ей DOCUMENTS FROM THE SECRETARIAT DOKUMENTE DES SEKRETARIATS DOKUMENTEN VAN HET SECRETARIAAT DOCUMENTI DI SEGRETERIA DOCUMENTOS DE LA SECRETARIA DOCUMENTS DU SECRETARIAT SEKRETARIATETS DOKUMENT fédération internationale des travailleurs du bâtiment et du bois internationaler bund der bau- und holzarbeiter internationella byggnads- och träarbetarunionen international federation of building and wood workers Internationale bond van bouw- en houtarbeiders federazione internazionale dei lavoratori edili e del legno federación internacional de trabajadores de la construcción y la madera 200 DEN 14: e KONGRESSEN STOCKHOLM- SVERIGE 27-29 AUGUSTI 1975 Z 8254 LOMSTERKUNGEN IBBH IFBWWW. FITBB IBTU FITCM SVEA JARL rodKHOLM IBBHO IFBWWW FITBB BTU FITCM H881 TION EDEL Y LA MADERA IFBWWW FITBB IBTU FITCM 1 27-29, rue de la Coulouvrenière CH- 1204 Genève( Switzerland) Téléphone:( 022) 21 16.11. Télégrammes: interbuild Télex: Atbb 28 577 ch BOUU Z 8254 Friedrich- Ebe Stiftung * Bonn Bibliothek FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DES TRAVAILLEURS DU BATIMENT ET DU BOIS INTERNATIONALER BUND DEN 14: e KONGE DER BAUUND HOLZARBEITER INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BUILDING AND WOOD WORKERS INTERNATIONELLA BYGGNADSOCH TRÄARBETARUNIONEN FEDERAZIONE INTERNAZIONALE DEI LAVORATORI EDILI E DEL LEGNO INTERNATIONALE BOND VAN BOUWEN HOUTARBEIDERS FEDERACION INTERNACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES DE LA CONSTRUCCION STOC Y LA MADERA HOLM 2 27-29 IBBH. IFBWWW FITBB IBTU FITCM 27-29, rue de la Coulouvrenière CH- 1204 Genève( Switzerland) Téléphone:( 022) 21 16 11 Télégrammes: interbuild Télex: fitbb 28 577 ch 2.8254 ЗЈАПОНТАИЯЭТИОТ MITAB UQ B PART 2108 UG T3 ОИЦЯ ЯЗМАЙОТТАИЯЭТИ ДАЯ ЯЗО яз ASJOH OVU ИОІТАЯЗО ЈАЙОТАИЯЗТИІ A3TMI 8 70 GOOW GMA HO BJAMOI 303 AJ 130 СИОВ ЭЈАНОІТАИЯЭТИ WUOB MAV ATUOH ИЗ ЈАНОЗАИЯЭТИ ЙОАЯЗОВА 2380GALAВАЯТ ЗО АЯЗДАМ АJY 00 ALI 30 UTBI MOTIR réinsvuoluo al ab aun es- ES ( bralessiw2) avóne POST- HO trar rs( SSO): anoriqla T blindhetni cesmmandT do 2 8S ddrif: xelsT DEN 14: e KONGRESSEN DOCUMENTS FROM THE SECRETARIAT DOKUMENTE DES SE DOKUMENTEN VAN HET DOCUMENTI DOCUMENTOS DE IBBH IFBW DOCUMENTS ITBB DU IBTU FITCM LAT SEKRETARIATETS DOKUMENT 3 STOCKHOLM SVERIGE 27-29 AUGUSTI 1975 UTBI WI MOTIA нав! Млоннота aver IT2UDUA es- TS Introduction IFBWW ffice is, then, to provide a The DOCUMENTS FROM THE SECRETARIAT DOKUMENTE DES SEKRETARIATS rist, the DOKUMENTEN VAN HET SECRETARIAAT Recipients will note that, for DOCUMENTI DI SEGRETERIA DOCUMENTOS DE LA SECRETARIA Congress have been set off in IFBWW appear in dark DOCUMENTS DU SECRETARIAT SEKRETARIATETS DOKUMENT 4 ТАІНАТИЯола инт моят втиямизда СТАЯАТЕЯнда ана ятияминок ТАЛІЯАТНЯна тан ИАУ ИЗТИЗМонос АІНЯТИЯона о гтизмород ТАІЯАТНЯзва от атиаморот Introduction The present volume contains documents emanating from the Geneva Secretariat, the IFBWW regional offices and the industrial and Europe committees. The purpose of this volume is is, then, to provide a concise resumé of the past work and future plans of the IFBWW Secretariat, the International's regional offices, directing bodies and industrial and Europe committees. Recipients will note that, for easy reference, the documents concerning the functioning of Congress have been set off in light blue, while the list of affiliates and governing bodies of the IFBWW appear in dark blue. 5 noitouboun art densee evens art mot gaiteriams atmamusob anistno smulov sneesiq ed al emulov airl 20qimmo qonu3 bris isintaubhi srit bns zapitto Isnoipe WW831 to sziono a obivog of nerisai Jarls eron lliw ansiqis to arit to movog bas atsiliits to tail adr oil ni Ito rez need over zergro топод suld heb ni WW CONTENTS Introduction The present volume contains documents emanating from the Geneva Secretariat, the IFBWW regional offices and the industrial and Europe committees. The purpose of this volume is is, then, to provide a concise resumé of the past work and future plans of the IFBWW Secretariat, the International's regional offices, directing bodies and industrial and Europe committees. Recipients will note that, for easy reference, the documents concerning the functioning of Congress have been set off in light blue, while the list of affiliates and governing bodies of the IFBWW appear in dark blue. Re Motio Indust 3. 1975 5 noitsubotel avane art most prizname zonemusob anistos emulov tnsseng ed immos aqui bns fshteubni or bas esoitto Isnoiper WW871 bne show sqert to amuse selonoo a sbivog onesel Ianolgen a' lenoitsmetal or sh arl Jainst eidt to to ansig to sit to ent primentos to gaib ibod pnimevog bns estsifiths to tail srit to tail ent eliriw au Buld Iliw atneiqipe Jer need everl zeegno suld sheb ni WW CONTENTS Report of the General Secretary 1972- 1975 Report of the General Secretary 1972 1973 Report of the General Secretary 1973-1974 Report of the General Secretary 1974 1975 Report on Activities in Africa. Report on Activities in Asia . - Report from the Latin American Regional Office The World Crisis in the Building Industry Logs and Multinationals Activities Reports from the IFBWW Committees Forestry Committee Europe Committee . Committee for the Woodworking Industries Committee for the Building Industry International Cooperation in the Housing Field. Report on Future Activities B Draft Programme for the Opening of the Congress Provisional Agenda for the Congress 9 13 16 31 39 42 44 51 62 67 67 68 69 • 70 72 75 79 81 Notes on the Agenda . Draft Standing Orders. 83 85 Motions and Proposals 1. Motions from the Sawmill& Timber Industry Workers' Union, Malaysia 2. Motions from the Union of Forest Employees, Malaysia.. . 888888 87 87 3. Motion from the Woodworkers' Federation Agaç- Is, Turkey 89 • 4. Motion from the Construction& Allied Workers' Union UOCRA, Argentina. 5. Proposals from the Executive Committee to Amend Paragraph 10 of the IFBWW Statutes to Permit an Increase in Affiliation Fees 90 91 B 6. Proposal of Executive Committee to Amend Paragraph 24 of the IFBWW Statutes. 7. Draft Amendment to Paragraph 26 of the IFBWW Statutes 94 95 List of Affiliated Organizations as per July 1, 1975 IFBWW Structure Executive Committee Management Committee. Committee of Auditors IFBWW Industrial Committees 97 102 102 105 106 107 00 6 49883 8 22828 228 етилтиор slaysia MoU W aterbigi ngo Brit to to pain of emma espn orixot conspA Isnoizivo19 ful sq ebragA arti no asto Accounts 1972-1973 Report of the Committee of Auditors.. Accounts 1973-1974. Report of the Committee of Auditors.. Accounts 1974-1975 Expenditures " Receipts B Balance IFBWW Regional Office in Africa IFBWW Latin America Budget 1975-1976. • Explanations concerning the IFBWW budget Report of the Committee of Auditors 1974- 1975 . RIA FITBB DOC DOKUMENT SEKR 7 109 115 117 124 126 126 127 128 . 129 130 131 132 134 FITCM ecr EXOT Ster A aratibu to estimmo or TSJ CET aver zorio A to 30 ed to rogsA 2501 A Report of the General Secretary 1972-1975 ments Every time the General con Each time, one hopes Thi one hopes that the Of course, there there are a hardly written it on in th Repo the sit on in the sunny sides es, but the sh will be better, but the shadow the trees of DOCUMENTS FROM THE SECRETARIAT Now, DOKUMENTE DES SEKRETARIATS DOKUMENTEN VAN HET SECRETARIAAT creasing unemploy DOCUMENTI DI SEGRETERIA Unen DOCUMENTOS DE LA SECRETARIA Every charac DOCUMENTS DU SECRETARIAT cer SEKRETARIATETS DOKUMENT this crisis will cont inue. Bu No a depress In com the produc ion. IBBH IFBWWW IBTU FITBR FITCM of varying Iding industry. It is 50 percent in believe we are app arise, since to demar made of the dis 30's the ane ca urity they were 45 ye ago; to a rtain extent, extent, the wide worst effects of the crisis. But it the ca society was tribution of and services as well as earnings and The naturally less less free than before in money ma very large and the was unable to mast However, situ ate capitalistic Society is of economic for danger of cof this particularly applies for th The syst stern not in the Intense crisis. velo many cau dra to The oil problems was factor which strong the de hout going into the sit of in of the trade unions we are the its more de ty of the be noted that tem to solve prot simply In view of the widespread inflat to be silent and expla cannot be assu their gigantic ntic tran lems the m The future of the work xers an a new social order. From the point of ltinational rms and ther sp speculato ut the thought there is no reason for us families is at af by " quick" business On the one hand, petty thieves are nd on other, we dodgers and confidence tricksters to live in luxury and wealt This system is a stain on our civilisation and it pr Nixon Haldeman were only little fishes that net, big and important ones at the head of the rest of the cont The trade union movem between the Bank crecy must be ts must deman 8 behind ⚫UTB WWERI MOTIA ● H881. 88TI3 TAIЯATERO ET MORI STWAMDood BTALEATER MIMUNO TAAIHATEROWE TH MAY MATAMUHOU AIRTADIE IN ITEM 30 AIATEHO A SOTMEMUDO TAIKATERONE SUDOC THEMUNO STATAIT ha is Report of the General Secretary wold 1972-1975 to iq sri bos angio vils ลวด hab srit Ji of beltitne Every time the General Secretary's Report is written it seems, with respect to the developments during the last congress period, as if the situation in the world has become worse. nem Each time, one hopes that the situation in the next report will be better, but each time, it is never the case. Of course, there are a few sunny sides, but the shadows outweigh them and new problems appear. This time, it will hardly be necessary to go into the trends of the last years. Everyone is familiar with the development tendencies. Now, what were the most serious problems of the last years? From the point of view of the trade unions, the almost dramatic development of the economic crisis together with strongly increasing unemployment and wide- spread price increases is one of the most important problems. Unemployment is a penetrating and difficult problem. The negative tendency can be seen everywhere; but it is of varying intensity, and according to the respective countries, of varying character. Unemployment is particularly noticeable in the building industry. It is 50 percent in certain areas of some countries, which can be seen as a real catastrophe. No one can say how long this crisis will continue. But many believe that we are approaching a depression similar to that of the 30's. In comparison with the 30's the same catastrophic situation will naturally not arise, since the production and distribution mechanisms as well as social security are much better today than they were 45 years ago; to a certain extent, the wide public sector may be able to dampen the worst effects of the crisis. But it is clear that the capitalistic society was unable to meet the demands made of the distribution of goods and services as well as earnings and profits. The private capitalistic society is naturally less free than before in money matters. However, the range of economic forces is still very large and the system was unable to master the situation. There is the danger of collapse; this particularly applies for the international monetary system. not britab The system was not in the position to solve a series of new problems, and the result was an intense crisis. There are many causes. The oil crisis was a factor which strongly influenced the developments and greatly dramatised the effects. bho Without going into the situation and the course of events more deeply it must be noted that in view of the trade unions we are critically facing the ability of the capitalistic system to solve problems. In view of the widespread inflation and unemployment problems there is no reason for us to be silent and explain away the matter. The future of the workers and their families is at stake. We simply have to create a new social order. From the point of view of the trade unions it cannot be assumed that the multinational firms and other speculators will be able to continue their gigantic transactions unhindered without the slightest thought for the employees who are affected by the so- called behind- the- scenes" quick" business manoeuvres of the business managers. On the one hand, petty thieves are registered and punished, and on the other, we allow tax dodgers and confidence tricksters to live in luxury and wealth. This system is a stain on our civilisation and it proves that Watergate was not an exception. Nixon and Haldeman were only little fishes that got caught in the net, while the really big ho Ae and important ones at the head of the rest of the masses continue their business. The trade union movements must demand that this state of affairs come to an end. By cooperation between the various states a stricter economic legislation must be created. Bank secrecy must be abolished so that we can see what money is lying hidden behind those qmins es bebas 9 shining facades. How is it possible that Mafia money is lying in certain European banks? Today, we can no longer point out that it is to protect some Jews. There are others today who own large fortunes. Money means power. This is an old and true piece of wisdom, which still applies today. Money is the main thing, especially where it is available in large amounts. It is therefore one of the most important tasks of the workers' movements to fight and break this concentration of power and this monopoly so that the power lies in the right hands, namely in the hands of those entitled to it, i.e. the democratically elected political organs and the productive population, the workers and employees. Our criticism of finance and capitalism is still too considerate. A rich man is treated with respect. This is senseless, because it is not certain that hard work was behind his wealth. If this is the case then the wealth stands in no proportion to the effort. There are millions of hard- working workers who have to go through life poor. The type of work governs the rise of the rich man and his respectful peace. ven Work has to be regarded in a different way and this has partly already happened. Labour 19 must be regarded more highly. Every person has a right to work just as we have the right to demand from those who can, to work productively. A fair distribution of prosperity should be able to be reached by a sensible social order. Further, the demand for free education and sick care for all citizens is sensible. These reforms could be executed by a just distribution of taxes; and this would also lead to more jobs. Citizens of rich countries must use a part of their wealth to promote reconstruction and development in the Third World. This is our duty. Only in this way can we make good our debts from the period of colonisation. sudenerv More attention must be paid to our global responsibility. It is senseless that the larger part of the world's population has to live in terrible poverty while we revel in luxury and wealth. On a long- term basis a new world order has to be created, namely a social order with just distribution. imia Since it is a matter of such enormous problems we cannot assume that we will be able to solve them with the help of short- sighted measures like the granting of taxation benefits and other sham measures. Great unemployment demands the creation of jobs and this cannot be done if those already living in wealth are granted taxation cuts. rl: to ib The available resources must be distributed more justly and this can be done by higher taxation on large business profits and other large incomes, inheritances and fortunes. to noirudit These revenues must be used to promote housing construction and other investments useful for society. This will lead to jobs for building and metal industry workers which, in turn, will increase demand for other goods and will start the ball rolling with increased demand for goods and services on the whole level. Only a greater demand can create new jobs. on as matave ad However, money is needed to start the whole mechanism moving and this money can be obtained, as we have seen above, by a high taxation of company profits, other high incomes and property. The ever- rising profits of certain enterprises can no longer be tolerated in a hungry world. With respect to the distribution of profits new value determinations must be found. In this respect, the trade union movements must march at the fore and contribute to the relative formation of opinion. The battle for these ideas is the corner stone of the work of the trade union movements. ei zeilimst vierit bas xe bns ins If social care and education is completely financed by taxation revenues the demand for the relative services will be increased and this will lead to jobs for hospital staff, teachers, building workers, etc. In this way a guarantee against economic stagnation can be created. Despite the large and growing problems, the IFBWW is facing the future with realistic optimism. In many respects, the past years have proved just how badly organisations like the IFBWW are needed. There are few today who would doubt this need. 21912 nebitno bas jebob The problem is, to what extent is it possible to solve these problems with the available means? glirtw bns noxil An organisation like the IFBWW also has important work to do in the developing countries. No other organisation can replace a labour office in this respect. The activities in Africa and Latin America over the past years have shown that there are great possibilities for progress in the fields of vocational training in the industrial groups represented by the IFBWW. This must be regarded as an important task and the trade union movements must be supported in the developing 10 countries. It can be seen that, in countries where there is strong trade union activity studies and training possibilities for the development of trade unions and their structure and working methods have played a great role.vip Jon 290b dibidw mesave pimonose bas lepitiloq The IFBWW must continue this activity. The cooperation with the ILO in Latin America has proved successful. At the moment, negotiations are under way which deal with various projects of this type for Asia and Africa. eldsub ton noitsutie inee One third of the IFBWW budget is used for regional activities, which fact shows the scope of these activities. The activity of the committee, which was described more closely in the last congress period, is to be expanded even more in future. It should now be possible to build up further on the basis already created and to supervise to a greater extent the various branches of the building and woodworking industries and forestry.srt of breezylens seart to to ziluze The activities in specialised areas will naturally be continued. New problems and working areas are always cropping up. It is becoming more and more the task of an organisation like the IFBWW to concern itself with questions of the protection of the environment and the workers and of labour market policy. NookAt the same time, the multinational companies with their great influence on economic life pose a serious challenge for the trade union movements. This development will doubtlessly lead to greater intermediary activity on the part of the IFBWW as well as an increased need for the exchange of information between the affiliates and the IFBWW. We must not forget that one of the most important objectives of the international move- on ments is to promote international solidarity and communication. This message is still important even if the old forms of borders between the different peoples seem to be disappearing. Unfortunately, however, real international thinking everywhere is still a long way off; on no the contrary, national conceptions and prejudices tend to overshadow it. A tedious and difficult instruction programme will be necessary to change this attitude. And this is one of the most important tasks of the trade union movements. to However, if the trade union movements apply their comprehensive organisation apparatus for the dissemination of ideas on internationalism the result of these activities will certainly be international tolerance and knowledge, détente and increased cooperation. gsp aid aud We can only hope that the young people will show more understanding for the importance of international solidarity than the older generations have done. ni esitilidisqe 100 vol AssIn order to solve the great problems of the future it is necessary to increase international thinking and we have to ignore our prejudices.stozni aldiz q hier It is a very important task to show consideration and understanding in every respect on an international level. positioInternationalism in itself is worth fighting for. nu International work is so exciting and interesting that it can stimulate greater efforts. 916 But it should not just remain at tourist trips to exotic and inexpensive countries. Such expeditions are senseless, and according to what I have personally heard from members of the working classes of these countries, they are not very welcome. They add nothing to the promotion of the process of democratisation and economic progress for the community in general. A sistlew We can only hope that the trade union movements will undertake greater efforts for international education and a seriously meant engagement. But this does not mean that by international engagement the conditions in other countries I have to be criticised. Serious engagement means that one approaches the foreign cultural forms with respect and understanding. Tolerance is an extremely important factor of international activity. Cultural and other differences are the results of centuries of tradition and experience and must therefore be respected. It is their very existence which gives the international structure a certain fascination. However, every form of non- freedom and oppression must be condemned, and it is one of the most important tasks of the trade union movements and the untiring and strong opinion formers to fight against such deplorable states of affairs. And, in so doing, the easiest way cannot always be taken and one should not be afraid of perhaps coming into conflict with powerful forces. 11 The fight is for freedom. There is no freedom without free trade union movements, and no free trade union movements without freedom. sent to nom Moreover, every political and economic system which does not give its fellow citizens the possibility of freely choosing their future is unworthy. The terror of certain minority governments cannot remain forever, for sooner or later it will lead to power fights and make the pre- q sent situation not durable. to A labour office must continue to coordinate the international activity of its affiliated trade unions. Some of our labour offices which were particularly active in uncovering the activities of multinational companies, this applies above all to the ICF and the IUF, have been recently exposed to so- called" analyses" of" wiseacres". As expected, the results of these analyses correspond to the wishful thinking of the multinational companies. It was surprising to see the work of which the ICF and the IUF were capable. In addition, the position of the labour offices, particularly that of the IFBWW, is regarded as too weak to be able to make any noteworthy difficulties. Naturally, it is completely uninteresting to know how critics and ideological opponents of the trade union movements judge our ability to solve problems. From our point of view, the only fact that is interesting, is that the movements undertake efforts and work for the interests of their members. But when the critics say that the labour office only has small office rooms, a small staff and not much available funds, then this is naturally correct. rooteddy can But the critics are making a big mistake if they think they have seen the whole truth. It happens to be so that the efficiency of the trade unions is judged practically completely on the basis of its members. A trade union cannot carry out any serious activities if it has no members. However, the IFBWW and the other labour offices have many members. Most affiliates, e.g. of the IFBWW have large experience in the solution of many problems. A labour office can only represent members of the various affiliated trade unions. Measures can only be taken on their behalf. But the labour office should form and direct the international strategy; but this can only be done within the framework of the will and the organisational abi- ni lities of the affiliates. ation However, our capabilities in this respect must not be underestimated. Isaoismet ni to If, on the basis of activities of e.g. a multinational firm in Sweden, we are forced to inter- ful vene, then effective measures are possible insofar as the Swedish union is prepared to intervene. Of course, the multinational companies have a very strong position, mainly because of their wide- spread businesses in countries where there is little trade union activity. There enterprises ini are naturally completely opposed to trade unions because the interests of the latter are poles apart from those of the multinational firms. The multinationals aim for profits at any expense. The trade unions, on the other hand, demand security and proper wages for their members. Thus, a conflict is unavoidable. Multinational companies often fool governments and employees by pretending to be working for the generalba welfare. And, it must be said that they often are successful. However, we all must stand up for changes in this field. eqori orb bns De mea 10t pitbe John Löfblad can be cre onsnettib merito bns istutlu Jaum noislept nise es. oqm ar garded as an important task and the trade union movements must be suppo ed in the developing 12 Americ Umrath has contin his Compris Alsipages 2sitivos sutut berubab bns. OJI S etenco s begnens verb Ster edato Housing oni to Report of the General Secretary on the activities of the period 1st April 1972- 31st March 1973 beritabou zd ed or borist to avena nimeldong airs pribeg SteveMƐ be d: 08 no sitzuA This year has been marked with a continued, international tension, even if an important step has been taken in the direction of lessening those tensions by the fact that the hostilities have been stopped in Viet- Nam, a fact that has been greeted with happiness and satisfaction in all corners of the world. But nevertheless tensions are still prevailing in many corners of the world and many problems are far from being solved. sointA The monetary situation has been uneasy over the year which has caused difficulties and problems of various kinds. In many countries the employment situation has been unsatisfactory with increasing unemployment. The inflation is an increasing problem and rising prices are a great concern for the wage earners in a lot of countries. It seems that there is a tendency that prices are increasing faster than wages. During this year, the IFBWW has held its 13th statutory Congress in Ostende, Belgium from 11th to 13th October 1973. It was the biggest Congress in the history of the IFBWW with nearly 200 delegates, plus guests of industry organisations. During the Congress decisions on various activities for the future of the IFBWW have been taken. The decisions taken at the Congress mean without any doubt that the delegates expect from the International that it expands its activities over the years to come. This will mean that the various Committees of the IFBWW will have to expand their work in the near future and the Management Committee has already taken measures in accordance with these decisions. For the first time in the history of the IFBWW the affiliation fee has been increased by the Congress without any discussion, a sign of the fact that the affiliates understand well the importance of the work of the International and the necessity of giving the International the financial means to carry out its work. However, with the continuing inflation, this will not mean that it will be possible to expand activities very much within nuoti the limits of the financial contributions, but it still means that it will be possible to carry out a realistic programme for the years before the 14th statutory Congress in Stockholm in August 1975. Asia beunitho 260 hav2 Asia is a vast continent with various conditions spanning from Turkey in the West to Japan in the East. In Turkey, the unions are facing many problems and the unions affiliated to the IFBWW are not exceptioned from this. The woodworkers union from Turkey, the Agac- Is, seems however to have a strong, stabilised position and that seems to have a very good activities. They have now been able to start and operate with the printing press which has been given to them by the unions in Norway and the IFBWW joinedly. But the unions in Turkey are facing difficult problems with the increasing population, together with a very unfair distribution of income. Spain woM Over the year, the IFBWW has continued to protest against the pression against the workers and unions in Spain. The financial support has also been given to various activities. edmem 000 08 Relations with the ICFTU and the other Trade Secretariats As usual, the IFBWW has maintained a very fruitful cooperation with the ICFTU and the other international trade secretariats. At the ICFTU world congress in London in 1972, Otto Kersten, Germany, was elected General Secretary and McDonald was elected President. Those two men form a very good team and provide an excellent leadership for the world organisation which however is faced with many problems. The International Trade Secretariats held a general conference in London in April 1972 and one in Geneva in 1973. At these conferences, they agreed upon certain forms of co- operation. John Löfblad was appointed as one of the four General Secretaries which represent the ITS on the board of the ICFTU. European Trade Union Confederation o The European Trade Union Confederation was established in Brussels on 9th February 1973. head eri lenor 200 13 Relations with the ILO The IFBWW has under the door a good co- operation with the ILO and discussed future activities, especially follow- ups of resolutions adopted at the previous sessions of industrial committees at the ILO. The ILO has also started to be concerned about the multinational enterprises and in October 1972 they arranged a conference regarding this problem, in Geneva, at which John Löfblad participated. The Executive and the Management Committee no de The Executive Committee has met three times during the year. The annual meeting has been held in Vienna, Austria, on 30th and 31st May, 1972 and on 10th and 13th October, 1972 in Ostende, Belgium. The Management Committee has met eight times over the year. Activities in developing countries bax At the meeting in Vienna, the Executive Committee accepted the following budget for the activities in developing countries during the year of activities 1st April, 1972 to 31st March, 1973: Africa sfr. Latin America sfr. 130'000.50'000.sfr. 180'000.The Executive Committee decided to delegate to the Management Committee together with the General Secretary to let and adjust the activities in the developing countries in accordance with the intentions of the Executive Committee. Latin America bni Jsnoit On this continent, Ake Wedin has carried out the work as regional director for the IFBWW. His activities, being sponsored not only by the IFBWW, but also by the Scandinavian Federation of Building and Woodworkers and the German Buildingworkers Union. Ake Wedin took up his work in the beginning of January, 1972 and he has travelled the continent, given seminars encouraging unions to join the IFBWW and kept contact with the unions in Latin America in the Building and Woodworkers trades in various ways. It seems that the activities in Latin America have been very successful under the leadership of Ake Wedin and that the IFBWW has now a sound foundation for continued programs in that area. Africa Sven Mattsson has continued to lead the activities on that continent and he has been very much occupied by arranging seminars in Zambia. Africa is a big continent with various conditions in different areas and the conditions for a good result of the work of the IFBWW are not always existing. In Rhodesia, Bill Lawrence has been giving some seminars to unions for Africans. It should be understood that he is always working under very difficult conditions. In Ethiopia, Lennart Kindström who is the ICFTU representative in that country, has been helping the IFBWW to distribute some money for organisational purposes to the Woodworkers Unions in Addis Abeba. Beyond that the IFBWW has not been able to do much for this area. New affiliates to the IFBWW during the year The following unions have affiliated during the year: nieq2 erb 19v0 1. Building and Construction Workers' Union Seychelles: 1000 members and hoqque leionenit edT.nisq 2. Unión Obrera de la Construcción de la República Argentina: 250 000 members 3. Unión de Trabajadores de la Construcción UTRACON Costa Rica: 800 members dri 4. Sindicato de Trabajadores de Cemento Samper, Columbia 5. Union de Sindicatos de la Industria Maderera de la República Argentina USIMRA, Argentina 6. Sindicato de Trabajadores nas Industria de Construccion Civil de la Recife, Brazilia 51167813 การ กรอ 010 blow or not girlzsbeel inalleoxs The staff of the IFBWW i svona ni sno bns SterlingA ni nobro ni.consisting isang s blertatsins1092 abst The staff employed at the central headquarters of the IFBWW has during this year also been kept at a minimum. There are still only employed the General Secretary, his personal secretary and a typist. Changes in the personal has been made over the year, but the number of it is the same. Jan- Erik Norling continues his work as secretary of the various Committees part- time employed working out of Stockholm. There are also the two regional representatives as before, Sven Mattsson in Africa and Ake Wedin in Latin 14 America. Heinz Umrath has continued his work as responsible for the joint ICFTU- IFBWW at the International Housing Committee. As before, a great amount of translations and printing of various kinds of materials have been done outside of the office. In this field, it should be mentioned that Mr. André Steininger in Geneva has been very helpful. iding The International Housing Bulletin and the IFBWW Bulletin un nterna Those two publications have to continue to come out during the year in connection with the Congress in Ostende we started to publish the IFBWW Bulletin also in Spanish and with the membership now that the IFBWW has in Latin America, it is considered favourable that it continues to be so. success. Appointed the Un Broth Representation at Congresses during the year Internatio Allier_ ILO Commit Agricu ting a rest rs' Linion of elected group sec on of Plantation, A The IFBWW has been represented as follows at different Congresses: ittee on stab ation of 57th Session of the Labour Conference June 1972 Geneva: John Löfblad The ICFTU 10th World Congress in London July 1972: nebav cre Ac loping planni South A. Buys E. Canonica John Löfblad R. Sperner Knut Johansson J.E. Norling the 0.11 of dpir LedTperfect pildugaЯ lenobe deve The Danish Saddlemakers and Tapestryworkers Union Congress, Copenhagen August 1972: John Löfblad IG Bau- Steine- Erden, Germany, Congress Mainz August 1972: A. Buys oru to ano novig ovi 109113: ogsЯ latons John Löfblad Force Ouvrière, Building, Wood and Paperworkers Congress, Paris September 1972: 19 16 Emile Janssens, Belgium Allgemene Centrale Belgium Ostende: A. Buys and John Löfblad Internat. Trade Secretariat for Food and Allied Workers Congress, Geneva: John Löfblad Constituent Congress for the Trade Union Confederation of Europe Brussels, 8-9th February, 1973: John Löfblad priteer Fed. Nazionale Lavoratori Edili, Affini e del Legno( UIL), Union Italiana del lavoro, Internat. Congress, Bellaria, Italy, 2-4th March, 1973: John Löfblad. tak Geneva in May, 1973 birlabdd 3374. John Löfblad Obr So ope during de la Rep and is also first dépu Herrera. March for about one the VRB 1st February, 1974 of European affiliated organisations. He also nuary To make the South American regional office complete Villalobos from Venezuela. to assist Cuenca and the Secretariat has nandez. 210 developments in South Ameri prighow art no other bas zubni admit sit ni abnet mo8A S yuzubni sedmi srit ni anoitibnos en How Bris show ni 218 how to noijasto si 101 anoizivong Isuranco bas yours? A ties and instruction. Wedin's abi ubai admit or There has been cooperation with the IMF and the IUF during 1972 1973 1974 port from the ILO and the SIDA, Sweder program for training study group RUSH& BAR FASH At the end of March 1974, a special Buenos res to evaluate ties J.E. Norling was ged by the 110 and the SIDA to attend the Thanks to the supp the Eu по yubai admit end ni insmyolams to ytilidste sit of bersier amsidor contributions from the Nord derati increase its activities and from IG Bau- Steine- Erden, the IFBWW The Management Committee has planned to pursue On the 25th January, 1974, in qubai subsidies from the ILO to Mr. Paul Chu( Wo rsue its ties during the ári Vilsups ed by the SIDA the ILO and the SIDA dibaw? bois na olgm3 S 15 2014 22 000.0° vistamixo1qgs lady waRI- UTOI niol art so aldianoqast as how air beunitnoo and remU snisH solamA to abois avoisy to gnidning noitslangit to inams 15910 Report of the General Secretary on the activities of the period 1st April 1973- 31st March 1974 soled aA.estrimmo prizuQH especially to silt to abiatuo snob need TLOU Jutqish visv nitollua gnizuoH Isnoitement enT sved anoissoilduq owt seori ar daildug or bez w ba meeting has been hold, in Vienna, ebiano alisonsmA nits. ni asri stends, Belgium ILO: 2nd Tripartite Meeting on Timber Industry soy or gnijub 202201003 15 noitsinses1qR ed 26d WW8LdT ties in d to nolaes2 r2 This meeting took place in Geneva on 25th April- 8th May, 1973. Oblow dror UT TedT It was high time that a meeting be held as 15 years had passed since the first one was organised in 1958. The following countries were invited by the ILO's Governing Body to participate in the meeting: Federal Republic of Germany, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Ivory Coast, United States, Finland, France, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, Great Britain, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Turkey, the Soviet Union. Tanzania was invited but did not participate. On the agenda of the meeting were the following items: Ster Exenonse.neb13- onis12-68 DI eqs bus booWonibliu8 náhvu 95109 General Report: Effect given to the conclusions of the first meeting Africa 1. Introduction 2. Action taken in the various countries in the light of the conclusions adopted at the first meeting ties. a) Accident prevention in the timber industry b) Living conditions in logging camps c) Labour- management relations in the timber industry 3. Action taken by the ILO a) Steps taken by the office to carry out the studies and investigations proposed by the previous meeting b) Practical activities c) Other measures and activities relating to the timber industry General Report: Recent developments and progress in the timber industry 1. Introduction 2. General picture of the timber industry 3. Vocational training in the timber industry 4. Labour- management relations in the timber industry Africans. conditions sret vsti ni aventee and the condiConditions of work and life in the timber industry 1. Introduction untry, has been helping the beba. in 2. Recent trends in the timber industry and their effects on the working and living conditions of workers 3. Prevailing living and working conditions in the timber industry 4. Statutory and contractual provisions for the protection of workers in the timber industry 5. Social security 6. Occupational safety and health 7. Summary and conclusions. embers 250 000 members osta Rica: 800 meinbers rgentina USIMRA, Argentina de la Recife, Brazilia Problems related to the stability of employment in the timber industry 1. Introduction Trabe Indus 2. Employment patterns and prospects 3. Major factors affecting employment stability in the timber industry 4. Forestry as a source of employment 5. Summary and conclusions lso been kep Changes The IFBWW felt that the meeting was important and that it was equally necessary that the viewpoints of the employees be fully emphasized at the meeting.ary of the various Committees part- time employed At its own expense, the IFBWW had the reports translated into German and Swedish, which amounted to Mattsson Africa Ake approximately 30.000 Swiss Francs. 16 It was even more difficult this time to defend the employees, the majority of participating countries being developing nations with weak trade union movements and thus faced with difficulties in preparing for the meeting and in maintaining contacts before the meeting with their workers' representatives. However, the International Federation of Building and Woodworkers had worked hard to prepare this meeting and arranged a preparatory meeting at the headquarters of the International Metalworkers' Federation in Geneva on 24th April, 1973, giving to the labour delegates from unions affiliated to the IFBWW and other unions with which we have fraternal relationships, especially those affiliated to the IFPAAW, necessary information about the conference. The IFBWW cooperated with other international organisations to make this ILO Committee meeting a real success. Appointed chairman of the workers' group was Brother Pearson of the Agricultural Workers' Union of the United Kingdom. John Löfblad, General Secretary of the IFBWW, was elected workers' group secretary. The IFBWW worked especially closely with the International Federation of Plantation, Agriculture and Allied Workers. Mr. Kittelman of the Agricultural Workers' Union of Germany was elected Vice- chairman of the subcommittee on stabilisation of employment in the Timber Industry. Mr. Shamsudin from Malaysia was elected vice- chairman of the subcommittee on conditions of life and work in the Timber Industry. Mr. Ronald Roley of the International Woodworkers of America was elected vice- chairman of the total committee. A number of resolutions were accepted at the meetings. These resolutions were carried as a result of perfect cooperation in the workers' group against some reactionary forces in the employers' group. Sincere hopes were expressed in the resolutions that the ILO and other specialized UN agencies devote increased attention to woodworkers' problems and take divers measures to improve their social conditions. Activities in the developing countries As usual a considerable part of IFBWW's global activities during the year have been carried out in the developing countries. The Management Committee has during its meetings devoted much time to the discussion and planning of such activities. According to the present statutes, activities in developing countries account for 1/3 of affiliation fees, i.e., out of the present total contribution of 45 centimes( per year and per member), 15 centimes( per year and per member) are set aside for these activities. South America During the year, activities in South America have taken full effect. Ake Wedin of Sweden became the IFBWW regional representative for South America in January 1972. His mandate expires at the end of June 1974. He has transferred the regional head office from Caracas, Venezuela, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. During the past year Horacio Cuenca was chosen to replace Wedin as regional representative. Cuenca is from the Unión Obrera de la Construcción de la República Argentina and is also first deputy in the Executive Committee for South America after Juan Herrera, Venezuela. Cuenca took office in the beginning of 1974 and travelled in Europe during February- March for about one month visiting the IFBWW, the ILO, as well as a considerable number of European affiliated organisations. He also attended the IFBWW Regional Conferences in Geneva on 28th January 1st February, 1974. To make the South American regional office complete, the Management Committee has also appointed Villalobos from Venezuela to assist Cuenca and the Secretariat has employed a female secretary, Elda Lilia Fernandez. Every three months Ake Wedin has supplied the Management Committee with a report on activities and developments in South America. Wedin's main task has been concentrated on educational activities and instruction. There has been cooperation with the IMF and the IUF during 1972, 1973 and 1974. Thanks to extra support from the ILO and the SIDA, Sweden, a program for training study group leaders has been carried through. At the end of March 1974, a special seminar was held in Buenos Aires to evaluate and review these activities. J.E. Norling was charged by the ILO and the SIDA to attend the seminar. Thanks to the supplementary, voluntary contributions from the Nordic Federation of Building and Woodworkers and from IG Bau- Steine- Erden, the IFBWW has been able to increase its activities in South America. The Management Committee has planned to pursue comprehensive activities in South America. On the 25th January, 1974, in the presence of J.E. Norling and Horacio Cuenca, John Löfblad submitted a request for subsidies from the ILO to Mr. Paul Chu( Workers' Education Department, ILO) which would enable the IFBWW to pursue its activities during the rest of 1974 as well as during 1975 and 1976. A detailed plan containing a request for a subsidy of 149 000 US dollars for the program was submitted. The program has to be adopted by the ILO, financed by the SIDA and carried out by the IFBWW together with the IMF and the IUF. It is very likely that the ILO and the SIDA will adopt the proposal and allocate the necessary funds. 11 000 US dollars out of the total contribution will be used for the provision of printed study material. 