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The International confederation of Arab Trade Unions During fifty years of its foundation
1956-2006
Introduction:
Like a blink of an eye, fifty years have passed since the foundation of the International confederation of Arab Trade Unions. Fifty candles lightened with the blood and sweat of the Arab nation's workers and laborers in the defense of their rights. Fifty year of struggle, during which our Confederation opted for the path of national struggle to materialize the national liberation and independence and to confront the American-Zionist scheme with the aim of achieving the Arabs' dream of Arab unity, economic complementarity, the support of the rights' causes and trade unions' liberties as well as the workers' right to establish their trade unions' framework. Our confederation came into existence in Damascus during the mid-fifties following trade unions meetings among a number of Arab trade unions (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Libya), and now our Confederation became the representative of tens of Arab organizations, trade unions and vocational unions and expresses the aspirations of millions of Arab workers. The commemoration of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union's Golden Jubilee has its justification. It is not commemorating an occasion with its popular aspect, but rather a confirmation of continuing the path of defending the Arab labors' right and relentlessly confronting the logic of imperialist and Zionist's hegemony. It is the pledge to continue the path set by the Arab working class so that it will have a word and a presence in a world where the weak has no place. For these reasons, the General Secretariat of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union decided to issue a bulletin that highlights the important moments in its trade union history and on political, economic, social and democratic aspects, among others. The Confederation hopes that this bulletin is a first step towards a more comprehensive book that examines the important moments of our Confederation's path of with further historical analysis, rigid research methodology and a clear political vision. I hold the hands of the Arab workers and urge the Arab trade unions to struggle further to defend the interests of the Arab working class and the causes of our Arab and Islamic nation. Hail the first pioneer of the Arab labor movement's leaders. Hail our brother founders who established for us this union's edifice??? And walked the path of struggle and we vow to them to continue the mission of struggle to support the working class and the Arab unions' movement. Hail the struggle of the Arab working class. A salute of respect and glorification to the souls of the Arab nation and the martyrs of the Arab and international working class. The Secretary General Hacene Djemam
Studying the history of the creation of the working class is related to the formation of industry, its development and the dominance of the capitalist production pattern. The working class and its union movement are historically linked to the industrial revolution. The Arab working class and its trade union movement grew and developed in its early beginning under the umbrella of modern industry and establishments. The facts indicate that the introduction of industry in the area dates back to 1820, during which the first factories were founded in Egypt, some modern machines were introduced in Algeria by the French, while the British introduced, via their companies to Iraq, some sophisticated fluvial transportation means. The developments progressed afterwards, and the modernization trends crystallized by some Turkish rulers in a bid to modernize the state.
In Egypt, Mohamad Ali embarked during his rule (1804-1848) to establish a number of factories after the year 1820, this was followed by the opening of the Suweis Canal and the establishment of the arms and garment factories in addition to the cotton ginning, the expansion of Alexandria port, laying the lines for the tramway, and later on upgrading the tobacco industry as well as the shoes and textile industries.
Then came the attempt of Nameq Pasha in Iraq in 1864, when he established a factory for military clothing, in addition to the entry of the British companies, the expansion of industrial workshops and the dissemination of ginning mills between Baghdad and Mussel. Similarly in Tunisia, the ports of Tunisia and Benzert were enlarged in order to meet the needs of the commercial expansion. Furthermore, the extraction of raw materials increased in the areas of Al Mutalawi, Qafsa and Safaqes, then the number of agricultural companies multiplied and the service sector was expanded. This does not imply that the Arab working class opted for the same course and path as those of the working class of the pioneer industrial countries when they were created. Rather, it was affected by several factors which were reflected afterwards on the awareness of the working class and the trends of its struggle. It was booming in major cities following the introduction of the capitalist production pattern via the large foreign and imperialist forces, yet, its awareness, relations and struggle was no different from the rural areas. The creation of the working class is linked to specific social and economic structure, the unequal growth of different Arab countries create a state of disparity in the structure of labour and their class origin. We can conclude that despite the improbability of isolating the working class from the large manufacturing and production, we must admit the presence of multiple factors and stimuli which played a factor in directing the path of its class and national struggle and in defining the content of its struggle with its enemies.
Some common characteristics of the Arab labour movement
By monitoring the beginnings, the development and the path of the Arab lobour movement, we can notice some common characteristics, some of which are the following:
Most of them were created in extremely similar social, political and economic environment.
Most of the Arab countries fell under the Othman ruling, had a dominating feudal system and suffered from the imperialist dominance in all its different forms, while the resources of the socio-political movements focused on how to rid from submission and obtaining national independence.
The Arab movement in the Arab countries, with some rare exception, is the product of the post world war 1, and is strongly associated with the national liberation movement. It benefited from the western ideological currents, including the labour revolution in Russia and co-existed with the traditional structures. Furthermore, the Arab Labour movement did not face any bourgeois revolution as happened in a number of industrial countries.
Since its birth, the Arab labour movement grew and reinforced on the political and organizational levels on the ground of the development of the capitalist production relations which emerged under the colonialist slavery. The key tasks undertaken by the Arab labour movement and its trade unions are: reinforcing independence, consolidating the national liberation movement and undergoing a continuous struggle against colonialism and imperialism as well as consolidating the socio-democratic transformation.
