The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) was founded on 1 November 2007. It represents 168 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 305 national affiliates.
The ITUC's primary mission is the promotion and defence of workers' rights and interests, through international cooperation between trade unions, global campaigning and advocacy within the major global institutions. The Programme Document adopted at the ITUC founding Congress sets out the Confederation's overall policy framework, which builds on existing ICFTU and WCL policies. Its main areas of activity include:
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trade union and human rights
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economy, society and the workplace
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equality and non-discrimination
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international solidarity.
The ITUC adheres to the principles of trade union democracy and independence, as set out in its Constitution. It is governed by four-yearly world congresses, a General Council and an Executive Bureau. The chief executive of the ITUC is its General Secretary Guy Ryder, supported by Deputy General Secretaries Mamounata Cisse and Jaap Wienen.
Currently existing ICFTU and WCL regional organizations for Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific are expected to be united by November 2007. The ITUC also cooperates closely with the European Trade Union Confederation, including through the ITUC Pan-European Regional Council, to be created in the near future under decisions taken by the ITUC Founding Congress.
The ITUC has close relations with the Global Union Federations and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC), working together through the Global Unions Council.
The ITUC works closely with the International Labour Organisation. It maintains contacts with several other UN Specialised Agencies.
Along with its Regional Organisations and their sub-offices, the ITUC has offices in Amman, Geneva, Moscow, New York, Sarajevo, Vilnius and Washington DC.
