration with the E.P.A. the IFBWW held a conference in Vienna( 9th to 14th May, 1955) with the participation of the research and statistical officers of the affiliated unions. The following unions were represented: Austrian building and woodworkers; German building workers; German woodworkers; Dutch building workers; Swedish woodworkers; Swedish electricians; the Department of Statistics of the Swedish Building Trades; N.F.B.T.O.( Great Britain); the Confederation of Building Trades Workers in Denmark. The E.P.A. was represented by their consultants Geo Allen and Woodrow Ginsberg( USA).
The main points covered in the conference discussions were to do with the general economic developments in the building and woodworking
12

industries; the extent of the building programme and its division
into housing and other types of work; building costs; difficulties causing delays in the building programme; employment and unemployment; apprenticeship; collective agreements( hours, wages and conditions) with particular reference to piece- work and incentive payments; B various technical and organisational matters; productivity problems; and matters of special interest to the woodworking and saw- milling industry.
After the delegates had reported on the situation in their respective countries, all these questions were dealt with in detail. In connection with the Conference visits were paid to a number of power stations, building sites, furniture workshops, and saw- mills.
The Conference suggested that the IFBWW should find ways and means to initiate an exchange of statistical information among the affiliated unions. The general lines of such an information service were drafted, and the Conference asked the General Secretary to put the proposal before the Executive Committee of the IFBWW.
The Executive Committee dealt with this matter at its meeting in November, 1955, and approved the general lines which had been laid down. Early in 1956 the General Secretary convoked a meeting of representatives of the statistical departments of a number of the affiliated unions with a view to discussing in detail the nature of the information which the unions want to exchange. This meeting took place in Düsseldorf on 10th and 11th January 1956.
The questionnaire to be used for this purpose has been prepared and will be sent to the various unions.
Is. Smets and Arne Hagen attended the General Conference of the ITS in Vienna on 19th May, 1955.
The items of the agenda included, inter alia, the possibility of widening the scope of the Liaison Committee and the participation of the International Trade Secretariats in the regional activity of the ICFTU. The General Conference agreed to recommend the ITS to pay a contribution of 2s. 6d. per 1,000 members per year to the Liaison Committee. It was suggested that the ITS should pay a fee of 3d. in order to cover the costs connected with the appointment of a special secretary in Geneva to see to the interests of the ITS in relation to the ILO%; this suggestion was turned down. Further, the General Conference agreed to recommend the ITS to pay a contribution of£ 1,- per 1,000 members per
-
13

year towards the regional activity of the ICFTU.
Both proposals were dealt with at the meeting of the IFBWW Executive Committee in November, 1955. The Committee decided to approve a contribution of 2d. 6d. and pay an amount of 10,000 Danish Kroner' towards the regional activity of the ICFTU. The money has been transferred to the ICFTU accordingly.
Is. Smets, Franz Olah and Arne Hagen attended the Congress of the ICFTU in Vienna, 20th- 28th May, 1955. The General Secretary, however, only attended the sessions on the 20th and 21st May.
As the ICFTU has prepared a full report on the Congress, it will suffice to mention here a matter of special interest to the IFBWW. The Executive Committee of the ICFTU had dealt with the admission of the Yugoslav trade unions and decided( 13 in favour, 1 against, and 3 abstentions) to submit a resolution expressing the regret of the Congress
that two trade secretariats had admitted Yugoslav unions into membership, and instructing the General Secretary of the ICFTU to contact the trade secretariats in question and ask them to reconsider their decision in
this matter.
Comrade Smets spoke on behalf of the IFBWW and said:
" Mr. President, in the Report before us it is stated that by 13. votes to 1, with 3 abstentions, the regret was expressed that two ITS saw fit to ignore a recommendation by the ICFTU Executive Board.
I have done my best to find the text of this recommendation, but I have not been able to do so, nor has the ICFTU Secretariat.
I would like to ask you, since doubt exists, not to vote on a text which has not been submitted. It is impossible to take a decision on a text which is no more than a memory.
All we recall is that at Stockholm it was said that the ICFTU did not intend to accept Yugoslavia into membership, but that it did not intend to impose its line of action on national centres and international secretariats.
I do not wish to discuss the basic issue. I see in this year's report that the International Federation of Industrial Organisations and General Workers' Unions asked the ICFTU for advice, and the advice given was not at all what might be concluded from the text which is before
us.
I should like to draw your attention to the fact that the ITS are
- 14-

by no means subordinate bodies. They are bodies which collaborate with the ICFTU. I should also like to draw the attention of Congress to the serious nature of a motion of censure passed unilaterally by Congress on an ITS. I should therefore like to ask that the passage to the effect that two ITS saw fit to ignore the Executive Board's recommendation be withdrawn."
The General Secretary of the ICFTU, J.H. Oldenbroek, replied:
" I only want to speak about the point that has just been made
by Mr. Smets. One can well imagine, although he is here as a representative
of a national centre, that he objects to this part of the report inasmuch as he belongs to one of the two Internationals that have admitted a
Yugoslav union.
Surely there is no doubt about the attitude taken by the ICFTU, and surely there can be no doubt about the fact that the International Trade Secretariats have on more than one occasion discussed this matter and been informed of the attitude of the ICFTU Executive Board.
It is not correct to say that the Executive Board have rejected an application for affiliation from Yugoslavia. They have never had one. They have never had before them such an application, but there can be no doubt that if there had been one before them it would have been rejected.
I regret the action of these two Secretariats, Mr. Smet's Secretariat of the building workers even more so than the miners, because they were actually considering this matter before the Executive Board of the ICFTU made a very strong pronouncement. It was actually in connection with the fact that it was brought to our attention that such discussions were taking place with the Yugoslav miners that the ICFTU made its statement.
There is, of course, no doubt that the International Trade Secretariats are independent bodies, and the conclusion is that they can break the rules, because this Congress of the ICFTU cannot take disciplinary measures against the Trade Secretariats. The ICFTU might decide not to have anything more to do with them, but let there be no doubt about it that when we started this International, within three months of its foundation the Secretariats and the ICFTU made an agreement whereby it was determined that in matters of general trade union policy the Trade Secretariats would accept the ICFTU's opinion. It seems to me that this question of the admission of unions from countries where they cannot
.15