The foundation of the International confederation of Arab Trade Unions
The International confederation of Arab Trade Unions was initially founded as an organizational tool for the Arab labor class in its national struggle for national liberation, independence, Arab unity and for its legitimate aspiration for creation social transformation in the Arab world and the defense of the causes of rights, trade unions' liberties and the right of organization. Nevertheless, the dominant aspect of the confederation's activities and orientations has its political aspects and the interests of its leadership are originally focused on the national causes, particularly the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Zionist conflict.
In light of the meeting held On 24th March 1956 by trade union leaderships representing Arab labor organizations in five Arab Countries (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Libya), the creation of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union was announced in Damascus, the capital of the Syrian Arab Republic as a framework representing the union of struggle and the destiny of the Arab labor unions.
The creation of the Confederation fifty years ago crowned the struggle and the big sacrifices of the labor class with the aim of establishing an Arab organization striving to materialize their national class aspiration and strengthen its alliance in the struggle for facing the perils threatening their future goals and ambitions. It lays the foundation for the unity of the Arab nations based on its absolute faith that the liberation of the Arab land from imperialist, Zionist and regressionist hegemony in all its economic, political, social, and intellectual aspect depends on the role of the labor class plays in the leadership of the Arab society and of what enhances its struggling role in the establishment of the united socialist Arab society.
The membership of the confederation witnessed a remarkable growth and its effectiveness gained momentum during the sixties and seventies of the last century with the membership of the following countries: Morocco, Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Palestine, Sudan, Democratic Yemen, Northern Yemen, Somalia, Mauritania, Djibouti and Tunisia.
The Arab countries that have precedence as to the emergence of labor movement are those who first opted for the manufacturing system and marked the growth of the national and liberation movement.
Egypt was among the first Arab countries that were familiar with the labor organization, whereby the tobacco and cigarette syndicates were established in 1899 and took action the same year by staging a strike to demand a salary increment for the labor. Afterwards, the era between the two world wars witnessed the emergence of labor unions' organization in Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon….. and during the fifties of last century, the Arab north African countries (Magreb) witnessed the emergence of unions independent from the organizations that were present in these countries and which is considered as branches of the mother labor organizations in Europe due to the military colonialist presence.
After world war II and during the period between the fifties and sixties, the labor organization spread in Sudan, Jordan, Libya, Democratic Yemen, Kuwait, Northern Yemen, Mauritanian, Somalia, Bahrain and Eritrea.
The Confederation's constitution
Since its foundation, the confederation adopted its own constitution which was amended several time afterwards, the last of which, took place during the 10th General Congress in 1999 and the 11th General Congress in 2004. The constitution is composed of six chapters and 86 articles. It has an important introduction which is considered as a principal part of it, of which extract the following:
"The Arab labor class, believing in the unity of the Arab nation and its mission aimed at the establishment of the united Arab social democratic society and setting up social justice as well as accomplishing economic and political independence without any submission and the liberation of all occupied Arab land, confirms that its class unity is a key factor in the unity of the Arab nation and that the aspiration of Arab labor for obtaining all their rights, maintaining them, playing their effective role and contributing to building and leading the society is dependent on developing their forces and unity as well as liberation their Arab land from Imperialism, Zionism and the forces of exploitation and hegemony in all their economic, political, social and cultural aspects."
"The working class in the Arab world believes in the people's right in deciding its destiny and self-determination. It confirms that the Arab trade union is one of the principal elements in the democratic struggle and the strategic ally of the struggling forces. The Arab labor, believing in these principles, announce their integration to an Arab trade union that unite their word, coordinate their efforts to contribute to the defense of their labor interests and safeguard the Arab working class' economic, political and social rights and to contribute to materializing the joint Arab interest and supporting the crucial causes of the Arab nation."
The confederation's objectives
The confederation aims to:
- defend the rights and interests of the Arab working class and its union movement and to upgrade its standards of living in addition to activating its participation in building and developing the Arab countries and the Arab nation. It also aims to consolidate the bond of brotherhood among the Arab labor and to accomplish cooperation and coordination between the confederation and its organizations in addition to ensuring the right of labor, eliminating unemployment and ensuring the right of labor union lobbying, the collective bargaining and enhancing the tripartite dialogue between the production parties in addition to defending the labor unions' rights and liberties and consolidating democracy and the independence of labor union's independence. - Effectively contribute to the development of the Arab countries and the optimum investment of its human and financial resources as a joint investment in order to serve the Arab nation and work for the establishment of the joint Arab labor market and accomplishing the Arab economic complementarity. - Follow up, implement, develop and unite the labor legislation to be in harmony with the social, economic and political development, as well as upgrading the social insurance regulations??? And supporting the Labor's struggle and their labor union's movement with the aim of upgrading their standards of living, protecting the fees, improving the purchasing power, growing and developing national and union's awareness and disseminate the labor's culture. - Confirm the women's rights in work and gender equality as well as taking interest in the working youth, the pensioners, the disabled, the elderly and honoring the older unionists. - Encourage the formation of Arab vocational trade unions for the trade unions operating in similar and complementary professions as well as struggling for the establishment of the Arab unity, and liberating Palestine and the occupied Arab land from colonialism and Zionism. - Support the joint Arab action establishment, contribute to the establishment of the united Arab socialist democratic society, cooperating with the Arab organizations and bodies to safeguard the rights of the Arab immigrant labor and cooperating with the confederations and organizations whose objectives are compatible to those of the Arab working class. - Support the people's right of self-determination, respecting their choices, possessing complete independence and sovereignty, curbing apartheid policies, sparing the world from the misfortune of war, prohibiting the dissemination and the use of mass destruction weapons, cooperating with the competent authorities to realize the optimum use of the nature's resources, protecting the environment, stopping pollutions, burying the harmful waste and rallying to gain the support of the international public opinion to support our just national causes.
