Observe WFTU Foundation Day and 75th anniversary fittingly

Observe WFTU Foundation Day and 75th anniversary fittingly

The WFTU (World Federation of Trade Unions) was formed on October 3, 1945, at the international trade union congress held in Paris from October 3 to 8, 1945. It was formed by 56 national trade unions from 55 countries and 20 international trade union organisations.

As the voice of the world's workers, the WFTU argued for a world free of war and based on social justice. It was founded against the background of the end of the Second World War. The victory of the anti-fascist forces over fascism acted as a catalyst for its formation. This is a milestone in the history of the world working class. Workers and democratic forces around the world saw the victory of the anti-fascist forces as the birth of a new world. In this period imperialism and colonialism suffered setbacks, and a climate arose in which freedom, democracy and peace gained the upper hand.

In its resolution, the WFTU's Paris congress proclaimed workers' fundamental rights: the right to organise; freedom from all discrimination on grounds of religion, caste, race, colour and sex; the right to work; paid leave; a higher standard of living; social security systems; and security in unemployment, sickness, accident and old age.

The CITU formally affiliated to the WFTU in 2011. The decision was taken by the CITU General Council meeting held at Nashik in Maharashtra on January 8-11, 2011. Even before affiliating, the CITU had close relations with the WFTU.

The WFTU completes its 75th year at a time when the whole world is in the grip of the Covid pandemic. Crores of workers have lost their jobs and wages, and governments and capitalists are carrying out fierce attacks on workers. In India, all the labour laws have been rewritten to make them anti-worker and pro-employer. Strong resistance by workers must rise across the world against these attacks. It is at this stage that the WFTU's 75th anniversary is being observed on October 3.