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World Trade Union Confederation and the World Federation of Trade Unions: A Complex History

The international trade union movement has undergone significant transformations since its inception in the aftermath of World War II. Two prominent organizations, the World Trade Union Confederation (WGB) and the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), have played crucial roles in shaping this history.

Founded in 1945 by the merger of numerous trade unions, including the Soviet Profintern and the Amsterdam Trade Union International, WGB was initially headquartered in Paris. However, following the Cold War's division of the international trade union movement into Western-democratic International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (IBFG) and the socialist states' affiliated organizations, WGB shifted its headquarters to Prague in 1949. In 1999, it relocated to Athens.

WGB was a communist front organization until the end of communist dictatorships in Eastern Europe after the revolutions in 1989. Its negotiating languages included French, English, Spanish, Russian, and German, with Russian and German being prominent languages until their decline. The WGB's headquarters were later moved back to Paris before settling in Athens.

In contrast, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) was established on October 3, 1945, as an international federation of trade unions. Its founding built upon the pre-war legacy of the International Federation of Trade Unions and followed the World Trade Union Conference in London, United Kingdom. WFTU's headquarters are currently located in Athens.

The leadership of both organizations has undergone significant changes over the years. The current secretary-general of WFTU is Cypriot Pámbis Kyrítsis, who took office in 2022. In contrast, South African Mike Makwayiba serves as the president of WGB, born from the Federation of Health and Education of the South African union COSATU.

The influence of these organizations has been felt across various sectors, including energy and youth organizations. The CGT, a French trade union organization, is now participating in the management of several sectoral organizations managed by WFTU members. This shift reflects the evolving landscape of international trade unionism since World War II.

In recent years, there have been notable developments within both organizations. For instance, the Greek union activist Mavrikos has been a member of PAME and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). The Italian CGT National Federation of Chemical Industries has also