INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FREE TEACHERS' UNIONS REPORT ON ACTIVITIES 1972-1975 Z 8727 11th World Congress Florence, 17-20 December 1975 NTRODUCTION. 2 8727 In presenting Congress with a report on activities and results achieved in the past years, the rapporteur is being requested to exercise one of his most precious prerogatives. Friedric bert- Stuftuale * Bibliothek It is a matter of giving an objective picture rations under the overall programme during the per review, and to assess the measure in which our exec dies have been able and successful in advancing the vancing the rungamental demands of teachers' trade unionism. The period under review has been marked by a dramatic world- wide confrontation of opinion, with all aspects of social and economic problems All the major issues which have been brought to the fore of public opinion have been included for a long time in various degrees, in the programme and demands of our teachers' trade union movement. The Florence Congress will to start working out its various forward programmes for the years 1976-1978 in a climate of tension affecting both the workers' world, and teachers circles. The Congress should- perhaps more than ever before- be a source of constructive inspiration, and indicate IFFTU's possible positions and activities in all the major issues of the international trade union struggle. The task behind us has been very extensive, and has included all major points in our trade union doctrine: defence of human rights, in solidarity with the workers, i.a. in those countries where claims under the right to work and individual human dignity are anachronistically ignored, or transgressed, or even prosecuted; devoting the International's best resources to the promotion of the teachers' condition which, in terms of sheer equity, should include the absolute guarantee of the right to work; promotion of the development of education, by insuring equal opportunities and rights in respect of general and professional training, and access to the profession; participating, at all levels, in decisions on all matters under our competence; activities, in all the parts of the Third World, conducted in a truly human and social spirit, with a view to organizing the educational resources available in these regions, in terms of free Z 8727 Σ 8J5J плов $ 145 * INTRODUCTION. * TUO In presenting Congress with a report on activities and results achieved in the past years, the rapporteur is being requested to exercise one of his most precious prerogatives. It is a matter of giving an objective picture of operations under the overall programme during the period under review, and to assess the measure in which our executive bodies have been able and successful in advancing the fundamental demands of teachers' trade unionism. The period under review has been marked by a dramatic world- wide confrontation of opinion, with all aspects of social and economic problems. All the major issues which have been brought to the fore of public opinion have been included for a long time, in various degrees, in the programme and demands of our teachers' trade union movement. The Florence Congress will to start working out its various forward programmes for the years 1976-1978 in a climate of tension affecting both the workers' world, and teachers' circles. The Congress should- perhaps more than ever before- be a source of constructive inspiration, and indicate IFFTU's possible positions and activities in all the major issues of the international trade union struggle. The task behind us has been very extensive, and has included all major points in our trade union doctrine: defence of human rights, in solidarity with the workers, i.a. in those countries where claims under the right to work and individual human dignity are anachronistically ignored, or transgressed, or even prosecuted; devoting the International's best resources to the promotion of the teachers' condition which, in terms of sheer equity, should include the absolute guarantee of the right to work; promotion of the development of education, by insuring equal opportunities and rights in respect of general and professional training, and access to the profession; participating, at all levels, in decisions on all matters under our competence; activities, in all the parts of the Third World, conducted in a truly human and social spirit, with a view to organizing the educational resources available in these regions, in terms of free - II- trade unionism%; acting, in all respects, for prosperity benefiting to all workers, i. e. for progress on all fronts, for undiscriminated, greater happiness, freedom, and fraternity among all workers. Our development and impact. B BIC I On the eve of the 25th. anniversary of IFFTU's constitution, a true spirit of free trade unionism is pervading teachers' ranks in all continents. The re- activation of our International, decided at the memorable Florence Congress ten years ago, in 1966, has been achieved. We now can assess the magnitude of our progress. ue b It has Our International, today, is a recognised power. to be taken into account, at every important international level. The IFFTU no longer is a minority, in terms of numbers, in the eyes of public opinion, or official institutions. The integration of our endeavours in the context of free trade unionist solidarity exerts a powerful attraction at all levels of our profession. This explains spectacular and world- wide expansion of the IFFTU. Because we do not want to disappoint this growing convergence of teachers' concerns and hopes around our aims, we have taken the risk- despite our modest means- to act, at all levels, in the manner of a major trade union international. This was achieved by constant and continuous underscoring of IFFTU's trade union features, in our dealings with official bodies. We have been supported in this by other free workers' organizations. It gave us access to the major, inter- govemmental, specialized agencies, where today we are being credited with an authority and efficiency that no other sectorial association can achieve. T The authentic trade union doctrine, as exemplified in IFFTU, is exerting today a powerful attraction on all teachThis is largely due to increased lucidity, energy, and confidence, generated by solidarity with all the workers. ers. Our programme is attracting an increasing number of organizations, all over the world. This is admirably reflected in the physical composition of our Congress. veb The Secretariat hereby presents the balance of activi- bos ties conducted in overall, short- term conditions, in accordance with the spirit and doctrine we have just evoked, but also with the- frequently increased support of affiliated organizations, and within the limits of material resources that are not commensurate with the multiple, and expensive tasks. - III- bais! This report covers the main sectors of activities as laid down by the Vienna, 1972 statutory Congress:: information, action for the development of education, defence and promotion of the teachers' condition, development of world- wide prosperity, regionalization of our activities, and consolidation of trade union unity. Pole It attempts to outline an objective appraisal of the overall programme's implementation during the last three years. It also describes initiatives taken by the Secretariat, under the guidance and authority of the Executive Committee, in the context of the said overall directives. An Era of major upheavals. Our International's endeavours towards democratic trade unionism for all teachers in undivided solidarity with all workers are justified by the revolutionary features of the scientific, technological, economic, and social evolution that is taking place today. We are witnessing upheavals in all social structures, radical changes in production and training methods, constant variations in levels and ways of life, decisive break- throughs in programmation, planning, and forward planning in all sectorial activities. Teachers are aware that they are involved, like other workers, in such a revolutionary process. They are workers just like the other workers%; they are at other people's service, like the other workers are at theirs. They know very well that it is nowadays impossible to isolate the interests of a single profession, but that other people's interests must be taken into account, and that solidarity and mutual support must prevail. IUC Conda A central feature in the current evolution is the essential importance and role of science, research, training, and education in economic and social progress. This brings a statement in focus, which has always been included in our trade union doctrine: teachers have a fundamental social function. They are basic public service workers. Their condition, therefore, must be considered and handled in these terms, when it comes to legislating and ruling on their working conditions, their security, freedom, and dignity. conteste The teacher's profile no longer is the stereotype profile of a person isolated from the changes and conflicts in the present world. His determination and claim to participation stem from the necessity for presenting his views in the context of current demands. 858 - IV- His awareness, and determination to act, have been stimulated by the past ten years of educational reform, and by his all too often disappointed expectations. That is giving teachers' trade unionism an added dimension. ziedosed and to noit Our International took an important turn by proposing, in general terms, its choices aimed- all of them- at improving the quality of life. It has opposed all forms of injustice, and has promoted a greater measure of collective prosperity by demanding, with the utmost vigour, consolidation of trade union unity and solidarity between the ICFTU and the International Trade Secretariats. DW Our interventions pertained to the most urgent problems in the world crisis: determination to exert social control over the multinational corporations; demands for maintaining full employment; international trade union action against inflation, and vigorous protest against the allegation that unemployment deliberately must be increased, in order to contain inflation; denunciation of the widening gap between rich and poor countries; solidarity with migrant workers; determination to participate in draft reforms in working conditions; joint action of the whole free trade union movement to assess progress in workers' participation in enterprises%; opposition to all forms of nuclear tests.... Ibs. Such are some of the lines of attack taken by the Secretariat in the past year for an effective consolidation of solidarity among all workers. All our claims- for social justice, prosperity, and quality of life- are being merged into the huge human demands of the free organized workers. The content of our Congress resolutions shows that our International no longer is presenting mere, or almost exclusive material demands, as was the case in the heroic days of the destitute proletariate. The teachers' condition is still affected by a great number of inequalities, even of iniquities, in certain countries, in matters of material and moral rights, equivalences in salary rates, and trade union rights. We have the right and duty to seek from the authorities a revision of their anachronistic and obstinately discriminatory attitude on these issues. The teacher, however, is convinced that trade union victories in these matters, however essential they may be, can be only short- term successes, which fall short of a total fulfilment of its deepest aspirations in the context of the world of today and to- morrow. q ve - V- - • There is the real motivation for the present inter- continental rally round our round our International's programme. It not be only entails the unavoidable- achievement of our tradi- and tional trade union goals. It also is trying to transpose, in a more or less long- term plan for pragmatic action, the deepest awareness and determination of all the teachers. Developing IFFTU Secretariat resources. to It would be unfair to over- stress, in a short report, the increasing difficulties experienced by the Secretariat. Everybody knows that IFFTU's persistent, modest means are out of proportion with the volume and multiplicity of the tasks constitutionally conferred to our International. This is a factual situation, on which Congress should rule and decide, once and for all. The achievements of the past, and the promises of the future, are at stake. Having reached the present stage of its progress, perseverance, and increased efforts are our International's duty. The Secretariat has been faced, in the last three years, with the full measure of its highly diversified and complex mission. It has tried to overcome the inadequacy of its present means, and to make full use of its energy, imaginative ressources and practical good sense, in the awareness of its numerous responsibilities. The Secretariat would express the hope that Congress might consider an increase in its resources, SO as to enable the International to fulfil the obligations consequential upon its rapid expansion. Conclusion. All teachers throughout the world because of their raison d'être of being teachers and educators, in the full sense of the term, want, in the first place, to participate fully, technically, directly, and continuously, in the structural transformation of their professional sector. They want this to be done in a well thought- out, long- term perspective, avoiding the dangerous chimaera of a snobbish contestation as- any- price, but on the basis of the fundamental, human interests of the working masses, in terms of an overall education and professional training consistent with current and future requirements. In parallel, they - VI- the importance and dignity of their profession to be recognised, as well as their full right to benefit, everywhere, from the legal protection granted to other workers. As a further essential requirement, they will struggle to the end, together with all other workers, against any form whatsoever of social iniquity, and for the peaceful establishment of a gest world- wide society, without classes of privileged and less privileged people. 11 11 a boog body: sv] add diw noi a to duo m add .no I Can sho 8190 no Jud q be no 20 ne CHAPTER I. U * *** ** ACTION FOR DEVELOPING EDUCATION. 39000 ATIVES Before reviewing the actions conducted by the International Federation of Free Teachers' Unions( IFFTU), it may be useful to recall the resolutions endorsed by the 10th Congress ( Vienna, July 17-20, 1972). Jeom ni We underscored the urgent need for the acceleration of a thorough and rational renovation of all educational systems. The principles underlying this renovation were outlined as follows: - democratization of education and university structures so as to insure equal opportunities to all, and to establish. permanent education; noiz beyolla planification of a balance between social and economic components on the one hand, and humanistic factors insuring the free development of individual resources on the other hand; nl bos recourse, in less- developed or utterly destitute countries, best to advanced educational methods with recognised rapid efficiency, aimed at a complete eradication of illiteracy and a full individual development. denied ai zo We demanded that education personnel at long last be fully associated in this task through its professional organisations, on the basis of an efficient statutory participation at all levels. .0030 10 I'm out подпор In addition, we demanded a formal recognition of IFFTU'S right to permanent participation at all levels of major specialized institutions. s bns Finally, we called upon free trade- unionism to cooperate in the development and renovation of educational systems, in exe terms commensurate with the fundamental, present and future and rights of all workers. 1 bos noldsoube BUD ania noidibno s 26w si We now will review the International's active policy, in order to obtain recognition for these principles in each of es the major specialized international organizations. .elesd insnsmiss no avijos need - 2- - I. ACTION AT THE LEVEL OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT( 0.E.C.D.). ywhere GBYJV30 803 MOBA end 13In the report to the 10th Congress we indicated the importance of a permanent representation in OECD's secretariat, because of the major significance of the organization. -sm The increased attention paid by OECD to matters of education and training is a well- established fact. OECD's constant thinking on the subject increasingly can influence in a precise direction projects for educational renovation now under scruting, or in the process of being implemented, in most of the member states. This, in its turn, explains why free trade unionism as a whole over the years has paid the closest attention, lest OECD's recommendations be excessively marked by the technocratic approach proper to the economic authorities that are so powerful in OECD. so powerful in OECD. Such an approach ultimately could be translated in terms of working conditions which would clash with the humanistic aspirations of educational workers, and with the hallowed rights of present and future generations of workers. ed sons eds to noi Iq We have unceasingly alerted educational organisations on the significance of OECD's initiatives, studies, projects, and intergovernmental recommendations in matters of renovation and stream- lining of educational and training systems, aimed at accelerating economic and social progress in industrialized countries. For years, OECD has been the adequate field of action for our international, and we enjoy there a position of authority which is the result of solidarity with all organized workers. s Js Is атед по be jard bebrsmeb.ew einspo Isnolees aji dovod as Bind ni bejbioas - Is Indeed, workers have obtained the right to be heard in OECD. Forty- two million of them, grouped in twenty- nine national trade union confederations from the Member states, are represented by a Trade Union Advisory Committee- the sole body qualified to promote, at that level, workers' interests 1 and aspirations( TUAC). .enoidutant besil adsns The IFFTU has obtained TUAC's effective support. Obtaining at least the right of active participation in all free discussions organized at specialized official levels on matters of education and training which are crucially important for the future was a condition sine qua non for our International. a'lenoldsmen s waiver Illw won ew To The TUAC has endorsed IFFTU's aims, and has set up, on July 3 and 4, 1972, its own specialized working group that has been active on a permanent basis. - 3- -qolev In this way our international has been able to drawn, from its authentic trade union strength, the numerical pressure force required to effectively promote its own qualitative demands. ube A first concrete result was rapidly obtained. AT ITS SESSION ON DECEMBER 11-13 1972, THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OECD'S SPECIALIZED BODY GROUPING GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL MEMBER STATES- DECIDED SYSTEMATICALLY TO HEAR, IN THE FUTURE, TUAC ON ALL MAJOR PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE WORKERS CONCERNED IN THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING. dosisasdi beria wod 9001 As soon as this was announced, the IFFTU's Secretary General inquired as to how teachers' participation could be organized. TUAC's Secretary General, and IFFTU's Secretary General jointly called on specialized OECD high officials in order to insure educators' participation in Education Committee activities related to such major issues as the educators' standing, re- current education, post- secundary education, and relations between education and employment. to a Through the" working group for education" we achieved one of the aims laid down in the resolutions of our 10th Congress: egna standing representative in the Organisation, and a participation on activities pertaining to reform and innovation in education. In this way we were able to keep constant watch over the questions under consideration in the services of OECD responsible for education.# 19 the The working group has been extremely active on current educational problems. Its interventions have been too numerous to be listed here. Trade union demands on OECD have been presented through three regular channels, viz.: 1. in sustained contacts with its secretariat 3B 2. srid en 3. to ives, through representations, by national organizations represented in TUAC, to their respective government; during numerous exchanges of views with the Liaison Committee of OECD's board of directors. laya ing group which wi11 to ca ation -4The working group, since 1972 was successful in developing with OECD's participation a series of activities aimed essentially at integrating working conditions, and at preparing authoritative decisions on such matters as the structuration of permanent education, the equilibrium to be achieved among the various national educational systems and the employment markets in the industrialized world, the restructuration of the educational profession, and the organization of OECD's international Conference on fundamental problems of higher education. ио AUT We now shall review these activities, in order to assess the significance of our action. It is the duty of free trade unionism to keep a constant watch on OECD level, and insure that workers' education, training and permanent re- cycling be planned, not only in terms of increased productivity and of capital interests, but first and foremost in order to grant to each worker the full right to develop his own personality at each stage of his life. Fields of interventions of the" working group education". endub 107 quip now" ed douzd quote on ste The fields of intervention have been both numerous and varied. Each of them was carefully prepared by several meetings and analysis of OECD proposals. The working group also dealt with OECD current, or planned activities. The main task was to identify the ideas justifying a concrete trade union contribution, or disserving trade union support. - 30. aup The working group's operations were based on the fol- a lowing fundamental principles: - ViemeIJXS gavidos vieme dxe need asd quop p GHT the first stage included the gathering, from the national centres, of actual data concerning the workers' needs and demands, the means used so far by the national centres, and the latter's experience, at their respective levels, in meeting such needs and satisfying such demands; the other task was to incite the trade union movement as a whole towards a more coherent definition of aims and methods in the field of education. AUT ni benga This meant a re- assessment of the educational task, as the very basis for economic and social development, and one of the most widely recognized and most significant characteristics of our time for short- and long- term determination of working conditions. ent be has - 5- The working group included experts from the major nationbebini al centres for education, representatives from the two Teachers' Internationals, the World Confederation of Teachers ( WCT), and ours, IFFTU. It focused on three major subjects which are of significant importance to the future of the active population: recurrent education, post- secundary education, and changes in the role of teachers. Ed -ub 1. ne s nei Recurrent education. oke phides1edI IBA From the very outset the working group unanimously agreed on the need for a subject to be researched and studied by priority. The group decided on a study in depth of recurrent education, its contents, conditions and ways of operation, and agreed to devote its next discussion to the experience gathered in France. Permanent education, attuned to basic education, should lead to greatly diversified activities, in terms of their respective nature, levels, and organization. It should have its own, adapted pedagogical methods, and qualified staff. Seconding the position developed by the IFFTU delegate, the working group made a clear distinction between permanent education, and professional education, since the former has to deal with rather different problems. The wish was expressed for an inquiry so as to find out to what extent the national centres were involved, and to make up a balance of research in permanent education. ow enT 7 auolzsved BV and to ebodjam bubs YIB The group was able to avail itself of a documentary basis made up from the conclusions resulting from its preliminary contacts with OECD specialists, and first and foremost, of the official report drafted, at the working group's request, by our friend L. LARSON, of the Swedish Trade Union Centre ( TCO). future of -40 D H good The trade union inquiry should encompass all interested organisations throughout the industrial world. The concept of recurrent education, indeed, requires a new approach to education as a whole, in both short and long term perspectives, in the light of the fundamental changes which the evolution in science and techniques is likely to cause in the levels and ways of life of active populations. Confronted as it is with a series of problems of such a magnitude, the educational trade union movement, with its own intellectual resources, and assured as it is of the support of all workers, should show both circumspection and initiative. The need is not for delays, but for suggesting solutions. In this context the working group came out in favour of priority to certain elements which will orient permanent education in the right direction, us sectors tional sys ; noldsoube slugog .noldsoube vibu ni pntonant? bns ginnsig - 6- such as, e.g., motivations among adults for whom it is intended, equilibrium to be achieved between recurrent education and predictable situations on the labour market, equal opportunities with regard to access to this new type of education, taking into account all the difficulties inherent in a return to schooling after a sojorn in work, and taking into account also problems specific to women. bnea Interesting exchanges of views took place with OECD's Educational Committee and Labour Committee. They showed that an active participation by trade union organisations in recurrent education is indispensable for a successful outcome of the system, and the implementation of its pressing social goals. Our task, on this level, continues, as examplified by our active presence in the group of experts that met in July 1975. These matters require sustained watching. be 2. Post- secundary education. Owp ed p The specialised" working group" had a broad exchange of views, as early as December 1972, with OECD's Secretariat. This contact led to direct and full trade union participation, on both sides, in the inter- governmental Conference held in June, 1973, on post- secundary education and its future structures. smaod The working group made analyses of the task and working methods of the various forms of post- secundary education, and the latter's re- structuration in the light of previsible evolutions in social and economic terms. This enabled the group to clarify the political choices which, in accordance with trade union doctrine, should govern such an overall re- structuration; the rational margins in which these choices should be situated; and the means for implementing them. - On June 25, 1973- the eve of the Conference trade union representatives held a meeting in Paris, in order to finalize their views and define a coherent and strong common trade union position on the various points to be treated in the debates. The meeting also enabled each of us to gather latest informations which reached us on that day, i.a. from trade union centres. The Conference dealt with the following major subjects: 19 Ile to do que end to es be od possibilities of access to post- secundary education and employment; and nI.enoidulcs onitssppus 101 Jud ev od ydinoliq to quovat ni duo emso quop onl -" non- traditional" forms of study in post- secundary educa- tion%; organization of studies, and role of research in higher popular education; - planning and financing in post- secundary education. - 7- Aim of the conference was to make a broad but indispensable reconnaissance, through a wide exchange of views in which, for each country, a major governmental delegation was participating, together with equally active groups representing both employers and workers. Nobody failed to notice the importance of increased workers participation, and that fact, in itself, was a winning point for trade union solidarity and for the validity of its educational strategy. The Secretary General of IFFTU was a member of the TUAC delegation, which expressed the concerns, expectations and demands of all workers in the industrialized countries, concerning the serious issues in matters of education and training. From 1974 onwards, and at that level, we have endeavoured through numerous contacts with OECD's educational committee- to steer the latter's activities towards an in- depth appraisal - on the one hand, of the access policy to post- secundary ter education, with special reference to the extent in which a large section of young working class people is leaving education; wen" on the other hand, of the changes in social and educational requirements, in order to detect changing attitudes towards post- secundary education. 3. Changes in the role of teachers. ng dp At its December, 1972, meeting, the OECD's Educational ant Committee decided to hold, also in 1974, an inter- governmental Conference on future changes in the functions of teachers.b The IFFTU, at that moment, was highly successful in obtaining full participation by national educational trade union organisations in these significant discussions for the long- term future of the profession. The TUAC accredited to OECD took good care to insure such a participation. In this context the President of IFFTU agreed personally. to study OECD reports presenting a synthesis of officially undertaken research, defining the problems, and the issue's political implications. jd spool Reviewing the analysis made by our President, the specialised working group was pleased to take notice of certain nome measures advocated in official reports, such as, i.a.: educators participation in research and development work; dom closer ties between theoretical and practical training; continued training for educators, even in the course of their career; reduction of the social gap between educators in the various sectors of the educational system. and nidjiw - 8- +509 In order further to improve the preparation of the Con- led, ference, the working group took the necessary steps to insure a well- prepared trade union participation in it. It requested our friend H. ENDERWITZ, a member of the teachers trade union Executive Committee( GEW) of D. G.B., to draft a report on the renovation of career outlines in educational functions. The report included seven chapters( initial training, field of activities, quality and quantity in terms of work, permanent education, promotion, salaries and pen- Ed sions, management and controls). 1.8 In addition to this report, a trade union meeting in preparation for the Conference was held in November, 1974. Its aim was to coordinate trade union positions on the Conference's main subjects: 1." changes in the framework in which the profession operates"; 2. 10.bner eno end no " changes in working conditions and in needs for Joube on teachers"; 3." new training norms for teachers"; 14. " consequences, in terms of costs and planning". This enabled trade union organized teachers freely to present their views at the Conference, as an equal and full partner. It enhanced the Conference significance, in which. persons with political responsibilities took part, together with specialists in planning, and representatives from teachassociations. The educators' role was further underscored by a number of questions which the Conference was unable to answer. The Educational Committee suggested further studies on the following subjects: ers In a) analysis of the teachers' available resources at the u level of compulsory education; b) analysis of the outlines of teachers! functions and tasks, in relation to the sum total of resources available to education. the nu A firm commitment was made to promote a continuous dialogue between teachers and persons with political responsibilities, and to disseminate the results of these activities, in order to insure a better understanding for problems among all partners concerned. 891 18691 Considering our past activities and alertness, it hardly needs saying that our international more than ever is participating in the major options which reflect social changes within the world of education. ube and dary edu - 9 190 4. Relationship between educational, and employment policies. If we set aside the three subjects which brought about an bintervention from our international, there is one aspect which is commanding continuous attention in the educational working group: the link between training and employment. OECD has set up a group of experts to study coordination in policy and planning, in the relationship between training and employment. This caused the educational working group to define its position on the subject in February 1974. In view of the importance of the issue, we have summarized it as follows: It is beyond doubt important for the workers that strong and major relationships be established between the educational system, which trains future workers, and employment possibilities, which are previsible in the longest possible term. However, these two systems complement and reciprocate each other. What is needed is a strong and well- balanced everall regulating system, conceived, defined, and implemented in terms of a fair equilibrium, so as to insure full human recognition for the prospective worker, or for the worker who already is integrated in production. 