The confederation's bodies
Article No. 16 of the Confederation's constitutions stipulates that the formulation of its bodies includes three levels: the general congress, the Central Council and the general secretariat.
1- The general congress: It is the higher authority of the Confederation and is composed of the representatives of the authentic member organization in one country according to the size of membership in each organization and three representatives for each observer member organization and two representatives for each vocational union under the status of observer. The secretary general and the members of the general secretariat are members in the congress until the election of a new general secretariat. They have no voting rights unless they were delegates within the delegation of their organization. In addition, there is a representative of the Arab working woman committee as observer and a representative of the working youth committee as observer. The number of women delegates must be no less than 25% of the total number of delegate to the congress in each organization.
An ordinary session of the congress is held once every five years upon an invitation form the council. It is admissible, in case of force majeure, to postpone holding the Congress for one year, upon the written request of third of the member organizations' votes. Casting votes of the congress is done by the number of votes specified for each organization. The voting is done publicly, but could be done secretly in the case specified by the Congress' procedures. Furthermore, it is admissible to hold an extraordinary session, upon the Council's decision and by a majority of two third of the votes of the member organizations.
The congress examines the endorsement of the organizations' delegates and their counselors' membership, laying down the Confederation's policy, endorsing its general orientation, endorsing the admission of new members, the suspension and expulsion of membership, the ratification of the council's decision taken on behalf of the congress, as well as discussing the council's reports regarding the issues stated in the agenda, ratifying the financial report, amending the Confederation's constitution and the congress' procedures, the election of the Secretary General, the adoption of the council's members, withholding confidence from the Secretary General in case of violating the provisions stated in the Confederation's constitution or in case of being convicted on a final court ruling of a crime of honesty or honour, the vote of no-confidence is taken by a majority of two thirds of the votes allocated to the member organizations.
The congress is also authorized to form the financial control committee and to elect the order and membership committee.
The Confederation's congresses
The Confederation held eleven ordinary sessions, since the announcement of the foundation of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union in March 1956 till March 2006, that is during fifty years, according to the following chronological order:
1. The Constitutional Congress Held in Damascus from 22-24 March 1956. 2. The second congress: Held in Cairo from 20-24 April 1959. 3. The third congress Held in Cairo from 14-19 December 1965. 4. The fourth congress: Held in Cairo from 29 January- 1 February 1969 5. The fifth congress: Held in Cairo from 26-29 May 1972. 6. The sixth congress: Held in Alexandria from 24-28 March 1976. 7. The extraordinary session: The only extraordinary session held since the foundation of the Confederation. It was held in Kuwait from 13-16 February 1978. 8. The seventh congress: Held in Damascus from 24-27 September 1979. 9. The eighth congress: Held in Algeria from 15-18 May 1989. 10. The ninth congress: Held in Tunisia from 7-10 January 1994. 11. The tenth congress: Held in Damascus from 29/11/2/12/1999. 12. The eleventh congress: Held in Damascus from 18-21 December 2004.
The Central Council
Article No. 24 of the Confederation's constitution stipulates that the Council is composed of two members from each organization and one representative from each Arab vocational union with an observer status, in addition to the Secretary General and the members of the General Secretariat who have no voting right. According to Article No. 25, the council's membership is five years and the council's ordinary session is held at least once a year. It is admissible to hold an extraordinary session for the Council in the cases enumerated by the constitution. Furthermore, the Council's decisions are taken by a majority voting of the present member organizations. The Congress endorses the Council's members from the delegates nominated by their organizations. The Council settles any conflict by a two-third majority vote. It is entitled to postpone holding a congress as it has the right to call for holding an extraordinary session also by a two-third majority vote. The Council elects by secret vote a Deputy Secretary General from the secretaries to take the latter's place and to assume all the authorities during his/her absence. The Council is entitled to withdraw confidence from the Deputy Secretary General, the member of the secretariat or any member. It also has the authorities of the Congress between the periods of holding the ordinary and extraordinary sessions.
The General Secretariat
The General Secretariat consists of the secretary general and the assistant secretaries. They have to work full time at the general secretariat. In case the secretary general fails to join the headquarter of the general secretariat within three months as of his election date, that will be taken as abandoning the membership by himself and by his organization and the post is considered vacant. The organization whose candidate failed to join the secretariat is not entitled to nominate a new candidate and the Council elects a replacement.