by anybody be considered to be free trade unions is a matter of general trade union policy. The Committee has discussed this, and various opinions have emerged, but, as you have seen, the overwhelming majority were of the opinion that the view should be expressed."
Is. Smets:" As it seems that I have been misunderstood when speaking French I will now say a few words in English. I did not say that the ICFTU rejected an application made by Yugoslavia. I simply said that we were told that the ICFTU was not prepared to accept Yugoslavia into membership.
I would also say that I am a: delegate from Belgium, but that I am also officially a representative of the International Trade Secretariat for the Building and Woodworkers, and it was in that capacity that I made the remark I made, hoping that the Belgian delegation would vote with me.
I do not want to discuss this matter at all. I believe that discussing this matter would not be a favourable thing to do at the present juncture. I am not going to argue, and I am not going to explain why the building workers, after the miners, did take the decision they took. I simply want to ask that it be put on record that we have before us a resolution that is based on recollections and not on texts. If such a resolution is passed it will be a censure on two International Trade Secretariats. I think we should have the texts before us so that we can discuss the matter. The documents are not to be found in the Report. I could not find the texts in the Secretariat of the ICFTU. I beg of you not to pass a vote of censure while there is doubt about the wording of the text being completely accurate."
The suggestion made by comrade Smets was not put to the vote as it was not supported as required by the Standing Order. Thereafter, the resolution of the Executive Committee was carried.
The Liaison Committee met twice during the period under review. I. Smets attended the meeting on 7th November, 1955, and Arne Hagen the meeting on 9th March, 1956, on behalf of the IFBWW.
Arne Hagen attended the meeting of the Standing Housing Committee in Zürich on 28th and 29th September, 1955. An account of this meeting has been given in the Housing Bulletin,
In accordance with a decision made by our Congress in 1954, the
16

IFBWW has held a Forestry and Wood Workers' Conference in conjunction with the International Landworkers' Federation. The Conference took place at Gävle( Sweden) from 8th to 12th August, 1955. A detailed report on the Conference is being prepared, and it will thus suffice to reproduce in this report the resolutions adopted by the Conference.
General Resolution
Forestry and Sawmillworkers' meeting at Gävle on 8th- 12th August, 1955 under the auspices of the IFBWW and the ILF having considered the role of the forestry and woodprocessing industries in the World Economy and the expansion of forest products expresses the view that:
Wood and its manifold products are of great importance to the world and with increasing standards of living the need of wood and timber as raw material is expected to increase rapidly. Existing resources of wood as raw material, which can now be utilized, are insufficient for future demands even if the natural woodlands could be exploited.
Consequently an increased production of timber is necessary and should be made possible through cultivating and new planting on land suitable for afforestation and by ensuring replanting after cutting is done and by the rationalization of the structure of the timber industry.
Increased means for research work within the forestry and woodindustries should be forthcoming. Efficiency and rationalization at all levels should be applied as well as improved marketing methods coupled: with a better utilization of waste.
Equal standards with workers of other trades should be granted to workers in the forestry and woodprocessing industries as well as improved provisions for vocational training which is necessary for the rationalization of the industries.
The Conference
endorses
the policy of FAO to increase the world production of timber and recommends international and national bodies, the employers concerned, and the unions affiliated to the two Internationals to work in this spirit%; B
considers it is possible to increase the production of timber by applying the policies and methods stated above so that it follows that timber and its products will become more competitive with other
17

materials;
expresses finally the need for a mutual exchange of experiences gained
within the industries, and
requests the Executives of the two Internationals to consider at forthcoming meetings the possibilities of closer collaboration between the workers' groups concerned.
Social Conditions in the Forestry Industry
The International Conference of the IFBWW and the ILF for forestry and sawmillworkers held at Gävle 8th 12th August, 1955, endorsing the great importance of the forestry and woodprocessing industries, notes; that improved conditions for the workers of the industries concerned are necessary so that they are on an equal standard with other workers so that the recruitment of labour in countries with full employment shall be secured, and
that the uncertainty as regards earnings owing to the seasonal employment of workers without the possibily of other complementary work should be abolished on social grounds, which also in the long run will be to the benefit of the industry.
The Conference demands
that forestry and sawmill workers shall be equally remunerated compared
with similar groups of workers,
that the standard of their housing and lumber camps also shall be on the same level as other workers,
that efficient vocational training is provided in all countries, and that safety at work in the forestry industry is improved.
Safety at Work and Vocational Training
Within the Forestry Undustry
Forestry and Sawmillworkers, convened in Conference at Gävle 8th- 12th August, 1955, under the auspices of the IFBWW and the ILF, after having considered the role of the forestry industry in the World Economy decides to make the following statement:
Whereas the increasing rationalization and mechanization within the forestry industry is demanding greater skill from the workpeople and in- 18-

creasing the risk of industrial accidents within forestry to a degree
greater than in most of the other industries, Conference stresses the importance of seeing that vocational training and safety at work questions should be given the greatest attention, and;
Whereas proper vocational training of forestry workers reduces
the hazards of the work, and;
Whereas in order to cope with this problem it is necessary to
have proper and reliable statistics within the industry, and in order that the incidence of accidents within forestry may be compared with that of other industries.
The Conference recommends
that questions concerning vocational training and safety at work within forestry should be dealt with from all aspects
both within the different countries and by the ILO and therefore especially urges%;
that uniform methods for the calculation of the incidence
of accidents are found so that comparisons between countries can be made possible% 3B
that research is carried out as regards the" human factor" considered from the psychological and physiological
point of view%; B
that there should be between affiliated unions a mutual exchange
of information on measures for effective accident prevention; and
that the ILO be urged to undertake a full inquiry into
the circumstances and the problems of accident prevention
in the industry.
The conclusions adopted have been forwarded to the ILO and ECE, which have been requested to submit them for treatment by the competent bodies.
Is. Smets represented the IFBWW at the Conference of the European Regional Organisation of the ICFTU on the Revival of the European Idea. Minutes have been distributed by the ERO. The Conference
was held in Brussels from 25th to 27th August, 1955.
- 19-