03 2893 382 One cannot be too cautious with regard to certain experts who incline to see the core of the problem, first and solely, in terms of adapting educational systems to the requirements on the labour market. Trade unionists, for their part, are adamant in demanding complete harmony, in a concept of humanism, between employment structures and social structures. The latter cannot be subordinated to the former.be in ni no esise yd Isupeni 10 The trade union movement aims at: djni bsbnsixe onied also promoting equality among individuals, and social groups; increasing everyone's chances in professional achievement and promotion%; reducing differences in levels in professional classifications; insuring greater security in employment and income for all; rendering tasks more meaningful; workers participation in economic decisions which may affect their lives; overall improvement in communications between various groups in their daily work contacts. ipu re- coruncit The basic problem raised by inadequate coordination between educational policy and employment policy, therefore, has caused the trade unions to underscore, in OECD, the predominance of human values over and above economic requirements. qmi -soube od drip ni aeno bep 13107 Vi 110- smid Ianoid seib .(... nemow 10? Viisol lege som Volloq namxolqms to ema VII - 10- Betti Such a position implies a re- appraisal of the concept of work. Work, nowadays, is seen as a social function, rather than in professional terms. Work is not merely an element of production, but a way of personal achievement. Education and employment cannot be dissociated in an overall social evolution marked by changes, and in which both are component parts. With regard to compulsory education, trade union positions affirm the necessity of extending compulsory education to the age of 16, and lowering the threshold of the educational system to the age of 4. This underlines the importance of pre- school education. It is a well- known fact that the very early years of childhood are decisive, in terms of equality in possibilities. As to the problems of illiteracy in certain regions of Southern Europe, trade unionism favours a study of the specific means for solving this major issue. 1311 revewoH Experts in the working group recommend on both levels ems of secundary, and of higher education- a policy of time apportioning between work and study, in order better to insure professional training. Trade Unions, however, are extremely reticent, if not hostile, with regard to any compulsory interruption between the end of secundary education and access to higher education( lowering of the age in compulsory education, conscription prior to access to higher education, one year of compulsory, paid employment...). On the contrary, they come out in favour of a continued" polyvalent" secundary education, of improved relations between schools and economic life by increased, salaried times- off which seem to offer the more realistic alternative. Moreover, attention should be paid to existing discriminations in educational systems for boys and girls, or in overall and technical educational lines, in as far as these are crossed by series of inequalities which are being extended into the employment market. nu aber dT equo As to recurrent education, trade unions second proposals generally accepted in terms of equal opportunities and economic security for workers in the context of technical advances. They view such education, however, not as a continued professional training within the framework of actual employment, but as a possibility for personal and autonomous achievement. They indicate that the problems of financing in this sector are unsolved, although such problems are crucial for starting this kind of education. 美白 of Trade unionism's most significant proposals concern the na adaptation of the employment's system and structures, and the implementation of adequate social policies by a series of specific measures( improved working environment, right to educational time- off, priority for the most disadvantaged ones in terms of employment policy, more specifically for women....). ber - 11- The social aim of equal opportunity, however, can only be achieved by adapting employment structures to the workers' social needs and potential developments, and to the needs and developments of the younger people who are leaving an educational system, and not entering one. In short, education and training should be promoted, developed, renovated and modernized for their own value, and not in order only to meet the requirements of production and economics. The overall effort in educational progress should insure progress for society as a whole, and for the individuals which compose it, so that both society and individual, confronted with current changes in our civilization, can help in establishing the best possible terms of life, in the context of political, social, economic, cultural and environmental conditions governing our daily lives. ed end of This trade union position has been outlined in a memorandum that was fowarded to OECD. The stakes are high in the reforms that will affect educational structures. What needs to be discussed and re- oriented today and to- morrow concerns the choices to be laid before the young, as they will be integrated in active life, given the present recession. This, in its turn, will be determined by the teachers' own re- appraisal of their role. We must remain on the alert, and take initiatives in such fields as relationships between training and employment. * * and A wide field for immediate action is available to educational trade unionism at OECD level. We have breached the be wall, and now we must lead the attack. The IFFTU calls upon all its organizations in the industrialized world to associate themselves individually and fully in seeking solutions for the major educational problems now under scruting at that level, but also in contributing to the settlement of the equally important problems which is a pre- condition for an educational re- appraisal. The teachers, now, should act. They ma should inform, inspire, and guide their International as the representative of their ideals and professional interest within OECD's Trade Union Advisory Committee. ember nos. - - 12- II. ACTION AT UNESCO LEVEL. To fmis beve ef UNESCO, by adapting itself to the requirements of a constantly changing world, has undertaken such a diversity of tasks, that it is difficult to compare it to the other United Nations specialized agencies. Its field of action extends to sectors by the dozen. By developing general knowledge and perfecting professional skills, the high level specialized UNO agency for education strives towards abolishing all bondages in world- wide working conditions, in a spirit of democracy and total acknowledgement of individual human values. Because of its finality, the very nature of its activi ties, the breadth, solidity and standing of its structures, we consider this prestigious institution as the privileged high forum where all efforts should converge towards developing education, training, scientific research, and culture, to the benefit of all workers. bedres in Our international's numerous initiatives- in close cooperation with both specialized agencies and democratic workers organisations- on both international and regional level, constitute a real contribution to the implementation of UNESCO's programme. and The IFFTU has maintained continuous and rewarding relations with UNESCO. It has attended meetings of international, non- governmental organizations which have established consultative relationships with this high institution. It has taken an active part in UNESCO's general, and regional conferences. It has contributed to various inquiries, one of which concerned the implementation of the inter- governmental resolution on the state of education. It has invited UNESCO to attend the numerous seminars it held in the Third World on the function of education in a developing economy. UNESCO's aims are long- established aims in our own trade union programme. Our international, indeed and for many years, has been demanding a bold, resolute policy in education, in tune with present requirements. All our resolutions have striven towards the following aims: - a true and fundamental democratization of the whole educational and training apparatus, which should be inequivocally open to all, through a financial effort supported by all ( such a democratisation should give each individual the same opportunities to unfold, without any discrimination); for ones ly fo rkb 13- a continuous adaptation of educational and training programsomes; a balanced development of educational networks, taking into account the evolution in science, technology, and employment, so as to insure a continuous parallelism between social and economic development on the one hand, and the material and moral requirements of a world population in accelerated demographic expansion on the other hand. stration, semuainbebas 60tban agd, 0023MB addande of laab Inter- governmental action cannot be continued endlessly without an organized trade union participation. The preparation and implementation of vast programmes in the fields of education, training, and culture are of exceptional importance for the future of the world- wide working condition. That Is is why we ask for a close and systematic association for the trade union organisations in this task. Trade unions are not simply another non- governmental body. The current major problems cannot be solved without a permanent dialogue between the inter- governmental agencies and the trade unions as a whole.mdb the resu in in Such This led to the joint representation by the Secretary no General of ICFTU, and the Secretary General of IFFTU, to the Director General of UNESCO, on March 8, 1973. The meeting was devoted to a survey of the problems concerning relations with the world- wide movement of free workers, but also, and in a new context, to an assessment of the relations between UNESCO -s and workers in education, as represented in IFFTU. den on training befare and in the couIsbne 0380 The The two visitors indicated to Mr. MAHEU that teachers trade unions such as IFFTU unceasingly have underscored UNESCO's raison d'être, the magnitude and diversity of its action, its dynamism, and its recognised world- wide authority. This, however, does not imply that its unilateral, non- govern-no mental action should and could go on indefinitely, without substantial trade union participation. The preparation and implementation of projects pertaining to education, training, and culture are of such paramount importance for the workers and their future, that professional organizations ought to be associated closely and systematically in them. It was recalled that UNESCO's undertakings- as IFFTU has continuously underscored- also are the workers' concern, and that they commit, in the first place, the responsibility of workers in education. huanos Whatever is being done in both UNESCO and OECD, in matters of programmes, elaboration of methods, and studies of all kinds, pre- supposes an overall philosophical approach, and ethical, political, social, and economic choices which can have far- reaching effects on working and living conditions for each member of the active population, to whatever sector he belongs. : - -14-The Secretary General of IFFTU already had strongly indioncated the necessity of associating, fully and closely, educational trade unionism in UNESCO's activities at the latter's latest general assembly. He also had underscored the unanimous views held on the subject by all democratically organized workers and educators. bas sis In the last year UNESCO has invited the trade union movement inclusive of IFFTU- to contribute to a number of important projects in the field of education. We have been able, in this way, to be permanently associated in a number of working groups, the enumeration of which would be tedious. .nold bo3 pixow ebiw- blow and pesudul arid 101 so end In February 1975 we have filed with the Direction General of UNESCO an application for a reclassification from category B to category A of N- G.0. This seemed essential to us, both for maintaining active working relations with UNESCO, and for remaining on the alert in defending the rights of freely organized educational workers. That has been the second main aspect of our work. bel ACT 1. IFFTU's demands on the implementation of_the_Recommendation on_the_status of teachers. badoveb The IFFTU did not fail to raise the question of the implementation of the special inter- governmental Recommendation on the status of teachers approved, in 1966, on the joint initiative of UNESCO and ILO. At UNESCO's last two General Conferences, A. BRACONIER, Secretary General of IFFTU, addressing the numerous governmental delegates, deplored the fact that teachers, in several countries, still are deprived of the statutory right of taking a full and responsible part in the renovation of the educational system as a whole. adue Iqmi 18 How are teachers to take heart, if no adequate measures are taken to insure educational workers' participation in the management of their own affairs? IFFTU's Secretary General, again and again, has strongly condemned such a policy of camouflaged authoritarianism, by which responsible persons decline to talk seriously with the consumers concerned. the This negative policy is a sad indication of the unbelievable blindness towards the raison d'être, the cumulative power and actual capacity of trade unionism in participating, immediately and in a responsible way, in the achievement of economic, social, and cultural progress. erld to sedmem dose Jepnoled 15- no The gravity, complexity, and gigantic dimensions of all problems which have to be solved in a long- term perspective are laying upon the responsible officials the obligation to accept teachers' permanent participation.dad jeanana qab human crowds abandoned to ignorance easey land hunger. njod - Education as a profession and condition no longer is a matter of passive subservience to the public administration, as was the case fifty years ago, at a time when, because of lack of organization, the status of teachers was recalling at least in principle- the service condition of teachers in the antique world. Teachers, nowadays,- at least those who are freely organized- are aware of the fact that they too are workers, engaged in education as a public service. 0323 and It is normal, indispensable, and equitable that they should claim, as public servants, and like all organised workers, the right to participate fully in the elaboration of projects aiming at fundamental reforms in the educational systems and their day- to- day pedagogic implementation, and in the resulting statutory changes in their working conditions. Such a participation can only be achieved through largely representative trade union organizations. inspio bns level.esuden evid We were successful inasmuch as the International Bureau for Education invited us, in September, 1974, to participate in the preparation of the International Conference on Education on" the evolution of the teachers' role and its incidence on training before, and in the course of employment". The IFFTU was represented by H. ENDERWITZ, of the German GEW. International organizations of teachers drafted a paper on the following points: - objective assessment of the situation in education; consequences of the evolution for education, in terms of its role, status, and teachers' professional training; organizations' opinion as to what should be teachers' role and function. Moreover, in 1973, the IFFTU was given a mandate to hold an inquiry among its affiliated teachers organizations on teachers' professional liberties. We mailed and centralized questionnaires, thereby taking an active part in the elaborabrtion of this international survey. ntheveidos et a891001 #nemqofeveb Isndijsoube oids10omeb eviesem s to axem en l neb There are, however, other subjects on which we notified UNESCO of our views and demands. men for ished 16-20 There are four of them: right to permanent education, education in developing countries, promotion of ethical and civic education, absolute priority to be given to interdependence between education and employment. held on the subject by all democratic Each of these topics was the subject of our remarks both to UNESCO's Directorate General, and at UNESCO's general Conferences. Of eutha 2. Right to permanent_education. blbs I Leds edi We claim the right to permanent education, as we claim the right to employment. The problem of permanent education is of exceptional significance, and we are supporting UNESCO in its defence of permanent education's true finality, viz. the optimal unfolding of the individual in society. We are convinced, however, that permanent education will require time, that it will require an improvement in living standards, and that in no case it should be chargeable to the individual. Reforms are needed in the social sector, but we also have a major task in defining this kind of education. It will require highly diversified activities, in terms of their respective nature, level, and organization. It will further be in need of pedagogical methods and technical resources well adapted to their aims, and of qualified personnel.. Organized workers, therefore, should be more closely associated in defining future policies in permanent education. 3. 13 Education in developing countries. TFF TU, addressing thejn Our international is giving the closest possible attention to this problem. ng We cannot under- rate the problem of education in developing countries. At the same time, we should not minimize the strength of neo- colonialistic trends. The interests of production and capital investments, here, could well take the priority to an even larger extent than is the case in industrialised regions over more human interests, when policies are being outlined, and implemented. - - p stods It is up to us to see to it that social and economic progress is achieved, in all these countries, as a result and in the make of a massive democratic educational development, accelerated to the maximum by a recourse to the most modern pedagogical methods and techniques. - 17- 101 Free trade unionism is offering all its resources to develop literacy, education and training in those destitute countries. This is a matter of social, universal duty and justice, of paramount importance for the emancipation of huge human crowds abandoned to ignorance, disease, and hunger. upan 4. Promotion of ethical_and_civic education. ture. Every programme of renovated education and training ought to include ethical and civic education in order permanently to alert young people's minds and characters against the deadly menaces threatening the human race: recourse to war for settling differences, all forms of violence, racism in all its forms, colonialism in all its recurrencies, economic imperialism, dictatorship in all its forms, contempt for human rights, pollution of the biosphere, and internal, individual pollution by drugs and anaesthetics, all considered as catastrophic consequences of the irresponsible, superior power of economics in the world today. more automated -310qqu This is one of the aspects of our continuous intervention in UNESCO's working groups dealing with renovated education. 5. Relation education_-_ employment. MOITASIWARA Absolute priority should be given today to the problem of interdependence between education and employment. The problem -=-=- is one of great complexity, and requires long- term solutions which will be of fundamental importance for all workers. Free Trade unionism, therefore, is concerned, lest the specific humanistic aims of a renovated and innovating educational programme should be called into question by the demands of production. It is up to freely organized workers, all of them, including teachers to be present at all levels, and see to it that major lines of expansion be selected on the basis of collective and social aims. al t sideruovels cevo Tenal denie IUO Holdw Education, as it exists today, is in a state of crisis. It is not unable to insure training of adequately qualified persons. Education, however, is not equal to its fundamental dd task. The deficiencies in the educational system, moreover, are increasing, because of the crisis in employment where managerial and organizational problems arise for which no solutions are being found. follo The fields of employment and education, despite their obvious complementarity, have co- existed without the development of common, permanent and strong linies between them for the elaboration of a true common policy on" human resources". The future of modern society will be largely determined by the ways in which links and concertations will be established between employment and education. .gninis bns noid - 18- r This is a global problem, to be solved by a joint effort from the whole trade union world, all workers, including v teachers. eq to soldeut This is an issue- as we already have indicated in our action at OECD- which will require the greatest attention on the part of educational trade unionists caring, first and foremost, for the interests of the human being. pninisi bns noidsoube bedavone to smms v3 Rom The IFFTU supports UNESCO's action for a greater wellbeing in the world. One of our fundamental demands, however, remains as follows: teachers and freely organized workers increasingly and directly must be associated, de jure and de facto, in the m tremendous future choices, in the elaboration of principles and, above all, in the implementation of educational and training projects, in all their aspects and on all their levels. supportnotIt is in that direction that our international- ed by each of its affiliated organizations- must pursue its efforts in UNESCO, in order to grant educators the predominant position which is theirs. .2 to III. ACTION ON THE LEVEL OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION || Π ( ILO) ਭਾਰ ਵਾਲ ก มา I Π You lis Tol sonsfoqmi isinamabnui lo ad IIIw Hoidw For many years now, our International has developed comparable activities in the International Labour Organization. This is neither paradoxical, nor irrealistic. This strategic choice, indeed, is a result of the interdependence- repeatedly stressed in this report- between the social interests, and the professional interests of freely organized teachers. itties the same tipes soos b It is at ILO that our International owes a favourable reception thanks to its truly trade unionist character, which is in line with the international agency's own aims.on ILO is the natural meeting place where the international of free q educational workers enjoy a warm and efficient solidarity with other workers. All specialized services in ILO, more than anywhere else, are convinced of the direct link between social economic and educational development, since they can grasp fully the evidence of such a relationship in their daily work. - darn disnemeiqmop auoivdo Even if this had not been the case, the mere fact that ILO bears a major responsibility in implementing the employment programme in the second development decennary- on the basis of a valorization of human resources, would have forced its services to give priority attention to problems of education and training. OS 19- To be fully in accord with the principles of its charter, ILO cannot tolerate that workers', and workers' children's intellectual and moral development solely be conditioned, in en an industrial civilization, by mere technocratic and economic interests. The great working masses which wanted, in 1919, redress from a long slavery, and guaranteed justice through ILO, would not forgive it if it were to fail them in the fu- ture. 9onia This is the evident truth which the secretariat constartly has been upholding in its numerous interventions at all levels of the Organization. Workers never will accept an educational planning in which they would be the mere docile instruments, the robots of economic planning. Trade Unionism as a whole is aware of such a danger, and rejects it. The real problem in reforming educational and training structures - in industrial countries more so than in other ones is a matter of finding the point of equilibrium between fundamental human demands, and the requirements of increasing, more and more automated, and scientifically determined mass production. Qube - The international secretariat has continuously underscored, as all levels of the Organization, that in view of the magnitude of the problem organised teachers would think it unconceivable if they were not called in systematically, by reason of their competence. ILO. - We have stressed all this in all our interventions at ше expressed At the International Labour Conferences, our demands, and the determination of freely organized teachers to participate in the major options now rocking the world of labour. 1. -91 Id Isno nd The 58th session of the International Labour Conference ( June, 1973) bel We choose to intervene on the report by the Director General on" prosperity and well- being", and on the question of salaried educational time- off. We expressed satisfaction with the re- affirmation, by the Director General, of ILO's fundamental concept regarding the social aims of economic growth. We, nevertheless, made the following reservations: beton " Should the report not be supplemented by a statement to the effect that all projects for educational renovation imposed by the authority of the governments so far have only resulted in causing a serious crisis within the educational system? That is the workers' true feeling. - 20- " Would it not also be the point to add to the report that the intervention of production powers in educational restructuration justifies and requires our vigilance, and that it would be dangerous to let these powers decide alone in settling choices? That, also, is the workers' true concern. " Education and training, of necessity, demand a direct d intervention from organized workers, the more so since the solutions to be found to new problems are of crucial significance for our generation, and even to a larger extent for generations to come. noides to elevel " For years now and continuously, we have been stressing the desequilibrium between training and employment. All official statistics indicate that the desequilibrium will increase, unless something be done about it. Equilibrium between educational and training production, and possibilities. the labour market constitutes a basic principle mentioned from the earliest days onwards in teachers' trade union demands. It is always inseparably linked to another sine qua non demand, that educational renovation be first considered, defined, and implemented in terms of individual, intellectual and moral accomplishment, and social progress in every respect. 10- maldo19 and to sbudinos jon sisw vedj ti eldsvisn bonu " Our concern is about the conditions in which theory and IDN methodology with regard to planning of human resources are being worked out in those circles where economic considerations seem to prevail over all others. That is the reason for our intervention, this year, on this platform: to demand full, direct and continuous participation by educational professionals and workers generally, under the auspices and responsibility of their trade union organisation". As to educational time- off, the matter came up for discussion for the first time at the Conference. It agreed on the necessity to adopt international positions on the issue, and came out in favour of a convention supplemented by a recommendation stressing the need to recognize that salaried educational time- off cannot become a substitute for adequate education and training for young people, but that it is only one means among others to insure continuous education and training. In this context and while noting with satisfaction that the problem, at long last, was being considered by the International Labour Conference, IFFTU noted:" philosophy in education- as in all other disciplines. must adjust itself to social necessities and aspirations, if it is to remain efficient. The right to permanent education is an as funda - 21- mental right as the right to work and the right to basic education. In no case should permanent education be chargeable to the worker. It will be necessary to increase the standard of living, on both national and family level, through a more equitable re- distribution of wealth accumulated by work. That is the core of the trade union problem, as it is- we are aware of it the essence of the Organisation." 2. The 59th session of the International Labour Conference ( June, 1974) Our intervention at the Conference, among others concerned: valorization of human resources: professional orientation and training. The Bureau's first report recommended to the Conference to supplement existing instruments by new norms, rather than to revise the former, so as to bring them into line with overall development policies for humans resources. We, for our part, indicated that the orientation and professional training system under no circumstance should be consolidated in a authoritarian direction, and to the detriment of individual demands and personal development. We pledged to be extremely watchful on the issue. migrant workers: a new emphasis has been detected, in recent years, in ILO programmes relating to workers leaving their country of origin in order to seek employment in another country. We have stated again that the individual future of migrants imposes an exceptional effort in all aspects of their condition on the part of the countries benefiting from their work. Secretary General attended the opening of ILO's Brussels liaison office with the European Communities and the Benelux countries. 3. 60th. Session of_the_International Labour Conference ( June, 1975). 03 - The Director General's report was devoted to a timely subject: more human working conditions, and a more human environment. Important measures, on the other hand, were approved, concerning: - equal opportunities and treatment for women workers; tup - updating of professional orientation and training; en- promoting equal opportunities and treatment for migrant o workers. blue ib 03 Istudius bns Isloose aeidilsupeni doldwin eqq isinge s ddiw veloce wgn s ni 8 - - 22-ubs It gave us the opportunity to express our solidarity with all workers, in the context of developing human resources and professional training, in the following terms: " The items on the agenda of this conference have formed part of our demands for decades past. If one of them outweighs the others, it is that of human resources. We welcome the possibility of a Convention in this matter. Also we wholeheartedly support the position of the Workers' group of this Committee, namely that vocational guidance and training should be part of general employment policy and constitute bera social rather than an economic problem. " For years 11 100 " The improvement of conditions of work should be based on the objective of personal fulfilment rather than on technical and economical considerations connected with production. In no circumstances, should education be at the service of the economy. dunda" Vocational guidance and training should of course be conceived as a permanent process because of the constant changes in production and methods of production which make continuous training essential. " This new requirement should aim at a general improvement in conditions of work which will make personal fulfilment possible both for adults and for young people. So we must be vigilant to ensure that any new initiative helps to reduce the confusion and uncertainty to which the workers are too often exposed, particularly in the present crisis of the social purpose of Labour. essional " We also think that initial training should provide a foundation for continuous further training. This is vital: extensive research has shown that the workers are not aware of their rights despite long years of struggle. " Of course, young people should be better informed of employment opportunities in various occupations, and how to enter them. Many young people have to make an irrevocable decision between schooling and a job far too realy in their careers before they know what their aptitudes are. " Social planning must be rethought, including the planning of education, which has been geared for too long to the needs of the economy. We have to rethink also the system of vocational guidance which is often based on an absurd dichotomy between general and technical training which strengthens discrimination in education. More regard should be given to the social and cultural aspiration of the young to partake in a new society with a social purpose in which inequalities - 23- and discrimination based on social categories have been eliminated. " Our aims and objectives have been defined by the Workers' group and there is no need to revert to them here. We at are more concerned now with their application, and let me say that vocational guidance and training are not the responsibility of teachers alone but of all workers. 2973" It is neither possible, nor fair nor democratic today to leave such responsibility to the teachers only. Their skills are of course adequate and are constantly brought up to date. But the choices before which they are placed at every stage as regards programmes, methods and, above all, the whole philosophy of education necessarily hinge on decisions which determine the conditions of life and work of every member of the active population in every sector. " The freely organised teachers have long been aware that this task can only be accomplished if the whole of organised labour is associated with it. " Our organisation has constantly proclaimed that the inevitable modernisation of our profession in all countries must be essentially democratic, that is to say aimed at the maximum development of human resources, giving each individual equality of opportunity without discrimination of any kind. This modernisation must be efficient in the long term, integrating all the factors of rapid scientific and technological development; and it must be human in the sense of being based on a just balance between social and economic factors and the humanistic factors enabling each person to develop freely, whether physically or spiritually. " These requirements of the freely organised teachers are, we believe, consistent with those of the whole trade union chase movement. 