17 The activities in South America are of great importance. Political developments on the Continent are disquieting. During the autumn of 1973, the military coup in Chile caused the legitimate government of President Allende to become the victim of bloody upheavals and the power was taken over by a military junta which at present spreads a regime of terrorism. Some trade union leaders were killed in the fighting, some were executed and some fled. Still others are active within the Chilean underground movement. The chances of re- establishing democracy in the country seem to be rather small. Although the IFBWW had no affiliated organisations in Chile, it nevertheless considers it necessary to support those who fight for liberty in the country. The IFBWW has also asked the ILO to safeguard and see to it that human rights and the freedom of association are respected. However it seems degrading to have to put forward claims which in other parts of the world are taken for granted. There are many other countries in South America with equally disquieting situations. nioqgA It was encouraging to note that Acción Democrática won the parliamentary elections in Venezuela. This may provide a safeguard for progressive development for the next few years. It seems urgent, considering the present political and trade union situation in South America, that the IFBWW continues to consolidate its position and to improve contacts between South American unions and IFBWW unions in other parts of the world. Africa IFBWW activities in Africa have, as you know, traditions of longer date. The Management Committee has for a long time discussed the prerequisites for certain changes. In view thereof, a study tour was organised in October 1973 with the following participants: R. Sperner( Germany), K. Johansson( Sweden) and J. Löfblad. The need of a revision may be seen against the following background: During almost ten years, the IFBWW's regional activities on the African Continent have mainly been based on the work accomplished by Sven Mattsson, a full- time representative from the Swedish Painters' Union. Mattsson arrived in Africa in the beginning of 1960 as a full- time representative of the Nordic Federation of Building and Woodworkers. Gradually, his work came to be sponsored by the IFBWW. He had served as a regional representative in Africa for an international trade union organisation for an exceptionally long period, including fairly long time exclusively in the service of the IFBWW. S. Mattsson was assigned to Ndola in Zambia. It should not be necessary here to make any detailed accounts of his activities during his stay. At the time of his arrival in Africa, the economic and political situation was quite different from what it is today. He had to subordinate the activities to the English colonial regime. The most urgent task was to create a trade union movement so as to organise the increasing number of wage- earners. It wasn't an easy task. The ICFTU also had activities in Africa at the time and managed together with the Trade Secretariats to create trade union movements in a number of countries. These movements were to come upon unforeseen difficulties but would succeed in transcending them. Mattsson had a predecessor in the IFBWW who served for a while as a representative for Africa. His main achievement was the setting- up of a trade union for Building and Woodworkers in Malawi. Mattsson's activities were mainly focused on the establishment of a trade union movement for Building workers in Zambia and on giving support to the union until it became viable. alliv veb During his long Africa stay, Mattsson travelled in many countries and assisted the trade union movement in various ways. He has engaged in valuable cooperation with the ICFTU and with a number of Trade Secretariats. He has exceptional and solid knowledge of African conditions and especially of trade union conditions. However, things have changed rapidly in African countries during the last ten or fifteen years and so the prerequisites for activities of the ICFTU and the Trade Secretariats have changed considerably. As a whole, the African trade union movement has consolidated its position( with certain important reservations), whereas the ICFTU has become weaker. Thus, the ICFTU school in Kampala, Uganda, was expropriated about one year ago by the government. It also appears that governments are less and less inclined to accept that trade unions interfere in the economic management of the country. This has resulted in rigid governmental control of the movement in most African countries and involved abundant issuing of decrees and regulations of different kinds. It is quite obvious that some African governments are trying to obtain absolute obedience from the trade unions. In order to implement this policy, they have established the so- called" African- Unity Trade Union Confederation by the Organisation of Unity of African States". However, the efforts of this intergovernmental African organisation are being obstructed by the Pan- American Confederation of Labour and by the ICFTU's regional organisation. A means of maintaining" non- alignment" has been sought through the breaking off of contacts with such international trade union organisations as the ICFTU and the Trade Secretariats although they are the very creators of the African trade union movement. Governments have expressed their wish to keep up contacts with all countries and this has resulted in the establishment of closer links with the communist world. They have also accepted financial contributions from the communists as well as from different national foundations and institutions. These factors have contributed to create difficult situations for the ICFTU and the Trade Secretariats. It is the opinion of the IFBWW that it is 18 only when a trade union movement is free and independent of governments and employers that it can safeguard the interests of its membership in a satisfactory way. The situation in Africa is confused, the contributions from the Trade Secretariats have decreased. In spite of noticeable difficulties, the IFBWW has persevered. In 1968 already, the Zambian Building Workers' Union, created by the IFBWW, was forced to disaffiliate as the government issued a decree of non- alignment. Still, it appears that Sven Mattsson has been able to act and work freely in Zambia.identidega on land is blow o In Uganda where the ICFTU's school had been located, the union of Building Workers created by the IFBWW was prohibited for several years to have any contacts with international organisations and so communications were formally broken off. In this situation the General Secretary of the Federation, Lawrence Kawesa, od acted in a decisive manner. He did not choose to forget about the IFBWW and, while obeying the letter of the government decree, he kept up all possible contacts with the IFBWW, especially on the personal level and by using its information. Thus, after a few years when his union had the opportunity of re- entering the IFBWW, the perequisites for immediate cooperation had already been established. The political and trade union situation in Africa deserves to be analysed more extensively but it cannot be done here. Still, sufficient facts have been brought up to indicate that activities in Africa of the IFBWW will have to indicate that activities in Africa to undergo certain changes. The IFBWW does not plan to reduce its contributions to Africa. But certain decisions taken at the 13th ordinary congress in Ostende in October 1972 seem to indicate the opposite. For the first time Africa( as well as Asia and South America) are represented on the Executive Committee, the former by Lawrence Kawesa. The idea was to establish better contacts between the Executive Committee and remote areas where the IFBWW has regional activities, by giving Asia, Africa and South America one representative each on the Executive Committee. During the congress period 1969-1972, Juan Herrera alone represented the developing countries in the Executive Committee and it proved impossible for him to keep abreast of developments in the entire Third World. Congress plans in Ostende also contained projects for regional conferences in South America during 1974 and subsequently in Africa and Asia. 1972 Naturally, all activities must be considered in a global perspective as part of an ideological objective. The resources of the IFBWW are limited and so the visible results may appear insignificant or even non- existent to those who cannot follow the work at close quarters. It is also true that the present needs are so enormous that the contributions are proportionally insignificant. But still, these contributions- however small term basis become increasingly important as their effects spread and stimulate further action. - may on a longThe main objective for the free trade union movement to achieve with the activities in the Third World, is to create better conditions for these populations. These efforts are based on the belief that a free, democratif trade union organisation with inherent dynamic force is a stimulating factor which may mobilize these populations to create a richer and more just society on a long- term basis. This is, in our opinion, the experience gained within democratic regimes where the trade union movement influences society in a decisive way and so we think it is now our duty to support our brothers in the Third World. It would be absurd if we didn't. Yet, this mustn't imply that we impose our ideologies or experiences on others when solving problems. It is very important that cooperation between the free trade union movement and the trade union movement in the Third World can be carried out in an atmosphere of confidence. Personally, I have the impression that this wish is mutual. However, as already said, governments often tend by different means to obstruct this cooperation. Certain countries in Europe, especially within their trade union movements, have adopted a broad- minded attitude and built up a solid feeling of responsability resulting in a global working program into which activities for the Third World are incorporated. But it is a fact that others think and act otherwise. The IFBWW takes a pride in the fact that its activities are financed only by the contributions paid by its members. The trade union movement was created by workers who struggled against governments and employers. Any trade union financed and controlled by a government is in a dangerous position and only goes counter its own interests. Our delegation mainly visited Zambia and Kenya and subsequently, I visited Ethiopia on my own. It is hardly worthwhile making a detailed account for the program of our almost two- week stay in Africa. Sven Mattsson had carefully prepared our visit in Zambia and Kenya. We had the opportunity to meet several trade union leaders, administrative representatives with political responsibilities and we also visited workplaces and met with employers. The visit was very rewarding and interesting; everywhere we were met with great sincerity. It was also possible to have important, comprehensive deliberations with Sven Mattsson and the General Secretary of the Federation of Building Workers in Uganda, Lawrence Kawesa. Kawesa and his second deputy, John Murugu from Kenya, are both representatives for Africa on the Executive Committee. We had intended to meet the first deputy, Mr. G. Sinon, from the Seychelles Islands in Nairobi, but this was impossible as Sinon was on a mission to America and Europe. However, Kawesa and Mattsson met him at a later date and they discussed future activities. We decided after the deliberations that it would be suitable if the IFBWW's regional representative handed 19 over his activities to an African trade union leader and that the same procedure be applied in South America. Ino When asked, Kawesa said that he was interested in taking over the task. As to Mattsson, his experience would be used in other ways. Nairobi would be a suitable base for Kawesa's work. On this point everyone agreed. These plans were adopted by the Management Committee at its meeting on 17th December, 1973 and it was decided that Kawesa be employed as regional representative with his office located in Nairobi as from 1st January, 1974. It was also decided that Mattsson would assist him during a one- month transitional period. Thereafter, Mattsson would move to Stockholm and be charged with missions for SIDA and IFBWW. But these plans had to be modified when Mattsson was taken seriously ill and had to be flown to Stockholm for an operation. However, he recovered completely and was able to return to Africa after the New Year to initiate Kawesa into his activities. nolo erodoton bibahasanem avialoob a mi betos In the beginning of April, Mattsson went to Stockholm for some three months of planning work with SIDA. Until further notice, he intends to stay in Zambia and to work for SIDA and IFBWW. The IMF is still interested in Mattsson and would like to benefit from his experience for certain tasks in Africa. arit In the beginning Kawesa will concentrate on introducing educational activities in East Africa. My two- day visit to Ethiopia was also very interesting. Through the ICFTU's regional representative Lennart Kindström, who has now returned to Sweden, IFBWW has given some support to the small union of Woodworkers in Addis Ababa( 800 members). The union seemed to function well. Yet, I got the impression already then that terrible problems exist in the country and that massive contributions are needed if large parts of the population are to be saved from famine. The government seems to be incapable of attacking these problems, and the situation seems hopeless. The IFBWW also continues to give limited support to a Rhodesian union of Building workers grouping the native population, through the joint representative of the ICFTU and the Trade Secretariats, William Lawrence. But it is not easy to obtain desirable results in this country. Asia Part of the long- term planning has been to gradually increase activities in Asia. The vast territory from Turkey to Japan must be covered. IFBWW activities in the Asian region are feeble and much remains to be done. But the territory is so vast that it is impossible to have the same form of regional activities as in Africa or South America. For ten years the IFBWW had comprehensive activities in Turkey and contributed effectively to the establishment of the trade unions for Building and Woodworkers. However, the union of Building workers, Yapi- Is, was often divided by internal conflicts and this largely obstructed the work of the IFBWW. The printing- machine incident is probably known to the Executive Committee. The Swedish labour movement offered a used printing- machine to the two affiliated Turkish unions( Yapi- Is, Building Workers, and AgacIs, Woodworkers). Internal and other conflicts lasted ten years before the press was actually used. Finally when I visited Ankara in May, 1973, the machine was functioning at full capacity under the control of Agac- Is. For vlq various reasons, Yapi- Is was not having anything further to do with the machine. Political agitation in Turkey has disrupted trade union activities, but apparently the situation has improved the last year and so the outlook for free trade unionism is rather favourable. At present the IFBWW is not planning to make any contributions in Turkey. The IFBWW currently has two affiliated unions in the country and the AgacIs( Woodworkers) seems to be particularly solid. Israel is also part of the Asian Continent but its trade union movement cannot be considered underdeveloped and so it is irrelevant to mention it in this context. At present the IFBWW has no members in the Arabic countries. We think this may be desirable on a longterm basis considering that we all hope to arrive at the conclusion of a durable peace in the Middle East. The IFBWW has two affiliated unions in India, four in Malaysia, one in Indonesia and one on the Philippines. Our contacts with these unions are not intense, excepted those maintained with the Building Mazdoor Union in Bombay, India. The Asian representative on the Executive Committee, K.R. Prabhudesai, comes from this union. Moreover, contact is maintained with the Malaysian unions and we also receive some letters from them. After the Congress in 1975, the IFBWW ought to undertake activities in Asia on a long- term basis. At the end of March, the ILO contacted the General Secretary about a program concerning educational trade union activities for Forestry Workers in Southeast Asia. This is a big group of workers in Asia, Africa and South America which so far has been neglected and which has not been organised into trade unions. Much has to be done in the developing countries, but the IFBWW is lacking staff and sufficient economic resources for this task. At the meeting in Washington, the Executive Committee adopted the following budget for activities in the developing countries during the financial year 1st April 1973- 31st March 1974: 320 000 Swiss Francs. The sum of 328 812.62 Swiss Francs has been used for this purpose during the past year. During the past financial year, the IFBWW paid travel expenses for D. Mboi from Kenya, who received a scholarship for studies at the Afro- Asian Institute for Labour and Cooperative Studies in Israel. Histadrut paid 20 the expenses for the course. ne zilsdo Our budget has about doubled during the last four years. For the budgetary year 1st April 1969- 31st March 1970, the budget balanced out 1 296 722.8 Danish Crowns or approximately 650 000 Swiss Francs. The budget this year amounts to 1 037 935.58 Swiss Francs. If all members pay their contributions at the same time, the paying membership would be about the highest so far i.e. 2 200 000. This would correspond to the figure noted in 1969 before the English disaffiliated and so we have now more or less made up for the 320 000 members we lost on that occasion. IFBWW's regional conferences for Europe in Geneva 28th January 1st February 1974 - During the week of 28th January- 1st February, no less than three important Regional conferences were organised in the ILO's headquarters in Geneva. Thanks to the manifest good- will of the ILO Governing Board the IFBWW received permission to hold these conferences in the ILO headquarters, which in turn conferred greater prestige on them. The series of conferences began Monday, 28th January, with a two- day conference on the Problems of the European wood industry A working group, which had been appointed by the IFBWW's committee for the wood industry, had drafted a thoroughly comprehensive background report which served as the basis for the conference's work. The theme of the conference was" The European wood industry's development and prospects". The background material was largely a review of the situation and development of the European wood industry. The following is an excerpt from the report on the saw- mill industry:" World trade in sawn wood increased steadily throughout the ' sixties, except during the years of recession in the middle of the decade"." Statistics which have already been prepared for 1971 and 1972 for some countries indicate that trade will continue to expand. 12 to 13 percent of the production in this sector is sold on the world market. The main importing countries are the USA, Great Britain, West Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and France. In 1970, about 25 percent of all world exports went to the USA, 16 percent to Great Britain and roughly 5 to 7 percent to West Germany, Italy and the Netherlands respectively. Canada contributed about 31 percent to total world exports, Sweden and the Soviet Union contributed about 12 to 14 percent each. Most exports from Canada go to the USA, whereas the bulk of Swedish and Soviet exports go to the main importing countries in Western Europe." " Customs duties on sawn and planed wood are relatively low in most countries. The duty on planed wood is somewhat higher than the duty on sawn wood, probably because the first case represents a more advanced state of processing. In this connection it must be said that by the end of the' seventies, the whole of Western Europe will virtually be a duty- free area, partly because Great Britain and Denmark have joined the Common Market and partly because most of the other non- EEC countries in Western Europe have concluded free trade agreements with the EEC or are in the process of negotiating such free trade agreements." A detailed review was made of developments in the plywood, particle board, and fibreboard industries. The following excerpt from the report concerns the furniture industry:" Working sites in the furniture industry tend to be on the small side, most firms have less than 50 employees. West Germany, the main furniture producer in Western Europe, has only 166 working sites where more than 200 workers are employed. By way of comparison it may be said that there were 3,360 working sites in Western Germany in 1970 which had more than 10 employees. Statistics for the furniture industry are incomplete and inadequate. Furthermore, it is difficult to compare production in the various countries because the only valid measuring unit is money. Since the monetary measuring system has a number of shortcomings- it is easy to make a mistake when establishing the relationship between two currencies- a comparison of the production of the different countries concerned would of needs yield unreliable information. Existing statistics do, however, show that West Germany, Great Britain and France are the main furniture producers in Western Europe. Western Germany tops the list with a production of approximately 10 700 million DM, whereas France and Great Britain had a production figure of about 3 000 million DM for 1972. These figures are based on results achieved by firms with more than 10 employees. The main furniture exporters are West Germany, Belgium and Italy. It should be noted that neither the USA nor Japan has any furniture exports to speak of. The main importing countries are West Germany, France and the Netherlands,.Most West German exports go to the Netherlands, and some also go to France. Switzerland and Belgium import large quantities of West German furniture. Most of Belgium's exports go to France, the Netherlands and West Germany. Italian exports go mostly to West Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Generally speaking, the exporting countries tend to send their products to neighbouring countries". bb" The customs tariff for furniture varies considerably from country to country. Generally speaking, however, the rates for furniture tend to be relatively high in all countries. The lowest customs duty for this particular sector is the one levied by Sweden, the average is 5 percent. The highest rate is the one practised by Austria 21 - 25.8 percent( on chairs and other forms of seats). The EEC tariff for furniture is at an average of 8.5 percent, whereas two other important markets, Japan and the USA, levy a customs duty that varies between 6 and 10 percent. Yet again, it must be said, that Western Europe will probably have become a free trade area by the end of ' 70's." eship The wood- products industry is generally an industry which is made up of small factories and large enterprises are the exception. The following excerpt from the report's review of the wood products industry's situation in Sweden illustrates this: " The wood industry's turnover represents about 7 to 8 percent of the turnover of the whole sphere of industry. The wood industry, in other words, enjoys a relatively strong position in Sweden. The wood industry is mainly made up of small- scale firms, the only exception being the fibreboard and particle board industries where production is more processing- oriented and where consequently, plants tend to be larger. Of 3 500 companies, only 37 have more than 200 employees. Of these 3 500 firms, about 1 000 have between 1 and 5 employees. There are about 70 000 persons employed in the wood industry, about 25 000 work in the sawmill industry and the rest in the processing industries. In 1970, there were only 13 sawmills with 200 or more employees whereas 800 mills employed between 6 and 200 persons. The structure is similar in the carpentry and building joinery industries, where 14 firms had 200 or more employees and 757 had between 6 and 200 employees. In the furniture industry, only 2 companies had more than 200 employees, whereas 507 had between 6 and 200. In the plywood, fibreboard and particle board industries, 14 out of 32 enterprises had more than 200 persons working for them. Since 1970, three new large particle board factories have been built in Sweden. Both in the sawmill industry, the furniture industry and in the carpentry and building joinery sectors, the majority of working sites employ 6 to 20 workers. Out of the approximately 70 000 workers in the wood industry, about 1/3 are employed in enterprises with less than 20 employees." Gerhard Vater, the President of the Gewerkschaft Holz und Kunststoff( Wood& Plastic Workers Union), in the Federal Republic of Germany, was supposed to make the opening speech at the conference but was prevented from doing so because just that week- end a strike broke out in the German wood products industry, which required Vater's presence. That is why his colleague, Werner Haak, delivered the introductory address, which Vater had prepared. The speech which handled the subject matter exhaustively, was enthusiastically received. It should be added that the dispute which took place in the German wood products industry was actually resolved during the conference week and resulted in a clear victory for the workers. Almost all their objectives and grievances were satisfied in the negotiations. Below we quote some of the essential thoughts set forth in the speech which Vater had prepared: " It is surely both for reasons of economic livelihood and social prestige that the wood- products industry and the wood workers' unions in Europe are pursuing a policy of peaceful cooperation, since the latter is com- to pletely in accord with their interests." " This does not merely involve a more equitable redistribution of incomes but more particularly what is called" the quality of life" or a legitimate demand to humanize the working environment. My union is fighting for that right now, and that is why the great majority of the workers in the West German furniture industry have gone out on strike during the Furniture Fair in Cologne." " During the post- war recession monopolies and oligopolies became considerably stronger, whilst the small and middle- sized producers of consumer goods were pushed aside. This affected the very sector in which wood workers are active and earn their livelihood. These factors fully explain why wood workers' earnings, which were rather good during the' fifties, lagged more and more behind the average income in the industrial sector during of the' sixties. This is a world- wide phenomenon." " " In my own country a turning- point was perceptible in foreign and domestic policy during the latter half of the' sixties. In terms of earnings this meant that wage- earners" for the first time since 1961 received a sizeable increase in real wages in 1970", according to an official statement from the council of economic experts to which the government submits its economic proposals each year." The Conference adopted a resolution which underscored the fact that multinational enterprises are exerting more and more influence, even in the wood- products industry. This is certainly not a problem which is peculiar to the wood- products industry; but it is particularly im- er portant to note the tendency of multinational firms to spread out into the wood- products industry, which has always consisted largely of small production units. Michael O'Callaghan from the ILO made a brief, very interesting speech to the assembled delegates in bas which he disclosed the ILO's current preparations for another tripartite technical conference for the woodproducts industry to be held at the beginning of 1975, which should be of immense interest to the IFBWW and its member- organisations. The first such conference was held in September 1967. 55 delegates from 15 trade unions in 15 countries participated in the IFBWW's Wood Conference, in addition to guests and observers. 22 European Conference on 30th January 1974 teenibluded ni vi srit esla- mulbem brs llama to qu ni asteil A realistic discussion of future trades- union cooperation in free Europe is now of the greatest importance During the past few years immense changes have occurred. They have greatly altered the conditions for trade union collaboration on the international level. One very important factor is the enlargement of the Common Market from six to nine countries. Although the European Community at present looks rather" shaky" and shows clear signs of serious internal disagreements, it is, nonetheless, a reality with its own special conditions and needs for trade union cooperation among the member- states. Another important factor is the general economic development in Western Europe, which has been particularly intense in Italy, France, West Germany, Belgium, Holland, and Luxemburg, the six original members of the European Community. Economic growth, on the other hand, has not been particularly good in England, where it has fallen into virtual state of permanent crisis, which has further deteriorated due to the Heath Government's exceptionally clumsy and out- of- date way of tackling problems. Along with rapidly accelerating economic growth, we have witnesses an increased internationalisation of the economy, trade and capital movements. The growing power and importance of multinational firms has become an ever greater cause for alarm among labour movement leaders, who now realise that it is absolutely imperative for the trade unions to combine their efforts at the international level in order to confront international capital's immense, uncontrollable resources. 09 Keeping pace with Europe's political and economic development, the labour movements have also manifested their intention to join forces in undertaking regional efforts. And about one year ago the European Trade Union Confederation was created for just this purpose. Western Europe is a seething cauldron of human life and economic activity, where vast differences in social and economic development as well as in culture and traditions persist. The many languages spoken on this very little Continent pose one of the most difficult problems which Europe has to face. Several years ago the IFBWW appointed a special committee to deal specifically with European problems. enou In addition to the above- mentioned committee there is a special commission for member- organisations in countries belonging to the European Community. nd In the light of this situation with its immense range of problems and difficulties, the Executive Committee has decided to organise a conference to discuss" European Trade- Union Policy and the IFBWW". to 29 A working group in the IFBWW's Committee for European Problems has drafted a working document for the conference, from which we extract the following passages which may serve to illustrate the problems outlined above: " Economic and social relations and structures are undergoing farreaching changes, partly as a by- product of European integration, partly tied up with economic and social developments at world- wide levels, company concentration is gaining ground, the labour market is increasingly influenced by growing internationalisation, new occupations crop up, others disappear etc." " One thing is certain: the dynamic nature of European growth and development does not only challenge the governments and companies in the various countries to work out new strategies and new organisational structures, it also challenges the workers and trade unions." " There can be no doubt about the fact that the enlargement of the EEC and the progress made towards the creation of a European free trade area puts the IFBWW before the task of reviewing its strategy, its tactics and organisational approach to its Europe policy." fonn" In order to allow for a basic discussion on the questions which arise in this context, the IFBWW Executive Committee decided in 1972 to invite the European members of our organisation to a Europe Conference. This Conference will not be expected to decide upon ultimate solutions, it will be called upon to determine the path along which we must strive to find the organisational and trade union policy basis for European cooperation amongst building and woodworkers unions." The working document further underscored the existence of three special problems in the building sector: the free mobility of labour; vocational training, and accident prevention. The need to standardise vocational training and occupational nomenclature was stressed, as well as the importance of assuring workers' right to vocational retraining. กม The part of the report concerning accident prevention concludes: wel" The dignity of the worker does not only depend on his getting decent wages and satisfactory social services, but also on degree of importance attached to his physical and mental health. This aspect of trade union policy will undoubtedly become more and more important in the future." Further, the importance of workers' participation in decision making was also emphasized. With regard to the company concentration and international cooperation within the building and wood- products industries, the following observations were made: " Unlike other branches( motorcar manufacture, chemical industries etc.) which have huge corporations, usually multinational ones, dominating the market, the building and wood industries in most countries are made 23 up of small and medium- size companies. Only in the building materials industry, which is organised by our affiliates in somes countries only, do we find fairly heavy company concentration, although even in these cases, the firms tend to be much smaller than they are in the engineering industry, for instance." " Whereas international trade plays a fairly important role in the wood industry, this cannot, for obvious reasons, be said for the building trade. To date, the building industry has been an almost exclusively domestic industry. Any building contractors operating on an international scale usually confine their activities to planning work and directing works. To this may be added some very special jobs which have to be carried out by specially trained staff( eg. some forms of assembly work)." " Recently, however, some countries have seen an increasing number of contracts given to foreign companies who arrived not only with senior personnel, but with all the workers needed to complete a given project. A distinction must be made between contracts given directly to a foreign firm and contracts under which a national firm work on the project until building can be started, at which point the foreign firm takes over. Although the number of projects executed in this manner by foreign firms represents a tiny percentage only of the building volume of most European countries, the problem has, nevertheless, brought the trade unions up against very tricky situations: very often the foreign firm feels that it is bound neither by local collective agreements nor by legal provisions governing working hours, and this obviously creates conflicts. We have, for instance, heard of cases of individual workers working over 400 hours per month in Switzerland!" " Pipeline and power plant construction projects have proved to be the most prone to this sort of abuse, and an international skeleton agreement concluded by the European building unions would be of capital importance." The following points of view were voiced on economic and social policies: dinu " The European Trade Union Confederation and its affiliated organisations are the bodies mainly responsible for tackling economic and social matters at European level. What we have already said in the context of company policy, however, also applies here: any concrete expression of economic and social policy strategy can have direct implications on the sphere of action of a given branch federation. Credit restriction measures, for instance, as introduced recently in Germany, Switzerland and other countries, have had a considerable affect on demand in the building sector.( In Switzerland, credit restriction was supplemented by a policy of direct intervention in the building sector)." " Generally speaking, it may be said that restrictive credit and money policies as practised in most countries with a view to stabilising price levels, hit the building industry disproportionatedly harder than other branches of industry because the building sector is so heavily dependent on credits and because of the strong interest fluctuations in this field. To this must be added the repercussions of a restrictive issuing policy which the authorities in some countries are pursuing mainly for general economic reasons: in most countries, building projects are used as instruments of financial manoeuvre of the first order. The building industry is becoming the" internationally accepted" scapegoat of economic policy." On the questions of labour union organisation the report read as follows: 190 000 " Looking at the organisation and structures of the European building and woodworkers' unions that are affiliated to the IFBWW, one will note that all forms are represented, from the professional association to the industrial federation. In some countries, building and woodworkers are organised by the same union, in some, different unions are responsible for the two branches and sometimes even for individual trade groups within the two main branches. The organisation of building material workers is a matter which has not yet found a uniform solution." " These structural differences do not, obviously, make for easier coordination. On the other hand, it cannot be up to the IFBWW to issue regulations on the way in which affiliates should settle their internal organisation, all the more so as the general conditions governing trade union work vary from country to country. It would, however, already be of great help to have some sort of uniform nomenclature for the various sectors of organisation, if, in other words, the concepts of" regular building trade, building materials industry etc" could be made to have the same meaning in the whole of Europe covered by the IFBWW." ow " It seems to us very important that an efficient information and documentation centre for Europe be set up, which amongst other things, would be called upon to survey the bargaining policies of European building and woodworker unions and thus create the necessary basis for the working out of an international strategy for trade union bargaining policies in the European building and woodworking industry." The discussion of European questions was very animated. The resolutions adopted, which are published in this issue of the IFBWW bulletin, reflect the various points of view put forward by the European affiliates of the IFBWW. vib lbetduobnu produ 100 delegates, representing 27 trade unions in 12 countries, participated in the Conference along with a large number of guests and observers. In his opening address, Mr. Bertil Bolin, the Deputy Director General of the ILO, welcomed all the IFBWW's conference delegates to the ILO headquarters. Bro. Ezio Canonica, Vice- President of the IFBWW and Chairman of the Swiss Building and Wood Workers Union, gave a very interesting talk, based on the working documents. 24 Conference for the construction industry from 31st January- 1st February, 1974 noinu A conference was held from January 31st- February 1st, 1974 to discuss certain important matters affecting the Construction industry. The background was the following: One of the resolutions adopted at the 13th Congress, which was held in Ostende from October 11-13th, 1972, authorised the IFBWW's Governing Board to organise a conference to discuss the current situation in the construction industry. A report had been drafted to serve as a basis for deliberations at the conference. It was drawn up on the basis of data obtained from various countries, as well as the study" Development trends in Western Europe's construction industry" made by the building workers' trade unions in Sweden and the Federal Republic of Germany. solsterts, vlayoivdo The chief subjects discussed both in the report and at the conference were" Employment and Unemployment"," Vocational Training and the Labour Market", and" the Working environment on the Construction site." The following passage is taken from the introduction to the report: " The duties of building workers unions in the various countries are not limited to improving working conditions alone. A great deal of importance is also attached to promoting better employment in the construction industry and better vocational training for building workers." batning 1931st ed 188" Although the building sector has always been described as a typically" national" branch of industry, it cannot remain unaffected by increasing economic integration. In this spirit, the IFBWW proposes to intensify the exchange of views on questions which arise in connection with this evolution. This report represents a contribution to this discussion." " In addition to a survey of developments which have occurred in the various countries over the decades which have elapsed since the second World War, the report contains references to future problems. These problems tend to arise in the field of employment and vocational training in particular. Many of the questions that emerge in this context cannot be met with a clearcut answer since our considerations are often only the starting point for further study. There is one point, however, on which we are already quite clear. The IFBWW and its affiliates must not stand by and wait while these further studies are going on, they are going to have to come up with suggestions and if necessary, actively participate." Further, the economic importance of the construction industry in all Western European countries was underscored. This sector of the economy employs about 10 percent of the active population in all these countries and its share of the aggregate production is also approximately 10 percent. More than 50 percent of capital investments are made in the construction sector, and that is why it plays a key role in economic development. The construction industry's great susceptibility to fluctuations in the overall economic situation constitutes an important problem which the report also discussed. A concomitant issue is the permanent problem of unemployment in the building industry. Although the situation is not exactly the same in the different Western European nations( for example, Switzerland has no unemployment problem in any industry; the average number of unemployed persons in Switzerland ran around 100 in 1973), unemployment in the building industry shows a worrying tendency to fluctuate around 8-10 percent, which is cause for alarm. Just try to imagine a situation in which the same unemployment rate existed throughout the economy, including the public sector! It would be an economic catastrophe. But in economies with an average unemployment rate of 1.5-3 percent, this means that building workers suffer the most serious consequences of the chronic inability to make coherent plans for the economy as a whole. And, although building workers are relatively well paid in certain countries, their situation remains unsatisfactory. We can illustrate another aspect of the development of the building industry by extracting another passage from the report: " The transition from a rapidly expanding employment situation in the' fifties and the first part of the' sixties to stagnation and even regression during the latter part of this decade, caused growing unemployment in the building industry in Western Europe. The situation during the second part of the' sixties is, however, rather similar to the economic development trends of the latter parts of the' fifties. It does, however, seem worrying to note that the level of unemployment in the building industry registered during the 1960-1970 boom never dropped as far as it did at the beginning of the' sixties. Furthermore, several countries in Western Europe are already beginning to feel the effects of another recession 1971-1972. This further strengthens the impression that we are faced with a structural imbalance in Western European building trade rather than an imbalance in the short or mediumterm economic situation." The report finally comes to the conclusion that considerable risks of unemployment and stagnation exist in Western Europe's building industry. bed and UTROIT A special annex to the report reviewed a survey of vocational training in the construction industry. Vocational training in the construction industry( just like the economy as a whole) is approached differently in every country. A long- standing trades- union objective can just about sum up the situation as follows: by forming a corps of skilled professional building workers on the basis of vocational training, without having recourse to retrogressive recruiting, conditions would be created for a sustained, continuous development of the building industry with a minimum of unemployment and with regular increases in real wages for the workers. This, in turn, should lead 25 to industrial and economic growth which would benefit the population as a whole. That is why the labour movement has always strongly supported the demand for well organised vocational training in which the trades union would have a say in the planning stage. But this goal is far from being achieved, a fact that the survey makes quite clear. In many countries the labour movement has almost no say in vocational training. It is really only in the Scandinavian countries and in West Germany where relatively satisfactory conditions exist, but even there certain reservations have to be made in some countries. Obviously, therefore, vocational training in connexion with job security are suitable fields for ILO efforts and important topics for future discussions between the IFBWW and the ILO at the future conferences and meetings. The IFBWW's president, A. Buys, who is also the chairman of the Netherlands' Building and Wood Workers' Union, NVV, opened the conference with a speech which served as an introduction to the report. Gustav Jacobsen, the Swedish Building Workers' Union's legal expert, spoke about" The Working Environment on the Construction Site." The latter pointed out that there are very important short- comings in that field and that efforts must be made as soon as possible to overcome these problems. Jacobsen made the following observations:" We can, therefore, assert that the trade unions should make considerable efforts to improve the working environment. We can actively contribute to achieving this goal. We have at our disposal numerous possibilities for safeguarding the workers' rights to a healthy working environment and an existence befitting human dignity. We should support all efforts to attain these objectives. And we have good opportunities to do so, for thanks to the labour movement's forces both at national and international level we can bring pressure to bear on employers and public authorities." ms to bisit od net ammeld The discussion following this introductory statement was animated. It is impossible to summarize it here; the resolution, which was first drawn up in committee and subsequently adopted by the Conference, may serve as a recapitulation of the general trend of the discussions and to reflect the points of view which the delegates put forward. 