Is. Smets attended the meeting of the ERO General Council in Brussels on 3rd, 4th and 5th November, 1955, on behalf of the IFBWW. Minutes on the meeting have been distributed by the ERO. The Secretariat has published, in collaboration with the ICFTU a publication by H. Umrath:" Acquisition of Building Land for Housing."
ERO/
In conjunction with the ERO, ICFTU, and JTUAC we participate in the EPA project:" Human Relations on the Building Sites." Our representatives on the Committee are: R. Schneider( Austria) and Brammer( Great Britain). The Committee is expected to finish its work within short. When the final report on this project has been prepared, it will be forwarded to the affiliated unions.
in
H. Kaper( Holland) represents the IFBWW on the Committee on Project No. 302/2:" Training Methods for Foremen and General Contractors the Application of Scientific Principles in the Building Industry." G. Berger( Switzerland) is a member of the Committee on Project No. 302/4:" Mechanical Handling and Transport of Materials on Building Sites."
The JTUAC keeps the Secretariat informed of the Progress made in relation to the execution of Project No. 341:" Pre- Planning in the Building Industry"; Project No. 174:" Modular Co- ordination in Building; and Project No. 302/1:" Methods of Organisation on Building Sites."
The Secretariat has been requested to co- operate in the execution. of Project No. 367:" Winter Building."
H. Umrath has attended the meetings of the CIDB( International Council for Building Documentation) on behalf of the IFBWW, at the same time representing the ERO.
E. von Ins( Switzerland) has acted as our representative on the ECE Timber Committee.
From the various delegates the Secretariat has received reports on all meetings at which the IFBWW was represented.
All documents which have so far been published in relation to the forthcoming 5th Session of the Building, Civil Engineering and
20-

Public Works Committee of the ILO have been translated into German and Danish and sent to the unions and their representatives.
At its meeting in November last year the Executive Committee decided to set up a committee to lay down the general lines of our work at the 5th Session of the Building, Civil Engineering and Public Works Committee. The committee met in Amsterdam on 1st and 2nd March 1956.
The Management Committee has met twice and the Executive Committee once during the period under review.
Three unions have affiliated with the IFBWW, viz:
The Building Workers' Union of Cuba
The Wood Workers' Union of Cuba; and
The National Building and Construction Workers' Union of the Gold Coast.
The Upholsterers' International Union of North America has resigned from the International in protest against the admission into membership of two Yugoslav unions.
Otherwise, our relations with the affiliated unions have been
excellent.
Our co- operation with the ICFTU has, apart from the disagreement in regard to the Yugoslav unions, been satisfactory.
We follow attentively the activities of all bodies which are dealing with questions pertaining to the interests of our members.
The UNESCO has informed us that the IFBWW has been offered 5 travel grants under the UNESCO longer- term exchange scheme for European Workers. The unions will receive further particulars on this matter.
The Bulletin and the Housing Bulletin have been published regularly during the period under review.
The IFBWW has been represented at the congresses of the following
unions:
Union
Representative
Svenska Bleck och Plåtslager eförbundet
Niels Madsen
- 21-

Union
Nordiska Byggnads och Träarbetare federation
Alg. Nederl, Bouwbedrijfsbond
Dansk Sadelmager- og Tapetsererforbund
Snedkerforbundet i Danmark
Malerforbundet i Danmark
Gewerkschaft Holz, Germany
I.G. Bau- Steine- Erden, Germany
Norsk Arbeidsmandsforbund
Norsk Bygningsindustriarbeiderforbund
Building Workers' Union of Yugoslavia
Representative
Niels Madsen
Is. Smets, A. Hagen Sir Richard Coppock
Sir Richard Coppock
Arne Hagen
Is. Smets
Sir Richard Coppock
Is. Smets
Arne Hagen
Is. Smets
As per 1st January, 1956, the IFBWW had 2,319,415 members organized in 77 trade unions in 23 countries.
General Secretary's Report 1/4 1956- 31/3 1957
The first part of the period under review was strongly influenced by the preparations for the Fifth Session of the Building, Civil Engineering and Public Works Committee of the ILO which was held in Geneva from 14 to 25 May 1956.
In good time before the Session, our Executive Committee examined the agenda and set up a Working Committee to draft the proposals to be submitted by the Workers' Group. Members of the Committee were: Sir Richard Coppock, Is. Smets, Gallus Berger, Knut Johansson, Heinz Umrath, Georg Leber, and Arne Hagen. The Governing Body of the International Labour Office had prepared the following agenda for the Fifth Session:- 1. General Report: Effect given to the conclusions of the previous sessions.
Action taken by governments and the industry.
b) Action taken by the Governing Body and by the Office.
- 22-

c) Recent events and developments in the building industry.
2.
Safety in the construction industry
3.
National housing programmes and full employment
•
Our Working Committee had prepared detailed recommendations in relation to all the items of the agenda. With a few minor, technical alterations the recommendations were approved by the Workers' Group as a whole. Our Secretariat having supplied all affiliated unions with. a Summary Report on the Proceedings of the Fifth Session of the Building, Civil Engineering and Public Works Committtee, it will suffice to mention here the excellent co- operation among the members of the Workers' Group, and, considering the working structure of the ILO which accords the three participating parties( governments, employers and workers) completely equal terms, one is fully justified in maintaining that the Fifth Session of the Committee was strongly marked by the proposals submitted by the Workers' Group and the speeches made by the workers' representatives in the sub- committees as well as in the plenary sittings.
The IFBWW International Painters' Conference met in Worthing, England, from 2 to 4 July, 1956, to deal with the following agenda:-
1. Rationalisation and mechanisation and their effects on the
painting trade.
2. Protection against materials injurious to health.
3. Wage systems and working conditions.
4. The painting trade and the co- operative housing societies.
5. Elimination of seasonal fluctuations.
6. Glass as a building material.
The following countries were represented by a total of 36 participants: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
A detailed report on the proceedings of the Conference has been prepared, and the two resolutions adopted are reproduced below.
-
23