19x9 " A permanent co- operation must be established between teachers and the other workers. That is the essential condition for success". old Having reviewed our international's claims and demands in the context of the Agency, we would like particularly to recommend a subject to the attention of trade union action in I.L.O.: the issue of workers' education. 18+ ontqoleveb o achieved ties. ດອນ ni b edi edj - 24 - 4. Our intervention on the level of workers' education. bns This task was especially promoted by our international at ILO level, because it needs urgent attention in view of rapid changes in economic, social and ethical issues. It can truly be said that its representative, our Secretary General, has made a substantial contribution to both the preparatory work and the inter- governmental recommendations pertaining to the setting up of educational structures for workers. IFFTU is on excellent terms and in continuous contact with the service dealing with the issue, so much so that it was able to present its detailed demands, and to contribute to progress in this field. It succeeded in establishing, i. a. that workers' education in factual terms, and as an a priori, should be conceived as permanent education, which today is being recognized as a fundamental right of each individual. It was further agreed that it cannot be instored without an appropriate regime in working conditions, nor without an appropriate training of trade union leading personnel. om aids iv IFFTU's Secretary General took part in all the Committee for workers' education's activities, studies, and major exchanges of views. He was the sole representative of the profession in the committee. He continuously expressed the full accord of freely organized teachers with the fact that workers' education now is being considered within the framework of the second decennary on development and world- wide employment programme as its corner- stone, since UNO's strategy has altered its course and now grants priority to developing human resources as being the paramount and fundamental wealth in all countries. sfied ew .namevom Educational trade unionism is exerting continuous pressure at all levels of ILO in order that it be granted the important but indispensable means required for the implementation of the plan worked out in conformity with the resolution approved in 1970 by the International Labour Conference. That this resolution was carried is also largely due to IFFTU's energetic intervention on the Assembly's platform. At the 60th. session of the International Labour Conference, the international underscored the following points, in its determination to grant privileged treatment to developing the human individual: Me en to 25- S bequo" In the economic and social revolution of our day, workers can no longer be prisoners of capital and profit.alldejse of -in do'irlw abordem esord egampetab g ±.bns abeen subissy end to b" Economic democracy must be demanded and, having been obtained, put into practice. Modern trade unionists realise that it is not enough to have highly qualified technicians, as now; they must have permanent staff who are informed of all the problems of the time and who can implement vast educational programmes constantly brought up to date. I Dimonose end dw nodennos ni pntains amsidor nism eri " Because of their resources, those who represent industrial capital can more easily employ expert advisers who believe wholeheartedly in the technocratic doctrines of profit, free markets and competition. This is a handicap which is serious for many trade union officers who have to take part in social and economic negotiations at each level. I b " It is necessary to give effect to a workers' education programme equal to the new requirements of society, and we have to put into effect a rational new democratic system of this kind in each member country by intergovernmental regulation. " The work of the ILO's advisers in recent years is enthusiastically supported by us. They have pinpointed the needs and the objectives and defined the principles behind workers' education, as well as the methods needed to provide it. " Nevertheless, despite the resolution adopted in 1970 by the Conference, the ILO has not been able to implement its policy in this field. The Workers' Education Branch, to which we wish to pay tribute for its enterprise, should be allocȧted sufficient means and responsibility. " In the developing countries workers' education should be given priority, since for enormous numbers of people, this is the only true source of education and the only way of tapping the human resources on these countries- their main asset." Still in the framework of ILO's activities in workers' education, the IFFTU participated in two specialized meetings, of which our Secretary General was appointed twice rapporteur. quent The first one took place in April 1973 and mainly dealt with the role of universities in our present time. This was an excellent occasion to review the innovating action of new institutions facilitating the access of a greater number of workers. 03 viub bns be noi subs A first evaluation could also be made of the results. achieved by new teaching methods elaborated by the universities. SHJ - 26- After a long exchange of views, participants endeavoured to establish the main types of training programmes on basis of the various needs and to determine those methods which Universities should apply in a near future so that they could s fulfill their task as a specialised institution for permanent education. A second meeting took place in Geneva in December 1974. The experts appointed by the Governing Body of ILO analysed. the main problems arising in connection with the economic training of trade union leaders.tudes lend 6088" The Secretary General of the IFFTU, who was rapporteur of the meeting, had the opportunity to explain and develop the position of our International on this matter and to recall also our main goals in this field. Two elements were underlined that could serve as guidelines for a possible action programme: -1. it would be advisable to define first of all, in the presence of an extremely diversified economic situation throughout the world, the various types of economic trade union training capable of meeting the diversity of requirements in this field, on short, medium and long term. second, to determine the methodology according to which the trade union movement could, with the support of specialised international agencies, approach the research, the study and the training of its leaders in the economic field. The main conclusion is that, considering the growing authority of trade unionism in the economic order, it is urgent that trade union leaders be trained who are aware of the technical problems posed in this field and capable of contributing to their solution in a responsible manner within the framework of the objectives and methods of free trade unionism. Confronted as it is with a task of such a magnitude, the educational international, despite its rapid growth, cannot remain, nor does it want to remain, isolated. remain, isolated. It is first and foremost the servant of the working world as a whole, and it therefore cannot assume unilaterally major, short- term and long- term, responsibilities. It is therefore necessary to reinforce intra- sectorial solidarity. Achieving such an aim requires victories on all points, and concerted action by all workers. Such an increased and duly consolidated solidarity for the sake of workers' education can only be beneficial to the international's overall action in favour of general education, of which workers' education is the necessary extension. veidos * * * * * * - 27- НО ЗАВИЗНИЯ ОТ 3 mendation- 03 CHAPTER II. 8828-=-=- sholdsvoed -65 I ******* THE DEFENCE OF STATUS OF TEACHERS. 11 11 I || 11 I nokosbnommos 16 OJI -801 No doubt this is the main theme of the trade union action of teachers in our present days! More than ever before indeed has the defence of the status of teachers been the real focus of the permanent mobilization of the national unions and of the IFFTU as well. Mobilization against the attitude of certain governments that disagree or even openly deny teachers the right to organize and bargain collectively. Everywhere trade unions and trade union leaders strongly oppose this attitude and show their firm resolution to bulldoze if necessary the full recognition of the basic trade union rights of teachers. In their struggle, teachers are seeking more than ever before, the support and solidarity of the whole Labour movement. In this respect, quite obviously, it is this solidarity only that can help teachers eradicate the social discrimination they are still suffering. During the period under review, the Secretariat resolutely played his role in this field. We have always remained at the disposal of any of our member Organisations that requested our support in any of their struggles. We did not fail to make representations or intervene by all means to those official authorities and inter- governmental agencies concerned, whenever governments violated or trampled the international labour standards. At a moment when disputes or even open conflicts on terms of employment and working conditions become more and more frequent, the action of the Secretariat has been concentrated more than ever on its main goal, i.e. the real and total application under control in all countries of two types of international instruments: the intergovernmental Recommendation on the status of teachers and the Labour agreements concerning trade union rights. - 28- 1. ACTION FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RECOMMENDATION ON THE STATUS OF TEACHERS. should that the red Our International has always had the greatest reservations as to how governments apply the special intergovernmental Recommendation on the status of teachers, although this was unanimously adopted by them since 1966, at the joint initiative of the ILO and the UNESCO. probl analysed Unceasingly, our Secretariat intervened to these two organizations that they should remind the governments concerned to do their duty, and to see that they associate as closely as possible the teachers' trade unions to the control of the means. of application. Every year on the speakers platform of the International Labour Conference, the General Secretary of the IFFTU denounced with energy the evident state of social inferiority in which the teaching worker is consigned against all sense of justice, against all common sense. He renewed on each occasion, his vehement appeal that the ILO should use all its power of pressure and authority, so that each member state without distinction, includes in his own legislation and in the daily tasks of his gestion the principles included in the intergovernmental recommendation. On the platform of the general conference of the UNESCO in 1972 and 1974, the General Secretary of the IFFTU underlined the unbearable and incomprehensible attitude of those in power, for their negative attitude, their dullness and even their declared hostility against the application of the intergovernmental recommendation on the status of teachers. He insisted to UNESCO to put into action all its power of impact, so that everything should be done to improve basically and immediately the condition of teachers. Addressing the governmental representatives, our delegate regretted the fact that in a good number of countries, the teaching condition is still deprived of the statutory right to participate effectively, completely, and in a responsible way, to the renovation of the educational system as a whole. On October 9th. 1972, February 7th. 1973, and May 20th. 1974, the General Secretary of the IFFTU had an interview with the General Director of the ILO concerning the application of the intergovernmental Recommendation on the status of teachers. - 29- -Jnemers He particularly drew his attention on the duty of the ILO to look after the application of those paragraphs of the recommendation concerning the rights of the teachers. made on the te measures 168059 During an interview with the General Director of the UNESCO, the General Secretary of the IFFTU also underlined the necessity for this organisation to focus all its power of intervention on the enormous needs of this important section of public labour. Recomm At the highest level of the ILO and the UNESCO, the IFFTU has recalled our requirements for the undertaking of a new enquiry on the application by the member states of the recommendation concerning the status of teachers, with the obligation for them to submit their report beforehand for advice to the national trade union organization of the teaching personnel. The 05- This new enquiry finally started on April 22, 1974. two high organizations addressed jointly an up to date questionnaire to all the governments of the member states. -table This document drafted by the Joint Committee of Experts as pappointed by the two organizations, listed up a number of litigious points, but of the highest interest for the organized teachers, i.e. the training of teachers of the first and also the secondary degree; the participation of teachers to the development of education%; the Trade Union rights of teachers; the right of teachers to bargain collectively; the conditions of employment and career; the social security. to emm1001 is of It is with the firm willingness to establish all the facts. that the Secretariat checked step by step, the enquiry set up by the UNESCO and the ILO. 121 bells The questionnaire of the enquiry sent to each government concerned, by the two high international authorities, has been no immediately circulated amongst the affiliated organizations. Accordingly to one of our basic claims, the UNESCO invited the international organizations of teachers, to collect all information they could obtain from their affiliated organizaaddtions, the ILO on the other hand seeing to forward the questionnaire, to the national organizations concerned. Our Secretariat intervened to the General Director of the ILO to draw again the attention of the Member States to the fact that they should submit to the teachers Trade Union, all to official reports, before transmitting them to the acting high international organizations. - 30- OUT Needless to recall here how many times the IFFTU vehementmoly ly protested against the cynical falsification of the first. enquiry by too numerous governmental authorities. Each affiliated organization has been invited by circular letter on the 29th. May, to take urgently three measures, i. e.: -6 a) To analyse the official questionnaire at their level, in view to obtain the adequate answers, corresponding to the real situation. b) To warn officials in power that they should not transmit their answer without consulting beforehand the organizations on the contents of the latter. c) Two preceding points, to keep the Secretariat informed of the results on these, the IFFTU needing to be completely informed, in order to be able to assume its responsibilities, particularly, at the ILO on the difficult field of trade union rights. On 4 September 1975, the responsible representatives of as the four internationals of teachers, had a meeting at the initiative of the UNESCO, in view to examine the possibilities to extend the Recommendation to other categories of teachers. At its 1974 session indeed, the General Conference of UNESCO had given mandate to the General Director to investigaante into the possibility, within the framework of their 1975/76 programme of activities, to extend the Recommendation on the status of teachers to other categories of full- time or parttime teachers. Before starting their enquiry, the UNESCO however wanted to consult the four teachers' Internationals. The General Secretary of the IFFTU on that occasion recalled a nacertain number of basic principles, to know that the teacher being a worker as any other worker, all questions in connection with his working and living conditions fall within the compebeitence of the ILO. He therefore should be granted the same labour protection as any other worker. The IFFTU will never accept that the Recommendation on the status of teachers as adopted in 1966 be revised or altered. ation edicatione and to This Recommendation must indeed be considered as our basic charter. It provides for the rights teachers have and it is precisely that, that some governments would like to question. The recent International Conference of Education on the role of teachers held in Geneva from August 27- to September 4, 1975 gave a clear demonstration of certain governments' attitude in this respect! 31To The General Secretary of the IFFTU therefore insisted on the urgent necessity to carry out the intergovernmental Recommendation as it is. He also demanded that, ten years after its adoption, report be made on the concrete measures taken to this effect. Furthermore, the four Internationals unanimously asked that an investigation be initiated on the complex question of higher education with a view to the possible adoption of a specific Recommendation. This action must go on, harder if necessary so that the reality of education at the level of each country, gets nearer to the spirit and contents of our international charter. There remains a lot to be done to convince the school authorities themselves, who, remain as a rule unwilling and fussy on this question. To this end the Secretariat has been permanently at the disposal of official organizations, to inform them according to the normal their wishes, on the basic principles and also on rules of this capital instrument, which we rightly call the first International Charter of the Teaching Profession. We cannot underline enough the crucial importance of an intergovernmental document, which not only guarantees formally our rights, but officially states, on an international level, their importance and responsibility. The Secretariat asked each organization to be informed of all facts, which according to them, would reflect the professional condition of their affiliates, in the light of the intergovernmental text, he is always ready to give all necessary assistance. TOWARDS AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF REMUNERATIONS. observance ernational bere The International Labour Organisation( ILO) asked the co-operation of our International for the enquiry which took plano ce concerning the system of remuneration of teachers. achi The importance of this could not escape us, all the more that the conclusions were able to show up and restart our claims regarding salary. We have asked all organizations as from the 29th. May 1974, to answer a questionnaire. Only they indeed, and in a better way than official bodies, are in a position to inform the ILO on the real situation as far as remunerations are concerned. interest in + - 32- no bod As a trade union organization, the IFFTU wants first of all is defend the elementary right of a normal salary for all 2 work done. This means a salary permanently balanced with the ein progression of the required tasks, the level and style of obs living within the constant evolution of a society in a quick socio- economic mutation. belee lauominen, elsnol toho Our efforts to snatch in every country the effective application of the special governmental Recommendation on the status of teachers, must bring about at the same time new stipulations, particularly, concerning the salaries of all teachers. We reproduced these in our bulletin with a view to supply, for whatever purpose they may serve, to all organizations questioned by the ILO adequate terms of comparison. ACADEMIC FREEDOM. no OT The IFFTU has been invited by the UNESCO to collaborate to an international study on academic freedom of teachers. This study was recommended in 1970 by the joint ILO/ UNESCO committee of experts on the application of the Recommendation concerning the status of teachers. The adopted method to bring this study to a satisfactory end, consisted in undertaking in a certain number of countries, an enquiry on the position in right and fact, regarding the enjoyment of academic freedom by teachers. Our International tried to obtain the opinion of teachers in countries, the list of which had been established with the approval of UNESCO. Our Secretariat all the same drew the attention of all national organizations on the importance of the help organized teachers could bring for this enquiry. 20 The Secretariat reproduced in the bulletin an extract of the Recommendation on academic freedom recalling to each organization that they could rely on a total support on the part of the IFFTU to apply to the proper quarters to obtain its application. 332. ACTION IN VIEW OF THE APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL de CONVENTIONS REGARDING TRADE UNION RIGHTS. deu. Π || When it comes to the question of the complete achievement of trade union rights, organized teachers just like all workers, first turn themselves to the ILO. By the will of the workers indeed, the ILO is first of all, and before anything else, the guardian of social equality, of human rights, of observance of professional, moral and material rights. sinos OJ -8010 This is why the Secretariat expects first of all from the ILO the full and complete recognition of trade union rights. for teachers in all countries, not only in texts but also in facts. Therefore this claim has been brought before the Geneva authorities by priority. под In theory, and for all workers without distinction, these rights have been admitted for half a century as soon as the ILO was set up. one They appeared in conventions establishing international standards of labour, and this for nearly three decades. One must however admit that they are not everywhere a point of national legislations. This state of affairs is so evident that, following the energetic intervention of representatives of free trade unions, the ILO invited the member states who have not yet done so, to approve conventions 87 and 98, and to guarantee in the meantime, and in all good faith, the observance of trade union rights in their respective regulations and legislations. Ibhop 900 Under the pressure of the workers group, the Governing Body of the ILO has been asked to use every means in his power to strengthen the existing machinery meant to guarantee the observance by member states, of international conventions and recommendations ruling labour. All along the period now coming to an end, the Secreta- ch riat increased its action to the maximum of his power. The achievement of trade union rights for free organized teachers in whatever country and to whatever category or degree they may belong, is for our International a goal of first importance and of an absolute elementary character. The IFFTU vigourously undertook to struggle on a familiar ground, the International Organization of Labour. Multiplying each year interventions at the annual conference and to the Governing Body, our trade union representatives succeeded in creating at this level a powerful and non reversing movement of interest in favour of the teaching profession. - 34- Regularly each year, on the platform of the General Conference of Labour, the General Secretary made an urgent appeal in favour of trade union rights. How many times did we not stigmatize the stubbornness of some governments, who, in spite of all international rules keep on refusing to the representatives of teachers' organizations the right to be consulted, to negociate, and finally as a last resource, the right to go on strike. The object of our International as a trade union organization, is in fact and by priority to focus on the need to achieve universally these elementary rights. Which democratic organization worthy of the name, would forgive us to be satisfied in this field with a mere recommendation, when for the teachers as well as for all the workers, these rights must absolutely be inserted in a convention of social international juridiction, with a binding character on all member states. The Secretariat was eager to obtain the recognition and the appliance as a whole, of trade union rights for teachers in all countries. 1600. To this effect, we remained at the total disposal of affiliated organizations in struggle, so as more particularly to enlighten them in the best delays, on the exact bearing of the basic principles already laid down in the international legislation of labour, and on the precise regular conditions which it is possible from now on to put forward in view to see that they are applied to the status of teachers on each national level. The columns of our weekly bulletin of information were open to all organizations for the spreading of all interesting information regarding the condition of teachers. And this is a reliable way, not only to warn competent international institutions, but also to strengthen in our own ranks unity of views and action, which is more than ever necessary. At the issue of our statutory world congress of 1972, those participating made up a first evaluation of all sorts of gaps that impaired the immediate application to teachers of the rights they have officially obtained, on the whole of the geographical area covered by our International. Conclusions have been forwarded to our national organizations. On the other hand and simultaneously, a new appeal was made to affiliated and friendly organizations, in view to obtain their support to go on with the enquiry on the exact position of teaching personnel regarding the regular recognition and the real application of trade union rights. on bos Iuliewoq slavel eidd de noisse101qonidose add to zupvs? ni Jes - 35- 19 A Trade union rights have also been on the other hand one of the main preoccupations of our regional meetings. All the resolutions adopted by these regional meetings, have been submitted to the competent international institutions and published in our bulletin. no leaders of TEACHERS STRIKES. admem MU- OJI J orld to no go end to a A Daily, in many industrialized and developing countries, the press relates strikes in the teaching profession. K6 These strikes most of the time are the only way and the ultimate resource left to trade union organizations against the most evident iniquity! -que The courage and boldness displayed on such occasions, are exposing each striker to the most serious reprisals, to painful personal sacrifices, seeing the illegality still in force for teachers actions to resort to strike. st The free organized teacher goes on strike to defend his most legitimate material interests as a worker, but also and most of the time, for those essentially moral interests, of a profession of which he measures the importance at short and long term. In so doing he is exposing himself to administrative and even penal sanctions. As to the organization that has and then exhausted all ways of negotiating with those in power, orders to go on strike, it is exposing itself to reprisals mainly aiming at destroy her rights as a representative organisation, and if it is careless enough to go on with her" subversive" action, it will be hit by court penalties going from a collective fine to the incarceration of the trade union leaders. 19m Why does one deny teachers, more than others, the free exercise of trade union rights, guaranteed and in fact applied to all other categories of workers? Let us say it as it is because teachers are responsible of a raw material named" grey matter" of first importance for innovation and production which must remain under the yoke of the political, economic and technocratic feudal system of our present days. nat creasing With all its affiliated organizations in every country in the world, the IFFTU takes up the challenge now more than ever, now that teachers are getting more and more aware of the value of direct trade union action, and its efficaciency to improve working and living conditions. ed of notjos que nine - 36da eno Let us not forget that the special intergovernmental Recommendation on the status of teachers of the ILO as adopted in 1966, provides amongst other that:" teachers' organizations should have the right to take such other steps as are normally open to other organizations in the defence of their legitimate interests". aciste, and Fina As of the opinion of the joint ILO- UNESCO Committee of Experts itself, such a provision accepted als by all member states, implies de facto the recognition of the right to strike in the teaching profession. The question of teachers trade union rights on the other hand, is the subject of a continuous and intensive action of our International, based on the strong positions acquired at the International Labour Organisation( ILO) thanks to the support of all public services workers especially, and more those of the two Internationals of the public services PSI and PTTI. Thanks to this active solidarity, workers of the public services and teachers may hope today to be granted in a more or less near future, a special international convention, establishing full trade union rights in the public services including the right to strike. For us teachers and trade unionists, all this only represents but various stages of a long march towards social justice, trade union freedom with exactly what it means for all workers of the teaching profession in the whole world. The different stages already cleared by the IFFTU are, before anything else, the result of the first significant victories achieved by the free intersectorial trade union movement, with regard to a profession that has secularly been dominated and enslaved. This is what is expressed in their main intention by the present teachers strikes%; this is what striking teachers understand beyond their professional and material claims. Those in power may impose all sanctions they want, nothing can now stop us anymore. The IFFTU intervened to the concerned agencies on both the national and international level, protesting against the einadmissible repression by the authorities, and also for the protection of the elementary rights of the teachers. This was namely the case in Quebec and in Japan among other examples, most of which are reviewed in the Chapter concerning our action in the Continents. · 37- In Quebec in 1973, three trade union leaders representing the Trade Union Common Front of the public services have been comdenned to twelve months prison for striking actions. Yvon CHARBONNEAU, President of the CEQ and member of our Executive Committee has been emprisonned with the other two leaders of the common front. The IFFTU immediately protested this negative attitude of the authorities, punishing trade unionists for activities within the framework of their trade union responsibilities. The Executive Committee decided to lodge a now complaint at the ILO against the government of Quebec and asked the affiliated and friendly organizations to send messages of protest to the highest authorities of Quebec and Canada, and also messages of sympathy to the Teachers Union of Quebec. The Secretariat of the IFFTU did not fail to alert public bnegau. opinion. We stigmatized the unqualifiable attitude of the government of Quebec through press, radio and television. long int bab 91 bes The General Secretary of the IFFTU went over to Quebec at the invitation of CEQ. Before one thousant trade union militants, he comdenned with energy the violence of governmental repression. Together with representatives of the WCL and the ICFTU, he met the governmental authorities and, after an interview with the three Quebec leaders in jail, he requested. their immediate and unconditional release. Numerous were the affiliated or friendly organizations who approved this action. by sending messages of sympathy to the CEQ. Our courageous friend, the President of the CEQ was finally released. Nevertheless did the International maintain with the greatest firmness the complaint lodged with the ILO. n In Japan the government has been showing and this for several years, the greatest contempt regarding trade union rights of the workers of the public services and especially teachers. nim and -098 19VE 03 It should be noted that during these last years, the International Labour Organisation( ILO) received an increasing number of complaints, those lodged by the japanese teachers organization NIKKYOSO, as well as by our own International, denouncing flagrant violations by this highly industrialized member state of conventions 87 and 98 on trade union rights. But in spite of this unanimous protest, the Tokyo government persisted in his denial of justice, comptemptuous of all international rules, with cynical bad faith, and an unbelievable. 