82 delegates from 12 European countries, representing 25 IFBWW affiliates, participated in the Building Industry's Conference, along with numerous guests and observers. Mr. Y. Palm, from the Committee for Construction Projects in the United Nations Economic Council for Europe briefly described the activities of this department and the resultant work in the committee, which is of considerable importance for construction workers. Relations with the ICFTU and the Trade Secretariats Four ITS General Secretaries- John Löfblad, IFBWW, Stefan Nedzynski, PTTI, Tom Bavin, IFPAAW, and Charles Blyth, Transport- have represented the 15 Trade Secretariats as consultative members of the ICFTU's Governing Board and participated in the Brussels meeting in November 1973. I was also alternate for Tom Bavin on the ICFTU Management Committee( Subcommittee) and attended a meeting in March 1974. Under the management of the ICFTU's General Secretary, Otto Kersten, every effort has been made during the last years to improve cooperation with the Trade Secretariats and to hold together the free trade union movement. Kersten has deliberated with the AFL- CIO concerning possibilities of this organisation returning to the ICFTU but it is still too early to tell if he has had any success. The ICFTU has made important representations on the Spanish, South African and Chilean questions and has asked that the UN intervene. I am also member of a working group on Activities of Multinational Companies appointed by the ICFTU but owing to lack of time I havn't been able to attend all meetings. The ICFTU has also appointed a working group for Youth Activities, in which Hans Albrecht from the Austrian Building and Woodworkers' Union participated on the request of the IFBWW. Moreover, the ICFTU has appointed a committee to study the problems of international migrant workers and here the IFBWW was represented by IG Bau- Steine- Erden, of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ICFTU and the IFBWW have together organised courses for building workers in Dahomey. It is probably correct and worthwhile noting here, I think, that the ICFTU has summoned the Trade Secretariats to deliberations on different occasions and that this has probably improved their relations. The ICFTU has had some negotiations with the WCL( Christian World Confederation of Trade Unions) and it seems to have been agreed that joint efforts shall be made so that the two organisations will merge. This important element deserves the attention of the Trade Secretariats. The European Confederation of Trade Unions has now been functioning for about a year. So far the IFBWW has not been in close contact with this organisation and it is yet too early to draw any further conclusions about its activities. 26 im s ICFTU/ IFBWW's Joint International Committee on Housing This Committee ceased its activities at the end of 1973, following a decision taken by the Executive Committee at the Washington meeting in July 1973, to withdraw its subsidy for the budget year 1st April 1973- 31st March 1974. This decision was preceded by several years of discussions within the Management Committee. It was considered that the housing question was to be treated as a general social problem and not only a concern of the IFBWW. As to the question of conditions on building sites, this was to be handled directly by the IFBWW alone. The Housing Bulletin was also very expensive; four numbers were printed in 1973 and then publication stopped. Now that the activities of the Committee on Housing have ceased, special tribute should be paid to its former secretary, Heinz Umrath, who throughout the years has done a very good job with limited resources at his disposal. His knowledge in this field is exceptionally thorough. This has been appreciated and he has gained respect on all occasions when he represented the Committee on Housing, the ICFTU or the IFBWW. Heinz Umrath has been an excellent representative for the IFBWW. to juo free ster ni) IFBWW's International Bulletin The bulletin was published 4 times during 1973. IFBWW Staff how a leniteren die a'OJI item aids bebnette! The staff continues to be small this year. Within the Secretariat, the General Secretary usually works with two secretaries- sometimes one full- time secretary plus one part- time secretary and sometimes two full- time secretaries plus one part- time secretary. At present the staff consists of one secretary and one translator. woH The Management Committee has during the year decided to look for an assistant to the General Secretary to help him out with administrative matters. But so far no candidate has been found. Particularly because of the increased activities in the developing countries, it has become more and more complicated to handle the economic administration in a satisfactory way.ba gobs of obsm show anot J.E. Norling has acted as secretary on the committees and as research investigator in various fields. To the staff must also be added the regional representatives for Africa and South America. As may be seen in the economic report, the expenses for the staff are very low. or Naturally, much of the work, eg., printing of publications, translation work, etc., has been done outside the office. so It should be emphasized, that the use of many languages makes the work more difficult and expensive. The situation now is that we're working with a larger number of languages than before. We still work with the earlier official ones, i.e. German, English, French and Scandinavian. Recently we have begun to use almost as much Spanish. At times we also use Flemish and Italian and to some extent Finnish. All in all this makes eight languages. Relations with the ILO prob It would be correct to say that cooperation with the ILO during the past year has been developed and reinforced. Cooperation has been particularly intense with the three industrial committees connected to the IFBWW, i.e., the Committees for the Building, Woodworking and Timber Industries. The meeting of the Ad hoc Committee for the Timber Industry which was held during the year has been commented on elsewhere in the report. The past year has also meant intensified cooperation to prepare for another Ad hoc Committee for the Woodworking industry and we hope that a meeting can be held during the first semester of 1975. I have worked together in confidence with, amongst others, the Deputy Director General, Bertil Bolin, Mr. Michael O'Callaghan of the Department for Industrial Committees, Harold Dunning of the Workers Relations Department, Mr. Paul Chu, Chief, Workers Education Department and finally Mr. Bo Marsäter of the same department. There has been increased cooperation concerning activities in South America with the Workers Education Department. In this context, the ILO has requested the IFBWW to contribute to the promotion of educational trade union activities for forestry workers in Asia, Africa and South America. After having served the ILO all his life, General Director Wilfred Jenks died quite suddenly last year. All those who knew this exceptional person feel deep sorrow. The Governing Body of the ILO has now decided to choose F. Blanchard of France for the office. He has also worked for a long time in the organisation, so he is sure to be a suitable successor. It must be said here that the ILO is faced with great difficulties of a purely economic kind and this must be taken into consideration when we evaluate the chances of keeping activities at the current level. There are also other difficulties of a political kind, but I won't go into them here. 27 For three years the ILO has undergone an economic crisis due to the fact that the United States could not or would not pay its affiliation fees which correspond to 25 percent of the organisation's budget. It would take me too long to make detailed comments on this matter, but still I would like to add some other relevant facts. Another disastrous factor for the ILO was the chaos which predominated on the foreign exchange market during 1973. The expenses of the ILO are handled in US dollars. We can only state that the budget proposal adopted in February- March was based on a dollar exchange rate equalling 3.80 Swiss Francs. Already at this point, the ILO had lost considerable amounts due to inflation and currency crisis. When the Governing Body of the ILO met in May- June 1973, it was stated that the dollar exchange rate now was at 3.10-3.15 Swiss Francs. Thus 13 million US dollars had been lost. The communist countries did not agree to compensate losses through higher affiliation fees. They were of the opinion that the capitalist countries had created this situation and so they ought to find their own solution. The ILO budget for 1974 is approximately 95 000 000 US dollars. On 31st December 1973, the number of employees at the ILO was 3 125( in 1972, 2 991) out of which 1 633( 1972, 1 486) worked in Geneva. ILO's 59th International Labour Conference In Geneva, 5-26th June I attended this meeting as an observer. I shall only briefly comment on the conference. 1 404 delegates from 116 out of the 123 member countries participated. 231 speakers, of whom I was one, contributed to the debates of the plenary meetings. However, it is deplorable that the participants in the Labour Conference increasingly use the ILO as a forum for various political intrigues. Many have gone wrong here, but the most flagrant example is that of the action of the Arabs against Israel. It reached its culmination at the 1973 Conference and in my opinion this almost ruined the work of the conference. Efforts were made to adopt a resolution condemning discrimination, racism and violation of trade union rights by Israel in Palestine and in occupied areas. Out of the 23 draft resolutions this one was given priority. Only, in the end, there was total disorder and chaos, even during the last days plenary meetings, and so none of the resolutions were adopted. Only the future can show if a lesson has been learned or if these divergences will continue to create further difficulties. soitto In my opinion, ILO should not be a forum for big power politics. The practical work, which is so important, is seriously handicapped by such attitudes. mum agnel a riti hixhow sew tad ai won noitsura or During the Labour Conference a special" International Conference of Trade Unions on Apartheid" met and adopted a resolution condemning the apartheid policy in South Africa. The resolution was submitted to the Labour Conference Meetings of the Executive Committee and the Management Committee during the Year The Management Committee has met seven times during the year. Meeting of the Executive Committee of the IFBWW in the United States and Canada iwanoitsla Following an invitation from the American affiliates, the Executive Committee of the IFBWW met for its first time in America during the first days of July, 1973. This was the annual meeting and the Executive Committee dealt with the report of activities for the last year 1st April 1972- 31st March 1973 prepared by the General Secretary. It also dealt with the financial reports for the same period of time. All of these reports were approved without lengthy discussion. Three new affiliates were accepted at the meeting, namely the following unions: Yol- Is, the Federation of Highway, Construction, Maintenance and Repair Workers' Union of Turkey, with 35 000 members. Paper and Paperproducts Manufacturing Employees' Union, Malaysia, with 527 members. Svenska Arbetsledareförbundet with 17 500 members( Swedish Foremen's Association). The Swedish Foremen's Association is the first whitecollar workers' Union ever affiliated to the IFBWW and it is affiliating with its members in the Building, Woodworking and Forestry sectors. It is also affiliated to the IMF and the ICF and has a total membership of more than 50 000. The following composition of the committees was decided upon at the meeting: European Committee President: A. Buys, Holland of ed fzum sbiando otni nos lebitiloge to asitlupittib erito 28 M Members: 1280091000 b baldo ndol ever ya ed to bateansed or WW891 art, say zid onl E. Canonica, Switzerland J. Fernandez, Belgium baldtöl nro: Every& M 8- TS ola E. Janssens, Belgium ever yeM E1-11 guodmaxu. SS, vivA- Is Secretary: anut by Building Committee pro vitute President: Members: JauguArbet- El song Secretary: Wood Committee President: Members: baldtöJ nrlol ayu baldto ndol: Ever edmetq Secretary: dmsign8 dr8AS Forestry Committee President: Members: immense: atsingergs by Kismblemeinl E. Janssens, Belgium show sturtuolio A bris- vites10 pigno K. Johansson, Sweden R. Sperner, Germany R. Rautner, Austria J. Löfblad, IFBWW Jan- Erik Norling, IFBWW 1210) in HA baldło miol no sonssato soltemal beldi ndo( CTT nol Exer yames- 8S: 16A zaprio alhuT 200 hodinovs. ensilst! enoiseb boldtö nrol ayus A Ster nel prize M( TUTO K. Johansson, Sweden E. Janssens, Belgium R. Rautner, Austria St. Ravizza, Italy R. Sperner, Germany Jan Pot, Holland J. Löfblad, IFBWW Jan- Erik Norling, IFBWW 1x3) obsjedsy leighe nóinu tampo M G. Vater, Germany H. Frehner, Switzerland F. Horr, Austria E. Lehman, Sweden T > bnu slob Henry Hansen, Denmark alban? J. Löfblad, IFBWW Jan- Erik Norling, IFBWW first ETJ. Löfblad, IFBWW 50:08 nobno. Tai F. Bäckström, Sweden J. Hietanen, Finland 1 representative for Norway to succeed Klaus Kjelsrud who retired Secretary: Jan- Erik Norling, IFBWW After the meetings and many visits in Washington D.C. the group flew up to Montreal, Québec, Canada, where a special programme was arranged by the local unions in the Building Trades in Montreal. This included a reception at the office of the Mayor of Montreal and a visit to Niagara Falls. The visit to Montreal in French- Canada was an illustration of the fact that America is a continent with a very great variety of traditions, cultures, ethnic groups, religions and even languages, difficult to understand many times but fascinating. hore The Joint Committee for Building and Woodworkers in the Common Market This committee has so far only grouped unions affiliated to the IFBWW. The chairman of the committee this year has been Emile Janssens of the Algemene Centrale of Belgium and secretary Juan Fernandez of the same union. The Committee's task this year was to adopt a position in view of the enlargement of the Common Market. To the previous member countries, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg, have now been added Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark. 1974 to 1 The Joint Committee has for a number of years played an important role in keeping the IFBWW members within the Common Market together and in planning and coordinating trade union activities in different bodies of the Common Market. August As well, the IFBWW Regional Office was moved from Ndola, The Committee has now an important task before it in elaborating forms for trade union cooperation in Europe. When considering this problem it will also have to take into account the economic integration of Europe and the enlargement of the Common Market. 29 During this year, the IFBWW has been represented at the following Congresses and Conferences: tes could not International Trade Secretariats: General Conference, Geneva 2-3rd May 1973: John Löfblad Congress: Forestry- and Agricultural Workers' Union of Norway, Oslo, 27-28th May 1973: John Löfblad Letzeburger Arbechter- Verband, Luxembourg: 24th Statutory Congress, Luxembourg, 11-13th May 1973: John Löfblad International Conference on Cooperation and Public Enterprises in Democratic Societies: Tel- Aviv, 22-25th May 1973: John Löfblad Turk- Is, Congress, Ankara: 28-29th May 1973: John Löfblad Federazione Italiana Lavoratori Costruzioni e Affini( CISL) 5th Statutory Congress, Rimini, 21st May 3rd June 1973: A. Buys, John Löfblad ICFTU/ ITS General Meeting, Vienna, 4th July 1973: Hans Böck Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, Annual Convention, Ballybunion, 5-7th June 1973: John Löfblad 58th International Labour Conference, Geneva, 15-16th June 1973: John Löfblad International Conference on Apartheid, Geneva, 15-16th June 1973: John Löfblad Biennial Congress: Nordic Federation of Building and Woodworkers, Reykavik, Iceland, 24-25th July 1973: John Löfblad Congress: Unión General Trabajadores de España( Exil), Toulouse, France 13-15th August 1973: Jan- Erik Norling Blikkenslager, Rør- og Sanitetsarbejderforbundet i Danmark, Congress, Aalberg 28th August 1st September 1973: John Löfblad The Woodworkers Union of Denmark, Congress, Odense, 2-6th September 1973: John Löfblad Gewerkschaft Holz und Kunststoff, 8th Congress, Freiburg, 3-7th September 1973: A. Buys, John Löfblad Snedker og Tømrerforbundet i Danmark, Congress, Copenhagen, 9-15th September 1973: John Löfblad Swedish Woodworkers' Union, Congress, Stockholm 23-29th September 1973: Mordechai Amster International Woodworkers of America, Congress, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 24-28th September 1973: John Löfblad FIET, 17th Congress, London, 30th October- 2nd November 1973: John Löfblad ICF, International Chemical Workers' Federation, 15th Statutory Congress, Geneva, 7-9th November 1973: John Löfblad Joint Committee for Building and Woodworkers in the Common Market, Paris, 22nd January 1974: John Löfblad Histadrut's 12th Ordinary Congress, Israel, 10-15th March 1974: John Löfblad. Geneva in May, 1974 fot 30 30 John Löfblad General Secretary immo s immo tniol d SM nommo ad nitiw JobsM nomimo art to SM oqmi he won and settimmo anT liw ti moldong air pissbiano Wago sM nomor to insmagnsins orit bris w > independa A did not have contacts among the there had been because of tandembagirall Suit, the IFBWW Report of the General Secretary on the activities of the period 1st April 1974- 31st March 1975 tileg vistilim 100091 T A bevise esd sizebon il viv The past year's activity was characterized by continuing economic crisis and considerable international tensions and problems. Unemployment and inflation have greatly affected the member organizations and individual members of the IFBWW. In the general summing up of the Secretary General for the 14th Congress of the IFBWW, to be held in Stockholm on August 27-29, 1975, further viewpoints are given on this serious development, which threatens the whole economy and which hits workers the hardest. In what follows, some brief information is given concerning the most important aspects of IFBWW activities during the past year. Activities in the Developing Countries ady 612 sutia sidarz visv to.01 bns Sarigipsi edy to saus As in previous years, great attention has been paid and planning devoted to this part of IFBWW activities by all levels of executive and decision- making bodies of the International. In accordance with the Statutes, 15 Swiss centimes per paying member of the IFBWW have been set aside for activities in the developing world. Latin America As previously, IFBWW activity in Latin America was intense over the past year. With financial support from the International Labour Office and the Swedish International Development Authority( SIDA), we have been able to expand our programs in trade- union education. The International now has some 400 000 members in Latin America and a number of unions in Mexico have recently applied for affiliation, our first breakthrough in that important country.on emiz smoz 10 nolensmits won a no nola eri yaivios WWE The IFBWW Regional Office is now located in Buenos Aires. At the end of this year of activity, Ake Wedin returned to Sweden after having served the IFBWW in Latin America for over three years. The tasks that he so successfully carried out have now been confided to Brother Franco Franchi, who previously served as a consultant to the Argentine Construction Workers' Union UOCRA, and to his capable secretary, Ms. Lilia Fernandez. Franchi was approved as Regional Secretary by the IFBWW Management Committee, following the return of former Regional Secretary Horacio Cuenca to his old post with UOCRA. In connection with the first IFBWW Regional Conference for Latin America, held in Buenos Aires on December 3-5, 1974, with participation from trade unions throughout the region, a delegation from the IFBWW Management Committee visited Argentina and took part in the Conference. The Conference reflected well the optimism of the Latin American member unions about the future and demonstrated their confidence in the IFBWW and its efforts. The Conference passed a resolution calling for establishment of a Latin American Regional Committee to strengthen the cooperation and joint work of IFBWW Latin American affiliates. ners Bearing in mind the social and economic problems of Latin America and the necessity of maintaining there a democratic trade- union movement which can influence the development of society and the conditions in which workers live and work, it is absolutely necessary that the IFBWW strengthens its presence in the region and continues to support the brothers and sisters who so devotedly struggle there for a better future for the workers of Latin America. Africa bemml 3291 In the report of the General Secretary for the period 1st April 1973- 31st March 1974, a fairly detailed account was given on the changes that were made in the IFBWW African regional organization just over a year ago. Thus, Brother Sven Mattsson left his post as African Regional Secretary in early 1974 to take up a job with SIDA in Stockholm and was replaced in that capacity by Brother Lawrence Chancy Kawesa from the Uganda Building Construction, Civil Engineering& Allied Workers' Union; Brother Kawesa's appointment comes up for renewal at the IFBWW Congress this August. As well, the IFBWW Regional Office was moved from Ndola, Zambia to Nairobi, Kenya, where facilities are shared with the International Metalworkers' Federation( IMF) and the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees( FIET). This cooperation has so far worked out well. 31 Brother Kawesa has undertaken trade- union education activities in East Africa with member unions in Kenya, the Seychelles and Uganda. The prospects for future work are good. The recent military coup in Ethiopia has made the future for meaningful work in that country uncertain. As is known, the IFBWW, via General Secretary John Löfblad, sent a letter of vigorous protest to the Ethiopian government on behalf of the imprisoned trade- union leaders, Brothers Tekie and Salomon, the latter a member of the governing bodies of both the ICFTU and the ILO. This year, the IFBWW has also continued its modest support for the activities of the black United Building & Allied Industrial Workers' Union in Rhodesia. The entire grant has been used for trade- union education and has been administered by the ICFTU/ ITS representative in Rhodesia, Brother Bill Lawrence, Over the years, this activity in Rhodesia has served as a unique example of the results one sometime gets with limited means. Asia June The IFBWW was inactive in Asia during the past year. I would like to stress once again, however, my earlier view that more organized activities should be launched in the region following the 1975 Congress. To that end, we are now holding discussions with the ILO on a large- scale future program for trade- union education among forest workers in Southeast Asia. art to ziedmom Europe Though IFBWW activities in Europe as a whole cannot be compared with those undertaken in Africa, Asia and Latin America, our efforts in Greece, Portugal, Spain and Turkey do fall under the description of activities in Paragraphs 2 and 10 of the Statutes. Because of the relatively stable situation in Turkey and of the fact that the IFBWW has given considerable aid there in past years, no support was provided for Turkish affiliates during the past year. Nor was any requested. On the other hand, some form of aid to Greek unions might well have been undertaken following the overthrow of the military junta. However, due to the great extent of our activities in Portugal and Spain, we have not had the time to pay a visit to Greece. Another factor is the confused political situation in the country, which seems to justify a waiting game. The General Secretary, however, has had a series of contacts with the new leaders of the Greek trade- union movement and with the former affiliate in Greece, the Building Workers' Union, which was excluded in 1967 because it supported the military junta. The Union has just elected new leadership and erit wants to resume contacts with the IFBWW. This opens the way to a resumption of activities in Greece in the near future. nosis of beilogs.vidson sved colxsM ni anoinu to edmuns bns soiemA In Spain, meanwhile, IFBWW activity has taken on a new dimension. For some time now, the International has had good contacts with the clandestine trade- union movement in Spain. Dissatisfaction with the fascist government and with the government- controlled" trade unions" is widespread in Spain, as is discontent among wageearners with the generally bad conditions of service in Spanish industry. Organized protest is particularly evident among the clandestine building workers' organizations, whose numerous strike actions have been brutally repressed by the police and the state authorities. bovoigo The IFBWW program for Spain, which has centered around support for seminars and conferences, has been very able directed by Brother Juan Fernandez, a National Secretary of the Belgian General Workers' Federation, Algemene Centrale. Given recent developments, it seems more and more clear that there soon must be a change toward more democratic government in Spain. It is also obvious that the long- term efforts of the IFBWW were made at the right time and that a foundation for future progress has been laid, one which can be built on by a democratic tradeunion movement as the winds of change continue to blow against the fascist Franco regime. In Portugal, the bloodless revolution of April 25, 1974, which overthrew a fascist dictatorship of more than 40 years duration, was a relative surprise. The dictatorship had isolated the Portuguese people from outside contacts and from the democratic developments which have taken place in the world since the end of World War II. This isolation was all the more effective since Portugal's only land border was with Franco Spain. Further repressive factors were the country's economic backwardness, illiteracy and the costly colonial wars in Africa. A pit As soon as the Portuguese revolution came, and with it hopes for the future, demands for economic and social reforms and for freedom of speech and association, the question was immediately posed as to what extent the free trade- union movement could contribute to the reconstruction work of the free workers of Portugal. It need not be said that obstacles to free trade- union development in Portugal were and are great. Portuguese workers have almost no experience of free trade- union or democratic political activities and, of course, economic resources and working and instructional materials are lacking. The IFBWW Executive Committee quickly went to work and already at its Dublin, Ireland meeting of June 1974 decided to appeal to affiliates for a grant of 15 centimes per member to assist unions in countries under or emerging from dictatorship, including in Portugal. The reply was good among European member organizations the only non- European contributor was the Australian Federated Furnishing Trade Society- and more than 200 000 Swiss francs was collected. - 32 The next step was to put the money to work in Portugal, a task complicated by the fact that the IFBWW did not have contacts among the building and woodworkers' organizations in Portugal and that continuing political unrest and internal opposition made conditions for rapid assistance more difficult. In late November 1974, the Management Committee visited Lisbon in order to get an on- the- spot idea of the situation in Portugal and to assess the prospects for taking part in the building of democratic institutions there. The visit had been prepared in cooperation with the ICFTU/ ITS representative in Portugal, Brother Manuel Simon, and had been preceded by a visit to the country by J.-E. Norling. At the time of the visit, the situation was still confused- what else could be expected- but prospects for rapid efforts by the IFBWW still appeared relatively good, provided a competent person could be found to supervise activities in Portugal itself. However, because of the language difficulties, this question proved very difficult to cope with. Still, the IFBWW hoped to be able to give assistance in the coming elections, which, however, proved impossible. The situation worsened because of severe conditions and General Spinola's unsuccessful coup d'état of March 11, 1975. At this very moment, on April 1, 1975, it is obvious that it will not be possible to visit Portugal again until after the constituent assembly elections, now postponed until April 25, 1975. The assistant to the General Secretary, Brother Bruce Vandervort, visited Portugal from February 17 to 22, 1975, following consultations with the ICFTU on the situation there, and presented a detailed report on his trip to the Management and Executive Committees upon his return. In connection with Vandervort's report, it was decided to give some limited material aid to one of the unions contacted in Portugal in the form of a roneotype machine, paper, ink and books for its library. The need for books is an example of the adverse effects of the long period of dictatorship: almost nothing exists in Portuguese about the trade- union movement, the ILO, etc., and, therefore one has to be satisfied with literature existing in Spanish, which those people who can read in Portugal are more or less familiar with. In addition, the new IFBWW brochure, now in preparation, will be translated into Portuguese in Lisbon. Though the situation remains difficult in Portugal, it still should be noted with satisfaction that the dictatorship was removed speedily and without bloodshed. This means that there is a new situation now from which one can start to build democratic institutions and decide about social reforms which can rapidly change Portugal. But, of course, the free labour movement must be aware of its responsibilities and give the democratic forces in Portugal their support. That support is needed at this very critical moment. It would be unfortunate if the fascist dictatorship would be succeeded by a communist dictatorship, thus undoing all the efforts toward establishing freedom of association and the press and giving workers a decisive voice in the development of the country. The IFBWW is aware of its responsibility in this sphere and is eager to take part in supporting such efforts. It is most satisfactory that our affiliates have so whole- heartedly come forward to back our program. IFBWW News Bulletin bs bluore afnammavop Four numbers of" Building and Wood" were published during the past year. Joint Committee for Building& Woodworkers in the Common Market how azo 103 babnam The constructive and fundamental work of the Joint Committee was continued in the past year, under the leadership of Brother Emile Janssens, President of the Belgian General Workers' Federation Algemene Centrale, and secretarial support from Brother Juan Fernandez of the same organization. Cooperation was expanded in the past year as more extensive exchanges took place between the Joint Committee and other committees of the IFBWW. The General Secretary has been invited to participate in meetings of the Joint Committee as an observer and attended a meeting in that capacity in Salerno, Italy in May 1974. Executive Committee and Management Committee Ten meetings of the Management Committee were held during the year. The Executive Committee held its annual meeting on June 18, 1974, in Dublin, upon the invitation of the Irish Transport& General Workers' Union, which had arranged a very interesting program for the occasion. At the meeting, the following new affiliations were approved: The Finnish Woodworkers' Union, 50 000 members( merger of two previously existing unions) The Federated Furnishing Trade Society of Australia, 6 000 members( the first IFBWW affiliate in Australia). bevi Cooperation with ICFTU, Other International Trade Secretariats Cooperation with the ICFTU and those International Trade Secretariats with which the IFBWW had contact proved fruitful over the past year. The ICFTU, under the dynamic leadership of General Secretary Otto Kersten, maintained a high and active profile, despite many difficulties, the key one being lack of funds. John Löfblad continued to serve as one of the 33 tee. five deputy ITS members on the ICFTU governing board and as deputy member of the ICFTU Finance Commitbib Insofar as the ITS's are concerned, cooperation with the IMF and the FIET was especially extensive. Reference to joint occupancy of the Nairobi office was made above. Cooperation was also valuable with the International Federation of Chemical& General Workers' Unions( ICF) and its capable General Secretary, Brother Charles Levinson. Progress was made toward charting a common trade- union strategy for dealing with the multinational corporations, on which Levinson is the foremost labour expert. Cooperation with the ILO 1. 59th Session of the International Labour Conference Taldia This session was held in Geneva on June 5-25, 1974, with more than 1 400 delegates, advisors and observers from 119 countries in attendance. The conference elected Pedro Sala Orosco, the Peruvian Minister of Labour, as President; the workers' Vice- President was Kanti Mehta, Vice- President of the Indian National Trade Union Congress and a member of the ILO Governing Body. The workers' group decided to let representatives of the clandestine trade- union organizations of Chile, Greece and Spain attend their meeting, in spite of the fact that official delegates, chosen by the fascist regimes of those countries, were present. More than 200 speakers participated in the general debate concerning the report of the ILO Director- General. In his reply to the contributions to this debate, the new Director General, Mr. Francis Blanchard, appealed for an intensified campaign against mass poverty. He stressed the point that present economic policies cannot solve the problems of poverty facing the world's population. The following words which he then added are worth considering:" This means that millions of people each morning wait for a miracle to give them work, or each night compare their earnings to those of the privileged minority. Three out of four live in the countryside and their fate is often decided by a handful of persons, whom they are never going to meet." Blanchard contended that the ILO had to intensify its campaign against poverty, beginning in the Third World, through international, regional and national action for the benefit of the under- privileged masses. The Conference also launched a world- wide campaign against job- induced cancer, which takes hundreds of workers' lives annually. Conference passed a Convention and a Recommendation calling upon the responsible authorities in the various countries to observe regulations concerning cancer- inducing substances used in industry and to follow the security programs of the ILO and other agencies in this field. Conference also passed a Convention concerning paid educational leave. Conference appealed for international cooperation to stop the exploitation of immigrant labour. It was demanded that governments should warn immigrant workers of the risks connected with the kinds of jobs they most often take: these workers run twice the risk of local workers insofar as accidents are concerned. Conference passed a resolution calling upon the ILO Governing Body to investigate violations of human and trade- union rights in Chile. The Chilean junta was asked to cease these violations, which, of course, fell on deaf ears. But, this is not true only of Chile but of all dictatorships. The ILO Governing Body was asked to examine the possibility of allocating more money to allow developing countries to send tripartite delegations to the International Labour Conference. The Governing Body was also asked to investigate the possibility of holding a tripartite international conference on employment, the distribution of income, social progress and the international division of labour. It was urged to speedily finish studies on the social impact of the activities of multinational companies and on the consequences for workers of inflation. The ILO was also called upon to take action to improve the working environment and to organize meetings and carry out research on the subject. Finally, comments are in order concerning the report of the tripartite committee which oversees the ratification and implementation of ILO Conventions by member states and how they fulfill certain other duties according to the UN Statutes. Member states are obliged to present annual reports to the ILO on: 1. ratified conventions ( Art. 22 and 35), 2. the extent to which the Conventions and Recommendations have been submitted to competent authorities( Art. 19), and 3. legislation and practice relating to the non- ratified Conventions chosen by the Governing Body( Art. 19). It is now more than 40 years since the ILO established this reporting system and, of course, it is extremely valuable. Lately, however, there has been a decrease in the number of nations which comply with it; this year, only 82.5% of the reports were received. As usual, this committee had some remarks to make against certain countries, but this time a Great Power, namely the Soviet Union, came under criticism. It was accused of violating Convention 29, passed in 1930, concerning forced labour. This Convention was ratified by the Soviet Union in 1956. A long and stormy debate ensued lasting into the middle of the night. In defense, the Soviet representatives used what was, in many respects, a strange argumentation. Of course, the whole business ended up in a political deal and the committee proposal to con34 demn the Soviet Union was defeated, thanks to the abstentions of sufficient countries so that a quorum could not be reached. This is serious because the committee was absolutely correct. This time, however, it was a question of a Great Power. One can condemn small states like Greece or Uganda but not a Great Power like the USSR. This damages the reputation of the ILO. 2. 2nd Tripartite Technical Meeting for the Wood Industry, January 14-24, 1975 in Geneva Quite a long time had passed since the first meeting in September 1967. On the agenda of the second meeting, besides the general report, were the two following items: 1. The wood industry and the creation of employment 2. The training of managers, foremen and workers in the wood industry. to gauoy to ni tesista bris axlest ali On January 13, 1975, the IFBWW arranged a preparatory conference for workers delegates from member organizations of the International. The Wood Committee of the IFBWW attended the meeting in an observer capacity. As usual, the IFBWW delegation played a dominant role at the Meeting, being in a clear majority on the workers' side. worl basebnu viless of sons or ni angioli po si tot sluittib zew i snit Keith Johnson, President of the International Woodworkers of America( USA and Canada), was elected President of the workers' group, while John Löfblad was elected Secretary of the group. Gerhard Vater, President of the German Wood and Plastic Workers' Union, was elected as Workers' Vice- Chairman for the whole Wood Committee and Arthur Farrenkopf of the same union served as Workers' Vice- Chairman of the Sub- Committee on Training. S. Akom- Mensah of the Timber& Woodworkers' Union of Ghana was chosen as Vice- Chairman of the Sub- Committee on the Creation of Employment. Bent Larsen, Vice- President of the Danish Joiners' and Carpenters' Union, was appointed to the committee charged with evaluating the results given to the recommend- onal ations of the last Meeting. Thomas Murphy, President of the Bricklayers', Masons' and Plasterers' International Union of America, was appointed a permanent member of the Steering Committee. Presiding over the whole T Meeting was R. Purpura, Italian substitute on the ILO Governing Body.tud pid ton ilizzi Hota WWT On the whole, the work went very well, especially within the workers' group, which enjoyed exceptional solidarity. Work in such a Committee is not easy for many reasons. The different questions of detail are so complicated that it is very difficult to have time for a deep discussion in the group meetings and sub- committees. The resolutions which were passed concerning the specific work of the Committee were unanimous and, in spite of all and in the eternal sign of compromise, they rather well reflect the wish of the workers that the special problems, numerous and complicated, of the wood industry ought to be discussed and tackled more within the framework of the ILO. Thus, a permanent committee for the wood industry is desired, as well as more frequent meetings, to make it possible to satisfactorily follow developments, especially those of a technological nature. The agenda for the next meeting should include points on health and safety on the job, labour relations and an active labour market policy, aiming at securing full employment in the wood industry. The workers' group also passed its own resolution, which was read in the plenary session, condemning the fascist regime and the oppression in Chile. This, of course, made the president of the employers' group jump up and declare that this question had nothing to do with the meeting and disassociate his group from the statement of the workers' group. You can always trust employers to act in this fashion on such occasions. Twenty- three countries had been invited to participate in the Meeting and all, except Uganda, sent delegates. Having briefly reported on the two most important events within the ILO, from the point of view of the IFBWW, during the past year, it is surely unnecessary to point out that there are permanent contacts between the ILO and the IFBWW secretariat. Thus, the IFBWW helped with the preparations for the Wood Industry Meeting, mainly in conjunction with Messrs. O'Callaghan and Reynauld of the ILO Industrial Committees section. We have also had many meetings with ILO Workers' Education Department representatives, mainly concerning activities in Latin America but also concerning the planned project for training forest workers in Asia. As General Secretary of an International Trade Secretariat safe- guarding three such great fields as building, woodworking and forestry, I must express the hope that the ILO can settle its financial and political problems so that it can become the instrument it was meant to be, to improve the conditions of the workers. Possibilities for fruitful work within the framework of the ILO are very great insofar as the different problems of working life are concerned. But, primarily, this endless political plotting, mainly in connection with the International Labour Conference, must come to an end. It is an agony for one interested in such matters to look at. 3. International Youth Conference of the IFBWW Ino3 bhow beldtö.) nro The 9th International Youth Conference was held at Rönneberga Trade- Union School outside Stockholm on June 9 to 15, 1974. The Rönneberga school is run by the Swedish Building Workers' Union and is a very modern institution.no.3 ayu A- sterre- as zupuA mlorbloat2noin show gniblip8 dabaw agno Some 60 delegates from IFBWW organizations in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America attended the Conference. Through this geographical spread, the Conference took on a more global character than usual. Thus, the participants had a chance to hold detailed discussions on the problems of the trade- union movement in the Third 35 World. The on the average very young participants had an excellent illustration of the need for strong trade- union support from the industrialized countries for the struggle of their oppressed brothers and sisters in the developing countries. A great deal of the work of the Conference also concerned discussions of Swedish trade- union activities, which reach into all aspects of Swedish society. Time was also spent on the special problems and activities of the IFBWW. The delegates were critical of the fact that not more time was given to discussions on the special problems of young workers and, as at previous conferences, they considered it self- evident that there is an organizational interest in youth work and the resolution passed reflected this. eans to re It absolutely must be pointed out that the participants in the conference considered it self- evident that there is an organization like the IFBWW and that the member organizations give it sufficient means to really fill its tasks and not be an organization of which most trade- union members know nothing. We others who for different reasons are more informed about the problems of the international trade- union movement know that this good and correct thought is far from being realized on different levels within the organizations and among the members of the trade- union movement. I think it was difficult for the young participants in the Conference to really understand how the international trade- union organizations have to struggle to enlist new member organizations and to raise dhe membership dues and with a constant shortage of staff, when the tasks increase and many of them have to remain unsolved. It is quite obvious that the young trade- union members assembled at this youth conference wish that the IFBWW would continue with youth conferences with certain intervals and it is for the new Executive Committee to judge to what extent this demand can be met. The program of the youth conference also included study tours of workplaces and a meeting with Tage Erlander, the former Social Democratic Prime Minister of Sweden for 23 years. The Staff of the IFBWW The IFBWW staff is still not big but during the year we have been able to increase it a little. Besides the General Secretary there is now his secretary and a translator. On February 1, 1975, Bruce Vandervort was hired as assistant to the General Secretary. Vandervort came from the International Union of Food & Allied Workers' Associations, where he had a similar job. J.