Rationalisation
The International Painters' Conference, meeting in Worthing from 27 July, 1956, has considered the question of rationalisation in the Painting Trade.
The Conference is, in principle, in favour of rationalisation efforts provided these lead to greater productivity, the facilitation of the painter's work and the improvement of the general standard of living. Such efforts should, moreover, also lead to a reduction in working hours.
At the same time Conference recognises the limits of rationalisation. These are implicit in the structure of the painting trade which is a branch of industry in which labour costs are an important factor.
New chemical constituents in the materials used in the trade ( i.e. multi- component lacqueurs and varnishes) eliminate a number of preparatory processes formerly necessary. The use of rollers and sprays of various kinds increase the volume of output.
Excessive rationalisation is to be rejected where it may lead
in practice to unemployment.
Limits are also set, in view of the Conference, where excessive demands are made on the physical and mental resources of the workers.
Conference is unanimously of the opinion that the use of mechanical equipment must be regarded solely as a means of making work less arduous: never as a means of exploiting the forces of the workers to the uttermost. Such mechanical equipment should moreover, be handled by craftsmen only.
Where such equipment is a contributory factor in ensuring, on the greatest possible scale, clean, healthy and hyegienic dwellings for the working people, their utilisation should be accepted.
Conference demands that there should, in the case of all rationalisation methods, be clear provision for the Unions to have their say, especially with a view to the prevention of danger to health.
It decisively rejects efforts on the part of the employers to use rationalisation one- sidedly for the increase of profits and demands that the greater yields be utilised to provide a fair share in terms of wages, on the one hand, and for the lowering of costs of work done, on the other.
-
- 24-

Conference can agree to rationalisation efforts only provided these conditions are fulfilled.
Safety
The International Conference of Painters, held at Worthing, England, on July 2- 4, 1956:
has considered the dangers inherent in the use of toxic substances in painting materials, and
notes with satisfaction the intention of the ILO to call a meeting of experts to define the various groups of dangerous substances in order to register them and develop suitable protective measures against them% 3 I. Requests the ILO to invite representatives of the workers using any such materials to the meeting of experts and allow seats for such representatives on the committee.
II. Requests the ILO to sponsor uniform international legislation ordering all manufacturers, distributors and repackers of materials containing toxic or explosive substances or any other substances which are injurious to health, to clearly mark the packing of such substances so as to show that they should be handled with care, and that every container should give explicit directives as to how the workers using the contents should protect themselves.
III. Further that attention be drawn to the danger to health arising from the flame burning method of removing old paint and Conference requests that consideration be given to the banning of this form of paint stripping.
The resolutions have been transmitted to the International Labour Office and the European Productivity Agency. Both organisations have informed our Secretariat that the resolutions will receive exhaustive treatment.
The IFBWW International Stone Workers' Conference met in Worthing, England, from 5 to 6 July 1956, to deal with the following agenda:-
1. Safety measures in the Stone Industry
a. The prevention of Silicosis
b. Vibration Injuries due to the application of pneumatic tools. Appropriate workshops.
- 25-

2. The training of apprentices.
3. Problems concerning hours of work.
4. Rationalisation problems within the stone industry.
The following countries were represented by a total of 27 participants Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
A detailed report on the proceedings of the Conference has been prepared, and the resolutions adopted by the Conference are reproduced below.
Safety
The International Conference of Stoneworkers meeting at Worthing, ... Great Britain, on July 5th and 6th has considered the question of an adequate and safe organization of workshops in the stone industry and proposes that the following essential measures, which it submits to the Executive Committee of the I.F.B. W. W. with the request that they be brought to the knowledge of the I.L.O., should be taken:
1. Workshops( either in factories or at the quarry) must be sufficiently large. Stones of more than 2 metres in length are to be stored in a horizontal position%; B if they are of smaller length they may be placed on end in stone" streets", provided there are passages of light of one metre in between these streets. Stones may be stored in layers provided there cranes or windlasses available and that sufficient room is left between the stacked stones so that the chains can be got through. Granite works must be equipped with protective fencing in between every second worker. Mud and rubbish must be removed from workshop, quarry and/ or factory every day.
2. Essential transporting equipment must include the following, which are to be available: Tackle- blocks, planks, portable pulleys, crowbars, wheelbarrows, stone trestles with claws, tallons, rakes and shovels, and also a sufficient number of blocks on which the stones can be placed, and finally wherever there are cranes and windlasses- a responsible person always at hand who is fully acquainted with the equipment and can ensure that it is in a perfect order.
-
-
3. During periods of excessive dryness and heat in the summer months both workshop, factory and quarry must be sprayed with water from time
- 26-

to time in order to keep down the dust, which is injurious to health
when it is flying about. During the winter months snow is to be removed from stonemasons yeards and all stones being worked on.
4. Workshops must be at least 5 metres in height and 8 metres in depth. Each worker must be allowed a radius of one metre around the stone on which he is working. Adequate ventilation, which is to be arranged above the roof, must be provided. In order to protect the workers from the hardships of weather, the roof must be solid and covered with roofing felt.
5. A changing and/ or eating room must be available at every place of work, quarry or stonemason's yard; it must be dry, have wooden flooring and be heatable from 1st November to 1st April. The size of the room must correspond to the number of workers employed, with a suitable number of windows onto the open, and it must be equipped with spitoons and washing basins, For each person using the room a space of 0.75 square metres must be available. The room, including the spitoons and washbasins, must be cleaned out at least once a day, and it is to be proof against bad weather, theft and dust. In no case must the hut or room be used for the storage of other things.
6. First- aid equipment consisting of a box of bandages etc., utensils for washing and a stretcher must be easily available to all the workers. Instructions for administering first- aid should be posted up together with the regulations concerning precautionary measures to be taken by the workers, Besides the Workers' Council a committee should be appointed in each concern to look after the security of the workers.
7. Adequate W.C. facilities must be provided at every place of work, workshop or quarry.
Dust Diseases
The International Conference of Stoneworkers meeting at Worthing on July 5th and 6th has considered safety measures in the Stone Industry with particular reference to the prevention of dust diseases.
This Conference asks the Executive of the I.F.B.W.W. to raise with the I.L.0. the necessity for the introduction of legislation compelling Stone Industry Employers in all countries to install adequate dust extraction plant and further requests the I.L.0. to sponsor legislation in all countries to provide for periodical medical examination of all
27.

