Global Union Configurations

Although it sometimes seems like we’re determined to be all alone in the world, U.S.
unions belong to two major groupings of unions at the international level.

 

The better known, perhaps, is the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions,
based in Brussels. The supranational organization is composed of 215 national trade
unions, or union groupings, from 145 countries. The ICFTU claims to represent 125 million union members around the world.

 

The ICFTU has active programs to advance union rights and works on such things as child labor, the environment and health. It also has official status with United Nations groups such as UNESCO and the International Labor Organization, and works with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. It has an office in Washington, D.C. as well as at the UN in New York.

 

Then, there are the ten Global Union Federations (GUFs), international bodies that represent unions in specific industries or occupational groups. These include the International Metalworkers’ Federation, Public Services International (government workers), Education International (teachers and educators), International Union of Food
Workers, and the International Transport Workers’ Federation. Unions may belong to more than one GUF. All GUFs are headquartered in Europe.

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