-E. Norling, the international secretary of the Swedish Building Workers' Union, has also been periodically engaged this past year by the IFBWW to carry out certain tasks in connection with activities in Latin America and has served as Secretary of the IFBWW Committees. On April 1, 1975, he became the Swedish Labour Attaché in Bonn, but until the Congress in August he will assist the IFBWW in winding up his work in the Committees and in finishing the tasks of the Committees for this congress period. eup Other In the financial report, it is clearly stated how much has been spent on activities in the developing countries during the past year. The total turnover during the year was 1 411 483.77 Swiss francs. The IFBWW now has close to 2 400 000 full dues- paying members. Because some affiliates often pay their dues months too late, this figure is never counted. As of March 31, 1975, 23 affiliates had paid their membership dues for the first six months of 1975. Geneva, April 4, 1975 John Löfblad General Secretary oals Representation at Congresses, Conferences and Other Meetings Congress, Norwegian Bricklayers' Union, Oslo, May 5-8, 1974- K. Johansson 20th Congress, Norwegian Wood Workers' Union, Oslo, May 26-29, 1974- John Löfblad 59th ILO International Labour Conference, Geneva, June 5-29, 1974 John Löfblad World Conference of ICFTU for Foreign and Stateless Workers' Problems, Geneva, June 3-4, 1974John Löfblad World Congress, International Metalworkers' Federation, Stockholm, July 2-5, 1974- John Löfblad Congress, International Transport Workers' Federation, Stockholm August 7-15, 1974- John Löfblad Congress, Swedish Building Workers' Union, Stockholm August 25-31, 1974- A. Buys, E. Canonica, R. Sperner, John Löfblad strupCongress, Swedish Painters' Union, Stockholm September 15, 1974- John Löfblad 36 bad atneqioisq Congress, Danish Painters' Union, Odense, September 16, 1974- John Löfblad Congress, Danish Special Workers' Union, Copenhagen, September 17, 1974- John Löfblad Congress, Danish Bricklayers' Union, Aalborg, September 15, 1974- K. Johansson Congress, Norwegian Electrical& Power Station Workers' Union, Oslo, September 22, 1974- John Löfblad Congress, Austrian Building& Woodworkers' Union, Vienna, October 2-5, 1974- John Löfblad Congress, Norwegian Building Workers' Union, Oslo, October 20-26, 1974- K. Johansson Annual Meeting, AFL- CIO Construction& Building Trades Department, Bal Harbour, Florida, USA, February 1975 John Löfblad Congress, Venezuelan Building Workers' Union, Caracas, February 26- March 3, 1975- Franco Franchi African Chan cial in Africa activities on the continent since African Economic, Political and What follows most likely to shape the future of on that continent. events can be said to old fall of the ce the firs how in world affairs. my coup which overthrew Ethic bian riod of join vilian- military How Eth ried to focus on the events which seem and the work of the IFBWW frican scene in the period 1972-75 the Portugu and rule in for search Haile Selassie in 1974 has led, via a to of a" socialist repu antly ( President). on risoned. In the face of from organ tinues to insist that these offic vities. Beyene Solomon Board), ard), has just been ted to to that Group uinea- Bisse Following several years wake of the April 1974 overth nies of Guinea- Bissau and to follow suit socialist," but with the fight Angola, od has the Feuding tlers have fled Angola fled Angola and Po 37 For SS Todmal nsigewiol trade union how gnibliu8 nsipewo A the organraise dhe to rep ship Executive the mitted ing with Tage Erlittle. bruary 1, 1975, Bruce. Vanmational Union of Food secretary of the Swe IFBWW to cam the IFBWW Löfblad perner, Lusaka, Zambia May 12-18, 1973 enolsuz seniu nl..asinoloo- xed sizeixo ama abiam deuodle nemmevon erit yd begge 19b10 8101251 of vituo goinu- sbet pinoydm qe 191neo lenoitan s raildstag of asirilog at 9201 lands siul tw, aupidms simong om al looltuo sexiagono najnu- sbent ses sonenimoq ade- union.efections in that ni oni every sloon ni babuola aug Report on Activities in Africa di seg of ziliwati bean gion should also be mad wort nism91 929 V16UIXUS og not me how asilidom of ed of 16oggs nolazim szortwanoitusitani Ismerige vlepis! 161 29200 in Zambia. A further Kenya, to increase participat completed. zan Ww.ed ational activities in West Africa This report, based on a synthesis of the detailed quarterly reports from Africa of IFBWW African Regional Representative Sven Mattsson and his successor( as of January 1974) Lawrence Chancy Kawesa, falls into two parts: 1. a brief summary of the major economic, political and social developments in Africa over the present Congress period; and 2. a short account of IFBWW activities on the continent since 1972. African Economic, Political and Social Trends( 1972-75) What follows must necessarily be selective. We have tried to focus on the events which seem most likely to shape the future of African politics and trade- unionism and the work of the IFBWW on that continent. ose 1701 Three events can be said to have dominated the African scene in the period 1972-75: the fall of the centuries- old monarchy in Ethiopia, the final collapse of the Portuguese empire and the first appearance of cracks in the facade of white settler rule in Southern Africa. These events, however, are only symptoms of more profound changes which have been taking place over the whole period of recent African history: de- colonization, the struggle for black majority rule, the fight for economic and political sovereignty and the search for African unity and an" African presence" in world affairs. Ethiopia 191099.5112 Hoidw to xonaqu ad 062 The army coup which overthrew Ethiopian monarch Haile Selassie in 1974 has led, via a troubled period of joint civilian- military rule, to the creation of a" socialist republic", apparently inspired by Maoist principles. However, the new regime has proven to be unstable: the border region of Eritrea, claimed by Ethiopia, is in open revolt and an insurrection is raging in the Afars territory to the north- east. And, while some of the new government's policies appear to be enlightened( land reform, reduction of the power of the feudal aristocracy), others are not. For example, the national trade- union center CELU has recently been outlawed and its leaders, Beyene Solomon( President), Gidey Gebre( Vice- President) and Fisseha Tsion Tekie( General Secretary), imprisoned. In the face of protests from the ICFTU and other labour organizations, the government continues to insist that these officials have been detained for corruption, not tradeunion activities. Beyene Solomon, a member of the ILO Governing Body( and of the ICFTU Executive Board), has just been re- elected to that post by the ILO Workers' Group, although he remains in detention. Angola, Guinea- Bissau, Mozambique A smgo Following several years of guerrilla warfare, the Portuguese African empire collapsed in the wake of the April 1974 overthrow of the Salazar regime in Lisbon. Since then, the former colonies of Guinea- Bissau and Mozambique have gained their independence, with Angola scheduled to follow suit later in 1975. The new governments in Guinea- Bissau and Mozambique call themselves" socialist," but with strong nationalist overtones, since they are based on the liberation movements which led the fight for independence( the PAIGC in Guinea- Bissau, FRELIMO in Mozambique). In Angola, the transition to nationhood has been less smooth: warfare periodically breaks out among three contending African factions, the FNLA( rightist), the UNITA( centrist) and the MPLA( left- wing). Feuding among these rival groups appears to have been encouraged by outside interests, who seek to control the country's considerable agricultural and mineral wealth. Lately, thousands of white settlers have fled Angola and Portuguese troops have been sent back to the 39 39 country to restore order. Embryonic trade- union movements exist in all three ex- colonies. In Guinea- Bissau, efforts to establish a national center appear to have been stopped by the government, although President Luiz Cabral rose to political prominence as a trade- union organizer. The outlook is more promising in Mozambique, where the FRELIMO government of President Samora Machel has declared its willingness to cooperate with the ICFTU. The future is, of course, clouded in Angola, where each of the contending political factions sports a trade- union auxiliary. These remain, however, largely ephemeral institutions, whose mission appears to be to mobilize workers for political purposes rather than to organize them around job- related issues. Southern Africa to aleeritava s no beard nogen sidT sone The most important result of the collapse of Portuguese colonialism in Africa was the blow it struck at white settler power in Southern Africa. Land- locked Rhodesia, for example, has been denied access to the Mozambique seaport of Lourenço Marques, the major outlet for its exports in the past. Also, the FRELIMO government has announced that it will continue to give material aid to African guerrillas fighting to overthrow the Smith regime in Rhodesia. The de- colonization of Angola and Mozambique also seems to have prompted the South African government to undertake diplomatic initiatives to defuse the tense political atmosphere in the southern part of Africa; part of the price the Vorster government seems willing to pay for" détente" is abandonment of white Rhodesia. These developments have prompted some observers to speculate that black majority rule will shortly be established in Rhodesia. While seeking" détente" with Africans abroad, the South African government has not changed its policy of apartheid at home. The African majority continues to suffer from abysmal living and working conditions and an almost complete lack of civil and trade- union rights. The plight of black South African workers was highlighted in 1974 by revelations that British- based companies were paying African employees wages below the poverty level established by the Vorster government itself. This led to British parliamentary investigations and a TUC fact finding mission to South Africa, the upshot of which was some improvement in the wages and working conditions of Africans employed by UK- based firms in that country. More important, however, African workers have taken steps of their own to improve their lot. The industrial center of Durban was shaken by a wave of strikes in 1974 and labour disputes have proliferated in the Rand mining area. In the wake of this new militancy, some 25 African trade unions have been created in Durban and Johannesburg( including a Furniture& Timber Workers' Union in Durban and a Construction& Allied Workers' Union in Johannesburg). Though these unions are not recognized by the state, employers are not prohibited from negotiating with them, which has happened in some cases. The appearance of this new force in the South African labour movement has caused the Trades Holl Union Congress of South Africa( the country's largest national center) to modify its earlier position against affiliation of African unions. There is, however, reason to suspect that this is only a tactical maneuver and not a fundamental change in policy. IFBWW Activities in Africa( 1972-75) qmi,( 16) revop zsiti as noin ( b1608 ev evituse The major developments in IFBWW activity in Africa over the present Congress period were: transfer of the Regional Office from Ndola, Zambia to Nairobi, Kenya following the resignation of Sven Mattsson as African Regional Representative( Brother Mattsson now works as consultant to the Swedish International Development Authority); the appointment of L. Chancy Kawesa, former General Secretary of the Uganda Building Construction, Civil Engineering& Allied Workers' Union, to succeed Mattsson; and the expansion of the IFBWW's trade- union education program for Africa. Workers' Education ue wollot of sloo" 29visz bel doidw thems The nub of IFBWW activity in Africa, as in Latin America, is its trade- union education program. This scheme takes two forms: assistance to unions seeking to set up internal workers' education branches, and the organizing and conducting of trade- union education courses, some short week- end or night courses, some of somewhat longer duration. Over the present Congress period, the following courses were given: onsavor 40 Lusaka, Zambia Mahe, Seychelles tes:: the Au May 12-18, 1973 Tr So September 26- October 5, 1974 February 24-28, 1975 retariat Tororo, Uganda : : the ComSeminars scheduled for late 1974 in Kenya had to be postponed due to conflicts with ongoing trade- union elections in that country. Mention should also be made here of Sven Mattsson's work in helping the Zambia Congress of Trades Unions build up its workers' education program. Though plans for the upcoming Congress period have not yet been completed, thought has been given to holding seminars in Kenya, with possible participation from Tanzanian unions, and in Zambia. A further objective would be to increase IFBWW educational activities in West Africa, which has been somewhat neglected in the present Congress period. 22010 enso no bris, eattimmo evitusex WWR mem iezeburide19.A.X Relations with Affiliated and Fraternal Organizations of Nasz wolsd nolfoss Normal contact was maintained with IFBWW affiliates over the period 1972-75, thanks to the spadework of Sven Mattsson and the activities of his successor, Brother Kawesa. The composition of IFBWW membership in the region changed somewhat over the period, as four unions( the Building& Construction Workers' Union and Zanzibar& Pemba Building& Construction Workers' Union of Tanzania, the Union Nationale des Travailleurs of Zaïre and the National Union of Building Construction, Civil Engineering& Allied Workers of Zambia) decided to disaffiliate from the International and two chose to join it( the Fédération Générale des Ouvriers du Bâtiment of Tunisia and the General Construction& Manual Workers' Union of Mauritius- the latter replaces the Mauritius Building Industry, Engineering& Other Workers' Union, now defunct). On this to point, it should be stressed that the decision of the Zambia union to disaffiliate is not considered definitive and that close fraternal relations continue to exist between it and the IFBWW. now abaw During the period under review, closer relations were established between the International and affiliated unions in Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rhodesia, the Seychelles and Uganda, while contact was less frequent with member unions in Dahomey, Ethiopia and Malawi, due to political complications. The IFBWW continued a program of financial aid to the Rhodesian United Building& Allied Industrial Workers' Union in 1972-75, but was forced to suspend assistance to the Ethiopian United Wood Workers' Union because of the political uncertainties existing in the country following the 1974 military coup. The International Labour Conference held annually in Geneva provide an added opportunity for IFBWW contact with African trade- union representatives. During the 1975 session, discussions were held with delegates from Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Zambia. Earlier, contact was made with representatives of the South African Construction& Allied Workers' Union, the newly- founded African building workers' union in the Johannesburg region, with a view to eventual affiliation. Future Priorities плой 208. ni trishimmi nevo nol to bas A9 to to votoiv sibodmis aten Within the scope of its limited resources, the IFBWW might consider the following goals for its African activities over the coming Congress period: bila nenitnoodus sibni 009 1. More balanced scheduling of trade- union education courses, with greater emphasis on West Africa; however, every effort should be made to avoid doing this at the expense of ongoing work in Central and East Africa. 2. Convening an African regional conference in 1976 to consider plans for greater cooperation among the International's African affiliates. 3. Examination of the possibilities of increased affiliation in Africa, in particular in Frenchand Portuguese- speaking countries. 4. Assistance wherever possible to unions in African countries under or emerging from dictatorship, e.g., Rhodesia and South Africa. Lasizvele 5. Search for ways to maintain mutually- beneficial ties with the Organization for African Trade Union Unity( OATUU)( labour branch of the Organization for African Unity or OAU) and with progressive governments on the African continent. Geneva, July 1975 Bruce Vandervort 41 Exe1 Br- St yeM sidme, s> leau. M Report on Activities in Asia Butlook more pro beluberoz 216himb enoirbals noinu- sba piog led in Anunt where bd dels bludna bije ever temaun bliud anomu. to ga gnibl or of nevip need do 19rl A sidms ni This report is based in part on information provided to the Geneva secretariat by Brother K.R. Prabhudesai, member for Asia on the IFBWW Executive Committee, and on general press accounts. The first section below seeks to sketch out the economic, political and social context for future IFBWW work in Asia. Section two is intended to provide some suggestions as to the shape of activities in Asia in the coming Congress period. Asian Economic, Political and Social Trends( 1972-75) ebsga adt to noiti The present Congress period was a time of great change in Asia, as the list of major developments given below will indicate. In general, the period was one of uneven development: economically, industrialization and the mechanization of agriculture proceeded apace, although it is doubtful that either trend did much to improve overall Asian living standards; politically, the number of new democratic governments which came into power was more than matched by the number of new dictatorships; socially, progress toward the greater emancipation of Asian peasants and workers was paralleled by the increasing influence over Asian societies of both domestic and multinational corporations and by the emergence of new communist regimes, whose attitude towards democratic and trade- union rights will bear close scrutiny. binu bataill is bris 917 2291 26W tostno slirw working The major events of the past three years in Asia were: 1972 " Détente" between People's Republic of China and the USA following Kissinger- Nixon visits to Peking pribling 1973 Labour governments come to power in New Zealand and Australia Plans laid for full independence of Papua New Guinea from Australia uno Brea an and 1974 1975 President Marcos establishes dictatorship in Philippines; civil war rages between government and Muslim rebels in southern islands Democratic revolution in Thailand ends three decades of military rule Tanaka, right- wing Japanese prime minister, forced to resign following charges of corruption Victory of PRG and North Vietnamese forces in Vietnam, Khmer Rouge in Cambodia; Pathet Lao take- over imminent in Laos Death of Chiang Kai- Shek in Taiwan Indian subcontinent slides toward dictatorship as Premier Mujhib turns Bangladesh into a one- party state and Indian Premier Indira Gandhi locks up some 900 leading political opponents and declares a state of emergency Renewed threat of war in Korea between Stalinist regime in North and Park dictatorship in the South. IFBWW Activities in Asia( 1972-75) During the period under review, IFBWW activity in Asia was limited. Representation work in the region, which had been carried out in the previous Congress period by Brothers G. Balan of the Malaysian Sawmill& Timber Industry Workers' Union and B. R.N. Thampi of the Malaysian Union of Forest Employees, has since been confided to Brother K. R. Prabhudesai of the Building Mazdoor Union of India. In 1974, Brother Prabhudesai visited several Asian countries on mission for the International. IFBWW membership in Asia increased only slightly over the past three years, with the addi42 tion of two new affiliates, the Australian Federated Furnishing Trade Society( Victoria) and the Malaysian Paper and Paper Products Manufacturing Employees' Union. Normal contact was maintained between the Geneva secretariat and affiliates in the region. Correspondence was also exchanged with fraternal organizations in Australia, Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Thailand. which Concern has been expressed for sometime about the need for a greater IFBWW presence in Asia. To date, limited resources have made it difficult to undertake the administrative work, factfinding tours and educational activities necessary to develop a strong organization in the region. It is hoped that in the coming Congress period the necessary funds will be found to launch a substantial program of activities in Asia. One trend in that direction are the discussions currently going on between the IFBWW and the ILO on a joint training program for forest workers in Asia. Priorities for the Future It should first be noted here that the sectors within the IFBWW jurisdiction are extremely important in the economies of almost all Asian nations. In addition to the construction industry, in full expansion in virtually every Asian country, the region boasts a large forest industry, in potential second only to that of Latin America, and a growing woodworking industry. Further details on the latter two sectors can be found in the document on the world forest industry submitted as part of the 1975 Congress documentation. Taking these factors into account, the following list of priorities for work in Asia over the coming Congress period should be considered by the IFBWW: 1. An extensive fact- finding tour of Asia by IFBWW representatives to develop a greater insight into the needs of the region's trade- unions and to ascertain the possibilities of new affiliations. ver 0 to bre art is 2. Serious consideration of possibilities of holding an Asian regional conference at some beitso point in the next Congress period. 3. Examination of the possibilities of establishing an Asian regional office. 4. Development of plans for a workers' education program for the region, based, among other things, on the prospects of a joint IFBWW- ILO training program for Asian forest workers. 5. Assistance wherever possible to unions in Asian countries under or emerging from dictatorship. Geneva, July 1975 Bruce Vandervort Sitesinepro showboow bris pribliud erit ed bns eied m 000 8 -hojem erit equang diriw bns 21edmem 000 OST zar dirtw 2000ART Work edmem s ybels ei vituo ertt ni 219> how enibliud to y ofni batsiooni insxs eds sleuseneV.nl 43 lum eldshsvni quo diw nia 20 dairbor MA2 302 obei pairtaimu beterabensilentzuA adj., 29tsilitts wen owl to noit noinU assyoloma nisurastuneMaroubor neqs9 bnaneqs9 nsiaysisM art neswied benietism asw 101 Ism driw begnadoxe oals zsw sonsbro bnelisriT bos bnsies we seniu wsИ Report from the Latin American Regional Office need asd msono 290ozen betimil stab oT sizA Isnotsoube bris aut nibnit phimo art nie beqori ai sl ni me zsitivitos to msoq isitnite press mi When the XIIIth Congress of the IFBWW was held in Ostend, the Regional Office in Caracas, whose opening marked the beginning of our efforts in Latin America, had only been operating for nine months. The report presented to that Congress by Brother Ake Wedin described the first contacts made in Latin America, the first affiliations and the preparatory work which was being undertaken to get under way the educational programme which was our main purpose. In this short period of time contacts had been made with building and wood- workers' trade unions throughout the whole of Latin America, even in those countries where the political situation made the development of effective activities on our part highly unlikely. The UOCRA and the SIMRA in Argentina, the UTRACON in Costa Rica and the Cement Workers Union, SAMPER, in Colombia had joined the FETRACONS in Venezuela as active members. As part of our effort to develop our educational programme the first issue of the" United We Shall Overcome" pamphlet had been printed and the first seminar in this programme had been organized. The seminar took place at the end of October 1972 with a group of leaders selected from the various countries of the region with the collaboration of the IFBWW and the IUF. Brother Wedin's report pointed out that during this initial period the activities we had carried out were marked on the average by a study of the various priority items and, as always happens in practice, by a detailed study of each sector of our activity. Suffice it to say that our work, prior to the Ostend Congress was composed of preparation for the programmes to be carried out by the IFBWW in Latin America and that now we have come to give an account of the results which we had hoped to gain from our projects which, in our opinion, have been far better than our most optismistic forecasts had allowed us to hope. Contacts, recruitment and affiliations ater As we have stated above, in October 1972, the attraction that the IFBWW was having for the building and woodworkers' organizations in Latin America was beginning to be noted. Three years later we have 20 organizations in active membership, representing 420 000 workers, and four organizations which can be considered as nominal members, for the effective existence of some of them is in doubt, and we have had contacts which allow us to believe that some ten other organizations will seek membership within the next few months. It may be of interest to give the following details of our Latin American members. 900 In the Argentine we had affiliation applications from the UOCRA which has 250 000 members and the USIMRA which has 35 000 members. Later, they were joined by the FOMDA with 5 000 members. In this way the building and woodworkers and the mosaic cutters and setters are to a large extent incorporated into the IFBWW. In Venezuela, the FETRACONS which has 120 000 members and which groups the majority of building workers in the country is already a member. Representation work The Colombian Cement Workers Union, SAMPER, had become a member but later allowed its membership to lapse because of internal disputes in the Organization which in no way concern us since, in accordance with our invariable rule in this respect, we have never interfered in the internal life of our members. We are informed, however, that within this organization there is a strong body of opinion which desires to re- establish links with the IFBWW. At the same time as SAMPER left us, SINTRAMEDECOL, a small organization with 250 members became a member 44 of the IFBWW. At present there are six organizations in this country which are interested in becoming members of the IFBWW. spotsoubs WWE In Panama our affiliate SITRAPRODEC with its 800 members is collaborating very actively with our Federation. buta to pointed We have already mentioned the affiliation in Costa Rica of a small organization UTRACON which has 100 members. en In Mexico our membership is composed of seven woodworkers' unions belonging to the Durango Trade Unions Federation with 600 members, five woodworkers' unions belonging to the Chihuahua Trade Unions Federation with 350 members and the Cement, Lime, Plaster and Similar and Allied Products Industry Workers Union of the Republic of Mexico with 5 000 members. Finally there are four affiliated organizations who do not take an active part in union life and whose existence, in some cases is considered doubtful. These are the Autonomous Trade Union Front in Uruguay, the Federation of Civil Engineering and Allied Industries in Peru, the Civil Engineering Industry Workers Union in Recife, Brazil, and the Federation of Free Building and Allied Workers in Pichincha in Ecuador. We have completely lost contact with the Uruguayan Union and it seems unlikely that we shall be able to re- establish contact with them in view of the prevailing political situation in the country. In Peru, a country where the political situation is also confused, the Federation seems to have no members and is unable to meet its obligation to pay its membership fee. The Brazilian trade union has to obey Government directives concerning active membership of our Federation. So far it has not received permission to cover its relation with us and so has completely lost contact with us. Finally, the Ecuador trade union does not maintain effective contact with our Regional Office and we have never been able to prove that it does in fact exist apart from the letter- head of the odd letter. We shall make a final effort to get in touch with these organizations before the Congress takes place so that a decision concerning them can be taken. to noisglo 010 All our active members are participating in the preparation and carrying out of our educational activities and they regularly are up to date in paying their membership fees. At the time of this report the following organizations are up to date in this respect: the organizations in the Argentine, Panama and Costa Rica. FETRACONS in Venezuela has paid part of its fee and will pay the rest within the statutory period. The Mexican organizations have promised to pay their fees; they have been unable to do so up to the present because of communication difficulties since the trade unions are disseminated throughout the various states. These difficulties will be overcome by the collaboration of their Federations. As for our Colombian member, it is a new organization which has had serious difficulty in obtaining recognition, a common state of affairs in that country, and for the moment it is unable to pay its membership fees. In this case, however, the difficulties can be considered as very real and we must wait until this union has the necessary funds and even, if it becomes necessary, come to its aid.edu 003 980 As for future membership possibilities, we should point out that as a result of recent contacts and the educational task we are carrying out, it is probable that new applications will be received by the IFBWW before the Congress takes place. Among them, it is sure, will figure that of SITRACOCS in El Salvador with its 2 000 members. Two other woodworkers' unions in the State of Durango have expressed their desire for membership as have six organizations in Colombia. Finally, the Building Workers Union in Guayas, Ecuador, has declared its intention to beco19 me a member and is preparing educational programmes with our Regional Office.biz WWI aimer Consequently we can consider that we have a good group of member- organizations carrying out activities within our Federation and there are prospects of an immediate increase in their number as a result of the recruiting efforts which we have already made. 61200 mot VODAR Educational Work andine ARTIC grit moil nouspel We pointed out in our report to the Ostend Congress and we have not changed our opinion in the present report, that the main activity of the IFBWW in Latin America is educational which is why we devote most of our efforts to education. bas molaz00 As we announced at the Ostend Congress the first seminar for the training of study circle coordinators organized by the IFBWW took place in Los Caracas, Venezuela between the end of October and the beginning of November 1972. There were 28 participants from seven Latin 45 American countries and the IFBWW and the IUF made an active contribution to the programme. This seminar marked the beginning of the IFBWW's educational activities in Latin America and the introduction of a new apprenticeship method in that part of the world. Since then 22 more seminars for the training of study circle coordinators have been held: w the second in December 1972 in Lima, Peru with 16 participants, the third in January 1973 in San José, Costa Rica with 17 participants, the fourth in February 1973 in Bogota, Colombia dw with 11 participants, the fifth in March 1973 in Lujan, Pcia. de San Luis, Argentina with 19 participants, the sixth in May 1973 in Corrientes, Argentina with 14 participants, the seventh inn May 1973 in Mendoza, Argentina with 12 participants, the eighth in May 1973 in Buenos Aires, Argentina with 14 participants, the ninth in June 1973 in Chihuahua, Mexico with 19 partici- s pants, the tenth in June 1973 in Durango, Mexico with 15 participants, the eleventh in September 1973 in Ciudad Mexico with 20 participants, the twelfth in September 1973 in Guadalajara, Mexico with 20 participants the thirteenth in Lima, Peru in October 1973 with ten participants, the fourteenth in Esquel, Argentina in May 1974 with 11 participants, the fifteenth in May 1974 in Hernando, Pcia de Cordoba, Argentina with nine participants, the 16th in May 1974 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina with 15 participants, the 17th in June 1974 in Salta, Argentina, with 13 participants, the 18th in January 1975 in Panama with 15 participants, the 19th in February 1975 in San José, Costa Rica with 10 participants, the 20th in March 1975 in Bogota, Colombia with 22 participants, the 21st in March 1975 in Panama with 14 participants, the 22nd in Panama in April 1975 with 16 participants and the 23rd in San Salvador, Republic of San Salvador in May 1975 with 16 participants. As can be noted during these three years 356 study circle coordinators have been trained to spread the knowledge that they have acquired through the IFBWW educational programme. In Vicente Casares, Argentina in March 1974 an assessment seminar was held with the participation of those coordinators who had come out of the seminars held up till then and who had carried out the greatest number of study circles. Since for the carrying out of its education programme the IFBWW had applied for and obtained a 28 500 dollar subsidy from the ILO it invited this world organization to attend the seminar as an observer, which it do in the persons of Valerio Agostinone and Jan- Erik Norling. Brother Ake Wedin was responsible for the seminar and he had the collaboration of Eduardo Murguia of the IMF. There were 28 participants from 5 countries all of whom had proved experience in carrying out study circles, and the aim of the seminar was to comment on past experiences, what difficulties had been encountered in carrying them out and what criticism could be made of the method and the text. The group maintained its efforts for six days, drawing up conclusions and recommendations which resulted in certain modifications to the" United We Shall Overcome" pamphlet. Its second edition which came out in November 1974 shows the changes introduced as a result of the work of this seminar. As we said above, we obtained a first subsidy of 28 500 dollars from the ILO to develop our educational programme. Later activities for 1974, 1975 and 1976 were programmed for which the ILO granted a second subsidy, this time of 150 000 dollars. Suffice it to say that the IFBWW educational labours in Latin America are entirely paid for from funds coming from these subsidies. Among the activities carried out by the Latin American Regional Office one of the most important was the first regional conference of the Building and Woodworkers Industry Trade Unions, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 3rd to 5th December 1974 and which was attended by the IFBWW President, Abraham Buys, the Secretary General John Löfblad, and Brothers Knut Johansson, Rudolf Sperner, Jan- Erik Norling and Juan Herrera, members of the Executive Committee. The latter also presided the Venezuelan delegation. UOCRA, FOMDA, and USIMRA from the Argentine sent delegations as did the Colombian Cement Trade Union, SAMPER, FETRACONS from Venezuela, SITRAPRODEC from Panama and UTRACON from Costa Rica. The delegation from the Mexican Trade Unions was unable to attend because of last minute problems. The Argentine Minister of Labour, representatives of the ILO and the Confederación General del Trabajo of Argentina attended the inauguration of the Conference of which the high level of discussion and the expertise shown throughout them gave proof of the degree of maturity of the affiliated organizations and the very warm welcome given to IFBWW activity in Latin America. Very eloquent in this respect was the enthusiasm shown for the need to set up a Regional Committee for Latin America to strengthen the bonds of unity between the building and woodworkers 46 unions in the region and to work together for our common objectives. This need was expressed in a resolution from the Conference which, as this report goes to press, has become reality with its approval by the IFBWW Executive Committee. bisq Hivi In accordance with its programme the Conference dealt with subjects concerning the trade union situation of the building and woodworkers organizations in Latin America. Among the subjects covered were the situation on the labour market( degree of employment, unemployment, wages, etc) in the countries of the region, and working conditions in the building and woodworking industries( agreements, vocational training, industrial environment, medical and social protection, etc), housing problems in Latin America and the corresponding responsibility of the trade union organizations together with their possibilities to influence the situation and take the initiative. The Conference also dealt with trade union training in Latin America and there was a general discussion of the need for collaboration between the trade union organizations in Latin America and the means to put it into practice. mworl ed As a result of the discussion two groups of resolutions were drawn up. One was addressed to the Executive Committee of the IFBWW and concerned the creation of the Regional Committee to which we have referred. The other was addressed to the governments of the Latin American States and recommended the adoption of measures to create full employment conditions in the industries of the branch. It suggested the passing of specific legislation to cover workers in the building industry in view of the particular conditions of their work which are usually not adequately covered in the general labour legislation. It also recommended that a policy and plans be sid evolved for the building of housing which would be within the possibilities of the workers to acquire, that workers' vocational training be encouraged and that trade union training should be recognized as a responsibility of society as a whole, that employers should be obliged to respect industrial security provisions and those governing environmental conditions in work- places and, finally that trade union freedom and the dignity of the worker should be respected, etc. nuor The Regional Office was responsible for drawing up the Conference minutes which are at present being printed. It is hoped that before the Congress the publication prepared from the minutes and from the documentation presented to the Conference by the participating trade unions will be able to be distributed to all the affiliated organizations. 10 YBW 3176 With regard to the effectiveness and the repercussions that the IFBWW educational method has had in Latin America, we can point out that an Argentinian trade union organization SMATA which sent members to various seminars by virtue of the links which we have had in our work with the IMF, has organized the educational work which it carries out through study circles on and has printed special texts for them inspired by" United We Shall Overcome" and has adapted the content of this pamphlet to the specific characteristics of its country and its industry. It only remains to be added that, in accordance with activity programming, week- end courses have been held with the aim of establishing contacts with the organizations, spreading the sy work of the IFBWW, explaining the educational activities which are carried out and which, normally give rise to new seminars. We believe, then, that the educational work carried out over the past three years has fulfilled the proposed forecasts and programmes and has laid a solid basis for the future work which has been decided. bap sw ribidw mA под Regional office show of 182 ever aw 2sitivit tenoitssubs quo base of abio ni vhslim2 The IFBWW Regional Office for Latin America originally had its headquarters in Caracas and was transferred to Buenos Aires in 1973. Its staff consists of the regional representative and the treasurer and secretary which is really insufficient for the progressively increasing number of tasks that they have to carry out. The said office operates with funds from the subsidies granted by the central office of the IFBWW in Geneva and for its educational programmes uses funds from the ILO subsidy which are also paid through our central office. Its books are kept correctly and are submitted to the central office together with all supporting documents and receipts. It also submits its accounts to the ILO where funds from the ILO are concerned.zubni luo to st We are satisfied to report that accounts rendered up to the present have been considered exemplary and have given rise to no adverse comment. The work is carried out harmoniously and in a strict spirit of collaboration both between the staff of the regional office and in their relations with the Geneva office, which always attends to our requests and provides immediate solutions 47 to matters which we submit to it. It is our belief that, because of the way in which it undertakes its work, because of the attention which is paid to it within the IFBWW and because of the collaboration and enthusiasm of the affiliated organizations in the region, the Latin American Regional Office will find its activities increase every day and will be called upon to play an unequalled. role in Latin America. We should take into account the fact that to the normal difficulties that we encounter in carrying out our activity must be added those which are the result of the conditions peculiar to Latin America. Difficulties which are due to the degree of underdevelopment of most countries in Latin America, which render our task harder and yet which compel us to carry on the struggle without even being able to take a step backwards or think of stopping for a while. We think that a large part of the future fate of the world will be in Latin America and this fate will be decided necessarily through the workers and their organizations. In taking on activities in Latin America the IFBWW has shown that it has a clear vision of the future but it has also assumed a serious work responsibility which the Regional Office is attempting to carry forward, convinced of the usefulness and the necessity of its activity. Future activities The Regional Office plans to intensify its recruiting activities in the region and we have already spoken, in this report of the immediate prospects concerning El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. But it is our intention to try and make contacts with organizations in countries which, at the moment, present conditions totally opposed to our work or in which we have not been successful or have not been able to act. Unfortunately the countries in which democratic up conditions do not exist or in which trade union activities have been restricted or suppressed are numerous. However, we consider it our duty toward the comrade workers of these countries to attempt to approach them and the organizations which, clandestinely it is sure, function in those countries. But the putting into practice of such projects is not easy when we consider the amount of time such tasks consume and so we must analyse the need for them and the increase in staff that they would require. We feel that, taking everything into account, the attempt should be made and in one way or another the Regional Office is going to carry forward this project. As far as the educational task is concerned we have practically finalised our plans for the rest of the year, and the pre- established programmes and the obligations entered into in this respect with the ILO will be carried out without difficulty. In fact we are even drawing up plans for next year in relation to the seminars which we are carrying out at the moment. At the end of the year the second assessment seminar will take place and at present we are studying possibilities as to just where it will take place, though everything seems to point to Colombia being chosen. We shall invite a group of 25 to 30 study circle coordinators who have proved to our Regional Office to have a lot of experience to this seminar and we shall also invite observers from the ILO as we did in 1974. We also envisage another assessment seminar in 1976 which will attempt to evaluate the results of the work carried out with the aid of the ILO subsidy from 1974-1976. Also, between these two events we had thought of holding the Second Latin American Regional Conference which we are obliged to favour because of the success of the first Conference. Similarly in order to expand our educational activities we have set to work to edit educational pamphlets on other matters such as collective bargaining and labour legislation in the Armmit gentine with which we shall launch our programme. The editing of this material will help to organize new courses other than the basic trade union course which is carried out on the basis of" United We Shall Overcome" and so we shall meet the double need to broaden our educational activity and reply to specific needs to inform and train the Latin American workers. The creation of the Regional Committee requested by the First Regional Trade Union Conference of our industries and approved by the Executive Committee opens magnificent prospects for an increase in recruiting and the affiliation of organizations and the establishing of links and collaboration between the members which will, without any doubt, result in the improvement of the work of our regional office and in a widening of the range of its activities. 