WSF2005 Keynote for ICLS Workshop 2
Proposal for the Establishment of "International Centre for Labor Solidarity (ICLS)"
- the Background and the Orientation of the Proposal -

27 Jan 2005

Korean Preparatory Committee of International Centre for Labor Solidarity

1. The Background

1-1. Capitalism and the Labour Movement

Capitalism has continued to develop through repeated crisis. The labour movement has a history of advances and setbacks comparable to that of capitalism Capitalism is affected by its own pitfalls or contradictions, while the labour movement is affected by the patter on response of capital to labour.

The labour movement of the modern times started as a struggle to secure a greater lot for workers from the profit accumulated by the capital through exploitation of the labour power of workers. While a fundamental eradication of the various problems and contradictions that have resulted directly and indirectly from capitalism and the building an alternative society may be the ultimate objective of the labour movement, the struggle over distribution over the profit directed at the capital is still a valid task.

What does it mean when it is said that the fundamental contradiction between labour and capital has intensified in an unprecedented way? It would mean that the objective and material foundation of reform shared by labour and capital has, either as a result of struggle or negotiations, become extremely fragile. That is, accumulated capital has been depleted and the crisis of capital accumulation has reached an unprecedented levels.

1-2. Crisis of Capitalism – is it a crisis or opportunity for the labour movement?

It is widely known that the world capitalism today is suffering an extreme crisis of profit accumulation. Capitalism has, since the mid-1970s, pursued a digital revolution and globalisation. This has come to be known as neo-liberalism, a set of measure to overcome the fall in profitability that has become drawn out and structuralised. It aims to expand into the realm of welfare and public service which has existed as a non-market sphere and attack all non- or anti-capital domains. It aims to expand the reach of the market and consolidate the dominance in the market. Heightening of Labour market flexibility is a part of this project. Neo-liberalism has brought miseries for our society. While the impoverished population is expanding and become structuralised, the wealth is becoming concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer members of the rich. Other phenomena such as increases in murder, destruction of environment, which structurally threatens the lives of the people of the world, are arising without any let up.

Sort	Number	Note
Shortage of Food	826 million	14% of world population
Living less than 1$ a day	1.15 billion	19% of world population
Living less than 2$ a day	28 billion	46% of world population
Unemployed	185 million	Unemployment rate : 6.2%
Committing suicide mainly due to poverty, unemployment etc.	1 million every year	More than death from war and crimes

The statistical snapshots, such as those listed above, have surfaced more frequently since the 1980s, following the full-fledged advances of the neoliberalism. While neoliberalism, which has come to dominate the world, has stepped up the plunder of the people, there has not be any significant improvement in the rate of profit of the capital; rather, the crisis is deepening and expanding; and depression or depression-like recession is cast all over the world.

Capitalism, which has given rise to wars, crimes, disregard for human rights, and various social contradictions and ills – in a stark contrast to the world envisioned by the labour movement --, has caused, whatever its claims for the development of the human civilisation, brought to the humanity more harm than benefit; and remains a system that has very little room for improvement. Therefore, if the labour movement was to awaken to realise that it is the only hope for overcoming capitalism and the creation of a new world order, and recognise anew its responsibilities, then, the crisis could be turned into an opportunity. As we said another world is possible.

2. Globalisation of Capital and International Solidarity of the Labour Movement

It needs to be stressed again that the aspect of modern capitalism, known as “neoliberalism”, that needs to be seen clearly is globalisation of capital. This is not a phenomenon that arose overnight. It is in this light that the appeal for the “workers of the world, unite!” found in the Communist Manifesto, or the efforts to build an “international” or international socialism, were not ad hoc slogan or accidental incidents. The unity of the workers all over the world and international solidarity of the labour movement is a historic task that needs to be achieved in order to overcome capitalism: it is an essential element in the overall project.

However, international solidarity of the labour movement, despite its long history, is still undeveloped compared to the globalisation of capital. The need for international solidarity of the labour movement is ever more urgent in the face of the violent restructuring of the world economic order by the neoliberalism of the multinational capital. While there are various activities and actions in the name of international solidarity, they do not have the power to affect the balance of forces between labour and capital. While anti-globalisation international solidarity struggles that erupted in Seattle, Genoa, Cancun, and elsewhere, the World Social Forum process launched from Porto Alegre and Mumbai, and the various international common anti-war actions for peace against war focus on issues close to the rights and survival of workers, the labour movement was not at the centre of the effort in organising these actions with a clear set of goals, objectives and direction. This, in no way, is intended to dismiss the efforts for international solidarity. Rather, it aims to explore a way to amplify the efforts by identifying clearly the achievements and limitations.

3. A proposal for the establishment of an “International Centre for Labor Solidarity”

The objective in proposing the establishment of an “International Centre for Labor Solidarity (ICLS)” likes in consolidating the international solidarity of the labour movement.. The “Centre” that we propose to establish, cannot, however, take on all the responsibilities for international solidarity. We do not have the basic necessary conditions required to take on that task. We hope, rather, to carry on activities aimed at popularising international solidarity in order to contribute to the achievement of the medium-and-long-term objectives of the labour movement across the world.

There are numerous international solidarity organisations and activities: ranging from global union federations and the ICFTU, which are founded on trade union movement, to NGO bodies. Our proposal stems from an awareness of the weakness of the international solidarity of the labour movement compared to that of the capitalism which is dominating the restructuring of the world order in the current era of globalisation.

The proposal for the establishment of an “International Centre for Labor Solidarity” lies in the hope for promoting stable and sustained mass-based exchange and solidarity, which, in turn, would contribute to the development of international labour movement.

4. Orientation and Objective of the International Centre for Labor Solidarity

1. International Center for Labor Solidarity (ICLS) is a network for exchanging experiences, discussion on future strategy, building substantial and spiritual solidarity and support from each other to overcome problems that workers are facing, by trade unions.

2. ICLS stands in opposition to a process of globalization commanded by the large multinational corporations and by the governments and international institutions at the service of those corporations’ interests. ICLS is pursuing working class interests against competition, division caused by neo-liberalism.

3. ICLS is against competitions, oppression and environmental destruction which are caused by capitalist domination. ICLS is against war which is a different face of neo-liberal globalization and capitalist domination. ICLS participates in various international solidarity activities of social movements exploring the way to resist against capitalist domination and war.

4. ICLS respect diversity. ICLS is of a help toward developing international workers' solidarity beyond the differences of politics, faiths, nationalities, regions, political parties, industries by starting from strengthening workers' solidarity of Railway, Transport and Public Services industry in Asia-Pacific Region.

5. ICLS is a network pursuing solidarity and exchange of experiences based on respect each countries' and organizations' independency and autonomy.

6. ICLS is composed of trade unions which accept the ICLS charter of principles. However ICLS opens all its activities to all regions, individuals and organizations and welcome them to join ICLS's activities to wide solidarity and exchange of experiences.

We have agreed to establish ICLS at the International Railway and Transport Unions Forum last year in Seoul. Now we are in the hot Latin America where the struggles against neoliberalism and Multinational capital frequently turn into mass revolts which some times topple the powers. We propose establishment of ICLS which can contribute workers’ solidarity and struggle against neo-liberalism. Let’s build together another world, a better world.