V/E
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
1.
TRADES
UNION
F&GPC.6/5
February 26, 1968.
CONGRESS
INVITATIONS TO CONGRESS : OVERSEAS
A list of possible invitations to Congress is attached. They total 52 and include national centres in all EFTA countries (except Portugal), all EEC countries, a selection of Commonwealth countries, a group of other countries both inside and outside Europe, and three international organisations.
2.
No one criterion has been applied. All those national centres to whom invitations have been addressed in recent years are included. The Commonwealth group in particular attempts to be representative of both large and small organisations and to achieve a worldwide coverage, while the choice outside the Commonwealth and Western European groups has sought to take into account size, a spread of nationalities, and the existence of contacts with the TUC. If reduction in the numbers has to be considered, it should primarily be among the last group of countries listed, who for the most part owe least to British influence.
EFTA National Centres
When
3.
The only question arising here is in respect of the two Swedish organisations the LO and the TCO. one is invited we normally invite the other.
EEC National Centres
4.
The same point arises in respect of Italy over the CISL and the UIL. So far as I can discover the Luxembourg organisation has never been invited to Congress, though we have been invited to their Congress and sent a message. They are a small but efficient organisation.
Commonwealth National Centres
5.
Certain invitations are almost automatic. Canada will send a fraternal delegate, and Australia and New Zealand are bound to be invited. In the case of India there are two organisations (INTUC and HMS) which have to be considered. We could ask them to make up their own minds regarding a single representative, though then he will certainly be drawn from INTUC. One of their officials attended a Congress fairly recently. In Ceylon there is no single organisation but they will most probably be in a position to decide. There are no problems in respect of Malaysia and Singapore.
6.
The Africans provide a particular problem. There are a large number of countries involved and there is no possibility of securing joint representation. Consequently a choice has to be made. For East and Central Africa, Uganda seems the least open to objection with Malawi and Zambia as further possibilities since the representation should not be confined to one country. In West Africa all three countries with significant union movements are listed. Nigeria is the
f
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.