48 Conclusion All that we have said hitherto leads us to express the conviction that the IFBWW has excellent prospects in Latin America and that it can constitute the most serious attempt to unite the workers in a branch of industry in the region. This is no mean opportunity if we take into account the fact that the difficulties which exist and of which we have already spoken in no way favour normally such a rapid and effective success as the IFBWW has achieved. Full advantage, then, should be taken of the work carried out and the efforts which have been made and we should be clearly conscious of the fact that only the training of the workers can help this grey map of subdevelopment and hunger which has been traced out by colonialism and servile oligarchies to change, lighting up the still sad geography of the continent, for they are those who suffer most from these deplorable conditions and they alone can change them by their desperation and their educational progress. The Latin American workers of the building and woodworking industries have received the contribution, the solidarity, of the IFBWW with enthusiasm but also with hope and it is the duty of all of us to feed this enthusiasm and strengthen this hope. May it be so for the pride of the IFBWW and for the good of Latin America. submitted study are the 1FBW Franco Franchi TH ons( Keny ave etary, Se imat cri in Rho Rho of of inv outstanding excep have funded an ambitious infras Building& Woodworkers notes An available ev ure and hour 49 Cong to ces it because noizulono team of ni to donsid, ni how lupitib sdt ant tost erit inuo ons bigsis roue vilemon quovst Now sa to nexsi.ed bluona.ne tost and to 200152000 celb ed bluoriz Struggle anund edito bas med eposdo so 900 blud ent to ans consalloons bos.me ngiribnos sldssalgeb.92et moin A nite brit 22910010 lenosoubs in also ass od and noirudin di bevisbe ever. 29113 sonam nits to boog not brs WW1 eris to sbing art not the region and we have alEl Salvador, Mexico, Colom in countries we have not cratic are of these to in those and the incre attempt this project. the amount in staff made the for ent. and at Cowho have proLatin Ar ade and so ific nee Trade Union Conprospects of links and Uw syns Plea idms empl at the Now The World crisis in the Building Industry 2.1 and is expected to 1973. BizA noitsutie arbe a congr dmed as WW8Agertidor thamyolmandat h -80 myboladjani ni onibiliu arkt turn Vitzubni noitount Introduction asl ert nl leste bris insmeɔ to zeptore of sub vlagis! nolta This document, which is intended to complement the report to Congress of the IFBWW Building Committee, is an outgrowth of the Geneva secretariat's survey last winter on the effects of the current recession upon the construction industry and its labour force. The preliminary results of the survey were published in Nr. 1/75 of the IFBWW news bulletin," Building& Wood." The present document differs from that earlier effort in two ways. First, it benefits from more complete and up- to- date information on the situation in the world building industry, as provided in the activities reports submitted to Congress by affiliated unions. Second, it tries to be more wide- ranging: the earlier study focused too narrowly on Europe and North America, largely because unions in those regions are better equipped to provide the kinds of data required. This lack has been remedied to some extent in the present document, although clearly much more information is needed before we can give an accurate picture of trends in the construction industry in the developing nations. Almost all of the data used in compiling this report were provided by affiliated unions. Therefore, the IFBWW secretariat wishes to thank all those who helped to bring this project to fruition. Finally, we would like to point out that where gaps still exist, they are largely due to the failure of unions to respond to our survey and/ or the activities questionnaire for Congress or to the lack of accurate statistical evidence from outside sources. Every effort was made to render this report as comprehensive and genuinely international as possible. Africa oot sved vert ymono $ 15 The construction sector in African countries where the IFBWW has membership seems to be, with one or two exceptions, in the unhappy position of seeing traditional low levels of employment in the industry aggravated by the present global economic crisis. Thus, the Ghana Construction& Building Trades Workers' Union and the East Africa Federation of Building& Construction Workers' Unions( Kenya) report that new construction projects and badly- needed programs for training skilled workers have had to be postponed due to a lack of investment capital; unemployment is serious in the building sectors of both countries. However, the country the hardest- hit in absolute terms is probably the Seychelles, where the Building Construction& Civil Engineering Workers' Union estimates that 4 000 of country's 9 000 building and allied workers are jobless. The Union's General Secretary, Brother P. Loizeau, has called upon the government to provide relief. The building crisis in Rhodesia takes a somewhat different form: the United Building& Allied Industrial Workers' Union reports that the United Nations embargo on trade with the racist Smith regime in Rhodesia has made it difficult to obtain needed building materials, with the result that the costs of such commodities have soared and many workers in the sector have been pared and many laid off. One outstanding exception to this dreary picture is Nigeria, where growing government oil revenues have funded an ambitious infrastructure and housing scheme; the Nigerian Amalgamated Union of Building& Woodworkers notes that there is virtual full employment in the country's building industry. Another potential exception may be Zambia, where the government has launched an imaginative program of rural building, which the National Union of Building Construction, Civil Engineering& Allied Workers( not affiliated to the IFBWW) believes may help to reduce unemployment in the sector and, incidentally, enable it to better organize workers in the construction industry outside of the urban centers. The available evidence, then, seems to show that the favored means of riding out the reces51 sion in African building is to increase state intervention in the sector, as in Nigeria and Zambia. However, it is worth noting that these two nations are particularly well- placed to launch new schemes, given their mineral wealth( Zambia is one of the world's leading copper producers). State contributions to increasing building employment in countries such as Ghana and Kenya will necessarily be more modest. Asia WedT Our report on developments in Asian construction necessarily concentrates on the situation in India, the only Asian country in which the IFBWW has membership in the sector. The Building Mazdoor Union( Bombay) reports that unemployment rose sharply in the construction industry last year, largely due to shortages of cement and steel. In the last six months, the crisis has eased somewhat. However, in response to the uncertain job climate in construction and the victimization of workers for trade- union activities, the Union has formed the Builders' Cooperative Construction Society Ltd., which will give preference in employment to jobless workers. The cooperative has as one of its aims the building of low- cost housing for workers. to at lua Europe freesnq eriT qu bns erelqmoɔ As the following reports will show, almost all Western European countries have been affected by a pronounced slump in building activity, especially in housing, resulting in high unemployment in the sector, in some cases the highest in the post- war era. The immediate causes of this recession are well- nigh universal: general satisfaction of demand for medium- and high- income housing, government curbs on credit and on commercial building and housing starts as a means of combatting inflation, rising building materials costs due to the so- called" energy crisis" and general inflation. However, long- term causes can also be pin- pointed with a certain accuracy. In many countries, long- range construction plans have generally looked to the building of private/ public middle- and high- income housing as the main generator of activity, with correspondingly less emphasis on social housing and programs for rebuilding or re- equipping existing housing stock. In addition, most governments seem to have drawn highly debatable conclusions from the fact that the building industry is a key element in fostering growth in employment and the Gross National Product because of its multiplier effect( one new job in construction creates up to three more in the economy at large). That is, they have too often viewed the sector as the favored medium for rapid economic growth, through injections of state capital for public works, etc., thus exaggerating its already cyclical," stop- go" nature and reducing chances for needed stability in the sector. Even worse, governments also tend to make the industry the major target in efforts to control inflation by reducing demand, with the result that building workers bear an unfair burden of the social cost of such programs, through unemployment and forced re- training. The following reports also make clear that influencing government building policy is a key element in union plans for reviving construction activity. Such schemes, of course, have a better chance of success in countries where the labour movement's political allies are in power( e.g., the Benelux countries, Germany, Scandinavia) than in states with conservative or reactionary regimes ( France, Italy, Spain). Another positive development, not frequently brought out in these reports, is the push by unions for a greater voice in industrial decision- making, either through co- determination schemes, as in Germany and Scandinavia, or via workers' self- management programs, as spelled- out by the French CFDT. Increased control by unions over the employment and investment policies of construction firms can be expected to contribute greatly to the achievement of stability in building activity and of full employment in the sector. Austria The Austrian Building and Woodworkers' Union( Gewerkschaft der Bau- und Holzarbeiter) reports that activity in the Austrian construction industry, like the growth rate of the economy in general, has been slowing down since 1972. Thus, while the increase in the net product of the building sector was 16 percent in 1972, it is estimated to have been only 3 percent in 1974 and is expected to fall to 1 percent this year. This drop- off in activity has reversed the employment picture in the industry: while the number of workers employed in construction rose by 4 percent in 1972 and 3.4 percent in 1973, it 52 appears to have fallen by 3.5 percent in 1974 and is expected to decline by 4.5 percent this year ( this compares to a projected 1 percent decline in activity for Austrian industry as a whole). It would appear that the number of foreign workers leaving the industry is somewhat greater than that for nationals( 2.5 percent to 2.0 percent). The rate of unemployment in the sector for 1974 is estimated to have been 2.6 percent( 2 279 workers in the building trades were registered as unemployed at the end of November 1974), as against 2.7 percent in 1972 and 2.1 percent in 1973, and is expected to hit 3.5 percent this year. The slowdown in construction has prompted the Austrian socialist government to set aside a contingency fund in its budget to aid the building industry. The allocated sum of 4.3 billion schillings will be injected into the economy if the unemployment situation takes a dramatic turn for the worse. Belgium VIOUS ng reg 007 a & Woodwor the IFB pation ( FNCE dains lis from IsungM The following information was provided by the Belgian Centrale Générale. The union wishes to emphasize that the figures presented for 1974 and its projections for 1975 can only be tentative at this early date. The Belgian construction industry has been experiencing reduced activity since 1972, as inflation has led to government restrictions on building credits and cutbacks in some of its public works programs. Thus, in the public housing sector, only 5 380 new starts were authorized up to the end of September 1974, as compared to 10 575 and 14 410 during the same periods in 1973 and 1972. The number of subsidized one- family dwellings under construction also fell, from 19 785 units in 1973 to 15 163 in 1974. In contrast, the number of private non- subsidized housing starts increased in the first half of 1974, though largely due to anticipation of higher building costs and tighter credit later in the year. Activity in non- residential construction remained at about the same level in 1974 as in the previous year. A turndown began toward the end of the year due to government anti- inflationary bs ed bluode measures. In public works, activity appears to have recovered somewhat from the sharp decline of 1973. This relative stabilization is mainly due to an increase in local credits for new construction to compensate for cutbacks in government- funded projects. State public work expenditure in Belgium has been halved since 1972. In mid- 1973, 216 214 production and 22 133 white collar building workers were listed as covered by the state social security program. The current slump in overall construction activity has led to a drop of 4 percent in the number of employees engaged in public works( there had been a 7 percent decline from 1972 to 1973) and a 3 percent drop in the number of production workers employed in building( although the number of white collar workers engaged in the sector rose by 4 percent). At the end of September 1974, there were 8 919 construction workers unemployed as compared to 8 653 at the same time in 1973, while 7 092 were on short- time working. It is predicted that unemployment in the sector will rise by another 7-10% in 1975. se by ar The Centrale Générale feels that 1975 will also be a slow year in the housing field, due to continuing tight credit and the general decline in economic activity now beginning to affect the European economies. This could be offset by an increase in expenditure for public housing. Still, it seems certain that the number of new starts will fall short of the 20 000 new low- cost units projected by the government for 1974. In non- residential building, activity is likely to fall off. The picture seems a bit brighter in public works, since the government has upped its budget in this area by 6 percent for the coming year. Denmark Denmark has been more seriously affected by the current world economic crisis than any other European country, with the possible exceptions of Italy and Spain. The Danish situation has been exacerbated by an unfavorable balance of payments: heavily dependent on trade, the country was simultaneously hit in 1974 by declining markets for its goods and a sharp rise in the price of imports, especially fuel. The effect on the building industry has been disastrous. The Danish Building& Allied Workers' Federation( Byggefagenes Landssammenslutning) 53 reports that total Danish building volume dropped by 26% from 1973 to 1974, with the biggest decline coming in the housing sector( down 50%). Commercial building starts fell by 14% and public works activity by 11% over the same period. The only bright spot in the picture has been an increase in home renovation work, which occupied 45 000 workers in November 1974 as compared to 38 000 in November 1973. S need ever of betsmitze al The following tables illustrate the serious effects of the Danish economic recession upon employment in industry as a whole and in the building sector. faqe ai bns ation Number of Danish workers employed at end of 1972 1973 1974 Manual workers, all Danish industry 312 500 317 200 275 100 ction Non- manual workers, all iple8 Danish industry 104 700 108 200 106 100 Danish building workers 171 500 150 900 Breakdown of job loss by branch in Danish building industry, 1973-74 Contractors Bricklayers Carpenters ( 1 000 persons employed) 100 Joiners iqms of airit te svit edT how November 1973 November 1974 37.4 34.1 31.0 27.8 8.7 2lhbos 28.3 23.8 7.0 8561 ni Painters Plumbers Electricians Public Works 00 November 1973 November 1974 13.6 12.2 18.9 16.0 15.0 17.3 15.6 15.7 ( Some 5000 workers in other categories should be added to the list of unemployed, giving a to- m tal of 20 600 for the whole Danish building industry.) that Thus, Danish building workers have borne much of the brunt of the deterioration of the nation's labour market: whereas unemployment in industry as a whole was 14.1% in January 1975, it was over 15% for the building trades. It would seem that some Danish government officials consider this trend to be irreversible; there is talk of reducing the labour force in construction to half of its present size over the next ten years. It can be expected that this situation will be eased to some extent with the recent return to power of the Danish Social Democratic Party, following a period of Liberal Party minority rule. Legislation for job and income protection and for assistance to the building industry is apparently forthcoming. Federal Republic of Germany Feve The following information was provided by the German Construction Workers' Union( IG Bau- Steine- Erden). - Activity in the German construction and civil engineering industries declined by about 7 rth percent from 1973 to 1974( as compared to a 1.8 percent drop from 1972 to 1973), largely as a result of the government's anti- inflation program, which imposed higher interest rates on loans and curbs on new building starts. This drop in activity led to a sharp fall- 11 percent in the st number of workers employed in the sectors( down from 1 515 253 in 1973 to 1 348 593 from d January to November 1974). Those hardest- hit were the skilled workers, though there was an appreciable fall in the number of semi- and unskilled workers employed as well. Part of those affected either found jobs in other industries or, in the case of the immigrant workers, left the country. The number of employees on short- time working also rose, from an average of 316 in 1973 to an average of 8 513 in 1974. The situation worsened in the first month of 1975, as the following table demonstrates: 54 BAT alaiso bimonoo9 161ang Jan. 1975 Unemployed 210 528 Vacanciesildad 11 933 Short- time Workers 36 309 Jan. 1974 sdy Jan. 1973 buntend sri T 120 261 20 763 4 443 58 730 61 762 30 Rigging For the remainder of 1975, the Union foresees a slight improvement in the level of activity coming toward the end of the year, as the government acts to relax credit controls and to subsidize new construction. Still, the number of housing starts will be sharply reduced in 1975 and even more employees will be forced to seek work elsewhere. France vold ni sassoni ne bns lewens Пschueloor elstiq wen to nois The following report is based on information supplied by the newly- affiliated National Federation of Building& Woodworkers- CFDT( FNCB) and taken from the press. No data was provided from the IFBWW's long- time affiliate in France, the Building& Woodworkers' Federation- Force Ouvrière, despite repeated requests from the Geneva secretariat. 915 noil The French building industry entered into a conjunctural crisis in 1975. The recession has affected housing construction more than other sectors: it is estimated that the number of housing units completed in 1975 will be from 30-50 000 less than in 1974. art As a result of this decline in activity, some 400 000 French building and allied workers are currently jobless or on short- time working and the number is expected to rise to half a million by next spring. The crisis in employment has been complicated by government refusal to subsidize the renovation of existing housing stock, which traditionally makes up around 20% of the activity in the building sector. Iceland For The Icelandic Building Workers' Federation( Samband Byggingamanna) reports that boom turned to slump in the country's building industry in November 1974, when government anti- inflation measures( credit restrictions, threats to curb housing starts) began to take effect. The sudden surplus on the labour market threatened overtime earning possibilities for workers in the' sector, which, according to official estimates, comprise up to 40% of the total earnings of unskilled building workers and up to 30-35% of the total earnings of skilled construction workers. Though the situation has since eased, the Federation believes there is a strong possibility of unemployment in the future. Ireland not The following information was provided by the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union. turn The Irish construction industry, beset by inflation, cash flow problems and tight credit, has entered into a period of declining activity, with the result that a significant proportion of the some 45 000 manual workers in the sector are in danger of losing their jobs. The housebuilding sector has been the hardest hit. The number of dwellings built in Ireland in 1974 appears to have dropped to about 22 000, as against some 25 000 in 1973. Sales of readymix concrete for house foundations were down almost 50 percent from 1973 levels and cement sales are said to have fallen off by 3 percent in 1974. The biggest decline in cement sales- 6 percent- came in the second half of 1974, indicating that the building slowdown is gaining momentum. Finally, sales of timber for homebuilding fell off by 30 percent from 1973 to 1974, while sales of concrete blocks and bricks declined by 20 percent over the same period. Public works construction remained at 1973 levels through the past year but predictions for the future are somber. A recent survey shows that many contracts tendered since July 1974 have been postponed due to the worsening general economic situation in Ireland. The union reports that some 4 000 building workers are currently unemployed and that every indication shows that the number is likely to increase in 1975. Italy liud 97612 wen bns at lyitzubni The following information was provided by the Italian Construction and Allied Workers' Union( FILCA- CISL). Spain 55 The construction industry has been seriously affected by the general economic crisis now gripping Italy. The christian- democratic coalition government's anti- inflationary policy has tightened credit for new construction and has led to cutbacks in public housing and public works projects, with the result that at the end of December 1974, around 100 000 workers were unemployed in the building sector( an increase of 8 percent over the previous year) and another 100 000 in the wood and woodworking industries( up 6 percent over 1973). The Union believes that the situation could become even worse in the next few months unless government action is taken to stimulate activity in construction. int inove The Union has drafted a program which calls for government financing of a large- scale public housing and public works program. Among the objectives of the program would be construction of new hospitals and schools, urban renewal and an increase in low cost housing units. The Union believes that adoption of this program is the only means to stave off massive unemployment in construction in 1975. The Union reports that some 1 200 000 of Italy's total active population of around 19 million are currently out of work. 26 Luxemburg om no eter ni betelq qmos ainu pri The Luxemburg Workers' Union( Luxemburger Arbechter- Verband- LAV) reports that the building boom which began three years ago is likely to continue through 1975, with industrial construction the only sector in which a slowdown is expected. A record number of houses was built in Luxemburg last year: 2 857 units as compared to 2 426 in 1973. Road construction also continues to prosper. pnibliud sit ni yt There is currently no unemployment in the Luxemburg building trades; in fact, the number of foreign workers engaged in the industry has risen by some 200 to 300 per month. besleal For the future, the union believes that the building boom may ease somewhat due to price rises( up 15-17 percent in 1974) and credit restrictions. However, this will probably be offset by a government decision, at trade union urging, to expand construction of low- cost housing. Pursuit of this policy has been aided by the fact that a new liberal- socialist government took over in Luxemburg last fall, thus ending a thirty- year reign by the christian- democratic party. Netherlands The Dutch Building& Woodworkers' Union( Bouw- Bond NVV) reports that 57 000 Dutch construction workers are presently laid off or unemployed. Twenty percent of them are skilled workers. The number of those who have lost their jobs altogether soared from 22 000 in 1973 to 34 000 in 1974 and is expected to reach 35 to 45 000( or 11-15 percent of the construction labour force) this year. The number of unemployed skilled building workers alone will probably hit 30 000. This sharp decline is, in the Union's view, due to structural causes. The housing market is saturated: in recent years, some 150 000 new units were built each year; in 1975, the figure is likely to drop to 100 to 110 000. The fall- off in housebuilding has produced a drop in civil engineering activity as related road and waterway and commercial and public building projects become less numerous. The Union thinks that the general economic slump has also had an effect on construction, though the extent of this is hard to measure. In any case, the net product of the Dutch construction industry fell from 26 200 million Nfl. in 1973 to 23 965 million Nfl. in 1974 and is expected to drop to 23 605 million Nfl. this year. The Union believes that some 30 to 50 000 Dutch building workers will have to find new jobs in the near future. Though retraining assistance is available, new jobs may be difficult to find, as other sectors are also experiencing unemployment. Some additional jobs may open up in construction due to natural wastage. However, the real health of the industry, the Union thinks, is dependent upon government implementation of a large- scale public works program over the next few years. The Dutch government has just begun to implement a program to revive the sagging building industry. It includes tax cuts and new state building programs. To date, however, it has not had any effect on the unemployment rate, which continues to increase. 56 noinu Norway The Norwegian Building Workers' Union( Norsk Bygningsindustriarbeiderforbund) reports that the present situation of the construction and civil engineering sectors is good and predicts that 1975 will be a good year as well. The total number of construction workers unemployed at the end of September 1974 was 644 or about 1 percent of the labour force. At present the industry has sufficient job openings to absorb all of its unemployed and it is expected that the number of jobs offered in 1975 will outrun demand. It is suggested that Norwegian construction employers may have to recruit foreign workers in the coming year. In addition, the Union notes that there is some unused capacity in the building industry due to government restrictions on office building and the construction of large installations and new bevoing be industrial plant. The Norwegian Bricklayers' Union( Norsk Murerforbund) adds that an average of 6.43 percent of its members were out of work last winter, due to employer refusal to spread work out evenly over the year. 25516 929rit ni atnamdasvni bobneqxs vlazeler axer not how gilduq bns bristsb bi Portugal yed The Portuguese construction industry, one of the country's most important( 1974 turnover: 8 658 m. escudos or 865.8 m. Swiss francs), has come to a virtual standstill following the April 1974 military coup which overthrew the Caetano dictatorship. From January to May 1975, only 57 applications for new building starts were received by Portuguese authorities. Part of the rea- t son, of course, is the rise in fuel and materials costs which came with the increase in petroleum prices. Also important, however, has been construction employers' lack of confidence in the new Left- wing military regime and their resistance to the resurgence of trade unions in the sector. For example, building employers did not welcome recent nationalization of the country's cement industry or the earlier state take- over of the domestic banking and insurance business. They have also complained about increased wage bills following a recent increase in the Portuguese minimum wage to 4 000 escudos( 400 Swiss francs) per month. These developments, plus a decision by the Lisbon city council to discourage further hotel construction in order to concentrate on social housing, provoked a street demonstration in the capital this spring by building contractors. And, at least one foreign company with holdings in the Portuguese construction industry, UK- based Costain Ltd., has decided to pull out, after telling the press that it was" impossible to work in. normal conditions under the Portuguese authorities' stipulations."( Foreign investment in Portuguese construction is heavily concentrated in projects required advanced technology, such as road building, and only amounts to about 4 percent of total investment in the sector.) As of June 1975, unemployment in Portuguese industry as a whole stood at around 8 percent. However, by year's end, when some 300 000 demobilized soldiers and settlers will have returned from Portugal's former African colonies, the figure could rise to 30 percent( about 1 million workers). No reliable data are available on joblessness in the construction industry, although it is certain that the figure is high. The last official statistic we have seen, 6 percent as of last December, is surely far too low. Even if it could be accepted, the figure does not give an accurate picture of the situation of workers in the industry, where under- employment is rife and seasonality the rule. Portugal's ruling military Revolutionary Council, taking into account the multiplier effect of inactivity in the building industry, has moved to fund new public works projects and otherwise encourage a resumption of construction activity. The government estimates that this" pumppriming" will provide up to 35 000 new jobs. However, state ability to revive the country's stalled economy is limited: inflation is running at around 24 percent; Portugal's balance of payments has turned sharply negative, as foreign exchange reserves have been more than halved over the past year; new foreign investment is practically nil and financial assistance from the EEC and the Eastern bloc has been disappointly scanty. The only positive factor is that currency remittances from Portuguese workers abroad have remained at a high level: over the past year, immigrant workers in France alone remitted 22 000 m. escudos( 2 200 m. Swiss francs). Spain eldslivs 916 21ow pr 40003 how aidsiebuszused vispiel vo The following information has been gathered in Spain by the construction workers' branch 57 of the clandestine Spanish General Workers' Union UGT( Unión General de trabajadores- UGT). The construction sector has been affected more strongly by the general economic crisis in Spain than any other, due to the high percentage of workers employed in home building and construction of tourist facilities, both of which have slacked- off considerably in the past year. The regions hardest- hit so far are the Canary Islands, the Costa del Sol, the Levant and Majorca, where almost no work is to be found due to a sharp decrease in the tourist trade. In Majorca, for example, 15 000 building workers from the mainland have been forced to return home. The Madrid region is also beginning to feel the pinch, with the result that some 60 000 construction workers went on strike there recently. In Catalonia, about 10 percent of the building work force is currently unemployed and it is estimated that the figure may rise to 50 percent( 100 000 out of 200 000) in the course of 1975. In the Basque Country, which had enjoyed full employment until just recently( largely due to industrial construction projects in course), the effects of the crisis elsewhere in Spain are beginning to be felt. to juo 919 The Franco government, which had originally decided to cut state expenditures for housing and public works for 1975, has lately expanded investments in these areas. On the job, workers' efforts to defend their interests are hampered by the enforced presence of the government- controlled" vertical unions", which side with the employers in industrial disputes and try to discourage workers from taking collective action. Sweden 838 She Aver The following information was provided by the Swedish Building Workers' Union( Svenska Byggnadsarbetareförbundet). oalA wit The Swedish building industry has been in a slump since 1970, particularly in the house building, public construction and commercial construction sectors. These were the growth areas during the building boom of the last decade and the general satisfaction of demand in these fields has largely contributed to the exodus of some 30 000 workers from the Swedish construction industry since 1969, most of them young or skilled workers.( This figure refers to the decline of union membership since 1969, which quite accurately reflects the number of workers lost to the industry, since 96 percent of the Swedish building work force is unionized.) Other reasons for the current drop in employment in construction are: the general cooling down of the Swedish economy, declining investment in the industry, the sharp rise in productivity among building workers ( about 9 percent per year) and the rationalisation programs undertaken by construction firms( in. some cases, the number of workers employed per site has decreased by 50 percent). However, this has been offset to some extent by a continuing high rate of activity in industrial construction, state subsidies for new building and an increase in the repairing and rebuilding of housing, etc. Though no precise figures are available on the latter activity, it is probably a key factor in preventing an even more drastic downturn in employment in construction. In 1974, investment in Swedish construction and civil engineering amounted to Skr. 31.8 billion, a drop of 10 percent from 1973 levels. The decline in activity was most marked in the house building sector, while the slowdown in public construction eased somewhat and industrial building continued to expand. In 1974, 82 000 new dwellings were completed; 67 000 are expected in 1975, the lowest figure since the 1950's. The number of blocks of flats and individual apartments built fell from 75 250 in 1971 to 38 781 in 1974, a decline of 46 percent. However, over the same period, the number of small individual houses built rose from 31 950 to 46 530, an increase of 46 percent. Total employment in the sector decreased by 4.5 percent in 1974, compared to a fall of 6.6 percent in 1973, an indication that somewhat greater stability has been achieved in the construction labour market. The Swedish Building Workers' Union sees a less serious decline in activity in 1975, mainly due to further growth in industrial building and the projected expansion of state investment in construction. However, the fall in housing starts and public building is expected to accentuate. It is hoped that further decreases in the number of workers employed in construction can be avoided through new legislation which limits the employers' right to engage workers new to the industry when skilled building workers are available. For the moment, the union's biggest problem is its difficulties in recruiting young workers for the construction industry, largely because undesirable working conditions give the sector a aeshow notout and s 58 " bad image." In the future, the union foresees problems in coping with the impact of the worldwide economic slowdown on Sweden. Switzerland The Swiss Building and Woodworkers' Union( Gewerkschaft Bau und Holz) reports that activity in the Swiss construction industry declined by about 10 percent from 1973 to 1974, with the housebuilding and civil engineering sectors being the hardest- hit. Industrial construction was affected to a lesser extent. The drop in housebuilding( it is estimated that only 40 to 50 000 houses will be built in 1975, as against 80 000 in 1973) is due to an approaching saturation of the market and local, cantonal and federal anti- inflationary measures, which have tightened- up credit and cut back on the number of building permits. In the last seven years, some 50 000 new dwellings were built in Swityerland, about one- fifth of all existing houses in the country. Building's share of the Swiss Gross National Product rose from 11 percent( 2.1 billion francs) to 20 percent rose fr ( 25.9 billion francs) in 1973. -blind The drop- off in activity led to a reduction in the Swiss construction labour force from 216 409 at the end of March 1973 to 150 275 at the end of March 1975. Thus, building employed 10.8 percent less Swiss, 41.3 percent less foreign workers, 65 percent less seasonal workers at the end of this period. The number of seasonal workers employed in the Swiss building industry fell from 91 690 to 32 063 from March 1973 to March 1975. As to unemployment, as of December 1974, official statistics showed 165 workers unemployed in the Swiss building trades( out of a national total of 1030). This figure is not definitive, however, since Swiss law does not require announcement of lay- offs or dismissals. Furthermore, the data only reflect the number of employees in the sector who have claimed unemployment compensation, a select group( mainly foremen, draftsmen, architects and engineers) since only about one- fifth of the Swiss labour force is covered by unemployment insurance. The union believes that unemployment may be as high as 6 to 8 percent.mmsvog eri terit abnameb noin 18 A onizuori ev to y For 1975, the union foreseees a further 10 percent drop in housing starts. Investment in industrial construction will not increase greatly, due to current difficulties on the Swiss export market. The sector with the greatest possibility for expansion is public works, though the general lack of funds for such purposes at local, cantonal and federal level will probably not allow for much in the way of new construction. The union believes that the general situation in the Swiss construction industry will begin to improve in 1976 and that 1977 will see a new surge in activity. Latin America, Caribbean beuzai sohamA dhol Little information has been received concerning the situation of the construction industries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The data presented here have been gleaned from the activities reports submitted by affiliated unions in Argentina, Bermuda, Costa Rica and Venezuela, the bulk of our active membership in the two regions prior to July 1, 1975. The Argentine Construction Workers' Union UOCRA and Mosaic Tile Workers' Union to FOMARA report that, whereas the construction industry suffered a drop in activity last year due to a temporary shortage of building materials, business has since picked up and there is now virtual full employment in the sector. However, recent government credit restrictions have driven some small entrepreneurs out of business; construction firms have recently figured prominently on lists of bankrupt Argentine companies. asiuzubni pnidzimut emor ons enutimut noi The Bermuda Industrial Union reports that building activity has fallen off considerably in that country over the past year. The Union believes that this could have been avoided if the government and employers had accepted to space new construction starts evenly over the year, as workers' representatives had demanded. 297 12919ini biotts tonne enwogmori ed- bl The Costa Rican Construction Workers' Union UTRACON reports that building demand remains strong in its country but that there has been difficulty assuring adequate supplies of cement. 21fbnyons of bris& ubo The Venezuelan Construction& Allied Workers' Union FETRACONS reports that the country's construction industry is expanding and that the situation on the labour market remains good, thanks largely to extensive state investment in public works and social housing. Govern- W ment investments for these purposes in 1974 totalled the equivalent of US$ 3 005 m., most of 59 which went to finance hydroelectric projects, roadbuilding, hospitals and schools. However, 17 percent of the figure was earmarked for workers' housing. In contrast, the Venezuelan private building sector spent the equivalent of US$ 1.2 m. for office buildings to accomodate the betteroff elements of Venezuelan society and foreign companies. Near East ons onb Here, we must concentrate on developments in two countries, Cyprus and Israel, since no information has been received from our building workers' affiliate in Turkey. The Cyprus Construction and Mine Workers' Federation reports that there was virtual full employment in Cypriot industry, including the building sector, up to the Turkish invasion of the Island in June 1974. Since then, unemployment has risen from 1.5 percent of the active population to about 20 percent, forcing Cypriot unions to seek employment abroad for their members. The building workers' branch of our Cypriot affiliate has been badly affected by the economic chaos coming in the wake of the invasion: thousands of construction workers are now jobless and the Federation has been forced to renegotiate its collective agreement with the Cypriot building employers' association, leading to a 20 percent reduction in wages and benefits. 4.ats The National Union of Building Workers in Israel fears a long- term recession and loss of employment in the Israeli construction industry, due to government anti- inflationary measures which came into effect in 1974. Last November, the Israeli government sharply devalued the Israeli pound sterling and put curbs on new building starts; these decisions have produced a considerable decline in building activity and an exodus of workers from the construction branch. From 1972 through 1974, the volume of new building construction in Israel declined from 8 million m² to 6.5 million m²; it is predicted that the figure will fall to around 4 million m² in 1975. These developments place in jeopardy a government plan, strongly supported by the Union, to speed up the construction of appartments for immigrants, workers and young people and to facilitate the repair of defective housing. Also at stake are Union demands that the government carry through on its plans for a more rational planning of housing construction: in 1974, the Israeli Ministry of Housing, at Union urging, agreed to a five- year housing plan, calling for the construction of 60 000 apartment units per year. The plan also calls for subsidies to citizens who are prepared to build houses outside the main Israeli population centers. In response to the current crisis in the Israeli construction sector, the Union has demanded that the government guarantee full, uninterrupted and planned employment. North America The AFL- CIO Executive Council, meeting in Bal Harbour, Florida this past February, issued a statement which termed the current level of unemployment in the US construction industry the worst since the Depression of the 1930's. Building workers have been harder- hit than any other profession by the US economic recession. One million of the 7.5 million US workers( 8.2 percent of the labour force) unemployed in mid- January 1975 were construction workers. In the 4th quarter of 1974, 13.7 percent of the US construction labour force was unemployed, compared to 8.8 percent in the same period in the previous year. Homebuilding is near a standstill: housing starts are down 60 percent from the level reached in early 1973; in the wake of this, building materials and appliance supplier industries, transportation, furniture and home furnishing industries have also suffered a decline in demand and production. The outlook for the future is not bright. The Ford administration continues to keep a tight rein on credit, with the result that contractors lack the capital to undertake new building projects and would- be homeowners cannot afford interest rates on mortgages. There are currently some 400 000 unsold new homes on the US market. The government has also sharply reduced its investments in public housing. Housing starts in federally- funded low- and moderate- income programs fell from 339 000 in 1972 to 181 000 in 1973 and to around 115 000 in 1974. The decline of the US housing industry has had a drastic effect on Canadian timber production, reports the International Woodworkers of America. Thousands of forest workers in Canada were temporarily laid off this spring as timber sales in the US fell off. All of the IFBWW's North American affiliated unions have been hard- hit by these developboop 60 ments. The International Union of Operating Engineers reports that 12 percent of its members are currently jobless. Unemployment is 25 percent among members of the International Brotherhood of Painters& Allied Trades. One out of four US sheet metal workers is out of work. The Laborer's International Union of North America notes that 30 percent of its members are jobless. Random samples of unemployment among members of the Bricklayers', Masons' and Plasterers' International Union of America showed that an average of over 40 percent of the bricklayer labour force was out of work in major North American cities. The AFL- CIO has called upon the US Congress to act speedily to counter the Ford administration's policies by lowering interest rates on mortgage loans from around 7-8 percent to 6 percent, by restoring cuts in federal housing expenditure, with an emphasis on housing for the elderly and low and medium- income families, and by sharply increasing funds for public works projects. uy into foreign.com anogen gris or fnamelqquz is es beigto al mus Geneva, June 1975 16.516925) 906TUS OF 21 9 immo pr aidT Bruce Vandervort Ingmqolave pho w grigolaveb art of ytivitos to estris be helushed 16 doirlw 29insamos isnoter 167100 namvolq um to slot arts 20006190o ens air al eldgiver Drw ons at no Finally, the nations have 9m 10 289q sr of sub subslea.ed or beb101 more airs to sigmsxe pities.s00 no 936170doned of bebioeb zew Produce onigpol boowbis to nolensqxe si rise an share -boow bns to in br 10091 qolovsb.no noitsmotal), azowrin 1569 2U le, acr an some 1612 The has report decline by 45 45 percent( from 12 this gram. 67 om redu Far from the US bal US aagilised JBULIA adoj wen zaimon The moo поди ed hixhow 29 zubni bead- boow that the Nixon admi pose ise Eter to xlud er primes Nixon administration and the US- based w 120miw.miped om992 11 28 V201 26 100.21.910350 to xlud erit qu'ebsm heddu of ylno broose, aulsv ni) nuezeng noisalugoe story agino i ni beyolams vitne me obs oqxe neizA 9 10 25mmovog er 10.29fgos ar or og för esc 120 noizeano 19dmit to 29/ 6z mojegimes vanemus dole show 000 08 think, by simply 9.1920 to Insmqiups art to illud er nogm) nie mont venom smo s reg Of 1201 them 61 ni 91 od nerw bne bazu Juo to Insmvolon Logs and Multinationals: Notes on the Future of the World Timber and Woodworking Industries to aalqisa mobneЯ to noinu Isnoitsmetal goods! A enT HT Introduction This brief document is offered as a supplement to the reports to Congress of the IFBWW Timber and Woodworking Committees. Its purpose is to encourage research and action on an important recent development in the global timber and wood processing industries: the shift of employment and production from the older, established centers of activity to the developing world. The key variable in this analysis is the role of multinational companies, which are particularly active in these sectors and whose operations should be of great concern to IFBWW- affiliated unions. roduced a com ble In preparing this report, the secretariat was forced to be selective due to the press of time 2 and lack of information. Thus, it was decided to concentrate on one specific example of this widespread phenomenon: the inter- relationship between the expansion of hardwood logging and processing in East Asia and the decline in employment in the softwood processing industry in the US Pacific Northwest.( Information on developments in the important Ghanaian forest and woodprocessing industries is included in an appendix.) Thanks are due here to three affiliated unions whose research made this document possible: the Timber& Woodworkers' Union( Ghana), the Forest Employees' Union( Malaysia) and the International Woodworkers of America( USA/ Canada). Background has For decades, foreign companies have been cutting down the tropical hardwood forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand and shipping the logs to sawmills and woodprocessing plants in Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, against mounting protests from governments in the exporting countries. sector. issued At first glance, the governments' complaints might seem unwarranted. Timber is the Philippines' leading export item: in 1973, 7.7 m. m³ of local hardwood logs went abroad, at a return of US$ 329 m. And, Indonesia's 1973 log exports( 19.4 m. m³) brought in US$ 583 m.