review. The AFL-CIO would continue to consult with ILO members who shared their concerns and were prepared to continue to work towards the goal of recreating the ILO as an organisation helping to improve the wellbeing of workers throughout the world.
26. Mr McDermott said that the Canadian labour movement was newly awakened and rejuvenated, partly as a result of the closing of ranks which occurred on the imposition of wage and price controls in Canada. The CLC had emerged as the single national spokesman for labour in Canada. The CLC had decided to depart from its traditional posture and to place its total resources at the disposal of the New Democratic Party which was the social democratic party equivalent to the British Labour Party. He said the Canadian labour movement recognised that it could no longer go it alone, nationally or inter- nationally, and that other national trade union organisations were also awakening to the need for international co-operation.
27. As was customary, the other overseas guests did not address Congress. There was a strong bias in favour of Scandinavia with the LO and FTF Denmark, the LO Norway and the Swedish LO and TCO all being represented. France was represented by Edmond Maire, General Secretary of the CFDT, and Ireland sent Mr Harold O'Sullivan, President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Mr Otto Kersten attended on behalf of the ICFTU. For the first time in many years the Indian National Trade Union Congress had been invited to be represented and they sent Mr A P Sharma MP, President of the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen and a senior figure within the Congress Party.
28. Among the observers from overseas attending the Congress were Mr Boris Averyanov, a Secretary of the WFTU, and Mr S Mozhaev, Head of the International Department of the Soviet trade union confederation AUCCTU. The presence of the two Soviet citizens stimulated much interest in the press but they were not invited to any of the social functions laid on by the TUC and a confrontation between them and some members of the General Council, who had made known in advance their displeasure at the trade union position in the Soviet Union, was avoided.
General Council Elections
29. The Congress saw the retirement from the General Council of four senior members, including Mr Jack Jones and Mr Hugh Scanlon. Both received standing ovations after their final speeches. There were no surprises. in the election of members to replace the four. Mr T Duffy and Mr J Boyd, respectively President and General Secretary of the AUEW, were both elected. An attempt made by the AUEW to unseat Mr L G Guy of the Sheet Metal Workers - one of the two Communist members of the General Council failed by 6.9 million to 4.8 million votes.
11
/30 At a meeting
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