stoneworkers and also intensive medical research into the problem of respiratory diseases.
In addition, this Conference asks the Executive of the I.F.B.W.W. to seek and compile information from all its affiliated organizations on the medical aspects of this subject with a view to presenting a full report at the next International Stoneworkers' Conference.
Vibratory Injuries
The International Stoneworkers' Conference meeting at Worthing on 5th and 6th July, 1956 has considered the question of vibratory. injuries caused by the use of pneumatic tools.
Conference recommends the following preventive measures against diseases caused by work with pneumatic tools and calls upon the Executive Committee of the I.F.B. W. W. to make the following representations to
the I.L.0.
1. Medical examination before work is taken up and constant medical supervision of workers whilst operating pneumatic tools.
2. Immediate medical examination to be carried out at the expense of
the employer as soon as the first symptoms of physical disorders become
noticeable.
3. As soon as symptoms of physical disorders become apparent the worker should be permanently released from working with pneumatic tools.
4. In any working day a person using pneumatic tools continously should not work with such tools for more than 6 hours.
5. Constant rest breaks during working hours.
6. Regular alteration of work with pneumatic tools and work on jobs of a non- injurious character in ship- yeard or contract.
7. Insertion of some kind of shock absorber to reduce the effect of the backward thrust. A campaign to persuade manufacturers of pneumatic tools to discontinue making units which are injurious to health%; B that new equipment and tools be developed which cause less injury.
8. Education of workers in the use of individual types of pneumatic tools together with information on all matters relating to health and accident prevention. Observance of regulations for accident prevention. 9. Only male workers over 21 years of age with a strong and healthy physique should be allowed to operate pneumatic tools.
- 28-

anisa I
Vocational Training
The Conference requests the Executive Committee of the I.F.B.W.W. to collect information from its affiliated unions about the training of apprentices in the stone industry, and to prepare a report on the results to be submitted to the next conference of stoneworkers.
Rationalisation.
The International Conference of Stoneworkers meeting at Worthing on 5th and 6th July, 1956, calls upon the Executive Committee of the I.F.B.W.W. to endeavour to obtain for the workers a higher and fair share of the production results achieved through rationalisation.
Machines should serve to ease the strain of heavy manual labour on the worker.
Rationalisation must lead to lower costs of production and lower prices which should render stone more competitive with other building materials.
On these assumptions the conference is prepared to accept rationalisation.
All the above resolutions have been transmitted to the International Labour Office and the European Productivity Agency. Both organisations have informed our Secretariat that the resolutions will receive due
attention.
The Industrial Committees of the ILO
As our affiliated unions are doubtless aware, the IFBWW has repeatedly urged the International Labour Office to establish an industrial committee for the woodworking and furniture industry. Owing to financial difficulties the ILO has been unable to comply with this request.
However, it has now been decided to convene an" ad hoc" conference for the timber industry, but unfortunately the ILO, because of technical and financial obstacles, is not in a position to invite representatives of the furniture industry to take part in that conference.
The Conference for the Timber Industry will be held in the course
of 1958 to discuss the following agenda:-:
1. General examination of the social problems arising in the timber
-29
-

2.
industry.
Conditions of work and welfare of the workers in the logging
camps.
3. Accident prevention in the timber industry.
4. Industrial relations in the timber industry.
European Organisations
More than ever before has the IFBWW taken part in the work of the economic and cultural organisations of Europe. The European Productivity Agency has asked us to co- operate in various projects of its Building Section.
The Working Party on" Human Relations in the Building Industry" included our friends R. Schneider( Austria) and Brammer( Great Britain) who were full members, whilst Sir Richard Coppock and Arne Hagen took part in various conferences on the matter.
The Working Party has now finished its work and prepared a project which, in broad outline, aims at disseminating among building firms the principles of improving human relations on the site by spreading the knowledge of the work done in this sphere, for instance by the employers' and workers' associations and by the International Labour Office through its Building, Civil Engineering and Public Works Committee.
The Working Party has outlined the means of carrying out the project and states, among other things, that any improvement in productivity is largely conditioned by a preliminary improvement in human relations, and that the existence of good working conditions and of good relations between employers' and workers' associations is an important means of contributing to this end.
Other important points include the development of security of employment; endeavours to reduce the instability of labour; and continous improvement in accident prevention by education of all who have access to the site: workmen, foremen, executives and employers. Finally, the Working Party points to the need of facilitating higher vocational training of all workers.
The draft project has been submitted to all E. P.A. state members and the governments of five countries have already acceded to the proposal. Brother H. Kaper, Holland, is our representative in the working party and the seminar on" Training Methods for Foremen and General Contractors
-
- 30-

