GLOBAL UNION FEDERATION

An autonomous, self-governing, and democratic organization associated with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) that brings national trade unions together on an international level, formerly known as the International Trade Secretariat.

"International co-operation and solidarity between unions at every level is an increasingly important element in the success of the labour movement. Unions must generate the capacity to engage in this kind of action, whether this means cross-border co-operation between local union branches, or intervention in economic and financial governance institutions via unified global union federations."
(Conor, C., and P., Hall-Jones, Trade Union Reform. Change is the Only Constant, visited 2010-11-20)

Historical Background

"The pioneers of international co-operation were the International Trade Secretariats (ITS). ITS are world-wide federations of unions which unite workers based on industry, craft or occupation. Several were formed in the late nineteenth century and, by 1914, 33 ITS had been established. The very first international trade union organisations were established in 1889, when the International Federation of Boot and Shoe Operatives, the International Federation of Tobacco Workers and the International Typographical Secretariat were created.

In the beginning, they were fairly informal structures, co-operating on a practical level with exchange of information on the craft, trade or industry, helping travelling journeymen, and discouraging the international transport of strike-breakers. Around 1900, they had already enlarged their co-operation to areas such as organisational assistance, international strike support and international standard setting.

The first international trade union organisation composed of national centres grew out of a conference in 1901 where the most important European national trade unions decided to create an international body. First established as the International Secretariat of Trade Union Centres, the organisation was renamed in 1913, becoming the International Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU)."
(Programme for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV), The International Trade Union Structure, visited 2011-04-04)

Role and Actions

"The role of ITS has expanded with globalisation, as they have grown in membership and have been called upon to play a greater role by affiliates confronted with problems that do not respond to purely national solutions.
Unlike the ICFTU, which represents national centres, ITS as members have national unions, which represent workers from a specific sector, industry or occupation.

ITS defend the interests of their affiliates in practical ways through various methods, including:

• Solidarity and organisational work, which may include financial assistance or co-ordination of actions against employers or governments
• Information and research (of particular importance in dealing with multinationals) and providing useful publications and studies
• Engaging in campaigns and creating public awareness
• Representation of affiliate interests with MNE's, with international organisations at the intergovernmental level, such as through sectoral work at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and with other organisations in the international trade union movement

(Programme for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV), The International Trade Union Structure, visited 2011-04-04)

The international organisations of national trade unions, the International Trade Secretariats (ITS), group trade unions by industry or sector. Because ITS affiliates are directly engaged with employers, the ITS are the international trade union organisations with the closest contact and familiarity with multinational and other enterprises. For trade unions, the ITS are the best international sources of information about industries, sectors and enterprises. They are also the best means for trade unions to share this kind of information internationally and they are the primary and best means for engaging the common employer internationally. In almost all situations, they are the most effective means for a trade union to obtain international support in disputes. The affiliates of ITS should be the focal point for channelling information and requests in this process, on their own behalf and on behalf of the local level union structures that may be the primary party in the action."
(Programme for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV), The International Dimension of Trade Union Work, visited 04-04-2011)

International Framework Agreements

"Global Union Federations (GUFs) […] conclude what have come to be called International Framework Agreements (IFAs), that is, agreements on fundamental labour rights with MNCs. Based on different sectoral determinants, industrial relations structures and forms of organising, an analytical distinction is drawn between ‘bargaining' agreements and ‘rights' agreements.

The Global Union Federations and national unions, although involved in negotiating and administering IFAs, take on more of a global coordination and campaigning role, allowing for a more versatile alliance of forces."
(Hammer, N., International Framework Agreements: Global Industrial Relations Between Rights and Bargaining, 2005, visited 2010-11-20)

Global Union Federations

The Global Union Federations (GUFs) are members of the Council of Global Unions. The GUFS are: Education International (EI), Building and Woodworkers International (BWI), International Arts and Entertainment Alliance (IAEA), International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF), International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF), Public Services International (PSI), UNI Global Union (UNI). The Global Union Federations (GUFs) represented around 147 million workers globally in 2004, all of whom are members of around 4000 affiliated national labour union federations representing workers from both private and public sectors.
(adapted from Bourque, R., Les accords-cadres internationaux (ACI) et la négociation collective internationale à l'ère de la mondialisation, Institut international d'études sociales (IIES), 2005, visited 2009-11-20)