The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) was formed in 1949 by trade union federations that had withdrawn from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) after disagreements with communist unions. The principal unions organizing ICFTU were the British Transport and General Workers Union, the British Trade Union Congress, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The first congress of ICFTU was held in London in early December of 1949. At its foundation the organization had nearly 48 million members from 70 labor organizations in 53 countries or territories. By 1964 its membership had increased to nearly 60 million members in 120 affiliated organizations in 94 countries or territories.
The objectives in forming ICFTU were to unite workers organized in the non-communist and democratic trade unions of the world, and to afford a means of consultation and collaboration between them. The organization's activities are concerned officially with upholding universal values of human dignity; political and economic democracy and social justice through peace, freedom, self-determination and national independence; trade union rights; and economic and social progress. To promote democratic unionism in economically undeveloped countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, ICFTU has established vocational training centers and cooperatives for both health care and low cost housing.
To effectively fulfill the purposes and objectives of ICFTU, regional organizations were set up in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and later in Africa. The Asian Regional Organization (ICTFU-ARO), with headquarters in New Delhi, was developed in 1951. Also in that year the Latin American Association -- Organizacion Regional Interamerica de Trabajadores (ORIT) -- was established in Mexico City. The European Regional Organization (ICTFU-ERO) began in 1957.
Soon after ICTFU was formed in 1949, it obtained consultative status to the United Nations and the UN's specialized agencies. The various agencies to which the union makes suggestions and conducts observations include the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); the Regional Economic Commissions for Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America; the Trade and Development Board; the Commissions on Human Rights and on the Status of Women; the International Labor Organization (ILO); and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). To facilitate communication with the agencies of the United Nations, ICFTU offices were established in New York, Paris, and Geneva.
The major periodical publications of ICFTU are Free Labor World, Economic and Social Bulletin, and International Trade Union News.