in the Application of Scientific Principles of Management in the Building Industry". The work of this working party is not yet finished.
At the meeting of building experts who were to give advice to the Director of the EPA as to the future activities of the Building Section, Brother H. Weaver( U.K.) represented the IFBWW. Brother H. Umrath ( Holland) and K. Casserini of the ITUAC also attended the meeting.
In his opening address, the Director of the EPA declared that the financial means for the carrying out of the projects of the Building Section would be cut down heavily, the sum at the disposal of the Building Section for the next twelve months( 1957) amounting to only£ 10,000. For that reason the EPA was more interested in projects which could give early results than in projects requiring lengthy preparations and studies. H. Weaver and Umrath stressed the necessity of continuing the studies concerning human relations in the building industry, and their view was supported by Mr. O. Callaghan of the International Labour Office. Our representatives succeeded in having a paragraph to that effect included in the resolution adopted by the meeting. Moreover, the resolution calls upon the EPA to consider the possibilities of paying greater attention to the building industry in its future activities.
At the regular meetings of the Housing Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe, Brother H. Umrath, Holland, acts as the delegate of the ERO/ ICFTU as well as of the IFBWW. The Committee has discussed such questions as: Co- operative housing, financing of housing, housing in less- industrialized countries in Europe, reduction of building costs, slum clearance policies, formulation of house building policies, etc. Brother Umrath has often taken the opportunity of explaining the trade union points of view in relation to the problems discussed at the meetings of the Committee.
The ECE secretariat has asked our advice at several occasions, especially with regard to prices of building land, a problem which the ERO Housing Committee investigated in 1956, and in relation to the cost of building.
Good relations also exist with the International Council for Building Research, Studies and Documentation( CIB).
We were invited to attend the Council's bi- annual meeting taking place in September 1956. Brother H. Umrath represented both our organisation and the ERO/ ICFTU. The CIB does quite an amount of research work,
- 31-

in many cases in co- operation with the Housing Section of the European • Coal and Steel Community. Of the problems investigated by the CIB, mention should be made of the following: Methods of surveying housing needs; standardization and modular co- ordination; concrete and steel in house construction, substitution between building materials; and the utilization of space in current types of dwellings.
Brother Gallus Berger, Switzerland, has represented the IFBWW at the preparatory meeting of the EPA on Project no. 302/3 concerning mechanisation in the building industry.
In the ECE/ FAO Timber Committee, the IFBWW has been represented by Ernst von Ins and, in some instances, by Brother Diacon. The Committee has devoted a great deal of time to discussing problems relating to the workers in the timber industry, such as vocational training, housing conditions, hours of work, application of mechanical equipment, prevention of industrial accidents, etc. Brother von Ins has persistently given expression to the viewpoints of the trade union movement on the various questions. The relations between the Committee and our International
are excellent.
In connection with all these meetings, the IFBWW Secretariat has kept in close contact with our representatives, and minutes or reports from the various meetings are available.
The OEEC Timber Committee
On 22 and 23 October 1956 H. Seeger( Germany), Rune Larsson( Sweden) and Arne Hagen met the Assistant Secretary of the JTUAC, Karl Casserini, to discuss the annual financial report of the Committee and to prepare a memorandum to be submitted to the OEEC. The Memorandum which was prepared has been forwarded to all affiliated unions and it will thus suffice to mention here that it has been submitted to the OEEC which has informed the Secretariat that it will be considered at a meeting of the Timber Committee.
A number of our member organisations have taken part in EPA missions and study tours to other countries.
In connection with our work within the EPA, it should be stressed that our representatives have been ably assisted by Brother W. Schevenels, Secretary of the ERO, and Brother Casserini, Assistant Secretary of the JTUAC.
32

Co- operation with UNESCO
During the period under review we have maintained good relations with UNESCO. Of the comparatively small amount of money at the disposal of Unesco under the Longer- Term Exchange Scheme our International has received ten grants which have all been distributed.
Two of our affiliated unions have received UNESCO grants for study missions to other countries.
Co- operation with ICFTU
The co- operation between the IFBWW and the ICFTU and its regional organisations is very satisfactory. We have been kept informed of all questions of special concern to our International and also of general matters and problems. The IFBWW is an active member of the ICFTU/ ITS Liaison Committee.
Solidarity Fund
According to a decision made by the Executive Committee, the Secretariat has raised a subscription during the period under review with a view to creating a solidarity fund. The primary purpose of this fund was to give financial assistance to our member organisations in Italy. The following unions have contributed to the Solidarity Fund:-
AFRICA
AUSTRIA
Building Workers, Acra
Gewerkschaft der Bau- und Holzarbeiter
GERMANY
GREAT BRITAIN
Danish Kroner
193.20
S 10.000
2,650.IG. Bau- SteineErden
DM 4.000
6.617.20
N.F.B.T.0.
£ 100)
Nat. Soc. Painters
€ 25)
Scottish Painters'
Soc.
£ 20)
Plumbing Trades
Union
£
50)
Amal. Soc. Woodworkers
£ 100
7,550.40
Union
Nat. Assoc. Plasterers Furniture Trades
Composite Section ( NFBTO)
Building Trades
£ 10)
€ 20)
£
5)
Union
€ 50)
33

Danish Kroner
Con. Engineering
Union
£ 10)
HOLLAND
Alg. Nederl. Bouwbedrijfsbond
Hfl. 1.000.1,815.10
Alg. Bedrijfs bond voor de Meubilerings- en
Houtbedrijven
Hfl.
250.453.60
ISRAEL
Building& Woodworkers
690.71
DENMARK
forbundet
Forgylderforbundet
10.Stenindustriarbejder100.Malerforbundet
540.Træarbejder- Sekretariatet
1.000.Murerforbundet
600.NORWAY
Murerforbundet
N.Kr. 600.572.52
Stenindustriarbejderforbundet
200.Skog& Landarbeiderforbundet
483.10
Treindustriarbeiderforbundet
N.Kr. 500.470.Bygningsindustriarbeiderforbundet
N.Kr. 1.000.965.70
SWEDEN
Bleck& Plåtslagereförbundet
S.Kr.
366.-)
Byggnadsarbetareförbundet
11 11
Elektrikerförbundet
11
Målareförbundet
=
11
13.232.50) 1.980.1.960.Murareförbundet
11 11
1.600.-)
39,821.69
StenindustriarbetaSadelmakare-& Tapetserareförbundet
Skogs-& Flottningsarbetare förbundet
reförbundet
11 11
400.-)
Träindustriarbetareförbundet
11 11
3.780.-)
11
513.30)
6.000.-)
SWITZERLAND
Bau- und Holzarbeiterverband
S.Fr. 3.000.4,740.D. Kr. 69.473.22
=
11
So far the Federazione Italiana Construzioni E Affini has been granted Danish Kroner 20,000. The aid is administered and supervised by our affiliated union in Switzerland. A report has been received as to
- 34-