38eagerness for reprisal, by way of massive disciplinary sanctions, of all attemps to recourse to the right to strike. The attitude of the ILO first of all has been one of conciliation. They tried to obtain that the government would settle the whole of the social dispute in negotiating with SOHYO, the Trade Union of the public services of which NIKKYOSO is a member. These meetings did indeed take place, but without any positive results. On the contrary, the authorities hardened their attitude of despotic violence, showing a great ardour in penalising teachers. Consequently the number of dismissals reached, is of 147 since 1973, whereas 430 strikers were inflicted, without recourse, heavy reductions in salary, 50.000 more teachers getting as a warning a most heavy blame. At the level of the whole public sector, the wave of sanctions hit an incredible number of people: 1.527 were suspended in 1973, and more than 6.000 got important reductions in salary. In front of such a resolutely antidemocratic and openly scandalous attitude, trade unionists did not remain with folded arms. Still at the ILO, SOHYO delegations multiplied their representations, strongly supported by the concerted interventions. of the four internationals concerned, the Public Services International( PSI), the International Federation of Transport Workers( ITF), the PTTI and ours, the IFFTU. But a still stronger action was necessary. Still in 1973, addressing the International Conference of Labour, the representatives of the four Internationals heavily pinned down the social policy of the Prime Minister TANAKA. In January 1973, the four Internationals jointly organized in Tokyo the second Asian Conference of the Public Services. Spring 1974 was a remarkable period in the history of the social movement in Japan. The struggle went on fiercely during long and difficult weeks, to conquer in a decisive way the main objectives of the whole of the organized workers, whatever sector they belong to, public or private the fight against inflation, the increase of salaries, for a minimum guaranteed salary, the reduction of working hours, for a better social security and" last but not least" for the recognition of the right to strike in the public services. : the 39- On their part the four joint Internationals of the Public Services, PTTI, PSI, ITF and IFFTU did their best to prepare on the spot this spring offensive. From the 1st. to the 6th. April, the week before the general strike, their representatives were in Tokyo to bring to the colleagues and friends involved the total support of the whole of public service workers in the world: They approached on several occasions the Japanese Ministers concerned; held numerous press conferences; participated actively to meetings and mass demonstrations. The world trade unionism threw then in the struggle all the weight of its presence, to express as clearly, as strongly as possible, his indignant refusal to this incredibly abusive regime. anj In these days of hot preparation for common action, the General Secretary of the IFFTU too was in Tokyo, at the side. of the leaders of the three other Internationals of the Public Bum Services, and the Japanese militants. -dosed As a representative of the world teaching movement he met the japanese Minister of Education on April 4th. He also had long interviews with journalists accredited to this department. Jen On every occasion, he protested against the ultraconservadotive and antidemocratic conduct of a government exercising with a visible partiality, open repression against teachers. -91 The IFFTU appealed to all affiliated and friendly organizations to bring their support to the Japanese teachers in the struggle, by expressing their sympathy to the NIKKYOSO, by protesting to the japanese Prime Minister, and the Minister of Education, and also by lodging a protest with the japanese diplomatic representative in their respective countries showing their deep reprobation of the social iniquity suffered by organized japanese teachers. ве 18 In a parallel direction, keeping in permanent contact with -the NIKKYOSO, the IFFTU developed a strong action to the specialized United Nations Agencies, urging that they would exert a maximum pressure on the japanese government. - -noo The General Secretary of the IFFTU lodged a new protest to the ILO taking all measures to protect the action of teachers - in that country in their struggle for the achievement of trade union rights. Each year, from the platform of the International Labour Conference, and lately at the Technical Conference for the Public Services, the representative of our International underlined the scandalous attitude of the japanese government, and - 40o demanded that everything be done to bring an end to this eagerness to repress with heavy sanction all attempts to exercise the right to strike. The President of NIKKYOSO was reased. However, our action will go on as long as trade union rights in Japan will not be restored. 03 ACTION OF THE COMMON FRONT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES. The IFFTU decided a few years ago to insert its action in the common strategy of the trade unions of the public services to which quite obviously it does belong. More than ever before we are convinced that this is the best way to carry success and that, along that way, we nowo must go ahead! It is of utmost importance indeed that the status of teachers be examined and discussed together with that of all the other workers of the public services, and in the same spirit. Furthermore it is obvious, with evidences at hand, that the successes carried in the ILO are the result of the perfect cooperation existing between the Internationals concerned, the PSI and the PTTI. During the period under review, this common front was extended to two more Internationals of the Public Services the INFEDOP and WCT, both belonging to the World Confederation of Labour( WCL). The representatives of the five trade union organizations: the World Confederation of Teachers( WCT), the International Federation of the Public Services( INFEDOP), the Postal, Telegraphe and Telephone International( PTTI), the Public Services International( PSI) and International Federation of Free Teachers Union( IFFTU) met with the General Director of the International Labour Organization on 9th. October 1972. During this interview, the delegates of the Unions concerned strongly insisted that the question of trade union freeabdom and the procedure establishing participation of civil servants in the determination of their conditions of employment be included in the agenda of the 59th. session of the International Labour Conference, more especially in view of the adoption of a special international convention providing also for the modalities of application. erit - 41- On the other hand, considering the success of the first session of the Joint Committee for the Public Services, the -representatives of the Internationals concerned demanded that the second session of this Committee be convened as soon as I possible. They recalled that, during the first session the Joint Committee unanimously adopted a resolution concerning the future activities of the International Labour organization, in the field of public services, which included, amongst -moothers, the different points to appear on the agenda of thes second session of the Joint Committee i.e.: phine mentary trade union rights Js 1. -o -82. Working and employment conditions of civil servants in the local, regional or provincial administrations.end Recruiting vocational training, and in- service policy training, including an exchange of experiences in these fields between different countries. en 3. a) Disciplinary codes and procedures in the public id Dublin services. b) The protection of civil servants against abusive administrative and penal sanctions taken owing to their trade union activities. 23 Qdgat This interview carried most positive results. The General Director promised to support the trade union demands and to associate systematically the five trade union Internationals to the study of the different problems arising in the public services. The leaders of the trade union common front met in Brussels on the 19th. December 1972, in view to examine the reo sults of the 188th. session of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization, which took place in Geneva from 14 to 17th. November of the same year. They protested against the systematic negative attitude of the Employers Group, who without assuming their responsibi-lities in the field of social problems concerning the public services, were reventing the ILO from carrying on its action in this sector of first importance. and no Consequently they raised a strong protest against the decision of the Governing Body not to include the questions of trade union freedom and procedures of participation of civil servants in the determination their of conditions of employment, in the agenda of the International Labour Conference of 1974. restric 831 DE by some go - 42They invited the workers group to ask the General Director to include in the programme and budget of the 1974-75 period, a preliminary conference on the same subject, which would enable a future International Labour Conference to proceed with a second discussion, in view of the adoption of an International Convention. Jegnoms The five Internationals concerned made an appeal to the General Director to follow this recommendation, and to the complete Governing Body to approve the proposal. Their representatives appreciated very much the fact that the International Labour Organization had included in the programme submitted to the Governing Body, the meeting of the second session of the Joint Committee for the Public Services. They expressed their thanks to the workers group of the Industrial Relations Committee, who asked that this meeting be given highest priority. 10 This decision was actually a follow up of the resolution on the future activities of the International Labour Organization in the field of the public services, unanimously adopted by the Joint Committee for the Public Services during its first session, inviting the Governing Body" to convene future sessions of the Joint Committee for the Public Services at sufficient near intervals so as to enable it to carry on its important and useful task at a speed which would be consistent with the importance of the public sector". The representatives of the five trade union organizations expressed their satisfaction at the intention of the General Director of the ILO to study the question of the remunerations of teachers, hoping that the ILO will grant highest priority to this study. They also insisted that their respective international organizations be fully associated to it. During its February- March 1973 session, the Governing Body having to discuss the budget of the ILO as well as the programme for the period 1973 to 1975, examined within this frame work the proposal of the workers group and took the decision to convene a tripartite technical Conference on the public services. In so doing, the Governing Body simply applied an article of the Constitution of the ILO, providing for the resort to preparatory conferences, whose duty it would be to work out on certain precise problems, concrete conclusions and proposals to be submitted to statutory arbitration of the International Labour Conference. - 43- Must it be added that the last debates of the Governing Body have once again shown the eager opposition of the very same governmental representatives, together with the employers.mon sectoidsbeammR 0023 H -Ivor The representatives of the trade union front held a meeting on the 30th. May 1973, to discuss the general situation. 910 -78 ea They noted with deep concern that more and more countries were denying the workers of the public services, the most elementary trade union rights and were taking heavy sanctions against union militants, for legitimate trade union activities. pant They consequently expressed the wish, that the International Labour Conference would a resolution condemning unequivocally all violations of union rights, urging also a general noamnesty of all penalties pronounced against union militants. 10 viqqua ed esidividos noinu The representatives of the common front of public services again met in Brussels on the 19th. September 1973, to examine the progress made, more particularly after the 58th. session of the International Labour Conference, and the 190th. session of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation. Noting that the progress made was insufficient noting also on the other hand the delay in their application, the trade union delegates decided to intensify their action at the International Labour Organisation, and invited their affiliated organizations to support their efforts in that direction.adnev The international trade union front of public services finally carried an important victory. ou From the 7th. to the 16th. April 1975, the International Labour organisation convened in Geneva a paritary technical enconference, specially meant to prepare an international instrument on the trade union rights in the public services. ABOUT TRADE UNION FREEDOM. The conference widely agreed to recognize that civil servants have the same rights as the workers of the private sector to set up organizations of their own choice and to join them without any restriction. eve to The General Secretary of the IFFTU as the IFFTU as an ILO advisor on workers education, insisted that everything be done to help civil servants strengthen their organizations. He condemned the restrictive and despotic conditions set by some governments - 44- with regard the suspension or the recognition of workers' organisations, and demanded proper protection for all acts of discrimination against the unions. International scar He namely referred to the ILO/ UNESCO Recommendation on the status of teachers, which though containing clear provisions guaranteeing trade union rights and the freedom to bargain collectively is not applied. A Recommendation is no more as sufficient! It is useless to list up again the obstacles artificially and slyly raised in too many countries, to impede the real application of a recommendation! oinu ob the This conference anyway gave each delegate the opportunity to explain the situation in his own country. Mention has been made of some arrangements to facilitate the task of union representatives: paid leave for trade union activities, the supply of premises and equipment, free postage, and free access to working premises, the exercise of union activities on the spot and during working hours, the levy of union contributions by the administration( check- off). It should be recalled facilities had been listed up among the claims which the IFFTU has put forward at its Vienna congress. First se As to the procedures for the determination of employment congalditions: It has been found that a great number of countries, have legalised the system of the participation of the civil servants to the determination of their employment conditions sons through their representative organizations. On this subject, workers delegates have demanded that there should be a full participation of civil servants through negotiations between their organizations and the employers, so as to determine their employment conditions. They are of the opinion that those empowered to negotiate on behalf of the government, should have the necessary authority to decide and have the agreements reached fully applied. It is essential according to them that a true paritary procedure be established to determine working conditions. This negotiation should be as broad as possible. In some countries several questions are still excluded from any collective bargaining. Workers delegates pointed out that union organizations should have the right to negotiate on all aspects of the living and employment conditions of their members. The conference also examined the existing machinery establishing the procedures for consultation and negotiation. - - 45- Victory of the trade union solidarity. ed at The Geneva hemicycle has seen the success of the trade union common front facing the governmental delegations of sixty states. won due to anem vd DJI end de noidsieblanco A coalition of real solidarity succeeded in imposing its logic both in the plenary as in the various committees. The present conquest is the one, and only one, of the action of international free unionism. This is what was underlined by our friend Franken, the Secretary General of PSI during his interventions at the plenary meeting. No one participant to the conference contested this statement. Speaking on behalf of the five international union organizations of the Public Services, he declared: " International trade union organisations of the public services, representing together over ten million members, have always been devoted to, and struggled for, genuine freedom of association and full trade union rights for public. employees alongside their colleagues in the private sector. This struggle has been waged in the first place on the national level by public servants' unions in various countries. It has been supported and supplemented by the international action of our five Internationals, and in this context the ILO has been of great importance to us. " We walcomed the adoption of the International Labour Convention 87 and we expected that in accordance with its provisions, it would be applied both in the public and private sectors. This has not always been the case. We deplore that; we also protest against all the violations of trade union rights, some of which have taken place in countries that ratified Convention 87. It must be emphasised that violations of trade union rights, in any sector, are contrary not only to Conventions but also to the basic principles and hence the obligations of membership of the ILO and an ne es jnematoqqs aid to Idd to ybod pin svo and " Not restricting ourselves to protests we continued our struggle on many fronts. Among others, we worked hard to H obtain the establishment by the ILO of the Joint Committee on the Public Service. Its first session laid down in a resolution important principles with regard to trade union rights. of public employees, and set out for the ILO a comprehensive programme of work in the public sector. We are proud of the impulse that we gave and the work that we accomplished on that occasion. un all la the zed workers we shall succeed in achi the free org - 46" Since the holding of the first session of the ILO Joint Committee on the Public Services, our combined efforts have constantly been brought to bear in order that the trade union rights of public servants, a large, growing, and in the past a somewhat neglected sector, should receive full and appropriate consideration at the ILO by means of such a conference. It is therefore with great satisfaction that we see now brought to fruition, as the result of so much effort over so long a period of time, and with the invaluable aid of the Workers' Group of the ILO Governing Body, this important development in our struggle for the public servants of all countries to have the right to raise their collective voice on the conditions of their working lives, and for that voice to be heard and heeded. noo end of Josq " Our satisfaction is already great: our hopes and expectations are still greater. The present conference, in our view, should, if it is to live up to the expectations of those who have laboured to bring it about and make full use of the opportunity provided, be the first step towards the adoption of international standards, laying down those trade union rights of public servants which are not yet embodied in an existing ILO Convention. dini ni beosú need asd sippuste " The next step, if the present conference achieves what we regard as its purpose, should be the consideration and adoption by the International Labour Conference of a new Convention laying down those standards." Another outstanding factor came up at the ILO: the convening in the near future of the Joint Committee for the Public Services. biuow This is the result of the strong and active solidarity, that has developed for years between the free organized workers of the public sector. This is the real meaning which we think was fit to be underlined in this report. The General Secretary of the IFFTU received confirmation from the Governing Body of the ILO of his appointment as an effective member of the Joint Committee. Jo He will be assisted by two militants, T. BEDIAKO and HERRERA, appointed as substitutes on the proposal of our International. The General Secretaries of the five trade union Internationals of the Public Services( PSI, PTTI, INFEDOP, WCT and IFFTU) met on September 20, 1975 to analyse the most recent developments in the ILO activities in the field of the public services. -47Strengthened in their attitudes by the results achieved at the Technical Conference held in Geneva from 7 to 16 April 1975, they agreed on an action to be developed towards adoption by the International Labour Conference of a specific international convention on trade union rights in the public services, this not later than 1977. after nego the 1935 As a first step, representations should be made in this respect to the General Director of the ILO. -nemhis In a letter to dated September 25 to the General Director -93 of the ILO, the common front strongly insisted that the ILO should devote greater consideration to the public services.p Despite the present budgetary difficulties of the Institution, the trade unions concerned certainly will never accept that this basic sector would suffer by any means of this situation. It has been highlighted that the ILO absolutely needed a long term programme for the public services, that more should be doanone and on a more regular basis than in the past especially with en regard teachers. BOUDO Having been informed of a possible postponement of the meeting of the Joint Committee, for the same budgetary reasons, the common front immediately demanded to be heard again by the UT -obe General Director of ILO. On that occasion, they expressed strong protest against no the various delays set to the carrying on of the Committee's sl work. прос Je be Finally they also contacted the members of the workers group with whom they had a long discussion on the measures to be taken in order to secure, within the ILO, the defence of not the interests of the workers of the public services. mentation of publica cebes go dizige We continue our action. In this context, the IFFTU again appeals to all affiliated and friendly organisations to support to a maximum the common front's initiatives, the only valuable strength that is officially recognized by the Internaentional Labour Organisation. educ To conclude, we feel we may present as as a now established fact that an important step forward was made in the taking into consideration at highest level of the urgent need to revalorize the teaching condition as a public service. Obviously this progress was made thanks to the steady action that the IFFTU has been leading for years now. sonia ฟรี We should not forget however, that our task in this field remains basically dependent on the strengthening of the trade union solidarity at all levels. The sooner this evolution will take place, the sooner too, together with the free organized workers we shall succeed in achieving our basic goals! - 48- de bevsidag 2rep CHAPTER III. ****** *• * EUROPE 11 11 28751793 nave begige ve nev At all levels, and under increased pressure from governmental representatives, reforms are in the making which are of primary interest to workers in education, regardless of their categories, degrees, or disciplines. Given those circumstances, nobody will dispute the legitimity and urgence of strongly concerted actions at trade union level. asd JI Teachers' trade unionism must be represented in discussions about educational structures and programmes, teachers' training and perfecting, scientific policy, profesional training, or major educational activities in rationalization and orientation, initiated at European level. Immo] bet b Ibemmi mot nomimo end That explains why IFFTU increasingly has been promoting educational trade union cooperation. It seconded the setting up, in 1959, of the teachers' organisations' liaison committee. Our international took over in 1965 by orienting its trade union activities in a European direction. Up to 1969 it was the sole organisation represented at European Communities' level. The European Teachers' Trade Union Committee was set up on November 21, 1969, as a result of a compromise between the IFFTU and the Federation of National Education( FEN) France. From 1969 to 1975, the ETTUC stood alone in defending the teachers' condition in a true spirit op trade unionism. A contact group was established under ETTUC pressure for adequate concertation in efforts developed by teachers trade unions and the European Commission towards a proper solution for a number of priority problems, such as professional training, permanent education, and schooling for the children of migrant workers. OT sb One HERB ETTUC has become, in actual terms, an efficient social partner with priority rank at the European Commission. eto Since more than a year, the course taken by the political impetus of European construction, and numerous, varied events in this historical evolution, have compelled ETTUC to review the validity of its structures in the context of its self- defined finality. renoce an evel IIs de visbiloa noinu DJ, 000 1900 ardal BX8 Illu alsog pissd quo onivaid ni besque Ilene eu, exxow bes be - Insp - 49- benim The field of action has undergone profound changes. The European idea today is becoming a fact in terms of geography, economics and, even more than meets the eye, in terms of political concertation. en A new Committee eventually was created, on June 16, 1975 after negotiations between the French autonomous trade unions, the World Confederation of Teachers( WCT) and IFFTU. It insures, at European Commities' level, permanent representation of the teaching profession in continuously defending its material and moral interests and in acting for the development of both basic, and permanent education. Every national trade union organization of teachers in the Member States of the European Communities can become a committee member, provided it is affiliated to a trade union centre with membership in the European Trade Union Confederation, or provided it has an indisputed trade union character, in that it is committed to the defence of teachers' interests by all available means, strikes included, and to the promotion of solidarity with other workers. In the latter hypothesis the general assembly pronounces on the application for membership by a majority of two thirds of the votes. By acceding to the Committee, organizations commit themselves to: b seconding and promoting the Committee's efforts for unified aims and action on community level; informing the Committee's secretariat of actions undertaken in implementing Committee decisions; B systematic relaying to the secretariat all information that can be of interest to the Committee, or that can be used for documentation or publication purposes. The Committee represents 1,200,000 teachers, and is capable of achieving its major aims. Its affiliated organizations are real trade unions. They are representative in their respective national context. They are qualified to express and defend authorised opinions on all problems that could affect education and training. The executive bureau is as follows: A. OULIAC, Chairman; K. Mc. CARTHY and F. VALVEKENS, vice- chairmen; E. FRISTER and J. VAN WEGBERG, members%; A. BRACONIER and C. DAMEN, secretaries generals. 8180 - 50- The European Teachers' Trade Union Committee is determined to act in concert with all organized workers in the nine countries. All workers must spell out a planned and concerted strategy, in the conviction, borne out by the facts, that national competences despite the difficulties encountered in the European contraction slowly but inevitably are being taken over by the European institutions. - This profound mutation in authority results, in the first place, from community level organization of the major economic interests. It is imperative that the trade union movement should take action in a dialogue that has been limited so far to the issues of profit, and claim its right to be heard and to legitimate guarantees for its action towards reaching its own aims: Europe by and for the workers. da noinu It is in that context that the major centres have created, on February 8, 1973, the European Confederation of Trade Unions. All of them unreservedly endorse the principles of free and democratic trade unionism. The ETUC's task is to represent and promote the workers' social, economic, and cultural interests in are overall European context, and more specifically at the levels of all European institutions. The ETUC, representing 37 million workers, exerts a major influence in order to obtain recognition for trade union demands in the European institutions. The European Teachers Trade Union Committee has applied for membership in the ETUC's as a trade committee. The application procedure is now taking place. Organized European Teachers have decided to grant their qualified support to the common trade union strategy as defined by the European Trade Unions Confederation, in terms of two choices which complement each other: a) democratisation of the European economy whose policy should be oriented towards ultimate human aims; b) basically, a policy of employment inspired by continuous development and permanent adaptation of educational and training methods. enibis be nodsoube The teachers as a strong and unified power in the ETUC will back ETUC's programme, outlined as follows: 1. equal opportunities, and democratisation in political, economic, industrial and cultural affairs; B 2. promotion of human and trade union rights%; B 3. harmonization in urban and industrial conditions, protection of the natural environment; - 51- 4. more equitable and broader re- distribution of wealth and incomes; 5. attenuation in working conditions for migrant workers; 6. introduction of a regime of collective bargaining and conaratacts at European instutional levels. 100 Bugis The ETTUC's second aim is to organize a strongly structured, permanent trade union action, by means of adequate material and human resources. Only thus, and in the present state of European elaboration, will European concerted trade unionism become the organization capable of orienting Community policy in education and training towards concepts and programmes aimed at a full and free unfolding of the individual, and the full cultural, scientific and ethical unfolding of the collectivities. The ETTUC, therefore, is the meeting point where various representative teachers' trade unions can compare their demands, finalize their ultimate aims in terms of their professional and statutory requirements, and develop a common strategy for a victory of their essential, moral and material claims. 09110 The ETTUC, from the outset, has tackled a number of specific tasks. rend 22988 The Committee has granted priority to a problem of renovation in professional education and training that is of immediate and obvious significance for all workers: unemployment BI among young people. under Confronted with wide- spread unemployment among young people in Europe, it hopes for a real political determination to solve this dramatic problem. Such a determination should not be restricted to mere contacts, but should concentrate on essentials, viz. urgent measures aimed at including young people in professional activities and insure their full participation in social developments. BIB Organized teachers consider that employment structures and individual social and professional needs must be harmonized as a matter of principle and in a humanistic concept, and that the latter should not be subordinated to the former. Organized teachers want to participate in the formulation and implementation of, and the control over, the tasks, not merely as spectators or in a purely formal manner. -600 A working group has been set up in this context, to study measures for reducing unemployment among young people, and formulate the principles for organized teachers' participation in the transformation of educational orientation and training. - 5286 The Committee demands, as an immediate and essential issue, that the next inter- governmental Conference at least should lead to a firm commitment to finding short- term solutions for the crucial problems now pending in all Community countries in the context of a clearly defined and accepted common policy. compe the Ex It demands from the European Commission that the dialogue be fully widened, on an appropriate basis, between official representatives and organized teachers, so as to enable the latter fully to represent their professional and social rights at each stage of the discussions on educational integration. All national organizations have been invited to intervene at the level of their respective governments in order to obtain accelerated consideration for problems related to modernization and promotion in education and training. u The decision was taken to conduct an information campaign in teachers' organisations, and to hold, in 1976, the first European trade union Conference on Education. The In order to promote the educational condition, the Directorate General for Social Affairs has given the ETTUC a mandate to make a comparative study of working conditions of teachers in the Member States of the Community, and to assess existing possibilities for future agreements. This comparative investigation in all Member States could yield elements for direct trade union negotiations at both European and national level. A working group is making up a comparative inventory of salary systems. Another group is analyzing trade union rights in the nine countries. Rapid progress in both major directions depends on two factors which are within the ETTUC's own province of decision: brea) the setting up of a broad and strong information programme. BB Continuous, two- sided circulation of information between ar the ETTUC's Secretariat and its members is needed, in order to insure, at each stage of the action, availability of the exact situation in schools and personnel, to interpret professional n demands, and to publicise Community institutions' prospects through affiliated organizations' channels. m b) intensified direct action, in order to illustrate ETTUC's presence and efficiency. The members' and affiliated organizations' task is of paramount importance, in the context of the following tactics: coordinating national actions in their .pninisid be no to Isnaldsoube to naidamzotans er - 53- respective countries; exerting, each on its own account but on similar topics, the required pressure on their respective auen thorities; continuous reference to European requirements in dealing with national organizations; organizing, on European trade union level, confrontations in parallel with those that are being held within the European institutions.qib bos esib nondalegal besilasenso no noidsbemmos= besesq -xom Trade union action from 1959 onwards and to this day has resulted in positive progress that deserves recognition. Acbntive alertness from the very beginning onwards of a European educational and training policy- at a time a matter of fundamental choices- has proved to be rewarding. aizdnu pnigoleveb of bis o JaleesIFFTU's Secretariat has continued its relations with the Council of Europe, and has given close attention to the activities of the Council for Cultural Cooperation. As in the past, our international attended the annual meetings of nongovernmental organizations in Strasbourg, November 20-22, 1972, November 29-30, 1973, and November 25-26, 1974. The following questions were debated in these meetings: the teachers and recurrent education, participation in education, and education for future participation.