Agreement Between

the Global Union Federations, the International Confederation1, and the Trade Union Advisory Committee2 re:

Council of Global Unions

A. PARTNERSHIP FOR GROWTH AND ACTION The purpose of this agreement is to promote cooperation and joint global trade union work. It establishes an instrument for solidarity, mobilization, joint advocacy and campaigns. It grows out of a shared commitment to the ideals and principles of the trade union movement. It is based upon a common determination to organize, to defend human rights and labour standards everywhere, and to promote the growth of trade unions for the benefit of all working men and women and their families.

This agreement builds on the historical relationships between Global Union Federations and the ICFTU, and between the International Trade Federations and the WCL.

B. THE GLOBAL UNION FEDERATIONS (GUFs) 1. The Global Union Federations will be responsible for global trade union action in each of the major sectors of employment.

2. Each Federation will remain an independent and autonomous organization free to establish policy on all issues its governing bodies consider relevant. Each will be responsible for determining its membership, priorities and actions according to its own constitution. Each will be financially independent and continue to raise its own income. Each will be specifically responsible for policies and representation in its sphere of activities.

3. Each Federation will be the sole body recognized by the ITUC for its sphere of activity.

1 Referred to in this text as the ITUC 2 Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD ( TUAC) - 2 -

C. THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ITUC)

1. The GUFs welcome the founding of the ITUC and are committed to contributing to its success.

2. The ITUC constitution should provide for the principle of a structured partnership and enable the GUFs to participate as observers with speaking rights in the ITUC Congress, General Council and Executive Bureau.

3. Parties to this agreement will normally invite the ITUC and other members of the partnership to be represented in an observer capacity at their Congresses and make other arrangements for consultation as appropriate.

D. COUNCIL OF GLOBAL UNIONS 1. A Council of Global Unions will be formed by the parties to this agreement. Its aim will be to promote growth in union membership and to advance the common interest of trade union members worldwide. It will also seek to enhance cooperation among autonomous global organizations in order to advance these general aims and thus to strengthen all of them.

2. The Council will meet annually, bringing together up to three delegates from each organization, normally drawn from its principal officers (the General Secretary and others to be decided by each organization.)

3. The main tasks of the Council shall be operational and cooperative, including:

a) to consider political and strategic initiatives and actions to confront global forces that work against the interests of working people and families; b) to mobilize global memberships around these political and strategic initiatives and struggles; c) to facilitate joint actions, including campaigns and advocacy, cooperation with TUAC and its work at the OECD and the G8, the operation of offices such as the Global Unions’ Office to the IFIs in Washington, joint missions and representation, and the convening of working groups (including workers’ capital, labour education/development cooperation, and other groups as determined); d) to share information on membership and growth, priorities for the trade union movement and economic and social developments; e) to contribute to the development of the general policy of the international trade union movement. 4. Issues for the annual meetings should be identified well ahead, to allow each organization to determine its own position and to allow as serious a discussion of those issues as possible. - 3 -

5. For each year there shall be consultation on joint activities, in order to prepare a budget to which all concerned organizations shall contribute on an agreed basis. Planning must be flexible enough to allow for joint action in the face of events that arise in the course of the year. Coordination costs will be shared by the participating organisations.

6. The annual council meeting will be conducted in keeping with a set of procedures, to be drafted and agreed among the partners. Chairing of the council shall be on the basis of election, with the expectation that the process will be based on rotation among the General Secretaries of the participating Global Unions, and there shall be a Vice Chair and a Past-Chair. The Chair, Vice-Chair and Past-Chair, together with the ITUC General Secretary, shall form the coordinating committee.

7. The General Secretaries will meet during the International Labour Conference and may additionally meet as required, notably on budgetary matters and to prepare the agenda of the annual meeting.

8. The agreement and its operation will be evaluated after an initial period of three years and will be open to modification by decision of all participating organisations.

THIS AGREEMENT IS BEING SENT FOR RATIFICATION TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:

GLOBAL UNION FEDERATIONS: Building and Wood Workers International BWI EI International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Union ICEM International Federation of Journalists IFJ International Metalworkers’ Federation IMF International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation ITGLWF International Transport Workers’ Federation ITF International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association IUF Public Services International PSI Union Network International UNI

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION ITUC

TRADE UNION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE OECD TUAC ______