how the money is being used.
Further, we have received a request for financial aid from the Italian Building Workers' Union which is a member of the Socialist Trade Union Confederation. For the time being, investigations are being made by our Swiss unión to ascertain the extent to which aid is needed and, if necessary, how to assist our Italian comrades.
The Building Workers' Union of Trieste has also applied for financial aid. We are making investigations, through the ICFTU, into the trade union situation in Trieste.
The Solidarity Fund for the Spanish Building Workers' Union in Exile has up to now paid out about D.Kr. 40,000. The Fund is administered by our Belgian union and Brother Is. Smets keeps control of how the money is being used.
We have also assisted our Spanish comrades in other fields in their fight for national freedom.
After the three- week strike in Finland the Finnish Woodworkers! Union asked the IFBWW to make a subscription among our member organisations for the benefit of the union. Regard being had to the financial assistance already rendered to the Finnish union and considering the readiness of the other Scandinavian unions to help the Finnish Woodworkers, the Executive Committee did not find it advisable to comply with the request. However, it was decided to grant the Finnish Union D. Kr. 10,000 out of IFBWW funds.
Two of our African affiliates have asked for financial support. An amount of D. Kr. 10,000 has been paid over to the Regional Activities Fund of the ICFTU with the request that it should be used preferably in Africa. With a view to the co- ordination of the trade union activities in the underdeveloped areas of the world which is expected to be arranged by the ICFTU and the ITS, the request of the African unions will be dealt with at a later stage. An amount of D.Kr. 10,000 has been transferred to the ICFTU Hungarian Relief Fund. Practically all our affiliated unions have contributed to the subscription raised by the ICFTU in support of the Hungarian Relief Programme.
Withdrawals
The American woodworkers' union( International Woodworkers of America) has disaffiliated with the IFBWW on the grounds that they do
35

not wish to be affiliated with our International until the Yugoslav trade unions have withdrawn.
New Affiliations
The Building Workers' Union and the Woodworkers' Union of Cuba have been admitted to membership as from July 1, 1956.
Negotiations with the American Unions on Affiliation
During the Fifth Session of the ILO Building, Civil Engineering and Public Works Committee in May 1956 Sir Richard Coppock and the General Secretary conducted negotiations with representatives of the American building workers with a view to the affiliation of American unions.
The matter was discussed in a friendly spirit, and it was our impression that the American representatives took a sympathetic attitude. It was agreed that it would be advisable to contact the American unions by convening a meeting in the U.S. between representatives of all American unions and representatives of the IFBWW. The American trade union representatives in Geneva declared that they were prepared to co- operate in arranging such a meeting. In consequence if the attitude later adopted by the American trade union movement towards the ITS which have admitted Yugoslav unions to membership, further negotiations have been postponed for the time being.
Publications
The" Bulletin", giving information on economic, trade union and political matters, has been published regularly once a month.
The" International Housing Bulletin", published in co- operation with the Standing Housing Committee of ERO/ ICFTU under the editorship of H. Umrath, has also appeared regularly.
Attempt at Establishing Statistical Information Service
According to a decision by the Executive Committee an attempt has been made to build up a statistical information service. There appeared, however, to be insufficient interest among the affiliated unions for this project as only eight unions answered the questionnaire sent out by the Secretariat, Because of the poor interest, the Secretary found it useless to continue that particular work.
36

Relations with Affiliated Unions
In our daily activities we are gratified to see that the feeling of international solidarity is stronger than ever before. Our relations with the member unions are the best possible. All correspondence and inquiries have been duly attended to.
Our relations with all the international bodies with which we co- operate are good. We endeavour to keep informed of developments in all fields. pertaining to the interests of our members.
Representation at Congresses and Meetings
Organisation
Algemene Bedrijfsbond voor de Meubilerings- en Houtbedrijven Norsk Skog og Landarbeiderforbund Finlands Träarbetareförbund
Norsk Stenindustriarbeiderforbund Yugoslav Woodworkers' Union
Svenska Elektrikerförbundet
Glarmestersvendenes Forbund i
Danmark
Svenska Murareförbundet
Svenska Byggnadsarbetareförbundet.
Spanske Bygningsarbeiderforbund i Exil
Svenska Sadelmakere och Tapetserareförbundet
International Landworkers' Federation
Letzeburger Arbechterverband
Dansk Arbejdsmandsforbund Gewerkschaft der Bau und Holzarbeiter, Austria
Schweizerischer Bau und Holzarbeiterverband
N.F.B.T.0.
ICFTU/ ITS Liaison Committee
Representative
Niels Madsen
Arne Hagen Is. Smets
Arne Hagen
E. von Ins
Georg Leber
Niels Madsen
Is. Smets
Sir Richard Coppock Arne Hagen
Is. Smets
Sir Richard Coppock
Georg Leber
J.H. Mills
Knut Johansson
Arne Hagen
Is. Smets Arne Hagen
Arne Hagen
- 37-

IFBWW Governing Bodies
During the period under review the Management Committee has met
twice; the Executive Committee has held one ordinary and two extraordinary
meetings.
The composition of the various bodies has been as follows:
Executive Committee
Sir Richard Coppock
Is. Smets
Arne Hagen
Knut Johansson
Great Britain Belgium
President
Vice- President
General Secretary
Sweden
Niels Madsen
Denmark
Georg Leber
Germany
Heinz Seeger
Germany
C. Brandsma
Holland
E. von Ins
J.H. Mills
Franz Olah
Switzerland
Great Britain
Austria
France
L. Fréour
Alfred Ljøner
Norway
Andreas Karlsson
Sweden
Erik Johansson
Management Committee
Sweden
Forestry Workers' Representative
Painters'
Representative
Stoneworkers'
Representative
Sir Richard Coppock
Great Britain
President
Is. Smets
Belgium
Vice- President
Germany
Georg Leber
Niels Madsen
Arne Hagen
Auditor
A.A. Lawder
Denmark
General Secretary
Great Britain
38