The General Secretariat operates under the presidency of the Secretary General. They have a collective responsibility to the Council and the congress and, while carrying out their duties, they all must abide by the Confederations' objectives and the decisions of its constitutional bodies. The General Secretariat meets bi-monthly on a periodical basis and when necessary. It is entitled to take any procedure deemed appropriate in case the trade unions' rights and liberties are violated or in case any trade union leader is arrested in any Arab country without a request from the concerned labor union.
The General Secretariat is charged of working for accomplishing the Confederation's objectives specified in the constitution, implementing the decisions, recommendations, and the instructions of the congress and the council, consolidating the cooperation and coordination with the national trade union organizations as well as Arab, regional and international establishment with the aim of materializing the aspirations and interests of the working class. It is also charged with examining the issues proposed to be presented to the congress and the council, develop relations among the member organizations and to exert efforts to settle differences and solve problems that might occur among them.
The General Secretariat is also charged with supervising the Arab vocational unions in all fields, inviting the secretaries of these unions to special meetings to follow up the implementation of the working plan, the performance of its missions, the implementation of its constitutional bodies' decisions and issuing a periodic magazine and bulletin, to be the mouthpiece of the Confederation in addition to issuing printing materials and books and inviting guests to attend the congress and the council.
The secretary general
The secretary general is elected from the candidates of the member organizations whose names are presented to the Council in the session preceding holding the congress at least three months prior to that date. The secretary general is elected for a five-year term and can be re-elected. He/she is the Confederation's legal representative and supervises the management of its affairs. He/she is also the Confederation's spokesman(woman) and expresses its will. Should the position of Secretary General become vacant because of death, resignation, assuming and executive governmental position or failure to join the headquarter of the general secretariat within three months during his term as general secretary, the Deputy Secretary General assumes the presidency of the general secretariat according to the council's decision in that respect.
The Secretaries
The Secretaries' term is five years. They assume their duties according to specialties specified by the secretariat's working procedures. The Secretaries are not entitled to assume an executive governmental position that prevents them from carrying out their tasks. Accepting such positions is considered a reason for ending their membership at the general secretariat.
The General Secretaries
Since the foundation of the Confederation and throughout fifty years, that is since the Constitutional Congress in 24 March 1956 till 24 March 2006 the post of Secretary General was assumed by the following brothers:
1- Mr. Fathi Kamel (Egypt) from March 1956 till April 1959. 2- Mr. Mohamad As'ad Rajeh (Egypt) from April 1959 till December 1965. 3- Dr. Fawzi Al Sayed (Egypt) from December 1965 till May 1972. 4- Mr. Abdul Latif Baltia (Egypt) from May 1972 till Mr. Ali Al Moula assumed the presidency of the general secretariat on 14/10/1977. 5- Mr. Ali Al Moula (Iraq) from 14/10/1977 till 13/2/1978, which is the date of holding the Extraordinary Session in Kuwait. Mr. Ali Al Moula was the interim Secretary General in light of the Confederation's central council's decision which was held in Tunisia from 12-13 October 1977. During that period the headquarters of the General Secretariat was temporary transferred to Baghdad until the extraordinary session is held. 6- Mr. Hamid Abu Baker Jalud (Libya) was elected during the extraordinary session in Kuwait in February 1978 and re-elected during the 7th General Congress held in Damascus on 27 September 1979. He remained Secretary General until the 8th General Congress was held in Algerai from 15-18 May 1989. 7- Mr. Hacene Djemam (Algeria) from May 1989 to date (2006). He obtained a consensus confidence vote during the following congresses: 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th.
Presidents of the Confederation
Since the foundation of the Confederation until the 7th congress, four presidents were elected. They are: Mr. Subhi Al Khatib (Syria), Mr. Salem Shita (Libya), Mr. Hashem Ali Muhsen (Iraq) and Mr. Nasser Al Faraj (Kuwait).
Since the 7th congress was held in Damascus in 1979 and constitutional amendment abolished this position. To date, the amendment is still valid.
Members of the General Secretariat
Since the foundation of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union in 1956 till 2006, the members of the General Secretariat are:
1- Syrian Arab Republic: Mr. Khaled Al Hakim, Mr. Nazir Nabulsi, Mr. Mohamad Mared, Mr. Abdul Fatah Kuweider, Mr. Mohamad Khalil Jawish, Mr. Othman Abo, Mr. Wajih Taha, Mr. Adeeb Miro, Mr. Mishel Risheh, Mr. Hussein Al Sayed Ali, Mr. Othman Al Sheick Hussein, Mr. Tameh Al Jawabra. 2- Algeria: Mr. Mohamad Sharif Al Khroubi, Mr. Mohamd Abdul Malek, Mr. Hacene Djemam. 3- Egypt: Mr. Anwar Ashmawi, Mr. Rashed, Mr. Mohamad Zad Eddin Nour Eddin, Mr. Mohamad Kamel Labib. 4- Libya: Mr. Rajab Al Nayhoum, Mr. Ali Al Nafishi, Mr. Hamid Jaloud, Mr. Rajab Maatough. 5- Palestine: Mr. Hussnei Saleh Al Khafesh, Mr. Haydar Ibrahim, Mr. Suleiman Ali Ahmad, Mr. Sabri Bader, Mr. Mohamad Badran. 6- Jordan: Mr. Zaydan Yuness, Mr. Mohamad Khreisat, Mr. Khaled Zaher Al Fanatsa, Mr. Jamal Al Shamasat. 7- Yemen: Mr. Faisal Abdulla, Mr. Mohamad Omar Basa'd, Mr. Mansour Al Sarari, Mr. Hussein Al Bahlouli. 8- Iraq: Mr. Imad Numah Al Aziz, Mr. Yuhia Juda Shibani, Mr. Rasem Al Awadi, Mr. Hadi Nassif, Mr. Ali Al Moula, Mr. Mohamad Sharif Dawood, Mr. Nuri Latif, Mr. Kazem Al Ameri, Mr. Fadel Zidan. 9- Kuwait: Mr. Haif Al Ajmi. 10-Lebanon: Mr. Midhat Kussa, Mr. Khalil Sharkawi, Mr. Sa'ed Eddin Hamidi Saqer, Mr. Jihad Al Muallem. 11-Morocco: Mr. Mohamd Al Fashtali, Mr. Farouq Shahir. 12-Sudan: Mr. Taj Elser Sukrallah 13-Tunisia: Mr. Al Sadeq Basbas, Mr. Saleh Barur.