( in export value, second only to petroleum), while logs( 19.2 m. m³) from Malaysia's Sabah and Sarawak forests made up the bulk of 1973 earnings of US$ 1 546.1 m. from foreign sales of wood products ( in export value, second only to rubber). Furthermore, the Asian timber boom promises new jobs in countries where population pressure has become critical. Thus, over one half of the some 50 000 workers currently employed in Malaysian wood- based industries work in the log export mand and proHowever, on closer examination, the picture is not as rosy as it seems. To begin with, most of the income from log sales does not go to the peoples or the governments of the Asian exporting countries. In fact, apart from foreign currency earnings from sales of timber concessions, host nations have gained very little from opening up their forests to outside firms. The Japanese-, Philippines- and US- based companies who do most of the logging import the bulk of the equipment used and, when the trees in their particular concession have been cut, withdraw from the site without carrying out any reafforestation. Exporting countries are not even able to make money from transport of the logs, as the overland hauling equipment used is company- owned and the firms also have their own shipping subsidiaries. ousands of Nor do these logging operations provide very many jobs in the exporting nations. Most foreign companies prefer to bring in workers from their own countries, particularly to do the skilled 62 jobs. The only work offered the locals has been of a seasonal, unskilled nature and even that on a limited basis. Pons This adverse situation has lately prompted the governments of the three leading Asian log exporting countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, to take action to harness timber production for national development purposes. Thus, the Suharto government in Indonesia has ruled that: girla there com 1. All foreign logging firms must set up at least a sawmill on their concessions within three years of starting operations; big enterprises are required to open pulp and paper or plywood/ veneer plants; by 1984, 60 percent of log output must be processed in Indonesia. 2. No expatriate labour can be used by foreign logging companies after 1977. 3. Ten years after beginning operations, foreign firms must have turned over at least 51 percent of their stock to Indonesian investors; the government has pledged loans to local entrepreneurs to enable them to buy into foreign companies. w ved ned srt tewol J กร วาร สุ 08 the Malaysian state of Sarawak, logging licenses are issued only to integrated timber com-9men panies those that include logging, processing and reafforestation- and a Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation has been established to promote the development of comprehensive forest industries. aroubong boow beasd- nsibens erit: llow es noipen edit to zeinupo merito er ni App The Philippines government is threatening even more dractic action: President Marcos recently decreed that no unprocessed timber can leave that country after January 1, 1976. Finally, the three nations have put pressure on private companies to divide up the market for raw logs in a more equitable fashion. Thus, a new private producers' group, the Council of Southeast Asia Lumber Producers' Associations, has agreed to a split whereby Malaysia gets 30 percent of the Asian share of the world tropical hardwood log market, the Philippines 23.5 percent and Indonesia the rest. Meanwhile, across the Pacific Ocean, a reverse development is occurring. Softwood sawmills and plywood/ veneer plants are falling silent in the US states of Oregon and Washington as companies- in some cases, the same ones as in East Asia- rush to ship unprocessed timber abroad. The result has been a drastic loss of jobs in the Pacific Northwest, with worse to come: a US government report estimates that the number of jobs in wood- based industries in the two states will decline by 45 percent( from 121 305 to 67 120) from 1970 to 2000. Far from being alarmed at this, the US government has encouraged it. In an effort to reduce the US balance of payments deficit, the Nixon administration pushed a bill through the US congress in 1971 which allows USbased firms to defer( in some cases permanently) tax payments on profits from exports. In 1973, the leading US- based wood products company, Weyerhaeuser, a big log exporter, saved US$ 7.5 m. under this program. absel doirlw stizeb satitong ssimixsm of 29insqmoo aroubong boow Isnois wol The question arises: why such contradictory developments? Why does the US government encourage log exports, while its East Asian counterparts draft laws to discourage them? Why do US- based companies like Weyerhaeuser want to get out of the wood- processing business and into log exporting in the US, while on the other side of the globe, they seem to be willing, as we shall see, to abandon logging for plywood manufacturing? ben bluɔ 20 sri ni show be bes zib ed erit diw Jsdit of esa of enidmoɔ llarla anemmevo bollariz anemmevo bio brs 2001 or 0000 ot visil ai atnom The Multinational Timber Business noiz29091 ledolg art to qlar The questions posed above cannot be answered, as some observers think, by simply saying that the Nixon administration and the US- based wood multinationals were out to make a quick financial killing in the lucrative log market of the last few years. The shift in the Pacific Northwest is not a temporary one: in spite of the fact that the bottom has since fallen out of the world log market, Weyerhaeuser and the other big US- based international timber companies have not reverted to any extent to the extensive plywood and veneer manufacturing operations of yesteryear in the states of Oregon and Washington.on 916 verts ido eldsbusl ed yem szerit elirw bhow Nor is it sufficient to argue that the multinational wood products companies' decision to shift over to processing activities in East Asia is due to great pressure from the governments of the region. To begin with, most of the foreign firms involved are too big to be pushed around in this manner. Second, many of them are sufficiently strong in the wood products markets of the industrialized nations to deny access to any newcomer who decided to go into the processing business without them. wo dizzoq doum: 26 wib nedt bluore eW bills soitilog betaunt 63 The following excerpt from an article in the July 1, 1974 issue of the Far Eastern Economic Review gives a better idea of what is going on. zlesd betimil s " Processors in the log- importing countries, beset with exploding labour costs, are not entirely unhappy about the new development- as long as they can move their operations to the timber- producing countries. It is the labourers in the many timber mills and a number of log distributors who will suffer." Jeri Further insight is provided in this quotation from an advertisement recently placed in American newspapers by the Philippines government. " Recent Presidential decrees have simplified conciliation and arbitration of labor disputes ( both strikes and lockouts are prohibited), lifted work restrictions on Sundays and holidays, liberalized the employment of women and children, and expanded the scope of the apprenticeship program. Labor costs for the foreign company setting up plant in Manila could work out from 35 to 50 percent lower than they would be in either Hong- kong or Singapore." The Marcos government's advertisement has proven to be quite truthful: wages are extremely low in the Philippines. Thus, tree fallers in the forests of Mindanao might earn US$ 2 per day, compared with standard rates of US$ 11 an hour in the US Pacific Northwest. Wage bills are low in the other countries of the region as well: the Canadian- based wood products multinational MacMillan Bloedel pays its Malaysian heavy equipment operators US$ 0.84 an hour. The result has been surprising little resistance from foreign logging firms to the new log export policies adopted by the East Asian governments. Consider the partial list of multinationals now setting up wood processing plants in the Philippines:.no! 267 slds( up9 910m; 6 ni apol W6T C. Itoh( Japan) Mitsubishi( Japan) Marubeni( Japan) Nissho- Iwai( Japan) equbo1919dmu sizA Ja69 Joint ventures in pulp/ paper, plywood ood logging and 60 0612A si to Joint ventures in plywood and lumberingstry in the sizerobni Joint ventures in sawmills, paper, plywood Plywood, sawmill, pulp and chip mill undertakings, joint ventures in lumbering Woodbns Boise- Cascade( US) Weyerhaeuser( US) Swedish Match Company 20 Wood processing and lumbering ventures zein Ilu291.9T Wood processing and lumbering ventures Previously engaged in lumbering, the firm has now decided to go into wood processing and exporting.air What seems clear here is that the decline in jobs in softwood processing in the US Pacific Northwest and the contemporary boom in hardwood logging and processing in East Asia are, unhappily, linked. And, the thread which ties the two phenomena together is the desire of multinational wood products companies to maximize profits, a desire which leads them across the globe in search of tax havens, government subsidies, immunity from public control and, of course, low wages. However, in this case, it would be some scant consolation if we were to learn that Weyerhaeuser's decision to transfer its plywood production from the state of Washington to Mindanao would result in improved opportunities for its new Filipino employees and that, at the same time, the displaced workers in the US could readily find other employment. Neither of these developments is likely to occur: the Marcos and Ford governments shall combine to see to that, with the help of the global recession. Conclusion srit bns in the log ds bezoq anoitesup bs noxiИ erit terit What can the IFBWW do about this? The most immediate and tempting response is to call for international public control of multinationals, perhaps through the United Nations. Or to seek to work through international agencies to develop a system of global planning for the equitable distribution of jobs and production in the timber and woodworking industries. However, while these may be laudable objectives, they are not likely to be reached in the near future: those who have followed closely the recent attempts to introduce some order and equity into the world production and distribution of foodstuffs will know how intractable the international companies can be when their profits are threatened. Even if this were not the case, the history of the labour movement teaches that we should be cautious in placing our hope in institutions outside the control of the trade unions and their b trusted political allies. We should, then, draw as much as possible on our own resources in tackling 64 this problem. A first step would be to undertake further research into the influence of multinational companies on, for example, employment, government policies and resource development in the world's timber and woodworking industries. This research, to be effective, however, should be combined with action. A good start would be a commitment to a program to help organize forest and woodworkers in the East Asian countries and to aid them in their efforts to gain decent wages and working conditions. Perhaps in this effort we can take a cue from the affiliated International Woodworkers of America, which held a company- wide conference on the Weyerhaeuser Corporation on October 6-8, 1974. Conference delegates reviewed collective agreements between the union and Wyerhaeuser subsidiaries across the USA and Canada, with a view to harmonizing wages and working conditions within the firm at the highest possible level. Someday, perhaps, the there will be company- wide conferences of this sort bringing together all the employees of the transnational timber and woodworking companies, to seek a global harmonization of pay and conditions of service. If there are, the IFBWW should lead the way. Geneva, July 1975 The Appendix co Löfblad Bruce Vandervort The affiliated Timber& Woodworkers' Union of Ghana reports that around 13 000 workers are employed in the logging and wood- processing sectors in that nation. About 35 percent of total production is controlled by foreign firms. And, as in East Asia, the Ghanaian government is trying to curb log exports in favor of expanded domestic production of finished timber products. The following table shows that this endeavor has met with only slight success and that Ghana experienced a bad year in 1974, insofar as timber and wood products output and sales are concerned.( The figures given are in millions of Ghanaian shillings.) 8 grol tern olving 1972 1973 1974 Product Tonnage on the Value CM. Tonnage Value CM. Tonnage Value CM. Logs Gene 708 984 49 743 137 699 200 Lumber 130 864 Plywood Total 17 888 839 848 19 399 639 4 538 463 73 681 239 153 907 21 011 873 118 94 600 133 43 400 962 10 403 379 327 547 94 168 8 439 51 636 372 30 005 533 148 404 474 148 404 474 429 154 5 925 528 87 594 433 c) Social d) Protect on Employment b) Important fant Before the opening of tives of affiliated lace. for the IFB De orm of obvious that, in future, the ILO and and that me up of to Th jec orkers in 65 95 of situation the ILO. Dro has been submitted to the 215 br The following maldong thut exlsobnu of od bluow qua ait A edmi2hbow iw benidmoo boow bns 1291 snoitsn STE ra TAB FIE 88 be cautious trusted bnob melow xibneqqA big ex hup or privat ollot erT eq ben Joubo19 edit Jalapenita اله blems in Europe. It was whitebogang ad Thammus ads ni ing countries Committee for the Activities reports from the IFBWW Committees vd poliates of acer to JaupuA settimmo qu The Commit to atalano anoa settimmo erT YD8 Since Congress will receive an activities report from the IFBWW industrial and Europe committees in another form, we shall here only give a short description of the most important developments over the last Congress period. tria Forestry Committee USA A 219 The Committee consists of: immo inio sebe. the 28Chairman Secretaries of kers was the pr John Löfblad Geneva on ence: Jan- Erik Norling, Sweden Klaus Kjelrud, Norway the Comm Sixten Backstrom, Sweden is even persilts nesque Jussi Hietanen, Finland bhow ori 858 The most important task of the last Congress period was the preparation for and holding of the 2nd Tripartite Technical Meeting for the Forest Industry in Geneva from April 24 to May 8, 1973. The IFBWW's role at this meeting was to help and direct the activities of the workers' group, even in cases involving the work of another international trade secretariat, namely the International Federation of Plantation, Agricultural& Allied Workers( IFPAAW). Tamo veb Isip John Löfblad served as Secretary of the workers' group. The following were the main topics noinu- sb on the agenda: old s sis gals amald ino n63 bns 100 ens amo2 ensem_Isionsnit of 325 emoinu nego a) Effect given to resolutions adopted at the 1st Tripartite Technical Meeting( 1958) ZuOm6V 9 pooms 290 brs General Report: bn - -oitsm 9190 19000 -19 16 b) Latest developments and progress made in the forest sector. x9 sdt ni bos how lon - Report on Wages and Working Conditions in Forestry: the sector no tost 9b611 a) Latest trends in forestry and their effects on the living conditions of the workers in ni to 129 to 26918 029 noinu smos b) Working and living conditions in the industry; legislation and contractual stipulations c) Social security -29b 219how to atsette letnemineb erit etiq eb 16r meldong siz d) Protection of the worker and hygiene at the workplace.n noite Report on Problems of Stable Employment in Forestry cat - Sho a) Employment models and prospects noizzstong szortw b) Important factors which affect employment stability in forestry. Before the opening of the Meeting, the IFBWW held a one- day preparatory meeting for representatives of affiliated unions in order to lay the groundwork for productive cooperation within the workers' group. Because the last Meeting for the sector had been held 15 years previous, the participants lacked experience in committee work. Despite this, the Meeting went very well and several fairly progressive resolutions were adopted, thanks mainly to the cooperation among members of the workers' group and despite obvious opposition to any form of progress on the part of the employers' group. sro es ons The resolutions demanded that, in future, the ILO and other UN bodies pay more attention to the problems of forestry workers and that measures be taken to improve their social situation. There was also a demand for the setting up of a permanent forestry committee within the ILO. anoin Subsequently, the IFBWW Forestry Committee began working with the ILO to draft a project for the training of forest workers in Southeast Asia. A proposal has been submitted to the no 67 ILO for financial assistance; if the proposal is accepted, the project will be funded in large part by the Swedish International Development Authority( SIDA). The Committee had scheduled a meeting for April 1975 but this had to be postponed due to a strike by Swedish forest workers. The meeting is now planned for sometime in the summer of 1975. The Committee will submit a detailed report on its activities to the 14th Congress this August. Europe Committee imm moƆ WW The Committee consists of: DivitoA Chairman Secretaries A. Buys bni om srl to Jan- Erik Norling, Sweden E. Canonica, Switzerland E. Janssens, Belgium K. Johansson, Sweden R. Sperner, Germany R. Rautner, Austria ns ovieger lliw zeer no soni Ilaria ow, mot herions ni 299trim estimmo yo J. Fernandez, Joint Committee for Building& Woodworkers in the EEC John Löfblad nemisd The Committee for Europe is the first official regional committee of the IFBWW. The Western European affiliates have always formed the heart of the IFBWW; expansion in the rest of the world progresses slowly. bnsininensteiH izaul European problems are very specific and the existing economic and political structures make cooperation across borders difficult. Some European countries are members of the EEC, some are planning to join, while others remain aloof; one part of Europe belongs to NATO, the other does not. Both dictatorships and old, established democracies exist in Europe. Economic and social development vary from country to country, as does the trade- union situation. TIS) On the latter point, the impact of individual unions varies from country to country; in some goigo nations, the trade- union movement is splintered, which hinders its effectiveness. Language problems also are a block to effective cooperation. Thus, there are differences among the various European unions as to financial means. Some are poor and can only fund the most important and pressing tasks; others are well enough off to be able to provide financial assistance in international work and in the exchange of contacts. Such disproportions of course have a detrimental effect on international cooperation. anoiibno prihow bns zegeW no moge подед Thus, there are several reasons why the IFBWW should work to promote international trade union activity in Europe, especially in the areas of establishing contacts and the exchange of information and points of view. For purely practical reasons, it is crucial that this sort of international cooperation within Europe should continue and it is hoped that this will be the case, despite the detrimental effects of the current world- wide economic recession. A special problem that demands attention at European level is that of immigrant workers, whose professional interests are neglected and who are subject to exploitation and discrimination at the hands of ruthless employers. arooqzoq brs alebom anemvolqm3( 6 Without going into detail, it should be stressed that there are problems of coordination within the European trade- union movement that have yet to be solved. to prin to pДinego edit goe There is another European committee for the building and woodworking industries, the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers in the EEC. This group has its headquarters in Brussels; its Chairman is Emile Janssens and its Secretary Juan Fernandez, both of the Belgian Centrale Générale. At the outset, the Federation only dealt with EEC unions affiliated to the IFBWW; now that the British building workers' union, which withdrew from the IFBWW in 1969, is planning to join the Federation, this has changed. However, this has had no detrimental effect on the IFBWW or on the good relations which exist between the IFBWW Europe Committee and its EEC counterpart. In any case, there is no lack of common problems and tasks. ong sets of The IFBWW Committee for Europe created a small working party to organize the Conference for Europe held in Geneva on January 30, 1974, with good attendance from the various unions on the continent. A now 125 68 The resolutions adopted by Conference illustrated the IFBWW's attitude to trade- union problems in Europe. It was stressed that economic concentration has changed the conditions in which European unions must work, particularly insofar as regional cooperation is concerned. There was a clear call for increased cooperation among European building and woodworkers' unions. The resolutions also stressed the IFBWW's responsibility for industrialized and developing countries outside of Europe. sri to tqoxines.A slidw.quord Committee for the Woodworking Industry The Committee consists of: showb ndol Jnemvolam myolam] to noise : Chairman Secretaries mam proms noits good fit say rose aloriw eris no.29vonqmi apniteeM Isoin neswied noitizoqqo emoz vlls oq srit worla yheslo berqobe znoitulozs erit to narmis To nenmisd betele asw, soismA to show as bevise noin 219h0Woitesi 8 booW nemme edmiT ert to riseneM- mo> IA 2 bns priniet no du? 12 edit to rismisdo- soiV'10> how echow grit to Gerhard Vater, Germany Jan- Erik Norling, Sweden Henry Hansen, Denmark Louis Seebacher, Austria Erik Lehmann, Sweden Hans Frehner, Switzerland John Löfblad ow edr ni anoisi ong anehow srt to ned. prites Mert to all ' syoloms bns ert 16 WWERI edit to to evitis ub yaubal prixhowbooW art not eatinine aris to Show or havo xosd cool aw t sal The Committee's most important task over the last Congress period was the preparation of the IFBWW Conference for the Woodworking Industry, which was held in Geneva on January 28-29, 1974. The Conference was prepared by a working party from the Committee, composed of J.-E. Norling, Swedish Building Workers' Union, Werner Haak, German Wood& Plastic Workers' Union and Roger Gerdin, Swedish Wood Workers' Union. Tanoinu bersilitts ritiw bns 0.11Because of the large amount of material submitted by European affiliates, it was possible det to prepare a comprehensive report for Conference. The report contained data on company structure and trends in product and importing and exporting of wood products in Europe. The report was the basis for an intensive and positive discussion at Conference, which led to the adoption of a Resolution calling for various measures to improve the working and living conditions of European woodworkers, among which: bewe, nozarisdol Jun nomiste - an IFBWW survey on woodworkers' living and working conditions in Europe; - intensification of ILO efforts to study working and environmental conditions throughout the woodworking industry, with participation from unions; - an IFBWW study of the effects of European labour market and regional policies on woodworkers; close attention by the IFBWW to growing strength of international firms in the sector; - efforts to promote democratization of both society and company structures; - improvements in vocational training; nibliu@ not en HT - more systematic and purposeful technological research within the woodworking industry; - greater attention to the wood industry and its products from the Economic Commission sen for Europe's( ECE) Committee for the Forest Industry; tuo baims show gnitesM ru8 edit 18 - better and more regular statistical data on working conditions and production in the woodagn working industry, especially as regards the furniture and carpentry sectors. aubn ibliu8 Shortly thereafter, a second important task arose: preparation of the 2nd Tripartite Technical Meeting for the Woodworking Industry, to be held in Geneva on January 14 to 24, 1975. At the first such Meeting in 1967, the IFBWW had asked that a second be held. The IFBWW Committee for the Woodworking Industry undertook extensive preparations for the Meeting and it was decided that the whole Committee should attend as observers. On January 13, a preparatory meeting was held to orient delegations from IFBWW affiliated unions. The agenda of the Meeting contained the following items: blupp roirlw pnizuor 1) General Report: 2) wol ol to del a) Effect given to the conclusions and resolutions adopted at the 1st such Meeting( 1967) b) Measures taken by the ILO to carry out the surveys and studies called for at the 1st Meeting c) Latest developments in the woodworking industry. Report on the creation of employment in the woodworking industries. gnoms thinyolq 69 69 by 3) Report on training of foremen and workers in the woodworking industries. The IFBWW delegation was charged with the task of providing guidance and assistance for eld the workers' group at the Meeting and contributed to the satisfactory results obtained from the workers' point of view. Gerhard Vater of the German Wood& Plastic Workers' Union was elected Workers' ViceChairman of the Woodworking Committee. Keith Johnson, President of the International Woodworkers of America, was elected Chairman of the Workers' Group, while A. Farrenkopf of the German Wood& Plastic Workers' Union served as Workers' Vice- Chairman of the Sub- Committee on Training and S. Akom- Mensah of the Timber& Woodworkers' Union of Ghana was chosen as Workers' Vice- Chairman of the Sub- Committee on the Creation of Employment. John Löfblad served as Secretary of the Workers' Group. Discussions in the workers' group were satisfactory: each year, the cooperation among members of the workers' groups present at ILO Tripartite Technical Meetings improves. On the whole, the results of the Meeting were positive, although there was naturally some opposition between the workers' and employers' groups. The content of the resolutions adopted clearly show the positive effect of the IFBWW at the Meeting. If we look back over the work of the IFBWW Committee for the Woodworking Industry during the last Congress period- the Conference in January 1974 and the Tripartite Technical Meeting in January 1975- we will have a comprehensive picture of the goals of the IFBWW in regard to future development of the woodworking sector. The International must now set to work to BS to see that the ILO resolutions are implemented, which will call for greater cooperation with the ILO and with affiliated unions. The stakes are more secure and better jobs for woodworkers, protection on the job and improved vocational training. Committee for the Building Industry do. The Committee consists of: cial Chairman Secretaries na ropean oint.: union chiOVED anouibng Terremotivne block to effective.com as to financi poow no 2913116 pressing tasks; o nal work. on in the nation Landing Knut Johansson, Sweden J.-E. Norling, Sweden E. Janssens, Belgium R. Rautner, Austria K. Carl, Germany S. Ravizza, Italy J. Pot, Netherlands J. Löfblad country s OJ to not ferences amon Videubni po 1owboo to yburz Sistar yd roiine etornong of an The 8th Tripartite Technical Meeting for Building, Civil Engineering and Public Works was held in Geneva on July 19-30, 1971. Following this and after the IFBWW Congress in Ostend in October 1972, the IFBWW Building Committee took steps to assure that the measures adopted at the 8th Meeting were carried out by the ILO and that a 9th Meeting would be held in the near future. It has since developed that a 9th Meeting is being scheduled for sometime in 1976. The Committee established a working party to prepare questions for agendas of meetings of the Committee and to organize an IFBWW Conference for the Building Industry, which was held in Geneva on January 31 February 1, 1974. The theme of the Conference was" The Building Industry in Western Europe- Trends in the Employment Situation and Vocational Training." Agenda items included: - ropea- the working environment, on which a resolution was adopted; C - Bruss- labour market trends; a resolution on this subject criticized the public authorities for poor coordination of building activities and slowness in adopting projects like the renovation of buildings and increased construction of low- cost housing which could provide greater employment; on its - vocational training; a resolution on the subject demanded an up- dating of vocational training. re is no The building industry is the largest within the jurisdiction of the IFBWW. It is also the one hardest hit by the current global economic recession; since the January 1974 Conference, unemployment among IFBWW affiliates, already noticeable at that time has reached catastrophic 70 proportions and the future does not look promising. Far- reaching measures will have to be taken if the situation is to be brought back to normal again. In this context, the task of the IFBWW is great: studies must be conducted, affiliated unions must be helped and encouraged to take new initiatives against employers and governments. Housing nomic and Housing, Building tions." Here it was the satisfaction of su equitable distribution of and the Allocation of Res Con ( sa bru Ecoed becauzib nemnonivna nemur er no sostno Conferencey Exposition on 21adme nevne osiqx noinu Inios teri noiniga edit to new enoiresinspo sow at to youpaduz bns occasions 2 of the doso selimiz sestrimmo obligations netni merito ni as low as 20ineq prixhow auoins a 303 erit ni bns gnions/ 9 noitseb isnoitsmetal silt to gnizuoH Isis02 no estimo prilydalesinspo tenoitem A( 301) 919 noitesqoopindle Isnoitsmatnl art bhs( 9H31) gminns bas gniquot not 303- MU ar to apniteam oris ni betsqioinsq oals arestrimmo qnibliua WWBRI sit to Tidmem s srit of Instairs wen erit ve benio vineen aswer earlwytaubal gnibliua ads no he9 priho vibnsV.8 D WWBRI orts 16 obem z6w amaldong pniauor no noizzupaib Isnoitemstni erit or noiuditnoo noism A WHI ad doinw not Exer tauguA ni" onizuot to gnionsni si no snima?" 303 grizuoH to onionsni att ni eben nisM" no 19q evinimo s bertimdue bins " 291812 batin ert be equa me ni hoqq aeilun tib to bns no usano isinebizsy pniniloeb to vonebnist gripenas erty os primeloft sutie wens tosites of amesa zirkstedt bebulono togen er zeitnuo auoinsv ni atsit nisl ni iqeɔ bas basl enibliud gniah ni bruoted of vino on ainoase or as Jeohem qnizuori sitt ni hoit dua driw aliud netto apnillewb zasl3-19qqu bna zaslo- sibbim to yiqque sonal a ni oals fud ataco let -eb erit, basd narito art no baitaitez notto al zelt bris cauort szorts 101 brismeb arts olid esibia กรอ 169ng our enerlwyteve vllspite a aquong emooni- elbbim neva bns wol not apnillowb not bnsm iman yiqme to nodmun er mer gal netto 916 tail gnitisw erit erit o vlqque or not 19 -llowb mule 19mmot mort smoo bluorie brismsb wen er to roum new noisurias ni eneqqer einT sri eniti song to essoquq gnizuod- on not apnillowb to vlqque Insipittuani ng ai short. A 210 V19v 29moped semifernoe low991 sdu Janisos sonstzizen emula- mont 29906v 120m to to zamooni insupsanoo bns enibliudsauor to sniloeb er not encase nism art to doo ed or emase air! T 2extow oniblíud gnomss in my pigmenu pniwong sq xoot oals ylinson noinU abs1T an art to evitetszenen eri asirivits herbo gnomA ( Ter not beluberle)" esipilo pnizuoH. ni abneyT 10j8M" no animea 309 to noise i .( aver vhse.ni bleri ed o)" hoe? noitouano er ni zaioilo bns aloqa meT- pno no bns enizuod etsupos suas 12um esipiloq tammsvog srit boaaste orfanolate young as 1A gnitzixs to noissimebom as llew as noite boiq wan to smulov bannslq- vllutsisa s riguard is not pniauori ni asitilsupeni to grilleval erts bris amaldonq istmemnonivasus otni gilet plate op bns, besiasdqms.sramotuse leeves ri notontenoo roum ol basin lite asw sheriT anodinoo erit ytails or bozu asw vizubni noitoustanco srb to vtipsqso bris tarit si or 998 bluorizatamnov im bns enuoy) aquang Isisqa not gnizuori enizuod 1200 wol as roue 101oz betoolpen to been at sini simonos bns laicos( slqmsxs 101,21> how insp ivn bns pnizuoH 303- MU srt to reine erit vd beezaiqxs sew eqori aris asesorisod ni srit is enoitudin elimia solam iw WW831 or bos UTAO abritod sed moleiviai nerfino > lsm- liw 71 enoihogonq 培 i enevolame Jenisps itini Ge Ch International Cooperation in the Housing Field oodhe At its sixth meeting, in February 1972, the joint ICFTU- IFBWW International Housing Committee( IHC), which had prepared the report" The Free Trade Unions and the Challenge of the Environment" for the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, discussed the need for new international trade union activities in the field of workplace environment. Members of the IHC and, subsequently, of its two parent organizations were of the opinion that a joint committee of the ICFTU and the IFBWW was not an appropriate instrument for such activities, which concern all industries. In the view of the IFBWW Executive Committee, a similar approach seemed to be justified as far as housing policies were concerned. Consequently, the joint committee came to an end on December 31, 1973. The IHC's former Secretary continued to represent the ICFTU in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe( ECE) and Economic& Social Council( ECOSOC) Committees on Housing, Building and Planning and in the ECE's various working parties, as well as in other international organizations, notably the Committee on Social Housing of the International Federation for Housing and Planning( IFHP) and the International Technical Cooperation Centre( ITCC). As a member of the IFBWW Building Committee, he also participated in the meetings of the UN- ECE Working Party on the Building Industry, where he was recently joined by the new assistant to the IFBWW General Secretary, B. Vandervort. A major contribution to the international discussion on housing problems was made at the ECE" Seminar on the Financing of Housing" in August 1973, for which the IHC Secretary was rapporteur and submitted a comprehensive paper on" Main Trends in the Financing of Housing in Western Europe and the United States." Referring to the emerging tendency of declining residential construction and of difficulties in letting flats in various countries, the report concluded that" this seems to reflect a new situation in the housing market, as the reason is not only to be found in rising building, land and capital costs but also in a large supply of middle- class and upper- class dwellings, often built with subsidies, while the demand for these houses and flats is often satisfied. On the other hand, the demand for dwellings for low and even middle- income groups is, practically everywhere, much greater than the supply, so that the waiting lists are often larger than the number of empty premises. This happens in a situation when much of the new demand should come from former slum dwellers. As there is an insufficient supply of dwellings for re- housing purposes at prices fitting the incomes of most evacuees from slums, resistance against urban renewal sometimes becomes very strong. This seems to be one of the main reasons for the decline of housebuilding and consequently growing unemployment among building workers." ildAmong other activities, the representative of the Free Trade Unions recently also took part in the preparation of ECE seminars on" Major Trends in Housing Policies"( scheduled for 1977) and on" Long- Term Prospects and Policies in the Construction Sector"( to be held in early 1976). At these preparatory sessions, he stressed that government policies must ensure adequate housing for all through a carefully- planned volume of new production as well as modernization of existing stock, taking into account environmental problems and the levelling of inequalities in housing conditions. There was still need for much construction in several sectors, he emphasized, and governments should see to it that the capacity of the construction industry was used to satisfy the needs of neglected sectors, such as low cost housing, housing for special groups( young and migrant workers, for example), social and economic infrastructure, etc. In both cases the hope was expressed by the secretariat of the UN- ECE Housing and Environment Division that both the ICFTU and the IFBWW will make similar contributions at the 72 seminars noted above and also at the Fifth ECE Seminar on the Building Industry( to be held in the fall of 1976). The latter will take up, among other subjects," the interrelationship between construction, its industrialization and the environment" and changes in and the impact of the working environment. Housing in developing countries was discussed at a number of meetings, notably in the Economic and Social Committee of the ICFTU, at the 8th Session of the ECOSOC Committee on Housing, Building and Planning and at the ITCC Conference on" Housing for the Emerging Nations." Here it was emphasized that a re- allocation of scarce resources from prestige products to the satisfaction of such fundamental needs as food and shelter was necessary, along with a more equitable distribution of income both within and among nations( see also H. Umrath," Housing and the Allocation of Resources," Free Labour World, February 1975, and" UN Mountain Gives Birth to a Mouse- International Financing of Housing a Flop," ibid., June 1974). These and similar problems will be brought before the world forum of HABITAT, the UN Conference/ Exposition on Human Settlements, to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in June 1976. On several occasions, notably in the former IHC and more recently in the Economic and Social Committee of the ICFTU, the possibility of a trade- union sponsored pilot project for very low cost housing has been discussed. Up to now, this seemed to be too ambitious given the many obligations of our organizations as well as the complex legal and technical problems involved. Since certain progressive governments have recently begun giving financial assistance to tradeunion activities in developing countries, possibilities in the housing field could be studied anew. sionis now facing the FLO value. Resolutions and in the But, the this goes as well to evaluate com gies. This the are sible explo comp Heinz Umrath pro band, eff must be full employment, a 73 13 ni bled ed ot) vitaubni gnibliu8 art no snime230 et te oals bns evods baton enanimee neswied girlenoitelemetni er" atoejdua edito pnoms qu solet lliw nettel erT( 858 to list art srit to tosqmi ert bns ni espnsro bns" nemotivne art bus noitesilsitaubni azi, noitumanoo Jemnonivne gni> how 003 artt ni yldston apniteam to 1edmun s te bezzuoaib asw zeitnuoo gniqolaveb ni gniauoH no esttimmoƆ 00200B art to noise62 r8reribs UTOart to settimmo Isi002 bas ɔimon -sИ enignem erit not gniauóH" no sestri OTI srit te bns gninnsla bns gnibliu@ enizuoH of atoubong spites1q mont 290109 0 to noissɔolls- 91 s teri besiasriqme asw ti 919H".anoit snom s ritiw pols vi62290an esw 19tlerle bris boot as abeen Istnemsbnut doua to noitostaitez eris enizuoH", ritsmU.H oals 992) anoiten gnoms bns nirttiw ritod emooni to noitudinteib eldstiups zevi distnuoM ИU" bris aver visunde bhow uode99290109 to noisɔollA art bas ( Arer anul bidi qol s pnizuoH to pnionenia Isnoitsmetni- sauoM 6 of di MU art TATIBAH to munot blow grit snoted iniquod ad lliw ameldong slimiz bris 9294T sns sidmulo daiting avons ni bladed or smelts? nemu no noitiaoqxonasin HC and arer anul ni sb -02 bns aimons er ni yline091 910m bris OH! hermot er ni vidston an0126000 1619vez no Vie tot tosong toliq beroagoga noinu- sbst s to vtilidiazoq srit UTROI or to esttimmo Isio ynem ad nevie zuoitidms oot ed or bemsea air won of qu.bezzuozib need as prizori Ja00 wol bevlovni ameldong isoindoat bns legal xelqmoo art es llew as anoitesinego tuo to anoisspildo 9b611 of 900612izas leionsnit enivip nuged vitae ad avizzano niste coni? wens beibute ad bluoo bisit prizvod srt ni zaitilidizzag esinuos prigolaveb ni esitivitos doinu in the ECE's two patent org Commi ittee on Social and the International Building Committee, he also part ding Industry, where he was rece B: Vandervort. to the internati discussion on ECE ly ip Financing of Housing" in August 1973, comprehensive paper on" Main Tre ited States. It Referring to the emerging tendency of declining lats in various untries, the report concluded that ket, as the reason is not only to be four also in a large supply of midd ass and and flats is ofter groups are en larger of the new deman dwellings fo one of the main rea ong building the represe minars on Free Trade Housing and on" Long- Term Prospects and Policies in the Construction Sector At through a carefully- plann td see rested that government policies of new production as well problems and the levelling ed for much construction in several sectors city of the construction Industry neglected sectors, such as low cost housing, housing for special workers, for example), social and economic infrastructure, etc. In both cases the hope was ex presse ed by the secretariat of the UN- ECE onment Division that both the ICFTU and the IFBWW will make similar part for 1977) 1976) housing xisting at the ni for society as a whole and trew into landi tral elusibicortwigebertadde meednised fo she Report on Future Activities The IFBWW is faced with a series of practical tasks that must be resolved in the near future. The mission of the IFBWW is to function as an instrument of coordination and to assist in the exchange of information among affiliated unions in the building, forestry and woodworking industries. Of course, one could be skeptical about the ability of the international trade- union movement to play a decisive role on the world scene. In the past, other forces have taken the initiative from it, as, for example, on the eve of World War I, when the international socialist and tradeunion movements succumbed to demagoguery and nationalism. It is not my purpose here to launch into a polemic on this point but this is what happened, in any case. It should be noted as well that in times of peace the international trade- union movement has recovered lost ground and gained in strength. Ever since its founding 55 years ago, the international trade- union movement has loyally supported the ILO and looked to it as a means to improve and harmonize wages and working conditions of the world's workers. It is thus with much regret that we must note the great problems now facing the ILO, financial in large part. The ILO's work has been considerable and of lasting value. Resolutions and conventions have been adopted and their content has reflected the desires and efforts of workers' representatives. Workers' conferences and congresses of other kinds have also been helpful in promoting international labour solidarity in the fight for better conditions. In the end, however, it is hard to tell if much progress has been made on this score. The recent technological and economic developments have presented the international tradeunion movement with a whole host of new and complex tasks, challenges which have been posed on the national and local trade- union levels as well. As a result, the international trade- union movement has been hard- pressed to find sufficient resources to carry out its important new tasks. But, the history of the international labour movement should be written in another context and this goes as well for the analysis of its activities. At present, we must look into the future and try to evaluate coming tasks and to set out the prerequisites for accomplishing them. As in all strategies, it is necessary to foresee the future and to meet its challenges with already- elaborated plans. This goes for peace, war and the trade- union movement. What forecasts, then, can we make for the next ten years? or Will the current depression continue or will the situation improve? Here even the experts are divided. Present developments contain many factors of uncertainty and, therefore, it is impossible to predict the future with much accuracy. We do not know how great chances are of increases in production and efficiency since optimistic predictions of growth in the industrialized nations have to be viewed in relation to the availability of raw materials. There are signs that certain vital raw materials are already on the verge of being used up. And, against the possibilities of expansion in the developed countries, we must see the enormous problems of the Third World: population explosion, starvation, exploitation, etc. It would take pages and pages to give even a rough picture of this. Let us suppose that developments in the period 1975-85 proceed at a pace equal to that of the last ten years. Should growth in the industrial countries match that of the last decade, the availability of raw materials would become an inhibiting factor. No doubt there will be strong tensions in the Western world. In pace with rapid rationalization and mechanization of production, it will probably be difficult to keep up full employment, which is already a lost cause in many countries. In this situation, the trade unions have to fight on two fronts. In these times of increasing productivity and inflation, trade unions must battle to maintain and increase real wages. On the other hand, efforts must be made to achieve full employment, a major problem in our industries. 75 The problems in our sectors have regional and international implications and are similar in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. These problems call for coordinated efforts on the part of the trade- union movement. Staff and funds are lacking, causing us to lag behind the employers, who have achieved a high level of expansion. But we must always do what we can and our resources are not inconsiderable. Our greatest asset is the inherent strength of our affiliated and national organizations. We must coordinate and lead this through the IFBWW. There are many people today who ridicule our capacity for such tasks. We must take this criticism, which emanates largely from business circles, for what it is worth. We do lag behind the companies but this is not a relevant comparison. The inherent power of the international trade- union movement is great and the potential is there to fight international capital with the aim of creating a new society. It is incredible that the trade- union movement is getting all the blame for the present wave of inflation, when it is really the manipulative and speculative activities of the multinational companies that are at the root of it. This has been clearly spelled- out by Charles Levinson, general secretary of the International Federation of Chemical& General Workers' Unions( ICF) and the foremost expert on this subject in the international trade- union movement. To unmask the hypocrisy of those who blame unions for inflation, all we have to do is to open a discussion on the unequal distribution of production results. We must redistribute income and seek to overcome the flagrant injustices that exist in all societies. There is clearly no hope that the free enterprise system can solve these enormous global problems. Things will get worse unless the international tradeunion movement brings its influence to bear to work for change. The need for social justice has both local and global aspects. There is a huge gap between rich and poor nations. On the other hand, there is also inequality among social groups within countries. It is urgent that we intensify our discussions on this subject. On the basis of our conclusions, we must pose universal trade- union claims. Never before has it been so clear how interdependent all the world's peoples are. Social activities demand well- planned and complicated administration. Every plan must be drawn up in such a way as to assure that everyone gets his due. But, the direction that economic activities have taken today is alarming. Companies make huge profits by paying low wages. Against this background, we must demand greater public control of all economic activities and especially those of the multinationals. At the same time, public control is not always ideal. We have seen many examples to the contrary. A strong trade- union movement is the best guarantee of equality. But, the free democratic trade- union movement is not strong in all countries. In some places, in fact, it is considered as dangerous, because it supposedly cooperates with employers. 