History of international trade union confederation
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What the HKCTU represented was not only its 100,000+ members and 90 affiliated unions, but also the spirit of the independent labour movement, a spirit that was sown 31 years ago and took root in the soil of Hong Kong over the confederation’s history. Through the intervention of HKCTU and its affiliated unions, unfair treatments in the industries and workplaces were successfully remedied.
Labour law reform: dripping water wears away a stone
The HKCTU also actively promoted labour law reform and played an advocacy role both inside and outside the Legislative Council (Legco).
From 1995 to 1997, owing to Governor Patten’s political reform, was possibly the only time in history that the pro-democratic camp held a majority in the Legco and was able to pass legislation through private bills. The fight for many of today’s labour protections, such as the statutory minimum wage, the cancellation of MPF offset, the increase in statutory holidays, paternity leave, etc., was led by the HKCTU and other civil society organisations after years of advocacy and continuous struggle.
It has also shown solidarity with trade unions in other parts of the world in their respective fights amidst the similarly shrinking democratic space in their countries.”
The ITUC-Asia Pacific strongly condemns the aggressive attacks against trade unions and pro-democracy forces in Hong Kong and echoes the call of the International Trade Union Confederation on the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities “to cease the prosecutions and intimidation of trade unionists and advocates for fundamental freedoms and to release those who have been imprisoned.”
“In HKCTU’s statement regarding its dissolution, HKCTU Chair Wong Nai-yuen remarked that ‘a movement may encounter setbacks… but we’re always faithful that solidarity is power.’ It is in this spirit of unbreakable solidarity that ITUC-Asia Pacific, representing more than 60 million workers in Asia and the Pacific region, continues to stand firmly with HKCTU and the people of Hong Kong in their fight for a democratic society where fundamental rights and freedoms are guaranteed and respected,” Shoya Yoshida added.
Origins
The history of international teacher organisations goes back to 1912 with the establishment of the International Committee of National Federations of Teachers of Public Schools in Belgium.
The two types of organisations, inter-professional and sectoral/occupational were often referred to as “the ICFTU family”.
A third grouping of international trade union organisations was inspired by Christian social teachings. None of these organisations, however, were large given the number of teachers in the world. Migrant workers are often in a more vulnerable position due to language and cultural barriers.
The President of the AFT, Al Shanker, was elected EI’s Founding President and NEA President Mary Futrell, was elected EI President.IFFTU General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, was elected as General Secretary and concentrated initially on building all the structures of the new organisation. For instance, the CIC launched actions against apartheid in South Africa and military dictatorships in the Philippines.
Some national trade unions that worked with the ETUCE joined both the WCOTP and IFFTU. The NEA became more interested, particularly in certain states, in collective bargaining and the AFT placed relatively greater emphasis on professional issues than they had at their inception. There was also some dual affiliation in developing countries.
Preparation for merger
In the United States, where competition between the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) was a long tradition and where there were clear differences in origin and conception between a professional organisation (NEA) and a trade union (AFT), there were also changes in both organisations that also reflected the growing possibilities for trade union action in education.
The sense of freedom that has taken root in human beings or in labour movements is not something that the regime can arbitrarily reverse.
Although the HKCTU is now disbanded, the achievements of the labour movement it had built over the years have reshaped the fabric of society and still exert influence to this day. The establishment of HKCTU in 1990 marked a milestone in the convergence of the aforementioned two independent trade union forces.
Labour protests: workers taking their fates into their own hands
The HKCTU has been involved in workers’ struggles over its 31-year history.
The World Confederation of Teachers (WCT), after being part of a public-sector body became a separate structure for teachers inside the WCL.
In addition to the WFTU FISE and the Christian public-sector body after the war, the WFEA grew and was renamed the World Organisation of the Teaching Profession (WCOTP) in 1946 and, in combination with others, formed the World Confederation of Organisations of the Teaching Profession (WCOTP) in 1951.
That, combined with what was happening in Europe and elsewhere, created an environment that changed the nature of discussions and led to unity.
The leadership of the two major American unions agreed that, despite their domestic differences, they should explore the possibilities to create a new organisation at global level.
The trade union movement in Hong Kong has been a constant target of attacks, threats, and intimidation by the government since the adoption of the National Security Law in 2020.
There was also a major commitment by the respective General Secretaries of IFFTU and WCOTP, Fred Van Leeuwen and Bob Harris, respectively, to facilitate understanding and good relations and to remove barriers to unification.
The foundation of Education International
On January 26, 1993, the WCOTP and IFFTU merged at a convention in Stockholm, Sweden to form Education International (EI).