- pe E. REUTER, of GEW, represented IFFTU at the second Conference of European Ministers of Education organized by UNESCO. The Conference urged the European Member States to continue studying various ways of closer cooperation, i.a. by working our appropriate institutional arrangements. It also recommended that favourable consideration be given to organizing, under UNESCO auspices, periodical conferences of representatives from European Member States, in order to study European cooperation in all fields under the Agency's jurisdiction, and to propose practical programmes strengthening such cooperation. 03 - ad Many interventions were devoted to equivalence of, or comparability between, studies and diplomas. Both the complexity and importance of the problem were underscored, in connection, i.a., with students' mobility, and aid to developing countries. The Conference urged the European Member States to promote bilateral accords, and invited the Director General to cooperate in preparing such accords in the context of existing intraEuropean bi- lateral or multi- lateral links. The Director General has been invited to submit to the Conference proposals for an accelerated European regional convention, and, subject to the Conference's approval, to convene a meeting of experts in 1975. in - 54no Jud Many delegates have indicated that teachers' and students' mobility is a basic element in European and international cooperation. They have added, however, that exchanges are taking place mainly on sub- regional level, and that their extension is being hampered by both lack of valid equivalence for studies and diplomas, and by social or legal obstacles. The Conference passed a recommendation on generalised legislation in the European Member States, in order to increase to the maximum extent possible mobility in university and professional issues. Cooperation can be further promoted by the young, and through textbooks. With regard to aid to developing countries, delegates have expressed the determination of their governments to assist in training high- level specialists, i.a. by post- graduate studies or trainings in Europe, in research centres, and by grants, or delegation of experts. 190 svo The Conference passed several recommendations on permanent education, democratization of higher education, access to education, scientific cooperation at university level, study of foreign languages, and on organizing higher education's structures and methods. IFFTU, in cooperation with the Friedrich- Ebert- Stiftung organized a European seminar in Bergneustadt, on the following subjects: inter- dependence of economic, social, and educational policies in Europe; nammos - trade- unions' role, as a counter- balance to capitalistic nu interests%; B - Il sev possibilities for harmonising the aims of teachers' organizations in Europe. mob 10 The meeting was attended by teachers from most of the European countries concerned( Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland) and led to a broad exchange of views, in the presence of an OECD, and a" Deutsche Gewerkschaftsbund"( DGB) e delegate. The" Internationale Lehrerkonferenz"( ILK) in cooperation with IFFTU held in Berlin, October 27- November 2, 1974, a seminar for European teachers on teachers' professional training. 03. ge - 55- end Representatives from teachers' organizations in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Federal Germany compared their respective systems for training and perfecting, and sketched the broad outlines for their further evolution and harmonization on European level. the ult PORTUGAL. in I adT ni meinoin sbsid add All trade unionists received with elation the news of the events on the unforgettable April 25, 1974, marking the libeoeration of Portuguese workers after half a century of dictatorship and oppression. _ameidot si The democratic tidal wave erased the stronghold of a powerful dictatorship. The brutal collapse of the Salazar regime gave a factual corroboration of our positions and essential, moral demands: - - the total incapability, for a police dictatorship, to improve the people's standard of living%; that standard is the lowest in Europe now in Portugal, and the country is totally at the mercy of the giant multinationals, despite an apparent economic nationalism; the total incapacity of insuring, on a broad scale, the kind of life that is in tune with man's most legitimate aspirations Europe's youngest population, in demographic terms, also has the highest children's death rate, the highest rate of illiteracy, and the highest rate of workers' emigration; - the total incapability of maintaining by means of weapons a regime of unadulterated colonialism. Salazar's policy failed piteously, at the cost of useless blood- baths in Mozambique, Angola and Guinea Bissau, huge territories that have become strongholds of the pendal economic power of the multinationals, and bulwarks of apartheid and racism. bemab The workers' world movement went immediately into action, on the spot. An important international trade union delegation visited Lisbon, May 17-19, 1974. The Secretary General of IFFTU was a member of the delegation, and he also held an explicit mandate from PTTI and PSI, the two internationals for the Public Services. The delegates from the international trade union movement met with leaders at the highest level, and representatives of Intersindical. Subjects of the talks included the situation in the African territories still under Portuguese colonial rule, and Portuguese workers' immediate concerns. - 56enje IFFTU's Secretary General discussed with teachers the setting up of an immediate working programme. Everything remains to be done and support is needed for the public sector, where workers for two generations have been cut off brutally from every form of trade union experience. dies The trade union movement as a whole has created a solidarity fund for the re- activation of free trade unionism in Porentugal. It appeals to the international Agencies and to the industrialized countries for granting the broadest possible support to Portugal, a country facing dramatic economic and social problems. 03 The IFFTU, supported by the whole ICFTU/ ITS movement, is continuing its action in helping Portuguese teachers to set up an autonomous, free, and democratic trade union. SPAIN. Our international prides itself never to have failed to maintain its natural, unconditional solidarity with the UGT, from our very beginnings and to the full extent of our means. br> This great organization, which fought underground, with grim and continuous determination for half a century, under conditions of distress and bloody prosecution and through numerous personal freely accepted sacrifices, more than ever deserves our support. in The Franco government established in the country a permanent state of exception, in violation of its own laws. All methods of repression and violence were used: arrests, imprisonments, tortures, and sentences, by military or other courts, against men and women fighting for the re- establishment of democracy in Spain. The whole trade union movement was invited to demonstrate, i.a. by strikes, on October 2, 1975 against the tide of policy repression in Spain and, more specifically, against the executions of five opponents to the Franco regime. IFFTU seconded the ICFTU in demanding the liberation of all political and trade union prisoners, the commutation of death sentences, and the revision of the economic, cultural, and political boycott aimed at isolating the Franco regime. It grants the fullest possible support to the Spanish working class' courageous and admirable struggle for the recovery of human dignity through the re- establishment of civic and trade union liberties. bas el . 57- enibe We will not enumerate here IFFTU's numerous interventions, during the last three years, in supporting Spanish teachers' fight for their trade union rights, for freedom of speach, and for public, undenominational and democratic education which is indispensable to man's, and citizen's freedom and dignity, and for the ultimate integration of Spain into a free and democratic Europe. ugoq то We have remained in close contact with the Spanish Fede-. ration of Workers in Education( FETE- UGT). We undertook all the actions required, and have appealed, in our releases, to solidarity among all teachers' trade unions. 10 BA od dnemev J180000$ 83111A du for AFRICA. 11 11 I 11 ad bns.andinu sb spens пе || I I II J 10 nu ei noijos be bos INTRODUCTION. ANAWZTOB If, on the one hand we may be glad of the positive evolution which occurred on the african continent following the decolonization of the Bissau- Guinea, the Mozambique and the independence of Angola, it is to be noted on the other hand, that the apartheid policy is still acute in South Africa, the minority regime being as much as before reluctant to recognize the african majority. A repressive policy continues to spread to Namibia, whereas vexations have not been slackening in Rhodesia. One must here pay a tribute to the African workers who, facing these colonial and minority regimes, are going on with their struggle for independence and for their human as well as social rights. Condemning politically and morally the application of racial discrimination in South- Africa, Rhodesia and Namibia, the ICFTU during the last congress( october 1975) has more particularly asked in a concrete way that workers of industrialized countries should exert pressure on business concerns having branches in South- Africa and in Namibia, so that they banish all forms of discrimination and recognize african unions. Congress also asked that affiliates should oppose all emigration to South Rhodesia. This was the synthesis of a long succession of actions undertaken together with the ICFTU. - 58II 11 I I 11 II I || Joint action of the free trade union movement for the spreading of well being and the fight for elementary rights of man. - II I 11 II I Π I 11 11 II I 11 I 11 I Π I T The ICFTU in close collaboration with the ITS carried on in a joint action their efforts to help and support African populations submitted to a colonial or minority regime. The target aimed at was especially to guarantee the human and trade union rights to these populations and workers fighting for independence and the institution of well structured free unions. ano As far as SOUTH- AFRICA is concerned, the trade union movement has instituted a co- ordination committee for South Africa in view to help in a concrete way African workers in their efforts to set up trade unions, and be certain that a concerted action is undertaken regarding investments in South Africa and the emigration towards this country, and that effective pressure is exerted on the regime. The Committee formulated specific recommendations which have been, and are being carried into effect. BOTSWANA: - supply of office equipment to the organized workers so that they will dispose of more means of action%; B - humanitarian help to the family of workers, employed as bo Jend contractual labour, and victims of the repression. LESOTHO: - a mission on the spot to make out programmes of co- operation and help for workers victims of the repression. NAMIBIA: - 03 an international action to compel South Africa to renounce to the illegal seizure of Namibia, and the set up of human and trade union rights in that country%; juridical help and assistance to the strike leaders in Namibia( 1972); contribution to the special fund of the UNO for Namibia; b action at the level of the UNO against arrests and illegal detentions of Namibian leaders. - 59. SOUTH AFRICA: and objectives are A12300HA make sure that the sanctions of the UNO taken against South Africa are applied; participation to the international Conference of trade unions against Apartheid( june 1973) and participation to the action decided in the resolution of the Conference calling for the boycott of South African products; discouragement of investments in South Africa( appeal to affiliated organisations)%; B Ved 03, won o ou side need on qu help to workers on strike( textiles in Durban) and victhe tims of repression( gold mines Carltontown). There has been no co- operation with the white people trade unions in South Africa. M5885716 4 an J1800-05 noinu ebs13 10 pills eme.idoq The independent African countries continued their efforts for development and a renewed determination appeared in the struggle for political and economical independence, in spite of the persistent political instability. African trade unions took a prominent part in these efforts and benefited of all the possible help from the international trade union movement. ANGOLA: 27A before the change of regime in Portugal, the help of the trade union movement had been going to organizations struggling for independence, the refugees of Angola and the workers in the freed parts of Angola; - since the change of regime in Portugal, missions have been sent to Angola to start trade union activities after an evaluation of the position. canc Contacts took place also with the three movements of liberation( MPLA, UNITA and FNLA) and also with the Portugese authorities, in order to help African populations and guaaberantee on the part of Portugal the absolute independence of Angola. is emeldo ETHIOPIA: - everyone has still in mind the dramatic changes that took place in Ethiopia in february 1974, when the army, the -ed students and the trade unions started almost simultaneousbne ly but separately actions against the regime. Several w -strike movements were started followed by the arrest of Toebnumerous trade union leaders. Several missions have been be support was launched. A humanitarian help was granted to sent to the authorities and an international movement of families who had been hit. s bns namun to disqest one mobes:? $ 60- RHODESIA: ree trade the African trade union movement of Rhodesia continued to receive assistance in the fields of organization and education through the representative of the ICFTU/ ITS. The latter also continued to bring juridical assistance and humanitarian help to African trade unionists detained and their families. Let Us come now to our activities in Africa, for causes beyond our control, the Secretariat of our International has not been able up to now, to carry into effect on that continent real regional activities. If, on these vast territories, everything is still to be created, wrether it is regarding development of education or promotion of teaching condition, we fully realize the size of problems calling for trade union co- operation, while we refuse to interfere with problems particular to national organizations.bb163 anoinu This is why our Secretariat, during the last three years, undertook a careful study of trade union rights. We had to confine ourselves to take useful steps, to set up stages in the hope to be able at a more or less long term to set up an African structure of the IFFTU. The amplitude of these programmes is almost without limits, and so is their complexity, seeing the difficulty of the geographical, political, economical, and psychological context, in which it is to be inserted. This action is absolutely necessary, consistent with our ideal, within reach of our will%; B the Secretariat did everything in its power for this. Teachers and trade unionism- African prospects. First of all an important fact must be taken into consideration. We must be glad of the will of African teachers to organize themselves as a a common front to face the problems affecting this continent. Just as other workers' organizations had been doing, teachers' organizations are now grouped into a pan- african organization of the teaching profession. Teve -auce Their targets and objectives are to promote contacts between teachers and their organizations to defend the rights and interests, moral as well as material, of the teaching profession, to encourage the improvement of programmes and methods of teaching, to promote the progress of culture, science, and technology through education finally the organization committed itself to develop a concept of education promoting good will and a better understanding between nations, to secure peace, freedom and respect of human dignity. 61- These targets and objectives are still increased by the fundamental principles which bring forward co- operation, and the respect of the independence of each member teachers' organization. This co- operation is a base for the defence, the progress of basic rights of teachers and their responsibility as an full part of the national community; this co- operation is resting on the acceptance of the principle of real representativity of member organizations who are adopting a policy and direction keeping in mind the freely expressed wishes of their authentic members following democratic methods. The IFFTU was represented at the first meeting of the panafrican organization which took place at Kampala from the 25th. to the 28th. july 1974. Contacts were kept with leaders of this organization with the final target that their Organisation should become in fact a trade union, at the service of all the workers. UT As a matter of fact, problems are not lacking at this level. As E.T. ASHILEY, African representative at the Executive Committee of the IFFTU 3 National President of the" Teachers and Educational Workers Union" affiliated to the TUC ( Ghana), pointed out that the traditional attitude of teachers. has been to confine themselves proudly in a professional status, with the result that they never identified themselves with the trade union movement. However, the economic and social development made it that workers everywhere in the world became conscious of the fact that it is in their interest not only to participate to the management of their enterprises but also to define their own conditions of labour and their salaries. From then onwards, E.T. ASHILEY pointed out that more than ever teachers, and those of their organizations who are not a member yet of a trade union centre, should reconsider their position in the interest of their members, and for the reinforcement of national unity and the labour front in Africa as well as for the solidarity with the workers of the whole world. If problems are not missing, nevertheless the Secretariat organized important demonstrations in the form of seminars, the most important of which took place in Kinshasa in 1974. de unionism - 62- Our activities in Africa. eevidasido bns espie 99T II 11 I II II II I II I || From the 22nd. to the 27th. April 1974, at Kinshasa capital of the Republic of Zaire, organized teachers of the whole of African and Malagasy countries got together. This was our second pan- african Conference, succeeding to the one held in Accra, in 1971, which had already an undeniable success of participation, regarding the quality of studies and proceedings, and finally the value of the results of the subsequent action. On the agenda, the important questions particularly interesting for African teachers: the part taken by education no in an expanding economy, the teaching condition, a critical analysis of existing educational systems. Twenty- four representatives of various African and IFFTU countries, including teachers, leaders of organizations of the teaching profession and officials of national education of the Zaire attended the conference, observers belonging to the cultural and scientific quarters of Kinshasa were also present. The object of the conference was given in a general account of which the three specific themes were as follows: - objectives and principles of education in african countries; - means and methods to reach the assessed objectives for education; effective favourable conditions of educational action. nainu The proceedings and discussions enabled those taking part to exchange views and the experiences in their respective countries on several questions regarding education as a whole and teaching in particular. Of all the proceedings of the Conference( statements, debates, accounts of commissions) one must keep in mind the main facts concerning: - the general considerations on education and economical development, the objectives and economic expansion. The objectives and principles of African education, the means and methods to reach the objectives assessed for education, the favourable circumstances for an efficient educational action in Africa. of ted to and nations, to gnity. - 63- The Conference adopted unanimously the following recommendation in favour of a real education and an efficient and concrete educational action: - Considering the present position of Africa in the world and the necessity to develop quickly economics of african countries; tries - Considering that education is the foundation and the key to all expansion; In view to allow an increased efficiency of educational action for a speedy and effective African economic expansion, the conference recommends with urgency to all african governments: B - to adapt teaching systems to the present imperatives, in b) their structures, their contents and their finality, by xem integrating them more and more in the actual situation e of each country; insisting that the same governments apply the intergovernmental Recommendation on the status. of teachers as adopted by the special international Con-edivnference on the condition of teaching personnel in 1966; - to all African teachers to be conscious of the problematic position of African education, of the existing requirements and the pioneering part they can and must play in this situation%; B eve 10 to the whole African community to help the governments and schools to succeed in the revolution of renovated education. Our Secretariat forwarded this resolution to the specialized international institutions to which our International is accredited. The IFFTU will put into action all its means available to support the tremendous effort of the African and Malagasy colleagues. We are convinced that this solidarity, aiming at supporting responsible action and not imposing it, will actually be that of all our affiliated organizations. On the other hand the Secretariat tried to bring together the leaders of teaching organizations. It was the case in Tunis, shortly after our last Congress. A seminar grouping 20 participants of 9 countries, studied carefully the problems of social education at the primary and secondary levels. Another seminar will take place on the same spot from the 10 until the 15 december 1975 regarding the part played by teachers in trade unionism. 64-nene The leaders of teachers' organizations in Ghana, the Zaire, Nigeria, Dahomey and Ethiopia have been invited to attend a seminar in Berlin from the 27th. november to the 2nd. december 1973. Proceedings went on the use of radio and television in the field of education. was nasy Teachers of different English speaking countries of Africa gathered in a seminar organized in Berlin from the 11th. to the 16th. november 1974, at the initiative of the International Lehrerkonferenz( ICK) in collaboration with the IFFTU to debate the formation of teachers in Africa. nolt Have participated to this meeting, delegates of representative organizations of teaching personnel of Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia. no The delegates took advantage of this opportunity to make out a list of priorities and needs in the field of teachers training in the African countries. are The group then spent a few days in Brussels at the invitation of the IFFTU to study the programme of co- operation of african organizations of teachers with the International. Another seminary will be held in Berlin in december 1975, with the participation of leaders of 10 African organizations. # 998 The Secretariat completed his actions,- particularly his campaign of information- by going to the Zaire and in Kenya, he tried to issue a special bulletin of information for Africa regrouping activities in expansion on that continent. To this effect we should go on with our efforts by disposing of more resources. 38 ing part With regard to affiliations, the IFFTU is to rejoice at the affiliation of the powerful Organisation of Ghana( GNAT). -quOther demands will be submitted shortly to our Executive Committee. Idian Slowly but surely the Secretariat is increasing his influence in Africa. If Congress gives us appropriate means, it will be possible to set up a strong regional branch, with Osa great future. १० 19 onibles are 8 beb 21 meinoinu ob INTERAMERICAN REGION. *** Istp **** -- 65- cp sebatibolang adding of the INTRODUCTION. sd no syd beysiqib yild meinginu sbsid set to end ddiw reveoedsru dw The action of our Secretariat in that hemisphere, had and will always have to overcome heavy obstacles, which are of two orders: a) first of all of physic and human geography. Uadt o 08018 From the far- north of Canada to the" Tierra del Fuego" more than forty states, each of an enormous size, dis- lidatributed in sub- regions, particularly defined above an be unbelievable ethnic diversity, by the common language 38939 in use. in Jne.mom end JA end JA.svet ni annelV ni 18 03 100 s b) of social and also political, psychological, and cultu-Ideral surrounding. The latter complicating, by all means, the diversity of problems encountered by the free trade union movement of the interamerican region, those of highly industrialized countries being fundamentally dif- 0 ferent from those of vast areas still characterized by a deep state of under- development. This is the case for latin America. Amexic in 191 bednese This is a distorted region of the world, where political stability is hardly existing. This area is since the second world war the scenery of overthrowings of governments, caused ez most of the time by armed forces supported very often by powerful financial oligarchies.. Too many latin- american countries are at the moment under the yoke of dictatorship, civic and political freedoms are jeered at, trade union rights are limited or unexisting with a few exceptions. It is the duty of organizations of our large industrialized countries to unite, so that the full trade union rights be - recognized there where the forms of administration are restricting them and are only showing contempt towards them, and to require with the latin- american workers their full application. The Secretariat has been able to see on the spot this revolting iniquity and the huge distress of our teaching colleagues submitted to the arbitrary of a strong power; teachers in these countries also have to face dramatic problems related to development. It is consequently a duty to watch all attempts. to the fundamental rights of human dignity, and to lead a campaign against the worse exactions and tortures taking place daily in certain latin- american countries. are the - 66- During the period under review, the Secretariat went on with the difficult task to create over there a worthy regional trade union front, in spite of all the difficulties if not the hostility, displayed by a competition having nothing to do whatsoever with the ideals of free trade unionism. bns bad sedimen dsn ni del1601092 100 to noijos edT owd o Within the possible means, we tried to organise contacts on the spot with affiliated organisations, by going to CostaRica, to the U.S.A., to Quebec, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, and Salvador. The number of organizations affiliated to the IFFTU in the interamerican region increased as follows: two more, accepted at our Congress in Francfort in 1969; thirteen at our Congress in Vienna in 1972. At the moment they are sixteen altogether. oals ons since to( d ensOn the other hand, the Secretariat went on with the publication of the bulletin in Spanish. traine to fnemav notnu Organisation of an important interamerican conference. From the 18th. to the 24th. August 1974, the IFFTU organized in San José Costa- Rica an important interamerican conference. Fifteen teachers organizations of the new world were represented at these proceedings, which should mark a date in the history of our movement because they ended on a unanimous agreement: to do everything possible to consolidate, definitely solidarise, the teachers trade union movement of the far- south of this vast hemisphere. To In view of this, all measures have been taken to tighten, and this on the whole surface of this part of the world, the - links of co- operation already existing under the auspices of the IFFTU, and within the frame work of our ideal, between the more representative, the more dynamic, and the more active tra-de union organisations. This means, more than ever, that the IFFTU during this splendid demonstration of trade union unity, proved his will and capacity to defend and promote the teaching condition on 8 the whole surface of the territories across the atlantic, from beAlaska to Tierra del Fuego. e3qmas IIs do sw o al JI -mso The leit- motiv has been the part played by education and is training under all their contemporary aspects, and consequently, the present importance of education, with regard to social development, as well as social changes, in well to do and poor countries of the American hemisphere. - 67- The President of the IFFTU recalled the essentials of the doctrine of our International. The General Secretary pointed out the aims of the IFFTU regarding education on the American continent. A whole day was devoted to compare and examine the position of trade unionism in each of the countries represented at the meeting. Those participating took then decisions regarding the laying out in view to create the interamerican teaching solidarity, under the sponsorship of the IFFTU, a strong instrument of co- operation and mutual support between the interested organizations. edo To this end, the Executive of our International was approached with a proposal tending to the setting up across the moAtlantic of a regional Committee, sufficiently representative, and an interamerican Secretariat of the IFFTU. - In so doing, will be laid in San José, the foundations of a powerful trade union front, to which the IFFTU will see that the whole of the teaching organizations in South and North America get joined. This task is particularly important in outcasted countries of the Continent, where the rights of man and workers are jeered at in a most cruel way. And this is the case in Chile. be 7 and zede sisey owd A campaign of the international trade union movement against the" gorilla" junta of Pinochet. ad debb On the 11th. september 1973, the military junta of General Pinochet was throwing down the Salvador Allende government which had been freely elected by the chilean people. The new dictators put into action to this effect the most cruel methods, murdering President Allende and a good number of his supporters, with numerous trade unionists, deporting and arresting, to the point of raising indignation in all the democratic countries in the world. The international free trade union movement outcried his indignation for these crimes, which unfortunately still take place at the moment. no Faced with this drama, our Secretariat strongly protested to general opinion and high international authorities as well. In so doing the action of the IFFTU got integrated in that of the whole international trade union movement. A The trade union movement made an immediate intervention at the United Nations and the ILO, protesting against all attacks on the most fundamental rights of man, amongst which are the 19 rights to live and the freedom of trade union rights. 68The intervention to the United Nations was also made to obtain a safe- conduct pass for trade unionists and other runaways, whatever their political adherences. hostility Layad An action was undertaken at the World Bank asking that all credit to Chile be suspended until the democratic system is restored. ebben a membe A direct approach by the trade union movement to the General Secretary of the United Nations has been a decisive factor urging the Junta to allow the trade union leaders who took refuge in the Embassys in Santiago to leave the country. We also did our best so that thousands of prisonners in concentration camps are freed. A similar decision has been taken by the General Director of the ILO. At the -as On the other hand, following an official complaint of the trade union movement, the Governing Body of the ILO have decided to set up a Commission of enquiry on trade union freedom in Chile. After looking into all the documents submitted by the trade union movement, the Commission heared on october 1974, the testimony of the ICFTU and the two other international trade unions, as well as the arguments the junta was opposing. amA In may 1975, the Secretariat of the IFFTU, participating pe to the meeting of representatives of public services workers, baze at the technical conference on public services in Geneva, adopted with the workers group, a resolution expressing the solidarity with Chilean workers two years after the fascist coup d'état. This resolution denounced also the permanent violations of freedom and rights of man in Chile, persecutions, arrests, tortures and murderings of workers, and trade unionists, Is the discriminations hitting civil servants who have towards the junta an antifascist and democratic attitude, all this in violation of convention N° 111 of the ILO concerning discrimiabonation in the field of profession and employment. 