1A 200 w These, then, are the problems of the future: 1. Economic problems that directly affect the wage- earner; 2. More complex economic developments which actually determine the problems arising under 1. above and which have the same priority; zirb 3. Economic and social injustices undermining the security even of those jobholders who have managed to win better conditions; yasm nisto atnsm nebebivib se 610 4. Questions of democracy, which the free trade- union movement needs and which does not exist in too many places. to itqo soniz The trade- union movement thus faces many problems, which must be tackled as a whole. If one aspect is neglected, all efforts may fail. The consequence is that one must commit oneself to all fields of endeavor simultaneously. An organization like the IFBWW must be a pioneer in providing international perspectives and solutions. What are our resources? We must work with pure trade- union problems in the different branches within our jurisdiction. During the present Congress period, we have carried on extensive activities within our industrial committees and have organized conferences for the building and wood sectors. We have also participated in ILO tripartite technical meetings for the building, forest and wood industries. These activities are now becoming so continuous that the IFBWW is able to make an efficient contribution. We must now make greater efforts to gather information so as to enhance our contribution. We are not yet able to set up a research section but we do have a group of experts that we trust and can work with and this is likely to guarantee a good future with and this contribution. ni meldo #um 76 Two Within this area, we must also consider the matter of formulating and applying our ideology. Here, we must consider our whole criticism of society and our proposals for change. This will be important in elaborating a strategy for fighting the international concentration of capital. Even if multinational activities are not so extensive in our branches, nevertheless they pose grave problems for society as a whole and, thus, we must work closely with the ICFTU and other international trade secretariats to find the means to combat them. Concerning the building industry, the IFBWW will continue to stress its opposition to government use of the construction sector as an instrument of economic policy. Governments use the industry as a means of stimulating economic activity and when the economy thus becomes overheated, they cut back its growth to reduce demand, thus creating great instability in the sector and causing problems for building workers. No other industry is treated in this fashion. Building workers are required to have considerable skills and their work, despite rationalization, continues to be dangerous, tiresome and unhealthy. The construction industry is so important to society that it must be planned with long- term social needs and the interests of building workers as a group in mind. During the past year, the sector has everywhere been hit by massive unemployment. Even in normal times, the sector experiences greater levels of joblessness than other industries. This, then, is not a temporary crisis but a long- term one and one of international proportions. Thus, it comes within the purview of the IFBWW, which must work to coordinate the activities and claims of unions in the building industry in all countries. Economic problems are not so flagrant in the forest and woodworking industries, as the authorities do not use them as economic guinea pigs. We must continue to press our claims in these fields even at the risk of becoming unpopular. Directly related is the economic situation in the Third World, where the IFBWW has been active for sometime. The mathematics of the population explosion are impossible to survey. Unions in the developing countries have limited resources and lack political and economic clout; our resources for assistance are also sparse. In addition, it is sometimes counter- productive for outsiders to try to help Third World organizations, as they create difficulties and divisions for indigenous groups. However, we must do what we can to work for a better social order in the developing world. To eradicate the dictatorships that proliferate in these countries, we must put an end to social injustice, which is at the root of dictatorial rule. Furthermore, the situation in the industrialized nations will become impossible unless conditions are improved in the Third World. Trade- union and civil rights must be assured. We can be gratified that in recent years, large numbers of building and woodworkers in Latin America have seen fit to affiliate to the IFBWW and have come to play an important part in its work. Much credit is due to Brother Juan Herrera, President of the Venezuelan Building Workers' Union and a member of the IFBWW Executive Committee, who has worked closely with us and encouraged his Latin American colleagues to do so as well. While developments in this region are encouraging, important problems lie ahead. Democratic trends would be a great help to workers on the continent and the recognition of the trade- union movement is the major step to be taken in this direction. The IFBWW must work toward this goal. In Africa, we have worked for some years with the continent's young trade- union movement. Our Regional Office is now in Nairobi, from which we direct growing activities in the building, forest and woodworking industries; these efforts must be strengthened over the coming Congress period. We must also devote more effort to assisting the African unions in Rhodesia and South Africa, which suffer from discrimination, and in the former Portuguese colonies. Congress must give its support to greater efforts in Africa in 1975-78. For financial reasons, we have undertaken only limited activities in Asia. We must now expand our efforts there. One project to consider would be a regional conference in the area, though this may be difficult to manage. We also need increased paying membership in the region in order to finance activities. The International must also continue its battle against dictatorial regimes in Asia. Phony" trade unions," which are little more than fronts for dictators to assist them in manipulating workers, abound in the region. Thus, when dictatorships are overthrown, a vacuum is created in these countries and no one is prepared to undertake wage- earners' fight for social justice. This was what happened in Greece and Portugal. The IFBWW will continue to do its utmost to aid unions in developing countries and in 77 countries under or emerging from dictatorship. According to our Statutes, a large chunk of our affiliation fees goes for these purposes. This is important for the promotion of international solidarity. Inshoomi So, we have important tasks before us. We are only the spokesmen at international level for workers. Our opponents are strong and should not be underestimated. Our present work must be seen as part of a long- term strategy, whose ultimate goal is social justice for all the world's workers. Geneva, June 1975 John Löfblad FX anen 10 4 slq ot wong zum primo srove benart trade union movem 02 bns 6189bornanoin won zum doni quence. ons nousnimi BT are ai sofitA ni ahot in prov Vino nexshishnu Sven aw ad bluow hea of 15ejong en asfivitos beim 78 nw noth 9061 pniauso bns bns 128 a boring madj 09.45 a.m.- 10.00 a.m. 10.00 a.m. 10.20 a.m. Draft Programme for the Opening of the Congress Assembly - Music Overture The orchestra Welcoming address, A. Buys, President Music Speeches from the guests For the Swedish unions, Börje Jönsson For the Swedish government, Prime Minister O. Palme For the ICFTU, Otto Kersten For the ILO, Michael O'Callaghan For the Municipality of Stockholm, Ewald Johannesson, Chairman, City Council Practical information Performance of a Chilean singing and dancing group The International sung in unison 79 miorooze to vzile UT nozinue pug fenoizemetal s Provisional Agenda for the Congress 1. Adoption of the Agenda of the Congress 2. Adoption of the Standing Orders of the Congress 3. a) Election of the Credentials Committee b) Election of the Drafting Committee 4. General Secretary's report 5. a) Financial report covering the Congress period 1972-1975 b) Revising report c) Report of the Committee of Auditors 6. Reports on activities and future projects of the industrial committees a) The Committee for the Building Industry, Knut Johansson, President b) c) The Committee for the Wood Industry, Erik Lehman, Secretary The Committee for the Forest Industry, John Löfblad, President 7. Reports on regional activities and future projects a) b) c) d) Africa, L.C. Kawesa, regional representative for Africa Asia, K.R. Prabhudesai, representative for Asia on the Executive Committee Latin America, Fr. Franchi, regional representative for Latin America Europe, A. Buys, President of the IFBWW 8. Future activity of the IFBWW, John Löfblad 9. At an appropriate point in the Congress, the Swedish Minister of Labour, Mr. Ingemund Bengtsson, will speak on the objectives and means of government labour market policy 10. Election of the Executive Committee 11. Motions and proposals 12. Affiliation fees 13. Elections: General Secretary a) b) President c) d) Vice- President Committee of Auditors 14. Date and venue of the XVth Ordinary Congress 1978 15. Closure of the Congress 81 id To Item 6 NOTES ON THE AGENDA Reports on Activities and Future Projects of the Industrial Committees The work of the Building, Forest and Woodworking Industry Committees forms the core of IFBWW activity in its various industrial branches over the past Congress period. Among the points to be touched on in the report of the Committee for the Building Industry will be the effect given to the resolutions adopted at the January 31- February 1, 1974 IFBWW Conference for the Building Industry in Geneva and preparations being made for the 9th Session of the ILO Tripartite Building, Civil Engineering and Public Works Committee, to be held in Geneva in the 19761977 biennium. The report from the Committee for the Wood Industry will concern, among other things, the effect given to resolutions adopted at the January 28-29, 1974 IFBWW Conference for the Woodworking Industries in Geneva and the prospects for constructive action emanating from the 2nd Tripartite Technical Meeting for the Woodworking Industries( ILO, January 14-24, 1975). The report of the Committee for the Forest Industry will touch upon the results of the Second ILO Tripartite Technical Meeting for the Timber Industry( Geneva, April 25- May 8, 1973) and priorities for future IFBWW activity in the sector. To Item 9 Labour Market Policy At an appropriate point in the Congress, the Swedish Minister of Labour, Mr. Ingemund Bengtsson, will speak on the objectives and means of the government labour market policy. As several of the reports submitted to Congress indicate, industries in the IFBWW's jurisdiction have been badly- hit by the current global economic recession. Sweden is among those countries most successful in adapting government labour market policy to cope with large- scale unemployment and declining industrial activity. In his address to Congress, Mr. Bengtsson will demonstrate how this has been done and attempt to set out principles which can be used by other governments to deal with recession. 83 АОИЗОА ЗНт по автом ww OT Draft Standing Orders 1. The Congress is not open to the public. Representatives and visitors are to produce admission cards. 2. The Congress is presided over by the President. In the absence of the President, the Vice- President shall take the chair. 3. The General Secretary shall be responsible for the minutes of the Congress. 4. The sessions commence at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. 5. No speaker shall speak more than three times upon any subject. He shall not speak for more than 10 minutes the first time and 5 minutes the second and the third time. The chairman may, if considering it necessary, suggest a further reduction of the time allowed each speaker and may also suggest that the debate be closed. No speaker shall speak more than once or for more than 2 minutes on any point of order. Speakers must speak from the place intended for that purpose. Anybody desiring to speak shall use the slips provided for that purpose. 6. Proposals shall be submitted to the Secretary in writing, signed by the mover and stating the name of the union he is representing. 7. All decisions shall be by show of hands unless a card vote is called for by any affiliated organisation. Such a vote shall be conducted on the basis of the last affiliation fees due and paid. For every 1,000 members or part thereof affiliated organisations shall be entitled to cast one vote. 8. Only unions which have paid the affiliation fees for the last 6 months of 1975 are allowed to take part in voting. 9. The report of the Credentials Committee shall be submitted to the Congress the first day at the opening of the afternoon session. 10. The official languages of the Congress shall be the following; English, French, Italian, Scandinavian, German, Spanish and Dutch. 85 95 zimbs bubong or an exorial bruxasvingo sildug art or nego on ala nable sd vd nevo Mob som toolsaqe jon Herla Hejdue yne roqu bae booga ertz set pritage bris svom erit yd banpiz bangla sua editare ziseco14 noinu er foremen emo besilitte yns yd not bells al stov bi sazalnu abned to wode silitte test orit to sized ads no batoubnoo ano reas of bolfire ad lisda anoisinspo batsilitis lonely naq 10 dmsm 000, 10 de vd 8 bewolle se acer to aromalari sot 29st noisette oriz bisq overt doiriw endido vino B 16 18 yeb til ett Esigno srl or bettindua ed Hisde corimmo alsinobo noise noomarts 28 Motions and Proposals to noinu od most notoM 1. Motions from the Sawmill& Timber Industry Workers' Union, Malaysia a. b. The IFBWW should seriously consider setting up a Regional Office in Asia to promote, coordinate and assist the efforts of unions in Asia to establish, organize and strengthen their membership and organization. The 15th Statutory Congress of the IFBWW should be held in any one of the developing countries in Asia. Response a. b. The Executive Committee, while being sensitive to the need for an Asian Regional Office, believes that the IFBWW's present financial position makes it difficult to consider an outlay for this purpose in the near future. The Executive Committee, however, assumes the task of following closely events in Asia and working to improve the presence of the IFBWW in the area within the limits of available resources. Due to foreseeable costs, it will not be possible to hold the next IFBWW Congress in Asia, in the view of the Executive Committee. 87 22 2. Motions from the Union of Forest Employees, Malaysia a. Nominations to be put before Congress The Union nominates John Löfblad for the post of IFBWW General Secretary, Abraham Buys for the post of IFBWW President and Knut Johansson for the post of IFBWW VicePresident. The Union is prepared to accept the nominations of the Executive Committee for the other appointments to that Committee. T b. Nominations to the IFBWW Executive Committee C. The Union nominates B.R.N. Thampi of Malaysia as Asian Regional Representative on the Executive Committee, G. Balan of the Sawmill& Timber Industry Workers' Union, Malaysia, as 1st Deputy and K.R. Prabhudesai of Building Mazdoor Union, India, as 2nd Deputy. Asian Regional Activities The Union urges the IFBWW Regional Representative for Asia to keep in close touch with the affiliates in the region he represents with a view to establishing closer relations with them and improving his understanding of the problems of the region, as well as with the nonaffiliated organizations of the region, with a view to affiliating them to the IFBWW. Response Svc to The Executive Committee believes that motions a. and b. are of the sort that should emanate from the floor of Congress and thus moves that they be incorporated into the Congress documents to subsequently be submitted to the relevant committees. Motion c. is nearly the same as motion 1.a. above and, in accordance with the response to that motion, it was decided that it should also be referred to the Executive Committee. 88 08 3. Motion from the Woodworkers' Federation Agaç- Is, Turkey Considering its membership in Country Group 7 to be incompatible with its interests, due to the presence there of the affiliated unions from Cyprus and Israel and the potential presence of a Greek union, the Federation proposes that it be permitted to change Country Groups. Response The Executive Committee believes that this request should be rejected because, to begin with, it is impractical geographically and, secondly, because it runs counter to the duty of the IFBWW and of the whole trade- union movement to lead the fight against national prejudice and antagonism and for increased solidarity among workers of all countries irrespective of creed, nationality or race. 89 99 4. Motion from the Construction& Allied Workers' Union UOCRA, Argentina Given the large number of IFBWW members in Latin America( currently 400,000) and taking into account the resolution to this effect adopted by the 1st IFBWW Regional Conference for Latin America last December, in the presence of a delegation from the IFBWW Management Committee, it is proposed that Latin America's representation on the IFBWW Executive Committee be increased from the present one( 1) member to two( 2) members. Response The Executive Committee, believing that the present paying membership in Latin America is insufficient to justify such a change( for example, North America, with around 400,000 paying members, has only one seat on the Executive Committee) recommends that this motion be rejected. The Executive Committee proposes that, regarding motions 3 and 4 above, Paragraph 17 of the IFBWW Statutes stays the same and that the 14th Congress, like the Ostend Congress, should leave one seat only for Great Britain and Ireland, so long as the British unions remain outside the IFBWW. 90 90 Jatavse od ni bevloval doum vigy showers 5. agbelwont nommo vizde Proposals from the Executive Committee to Amend Paragraph 10 of the IFBWW Statutes to Permit an Increase in Affiliation Fees 00 Background The scope of IFBWW activities must be measured against the background of its financial possibilities, i.e., affiliation fees multiplied by the number of full- paying members. At present, the International has around 2.3 million full- paying members. In 1975, the affiliation fee is 50 centimes per member per year, which would mean net income of 1,150,000 Sw. Frs. for the year. In line with the IFBWW Statutes, regional activities will absorb 315,000 Sw. Frs. of this total. In view of this financial situation, what are the possibilities of maintaining or increasing the present level of IFBWW activities? During the last few years, increases in costs have, because of the nature of our organization, had a severe effect on our budget. There have been, for example, sharp rises in the price of paper, postage, telecommunications and transportation. These increases have been far greater than the rises in salaries, which item represents only a small part of the IFBWW budget. These cost increases are likely to continue in this fashion unless the capitalist economies totally collapse, which does not seem imminent. In addition, it should be mentioned that all written material must be produced by us in several languages, thus multiplying the costs for a limited output. Thus, if the IFBWW aspires to only a small enlargement of its activities, even this would call for a larger income. It is reasonable to assume that at least a 50 percent increase in affiliation fees from the present 50 Swiss centimes per member per year would be necessary unless we decide to freeze our activities or cut them back. It may seem that such a rise in fees is substantial but, assuming a cost increase of 10 to 15 percent per year, this increment would be absorbed without an actual expansion of activities. However, if the affiliation fee was increased in three stages, i.e., to 70 Swiss centimes per member per year in 1976 and to 75 and 80 centimes in 1977 and 1978, and if 15 centimes per member per year, calculated on the basis of 2.3 million full- paying members, was set aside for regional activities in 1976, this would give 345,000 francs for this purpose that year. An allocation of 20 centimes per member per year in 1977 and 1978 would yield 460,000 francs for regional activities. Moreover, this would provide the IFBWW with 1,265,000 francs for other activities in 1976 and 1977 and with 1,380,000 francs for 1978. This would leave the International with a certain sum for central activities, but it should be remembered that future conferences and congresses, for cost reasons already discussed, will be expensive. It should also be considered that the total budget for the fiscal year 1.4.1975-31.3.1976, including regional activities, will reach 1,407,700 Swiss francs. Therefore, the proposed affiliation fee is a minimum for meeting our expanded expenditures over the coming three- year period. The conferences held at the end of January 1974, for example, were more expensive than a congress, due to the numerous and costly preparatory meetings, the larger amount of documentation necessary, comprehensive translation work, etc. Yet, no one proposes that we refrain from such activities. In principle, the IFBWW should strive for the following kind of organizational structure in the future: a secretariat in Geneva, with regional offices in Africa and Latin America and, possibly later on, in Asia. As to the future needs of the Geneva secretariat, it would be ideal to have a staff composed of the general secretary and one assistant, one financial secretary or accountant and two secretaries. Our financial administration has become much more complicated over the years and therefore it seems necessary to have one person to devote his/ her time to these tasks exclusively. 91 The proximity of the ILO headquarters means that we are very much involved in the several activities of the ILO which mesh with our own. It is common knowledge that an international trade secretariat in Geneva functions as a sort of labour attaché's secretariat, which, in this case, means serving as a link with the ILO in connection with, for example, meetings of the Industrial Committees. The IFBWW is involved in the work of no less than three of these Committees: building, wood and forests. To the extent possible, we must help out, take care of and guide worker delegates who attend such meetings, in addition to participating in them ourselves. Our cooperation with the ILO is time- consuming, which should not be taken to mean that we underrate the importance of this cooperation. Indeed, we must try to improve our cooperation with the ILO workers' group. To date, this task has unfortunately been neglected due to lack of time. The General Secretary of an organization like the IFBWW must spend much time each year travelling, to attend meetings and conferences, for example. Therefore, it is necessary to have an assistant who can take over essential duties in his absence: handling correspondence, answering the phone, providing information, receiving the many visitors who come to the Geneva office. Committee and conference activities should continue as in the last Congress period, as this part of our work appears to be realistically proportioned to needs. The amount of research work will be tailored accordingly. What possibilities are there for increasing IFBWW membership? In realistic terms, they are not great. It is doubtful that the British unions will reaffiliate. However, we have begun slowly to compensate for this loss by picking up members in other parts of the world, notably in North America, where our greatest potential seems to lie. It is likely that the process we have launched on that continent will continue, though slowly; we are doing the maximum to develop contacts and so remain optimistic. We also noted that Australia and New Zealand have yet to be properly investigated. Still, taking everything into account, it does not seem that the immediate future will bring much in the way of paying members, which is, after all, the basis of our work. Even allowing for a rising trend, our membership is likely to remain relatively constant. In conclusion, it must be said that if the IFBWW wants to remain dynamic and progressive, it will have to accept the new costs which have arisen. It is difficult to imagine how even the present rate of activity can be maintained unless a decision is taken to increase affiliation fees for period 1976-1978 as proposes by the Executive Committee. On the basis of the considerations set out above, the Executive Committee therefore proposes that IFBWW affiliation fees be raised to 70 Swiss francs per 100 members per year as from January 1, 1976, to 75 Swiss francs on January 1, 1977 and to 80 Swiss francs on January 1, 1978. Accordingly, it is proposed that the wording of Paragraph 10 of the Statutes be altered to read as follows: Tanc Proposal for Revision of Paragraph 10 of the IFBWW Statutes 10. To defray the necessary expenses of the IFBWW, an affiliation fee decided by the Congress shall be collected from the affiliated organisations. From the 1.1.1976, the affiliation fee shall be 70.- Sw. Frs. per annum and 100 affiliated members. From the 1.1.1977, it shall be 75.- Sw. Frs. per annum and 100 affiliated members and from the 1.1.1978, it shall be 80.- Sw. Frs. per annum and 100 affiliated members. It shall be paid in advance in two halfyearly installments, each January and July, contributions to be paid for all members belonging to the trades mentioned in Article 1 Present Text 10. To defray the necessary expenses of the IFBWW an affiliation fee decided by Congress shall be collected from the affiliated organisations. Until the 31.12.1972 the affiliation fees continues to be 41. Sw. Frs. per annum and 100 affiliated members. From the 1.1.1973, it shall be 45.- Sw. Frs. per annum and 100 affiliated members and from the 1.1.1975, it shall be 50.- Sw. Frs. per annum and 100 affiliated members. It shall be paid in advance in two halfyearly instalments, each January and July, contributions to be paid for all members belonging to the trades mentioned in article 1 92 and from whom the union collects contributions in any form or to any amount( so- called administrative contributions included). Out of the affiliation fee from the 1.1. 1976, 15.- Sw. Frs. per 100 members and annum shall be set aside for a Solidarity Fund to be used for programs in the developing countries and for assistance to trade unions which, because of particular circumstances, have to exist in situations described in paragraph 2 of the Statutes. As from the 1.1.1977 and up to the time when an ordinary Congress has decided otherwise, 20.- Sw. Frs. per annum and 100 affiliated members are to be set aside for these activities. In such cases as when an affiliated organisation is completely or partly unable to pay the affiliation fee, the Executive Committee has to decide upon lines of direction for the payments to be accepted with regards to the different circumstances. These lines of direction shall serve as guidance when the Management Committee is to decide in every particular case. Pending Congress the Executive Committee has the right by 2/3 majority to impose a special levy to meet a deficit which may arise. Present Text from whom the union collects contributions in any form or to any amount( so- called administrative contributions included). Out of the affiliation fee from the 1.1.1973 15.- Sw. Frs. per 100 affiliated members and annum shall be set aside for a Solidarity Fund to be used for programmes in the developing countries and for assistance to trade unions which because of particular circumstances have to exist in situations described in paragraph 2 of the Statutes. Up to the 1.1.1973, 20 percent of the affiliation fees is to be set aside for activities in developing countries. In such cases as when an affiliated organisation completely or partly is unable to pay the affiliation fee, the Executive Committee has to decide upon lines of direction for the payments to be accepted with regards to the different circumstances. These lines of directions shall serve as guidance when the Management Committee is to decide in every particular case. Pending Congress the Executive Committee has the right by 2/3 majority to impose a special levy to meet a deficit which may arise. To 93 6. Proposal of Executive Committee to Amend Paragraph 24 of the IFBWW Statutes Background The previous system of annual reports has not functioned very well. However, a relatively large number of unions seem disposed to provide reports for our Congresses; therefore, it is proposed that the unions shall be requested to only submit reports on activities prior to IFBWW ordinary congresses. Proposal for Revision of Paragraph 24 of the IFBWW Statutes The Management Committee proposes that this paragraph be given the following wording: 24. It shall be the duty of each affiliated organization to provide the General Secretary with a report before each statutory congress concerning the most important events of the past congress period. The General Secretary shall supply suitable forms for this purpose and shall publish a summary of them as part of the Congress documents. The unions are to notify the General Secretary of important events occurring in the affiliated organizations. The General Secretary is responsible for the Bulletin and shall promptly inform the unions of any important labour disputes of interest to the unions as well as of political or nonpolitical changes which are important to the union's activities. Present Text 24. At the end of each year it shall be the duty of each affiliated organization to supply the General Secretary with a report on the important events of the last year. The General Secretary shall supply suitable forms for this purpose and publish a summary of them. The General Secretary must be notified of important events occurring in affiliated organizations and be responsible for the Bulletin or Journal as well as giving particulars of any important disputes or changes, political or otherwise, at the earliest possible moment. 46 94 7. Draft Amendment to Paragraph 26 of the IFBWW Statutes Proposed Text of Revision of Paragraph 26 of the Statutes 26. These Statutes were amended and approved by the XIVth Statutory Congress held in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 27 to 29, 1975. At their coming into force immediately after the Stockholm Congress all other Statutes will be rescinded. Present Text 26. These Statutes were amended and approved by the XIIIth Statutory Congress held in Ostende, Belgium, in October 1972. At their coming into force immediately after the Ostende Congress all other Statutes were rescinded. 95 95 List of affiliated organizations as per July 1, 1975 Liste des organisations affiliées au 1 juillet 1975 Liste der angeschlossenen Verbände am 1. Juli 1975 Lista över anslutna organisationer d. 1 juli 1975 Lista de las organizaciones afiliadas el 1 de julio de 1975 The countries are listed in the English alphabetical order Les pays figurent sur la liste dans l'ordre alphabétique anglais Die Länder sind in der englischen alphabetischen Reihenfolge aufgeführt Länderna är angivna i alfabetisk ordning enligt engelskan Los países figuran en la liste en el orden alfabetico inglés Argentina- Argentine- Argentinien Unión Obrera de la Construcción de la Republica Argentina Unión de Sindicatos de la Industria Madera de la Republica Argentina Federación de Obreros Mosaistas y Afines de la Republica Argentina Australia Australie- Australien The Federated Furnishing Trade Society of Australasia Austria- Autriche- Oesterreich-- Österrike Gewerkschaft der Bau- und Holzarbeiter Belgium- Belgique- Belgien- Belgica La Centrale Générale Bermuda- Bermudes Bermuda Industrial Union Brazil Brésil- Brasilien- Brasil Sindicato dos Trabalhadores na Industria de Construção de Recife Colombia Kolumbien Kolombia Sindicato de Trabajadores de las Industrias de Materiales de Construcción, la Construcción y la Madera Costa Rica Unión de Trabajadores de la Construcción( UTRACON) Cyprus- Chypre- Zypern- Cypern- Chipre Federation of Construction and Allied Workers Dahomey- Dahome Syndicat National des Travailleurs du Bâtiment et Bois Denmark- Danemark- Dänemark- Danmark- Dinamarca Blikkenslager-, Sanitet,& Rørarbejderforbundet i Danmark Malerforbundet i Danmark 97 Murerforbundet i Danmark Traeindustriarbejderforbundet Dansk Elektrikerforbund Sadelmager- og Tapetsererforbundet i Danmark Dansk Karetmager- og Karosseribyggerforbund Specialarbejderforbundet i Danmark Snedker og Tømrerforbundet i Danmark Dansk Skibstømrer- Rigger- og Sejlmagerforbund Ecuador- Equateur- Equator Federación de Trabajadores Libres de la Construcción y Anexos de Pichincha Ethiopia Ethiopie- Ethiopien The United Wood Workers' Union - Etiopien- Etiopia Finland Finlande- Finnland- Finlandia - Suomen Sähköalantyöntekijäin Liitto ry Suomen Maaseututyöväen Liitto ry Puutyöväen Liitto ry France Frankreich- Frankrike- Francia Fédération Nationale des Salariés de la Construction et Bois( CFDT) Fédération Force Ouvrière du Bâtiment, Bois, Travaux Publics et Matériaux de Construction Germany- Allemagne Deutschland- Tyskland- Alemania - Gewerkschaft Holz und Kunststoff IG Bau- Steine- Erden Ghana Timber and Woodworkers' Union Construction and Building Trade Workers' Union Guyana - Guyane Sawmill and Forest Workers' Union Amalgamated Building Trade Workers' Union Holland- Pays- Bas- Niederlande- Nederländerna- Holanda Bouwbond NVV Bouw- en Houtbond NKV Iceland- Islande Island- Iceland- Islandia - Samband Byggingamanna India Inde- Indien - Building Mazdoor Union Indian National Building and Construction Workers' Federation Indonesia- Indonésie- Indonesien Public Works, Electricity and Energy Workers' Union Ireland- Irlande- Irland- Irlanda Irish Transport and General Workers' Union Israel Israël - National Union of Woodworkers National Union of Building Workers 98 - Italy Italie- Italien- Italia Federazione Italiana Lavoratori Costruzioni e Affini Federazione Nazionale Lavoratori Edili Affini e del Legno Kenya- Kenia Kenya Timber& Furniture Workers' Union East Africa Federation of Building and Construction Workers' Union Luxemburg Luxembourg- Luxemburgo Letzeburger Arbechterverband Malawi Building, Construction, Civil Engineering and Allied Workers' Union Malaysia- Malaisie- Malasia Sawmill and Timber Industry Workers' Union Union of Forest Employees Timber Graders' Union Paper& Paperproducts Manufacturing Employees' Union Mauritius- Ile Maurice- Mauricio The Building, Industry Engineering and Other Workers' Union Mexico- Mexique- Mexiko Sindicato industrial de Trabajadores Madereros y Similares y Conexos de Nuevo Casas Grande Sindicato de Trabajadores Madereros de Chihuahua y Similares Sindicato de Trabajadores Madereros de Chihuahua Sindicato industrial de Trabajadores Madereros Similares y Conexos de H. Parral Sindicato de Trabajadores de Duraply y Similares y Conexos Sindicato de Trabajadores de Procutora de Triplay en Durango Sindicato de Trabajadores Madereros del Rio de Miravalles Sindicato de Trabajadores de Triplay y Madera en Durango uuog Friedrich- Ebe Sindicato de Trabajadores Madereros de la Sierra Azul, en la Huacana Sindicato industrial de Trabajadores Madereros de la R.M. en el Salto Durango Sindicato industrial de Trabajadores Madereros" Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez", Grisotex en Durango Sindicato de Trabajadores Madereros" Adolfo Lopez Mateos" en Vincente Guerrero Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria del Cemento, Cal, Peso y sus Producios Sindicato de Trabajadores Madereros" Jesus Yuren Aguilar" Nigeria- Nigerien The Amalgamated Union of Building and Wood Workers of Nigeria Norway- Norvège- Norwegen- Norge- Noruega Norsk Treindustriarbeiderforbund Norsk Skog- og Landarbeiderforbund Norsk Murerforbund Norsk Elektriker- og Kraftstasjonsforbund Norsk Bygningsindustriarbeiderforbund Norsk Arbeidsmandsforbund Panama -Stiftung Sindicato nacional de Trabajadores de Empresas de la Producción Extracción, Ventas y Merradeo de Materiales para la Construcción Peru- Pérou Federación de Trabajadores de Construcción Civil e Industrias Similares del Peru 99 Philippines Philippinen Philippinen- Filippinerna- Filipinas United Lumber Workers of the Philippines Rhodesia Rhodésie- Rhodesien- Rodesia - United Building and Allied Industrial Workers' Union Seychelles- Seychellen Seychelles Building, Construction and Civil Engineering Workers' Union Spain- Espagne- Spanien- España Unión General de Trabajadores de España Surinam Bruynzeel Werknemers Organisatie Sweden Suède Schweden- - - Svenska Målareförbundet Fastighetsanställdas Förbund Sverige- Suecia Svenska Bleck- och Plåtslagareförbundet Svenska Byggnadsarbetareförbundet Svenska Träindustriarbetareförbundet Svenska Skogsarbetareförbundet Svenska Elektrikerförbundet Sveriges Arbetsledareförbund Switzerland- Suisse- Schweiz- Suiza Gewerkschaft Bau und Holz GBH/ FOBB Tunisia Tunisie- Tunesien Tunisien- Túnez Fédération Générale des Ouvriers du Bâtiment - - - Turkey Turquie Türkei Turkiet- Turquia Agaç- Is Sendikasi Yol- Is Uganda Ouganda - Uganda Building Construction, Civil Engineering& Allied Workers' Union Uruguay Frente Autonomo Sindical USA Bricklayers', Masons' and Plasterers' International Union of America International Union of Operating Engineers Upholsterers' International Union of North America International Woodworkers of America International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Laborers' International Union of North America United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada Sheet Metal Workers' International Association 100 Venezuela Federación de Trabajadores de la Industria de la Construcción de Venezuela Zaire Zaïre Syndicat de l'Industrie du Bâtiment et du Bois au Congo" Sybaco" 101 Executive Committee Comité exécutif Gesamtvorstand Exekutivkommittén Comité ejecutivo IFBWW Structure Les organes de la FITBB Die Gremien des IBBH IBTUS organ Los organismos de la FITCM Group 1: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden: 2 members Knut Johansson, Svenska Byggnadsarbetareförbundet 1st deputy: Börje Jönsson, Svenska Byggnadsarbetareförbundet 2nd deputy: Villy Jacobsen, Norsk Murerforbund Henry Hansen, Snedker- og Tømrerforbundet i Danmark 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: Erik Lehman, Svenska Träindustriarbetareförbundet Sixten Bäckström, Svenska Skogsarbetareförbundet Group 2: Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg: 2 members Emile Janssens, La Centrale Générale 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: A. Vanden Broucke, La Centrale Générale John Castegnaro, Letzeburger Arbechterverband Abraham Buys, Bouwbond NVV 1st deputy: Leo Brouwner, Bouw- en Houtbond NKV 2nd deputy: Jaap Boom, Bouwbond NVV Group 3: The Federal Republic of Germany: 2 members Rudolf Sperner, IG Bau- Steine- Erden 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: Konrad Carl, IG Bau- Steine- Erden Karl- Heinz Tiedtke, IG Bau- Steine- Erden Gerhard Vater, Gewerkschaft Holz und Kunststoff 1st deputy: K. Georgi 2nd deputy: Karlheinz Schwark, Gewerkschaft Holz und Kunststoff 102 Group 4: Austria, Switzerland: 2 members Hans Böck, Gewerkschaft der Bau- und Holzarbeiter 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: Roman Rautner, Gewerkschaft der Bau- und Holzarbeiter Ezio Canonica, Schweizerische Bau- und Holzarbeiterverband Willi Haindl, Schweizerische Bau- und Holzarbeiterverband Hans Frehner, Schweizerische Bau- und Holzarbeiterverband 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: Group 5: Great Britain, Ireland: 1 member John F. Carroll, Irish Transport and General Workers' Union 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: Thomas O'Brien, Irish Transport and General Workers' Union Group 6: France, Italy, Portugal, Spain: 1 member Stelvio Ravizza, Fed. Italiana Lavoratori Costruzione e Affini 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: Marcel Hupel, Fédération Force Ouvrière du Bâtiment, Bois, Travaux Publics et Matériaux de Construction Manuel Garnacho, Unión General de Trabajadores de España Group 7: Greece, Israel, Turkey, Cyprus: 1 member Mordechai Amster, National Union of Building Workers, Israel 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: Yitzhac Yaacobi, National Union of Woodworkers, Israel Omer Deniz, Agaç- Is Sendikasi, Turkey Group 8: Canada, United States: 1 member Joseph D. Keenan, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: Thomas Murphy, Bricklayers', Masons' and Plasterers' International Union of America Martin L. Garber, Upholsterers' International Union of North America Group 9: Africa: 1 member L. Chancy Kawesa, Africa Representative 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: G. Sinon, Building, Construction and Civil Engineering Workers' Union John Murugu, East African Federation of Building and Construction Workers' Union Group 10: Asia: 1 member K.R. Prabhudesai, Building Mazdoor Union 1st deputy: K.A. Khan, Building Mazdoor Union 2nd deputy: 103 Group 11: Latin America: 1 member Juan Herrera, Federación de Trabajadores de la Industria de la Construcción de Venezuela Horacio Cesar Cuenca, Latin America Representative 1st deputy: 2nd deputy: 104 Management Committee Bureau Geschäftsführender Ausschuss Arbetsutskottet Comité director John Löfblad Abraham Buys Ezio Canonica Knut Johansson General Secretary President Bouwbond NVV Houttuinalaan 3 Postbus 500 NL- Woerden Vice President Schweizerischer Bau- und Holzarbeiterverband Sihlpostfach CH- 8021 Zürich Svenska Byggnadsarbetareförbundet P.O. Box 19013 S- 104 32 Stockholm Rudolf Sperner IG Bau- Steine- Erden Bockenheimer Landstrasse 73-77 D- 6 Frankfurt a/ Main 105 Committee of Auditors Commission de vérification des comptes Kontrollausschuss Revisionsutskottet Comisión de verificación de cuentas Gerhard Vater Armin Frei A.A. Lawder Gewerkschaft Holz und Kunststoff Schweizerischer Bau- und Holzarbeiterverband Flat 5, Burlington Lodge 89, Victoria Road South Southsea, Hants( Great Britain) PO5 2 BU Erling Johansen Norsk Elektriker- og Kraftsasjonsforbund 106 Committee for the Woodworking Industries Comité du bois Holzausschuss Träkommittén Comité de la madera Forestry Committee Comité de l'industrie forestière Forstwirtschaftsausschuss Skogskommittén Comité de la industria forestal G. Vater, Germany, J. Löfblad H. Frehner, Switzerland E. Lehman, Sweden President H. Hansen, Denmark L. Seebacher, Austria J.E. Norling, Sweden, Secretary J. Löfblad, President S. Bäckström, Sweden P. Virtanen, Finland K. Nacken, Norway J.E. Norling, Committee for Europe Comité de l'Europe Ausschuss für Europa Europautskottet Comité de Europa A. Buys, Holland, Building Committee Comité du bâtiment Bauausschuss Byggnadskommittén Comité de la construcción Secretary President J. Löfblad, IFBWW E. Canonica, Switzerland J. Fernandez, Belgium E. Janssens, Belgium K. Johansson, Sweden R. Sperner, Germany R. Rautner, Austria J.E. Norling, Sweden, Secretary K. Johansson, Sweden, President J. Löfblad E. Janssens, Belgium R. Rautner, Austria St. Ravizza, Italy K. Carl, Germany J.E. Norling, Sweden, 107 Secretary 00 ACCOUNTS 1972 1973 - A ЗМОЗИ Income and Expenditure Account for the period from 1.4.1972 to 31.3.1973 tochow balls EXPENDITURE Salaries . Delegates expenses and fares. Postage, telephone, telegrams. Rent of office, lighting, heating and cleaning. Printing and stationery. Representation Publications Insurances Pensions .. Office machines, furniture, fittings and maintenance Congress International housing committee Regional activities and organising campaign Translations Sundry expenses. Bank commission and charges Excess of income over expenditure. 03.0 08.0858 00.020/ ar 00.188 08.072 t € 0.1812 05.008 ( in all accounts: all amounts in Swiss Francs) 109 113 489.90 132 943.98 23 385.90 21 768.95 6 224.94 13 938.50 81 352.32 5 945.20 34 823.19 4 166.60 160 651.80 10 600.00 206 294.67 21 834.03 467.85 6 126.60 97 231.30 218 941 245.73 INCOME Affiliated societies' contributions 2TMUDDA Austria Belgium Building& woodworkers Building& woodworkers • Bermuda Costa Rica Cyprus Denmark Ethiopia Finland Industrial workers Construction workers Construction& allied workers Bricklayers. Plumbers Electricians Glaziers. B " General workers Painters. Woodworkers. Woodworkers. Woodworkers. Forestry workers. Metal workers. • 54 395.79 77 400.00 817.89 SA most boly 41.00 888.00 6 256.53 2 773.50 3 440.00 298.42 AUTIOMBAX3 21 930.00 5 539.69 11 173.73 51 411.87 655.00 14 989.00 1 720.00 516.00 3 876.00 2 925.76 24 026.76 10 262 934.25 Electrical workers Wood processing industry workers Germany Building workers. 218 214.25 Woodworkers. 44 720.00 Holland Building& woodworkers 41 655.72 Catholic building workers 38 162.00 B Iceland India Ireland Italy Building workers. Mazdoor building workers, Bombay Transport& general workers. Building& woodworkers( UIL). Building& woodworkers( CISL) • • 6 156.60 " 15 050.00 Luxembourg Building& woodworkers. Malaysia Timber Trades Norway Bricklayers. 1 634.00 Building workers. 18 102.50 • Woodworkers. 2 446.28 " General workers Electricians 79 817.72 780.00 576.40 4 300.00 21 206.60 982.50 861.00 Forestry workers. Building& construction workers Seychelles Sweden Switzerland Paid over to the IFBWW • Building& woodworkers Turkey USA Woodworkers.. Bricklayers& masons Upholsterers Woodworkers . Painters. Operating engineers. Electricians • Labourers . . 2 915.40 2.150.00 3 440.00 31 750.00 21 000.00 860.00 21 500.00 21 500.00 16 287.60 4 223.60 30 688.18 451.00 149 564.27 36 767.40 820.00 Venezuela Building workers. Bank interest. Danish account • 110 117 121.20 1910.80 918 417.63 17 137.10 5 691.00 941 245.73 ASSETS Cash in hand. Cash at bank Deposit account Current account Cash held on Danish account. Cash held on IFBWW account Sweden( Sw.Kr. 255 202.70) Freehold property: 5, Ewaldsgade Copenhagen ( value sale price Sw.Fr. 310 567.00) Property realization account. Interest on mortage. Furniture& fittings, office machines and typewriters. 