International Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU)
Category: Labour
Year of Foundation: 1901
Year of Dissolution: 1945
Location of Foundation: Copenhagen, Denmark
Location of Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Brief Description: The International Federation of Trade Unions was the precursor to the World Federation of Trade Unions.
Founding Rationales:
The International Federation of Trade Unions was initially set up as the 'International Secretariat of National Trade Union Centres.' This body has the objective of 'keeping the national trade union centres in touch with one another, convening international conferences, preparing trade union statistics, etc.' It was renamed 'International Federation of Trade Unions' at a congress in Zurich in 1913.
Source: 'First Special International Trade Union Congress, London, November 22-27, 1920' (Geneva: International Labour Office, 1920), pp. 2-3.
Evolution of Membership:
Sources: Edo Fimmen, 'The International Federation of Trade Unions: Development and Aims' (Amsterdam: International Federation of Trade Unions, 1922); HIO.