World Confederation of Labour (WCL)
Website: http://www.cmt-wcl.org/cmt/ewcm.nsf
Category: Labour
Year of Foundation: 1920 (as International Federation of Christian Trade Unions)
Year of Dissolution: 2006
Location of Foundation: The Hague, Netherlands
Location of Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Brief Description: The World Confederation of Labour described itself as 'an international trade union confederation uniting 144 autonomous and democratic trade unions from 116 countries.' (Source: www.cmt-wcl.org; accessed 13 April 2010)
Founding Rationales:
The International Federation of Christian Trade Unions was set up '(a) To exert its influence in international economic and social life. (b) To defend the social and economic interests of the workers, especially in the International Labour Organization and the Economic Organization of the League of Nations. (c) To afford moral and material aid to the affiliated organisations and to secure co-operation among them. (d) To spread the ideas of Christian trade unionism in those countries where there is no Christian trade union movement, etc.'
Source: League of Nations, 'Handbook of International Organisations' (Geneva, 1938), p. 304.
Evolution of Membership:
Sources: HIO; YIO; EAIO; Jules Zimmerwald, 'Cinquante Années de Syndicalisme Chrétien' (Paris: Editions Spes, 1937).