12-14-05, 9:09 am

CONCLUDING SPEECH OF GEORGE MAVRIKOS, Newly-elected General Secretary of the WFTU at the 15th Congress of the WFTU in Havana, Cuba on 4 December 2005

We thank you all for the honor to elect us in the position of General Secretary.

The responsibility we are assuming here today is very big. We fully comprehend the gravity of our responsibilities and the new duties. We will devote all our forces to the interest of the world working class and the development of WFTU.

We respect the history of WFTU as well as its course during the 60 years since its foundation. Relying on this rich 60-year route, it is now necessary to move on. To correspond to contemporary demands. To open ways for the coming decade. 

In order to map out this new route, we need help from you all, your proposals, your remarks and your criticism. Thus we will move forward. 

Starting from today, so we don’t lose time, we will focus on all subjects and fronts. We will deal with everything and we will intervene everywhere.

We consider however important to underline 10 objectives as peak points for joint action:

1.      Democratic Function  –Collectiveness

WFTU function has to attain continuously a superior level of democracy and collectiveness. Democracy, an open and wide process, helps us to more effectively elaborate and set our priorities. At the same time, collectiveness constitutes a vital element for the militant trade union movement. Experience proves that we can move forward facing difficulties and obstacles in unity. We have a firm front against bureaucracy.

2.      The opinion of our affiliates and friends – “Friends Council ”

The opinion and role of WFTU affiliates and friends will be upgraded. Their remarks, suggestions and criticism will be discussed by the proper bodies and will be taken seriously into account. For this purpose, a “Friends Council” will be formed where all friend and allied trade union forces will be represented.

3.      Internationalism and Workers’ Solidarity 

We will enlarge solidarity among us and among all workers all over the World. “Internationalist Solidarity and the Workers’ support to peoples and movements experiencing threats from imperialists, consist an important ideological and political duty for the new leadership of WFTU. 

4.      Youth  – Women  – Intellectuals

We will reinforce the presence of young workers and employees within the trade unions and bring out new trade-union officials. Special effort will be developed for working women and their active participation in trade unions. We must focus on our work with progressive intellectuals because we need their knowledge and potential. 

5.      Institute of Trade-union Education

Nowadays, knowledge, study and education are absolutely necessary. Multinationals and monopolies through many mechanisms interfere and influence the consciences of young people and workers. We have the obligation as a class trade-union movement to utilize scientists and experts, to apply our movement’s experience in order to reinforce our ideas and objectives through Programs and Educational Seminars.

6.      Immigrants

Under the control of WFTU Secretariat a special Secretariat of   Immigrants will be formed dealing exclusively with relative issues. Also the WFTU Regional Offices should proceed to the same initiative.

7.      Action and Co-ordination

The work of WFTU will become distinguished by its action, its practice dealing with all issues concerning everyday life, the present and the future of the world working class and other popular strata. WFTU is coordinated and acts jointly with the poor farmers and the self-employed. We will develop joint action in all production branches, all Continents and geographic regions.

8.      Renewal of program and forms of struggle

The program of WFTU will be in permanent renewal in order to get stronger, to include and express contemporary needs of workers all over the world. WFTU’s program is against monopolies, imperialism and their allies. It develops among workers the need to fight for the abolition of human exploitation. In this struggle the basic tool is the UNITY of the Working Class. This unity will be built on the basis of class interests. New forms of action can be developed with imagination and liveliness, utilizing our experience, rich traditions and history. 

9.      Registration of new members

We will clear the Register of WFTU affiliates so it reflects the actual situation. The main effort will be focused on registration of new members. We will support the creation of militant trade unions all over the world. WFTU will welcome trade-union formations that are beginning to appear slowly in various countries and sectors.

10.  International Organisations

WFTU will strengthen its presence in all International Organizations in which it participates. We will build alliances and collaborations with friends and combatants interested in the development of the popular and progressive movement. WFTU cannot be a spectator of developments in this phase of imperialistic globalisation. It will intervene in order to determine developments.

We have been discussing for four days here in Havana. Our discussions were open and democratic giving us new knowledge and important experience.

During these past four days, it has been confirmed that the future belongs to peoples that fight. The future belongs to movements standing straight in difficult moments. The future belongs to those who keep values, principles and dreams alive. 

And we are here standing straight. We are here alive and hopeful. And tomorrow we will become stronger.

The generations ahead will live in a better world, free of exploitation.

Long live Cuba! Long live the new course of the WFTU! Long live the World's Working Class!