Now: The proceedings of the 2025 WFTU Presidential Council Meeting, which is taking place these days in Ha Noi, Vietnam, have just begun!
Welcome speech by the VGCL President:
Opening Speech by the WFTU President, c. President, Mzwandile Makwayiba
Introductory Speech by the WFTU General Secretary, in the 2025 WFTU Presidential Council Meeting:
“… We struggle under very difficult and often harsh conditions. Against enemies who possess unbelievable means and who do not hesitate to employ a fifth column within the trade union ranks. However, we remain optimistic.
We have faith in the judgment and orientation of the working class. When the working class realizes its position and role in the progress of society, when through daily small and large struggles it becomes aware of its strength and understands its historical mission, it becomes an invincible force.
With our united and organized struggles, the system that generates crisis and reproduces exploitation can be defeated. A world free of wars and imperialist interventions, free of exploitation and discrimination; a world where work will be permanent and stable, regulated and safe, is achievable.”
Read the full speech here:
Introductory Speech by the WFTU General Secretary, in the 2025 WFTU Presidential Council Meeting
Now: Proceedings continue with the submission of the Annnual Report of the WFTU Financial Control Committee, by the Head of the Committee, c. C.H. Venkatachalam
Awarding Ceremony of Friendship Order – Awards given to c. George Mavrikos, ex General Secretary and Honorary President of the WFTU
Proceedings of the 2nd Day have just begun, with the continuation of the interventions of the participants
The WFTU 2025 Presidential Council Meeting, after discussion and in a comrade spirit, just approved the Resolutions:
- Resolution of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
- Resolution of Solidarity with the people of Cuba
- Resolution of Solidarity with the people victims of sanctions and economic wars
Now – the closing speech of the WFTU General Secretary, c. Pambis Kyritsis, and the conclusion of the proceedings
WFTU General Secretary’s Concluding Speech
With the approval of our federation’s action program for 2025, the declaration for March 8—International Women’s Day dedicated to the struggles and concerns of working women—and the acceptance of the affiliation requests of the new members, we now conclude this Presidential Council session.
There is no doubt that this session has taken place under privileged conditions. On the one hand, we are all inevitably inspired by the spirit of heroism and militancy that fills us whenever we set foot in this heroic country; a country that has proven, through rivers of blood, that neither imperialism nor capitalism is invincible when the people are determined, organized, disciplined, and guided by revolutionary leadership.
On the other hand, this Presidential Council is taking place in the year we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of our World Federation which was born – in the revolutionary fresh air of the great anti-fascist victory of the peoples with the Soviet Union at the forefront- under the legendary slogan: “Proletarians of all countries, unite!”, committed to serving the interests, demands, and aspirations of our class.
In this spirit, over the last two days, we have engaged in a rich and dynamic discussion with 38 speakers from 35 countries. We have gained au updated and more comprehensive understanding of the struggles being waged by class-oriented forces across the globe—the difficulties they face, the attacks from reactionary forces seeking to erode democratic and trade union freedoms, the rise of fascism that once again poses a threat, and the undermining of workers’ struggles by the actions of compromised trade union leaders and yellow unions.
The 80th anniversary is an opportunity to highlight the history of the WFTU and to bring to the forefront the fundamental difference between class-oriented trade unionism and the trade unionism of integration to the system, class collaboration, careerism, and corruption. It is our duty to spread this message everywhere, using all the means at our disposal.
The speeches have made clear several key messages about improving our organizational work, centrally, regionally, and locally. Strengthening solidarity among us and effectively extending it to those who need it the most, increasing our effectiveness. This is directly linked to improving our capacity for immediate, timely, and reliable information dissemination, making better use of modern technology, and adopting more creative and engaging forms of communication.
There is a clear desire for more and higher-quality ideological and trade union education, for preparing new cadres through the actions and struggles of our unions—cadres equipped not only with trade union knowledge but also with ideological and political education.