04008c- boop s baseballA nobis on In fact, the two years of fascist regime, but also of antifascist resistance, have been two years of intense activity for the free trade union movement, the ICFTU its affiliated and the ITS's associated to it. The question was to put into action the whole weight of the trade union movement to set up a political boycott of military gorillas in power in Chile, and our efforts contributed to the international isolation in which the regime of Santiago gradually found itself. And more than that, thanks to the solidarity fund for Chile, to which our affiliates generously contributed, we have been able to give a financial and legal help to victims of the junta in Chile itself, particularly to families of murdered or detained workers, and emprisonned trade unionists, and also to those who succeeded in escaping abroad. mobes? Brld be - 69- We must reaffirm our active solidarity with our Chilean brothers, and declare once and for all that none of us will feel free until political, democratic, and trade union rights will not be fully re- established in Chile. BOLIVIA. BD On the 9th. november 1974, the government of General Banzer adopted an order in council by which the right to strike was abolished, and all trade unions had to be suppressed. Although they were dissolved the latter reacted by launching a 48 hours strike. Immediately the free trade union movement protested to the ILO condemning this violation of trade union freedom and rights. This action went on in 1975. URUGUAY. The parliamentary system was suspended in Uruguay on the 27th. june 1973. This was followed by a quantity of strikes. In reply the government ordered the dissolution of the nationeno al labour Convention. The Uruguayan Confederation of Workers lodged in August of the same year a complaint with the ILO 89 against the government of their country for violation of convention N° 87 on trade union freedom. rose 002.A In February 1974, an international ICFTU/ ITS trade union action took place following the arrest of two Uruguayan journalists, which was a flagrant blow against freedom of speech. QUEBEC. We shall not recall here the important movement of international solidarity led in 1973 by the IFFTU against the condemnation for strike actions of the three trade union leaders. representing the common trade union front of public services including our friend Yvon Charbonneau, President of Quebec teachers Union. We already had the opportunity to state the main facts in the report devoted to the teaching condition. But 1975 saw a renewal of attacks on the part of the Canadian governmental authorities against trade union freedom, taking the form of a draft bill( N° 24) amending the workers status for Quebec. The government seems determined to launch an offensive against the free organized workers by imposing a number of severe restrictions with view to paralysing trade union life( abusive demands regarding decisions taken concerning trade union affiliation, arbitrary inquisition in the financial administration and regulations of trade unions, limits concerning the right to strike...) and dividing workers. More than that, this draft bill is violating international standards on trade union freedom( more particularly article 3 of convention N° 87 adopted by the ILO in 1948). 70This is why the Quebec teachers asked our Secretariat to do the necessary to refer this matter to the ad- hoc Committee for trade union freedom of the ILO. The IFFTU did so jointly with the ICFTU, and with the support of the workers group. Aware of the importance which a resort to international level may represent for the fight of our Quebec friends, the IFFTU is drawing the attention of Congress on the intrigues, once again directed against trade union rights of teachers; our solidarity will be such as to stop all repressive action which would take place in the years to come on the part of the Canadian government. But once more, we must be ready to intervene vigourously. UNITED STATES. Very recently, the United Federation of Teachers( UFT), a New York section of the American Federation of Teachers( AFT) decided on a strong action to protect working conditions in the New York schools. As a matter of fact, as a result of financial restrictions decided by the city of New York, the schools were heavily affected at the beginning of the new school year, dismissal of 4.500 teachers, overloaded class rooms, lack of social services, wage freeze, holiday reductions, increase of teaching hours, hit at the negotiating machinery. ood rhois The UFT decided on a striking movement widely followed and supported by the parents of pupils. For the 80.000 members of the UFT the whole school system of New York was at stake. The New York authorities were compelled to take into account these demands by cancelling decisions restricting employment. The IFFTU called his affiliates to show their solidarity with the UFT. GUATEMALA. By moving teachers from one end to the other of the country, the Guatemala government violated deliberately in 1974, the statutory rights of teaching personnel, as well as the individual guarantees provided for by the Constitution. The IFFTU intervened to the President of the Republic to claim the respect of trade union rights of the teachers. This was an occasion to appeal to the solidarity of all our affiliated or friendly organizations, in support of our protest. - 71- COSTA RICA. status of tesAub 2 A Beyond the organization of our interamerican Conference in August 1974 in San José, we had the opportunity in 1973 to show our trade union solidarity during the unlimited strike decided by the Associacion Nacional de Educadores( ANDE). Although there is, in that country, a special legislation stipulating that salaries of public services should be increased in proportion every time the index of prices is rising by 4%, the index of prices had not been readjusted since 1971. In front of this inadmissible situation, the ANDE decided on a movement of unlimited strike. Under national as well as e international trade union pressure- the IFFTU had started ab an action of solidarity with the teachers of Costa Rica-%; B the authorities finally agreed on meeting the demands and complied with their obligations towards the teaching personnel. 8820 nd Beyond these actions of protest regarding the trade union rights jeered at in several latin- american countries, it must be noted that important actions of solidarity have been going on following natural disasters which hitted Nicaragua and the Honduras. Everybody has still in mind the terrific earthquake of the 23rd. december 1972 in Nicaragua, which destroyed the capital of that country, killing more than ten thousand, and injuring fifty thousand. On september 1974, a hurricane followed by torrential rain, devastated the north coast region of Honduras, were the majority of agriculture and industry are concentrated. C Cont In one case like in the other, the IFFTU participated immediately to the action of solidarity of the free trade union movement, that expressed deep and fraternal sympathy to the families and also to the victims of these disasters, and organized a campaign of solidarity with its affiliated organizations. DE and joi 99862999 and tions betwe the the exercise the presc ** nts - ASIA. 11 the Quebec - 72- Is asked our 018- AT203 One of the major problems of Asia still remains the ratification and the application of conventions 87 and 98 of the ILO. The countries in that region have strongly gone forward in the field of industrial and economic progress. However as far as trade union rights are concerned, everything is at a stop, not to say in regression. The IFFTU is not forgetting the importance of economic progress in Asian countries on the way of development, but it is essential that teachers can also share the advantages of such a progress so as to be able to devote themselves more to the tasks of developing the country, which is just as important. I w PO Joint action within the framework of public services. Cond and Since 1969 a wide intersectorial trade union action is going on in Asia at the level of all public services. In october of that year, took place the first Asiatic Conference of Public Services organized in common by the three Internationals concerned: TH - The International of Public Services( PSI); The International of the PTT( PTTI); The International of teachers( IFFTU). A number of serious restrictions in the field of union rights had been listed up and a report had duly been made in view of the first session of the joint Committee for Public Services, created at the level of the ILO under trade union pressure of the very same three Internationals. ns It is not useless to recall here the following findings underlined during the Conference and which have been confirmed since, in particular during the regional Conferences of teachers held by the IFFTU: - the freedom of association and fundamental union rights are not recognized in some Asian countries; B in other countries, administrative and criminal sanctions are taken towards union Organizations on the ground of their genuine union activities; Conventions 87 and 98 of the ILO have not been ratified by the majority of Asian countries%; B some countries, though having ratified conventions 87 and 98, however do not apply them; - 73 the ILO- UNESCO Recommendation on the status of teachers has not been adopted by many countries%; in most countries of Asia, the representatives of public services are refused the equality of union rights in comparison with the employees of the private sector; in some countries also the State is making discriminations regarding the union rights of his own agents, and in so doing is giving a bad exemple to employers of the private sector; the right to strike is denied to agents of the public services, although this right is recognized to employees of the private sector. pbp The PSI, PTTI, and the IFFTU have decided to hold a second regional Asian Conference for Public Services. This has taken place in Tokyo from the 29th. October to the 1st. November 1972. Our regional representative Gurnam Singh was leading the IFFTU delegation. Three reports have been produced at the conference: the union rights for agents of the public services in the various countries of Asia; union claims in view of future action for the public services to be taken at the level of the ILO; protection of agents of the public services against all administrative or penal sanctions taken on account of trade union activities. dnsvice oldug The decisions of the conference can be summed up in five resolutions that were unanimously passed at the close of the Conference, which are copied below: 1. Resolution on Trade Union Rights of Public Servants- 03 The Second Asian Conference of Public Services Unions convened by the PTTI, PSI and IFFTU in Tokyo from 29th. October to 1st. November, 1972, having reviewed the situation in Asia with regard to the trade union rights of public servants, DEPLORES the restrictive measures adopted by most governments in Asia on the right of public servants to establish and join organisations of their own choosing, the failure of governments to establish, encourage and promote the full development and utilisation of machinery for voluntary negotiations between the employers and public service organisations, the limitations imposed, and the denial in a number of cases, the exercise of the right to strike in public employment, and the prescription of criminal administrative penal sanctions for striking public servants, 74FURTHER DEPLORES the fact that since the 1st. Conference of Public Services Unions held in October 1969 the rights of public servants have been further restricted in several Asian countries, REGRETS that to rationalise unilateral control, governments tend to use arguments of" sovereignty of state" which concept raises difficulties and places artificial barriers on the whole question of public service employee relations, NOTES with concern the problems faced by trade unions in the struggle for achievement of full trade union rights in countries under authoritarian rule and the pressures exerted by the multi- national companies which tend to erode the rights of trade unions, broEMPHASISES the key to success of the struggle for full trade union rights lies in the strength of the unions in each country and in international solidarity, DRAWS ATTENTION to the need for educational activities on the problems of public servants, for instruction of members on trade union rights, for the support of all workers and of the public for full respect for the basic and fundamental rights, old to sineps 198 PROCLAIMS the unswerving determination of the Asian Public Service unions to continue the struggle for full trade union rights, ed ed of CALLS upon the PTTI, PSI and the IFFTU to launch a world wide campaign and to marshall the support of all public servants, including those in the transport services, for the establishment of full trade union rights for public servants, PLEDGES the Asian public service unions and their ITS to the PP continued struggle, with complete success, for the right to form unions of their workers' own choice: the right to organise and to run the unions in complete freedom in accordance with the will of the members; the right to protect against anti- union measures by the employing authorities and the descrimination against trade union members; the right to bargain collectively on conditions of work and employment, and the right to strike. 2. Resolution_concerning the ILO activities in the field of pudeblic services. de Argind of CONSIDERING that the ILO, by virtue of its constitution has a duty to ensure without descrimination, the promotion of better conditions of life and work for all workers: CONGRATULATES the PTTI, PSI and IFFTU on the success they ent nemydioachieved at the first session of the Joint add Committee of the ILO on public services; o V268 pixie 101" - 75- ENDORSES the resolution adopted by the first session of the ILO Joint Committee on Public Services; REGRETS deeply that the recommendations contained in those resolutions have not yet been followed; URGES the ILO to implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee concerning ILO's further action in the field of public services; EMPHASISES imperative need for an International Labour Convention on Public servants' Freedom of Association and employee participation in the determination of conditions of employment in the public sector and such Convention is to provide for full trade union rights including the right to strike; CALLS UPON the ILO Governing Body to put this question in the bed agenda of the 1974 session of the International Labour Conference%; CONSIDERS it as a matter of great importance that the Joint Committee should be convened for the second session at the earliest time to consider the agenda items recommended; APPEALS to the ILO Governing Body to give priority to the following recommendations of the Joint Committee; appointment of expert committee on conditions of work and employment in health services and PTTI services; and a study of the effects of technological changes on conditions of work and employment in posts and telecommunications; B DECLARES the growing importance of public services calls for the expansion of ILO's activities in this field. 3. Resolution on Protection of Public Servants against Administrative and Penal Sanctions_taken on account of their_ Trade Union Activities. The 2nd Asian Conference of Public Services Unions convened by the PTTI, PSI and IFFTU from 29th. October to 1st. November, 1972, OPPOSES any discrimination against public servants in respect of trade union rights%; B ASSERTS that public servants are entitled to full and unrestricted trade union rights%; B EMPHASISES public servants' right to strike, the exercise of which should not be regarded as a criminal offence, violation of service regulations or misconduct, giving rise to punishment or sanctions; B - 76- CALLS FOR the abolition of any law, regulation or practice which permits the punishment of individuals for participation in collective action undertaken on union instruction; URGES the recognition of all kinds of industrial action as legitimate and hence not liable to disciplinary or other sanctions%; B CONSIDERS it essential that the following principles should form the basis for disciplinary codes in the public services; a. Definition of offences and criteria for disciplinary sanctions should be established through negotiations between unions and the employing authorities and should be contained in collective agreements%; B b. Every charge should be impartially investigated, the full results of investigations be made available to de the person concerned who should have the right to defend himself( herself) and the right to have recourse to the union for this purpose; C. 10 d. e. There should be severe restrictions on the possibility of delegation of the authority to take disciplinary action%; B That complaints and appeals against disciplinary sanctions should be referred to an impartial and expert body. Staff members should have the right to be re- e presented at such a body by their union%; B That complaints and appeals should be dealt with expeditiously and there should be no alteration of decision of the authorities concerned by the employer and against the decisions of the public servants concerned should have a right to appeal in Courts. REQUESTS the Workers' Group to press for the endorsement by the ILO Joint Committee on the Public Service of the principles defined in this resolution. 4. Resolution on the violation of the Japanese Public Em-_90 ployees Trade Union Rights. The 2nd Asian Conference also: EMPHASISES that there should be no distinction between Government as employer and employers in the private sector and that full trade union rights should be accorded to both the employees in the public and private sectors; - 77- CONDEMNS the Japanese Government for equating industrial ac100ptions of Japanese public employees with criminal activities and the denial by the Japanese government of basic collective bargaining rights, both at national and local levels; RECORDS that strike, go- slow, work- to- rule, ban on overtime and other forms of industrial action are legitimate collective efforts of trade unions particularly in the absence of proper and fair negotiating rights and grievance handling procedures; DEMANDS that the Japanese Government immediately establishes a system of industrial relations in the public services based on full collective bargaining rights including the right to strike; REQUESTS the PTTI, PSI, IFFTU, ITF and ICFTU to establish an international solidarity committee to marshall support for the Japanese public servants unions in their struggle for firm trade union rights%; B and, DECIDES to seek an interview for a delegation from this Conference with the Japanese Prime Minister in order to impress upon him the strong feelings of all the delegates as expressed in this resolution. 5. The 2nd Asian Conference of Public Services Unions convened _by PSI, PITI and the IFFTU in Tokyo. Having considered certain general aspects of the ILO and its activities, RECALLS that the essential objects of the ILO is the promotion of social justice and progressive labour standards; CALLS UPON the ILO to improve its machinery and procedures in order to act more speedily and more effectively for the achievement of this objective%; B URGES the ILO, more particularly, to render more expeditious the procedure for dealing with complaints against infringements of trade union rights and to ensure protection against repressive measures taken by Governments against those who lodge complaints with ILO; CONSIDERS that the use of the ILO as an an arena for purely poceable litical purposes weakens the Organisation; STRESSES the importance if ILO's educational activities and calls for the expansion of its workers educational programmes; and, PLEDGES its support to the ILO Workers group in its efforts to obtain, through the Organisation, the greatest possible benefits for the working people. 8 - 78- CALLS The Chapter on the condition of teachers is giving a description of the steady efforts of the IFFTU for the restoration of trade union rights in Japan. Isholdsn Regional Conferences. d IIod The IFFTU went on with organizing seminars and conferences in Asia. In cooperation with the Friedrich- Ebert foundation, the Asian Committee of the IFFTU held a seminar at Kuala Lumpur from the 20th. to the 24th. December 1973, on an important subject of high actuality in that region:" Social education in the schools of Asia". Thirty- five participants from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Singapour, Malaysia, Sarawak, Philippines, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, took part in the meeting. hould The subject was divided into two main parts: one being the theoretical aspect and the other devoted to the practical side of the question. The documents produced by well known specialists in the field of education dealt with the following topics: a) The objective of social education in schools. b) Innovation of School curricula. as c) The role of schools. benst d) The role of other institutions. elp bns 2301330 le add mid vip een eind ni beebe1QXe The following conclusions were reached: presented at such reg 1. The school has a definate and vital role to play in social education. Through the teacher it reflected the responsibility of promoting social learning among the children and preparing them to be socially competent to meet the demands of the future role in society. ebisb 2. In this era of modernisation and rapid change the school must also be orientated in its approach and attitude to prepare the children of today to fit into the changing pattern of living in keeping with the advances brought about by science and modern technology. Education should not therefore be aimed at preparing the children at passing examinations alone. The large interest of the society must be taken into consideration. OB 3. Besides imparting intelectual and vocational skills to the children to meet the manpower requirements of Asian countries, the school must equip the children with those values that not only make them socially competent but also through them help to create a just, democratic, progressive and libenoiansqxe en 101 ral society. bns of sil ni quo 100W OJI sn o d1oqqua edi 2300 19 deedeesp add.noldseinsp: 0 sd quodd, nisido od .eigos pnishow srid 10 altered aidlesoq - 79- 4. Thus the school should ensure that pupils be given adequate opportunities and afforded the facilities through curricular and extra- curricular education to enable them to appreciate the need and practice of mutual understanding and tolerance, cooperation and civic- consciousness, and uphold democratic values and the principles of equality and social justice. 5. In ensuring that the school is to play a meaningful and effective role in social education the following recommendations are made: a. The authorities planning education programmes in Asian countries should re- examine the existing set- up in respect of the curriculum of the school with a view to modify or reform the syllabus for all school subjects thereby ensuring that social education can be imparted effectively and in a practical manner so as to achieve the objectives of social education. In planning such reforms, provision must be made to ensure that the content is neither too heavy nor difficult to be put into practice. The authorities responsible for planning syllabus and curriculum should not over emphasise the trend towards subjects like science and technology resulting in rendering humanities, arts, civics and moral character training as unimportant and unnecessary. b. Government agencies could through mass media and other means of communication with the masses educate parents. to accept such desirable changes that must be made for the future good of the children and society. C. The school system should also be revamped to ensure that a liberal education is given and that all schools whether in rural or urban areas be given equal opportunities and facilities to ensure the succesful implementation of social под education in schools. Religious institutions are also an agent of social education. As Asians are usually religious devotees, moral education through religious education or religious institutions can foster a good sense of values. Public organisations such as various clubs and societies, parentteacher associations, youth organisations, student movements all wield tremendous influences on the behaviour of the individual and can instil the right values in him. Even government and political parties play a significant role in social education. όρτα About 200 delegates of thriteen countries attended the third regional Asian Conference of the IFFTU which took place from the 27th. to the 30th. december 1973, in Singapour. The following countries were represented: Japan, Formosa, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam, Israël, India Bangladesh, Indonesia, Australia, Papua, New Guinea, Malaisia and Singapour. - 80- The four day Conference was declared open by the Minister of National Education of the Republic of Singapour. Dr. Lee- Chiaw Meng. The" Educator and social change" was the main theme. Six papers were presented to the delegates by leading b specialists of education in the region. ons no - daur Isipos bns x31 The documents were on: ups to Education and process of social change; 000( 80 q and bns cauley . Educators as key personnel on social change; - The social training of educators; IndaA Bh www The teacher in the centre of the educative process; akeudet Ive brid Education as a primer of development. holdsoubs isipoa At the end of the proceedings, the delegates elected the following members of the regional Committee for the next three years 1974-1976: Basyuni SURIAMI HARDJA( Indonesia) as President, Gurnam SINGH( Malaysia) as Secretary, WEE CHWEE HOCK ( Singapour), P.R. PREMI( India) and Mrs. Ada GILLAU( Israël) as members. We certainly have every reason to be satisfied with these two meetings which gave the evident proof, of the merits of the essential organic change, to which since three years our International is boldly proceeding: towards a greater regionalization of its activities. 10 boop GIUJ 01 For the seminar in Kuala Lumpur, for the statutory Conference in Singapour, everything was programmed, organized and executed, in perfect autonomy, and under the direct responsibility of our Asian friends. Everything which has been said there, everything which has been decided, has been integrated, without any restriction, in the exact trade union context of the region. Each intervention, each decision had a true trade union character, foundation of world solidarity of the IFFTU. As the Asian Labour Education Centre University of the Philippines, Quezon City, 44 participants came together from the 21st. to the 25th. March 1975, to discuss the following problem:" Teachers unions and regional co- operation". India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Sarawak, Sabah, Singapour, Indonesia, Papua, New Guinea, Corea, and Japan were amongst the countries represented. This was the first seminar in that region to deal with teachers unions. It was organized by the IFFTU and the American Federation of Teachers. Considering the fact that few teachers organizations in Asia are allowed to function as a unions, - 81- the seminar proved that inspite of all restrictions almost all organizations do in fact practice trade unionism. Participants were divided into three groups to examine the following questions: what should be the aims of a teachers' organization? should a teachers' organization co- operate with trade unions? If so, how? - should there be a single organization for principals, -supervisors, administrators and classroom teachers? should there be a single organization for public and private teachers? dodat - should teachers go on strike? The groups discussed these problems with enthusiasm and zeal. Their reports were produced at the full session, which after due consideration, appointed three rapporteurs for the final report. Mr. Manuel BOLA, General Secretary of the teachers association of Papua- New Guinea, assisted by Mrs. TRINIDAD, and Miss A.B. VELOSO, made the following report which was finally adopted: Question 1. betsyibou be Iven Considering the fact that the Seminar is attended by participants representing 12 different national teachers' organizations each with a different philosophy and operational strategies, the three discussion groups have come to adopt in principle the following broad aims: a. To promote unity among teachers at national, regional and international levels; b. To attain maximum socio- economic rights and benefits Fap1 for members thus establishing better terms and conditions of service%; B C. To ensure that individual human rights of members relating to political associations, religious beliefs etc... are not contravened; Latadm d. e. To involve within its own right, if members and circumstances permit, in the political development of the country without necessarily aligning itself to any political party%; B To promote qualifications and experience of teachers through professional, cultural and academic activi-ties; and f. To work towards mutual understanding and co- operation among other fraternal organisations at national, regional and international levels. - 82- Question 2. -Ad In recognising the definition of a labour union as being a permanent organisation created by salaried workers for the purposes as protecting themselves, improving their conditions of work through collective bargaining processes, seeking better conditions for their livelihood as well as providing a means of expressing their views on the problems of society; and also recognising the trend adopted by some teachers' organisations in affiliating with labour unions for solidarity in obtaining benefits, the participants have decided a Teachers' Organisation should co- operate with labour unions with legitimate aspirations for the betterment of the workers' working conditions and welfare so much so as not to contravene the autonomy of that particular teachers' organisation in any way. Question 3. With reference to the question pertaining to the formation of a single teachers' organisation by special teachers' groups as the Principals' association, Supervisors" Association and Administrators Association with an association comprised of class- room teachers, the participants have accepted in principle that there should be a single national teachers' organisation established to foster cooperation and unity among teachers and between teachers and management for the sake of teachers' welfare and education. If, however, possible conflict arises between teachers and management either of the two has the freedom and right to disaffiliate itself to form a new organisation. Question 4. st prioms Jinu g Ievel Isnolds TO Taking into account the interest expressed by participants to have private schools teachers' organisations merge with public school teachers organisations, the participants agreed that the two respective organisations should be amalgamated into one single national teachers' organisation with the intention that united and co- operative stand undoubtly would reap satisfactory benefits and conditions for members. However, if for practical and philosophical reasons two separate organisations have to be established independently from each other with an understanding that each would assist the other when circumstances permit, attempts should be made to form a supreme coordinating council within which each has representatives authorised to formulate and promulgate policies, rules and regulations to achieve desired goals and aims benefical to both. is and vel isn - 83- Question 5. It is recommended that IFFTU should communicate and negotiate with the government of member countries in the 1966 ag UNESCO- ILO recommendations relating to the rights of teachers to strike. It should, however, be made very clear to the goDovernment concerned that strikes would be considered as a last resort. ip no. 201 - Having adopted the above recommendations approved by the special Intergovernmental Conference on the status of teachers, in particular recommendations 82, 83 and 84 under the sub- title of" Rights of Teachers" the participants strongly recommend that IFFTU advise the signatory governments to recognise such teachers' rights to associate and" to take such other steps as are normally open to other organisations in the defense of their legitimate interests". 