List of the founders' names
We hereby list the names of the first founders who had the honour of contributing to the foundation of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union:
· Syria: Mr. Subhi Al Khatib, Mr. Yussef Al Imadi, Mr. Khaled Al Hakim, Mr. Ali Taljabini,Mr. Salah Zanzoul, Mr. Hassan Sasila, Mr. Jubran Halal, Mr. Ibrahim Nuweider, Mr. Ibrahim Al Bakri, Mr. Ali Al Bushi, Mr. Nazir Nabulsi, Mr. Rushdi Al Sheikha, Mr. Talat Al Taglibi, Mr. Badr Eddin Al Abdulla, Mr. Fawzi Bali, Mr. Abul Wahed Galium. · Egypt: Mr. Fathi Kamel, Mr. As'ad Rajeh, Mr. Anwar Salameh, Mr. Sawi Ahmad Sawi, Mr. Mohamad Ahmad Al Aqeeli, Mr. Mansour Abdul Munem Mansour. · Libya: Mr. Salem Shita, Mr. Rajeb Al Naihum, Mr. Ahmad Hashem. · Jordan: Mr. Zidan Yuness, Mr. Hassan Wazaeifi, Mr. Othman Omrani, Mr. Zaki Al Sheick Yassin, Mr. Sami Kharuf, Mr. Wajih Manko, Mr. Mustafa Asqalan, Mr. Hamed Al Sharif, Mr. Abdul Wadud Za'atari, Mr. Nasser Khreiss. · Lebanon: Mr. Mustafa Hamzeh, Mr. Mohamad Khalil Al Sharkawi, Mr. Midhat Mussa, Mr. Issam Shahal, Mr. Muhi Eddin Al Khudari, Mr. Mohamad Ali Fakhro, Mr. Khaled Al Barad'ei, Mr. Abdul Majid Mihio, Mr. Hassan Al Asmar.
The trade union organizations founders of the confederation
Severn trade union organizations from five Arab countries participated in the foundation of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union. They are:
1- The Permanent Congress of Egypt Trade Union. 2- The General Federation of Jordan Trade Union 3- The General Federation of Trade Union in Syria 4- The Workers Progressive Union (Damascus) 5- The General Federation of Libyan Workers 6- The Independent Workers Federation in Lebanon 7- The Workers Federation of Northern Lebanon (Tripoli)
The Arab vocational trade unions
The number of the Arab vocational trade unions affiliated to the International confederation of Arab Trade Union with an observer status amounted to eleven. They are:
1- The Arab Vocational Federation for workers in Petroleum, Mines and Chemicals: it was founded in 1962. Its headquarters is in Cairo. The current secretary general is Mr. Fawzi Abdul Bari. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Jordan, Eritrea, Tunisia, the Libyan Jamahiriya, Algeria, Palestine, Kuwait, Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain, Oman, and Mauritania. 2- The Arab Vocational Federation for Construction and Wood Workers: It was founded in 1962. its headquarters is in Baghdad and its secretary general is Mr.Khalil Mashhadani. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Palestine, Morocco, Kuwait, Yemen, Mauritania, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. 3- The Arab Vocational Federation for Transport and Communication Workers: It was founded in 1966. Its headquarters is in Libya and its secretary general is Mr. Uweidat Ahmad Khalafallah Uweidat. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Yemen, Kuwait, and Mauritania. 4- The Arab Vocational Federation for Spinning, Textile and Clothes Industry Workers: It was founded in 1969. Its headquarters is in Egypt and its secretary general is Mr. Al Sayed Mohamad Rashed. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, Sudan, Palestine, Libya (Jamahiriya) and Egypt. 5- The Arab Vocational Federation for Agriculture, Food Industry and Fishing Workers: It was founded in 1969. Its headquarters is in Sudan and its secretary general is Mr.Salah Ibrahim Ali Abdulla. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Sudan, Egypt, Libya (Jamahiriya), Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Eritrea, Iraq, Palestine, Yemen, Morocco. 6- The Arab Vocational Federation for Banking, Commerce, Insurance and Financial Activity Workers: It was founded in 1971. Its headquarters is in Libya (Jamahiriya) and its secretary general is Mr. Saleh Qalieh. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Tunisia, Egypt, Jamahiriya, Syria, Algeria, Jordan, Sudan, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Lebanon, Yemen, Palestine, Mauritania, and Eritrea. 7- The Arab Vocational Federation for Health Workers: It was founded in 1974. Its headquarters is in Iraq and its secretary general is Mr. Shafiq Al Anzi. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, Yemen, Iraq and Algeria. 8- The Arab Vocational Federation for Mineral, Mechanical and Electrical Industry Workers: It was founded in 1975. Its headquarters is in Damascus and its secretary general is Mr. Abdul Qader Juneid. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Libya (Jamahiriya), Algeria, Sudan, Yemen, Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine and Iraq. 9- The Arab Vocational Federation for Education, Printing and Media Workers: It was founded in 1980. Its headquarters is in Cairo and its secretary general is Mr. Fathi Abdul Al. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Jordan, Sudan, Tunisia, Kuwait, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Libya (Jamahiriya), Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania and Eritrea. 10-The Arab Vocational Federation for Municipality and Tourism Workers: It was founded in 1988. Its headquarters is in Damascus and its secretary general is Mr. Majid Al Mahamid. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya (Jamahiriya), Jordan, Yemen, Iraq and Algeria. 11-The Arab Vocational Federation for Pensioner Workers: It was founded in 2002. Its headquarters is in Algeria and its secretary general is Mr. Abdul Majid Azi. The member organizations affiliated to it are from the following countries: Palestine, Sudan, Libya (Jamahiriya), Syria, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Algeria and Tunisia.