The speeches also highlighted the priority of strengthening the activities and functioning of both the sectoral organizations (TUI) and the regional offices. There is no doubt that the sectoral TUIs can bring the WFTU’s voice closer to workers, highlight union demands, and focus on collective bargaining, supporting trade union action for signing and renewing collective agreements.
The points raised by the comrade responsible for overseeing the work of the TUIs must be taken seriously. Cooperation and coordination are essential, and this is a joint responsibility for all of us. On this occasion, we call upon the members of the Presidential Council to support both the upcoming FISE Congress and the TUI Pensioners’ campaign for access to medicines.
Our regional offices are the vital links that strengthen our federation’s connection with its members in every area and country. They represent the WFTU in their regions, and we must collectively and critically find ways to enhance their role. In this regard, I want to welcome the announcement by Comrade Amarjeet regarding their decision to initiate discussions on a regional meeting for Asia and the Pacific upon returning to India. I am confident that such an initiative will contribute significantly to revitalizing our work in the region. Likewise, I confirm the Presidential Council’s position for establishing a subregional office in Vietnam, under the responsibility of VGCL, which will importantly enhance the WFTU’s presence in the region, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. I trust that our comrades in VGCL will see this proposal positively, as they have always been willing and ready to contribute. Moreover, with the same decisiveness and creativity the WFTU have to support the role and actions of the Working Youth Committee and the Working Women Committee.
I am fully aware of the difficulties and challenges we face—the financial constraints that hinder us from fulfilling our mission more effectively. Comrade Venkatachalam, in presenting the Financial Control Committee’s report, provided a roadmap for implementing necessary changes and improvements in our financial situation, laying a stronger basis for a fairer and more proportional distribution of the financial burden across all structures of our federation. We must support this roadmap—first and foremost, the Secretariat and I as General Secretary, and then by involving our Regional Offices in the discussion.
There was also a discussion about the need for more active intervention to ensure the better promotion of workers’ interests within the ILO. At the same time, we must continue to insist on the democratization of this institution while exposing and denouncing its manipulation and the monopoly of workers’ representation by the ITUC.
One of the speeches that naturally captured our attention was the speech of our dear Adnan Azouz. We listened carefully. He spoke about a free Syria. The question is how can be free when the upheavals were a result of foreign interventions. We cannot say that we feel reassured about the situation in Syria. We have serious concerns about the intentions of those who are now in power—forces that were previously listed as terrorists—and about the role of external actors behind the current regime, as well as the plans to fragment Syria and violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Syria has been the most consistent and steadfast supporter of the Palestinian people’s struggle against the US-Israeli plans for the Middle East. Therefore we have a lot reasons to be deeply concerned, and we express this concern clearly and decisively. WFTU has principles and therefore we cannot accept this new approach. We will closely follow the situation and take positions and actions accordingly.
Despite the many difficulties and challenges, despite the negative balances of power that sometimes seem unbeatable, the spirit in which we conclude this meeting here in Hanoi is one of optimism and hope. It is optimistic and hopeful because we have unity, and we have a militant spirit. The prestige and influence of the WFTU are expanding, embracing more and more new unions.
Before closing this meeting, I feel the need to once again express my sincere gratitude to the President and leadership of VGCL for their exemplary hospitality and the flawless organization that ensured the productivity and successfulness of our work here. I thank each and every one of the VGCL comrades who were with us all the time, giving their best to make this gathering a success. I also extend my appreciation to the interpreters, whose invaluable assistance greatly facilitated our work.
There is no doubt that leaving Vietnam, we will carry with us the experiences of a rich and productive discussion. We will take with us the spirit of comradeship and fraternity that characterized our debates, the spirit of solidarity and internationalism that are the weapons of the class-oriented trade union movement.
We will also carry with us the strength and revolutionary self-sacrifice of the Vietnamese people, the spirit of Ho Chi Minh, who proved in practice that even the most unfavorable balance of power can be overturned; that a united and organized working class has the ability and the potential to change the course of history, to effectively resist the capitalist attacks, and to pave the way for peace, democracy, and social liberation, for the abolition of capitalist barbarity and the exploitation of man by man.