功 The respective conclusions outlined in this report should not only be treated as guidelines collectively achieved through a week's deliberation of the seminar. The rapporteurs believed that the whole intention of the exercise covered by the report signified an important practical step that individual national organisations in the Asian Region should seriously consider applying in their respective countries for the sake of members and education as a whole. At the same time it was equally significant to recognise the essence inferred in the report for solidarity of member countries within the Asian realm for which IFFTU covers to open up clear dialogue for better understanding which they maintained would lead to effective nationalregional co- operation. in Cynrus in July 1974 na All these essential problems have been debated with true trade union spirit: freedom of speech for everybody, and the unquestionable will of all to progress! The general atmosphere was that of solidarity and enthusiastic acceptance of common responsibilities. Asian teachers stressed vigourously the need to tighten up the links of active co- operation between their national organizations, in view of a powerful regional action to achieve the essential goals of our movement. more the main victims have ivilians, and the nomicIt was the duty of J. O'MEARA, Vice- President of IFFTU, A. BRACONIER, General Secretary, and Gurnam SINGH, regional representative to underline at the seminar the value of this solidarity and to guarantee the effective support of our International to all our Asian affiliated organizations. * Our representatives expressed their admiration for the deep serenity with which our Asian friends debated their present and future professional prospects. add to ser hedmevol ni 03 ad - 84The fraternal meeting of Quezon City gives us new confidence in the doctrine and the action of the IFFTU in the strategic flexibility of our regionalisation. For all teachers of the world, our International is really an authentic rallying point. dee In adopting the above mentioned report, the seminar asked for the assistance of the IFFTU for the creation of a permanent Committee for Asian teachers' organizations. The Secretary of the IFFTU promissed his full support for this suggestion. Bhbos It is most encouraging to see that our members of the Asian region are making great progress; we would like to da mention especially the Singapour Teachers Union which moved to Teachers' Centre complex, and the creation of a Research Centre, one of the few in the Continent. The National Union of Teachers has amalgamated with the second largest trade brunion in Malaysia and formed the strong and viable National Union of the Teaching Profession. bava. Despite the modesty of the means made available for our Is regional office in Kuala- Lumpur, a bulletin of information could be published regularly with a view to informing on the objectives and results of union action in Asia. Our regional representative also kept a permanent contact with the regional representatives of great specialized international organizations. He has on the other hand, strengthened contacts with the regional structures of the free trade union movement. A far- reaching polarizing action in Asia has now been started vigorously. This must go on with the maximum means. A strong structured union front must be built, to extend in a short time to the whole Far- East, for the greatest benefit of teachers in these countries. MIDDLE EAST. UT sdj esw Our International had the opportunity to intervene in that region of the world shaken by a great agitation. quetavad If we had the opportunity to recall our wishes for a just and lasting peace, taking completely into account the rights of all the peoples concerned in that region, the Executive Committee of the IFFTU meeting in New York in january 1975, discussed the resolution adopted by the General Conference of the UNESCO in November 1974, concerning Israël. - 85This resolution invited the General Director of the UNESCO to stop any help and assistance to Israël in the field of education, science, and culture, unless they scrupulously observe. the former resolutions of the Conference regarding the ceasing of archeological excavations, the protection of monuments and the preservation of the historic character of the town of Jerusalem". The General Secretary of the Israel Teachers' Union, appealed to our solidarity to protest against this resolution. atsdmem add ebiswod noidsblmiini( s) stil noinu evidoe This is why the Executive Committee declared in an official statement after the meeting held in New York, that he deplored that the UNESCO had adopted a resolution which is totally opposed to the scientific, cultural, and educational principles of this High Organization. now s The Executive Committee asked the General Secretary of the IFFTU to protest to the authorities of the UNESCO against a resolution with political goals, and to ask that the situation be reconsidered in function of the international cultural character of the UNESCO, the excavations undertaken in Jerusalem covering as much the cultural heritage of the Israelian people as that of christianism or Islam. Luoldsen sidd no AL ат **** ebst a co ello xe ng bad sv mount as a perseriesg JexIf in 1973 the Executive Committee of the IFFTU had the opportunity, in a resolution against the anti- democratic regimes, to stigmatize the brutal military repression of the Greek students by the military junta of colonels overthrown since then, the IFFTU had to intervene regarding a conflict in Cyprus in july 1974. Overthrowing President Makarios, extremist parties supported by officers of the Greek armed forces stationed in the island made a coup d'Etat, provoking Turkish intervention. The Greek population fled before the Turkish armed forces, and some 150 to 200.000 refugees are still these days living in camps. If this was one of the reasons of the fall of the military junta in Greece, it is to be remembered that once more the main victims have been civilians, and that the economic life of the country was all the more affected. Iste Our International joined the free trade union movement in its demand that genuine negotiations should be started in view to reach a pacific lasting agreement based on the respect of independance, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, and also on the full guarantee of the human and democratic rights of both communities and a real political, social, and cultural development. 8 - 86- SOUTH PACIFIC. Activities in that region were developed for the defence en of trade union freedom in Australia, and also against the French nuclear tests in this area. C needed to 19ossero pizodeid The IFFTU received in 1972 from the New South Wales Federation of Teachers an appeal for solidarity. This federation indeed was the target of repeated attacks on the part of the government of New South Wales aiming at stopping all trade. union life( tactical intimidation towards the members of unions, refusal to recognize teachers the right to collective bargaining) and not improving working conditions( overloaded class rooms, refusal to replace teachers on sick leave). oiq 53 This conflict went worse when several thousands of teachers were individually fined for having refused all extra hours, following in so doing instructions from the Federation. A number of strike actions were launched. The Public Services Board agreed not to link anymore the increase of salaries to the question of working conditions; however, they took the decision to submit to the Commission of Arbitration a demand for the cancellation of the registration of the Federation as a trade union organization. On this particular point we had an excellent the opportunity to show our solidarity with the New South Wales Federation of Teachers, in as much that all our affiliated organizations were invited to exert pressure on the Australian government for the immediate withdrawal of the cancelling request of the registration of the Federation as an trade union. * * od bsd UT331 tion Our second intervention of solidarity took place during the international trade union action against the French nuclear experiments in the Pacific. The National Secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute not affiliated to our International- informed us of their deep concern and asked us to protest vigourously against these nuclear tests. We did not fail to recall that jointly with the whole free trade union movement we strongly opposed these tests. In an official letter to the President of the French Republic, the General Secretary of the IFFTU asked that the nuclear tests in the Pacific be stopped, and that the milliards made available for such tests be converted into assistance for the Third World; he expressed on the same occasion the full solidarity of organized teachers within the IFFTU with their colleagues of the regions concerned, i. e. Australia, New Zealand, South America. aber 1974, en - 87- This was the opportunity for the International to show its complete solidarity with the whole free trade union movement to condemn any government whatsoever that assumes the right to order nuclear experiments. right for the respect human d Together with the other ITS's and the ICFTU we developed our action at an international level, denouncing stubbornness of the French government to proceed, with nuclear tests inspite of everything. We also sent letters of protest to the various United Nations Agencies( UNO- ILO- UNESCO). of a prof en the edj s Inse of inemusseni ne du I me inu. ebe, dedd nole 70 AR * * * * ** bu ar pnoms seen. enigged 1836810 bns dd level ( ICF789 no won ays bns evouis Jon sisw di 12 le bimonos bns Isiona 19/99999 dom in exp domin end to bns Ilso el to zewog dne VI3 Jon 04 Jen el qu'nexe ed 03 ag majave pijelomeb slode edj Isop 100 veidos of ded edj Isop 100 interse of each profess totally irrat sector and tonomous action, on each sectors o to he speci nsueing chances initiative. ions. - 88SOUTH RACERA 201 noinu absqj 11 l CHAPTER **** beqoisveb * mos edi nudio goedd as siNT IV. 11 JOINT ACTION WITH THE WORKERS. II I II depot We shall begin this chapter with a profession of faith. Looking at it from the outside, one could have the impression that trade unionism is but an instrument to achieve the betterment and improvement of the mere material interests of the workers. This is partly true indeed, as most of the claims set forth aim at getting higher salaries and better working and employment conditions. But besides these claims, trade unionism quite obviously also represents a moral force, this aspect being as important and even complementary to the first one. It is the true vocation of the free trade unionism to fight for intellectual and political freedom, for more justice and greater happiness among the working people. At national level, the trade union movement no doubt plays the role of a third power between Government and Capital, preventing the former to be completely dominated by the latter. Organised now on international level, our movement would surely be strong enough to oppose, by its own means, and fight the worst social and economic situations, if it were not always and systematically the target of political and even armed repression. From a long trade union experience, we learn that all cases of injustice, both individual and collective, always derive from an intolerant attitude, from the open contempt of man for man and consequently from the exploitation of man by man. the Pacific onal In short, we could say that in this context, the challenge to be taken up is that of the power of Capital and of the repressive forces. It is IFFTU's reason of existence to call all workers in the educational system to take up indeed this challenge, which, if we do not succeed, would completely ruin the whole democratic system. However, one must be well aware of the fact, that to achieve our goal, the teachers movement alone would certainly not be in a position to act efficiently to balance the contradictory powers in presence. sion The conc N 89Indeed, what could be the power of a mere professional movement in the struggle for the defence of the basic human rights, in the struggle also for the application of decent working standards, for the recognition of full trade union rights, for the respect of human dignity and for a greater economic and social justice? d What could be the power of a mere professional movement indeed in the struggle against the homogeneous system imposed on workers by the new employer called" Government Capital", too - often in open contempt of human dignity? And furthermore, in simply ignoring the other categories of workers, the supporters of a professional movement actually divide and weaken the potential power of Labour! Only one strategy can be applied, and it is ours: joint action and unity with the workers! Only the joint concertation with the other labour sectors, respectful of the autonomy and finality of each of the organisations involved, is liable to carry concrete results and achieve some progress in the direction accepted as the final goal of our movement: a true co- operation of all peoples and nations towards universal economic and social development, the protection of the employment against the still predominant influence of Capital and the achievement of full economic democracy. A. Strengthening of intersectorial trade union unity. 00 The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions ( ICFTU) and the International Trade Secretariats( ITS) regularly have joint meetings on a number of priority problems. ITS representatives including the IFFTU, while not being affiliated to ICFTU, are associated in these exchanges of views and in the elaboration of strategy, and are thereby directly informed on the overall policy followed by the powerful World Confederation of Free Trade Unions. They have complete freedom in expressing their views and demands of their organizations. Significant for our teachers movement is the fact that these contacts are generating a new climate of reciprocal confidence, constructive solidarity, and concrete action with all the free organized workers. Again and again we have stated that only a real common front between the teachers and all the other workers can lead today to the total emancipation of teachers' working conditions. nol It would be totally irrational, however, to think that intersectorial solidarity would abolish the specific character of each professional sector, and the ensueing chances for autonomous action, on each sector's own initiative. - 90- Intersectorial solidarity, at all geographical, economic, and social levels, is a flexible principle that can only lead to concentrated efforts, but that should in no way affect or destroy sectorial demands. This has never been questioned in discussions between ICFTU and ITS. Each of them preserves its characteristics, W competence, and autonomy with regard to initiatives or actions. Neither fusion, nor absorption, but well- considered and evaluated concertation in efforts towards solving issues of major interests that are common to all workers. The only essential linking obligation between ICFTU and ITS is the moral commitment to contribute, together, to the unity in free trade unionism considered as a basic factor for the promotion of the whole human race. Show This sincerely thought out and well tested doctrine reveals today, on the international level, its driving force ym in all the world's regions, whether they be industrialized and continental, or still in a stage of development. Such a solidarity makes it possible to adjust trade union action to the objective restraints imposed by any given environment. Its flexibility and freedom in maneuvring can evolve strategies by which the challenges of the economic forces and wealth can be met. At its 10th annual Congress three years ago, the free trade union movement analysed the political, social, and economic changes during the last twenty years, and made up the list of the main challenges by which it is confronted today. It is clear that considerable developments in the world et economic, political and social situations have been going on. Most former colonies have achieved the status of independant nationhood but the gap between the rich and the poor, nationally and internationally, has been widening. Huge multinational concentrations of economic power have been taking place. bb Unemployment is again becoming a serious social problem. New threats to trade union freedom have arisen even in some of the world's oldest democracies, at the same time as the workers are demanding a bigger say in determining the conditions that govern their everyday working lives. Women, including mothers with young children, are taking a continually increasing part in economic activity although still subject to economic, social and even legal discrimination in all countries; their full integration in economic and social life in general and anthe trade union movement in particular is an urgent task everywhere. The problems of youth have taken on new dimensions in recent years; for the trade unions it is not a question of the" generation gap", but of recognising the special needs gea rose no molds auomoned - 91- and aspirations of young workers if their enthusiasm and idealism are to be fully harnessed in the service of our movement. The first timid steps towards dispelling the nightmare of nuclear disaster have been taken, but more than a quarter of a century after the end of the second world war general agreement on universal controlled disarmament seems as remote as ever. A new danger threatening the whole human race is that of mass pollution resulting from the lack of sufficient social control over the utilisation of scientific and technological advance. T prob But there is also the challenge of human rights in the widest sense of the word. In these last decades of the twentieth century the trade union movement is moving steadily towards a new order in which the workers' organisations will not be content to deal only with wages, hours and conditions of work. It is demanding, and in some cases has won, the right to a say in many other aspects of human freedom, including discrimination on the grounds of race, religion or sex, especially in matters of employment, education and vocational training. The eradication of prejudice with regard to the role and employment of women and the creation of conditions of equality in employment are still major challenges to the trade union movement. So too, in many countries, is the problem of the economic, political and social rights of migrant workers. These are no easy problems, requiring as they do basic changes of deep- rooted attitudes. On the basis of the foregoing analysis, the free trade union movement set itself the following goals: - defence of human and trade union rights, la no - strengthening free trade unions, challenge of the multinational corporations, unemployment and under- employment, industrial and economic democracy, the gap between rich and poor, - the human environment, peace, and disarmament. 30 2810 To all this we could add: education, and professional training. It is in that context, and in order to reach those essential goals, that cooperation between the IFFTU and the workers' world must be re- assessed. по sdj bna 80 - 92- 1. Relations between ICFTU and ITS's a) As already indicated earlier on in this chapter, cooperation between ICFTU and ITS's is based on a precise agreement the Milan agreement- setting down all the rules and modalities. ICFTU and ITS's under this agreement are giving each other mutual assistance in all major issues affecting ve the workers' world. ITS's endorse ICFTU's overall policy defending and promoting free trade unionism. The Confederation, for its part, recognises the Trade Secretariats' full autonomy and total freedom in organization, initiative, and action. ITS's are invited to send delegates to the sessions of ICF TU's Executive Board. This enables them regularly to be informed about the Confederation's overall policy, to present their opinion on the subject, and to discuss all problems of common interest. IFFTU's Secretary General, as was the case in the past, took part in these sessions as the ITS delegate. They have taken place on November 24-25, 1972, July 4-6, 1973, November 21-23, 1973, May 30-31, 1974, November 21-22, 1974 and June 26-27, 1975. The agenda at each of these sessions included on the one hand the trade union movement's attitude on the world's major economic and social issues( such as migrant workers, inflation, the multinational corporations, young workers' and women workers' problems), and on the other hand the political and trade union situation in the various continents, and more specifically in the countries where human and trade union rights are raising problems. In addition to these two sets of problems, ICFTU's Executive Board meetings gave an opportunity to define more accurately trade union movement action in such international agencies as UN, UNESCO, ILO, OECD, and FAO. rade add the b) With a view to strengthening the unity of the international free trade union movement, several ICF TU- ITS meetings were devoted to joint strategy and approaches on specific questions, or overall policy issues. on October 12, 1972, to discuss the overall situation in Indonesia%; B - on November 22, 1972, to detail the problems facing trade union organizations in Africa, Asia, and Europe, and the trade union situation in Bangladesh; on February 7, 1973, to discuss pan- african trade union unity; - 93- - on May 31, 1973, to examine the consequences of the m French nuclear texts%; t bestoleo86 Jo noid - on December 1973, to discuss multinational corporations, in the presence of the United Nations' assistant Secretary General; the ap- on February 13, 1974, to discuss practical measures aimed at stimulating trade union organizations and their activities in South Africa. cbne -35 leb - Several ICFTU- ITS meetings were devoted to top priority problems such as Portugal, and the multinational corporations. - 200000Jazz or Ila to noisompi ed 10 spelad od In order to stimulate ICF TU- ITS cohesion, a meeting prior to the actual sessions of the Confederation's executive committee usually is arranged, when the main points on the agenda are being reviewed. ICFTU and ITS representatives met again at the recent world Congress of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions held in Mexico. c) Faced as we are with problems of great magnitude and even gravity, it is our profound conviction that valid solutions which the reactionary powers failed to achieve can be found only through trade union solidarity, and a strengthened unified action by all workers. The ITS's annual conferences provide IFFTU with a good opportunity for strengthening cooperative ties with other workers in the action towards common goals. These conferences took place on April 2-3, 1973 in Geneva, and on December 6, 1974 in London. The Secretariat took an active part in the two conferences with the following agenda: G regionalization of the trade union movement, particularly in the framework of the creation of a European Confederation of Trade Unions; trade union movement relations with ILO, its industrial committees, and specialized agencies; - the situation in Portugal, and support to be given to the trade union movement in the country, and in South Africa; - the trade union movement, as confronted with the multinational corporations; the regionalization of the free trade union movement. -ed brid ni 8 - 94- For a long time IFFTU has been opposing the possibilities of excessive economic and technocratic power in the elaboration of long- term programmes. At these Conferences all spokesmen for the whole free trade union movement voiced their determination to remain on the alert in this context. More important than our actual presence at these meetings was the fact that teachers were there together with all the delegates from other sectors, and vice- versa, to affirm their determination to endeavour together for the preservations of rights and privileges for which hard fighting was often necessary in the past. Whatever figures on the positive side of the balance for the promotion of all the workers' condition- including the teachers'- is due, for a large part, to the intersectorial solidarity of free trade unionism. It is duty never to let an opportunity pass for expressing our determination to cooperate actively with the world- wide movement of free organized workers. blow dne Ixalk Our Secretariat, eventually, has consistently pursued our International's traditional effort for strengthening cooperation with ICFTU. brusing It has been available regularly to ICFTU to assist it, to the best of its ability, in initiatives on the level of education. 819 Iow Is vd ncijos beilinu ICFTU, for its part, also continuously developed its cooperation with IFFTU, by making available to the latter a whole series of concrete supports and facilities: - C the ICF TU offices in Geneva, New York, and Tokyo have been continuous by available to our International, supporting our action in the international agencies. ICFTU's regional organizations have facilitated IFFTU interventions in the various continents. ad ddiw ICFTU's Brussels office has granted IFFTU's Secretariat valuable technical assistance in a number of administrative parks. Results achieved by this method in the course of the past trade union year have confirmed the efficiency of joint aims and action. IFFTU has confirmed its own authenticity, in terms of trade unionism, and thereby has developed its specific activities in the field that should constitute its own terms of reference, viz. the complementary relationship between education and employment. d) The problem of young workers. an At its 10th. Congress, in London, 1972, the free trade union movement decided to intensify its activities to the benefit of young workers. This was a wise decision in the context of the current economic crisis whereby an increasing - 95- number of young people, workers as well as graduates from high- level schools, are being driven into unemployment. cab A working group, specialized in issues concerning young workers, was set up, including representatives from all the continents, from the various ITS's and from the ICFTU. Among the priorities worked out by the group, the following ones, in our opinion, are of essential importance: trade union education for young people, - young people's specific needs and problems in developing countries, - young people's situation in the present economic and social context. Various seminars were held during the past year, on the following subjects: young people's participation in the reform of education, CRUNC problems of young migrants, CEO G unemployment among the young, social education for young workers, salary discrimination, to the detriment of young people. TraThe" younger section", because of its trade union character, was able to take part in corresponding activities, in such inter- governmental agencies as the United Nations, ILO, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe. e) Problems of working women. In parallel with the existing set up for the problems concerning young workers, the free trade union movement has a trade union committee dealing with the issues concerning working women: the ICFTU/ ITS advisory committee on women workers' problems. view. This committee met six times during the period under reThe main subject, governing all the committee's activities, still is: equality in salaries for men and women, for work of equal value. All efforts, here, are being concentrated on fighting the obvious determination to exploit women workers on the one hand, and deeply rooted prejudices on the subject among both men and women on the other hand. - 96- It was a subject, among others, of an international conference on equality in salaries, organized by ICFTU in Brussels, October 17-19, 1972. The conference was attended by representatives from affiliated organizations, by 17 ITS delegates( IFFTU among them), and by five delegates from in- ou ternational organizations( OECD, ILO, EEC). cam then dumatol The agenda included the following points: Report on this implementation of the principle of equal salary for equal work, Ways and means for achieving equality in salaries, Problems resulting from the implementation of the principle of equal salary for equal work. This raises the immediate issues of professional training for girls and women, of equality in opportunities, and of existing discriminations in these matters. The trade union movement, in this context, has drafted a memorandum to the workers' group in the ILO, when the agency discussed a new convention on professional training and orientation. Other matters of concern for the ICFTU/ ITS advisory committee included: C night shifts: the relevant legislation, in the opinion of the employers, ought to be re- discussed at ILO level, and team work: the trade union advisory committee in OECD has worked out a report, presenting the trade union position on the subject. I 195 The ICFTU/ ITS's women committee met in Geneva on June 2-3, 1975, on the eve of the opening of the International Labour Conference. It passed a resolution demanding a broader and more comprehensive participation by the trade unions in United Nations' meetings on problems affecting working men and women. The committee deplored the fact that the trade unions representing millions of working women- cannot participate fully in the activities of the conference on the International Woman's Year, or in other UN meetings where issues are being discussed that are of major importance to their affiliates. ing - 97- The committee also endorsed ICFTU's memorandum on conclusions submitted by ILO on equal opportunities and treatment for working women. The memorandum i.a. underscores the necessity for strengthening ILO norms aimed at eliminating discriminations based on sex in salary and employment issues, and for improving norms concerning health and safety at work. A. report on this question was presented at ICF TU's 11th. Congress. cerc accessi eyton IFFTU's Executive Committee has invited Belgium's CGSP to appoint our woman representative in the ICFTU/ ITS joint committee women workers! problems. 2. Relations IFFTU- PTTI- PSI. on What is reported to the credit of the action for the promotion of the teaching condition is due, for a good deal, to the intersectorial solidarity of free trade unionism, and in. particular to the joint action of the three international Trade Secretariats of the public services( PSI- PTTI- IFFTU). Such international joint action can only consecrate and strengthen that which in, many countries, is already joining together workers of the public services, PTT and teachers. On the regional level as well, the notion of common front is more and more imposing itself for the evident reason of its dynamism. The regional Asian Conference of public services, organized jointly by the three ITS's constitutes the best evidence of this. The convening of the technical conference on public services and the creation of the joint Committee for the public services at the level of the ILO undoubtably are the result of our intersectorial action. They evidence the value of such action, and quite logically and automatically commands the idea of a permanent concertation. and In joining efforts, the three Internationals have set up a considerable power of pressure capable of influencing, rapidly and in a positive way, the promotion of the represented sectors. Based on evident professional affinities and on the fruitful experience of a solidarity tested in the course of many years, the cooperation of the three Internationals, without having been the object of any official agreement, are all the same strongly established, and as it is almost systematic. Iavel 13. Js - 98- As an example, it is significant that the leaders of the three have been able to set up a common strategy, in view of a joint action at the ILO. This is why we recommended to the other two trade union organizations representing public services- PTTI and PSI- to strengthen our cooperation to make it more systematic and everywhere more efficient than ever. 93 As a matter of fact, the problems teachers have to solve are common problems to all workers of the public services: better guarantees as to the working and living conditions; better salaries and obviously they require joint actions. For the three organizations, there is no better policy than that of joining their efforts with a view to achieving a strong unity of objectives and action. On the other hand it is evident that the setting up of such a front, can by no means imply a confusion of objectives, means and methods, or structures which are particular to each International. Each sector has its specific trade union requirements and this is the reason why each International constitutes in the trade union solidarity a full moral entity. The unity of action does not mean the alienation or the slightest renunciation of our specificities in any way. We shall unceasingly reinforce the common union front of the public services at international level, more particularly when the action will require it by its importance and significance for the future, that is to say whenever the rights of civil servants are at stake. B. Joint action at the level of the intergovernmental institutions. As reported in the preceding chapters, the Secretariat did not neglect anything to reinforce the representation of the IFFTU to the international Institutions to the extent of the means available. We continuously kept contact with all the Departments liable by their competence of beong interested in the various activities of our International. We were present and took an active part in each great Conference organized on a world scale, and in each session of the specialized Commissions. We resolutely the ICFTU's action at the level of all international institutions. - 99- Ebert- Stiftung * Bonn Bibliothek Friedrich* 1. United Nations Organisation( UNO). It is on this high world authority, that first of all, we must focus our efforts and intensify our action because, in the eyes of all workers, it represents a strong guarantee for peace and universal justice. The UNO is responsible indeed for the San Francisco Charter( 26th. June 1945) proscribing the recourse to armament, prescribing the respect of certain obligations, the accession to justice, social progress, the improvement of living standards of all, and finally a greater freedom for all. anoth enoid To carry out these objectives, we need a strong and democratic United Nations Organisation. The ICFTU is the spokesman of the free trade union movement at the United Nations. It succeeded in asserting, in numerous sections, its position against apartheid and on other questions of human rights. To the The IFFTU always expressed its satisfaction at the unity of action and objectives, of the whole free trade union movement at the level of the United Nations. We regret however the fact that the consultative status is weakened by the increased number of NGO's that get this status, and the lack of selection when granting it. In cooperation with all ITS's including ours, the ICFTU supported the humanitarian appeals of the UNO and contributed to the extent of all means available, to all forms of mutual aid in periods of disasters( earthquakes, starvation, floods...). The joint effort of the free trade union movement was mainly focused on the specific sections of the United Nations, which is particularly competent to work out well balanced solutions for important social and economic world problems: the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations( ECOSOC) and the regional Commissions whose task it is to make a thorough study of the movements of active population, of social claims, of the status of women, and of the application of human rights. The ICFTU has followed very carefully the question human rights. It systematically denounced any violation of fundaen mental rights, more particularly trade union rights. It especially insisted that the United Nations should take sanctions against South Africa and see that member states stop all investments in that country. ba and 107 sbem bluowen s o solo n salvie Lidug add to sl - 100- 2. The International Labor Organization( ILO). inte The Secretariat displayed an exceptional activity to secure the presence of the IFFTU at the level of that organization. We kept continuous contact with all the departments that are liable by their competence of being interested in the various activities of our International. Without going into tedious details regarding these relations, we'd like to underscore the following: It is with the Department of Living and Working Conditions in particular that the Secretariat was able to follow up the application of the intergovernmental Recommendation on the Status of teachers, and the preparation of the proceedings of the technical conference and joint committee for the public services. It is in keeping permanent contact with the Department of Workers' Education, that the Secretariat has been able to fulfill a certain number of tasks, for the direct benefit of all our affiliated organizations: the use of all material and publications put at our disposal, the active participation to the meetings of the advisors in workers' education, cooperation with national teachers' organizations with a view to developing their own educational activities. balud bas DMU os nsitsjins [ Bu On the other hand, the Secretariat has reinforced the relations with the Department of Human Ressources, taking into account the existing connections between education and employment. no be nism With the full support of ICFTU Geneva Office, the Secretariat steadely enlarged its contacts with these different Departments. On the occasion of each General Conference, the dou General Secretary of the IFFTU urged the ILO to bring its action means at level with the requirements of the teaching profession. The strong mutual support existing at the ILO since its origin, between teachers and all other workers, considerably facilitated the action of the IFFTU and the other organizations for the public services. The ICFTU together with the workers' group continued defending vigourously the ILO's programme of industrial activities in close consultation with the ITS's concerned. It is thanks to this support that a new start could made for the whole of the public services. - - 101- All the weight of our action was set to bear on the important objectives of the common trade union programme: improvement of the labour legislation, protection of trade union rights, development of technical assistance to the less developed countries, planning of workers' education. ni to nois Une do see The trade union solidarity showed itself on the occasion of general conferences, and permitted the adoption in 1973, of a convention and recommendation on the minimum age for admission to employment. In 1974 a convention and recommendation on paid education- leave. In 1975, a convention on migrant workers and another on the development of human resources. II DOM ration of the high organi mat The IFFTU unceasingly supported ICFTU's efforts aiming at consolidating the ILO, strengthen its tripartite structure, a sine qua non condition for economic progress and social justice. 