1945 gathering of trade unions
The World Trade Union Conference between 6–17 February 1945 was participated in by countries from all around the world, at County Hall, London.[1] Regarded as a significant moment within the international labour movement as it was the first time that workers from around the world came together to influence international politics.[2][dubious – discuss] It was a product of the wave of popular internationalism and union self-confidence following the defeat of fascism in World War II.[3]
Both Clement Attlee and King George VI spoke to the audience at the conference.[1] 204 representatives from 63 Unions around the world attended the conference including those from the Soviet Union, in an attempt to have representation within the United Nations and Security Council.[4] The conference, which was organised in the vein of the anti-fascist movement being much inspired by both union and state notions of a new world order plus influenced by the interests of the allied nations.[3][1] Anti-war, post war reconstruction post-war and Trade Union were on the agenda.[5]
The conference resulted in the Declarations of the World Trade Union Conference, which were published in San Francisco by the Trade Union Council in 1945[6] and inspired the Fifth Pan-African Congress to beheld later the same year in Manchester.[2]
One of the purposes of the conference was to create a draft constitution for the World Federation of Trade Unions which was established at the first World Trades Union Congress which convened in Paris in October 1945.[5][7]
Attendees
The committee consisted of 45 voting members and one non-voting member while many other notable figures participated. [1][8][5]
Asia
Africa
Europe
- Belgium: J. Brodier,[10] Joseph Bondas, Walter Schevenels
- Bulgaria: T.L. Pranov
- Cyprus: Andreas Ziartides
- Czechoslovakia: J. Kosina
- Finland: E. Harma
- France: Benoît Frachon, Albert Gazier, Louis Saillant
- Iceland: B. Bjarnasson
- Ireland: G. Lynch
- Italy: G. Canini
- Netherlands: C.J. Van Lienden[11]
- New Zealand: Alec Croskery
- Norway: Ingvald Haugen, Konrad Nordahl
- Soviet Union: Vasili Kuznetsov, E.I. Sidorenko, Mikhail Tarasov
- Spain: A. Rosal
- Sweden: Gunnar Andersson
- United Kingdom: Walter Citrine, Ebby Edwards, Lincoln Evans, George Isaacs,[12] Herbert Morrison[9]
- Yugoslavia: Đuro Salaj
North America
Oceania
South America
- Columbia: Bernardo Medina
- Uruguay: Luis Gonzalez
Unknown: B. Goodwin, B. Locker,[14] J.H. Oldenbrock and V.L. Toledano[15]
External links
References