History

Origins of the CISC (1908-1919)

First Christian trade unions and their international coordination

As of the creation of the first Christian trade unions at the end of the XIX E century, international contacts take place between them. In 1900, the trade unions of the textile of Germany, Belgium and Netherlands meet in Aachen to try to coordinate with the laic international (SPI) Trade union of the textile, but they do not manage an agreement. In the same way, the observers sent by the catholic trade unions of employees in various congresses do not end in an agreement.

The conference of Zurich (August 1908) and the creation of SO Christian

In August 1908, the confederation Christian women of 8 countries, whose Germany decide to create an international trade-union Secretariat (SSI), whose secretariat is entrusted to the German Stegerwald representing the most powerful organization. The Germans impose also their design of an interdenominational trade unionism (Catholique and Protesting) and centralization. The French catholic trade unions are very reticent with this model, and adhere only in 1912. The First World War stops these international connections.

The foundation of the CISC and the Inter-war period (1919-1945)

The congress of $the Hague

The shortly after the conflict, two conferences are taken place in 1919, one with Paris with the trade unions of the old Allies, the other with Lucerne with the trade unions of the Germanic countries. In June 1919, the conference of $the Hague gather all these trade unions which then form the international Confédération of the Christian trade unions which count 11 confederations members (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Czechoslovakia), the presidency is entrusted to Switzerland (Scherer), and the secréatriat with a Dutchman (Serrarens). It decides of bracket the principle of interdenominationalism, but lets each one of these free national power stations apply it or not (the CFTC refuses).

The CISC during the Inter-war period

The CISC remains largely in third position behind the international Trade union federation and the trade-union Internationale red for all these periods. It gather only 2.900.000 members in 1922, and it is deeply reached by the disappearance of the power stations Italian in 1922, then German in 1933.

In addition, she does not manage to be made recognize by the International organization of work like an interlocutress, because of the opposition of the international Trade union federation. It is only in 1939 qu' one of its representatives (the French Gaston Tessier) can sit at ILO, but like advising of the French governmental delegation.

Lastly, contrary to the ISR which tries to integrate the international professional Secretariats of the FSI, the CISC prefers to organize to them his. It has 13 in 1922 of them.

The CISC the shortly after the Second world war (1945-1949)

During the Second world war, the CISC is practically reduced to nothing, since the majority of its trade unions members are under the supervision of the Nazis, however these organizations members take part in the Résistance, like the CFTC in France.

The refusal of the world Trade union federation

At the time of the world trade-union conference of London of February 1945, the CISC is invited, and it is done represented in the committee charged to prepare the Conference of Paris which follows, but it is there only in an advisory capacity, and modify article 2 of the statutes of the world Trade union federation does not manage to make which provides that there is only one power station affiliated by country. However for the Christian trade unions, pluralism trade-union must be the standard. Finally, the CISC convenes its own congress with Brussels for on October 8th, 1945.

The refusal of the international Confederation of the free trade unions

At the time of its congresses of Brussels, then of Amsterdam (June 1946), the CISC reaffirms the need for trade-union pluralism, against the obligatory single trade unions, it reaffirms also its refusal of the nationalizations. At the time of the debates on the Marshall plan, the CISC takes part in the Conference of London of the trade unions favorable to the Plan (9 March 10th, 1948). It also takes part in the Conference of Geneva of the trade unions which are on the point of leaving the world Trade union federation (25- June 26th, 1949). It is thus logically invited to the conference of London which creates the international Confédération of the free trade unions from November 28th to December 7th, 1949. But if the CISL accepts the adhesion of the Christian trade unions, she asks them to dissolve in the two years within the adherent confederations, to recognize only in the long term one power station per country. This condition is unacceptable for the CISC which then prefers to maintain a way trade-union autonomous.

Assertion and expansion of the CISC (1950-1968)

The assertion of a third voice

Between the CISL and the FSM, the CISC tries to make hear its specificity. It makes the choice of a clear judgment and without ambiguity of the Communisme and the dictatorships of the Pays of the East which prevent the expression of a free trade unionism. But contrary to the CISL, obsessed by the anticommunism, she condemns in parallel liberalism capitalism. Since 1951, she affirms thus that only “social justice” can found a universal and lasting peace. She protests also firmly against the French government which expels the FSM of its Parisian seat in 1950.

European trade-union construction

Since 1950, the CISC greets “with enthusiasm” the Schuman Plan which will found the European Coal and Steel Community. It will remain faithful to the European option, and with the CISL defends the Atlantic option. In May 1958, the CISC creates the European Organization - CISC (OE-CISC) whose seat is with Brussels and gathers its organizations members of Europe of the Six. It militates for the recognition of the trade-union fact at the European level. In May 1974, the OE-CISC is dissolved, and its members join the European Confédération of the trade unions.

World extension

Simultaneously with its efforts towards European construction, the CISC decides to leave Europe to widen its influence, in priority towards the countries of culture Catholique of Africa, Asia and Latin America. It develops in particular in the French colonies of Africa (French equatorial Africa, French Western Africa) and in 1957, it creates the Coordination of the African trade unions of French language, which will widen to become the Panafrican Union of the workers believers. In 1954, it creates the Latin-American Confédération of the Christian trade unionists (CLASC - Confederación Latino Americana de Sindicalistas Cristianos ), which is opposed immediately to the orientations pro the United States of the trade unions of the CISL.

World Confederation of work to the international Trade-union confederation (1968-2006)

The deconfessionnalisation of the CISC

As from the Sixties, the CISC radicalizes its positions gradually, under the influence in particular of the CFTC (which becomes the CFDT in 1964) and of the Nederlands Katholiek Vakverbond Dutchwoman which find in the Latin-American trade unions (CLASC) a relay. In 1964, the congress of Liege limit the Christian references to a simple sentence, and in 1968, the congress of Luxembourg decides by 115 votes against 2 and 7 abstentions to transform the CISC into world Confédération of work . Certain power stations, as the CFDT still claim more radical changes, but the CMT refuses. In 1977, the CMT states to accept “a trade unionism of mass and class”, and “thinks that it is necessary to carry out a democratic planning”. However, the CMT does not exceed the 12 million members, and these organizations, with rare exceptions, are far behind those of the international Confédération of the free trade unions.

The bringing together with the CISL

As of beginning of the year 70, the CMT and the CISL approach. Meetings take place on several occasions, but the CMT fears to be dissolved within the CISL, the fusion of the Dutch catholic Power station with its Labor counterpart leads the first besides to be disaffiliated from the CMT. In 1988, whereas the CISL reaffirms the will of fusion at the time of its congress of Melbourne, the CMT gives its agreement on the principle, but wants initially to dissipate the divergences of programs and principles. In addition, the CMT engages also a process of centring compared to the Seventies.

Towards fusion

The marginalisation of the world Trade union federation following the fall of the Soviet mode , and the creation of new trade unions, as Solidarnosc in Poland changes gives it trade-union. The CMT and the CISL decide as from the Nineties to start true discussions on a possibility of fusion. This will is reinforced by the phenomenon of the globalisation of the capital which claims a coherent trade-union answer. Lastly, that makes it possible to integrate within the news international Trade-union confederation, of the organizations which as the French CGT did not have any more an international affiliation.

See too

Internal bond

External bond

Site of the CMT - more updated since November 3rd, 2006

Random links:

Economy of China | Lacquy | You Can' T C That one Anymore Training course, vol. 3 | Bakou-Tbilissi-Ceyhan pipeline | Ice Cream Sundae