Commonwealth Trade Union Council

Papers of the Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC), 1979-2004, including papers relating to the setting up of the CTUC from the Commonwealth Trade Union Conference Jun 1979 and report of the meeting of the Steering Subcommittee of the conference on Commonwealth trade union co-operation, 19 Nov 1979. Agenda, minutes and associated documents relating to Steering Sub Committee meetings, 1980-1981; minutes, agenda and papers for Special Meetings of the Steering Committee, 1981-1989; Steering Committee minutes, 1982-2004; minutes, correspondence and other papers of the CTUC Charitable Trust Committee, 1981-2004 and CTUC General Session Minutes, 1980-1997; Subject files arranged alphabetically on related organisations and Commonwealth nations, 1980-2004; Project files containing photographs and papers relating to projects undertaken by CTUC including in the Caribbean, Southern Africa, India, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone; East Africa and West Africa, [1981]-2003; papers from project workers meetings reporting the work done by project workers in various Commonwealth countries, 1991-1997 and agendas, debriefings and memoranda from Project Committee meetings, 1986-1990; CTUC annual reports and related documents, 1996-2001; papers relating to the CTUC 20th Birthday Appeal, launched 29 Mar 1999; CTUC circulars and attachments,1982-2004, including announcement of Patrick Quinn as new Director, 1988 and papers relating to CTUC conferences, 1980-1999.

At the International Labour Conference, 1978, it was agreed that a Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC) should be established. A special working party was set up to decide the form the body should take. Their proposals were agreed by the Commonwealth Unions, Nov 1979 and the CTUC was established in Mar 1980. Dennis McDermott, President of the Canadian Labour Congress was elected President and Carl Wright was appointed Director. Patrick Quinn took over as Director of the CTUC, Aug 1988 and Arthur Johnstone became Director in 1994. The executive body of the CTUC was its Steering Subcommittee, on which sat trade union leaders from the UK and Mediterranean, Canada, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Australasia and the Pacific. A general session was held annually to maintain contacts between member countries.

The CTUC aimed to strengthen links between trade unions in the Commonwealth and to provide practical assistance to trade unions in developing countries. It also undertook a programme of Development Education with Trade Unionists in developed countries, aiming to raise awareness of international issues.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions withdrew funding for the CTUC in Jan 2003 and the Canadian Labour Congress reduced its contribution in 2002, halved it for 2003, and made no commitment beyond 2003. The UK TUC agreed to raise their contribution to compensate for reductions, but this payment was to end at start of 2005. A decision was taken in Jun 2004 to wind up CTUC at end of 2004 and it was closed Jan 2005.

Original order

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Received by the Institute, 2005.

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Entry compiled by Sarah Drewery.

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