3. The UNESCO. Other bem enol The Secretariat did not fail to use to the maximum its consultative status to this Institution with a view to developing the most successful cooperation to the benefit of the teaching profession. We gave particular attention to the proceedings of the Department for the promotion of education, as well as those of the Departments for higher education, out- of- school education, and planning and financing of education.es The Secretariat kept excellent relations with the International Bureau of Education in Geneva, in particular on the occasion of international Conferences on public education. The Secretariat took an active part in the meetings of international non- governmental organizations held at the UNESCO headquarters: TAY from the 6th. to the 9th. November 1973 and the 18th. to the 21st. November 1975, in the general conferences of NGO's having consultative status with UNESCO( category A and B); пр from the 3rd. to the 5th. July 1974, in the NGO meeting on the rights and responsibilities of youth and more particularly in the preparatory meetings on 20.1.75; amsida 28.2.75; 5.3.75; 29.4.75, the IFFTU having been entrusted with a report on vocational training and guidance in the framework of permanent education. 8 - 102-10gm The Secretariat intervened with energy at the General Conference held in Paris from the 17th. October to the 21st. November 1972 and from the 17th. October to the 23rd. November 1974, in favour of a direct participation to the elaboration of international policies of education training, research, and culture. The method of consultation presently applied to the multitude of non- governmental organizations( NGO) represented at no the UNESCO is totally insufficient, insufficient anyway for -the trade union movement, basically because we are not an NGO like the others. ns bas 318 Considering the enormous weight of responsibilities we assume, the vital interests we are defending on a world scale, we do claim the right of systematic and efficient concertation at the highest level of the UNESCO. This is precisely what determined the common approaches and representations made by the General Secretaries of the ICFTU and of the IFFTU to the Director General of the Organization. Dave We hope this appeal will be heard ad- hoc consultation meetings have been organized with the international trade union organizations. - From the 30th. to the 31st. October 1973, with a view to working ou closer and more efficient methods of cooperation, between the UNESCO and the international trade union organizations; bac from the 3rd. to the 4th. December 1974, on the access of workers to education and their participation to the definition and carryin out of educational activities interesting them.dug no ena entho o We rejoice at this initiative. This is no doubt a pro00gress in concertation. De On the other hand, to consolidate achieved positions at the UNESCO, the Secretariat thought it fit to take the initiative in the spirit of union solidarity to consult the ICFTU on a closer cooperation between itself and the various ITS's at the level of this high international Institution. According to the doctrine of the IFFTU, the present great problems of education and culture must be solved by priority together with the workers. $ 23060* 89 ITS star the services - 103 At the UNESCO, the trade union solidarity of the free world must be maintained by all means. The game is far from being won, especially at three levels of interest for all the workers: abulani de a) the establishment of a really democratic long term programme on education, training science and culture, b) the establishment of a similar programme but conceived at short term, for the less developed countries. c) the universal reinforcement of the will for peace, which is the ultimate aspiration of the high Organisation created to this end, like the whole free trade union movement. This vital aspiration must find its way through the socio- economic development, founded on the educational development, democratically planned at the scale of the whole world.n Other organizations. The IFFTU maintained good relations with the Food and Agricultural Organization( FAO) thanks to a liaison status. This organization is aware of the fact that in order to feed and to produce the food, one must first of all have a programme of education and training. It is indicated that the IFFTU should cooperate actively in this field. The FAO initiated the practice to consult international trade union organizations. Ad- hoc meetings were held in Rome from the 1st. to the 2nd. October 1973 and from the 9th. to the 10th. December 1974. The General theme was hunger and malnutrition. The ICFTU, that represented us at that level, insisted that the FAO should not to grant any assistance to the governments who ignore or violate the trade union rights existing, and that for its projects for development, it should take into account the international labour standards. The cooperation of the IFFTU with the World Health Organization( WHO) and the UNICEF has been limited to actions of mere information. It is understood however that these contacts should be developed in such a way that the IFFTU could play a more important part in the fight against sickness, hunger, ignorance, and children care. 4 佰 910 bhi dns - 104- C. Joint action for the prosperity and well- being of all workers. The 11th. Congress unequivocally is being marked by solidarity with all the workers. Our programme of demands, therefore, must include all the aspirations, all the aims in our struggle for insuring a more equitable distribution of goods among workers. Our international comes out for an active intersectorial solidarity. It was far- sighted enough to give, from its very beginnings, priority to total and active intersectorial solidarity, which makes it so attractive today. Within the framework of a broad offensive, teachers are in the fore front in demanding the outlines of a more equitable and more egalitarian society based on the following four choices: a) accelerated increase of social prosperity( education, culture, health, public facilities) b) increased aid to developing countries with a low economic, social, and cultural level, so as to lift them out of their condition of penury; c) continuous fight in order to redice social and cultural inequalities%; B d) action for improving workers' working conditions, and insuring them a more rapid access to knowledge. Our International, broadly speaking, took a major turn in advancing these choices, all of which are aimed at an improved quality of life. It has opposed all forms of injustice, and promoted collective prosperity by demanding, more than any other body, the strengthening of trade union unity with ICFTU, with the added supporting solidarity from all the ITS's. This broad inter- trade union effort now is in full swing, 190 and IFFTU has shown in all circumstances that it participates in it with all the power of its active solidarity. T consetzes yns doen of jon bloode DA The massive action is based on two overall necessities: a) not merely the defence, but also the effective promotion and implementation of overall human rights and, more specifically, of trade union rights%; B b) the actual implementation of an efficient cooperation between all nations towards universal economic and social development according to the principles of the new p international strategy aimed at long- term regulation of Iq the employment market, lasting intensification and li- onud beralization of international trade, opposing all excess of power on the part of the large consortiums- mainly the multinational corporations-, and directed towards the advent of greater economic democracy in both industrialized and industrializing countries. - 105- How could our sector not be a partner in the world- wide strategy of the free workers, in their determination to attack the crisis at its very roots? For that is the task that confronts us. Everywhere, there is much talk about lean years, and about economies to be achieved by lowering employment. No single country, in the" free world" today, is able to protect workers, in both public and private sector, against the measures taken by invisible and uncontrolled economic powers in order to reduce the value of workers' money. Energy crisis, accelerated inflation, increasing unemployment, arbitrary lay- offs cannot be controlled by the workers, because of the persisting omnipotence of capitalistic profit at any price. Worse still: several countries, in the so- called " free world", no longer are capable of guaranteeing freedom of expression and action, as indicated in the present report on infringements of teachers' right to strike, and cases of imprisonment. borde 出 The whole free labour movement, therefore, must act, efficiently and consistently. It committed itself fully, at l the special United Nations session on energy and development, to the denunciation and the uprooting of the real cause of t the rapidly spreading danger threatening all workers every- T where in their elementary rights. The cause in industrialized countries is in the internal crisis of capitalistic production exclusively motivated by pa profit, but unable to cope with current shortages in raw materials and energy, and resorting shamelessly to lay- offs, rather than creating new jobs. This contradiction increasingly will operate to the detriment of the workers, if the latter do not react vigorously. S Solidarity in trade unionism enables organized workers effectively to participate in a more equitable distribution. of the national income which they themselves are producing. It enables them to obtain full, effective, continuous, and systematic right of participation in all social and economic decision processes, at all levels, from the basic location of employment to the official, specialised, national or international organisations at the top. Such are the two main lines of attack in workers' reaction to the miseries of our times: all- mighty neo- capitalism, and creeping neo- colonialism, both increasingly bolstered by the visible re- appearance of racism and fascism. These two main lines of attack are being expressed in a series of initiatives to discuss the features of the current world crisis. They were developed in a joint action with ICFTU. the workers purchasing po - 106- Cab - Interventions took place on the following subjects: Hockers. dd postthe multinational corporations; 0.981) or To international trade union offensive against inflation; add- international monetary disorder; - development policy; - inequalities detrimental to migrant workers%; B improvements in working conditions; - GOBBY industrial democracy, and defence of trade union rights 3B international action against nuclear tests. 1. The multinational corporations. bas nol remepr In recent years the multinational corporations have continued to exert a major influence on world- wide economics. By their manipulations on the capital and raw material markets, in the monetary and price sectors, they have greatly aggravated world- wide inflation. World opinion has become aware of their dominant position, and of their ensuing handlings. Trade unions are increasing their pressure for social control over the multinationals. Isn ICFTU/ ITS's have established a joint working group on the subject. The group has worked out a series of concrete proposals for submission to OECD, UNO, and ILO. The proposals concern the setting up of a convention laying down compulsory measures and norms for the multinational corporations. Such a tri- partite convention( government, employers, trade unions), possibly under mandatory authority granted by the governments, could neutralize the liberalization trend which has developed in international economic cooperation since World War 2. H. bos sounida avidalle ddo of ne dI imo Account should be taken of the following priorities: 1. compel the multinationals to inform governments and trade unions concerned about their activities, in a comprehensive manner; cade 2. confront them with their social responsibilities, by a revision of the code on liberalization of capital mo- noid -18 vements%; B sidebelive grid 3. lift the restrictions on the right to strike, and on trade union actions of international solidarity%; B be and in cd zing coun bltow 301 - 107- 4. eliminate tax privileges for multinationals; 5. promote a larger democratization in economics, in both national and international terms, by increasing nationally agreed accords on programmes worked out between governments, trade unions, and companies. cten The United Nations' Economic and Social Council decided, in December, 1974, to set up an inter- governmental committee in which trade union experts are to participate. The committee's efficiency, however, remains to be proven. We therefore must join in the international trade union campaign for a multilateral treaty on controls over international corporations' activities. A real and massive participation in trade union action against the latter's arbitrary activities is demanded. Educators should remain on the alert, and show solidarity in all actions aimed at thwarting these companies' omnipotence, which all too frequently is a threat for democracy in our countries. 2. International trade union offensive against inflation. In It is the curse of our time. Employers all too often contend that salary increases are causing world- wide inflation. The free trade union movement has been retorting by proposing control over prices and rents, close national and international control over the multinational corporations, and negotiated, long- term agreements on basic products. joint meetings with ICFTU and other ITS's, our international has underscored the necessity of eliminating distorsions on the labour market which primarily affect women, young people, and immigrants, and on the absolute priority to be given to full employment. An active policy on the employment market requires flexibility, and improved possibilities for adaptation to changes, in order to eliminate inflationary bottlenecks. It is a backward social development, in the context of educational finality, that increasing numbers of young graduates should remain jobless. We therefore have vigorously opposed the contention that unemployment deliberately ought to be increased, in order to contain inflation! We joined the ICFTU in its repeated appeals to the five or six industrialized countries controlling, in fact, international trade and investments, for them to show the way by adopting a coordinated anti- inflation programme. We shall have to keep close watch, in years to come, over anti- inflation measures, for they have a tiresome propensity towards reducing social and public spending, and limiting the workers' purchasing power. 8 - 108- 3. International monetary disorder. ntails It is generally known that multiple fluctuations in international monetary relations have an impact on trade in raw materials and manufactured products, and that they increase the dependence of developing countries. Setting aside a series of technical measures advocated by the free trade union movement( system of basic, fixed parities, international control over speculative capital movements...) our action centred on calling attention to the gap. in standards of living between poor and rich countries, and to the continuation of the formers' state of poverty. Because of our regional activities, we are particularly aware of the problem. We consider it intolerable that developing countries, representing 70 percent of world population, should receive only 30 percent of world revenues. Nearly 800 million human beings in the third world are living in conditions marked by hunger, illiteracy, malnutrition, physical, moral and cultural misery by which these people's basic needs cannot be met. We have protested against such a degradation on the part of a world that is calling itself civilized. Everything should be done to insure a more equitable distribution of prosperity among nations, and to prevent exploitation of the poor by the rich countries. Workers in the industrialized countries have opposed liberalization in economics, because they think that other countries are deriving profits from exploiting their own workers. We joined the ICFTU in demanding the inclusion of a social clause in the GATT agreement, which would both compel governments in industrialized countries to take forward adjusting measures protecting workers affected by trade and currency fluctuations, and compel governments in developing countries to insure that companies operating on their territories will respect equitable working norms, such as they are laid down in ILO rules. 4. Development policy. da be Re- activation of world trade, controls over multinational corporations' operations, improved world- wide food security, reform of the international trade and monetary systems ought to reduce the number of problems confronting developing countries. The trade union movement has informed international public opinion on possible adverse effects of fereign investments in the developing world. We have seconded the ICFTU/ ITS's working group's action on multinationals, in order to coordinate trade union activities. A joint ICFTU/ ITS meeting, in December, 1973, called for the convening of a 818x1ow end on I - 109- world- wide conference to study all the consequences of increased oil and raw material prices. In April 1974, the United le Nations called a special session of the General Assembly" on raw materials and development". Ide Istoege wore od sved Ilaria Ieve The ITS's, together with the ICFTU, have paid special ob attention to the problems of workers in rural areas, in the determining context of land development and reform. There are great numbers of them, and important measures will be fog required for insuring their social and cultural progress, and adequate levels of income. These measures include the establishment of local health and education services, local investment projects, and the creation of small industries requiring an abundant labour force. They case be effective only if conservative elements in rural societies are confronted with strong, independent and representative organizations of salaried farmers and independent rural workers, united in the determination to improve their members' standard of living. Again, we will be called upon to show solidarity on the question of trade union rights in developing countries. Our contribution as teachers is of vital significance for reducing existing illiteracy in many countries. 5. Inequalities detrimental to migrant workers. to eeussed An ICFTU/ ITS's working group on migrant workers was set up to prepare ICF TU's world conference on the subject. At the Conference we have underscored the necessity for a broad action towards improving migrant workers' living and working conditions in the framework of full employment policy in all countries. Our international, at various ILO meetings, has drawn attention to the deficiencies in the current measures covering adaptation, social integration, and education for the children of migrant workers. In so doing we have expressed a solidarity that should be continuous in view of the time lag between commitments in matters of trade union rights and social justice for these workers, and their implementation. It also gave as an opportunity for protesting against racial measures affecting these workers. 6. Improvements in working conditions. We have given this problem special treatment in the current report, because it is of special concern to teachers. We have done everything possible to associate ourselves, in intersectorial solidarity, with all free organized workers on a subject of such magnitude. Is edd no d smun bris meloast meilstlgs- ban to sewq evliegen bas bis - 110- All workers increasingly are becoming aware of the necessity to fight for less degrading working conditions, for a be greater measure of personal integrity, for improved quality of life. These so- called" qualitative" claims are of increasing importance. We therefore shall have to show special solidarity with the international trade union movement, whenever workers' rights are being ignored by the logics of profit and the exploitation of man by man, organized by the major mono- b polistic corporations. 7. Industrial democracy and defence of trade union rights.bs We have been very closely associated with the whole free trade union movement in watching progress in the matter of workers' participation in enterprises. This is an essentialissue, which should enable trade unionism to demand full participation in choices and decisions that will affect all bein workers. 193 We have to state, unfortunately, that a great many actions had to be undertaken merely to protect, and even to impose, workers' trade union rights. The situation in many countries is such, that we will have to fight, more than ever before, to defend our secured rights. We shall have to remain on the alert, because of the importance of the issues involved for us. Not a year goes by without teachers the being prevented from exercizing their right to strike, or aqu being imprisoned for doing so.as 8. International action against nuclear tests. cial which wou 000 somp Our international joined the world- wide trade union solidarity against French nuclear tests, by inviting its affiliated or friendly organizations to intervene energetically s and obtain their cancellation. and Associating ourselves with ICFTU action, we have invited the United Nations to demand from all governments the renunciation of all new series of nuclear tests. We have asked ILO and FAO to do what is in their power to prevents such tests. Ro- activation of wor boroWe should follow closely further developments and reaffirm, together with the whole international free trade te union movement, our opposition to any sort of nuclear tests, wherever they take place, in whatever form, by any government. ned GOP To conclude: teachers are giving lasting support to all problems that are of concern to free workers. This has been amply demonstrated. All our demands- for social justice, equality, prosperity, and quality of life are based on the fundamental, human claim which all freely organized workers are upholding in their daily struggle with the mighty, but backward and negative powers of neo- capitalism, fascism, and racism. - 111- Conglog and of babsqxs won asd Isnoids qu bne eeli badal Idug yd bednege[ qque ford CHAPTER V. ***** INFORMATION. Confronted with the proliferation of informations of all kinds and various significance, the IFFTU Secretariat has fulfilled one of its essential duties: the spreading of information on doctrine, choices, actions, and ensuing result at the International's level. This is one of our daily tasks and the subject of our permanent efforts. Continuing earlier endeavours to teachers' organizations in the various continents, to international workers' organizations and in circles of the international agencies, our main task in the period under review has been substantially to increase exchanges of information on both the defence of free organized teachers' trade union rights, and on assessment of undertakings, research and debates in the world today, whether they pertain to reform in education, or to economic and social issues. eysule evsi no This important information task is being implemented on the following levels: BE 1. The information bulletin, printed in off- set, and written in three languages( English, Spanish, French). We have improved its lay- out, within the limits of our current resources. Progress, here, was made through regular contacts with affiliated organizations. They honoured the commitment to keep us informed regularly on the main points of their demands and initiatives in matters of professional, and social information. The bulletin is now the most appropriate and constant means for a broad circulation of news and a permanent exchange of views, to be maintained in order to secure coherent action in a tested solidarity. We therefore are asking Congress to consider ase increase of ad- hoc means, which is required for meeting the affiliated organizations' request for precise information on the evolution of major issues at both national, and the various regional, levels. - 112- Our International has now expanded to the point where the bulletin ought to be supplemented by published files and technical index cards securing permanent, updated information, as the indispensable tools for assessing progress in our common demands. 2. Daily mail. The extension of the International to all continents- this should be pointed out- means means a continuous expanding volume, and budget allocation for the secretariat's daily mail. The mail is an indispensable source of detailed information, required for conducting common action and maintaining solidarity, by both the secretariat and all national organizations. In view of the expansion of our International's territory in terms of both geography and languages, and in order to maintain and develop our activities, an adjustment of the means made available to us seems indispensable. 3. Information by direct contacts on the spot. emain on the alert We have always believed that the best method for propaganda and information is in direct and personal contacts on the spot. The method has largely been used during the years under review, within the limits of the means available for this purpose. The details of the activities are to be found in the chapter on our International's regional activities. The general lines of our trade union practices for our establishment and expansion have been: - direct contacts with affiliated organizations, or with those that could become affiliated because of their favourable attitude, to hold broad exchanges of views on professional and social problems; seminars, in various regions of the world, on( 1) in- depth study of the actual situation of educational personnel, and( 2) better assessment of trade union organizations, their aims, activities, and difficulties. ational That is one of the most significant aspects of our activities. Whereas regional establishment was the first pre- requisite, a few years ago, all our attention, today, should be focused on consolidating these establishments. Co - 113- Conclusion. MO128JJMD JAR Confronted as we are with major problems requiring increasing participation of teachers in social changes, and in solidarity with all organized workers, nothing should be neglected to improve information as a privileged tool. Our request for an adjustment in the means required for increasingly varied and complex duties in securing close and rational communications between our organization, therefore, seems to be justified. Isidngeas ni elsop Ins and ven00b zuo to yd. ob nsiq noidon and to adizm f add ddio snil ni nej oliduq -18n edd njim no s 20 noidibna not hi end. to Isno 101 adiness onios nede om AID -eb zud 30 eosd Isians -36 100 10 session![ sions ni bn bsods eyed au I 3 STEP soyd obs ea eb. add Jan ensem no noit 8 GENERAL CONCLUSION. ba 114ed to the The results achieved during the period under review, are in our view, undoubtably to the credit of the Organisation and fully along the lines of our Constitution and basic philosophy, i. e.: the progress of the free unionisation of teachers; Ian the short- term achievement of important goals in essential fields. On account of the basic validity of our doctrine, the results credited clearly show the merits of the action plan as adopted by our 1972 Congress: - the development of the information in line with the internal requirements of a dynamic International and in line too with those of indispensable public relations; the strengthening of IFFTU's position with the international agencies as a sine qua non condition for a constructive dialogue; CODPACES on the DI in a parallel way, the strengthening of the intersectorial solidarity and common actions, especially in the framework of the public services and consistent with the main claims of the international teachers' trade union movement. for According to us, these are most encouraging results for the future of our International. At this stage of our development, perseverance is an essential duty. zabi We therefore hope for a substantial increase of our action means in time with the tremendous tasks ahead and in process of execution, about which we shall report to Congress. and II = || of our actitoday, should GENERAL CONCLUSION. 114 The results achieved during the period under review, are in our view, undoubtably to the credit of the Organisation and fully along the lines of our Constitution and basic philosophy - the progress of the free unionisation of teachers; the short- term achievement of important goals in essential fields. On account of the basic validity of our doctrine, the results credited clearly show the merits of the action plan s as adopted by our 1972 Congress: the development of the information in line with the internal requirements of a dynamic International and in line too with those of indispensable public relations the strengths national ag constructi of IFFTU's position with the interas a sine qua non condition for a - in a parallel- way, the strengthening of the intersectorial solidarity and common actions, especially in the framework of the public services and consistent with the main claims of the international teachers' trade union movement. According to us, these are most encouraging results for the future of our International. At this stage of our development, perseverance is an essential duty. We therefore hope for a substantial increase of our action means in time with the ndous tasks ahead and in process of execution, about which we shall report to Congress. $ 2 3 5 Centimetres Inches Color chart 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 5 Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de Blue Cyan Green Yellow Red Magenta White Grey Black # C9C9FF # 0000FF # C0E5FC # 009FFF # 759675 # 008B00 # FFFFC7 # FFFF00 # FFC9C9 # FF0000 # FFC9FF # FF00FF #FFFFFF # 9D9E9E # D9DADA # 5B5B5B # 000000 2 Centimetres Inches 2 5 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Grayscale 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 100% C YM Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de 7 8 9 10 11 11 12 13 50% 18% 14 0%