The Confederation path of struggle
The Constitutional Congress: on a beautiful spring day in 24 March 1956, Damascus witnessed the most important day for the masses of working class throughout the big Arab nation, whereby the history stood with pride to contemplate the birth of the greatest event, when Damascus, the Capital of the Syrian Arab Republic, embraced the birth of an Arab national popular labor organization, that is (The International confederation of Arab Trade Unions) . Not only did that day enter history, but it was the result of previous efforts and it bears fruits for the future. The establishment of the Confederation confirmed the Arab Labor unity and destiny and crowned their struggles and sacrifices to establish an Arab lobor organization with the aim of materializing their class aspiration and consolidating their struggle's affiliation to confront the dangers and the difficulties facing their path and future ambitions. The Constitutional Congress was held with the participation of seven Arab trade unions that were honored to found this confederation. Also, the Congress issued a document including the announcement of the establishment of the national trade union (The International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions). The congress also adopted the Confederation's first constitution. The establishment of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Union is the decisive response of the whole imperialist and regressionsit conspiracies aimed at tearing our Arab nation apart and undermining its aspirations and hopes. Thus, the unity of the Arab labor class is a key factor for the unity of the Arab nation. The Confederation, since the beginning of its activity in 1956, struggles for a better life of the Arab labor, to upgrade their standards of living, to ensure the right of work stability and lucrative work, in addition to increasing their production capacity, defending the union and general rights and freedoms, striving in all means to support and safeguard them and to ensure the freedom of opinion and expression in addition to consolidating the relations of brotherhood, cooperation and unity and mobilizing the national efforts in order to eliminate the false barriers among the countries of the Arab nation. During its path of struggle, the Confederation was great in its wonderful support of our people in Egypt during the tripartite aggression against Egypt, the big sister, in 1956, and intelligently mobilized the Arab masses and took the front row to face and undermine this aggression. The Confederation also supported with extreme effectiveness Algeria's heroic revolution and the struggle of the workers and the people of Aden and the occupied south in the resistance against the British colonialism. Furthermore, it had its effective and distinguished presence with regards to averting the boycott announced by the monopolistic companies, linked to the imperialism and Zionism, against the Arab vessel "Cleopatra" in New York port. In addition, the International confederation of Arab Trade Union took some honorable positions during the Zionist aggression in 1967, whereby it was among the first national and progressive forces which called for taking economic measures and other measures including stopping the Arab petroleum supply to the countries supporting the Zionist aggression and prejudicing the imperialist interests in the Arab world. The most distinguished act of our Confederation is its positions strongly supporting the struggle of our Arab Palestinian people against the Zionist usurper enemy, knowing that the Palestinian cause is the central cause of the Arab nation. The "International Committee for the Support of the Workers and People of Palestine" was formed late March 1968 by the initiative of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union and the extensive contribution of the World Trade Union. Its first meeting was held in the Bulgarian capital Sofia with the attendance of representative of 23 Arab, regional and international trade unions. The meetings and activities supporting the Palestinian people followed afterwards. We shall not omit to mention that the Confederation, in the aftermath of the war in 1973, supported with all its potentials and capacities, the right of the Arab nation to recover the occupied Arab land and to undermine the saying of the invincible enemy, by contributing to mobilizing the masses and supporting the buffer lines against the Zionist. The International confederation of Arab Trade Unions, throughout its path of struggle for half a century, was aware of the class and national responsibly and incarnated the noble objectives it was striving to achieve. Furthermore, it was clear in its positions, firm in its opinion, tough in its defense for the liberties, the human beings, the land and the homeland. This was reflected by the decision of its congresses and central committees which incarnated the right framework of its options vis-à-vis the total Arab, regional and international causes. The consecutive sessions of its Central