Committee of Auditors
H. Weaver
Edvard Olesen
Knut Johansson
Great Britain
Denmark
Sweden
Unions Affiliated with IFBWW as per 31st March, 1957
Gewerkschaft der Bau und Holzarbeiter
Austria:
167,201 members
Belgium:
Algemene Centrale
52,000
ft
Denmark:
Dansk Arbejdsmandsforbund
51,000
11
Blikkenslager- Sanitet og Rørarbejderforbundet i Danmark
3,000
Dansk Elektrikerforbund
2,000
11
Glarmestersvendenes Forbund i
Danmark
550
11
Malerforbundet i Danmark
5,400
11
=
Murerforbundet i Danmark
11,000
11
-
Dansk Stenindustriarbejderforbund
615
Stukkatørernes Fagforening
46
11
Finland:
France:
Holland:
Bødkerforbundet i Danmark
Børsteindustriarbejdernes Forbund
Forgylderforbundet i Danmark
Karetmagerforbundet
Sadelmager og Tapetsererforbundet
Dansk Skibstømrerforbund
Træindustriarbejderforbundet
i Danmark
Snedkerforbundet i Danmark
Dansk Tømrerforbund
Suomen Puutyöväen Liitto r.y. Maa- ja Sekatyöväen Liitto r.y.
Fédération Générale du Bâtiment et du Bois, Force Ouvrière
Algemene Nederlandse
Bouwbedrijfsbond
Algemene Bedrijfsbond voor de Meubilering en Houtbedrijven
20,250
11
4,817 11
not available
66,384 members
8,631
11
217
11
630
=
100
11
1,432
11
3,105
11
900
11
11,300 11
13,069
11
11,576
1!
- 39-

Iceland:
Israel:
Mál ársveinafélag Reykjavíkur
National Union of Building and Public Works
Italy:
National Union of Woodworkers
Federazione Italiana Lavoratori Dell'Edilizua
100 members
25,000 7,000
#
not available
Federazione Unitaria Lavoratori Legne Artistiche e Varie
not available
Federazione Nationale Edili e Affini
not available.
Yugoslavia:
Sindikat Drvodeljskih Radnika Jugoslavije
60,452
11
Sindikat Radnika I Sluzbenika Gradevinske Industrije
95,033
11
Luxemburg:
Letzeburger Arbechterverband
1,500
Great Britain:
Amalgamated Slaters, Tilers& Roofing Operatives
2,000
11
Amalgamated Society of Woodcutting Machinists
6,000
11
Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers
119,372
11
Amalgamated Union of Asphalt Workers
1,517
Amalgamated Union of Building
Trades Workers
82,000
11
Associations of Building
Technicians
1,250
National Association of
Operative Plasterers
15,596
11
Composite Section
7,000
11
National Amalgamated Society of Operat.
House and Ship Painters& Decorators
National Union of General&
Municipal Workers
Plumbing Trades Union
Scottish National Operative
Plasterers Union
57,000
11
20,000
11
26,000
11
2,000
11
Scottish Slaters, Tilers, Roofers and Cement Workers Society
Scottish Painters' Society
National Society of Street Masons, Paviors and Roadmakers
2,054. 11
9,000
11
1,200
11
-
Transport& General Workers Union
60,000
=
11
- 40-

Norway::
Norsk Arbeidsmandsforbund
7,000 members
Switzerland:
Norsk Bygningsindustriarbeiderforbund
Norsk Elektriker og Krafstasjonsforbund
Norsk Murerforbund
Norsk Skog og Landarbeiderforbund Norsk Stenindustriarbeiderforbund Norsk Treindustriarbeiderforbund
Schweizerischer Bau und Holzarbeiterverband
52,500
4,000
11
5,040
11
13,000
11
1,140 6,477
!!
61,017
=
=
Sweden:
Svenska Byggnadsarbetare förbundet
131,741
Svenska Bleck och Plåtslagareförb.
Svenska Elektrikerförbundet
3,660 19,498
11
11
Svenska Målareförbundet
Svenska Murareförbundet
18,617 15,823
-
11
-
Svenska Skogs och Flottningsarbetareförbundet
34,957
Sadelmakare och Tapetserareförb. Svenska Stenindustriarbetareförb. Svenska Träindustriarbetareförb.
3,981
11
=
=
5,186 61,953
11
=
Germany:
IG. Bau- Steine- Erden Gewerkschaft" Holz"
300,000
11
=
=
170,000
11
Africa:
The Coordinating Council of the Furniture Trade Unions of South Africa
6,030
11
Nigeria& Cameroons House Builders & Woodworkers
630
11
East African Federation of Building and Construction Workers Union
Cuba:
National Building and Construction Workers' Union, Ghana
Federacion National de Obreros del Ramo de la Construcion
1,000
2,000
11
20,000
11
Federacion Nazional de Trabajadores de las Industrias Forestal, Madera, del Mueble y sus Anexo
5,000
11
- 41*
-Stiftung
uuog
*
Friedrich

New Zealand:
N.Z. Timberworkers' Union
5,000 members
Total: 1,992, 363 registered members
- 42-
Copenhagen, March 1957
ARNE HAGEN
'
( General Secretary)

1
2
3
7
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Centimetres
Inches
Grayscale
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
100%
C
YM
Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
50%
18%
0%
Centimetres Inches
2
Blue
# C9C9FF # 0000FF
9
7
Color chart
6
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de
Cyan Green Yellow
Red
Magenta White
Grey
Black
# C0E5FC # 009FFF
# 759675
# 008B00
# FFFFC7 # FFFF00
# FFC9C9 # FF0000
# FFC9FF # FF00FF
#FFFFFF
# 9D9E9E # D9DADA
# 5B5B5B # 000000