00000 LIABILITIES Solidarity fund Spain Less: paid over . Solidarity fund Finland Solidarity fund Greece. IFBWW regional activities fund: Balance as at 1st April, 1972.. IFBWW.. Less paid to: Africa Latin America Spain Turkey General fund. 132 425.49 56 708.68 250 000.00 193 656.63 810 500 365.31 3 479.25 34 177.00 186 935.80 243 063.89 67 503.11 34 920.80 1.00 1 066 966.91 3 479.25 14 248.97 22 628.69 114 224.59 206 294.67 320 519.26 57 869.82 29 520.75 3 662.50 223 478.56 97 040.70 933 048.55 Sw.Fr. 1 066 966.91 I have obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of my knowledge and belief were necessary for the purpose of my audit. In my opinion proper books of accounts have been kept by the Federation. I have examined the above balance sheet and the annexed income and expenditure account which are in agreement with the books of accounts and vouchers and the annexed returns from the affiliated societies: me: a) In my opinion and to the best of my information and according to the explanations given The balance sheet is properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and fair view of the Federation's affairs as at 31st March, 1973, and b) The income and expenditure account supplemented by the returns from the affiliated societies give a true and fair view of the financial position for the year ended on that date. 00.00 Included in the sums paid to Latin America are amounts sent on behalf of the Scandinavian Federation and the German Building Workers Union, which will be refunded in due course. ( signed) Geneva, 12th April 1973 A.A. Lawder, F.C.I.S. Accountant 111 Expenditure as compared with the budget for the financial year from 1.4.1972 to 31.3.1973 and Draft budget for the year from 1.4.1973 to 31.3.1974 Expenditure as compared with the budget for the financial year from 1.4.1972 to 31.3.1973 Expenditure Budget Salaries. Travel costs and expenses for delegates • Post, telephone and telegrams Office rental, lighting, heating and cleaning Printed matter and stationery Representation Publications 113 489.90 132 943.98 23 385.90 120 000.00 140 000.00 20 000.00 21 768.95 21 000.00 6 224.94 13 938.50 • B 81 352.37 . Insurance 5 945.20 . • Pensions 34 823.19 Office machinery and furniture, equipment, maintenance and repairs Conferences 4 166.60 ICFTU/ IFBWW International Housing Committee. Regional activities and organisation campaign . Translations IFBWW Congress 1972. • Miscellaneous Bank charges 10 600.00 206 294.67 21 834.03 106 651.80 467.80 6 126.60 10 000.00 12.000.00 70 000.00 8 000.00 35 000.00 20.000.00 9 000.00 160 000.00 20 000.00 55 000.00 1 000.00 3 000.00 Sw.frs. 844 014.43 704 000.00 Draft budget Salaries. Travel costs and expenses for delegates Post, telephone and telegrams Office rental, lighting, heating and cleaning Printed matter and stationery Representation • Publications Insurance. Pensions Office machinery and furniture, equipment, maintenance and repairs. Conferences ICFTU/ IFBWW International Housing Committee. Regional activities and organisation campaign Translations Miscellaneous expenditure Bank charges . Congress 1975, reserve 112 140 000.00 160 000.00 20 000.00 22 100.00 8 000.00 14 000.00 8.000.00 6 000.00 38 000.00 • 20 000.00 70 000.00 10 000.00 320 000.00 20 000.00 Sw.frs. 1 000.00 2.000.00 100 000.00 1 031 000.00 Explanations concerning the budget 2000 88 amos of bottoms anciens as verWe for the period of 1.4.1973 to 31.3.1974 After careful examination and thorough discussion the Committee of Auditors has fixed the following amounts under the various items in the budget: 1. Salaries. 2. Travel costs and expenses 3. Post, telephone, telegrams. 4. Office rental, heating, lighting and cleaning 140 000.00 160 000.00 20 000.00 22 000.00 5. 6. 7. Printed matter and stationery Representation Publications . 8. Insurance 9. Pensions 8 000.00 14 000.00 80 000.00 6 000.00 38 000.00 10. 11. Office machinery and furniture, equipment, maintenance and repairs Conferences 20 000.00 70 000.00 12. 13. ICFTU/ IFBWW International Housing Committee Regional activities and organisation campaigns 10 000.00 . 14. Translations 15. 16. Reserve for 14th Congress in Stockholm 1975. Miscellaneous expenditure 17. Bank charges.. 320 000.00 20 000.00 100 000.00 1.000.00 2.000.00 Sw.fr. 1 031 000.00 1. Since the headquarters office is still understaffed, the Committee of Auditors recommends the Management Committee to appoint a secretary to relieve the General Secretary of certain duties until the end of 1973. For this purpose a budget allocation of 12 000 Swiss francs is included for the first quarter of 1974. The budget also provides for an increase in the General Secretary's salary of up to 10 percent. 2. Since the rate for expenses has not been increased since the Tel Aviv Congress in 1969, the Committee of Auditors recommends the Executive Committee to increase the rate from 140 Swiss francs to 160 with effect from 1.7.1973. This rate has been allowed for in the budget for a period of three- quarters of a year. The consequent increase in travel costs and daily allowances in respect of the meeting of the Executive Committee in Washington, D.C. in 1973 also has been included in the budget. 3. The postal, telephone and telegram cost has been estimated at the same rate as for the previous year. 100 4. The amount of 22 000 Swiss francs almost corresponds to expenditure in the previous year. The budget includes a slight increase for cleaning equipment and costs. 5. There is a reduction in the allocation for printed matter and stationery as compared with the previous year, since there should not be such a volume required as in the 1972 congress year. 6. The volume of representation corresponds roughly to expenditure in the previous financial year; the estimate is therefore given at the same rate although price increases of up to 20 percent took place in the Swiss hotel and restaurant industry last year. 7. The figure for publications allows for the decision by the Management Committee that in 1973 there should also be a brochure reporting on the functions and activities of the IFBWW. 8. The figure for insurance shows a reduction of 2 000 francs as compared with the previous year, since actual expenditure last year amounted to only about 6 000 Swiss francs. 113 9. Where as pensions amounted to some 35 000 Swiss francs in the previous financial year it was necessary to provide a slight increase amounting to 3 000 francs, although the death of Mr. Arne Hagen meant that only half of his pension amount is now payable to his widow. The reason for the increase is that Mrs. Bente Johansen did not belong to the pension fund but that the new secretary replacing her has been registered with the pension fund. In addition, with rising salary costs a higher contribution has to be made to the pension fund. 10. The allocation of 20 000 Swiss francs appears sufficient. The procurement of a new electric typewriter and the renovation of the office premises and the fitting of three or four offices at the secretariat with carpets have been taken into consideration. 11. In view of the meetings of the Executive Committee, Building Committee, Woodworking Committee, and the Second Tripartite Technical Meeting for the Timber Industry organised by the ILO and the consequent need for translations, particularly into Swedish and German, the allocation of 70 000 Swiss francs appears appropriate. 12. The Committee of Auditors considered that the costs for the International Housing Commit0000 tee should be borne by the ICFTU. It recommends the Management Committee and the 0300 Executive Committee to take the appropriate decision in that respect. Similarly, the General 00.00 Secretary of the ICFTU should be contacted regarding coverage of the cost of the International Housing Bulletin. The amount of 10 000 Swiss francs appears to be reasonable for 00.00 this financial year as well. 13. Since a gross income of 960 000 Swiss francs is reckoned with, as an estimate for the current financial year, the Committee of Auditors was obliged, in accordance with Article 10 of the Statutes, to allow 15 Swiss francs per hundred members per year from 1.1.1973 for activicold ties in the developing countries(= 320 000 Swiss francs). The Committee of Auditors points out that this means allocating one- third of total income for such activities, whereas in the past only one- fifth( in accordance with the Statutes) was allocated for the purpose. Whereas until 31.12.1972 out of a rate of 41 Swiss francs per 100 members we retained 32.80 Swiss francs, as from 1.1.1973 only 30 Swiss francs out of 45 Swiss francs per 100 members remains available to cover all other costs. The Committee of Auditors expressed its concern in this respect. 14. These are regular translation costs incurred in a financial year. 15. Since the 13th Congress of the IFBWW in 1972 in Ostende cost about 272 000 Swiss francs and the Statutes require a congress to be held every 3 years, the Committee of Auditors condap siders an allocation of 100 000 Swiss francs per year to be appropriate.to 16. An allowance of 1 000 francs for miscellaneous expenditure has been made. There is thus no increase as compared with the amount for the previous year. 17. The Committee of Auditors considers a figure of 2 000 Swiss francs to be appropriate for bank charges. The addition of items concludes with a total of 1 031 000 Swiss francs, as compared with estimated income of 960 000 Swiss francs. aziwa 000 SS to This represents a deficit of 71 000 Swiss francs. In order to be able to submit a balanced budget to the Management Committee and the Executive Committee, the Committee of Auditors recommends that 71 000 Swiss francs should be withdrawn from the reserves of the IFBWW. These explanations concerning the budget are an integral part of the report of the Committee of Auditors of 14.4.1973. lo as ort to 29itivitos bas enoifonul ads no pr 28 20olving art rithw bensqmo es const 000 S to moitouber's words sonsuzni no e zon 22w2 000 sods vino.of betnuoms 189y al quibnsaxe sur 114 sogizesy Report of the Committee of Auditors for the year 1972/1973 925 In keeping with article 21 of the Statutes of the International Federation of Building and Woodworkers, the Committee of Auditors met on the 13th and 14th of April, 1973, in order to audit the financial and business administration of the secretariat, i.e. the General Secretary, for the financial year April 1, 1972 to March 31, 1973. The following persons took part in the meeting: Armin Frei, Erling Johansen, and Gerhard Vater, members of the Committee of Auditors, A.A. Lawder as Auditor, John Löfblad, General Secretary, Ragna Melchior and Bente Johansen from the Secretariat. The annual accounts for 1972/73 as terminated on March 31, 1973 were examined in detail by the Auditor. He declared the books to be kept in a clean and orderly manner. Receipts and vouchers existed for all payments and all expenditures corresponded to the Statutes of the Federation or to decisions of the Executive Committee and the Management Committee. All information was willingly furnished. The Committee of Auditors checked that all the receipts and vouchers really existed and verified the declarations of the Auditor by sample examinations of the receipts and vouchers numbered 1 to 21 and 278 to 448. With respect to the business administration it is to be noted that neither the Scandinavian federations nor IG Bau- Steine- Erden had restored the sum of about Fr. 73 000.00 for the LatinAmerican development programme. The restitution of this sum had been mentioned in the report of the Committee of Auditors for the previous year. The Committee of Auditors invited the General Secretary to claim restitution of this sum from the two federations without delay. The Committee of Auditors was of the opinion that better and clearer accounting should be made of the dues payments made by member organisations. This is necessary and urgent, in order that the Federation may dispose of the necessary means in the future to carry out its tasks. In all other respects the Committee of Auditors declares that the business has been conducted in keeping with the Statutes and with the decisions of the competent organs of the Federation. Instead of the budgeted surplus of Fr. 96 000.00, the annual accounts for 1972/73 closed with a surplus of Fr. 97 231.30. Increased receipts of Fr. 141 245.73 were offset by increased expenditures of Fr. 140 014.43. The fortune increased by Fr. 76 664.46. In the year under consideration there were once more accounting losses of Fr. 20 566.84 in settlements with the Scandinavian accounts because of fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Swiss franc. Payments into funds in 1972/73 amounted to Fr. 206 294.67. Withdrawals from funds amounted to Fr. 3 479.25 from the Solidarity Fund for Spain, which was dissolved, and Fr. 223 478.56 from the Fund for Regional Activities. Accordingly, the reserves for funds were reduced by Fr. 20 663.14 to Fr. 133 918.36. The following headings show considerable differences with respect to the budget: Publications:+ Fr. 11 352.37 Publications must appear also in Spanish because of the activities of the Federation in Latin America, thus implying additional cost. It had appeared necessary to reprint the former Statutes before the Ostend Congress, although such a reprint had not been budgeted. Office machines and furniture, office material, maintenance and repairs:- Fr. 15 833.40 The planned office renovations had to be deferred until the business year 1973/74 for various reasons. IFBWW Congress 1972:+ Fr. 105 651.80 The reserves set aside in previous years and amounting to Fr. 112 000.00 clearly proved to 115 be too little. The extensive activities of the Federation in Africa, Asia and Latin America also led to additional expenditure for publication of Congress documents, translations, travel and visits. The other headings are in keeping with the 1972/73 budget or are directly related to increased income and the corresponding provisions of the Statutes of the Federation. The Committee of Auditors also discussed some important questions, such as the purchase of property in Geneva, an increase in per diem as of 1st July 1973, the salary of the General Secretary, and heard a report on staff changes in the secretariat. We wish to thank the General Secretary and his two collaborators, Ragna Melchior and Bente Johanssen, who will soon leave the service of the Federation, for the great amount of work accomplished in the year of a Congress to the complete satisfaction of the Committee of Auditors and the responsible organs of the Federation. Geneva, 14th April, 1973 nor hav hot pister say oniaud ar fhmu benateb 08,128 2013 or bevona vesi- 00.000 SFF oms bus essy auoivang ni abies tee 20 116 A stated. ACCOUNTS 1973-1974 амозит Income and Expenditure Account for the period from 1st April 1973 to 31st March, 1974 EXPENDITURE Salaries Delegates expenses and fares Postage, telephone, telegrams Rent of office, lighting, heating and cleaning Printing and stationery. Representation Publications Insurances Pensions 119 390.50 227 308.82 41 118.70 42 504.80 . 11 146.70 24 394.80 81 802.70 7 074.85 30 647.35 33 170.10 108 528.25 328 812.62 • Office machines, furniture, fittings and maintenance Conferences Regional activities and organising campaign Translations Sundry office expenses. Bank commission and charges • Reserve for Congress 00 20 388 04 00: 020 00: 1306 00.008 C 00.02% 00.025.21 90.008 SE 117 7 801.90 309.95 4 078.19 100 000.00 1 168 090.23 INCOME Affiliated societies' contributions Austria Building& woodworkers . Belgium Building& woodworkers. Bermuda Industrial workers " Denmark Painters. • Finland Bricklayers. Woodworkers. Plumbers General workers. Glaziers.. Electricians Woodworkers Wood processing industry workers Electricians " Forestry workers. 5 712.76 6 525.00 36 576.45 2 908.37 22 950.00 296.10 61 780.04 22 500.00 338.85 3 600.00 78 568.68 7 650.00 3 373.88 5 290.65 1 800.00 18 114.53 France Force Ouvrière building& woodworkers. 4 500.00 Germany Building workers. Woodworkers. 213 669.00 48 600.00 28 Ghana 05 Construction& building trades B Timber and woodworkers. 293.97 274.13 262 269.00 568.10 Holland Building and woodworkers Catholic building workers. 36 389.24 39 612.00 Iceland Building workers. India Building& woodworkers 76 001.24 855.00 1 550.00 Israel Building and woodworkers 29 025.00 Building and woodworkers paid in advance 18 524.00 47 549.00 Italy Building and woodworkers( CISL). 27 000.00 Building workers( UIL) 5 000.00 32 000.00 Latinamerica ( as below). 17 251.50 Luxembourg Building and woodworkers 675.00 Norway General workers. Bricklayers. Forestry workers. Wood workers Building workers. Electricians Seychelles Building and construction workers. 3 051.00 1 181.70 3 600.00 2 264.88 16 785.00 2 250.00 29 132.58 921.75 Sweden Affiliated unions. . Switzerland Building and woodworkers Turkey Woodworkers. USA Upholsterers Woodworkers. Electricians Laborers Painters and allied workers Plumbers& pipefitting. 15 750.00 890.55 18 562.00 4 508.30 161 451.00 40 655.05 4 050.00 • Bricklayers.. Operating engineers. Venezuela Building and construction workers. 22 500.00 16 750.00 22 500.00 22 463.71 123 924.56 Bank interest Deficiency of income as against expenditure. 118 1 782.00 986 437.88 20 679.20 160 973.15 1 168 090.23 Latin America Colombia cement workers. Argentina construction workers Argentina woodworkers . 201.50 15 500.00 1 550.00 17 251.50 00.00 pe 00.0 8.XSA DE 29.09% 80 00: 002 38 00.000/ 2 58. 109 08,980 erc 00.AATE 00.000.001 ed bits 20bubre vin to feed edt os doir enois 119 Consolidated balance sheet as at 31st March, 1974 ASSETS Cash in hand.. Cash at bank Deposit account Current account . Cash held on Danish account. 19 743.10 250 000.00 246 113.93 496 113.93 515 857.03 76 795.63 Cash held on IFBWW account Sweden( Sw.Kr. 233 970.88 includes bank interest 4 873.98) Freehold property: 5 Ewaldsgade Copenhagen( value, sale price Sw.Frs. 310 567.00) Property realization account. Interest on mortage. 9 Furniture and fittings, office machines and typewriters LIABILITIES Solidarity fund Finland Solidarity fund Greece. • IFBWW regional activities fund Balance as at 1st April 1973. IFBWW. . Scandinavian allocation Latin America Less paid to: Africa Latin America Spain Rhodesia Ethiopia Reserve for congress General fund. 176 427.85 97 040.70 328 812.62 95 200.00 521 053.32 159 100.19 237 694.49 72 872.51 52 635.36 1.00 1 114 956.21 14 248.97 22 628.69 98 290.65 36 500.00 5 000.00 3 744.00 319 962.50 201 090.82 100 000.00 :::: 776 987.73 1 114 956.21 I have obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of my knowledge and belief were necessary for the purpose of my audit. In my opinion proper books of accounts have been kept by the Federation. I have examined the above balance sheet and the annexed income and expenditure account which are in agreement with the books of accounts and vouchers and the annexed returns from the affiliated societies: a) b) In my opinion and to the best of my information and according to the explanation given me: the balance sheet is properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and fair view of the Federation's affairs as at 31st March, 1974 and the income and expenditure account supplemented by the returns from the affiliated societies give a true and fair view of the financial position for the year ended on that date. ( signed) 120 Geneva, 26th April, 1974 A.A. Lawder, F.C.I.S. Expenditure as compared with the budget for the financial year from 1.4.1973 to 31.3.1974 and budget for the financial year from 1.4.1974 to 31.3.1975 EXPENDITURE Budget 1973/74 Expenditure 1973/74 Budget 1974/75 00 Salaries 140 000.00 119 390.50 Travel costs and expenses for delegates 160 000.00 227 308.87 Post, telephone and telegrams 20 000.00 41 118.70 Office rental, lighting, heating and cleaning 22 000.00 * 42 504.80 145 000.00 160 000.00 30 000.00 22.000.00 Printed matter and stationery 8 000.00 11 146.10 Representation Publications Insurance Pensions 14.000.00 24 394.80 10 000.00 15 000.00 • 80 000.00 81 802.70 80 000.00 2 6 000.00 38 000.00 Office machinery and furniture, equipment, maintenance and repair Conferences Regional activities and organisation campaigns ICFTU/ IFBWW International Housing Committee. 20 000.00 70 000.00 320 000.00 • 10 000.00 Translations 20 000.00 . Miscellaneous. Bank charges Reserve, Congress 1975 1 000.00 2 000.00 100 000.00 1 031 000.00 4 078.19 100 000.00 1 168 090.23 8 000.00 40 000.00 6.000.00 100 000.00 330 000.00 20 000.00 1000.00 2 000.00 100 000.00 1 069 000.00 7 074.85 30 647.35 33 170.10 108 528.25 328 812.62 7 801.90 309.95 * for two years ziri rud isinatem sollto saf not bon hsqmos 319 bris 100.000 01. 200irlosmatto to ober ed blujos nodols ir to 121 Explanations concerning the budget for the period of 1.4.1974 to 31.3.1975 topbud brit diw begmos as stutibox ate topbud bris After careful examination and thorough discussion the Committee of Auditors has fixed the following amounts under the various items in the budget 1. Salaries.. 145 000.00 2. Travel costs and expenses for delegates 3. Post, telephone and telegrams 4. Office rental, lighting, heating and cleaning • 5. Printed matter and stationery 6. Representation 7. Publications • 8. Insurance 9. Pensions 10. 11. Office machinery and furniture, equipment, maintenance and repair. Conferences 12. 13. 14. 15. Regional activities and organisation campaigns. Translations Miscellaneous. Bank charges 16. Reserve, Congress 1975 00 160 000.00 30 000.00 22 000.00 10 000.00 15 000.00 80 000.00 8 000.00 40 000.00 6 000.00 100 000.00 330 000.00 20 000.00 1 000.00 2 000.00 100 000.00 Sw.fr. 1 069 000.00 168 1. Salary expenditures were raised, feebly, in the budget, as one has to consider a salary rise for the General Secretary, with a retroactive effect. Besides, the Committee of Auditors supposed that the Management Committee would accept the recommendation of the Committee of Auditors to engage an assistant to the General Secretary. As this will probably not happen before the 1 of October 1974, the salary costs for this person are counted only for a half a year. 2. The allowances amount to the same sum as in the budget for 1973/74. No rise is expected during the current financial year. 3. As a considerable rise of the postage- telephone and telex- expenditures is announced as from the 1 of July 1974, the sum has increased by Sw.frs. 10 000.00. 4. The amount of Sw.frs. 22 000.00 corresponds to the expenditures of last year. A rise of electricity costs is not expected and the heating costs include a rent increase from last year. The salary expenditures for the cleaninglady have indeed gone up since last year, but it is expected that only a slight rise is going to be seen during this financial year. 5. A slight increase of Sw.frs. 2 000.00 was made for printed matters and office material. 6. The allocation for representation corresponds almost to that of the previous year. It was raised by Sw.frs. 1 000.00. 7. The allocation for publications corresponds to that of the previous year. 8. An increase of Sw.frs. 2 000.00 was made in the allocation for insurances. This was necessary as the factual costs during last year amounted to Sw.frs. 7 100.00. 9. As present pensions expenditures amounted to Sw.frs. 30 647.00 for the previous financial year, the allocation had to be raised by Sw.frs. 10 000.00 for the current year, with the expected increasing salaries taken into consideration, and in accordance to that, the increasing pension liabilities, as well as the pension fund for colleague Le- Svedberg, as from the 1 of August, 1974. 10. Considering that no renovation works or supply of office machines were planned for the current financial year, a considerable reduction of this allocation could be made, if compar122 ed with the previous year. The allocation was settled to Sw.frs. 6 000.00. This sum includes the provision of an electronic calculating machine( Olivetti). 11. The Committee of Auditors was of the opinion that an allocation of Sw.frs. 100 000.00 was necessary for the Youth Conference that will take place in June 1974, in Stockholm, and which is supposed to cost between Sw.frs. 50 000.00 and 60 000.00. The remaining sum is set aside for the execution of records proceedings from conferences of the Committees on Woodworkers- Europe- and Building in January- February 1974. 12. The Committee of Auditors is counting on an income of Sw.frs. 1 060 000.00 in the current year. Consideration is accordingly taken to the decision of the Ostende Congress which, in keeping with the Statutes, decided to raise the allocations as from 1 of January 1975 by Sw.frs. 5.00 per 100 members; that is from Sw.frs. 45.00 to 50.00 per 100 members. As Sw.frs. 15.00 per 100 members is set aside for the activities in the developing countries and for assistance to trade unions in special cases, as said in the Statutes, an amount of Sw.frs. of 330 000.00 was assigned for this purpose. 13. In spite of the fact that the costs for translations during the previous financial year only were Sw.frs. 7 800.00,( a considerable part of the expenditures had been budgeted under the heading conferences), even for this year Sw.frs. 20 000.00 was set aside. A raise in the tariffs of translation and an increase of translations are expected. 14. For other expenditures even this year, Sw.frs. 1 000.00 was set aside. 15. The Committee of Auditors considers Sw.frs. 2 000.00 to be a suitable sum for the bankprovisions. 16. An amount of Sw.frs. 100 000.00 was reserved for the 14th Congress of the IFBWW 1975, in Stockholm. The balance ends up with a sum of Sw.frs. 1 060 000.00 and shows then a small deficit of Sw.frs. 9 000.00. The Committee of Auditors recommends a withdrawal from the fortune reserves of the IFBWW to cover this deficit, with the purpose of presenting a balanced budget to the Management Committee and to the Executive Committee. These comments to the budget are part of the Report of the Committee of Auditors, presented on April 27, 1974. on bad 123 Report of the Committee of Auditors for the year 1973/1974 In keeping with article 21 of the Statutes of the International Federation of Building and Woodworkers, the Committee of Auditors met on the 26th and 27th of April 1974, in order to audit the financial and business administration of the secretariat, i.e. the General Secretary, for the financial year April 1, 1973 to March 31, 1974. Present from the Committee of Auditors: Armin Frei, Erling Johansen, Gerhard Vater. as Auditor: A.A. Lawder. from the Secretariat: John Löfblad, General Secretary, Birgitta Le- Svedberg, Secretary- translator, Jeanette Angst, Secretary. ' The annual accounts for 1973/74 as terminated on March 31, 1974 were examined in detail by the Auditor. According to him receipts and vouchers existed for all payments and all expenditures corresponded to the Statutes of the Federation and to the decisions of the Executive Committee and the Management Committee, All information was willingly furnished. The Committee of Auditors checked the financial and business situation by sample examinations of the receipts and vouchers. At the beginning of the meeting the General Secretary submitted a report of the activities. In this connection the Committee of Auditors was of the opinion, that a better control over the activities and the expenditures of the different regions was necessary, as the expenditures amounted to approximately Sw.frs. 329 000.00 during the previous financial year, sum that corresponds to one third of the total income of the Federation. The Committee of Auditors noted with satisfaction that a better supervision of the dues payments from member organisations had been realised in conformity with a request from last year's meeting; the Federation had not, though, received all the means that are necessary to carry out all its important tasks. The Secretariat was therefore requested to pay a most urgent attention to the restitution of the expenditures corresponding to the Statutes and to see to it that the member organisations settle their financial obligations in a decent way. The annual accounts 1973/74 closed with a loss of Sw.frs. 160 973.12, instead of a budgeted loss of Sw.frs. 71 000.00. Accordingly, even the fortune of the Federation is reduced. The changes in the funds are clearly shown in the balance. The following headings show the most considerable budget instalments for 1973/74. Salaries Sw.frs. 20 609.50. - The engagement of a secretary, which was anticipated to the 1 of January 1974, had not been executed due to conditions on the Swiss labour market. Travel expenditures and allowances+ Sw.frs. 67 308.87. - The exceptional activity that has been performed by the organs and authorities of the Federation also has contributed to correspondent extra costs. Postage, telephone and telegram+ Sw.frs. 21 118.70. These extra costs appeared in connection with the different committee meetings and with a rise of the postage rates. Rent, lighting, heating and cleaning+ 20 504.80. The rent is now paid one year in advance, that is for 1973/74, for two years. The extra costs for representation( Sw.frs. 10 394.80) and for conferences( Sw.frs. 38 528.25) are due to committee- meetings and to the Third ILO Tripartite Technical Meeting for the Woodworking Industries. Office machines, office material, maintenance and repairs+ Sw.frs. 13 170.10. The office renovations contributed to these extra costs. The Committee of Auditors discussed different administrative problems, too. 124 We wish to thank the General Secretary and his collaborators for the work accomplished in the year to the complete satisfaction of the Committee of Auditors and the responsible organs of the Federation. Geneva, 27 April, 1974 00.000 08 00.30T COS 00.01 60.000 00.000 EBT 0.00 03. 00.000 01.0938 00: 000 008 21230 TOP 00.000.001 21.838 YOR 00.000.000 125 Armin Frei Erling Johansen Gerhard Vater Consolidated balance as per 31st March, 1975 ACCOUNTS 1974-1975 EXPENDITURE Statutory regional activities • Publications and documentations Budget 296 725.00 330 000.00 Publications, ordinary. 126 438.00 Congress publications and documents for the Executive Committee. 161 270.00 287 708.00 80 000.00 Delegations and representation Delegations 118 084.42 Representations 27 847.45 145 931.87 175 000.00 Translations, ordinary 12 753.40 20 000.00 Staff expenditure Salaries.. 159 540.35 Allocations for pension fund 53 407.80 Other social allocations 28 420.65 Pensions Miscellaneous. 10 296.30 698.40 252 363.50 193 000.00 Office charges Postages Telephone, telegrams and telex Bank charges. . Office material and printed matters 9 440.40 18 249.25 • 1 744.20 7 543.95 Books, documents and news papers 1 216.60 Machines and furniture. 3 404.20 Insurances 1 530.40 Office rent, light, heating and cleaning 6 621.50 Miscellaneous. 4 770.20 54 520.70 71 000.00 Conferences Congress 1975, reserve. Other conferences Mortage( loss of change) 100 000.00 207 955.15 307 955.15 200 000.00 53 526.15 1 411 483.77 1 069 000.00 - 126 RECEIPTS Contributions Europe. North America South America Africa Asia. Australia 851 458.83 113 322.55 21 351.89 706.30 900.00 1 350.00 989 089.57 Interests Bank interests. 15 782.25 Interests on mortgage Other receipts. Deficit 1974/75. 00: 000005 08.800 S7 00.000 ST 34.880 B 28.000 105 00.025 to 50.02x.rex 00.008.08 20.20 rec BATE STA 85.80 8 180 BES 127 39 732.10 55 514.35 2 423.57 364 456.28 1 411 483.77 Balance per 31st March, 1975 ASSETS Cash. Banks BCC, Geneva; current- account inoitudino A A 23 812.50 375 019.00 BCC, Geneva; deposit account 250 000.00 Arbejdernes Landsbank, Kopenhagen; current- account 166 748.25 791 767.25 Debtors. 123 753.87 Securities • . Mortgages( Høyer, Kopenhagen) Machines and furnitures Deferred charges.. 20 000.00 193 181.25 1.00 85 575.40 1 238 091.27 LIABILITIES Solidarity funds Finland. . B Greece Chile, allocation. Special fund contributions of the affiliates payments Fund for regional activities Balance per 1.4.1974 + Scandinavian allocation for Latinamerica. + Swedish allocation for Latinamerica + Swedish allocation for Africa.. + Statutory allocation... Payments for Africa Latinamerica Spain • Asia.. Reserve for the Congress 1975 Deferred receipts .. General fund( fortune) Balance per 1.4.1974 Deficit 1974/75. . Geneva, 17th April, 1975 128 14 248.97 22 628.69 12 000.00 48 877.66 203 307.04 9 038.45 194 268.59 201 090.82 31 250.00 171 360.00 61 324.20 296 725.00 791 750.02 97 611.95 230 468.30 60 800.00 2 555.00 391 435.25 370 314.77 200 000.00 12 098.80 776 987.73 364 456.28 412 531.45 1 238 091.27 IFBWW Regional Office in Africa Summary cash account for the period 1st January, 1974- 31st March, 1975 in Swiss francs PAYMENTS Salaries.. Housing allowance Delegation expenses and hotel charges Transport charges including taxis Postages, telephone and telegrams " D Rent of office, lighting and cleaning Office machines, furnitures and fittings Printing and stationery.. Aid to unions including seminars Representation Bank charges • • RECEIPTS From Head Office in Geneva. Refunds of office rent from IMF and FIET • Balance.. 129 20 205.00 2 228.08 18 153.26 11 629.12 2 248.94 7 155.00 4 556.59 1 157.56 4 770.00 68.94 132.12 72 304.61 67 290.25 4 680.00 334.36 72 304.61 IFBWW Latin America Statement of income and expenditure net for the period 1st January, 1974- 31st December 1974 EXPENDITURE Salaries. Delegation expenses, fares and hotel allowances Postages, telephone, telegrams and telex • B Office furniture and fitments. Balance.. INCOME IFBWW. Constructional Workers' Union, Argentina ILO contribution Swedish international development authority 2TM3MYA9 94 363.02 36 259.51 3 623.35 4 716.35 61 226.70 200 188.93 153 327.58 17 572.91 68 750.00 27 672.94 96 422.94 87919038 Less: Miscellaneous expenses, including seminars, representation, transport, bank commission and exchange rates 67 134.50 29 288.44 130 200 188.93 Budget for the period 1st April, 1975 until 31st March, 1976 EXPENDITURE Statutory regional activities Publications and documentations ACCOUNTS 1974/75 296 725.00 440 000.00 Publications, ordinary 126 438.00 100 000.00 Congress publications and documents for the Executive Committee. 161 270.00 120 000.00 220 000.00 Delegations and representation Delegations Representation Translations, ordinary Staff expenditure 118 084.42 100 000.00 27 847.45 20 000.00 120 000.00 12 753.40 10 000.00 Salaries.. 159 540.35 210 000.00 Allocations for pension fund. 53 407.80 60 000.00 Other social allocations 28 420.65 35 000.00 Pensions 10 296.30 Hagen, Esther. 8 000.00 B Larsen, Oluf Westh, Grete Muino, Manuel Miscellaneous. Office charges Postages . B 1 100.00 600.00 1 000.00 698.40 1 000.00 316 700.00 9 440.40 13 000.00 Telephone, telegrams and telex 18 249.25 22 000.00 Bank charges 1 744.20 2 000.00 Office material and printed matters 7 543.95 10 000.00 Books, documents and news papers 1 216.60 1 500.00 Machines and furniture. 3 404.20 5 000.00 Insurances 1 530.40 1 500.00 Office rent, light, heating and cleaning 6 621.50 30 000.00 Miscellaneous. 4 770.20 6 000.00 91 000.00 Conferences Congress 1975 . Other conferences Mortage( loss of change) RECEIPTS Contributions. Interests Other receipts. Deficit.. Geneva, 18th April, 1975 131 100 000.00 207 955.15 100 000.00 110 000.00 53 526.15 210 000.00 0.00 1411 483.77 1 407 700.00 989 089.57 55 514.35 2 423.57 364 456.28 1411 483.77 1 265 000.00 33 000.00 2.000.00 107 700.00 1407 700.00 Explanations concerning the IFBWW budget, 1.4.1975 31.3.1976 I General Remarks Revenues over the last financial year are estimated at around 1 300 000 Swiss francs; budgetary expenditure of 1 407 000 Sfr. over the same period resulted in a deficit of 107 000 Sfr. It should be stressed that the draft budget presented here is based on the assumption that an increase in affiliation fees to 65 Swiss centimes per member per year as of 1.1.1976 will be accepted by Congress this August. A considerable portion of our revenues are earmarked for activities in the developing countries. The possibility of expanding activities in other areas is limited. Projected expenses in the draft budget will once again exceed income. These expenses have been calculated on the basis of the assumption that affiliation fees will be considerably increased. A cutback in expenditure should be avoided if the International wishes to maintain its present level of activities. II Items of Expenditure A. Ordinary Publications While every effort has been made to remain within the limits of the budget, it is inevitable that higher costs will be incurred in the publication of the news bulletin, due to increases in labour costs and in the price of paper. B. Publications and Documentation for Congress, the Executive Committee As 1975 is a Congress year, the printing of documents for that occasion will lead to considerable expense. C. Delegations and Representation Since expenses for the meeting of the Executive Committee fall under the item" Conferences", we propose an outlay of 100 000 Sfr. for this part of our activity. This sum will pay for the meetings of the Management Committee and for representation at congresses and conferences. An effort should be made to stay within the limits of this figure. As for representation, a figure of 20 000 Sfr. is proposed. This is less than the 28 000 Sfr. spent last year but 5 000 Sfr. more than the 15 000 Sfr. targeted in the last budget. As in the past, this figure would cover the salary of the President as well as certain supplementary expenses. D. Ordinary Translations Experience this year has shown that the figure of 10 000 Sfr. will suffice for these purposes. E. Staff Wage Bill, Fringe Benefits Wages The secretariat in Geneva now employes four full- time staff members, following the engagement on 1.2.1975 of Bruce Vandervort as assistant to the general secretary. This number will probably remain the same after the Congress. Payments to the Retirement Fund Our increase in staff will lead to higher expenses for these purposes, as the payments are calculated on the basis of percentage of wages. Other Social Costs See" Retirement Fund" above. Pensions An increase in Mrs. Hagen's pension is planned. 132 F. Office Expenses Postage 1975 being a Congress year, expenses for postage will be higher; a figure of 13 000 Sfr. is therefore proposed. Telephone, Telegrams, Telex Telephone rates having been increased considerably in Switzerland in the past year, a figure of 22 000 Sfr. is proposed. Rent, Electricity, Heat, Cleaning As all of these items of expenditure either have or will affected by inflation, a figure of 30 000 Sfr. is proposed. G. Conferences 1975 Congress 100 000 Sfr.: Taking into account sums set aside over the two previous years, we have 300 000 Sfr. at our disposal for the Congress expenses. This amount should suffice, even if inflation increases the final sum required. Other Conferences Henceforth, Executive Committee expenses will be listed under this item of expenditure. The expenses for the June 1974 Executive Committee meeting in Dublin reached 96 000 Sfr. and it would therefore be unreasonable to expect lower costs for these purposes this year. The figure of 110 000 Sfr. will cover expenses for three meetings of the Executive Committee in the coming year. Geneva, April 18, 1975 133 John Löfblad, General Secretary Report of the Committee of Auditors for the year 1974-1975 In accordance with Article 21 of the Statutes of the International Federation of Building and Woodworkers, the Committee of Auditors met on April 17 to 19, 1975 to examine the accounts of the secretariat and of the General Secretary for the period of April 1, 1974 to March 31, 1975. Participating in the auditing were: from the Committee of Auditors: Armin Frei, Erling Johansen as Auditor: A.A. Lawder from the Secretariat: John Löfblad, General Secretary, Jeannette Angst, Secretary, Birgitta LeSvedberg, Secretary- Translator. Absent due to illness: Gerhard Vater, of Committee of Auditors The annual accounts for 1974/75 as closed on March 31, 1975 were examined in detail by the Committee of Auditors. The examination was also extended to include activities carried out in Africa and Latin America. In the view of the Committee, receipts and vouchers existed for all payments and all expenditures corresponded to the Statutes of the Federation and to the decisions of the Executive Committee and the Management Committee. All necessary information was willing furnished. The Committee of Auditors checked the financial and business situation by spot checks of the receipts and vouchers. At the beginning of the meeting, the General Secretary presented an activities report which led the auditors to observe that expenditures for certain items in the budget had exceeded previsions. In order to have the additional information necessary for an examination of the accounts, the auditors had reviewed the African and Latin American activities reports. It was noted that this is not the task of the Committee of Auditors but, rather, falls within the purview of the Management and Executive Committees. The auditors also observed that reports are received regularly from the Latin American office. It was hoped that the same would eventually be true for Africa and called upon the General Secretary to transmit its concern on this score to the African Regional Representative. A financial report on activities in these two regions is attached to this report. The Committee noted with satisfaction that a better supervision of dues payments from member organizations had been achieved. It directed the secretariat to draw the attention of affiliated organizations to the importance of acquitting their financial obligations. The accounts for the year 1974/75 show a deficit of 364 456.28 Swiss francs( the deficit for the previous year was 160 973.12 Sfr.). An error which appeared after the closing of the accounts brought the deficit to 379 456.28 Sfr. The Federation's reserves rose to 412 531.45 Sfr. as of March 31, 1975 and after correction of the error noted above stood at 397 531.45 Sfr. The Committee underscored the fact that the reserves of the Federation have declined to such a point that the future activities of the organization have been put in jeopardy. An increase in affiliation fees after January 1, 1976 thus seems crucial unless a limitation of IFBWW activities is wanted. The Committee has submitted a proposal on this matter to the Management and Executive Committees and to Congress. Considerable differences will be noted among the following budgetary items. A detailed comparison between the budget and the accounts will be possible only after 1975/76, due to changes in the system of accounting. Expenses Regional Activities - Sfr. 33 275.00. A drop in the number of paying members resulted in decreased expenditure for regional activities. 134 Publications and Documentation + Sfr. 207 708.00 Growth in the activities of the Geneva secretariat plus rising prices led to a considerable increase in expenses. It would seem that this was not taken into account in the preparation of the 1974/75 budget. The bulk of the expenses were made during 1973/74 and would therefore have to figure in the budget for that year. - Delegation and Representation Sfr. 29 068.13 0.0 The expenses incurred for the Executive Committee meeting are entered under the item" Conferences", which has reduced the expenses foreseen under the present item. The expenses registered under the item" Conferences" increased by the same amount. Wage Bill, Fringe Benefits + Sfr. 59 363.50 The Swedish affiliates have drawn up a bill for the services rendered by Brother J.-E. Norling, which had not been foreseen at the time of the preparation of the budget and had not therefore been taken into account. Payments into the Retirement Fund increased by 13 407.80 Sfr. Office Expenses - Sfr. 16 479.30 As rent for 1974/75 had been paid in advance, no expenses were incurred under that item this year, even though provision was made for them in the budget. Conferences + Sfr. 107 955.15 Henceforth, expenses for Executive Committee meetings will be entered under this heading. In addition, outlay for the Stockholm Youth Conference was higher than expected. Depreciation( losses in currency exchange value) + Sfr. 53 526.15 These expenses were not budgeted. The Danish and Swedish bank accounts lost value due to an unfavorable rate of exchange. Income Affiliation Fees - Sfr. 70 910.43 Taking into account 15 000 Sfr. for 1975/76 which were included in the accounts for 1974/75, the real reduction in fees amounts to 85 910.43 Sfr. It should be noted once again that the payment of fees by certain affiliated organizations still leaves much to be desired and that it would appear that this problem is impossible to solve. It should also be noted that 86.1 percent of all fees paid come from European affiliates and that, therefore, the long- term financial problems of the IFBWW can be solved only through an increase in the payment of fees by our European affiliates. The increase in affiliation fees proposed by the Management Committee would, if membership remains at 2.2 million, result in a deficit of 107 700.00 Sfr. The Committee of Auditors believes that it is necessary to balance the budget for 1975/76. The budget proposed is of the barebones variety and there is no further possibility of saving money. The Committee particularly wishes to draw attention to the fact that as of March 1975 the IFBWW will have 412 531.45 Sfr., 397 531.45 Sfr. of which will be available to finance International activities. At the same, funds for financing activities in the developing countries will rise to 370 314.77 Sfr. For this reason, the Committee of Auditors proposes that allocations for regional activities not be increased and that affiliation fees be raised to 70 Sfr. per member per year after 1.1.1976 so as to arrive at a balanced budget for 1975/76. 135 Thus, the 1975/76 accounts would end up with a balance of 57 300 Sfr., after several years of deficits. It should be underscored, however, that the figure of 2.2 million members is a maximum. The Committee of Auditors submits the following proposal to the Management and Executive Committees and to Congress: Affiliation fees Regional activities to 1.1.1975 1.1.1976 1.1.1977 1.1.1978 50.00 70.00 75.00 80.00 15.00 15.00 20.00 20.00 35.00 55.00 55.00 60.00 The Committee notes, finally, that it is the General Secretary and the members of the Management Committee who are responsible for supervision of the budget insofar as other bodies of the International are concerned and expresses the hope that differences between the budget and actual expenses, such as experienced this year, will not recur. We thank the General Secretary and the secretariat staff for the work they accomplished over the past year, which was carried out to the satisfaction of the Committee of Auditors and the responsible bodies of the International. Geneva, April 19, 1975 Armin Frei Erling Johansen A A 2101ibuA to 9arfimmo ed oss air 307 ad aset noitedite jer Jspbud beorisied 03 26 02 136 A 4 4 . 4 t ' IBBH IFBWWW. FITBB 137 IBTU FITCM MOTI Printed in Switzerland 138 Centimetres Inches 2 3 5 7 8 2 Color chart 3 6 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de Grey Black Blue Cyan Green Yellow Red Magenta White # C9C9FF # 0000FF # C0E5FC # 009FFF # 759675 # 008B00 # FFFFC7 # FFFF00 # FFC9C9 # FF0000 # FFC9FF # FF00FF #FFFFFF # 9D9E9E # D9DADA # 5B5B5B # 000000 2 Centimetres Inches 3 5 9 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 3 Grayscale 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 100% 50% CYM Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de 789 910 10 11 11 12 13 14 18% 0% IBBH IFBWWW. IBTU FITBB FITCM