Committees and Congresses analyzed the dangerous dimensions of the nature of the imperialist Zionist regressionist attack against the Arab movement of national liberation, particularly against the Palestinian cause. As soon as the Arab masses avert and eliminate one conspiracy, it is surprised by new conspiracies engineered against the Arab nation under false and weak pretexts. The International confederation of Arab Trade Union, stood honestly with itself, its principles and objectives when its was, with its other components, among the vast Arab masses opposing the visit of the former Egyptian President Anwar Al Sadat to occupied Jerusalem. This visit was considered a flagrant violation of the Arab nation's aspiration for the liberation of its occupied land from the Zionist usurpers. This visit was also considered to be in violation of the Arab consensus rejecting the Zionist entity and dealing with it, no matter what the reasons are. The Arab trade unions movement, through the leadership of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union confronted the policies that led to the signature of Camp David agreements and believed it to be a flagrant and dangerous violation of the Arab consensus to fight the Zionist enemy. It worked towards containing its consequences and negative effects so that the Arab nation would continue its steadfastness against conspiracies which targeted its will, its independent free policies and its defense of its land and all that is sacred to it. The Arab trade unions movement, in all its national positions and by confirming them, only strives to safeguard the unity of the Arab labor union movement knowing that it is one of the components of the Arab masses in all its texture. Consequently, due to the Confederation's wise policy and despite all the shocks and difficulties the nation endured and all, the Confederation maintained its unity, independence and its popular, pioneer, struggling, honest and pure role. One of the most distinguished positions the Confederation was subject to and constituted a decisive test of its policies and its management was the divided Arab position vis-à-vis the invasion of the previous Iraqi regime of the state of Kuwait. Despite the extreme divisions among the ranks of the Arab masses and being affected by the state of division witnessed by the Arab official regime with regards to dealing with this dangerous unprecedented case, the International confederation of Arab Trade Union maintained its firmness and its consensus decision rejecting the invasion of the state of Kuwait by the Iraq regime. At the same time, the Confederation called for non-aggression against Iraq and rejected all weak pretexts promoted by the unjust and aggressive circles To prejudice the liberty, independence and unity of the Iraqi people. Our Confederation unveiled and uncovered the allegations of the invaders as it toppled all justification of aggression by issuing statements and calls and messages to the international community and international organizations. Its also held conferences, speech forums, distributed posters and publications about the monstrous and dirty acts of the American and British and Zionist invasion forces with regards to the killing, the destruction, the theft of the Iraqi heritage, the oil wealth and the assassination of a culture that dates back to thousands of years ago. Important decisions were adopted through the consecutive congresses of the Confederation in all fields: trade union, political, Arab, regional and international as well as the following causes: social, economic, trade union cultural media, rights, union liberties and general liberties. The focus was placed on the Arab working woman and the working youth whereby the Confederation's efforts centered on activating their roles and forming the Arab working woman committee and granting it the status of observer at the reunions of Central Councils and Congresses. In addition, the committee of working youth was formed with the same status. During the period of the constitutional progress between the years 1956-1959, the Syrian-Egyptian union took place in 22 February 1958. The sweeping worker's support came as some sort of consensus to this great national event. This union was established under the leadership of the immortal President Jamal Abdul Nasser and eliminated wrong conceptions, while at the same time, rejecting the western-related axes and coalitions and the idea of Asian Arabs and African Arabs. The Confederation's 2nd General Congress held in 1959 discussed a number of decisions and focused on the trade union's liberties by confirming that it is an absolute right for all worker in the whole Arab nation and that challenging or degradation to this liberty constitutes a judgment on the prevailing regime in that country and that it does not represent the majority of the people. It also stressed the importance of trade union's freedom of work and ensuring the protection of trade union leaders. During the period of the Confederation's 3rd General Congress held in 1965, that phase was full of oppression and arrest in several Arab countries. The arrest included many important workers' leadership such as, the secretary General of the Moroccan trade union Brother Al Mahjoub Bin Sadiq who is considered to be the spiritual father of the labours' movement in Africa.
