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No.05
25 April 2000
MAY DAY 2000
MESSAGE FROM WFTU
On the occasion of May Day 2000, the first May Day in the new century and the new millennium, the World Federation of Trade Unions conveys its fraternal greetings of international solidarity to all working women and men and all trade unions the world over.
For over a century, the working people and trade unions the world over have reiterated their faith in unity, united action and solidarity every time they assembled together to celebrate the May Day and reaffirm their resolve to defend the rights of the working people. The common cause of the working people the world over and their struggle for a better life and social justice have spearheaded the fight against all forms of oppression and exploitation, as well as against wars, imperialism, colonialism and neocolonialism. The internationalism fostered by the trade union movement and the message of international cooperation for social progress are now reinforced by the principles upheld by the UN Charter.
However, the dominant forces which have always opposed the trade union movement have launched a new offensive against social progress, as we enter a new century and new millennium. As the 14th World Trade Union Congress which met recently in Delhi - the first world congress of trade unions in the new millennium - has pointed out, putting on the garb of neoliberal “globalisation”, the global monopolies and the governments acting on their behalf, want to reverse all the social gains achieved by the working class movement, especially in the field of job security, a living wage and trade union rights. These forces want to turn over all national property, industries and public services, to private sector and global monopolies, in the name of privatisation. They seek to reverse the gains of the national liberation movement and turn sovereign countries into their neo-colonial captive markets. Openly defying the principles of the UN Charter, they proclaim their right even to launch military aggression on countries they choose to subjugate. They want to impose their will through blockades and sanctions.
The massive protest demonstrations before the WTO meeting in Seattle and the IMF meeting in Washington and worldwide solidarity actions by the working people and trade unions in all countries, in the recent period, demonstrate the widespread opposition to the anti-social policies which are imposed on countries and which lead to an increase in unemployment and underemployment, growing poverty and destitution.
Trade unions strongly condemn the policy of double standards that are applied by the dominant economic groups and countries, such as the active support given by the United States to Israel and its policy of occupation of Arab lands, in defiance of UN resolutions. The WFTU demands an immediate end to Israeli occupation as well as an end to all blockades and sanctions imposed by the imperialist powers against Cuba, Libya, Iraq, Sudan, DPRK, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Yugoslavia and Serbia.
The WFTU expresses its complete solidarity with the struggles and campaigns which the national trade union movements are organising in many countries against the attacks on trade union rights, against privatisation and the liquidation of the state sector and public services, against unemployment, poverty and hunger, for the rights of working women, for the elimination of child labour and for the implementation of international labour standards. The situation demands more active efforts to promote unity and united action in the world trade union movement, carrying forward the common understanding and united approach of the large majority of world’s trade unions which was represented at the 14th World Trade Union Congress.
The WFTU calls upon trade unions in all countries to act vigorously to urge all governments to ensure that real progress is achieved at the UN meetings convened this year to review implementation of the programmes of action adopted at the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995) and other UN summits on global issues held in the 1990s . The WFTU calls for more intensified action, in the context of the International Year for the Culture of Peace (IYCP) for the total elimination of all nuclear and other mass destruction weapons, an immediate end to all wars and military conflicts and concrete measures to enforce disarmament for development. The WFTU also calls for worldwide solidarity in support of the Global March of Women for their rights and against violence.
Long live May Day 2000!
Long live unity and solidarity of working people and trade unions the world over!
WORKERS OF THE WORLD: UNITE AND FIGHT AGAINST THE UNJUST SOCIAL SYSTEM!
NEVER SHALL WE ACCEPT NEO-LIBERAL GLOBALISATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION!