The Free Trade Union Committee (FTUC) was created by the

American Federation of Labor The American Federation of Labor (A.F. of L.) was a national federation of labor unions in the United States that continues today as the AFL-CIO. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions eager to provide mutua ...

(AFL)

History

At its 1944 convention in New Orleans, the AFL passed a resolution drafted by

Jay Lovestone Jay Lovestone (15 December 1897 – 7 March 1990) was an American activist. He was at various times a member of the Socialist Party of America, a leader of the Communist Party USA, leader of a small oppositionist party, an anti-Communist and Centr ...

creating the FTUC. Lovestone became its executive secretary. Its mission was to assist trade unions in foreign countries, especially to help them remain independent of Communist influence. Its original funding was one million dollars. The organization backed "free unions founded on collective bargaining in an open marketplace, and opposition to state-run unions on the Soviet model." The leadership of the AFL anticipated that Communists in each European country would have the backing of the Russian state and its propaganda in their efforts to dominate each nation's labor movement. The Americans thought Eastern Europe was probably lost to their movement, but many others needed their assistance, including Greece, Italy, and Turkey. Non-communist but statist regimes like Spain and later Argentina presented opportunities as well. Initially their organizational counterpart was the

World Federation of Trade Unions The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) is an international federation of trade union, trade unions established in 1945. Founded in the immediate aftermath of World War Two, the organization built on the pre-war legacy of the International ...

, which the AFL's rival, the

Congress of Industrial Organizations The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was a federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions in the United States and Canada from 1935 to 1955. Originally created in 1935 as a committee within the American Federation of ...

(CIO), joined and which, it later transpired, the Soviets financed. The FTUC helped rebuild the shattered trade union movement in Europe and Japan. It sent food packages to destitute labor activists and union leaders. In addition to relief activities, it financed a trade school in

Palermo Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The city is noted for it ...

. The FTUC helped fund the ''

Force Ouvrière The General Confederation of Labor - Workers' Force (french: Confédération Générale du Travail - Force Ouvrière, or simply , FO), is one of the five major union confederations in France. In terms of following, it is the third behind the CGT ...

'' in France in opposition to the Communist-controlled labor confederation in 1948.

David Dubinsky David Dubinsky (; born David Isaac Dobnievski; February 22, 1892 – September 17, 1982) was a Belarusian-born American labor leader and politician. He served as president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) between 1932 ...

claimed in his memoirs that the FTUC resisted attempts by the CIA to control its operations, but the CIA's role was substantial. The CIA channeled funds to the FTUC for 20 years, beginning with efforts to influence the Italian elections in 1948. Even in meetings with their CIA counterparts, FTUC officials inflated their budgets to minimize the CIA's relative contribution. Dubinsky had misgivings throughout and the FTUC managed to maintain a certain independence and fought for less CIA control over their activities.Parmet, 235-6

Notes

Sources

*Anthony Carew, "The American Labor Movement in Fizzland: The Free Trade Union Committee and the CIA" in ''Labor History'', February 1998 *Ted Morgan, ''A Covert Life: Jay Lovestone, Communist, Anti-communist, and Spymaster'' (NY: Random House, 1999) *Robert D. Parmet, ''The Master of Seventh Avenue: David Dubinsky and the American Labor Movement'' (NY: New York University Press, 2005)

External links

''Why communist China should not be admitted to the United Nations.''
published by FTUC {{Authority control American Federation of Labor Central Intelligence Agency front organizations Organizations established in 1944 International development agencies Anti-communist organizations in the United States Organizations disestablished in 1955 1944 establishments in Louisiana 1955 disestablishments in the United States

History

See also

Notes

Sources

External links