The arrests multiplied to included trade unionists from Libya, Sudan, Lebanon and others. A number of unionists were fired from their jobs. Our Confederation strongly supported the detainees and the fired unionists till they were set free and resumed their struggle. The 4th General Congress which was held in 1969 discussed several technical, vocational and trade union's issues such as: the technical cooperation in the framework of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union, the Arab Labour Organization, the united program for social insurance in the Arab countries, the Arab agreement for the transfer of labor and the establishment of the Arab Institute for Labor Studies as well as other political and national issues. During the fifth General Congress held in Cairo late May 1972 a number of important decisions and recommendations were taken to upgrade the status of the Arab workers, to back the whole just causes in the world and to support the Arab crucial cause, particularly the Palestinian cause. It discussed the issues of trade union liberties and the support of the liberation movements and the peace organizations in the world. The sixth General Congress which was held in Alexandria from 24-28 March 1976 accepted the membership of trade unions from the following countries: Tunisia, Mauritania and Somalia. Furthermore, it discussed many researches and reports specialized in the Arab action related to the Arab trade union's interests, and it examined the issue of Eritrean workers and the oppression they are subjected to in addition to safeguarding the Arab labors' rights working in Arab countries and Arab workers working outside the Arab world as well as the issues of trade unions' liberties and general liberties. During this Congress, the event of Black Thursday took place in Tunisia. On 26 January 1978, Tunisia witnessed a labor uprising led by the working class under the leadership of brother Al Habib Ashour, Secretary General of the Tunisian General Trade Union to protest against the economic policy of the government of President Al Habib Bourkiba which led the country to a severe economic crisis. It was a decisive day between the haves and have not as it was a day of heroic struggle union whereby the masses bravely confronted the authorities' bullets, while Tunisia turned during that day to a sea of blood in which may fell dead or injured and the workers' leadership was arrested, and foremost the struggling brother Al Habib Ashour.
The Extraordinary Congress
The Extraordinary Congress was held in Kuwait from 13-16 February 1978 for the repercussions of the Imperialist Zionist plan affected the whole region, while the visit of the former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to occupied Jerusalem increased the damage inflicted upon the Arab path of struggle and perseverance. Its negative consequences were reflected on the Arab workers' situation, especially in light of the Arab comprehensive boycott the Arab Egypt was subject to during that period and its repercussion, that is the great Egypt exit from the path of struggle and resistance against the Zionist enemy. The Zionist imperial scheme also aimed at reinstating the control of colonialism and monopolies over the Arab nation's resources as well as human and material wealth, consecrating division and retardation, strengthening the Zionist occupation of Palestine and other Arab occupied land and undermining cooperation and coordination between the Arab nation and the world's front with regard to anti-imperialism. The Extraordinary Session discussed the Arab current political situation and examined the phenomenon, the events, the developments and all the consequences and repercussions of the Egyptian president Anwar Sadat's visit. It also examined the possible effects of this visit and what it reflected with regard to the realities of Arab solidarity, the continuous withdraw of national positions and the sharp state of division. The Congress resulted in a number of decisions among which the unanimous approval that the headquarters of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union be in Damascus and refraining from changing the constitutional article till the change of the circumstances resulting from this visit. They also unanimously approved the election of brother Nasser Al Faraj (Kuwait) as president of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union and the election of brother Hamid Jaloud Secretary General of the Confederation. The Congress also issued a decision to stop the membership of Egypt Trade Union Federation at the International confederation of Arab Trade Union. That period was the most difficult struggling era witnessed by the International confederation of Arab Trade Union. The Confederation's 7th General Congress was held in Damascus under the patronage of President Hafez Al Assad from 24-27 April 1979. This congress was unique in the sense that for the first time in the history of the congresses of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union a congress in held under the theme: "let's reinforce the unity of the Arab trade union movement to confront the imperialist, Zionist and regressionist conspiracies". This was embraced when holding each Congress and it became the slogans in each Congress and reunion of the International confederation of Arab Trade Union. During the days of the Congress, seven working session were held and the General Secretariat presented a brief report about its activities which centered on the trade union unity, rights and liberties and the Arab labors' struggle in the Arab countries. It confirmed that the Palestinian cause is the Arab countries' principal cause. The General Secretariat reaffirmed its support to the Lebanese people, its Arabism, its national and progressive movement as well as the unity of its land, people and establishments. Furthermore, it condemned, once more, Camp David Treaty and stated that it constitute a violation to the principles and values, a retreat from the Arab consensus and a conspiracy against the Palestinian cause. The constitution of the Arab Labor Confederation was amended, whereby the post of President which was assumed by brother Nasser Al Faraj was abolished and the title of assistant secretary was replaced by the title specialized secretary. Moreover, the ordinary session of the General Congress is to be held once every four years instead of three years. The Confederation's 8th General Congress was held in Algeria city from 15-18 May 1989. The struggler brother, President of the State of Palestine Yasser Arafat was invited as guest of honor and the congress adopted an expressive national slogan called: "the congress of the brave Palestinian intifada (uprising)". The opening ceremony was attended by the executive secretary n charge of Foreign Relations in the Algerian National Liberation Front and the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Algeria in addition to a number of the Arab and foreign diplomatic corps, delegations of the Arab national progressive organizations, the regional and international labor organizations as well as the regional and international parties specialized in the work and labor issues. Furthermore all the Arab trade union members and Arab vocational trade unions took part in this event. The congress discussed the ratification of accepting new members as well as the decisions and recommendations of the central council's sessions. It discussed the reports of the General Secretariat, the trade union, political and economic report and endorsed the budget and the final account in addition to the election of the members of the central council, the Secretary General and formed the financial committee. During this congress brother Hacene Djemam (Algeria) was unanimously elected the Confederation's Secretary General replacing brother Hamid Jaloud (Libya). The Confederation's 9th General Congress was held in Tunisia city from 7-10 January 1994 under the theme: "Liberation, union, development, democracy, social justice= the axes of Arab labors". The congress was held under the patronage of the Tunisian President Zein AL Abdin Bin Ali.
All Arab regional trade union confedera |