On 3rd November 2006, the International Free Confederation of Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the World Confederation of Labour (WCL) are expected to merge and create a new organization called International Trade union Confederation (ITUC).

The Founding Congress which will be held from 1 to 3 November 2006, in Vienna, Austria, is a moment of special significance for the world trade unionism, and will attend to issues such as ultraliberal policies, workers health and safety in the workplace, environment and sustainable development issues, etc.

Labour & Environment side-event: “Collective Commitments For Sustainable Development”, 13:00- 14:00, 2 November, 2006

On 2nd November 2006, ICFTU will reserve a side-event space for up to 100 invited guests to witness the new organisation's coming to being and to invigorate the links to the Trade Union Assembly in Kenya. The meeting will be chaired by ICFTU and representatives from the ILO, WHO, UNEP, as well as TUAC and Sustainlabour are invited to speak.

The purpose of the side event is to highlight the significance of the outcomes from last January’s trade union “Labour & Environment Assembly” that took place in Kenya and to articulate the collective commitment of trade unions, the ILO, UNEP, WHO and Sustainlabour in working toward implementing the adopted resolution in upcoming years.

TUAC and Sustainlabour will jointly host this side event and about 100 trade union leaders are invited to this event, which will take place prior to the adoption of an omnibus resolution at Congress that will highlight the new organisation’s objective in working on environmental issues, as well as the social dimensions of sustainable development. The event is intended to be fairly brief but will be reported to the Congress and serve to signal trade unions’ intent to follow up afterwards with their affiliates, world wide.

Founding Congress of the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ITUC)

At the Congress, a constitution for the new organisation will be adopted. In addition an omnibus resolution will be debated and adopted. The draft resolution will reflect the new organisation's commitment to the environment and sustainable development and highlight the importance of working with the ILO, WHO and UNEP as ongoing collaborating partners.

More information available at www.cmt-wcl.org or www.icftu.org