Why so active in other countries?

In many of the conversations I have as a trade union leader, I am often asked why I am so active on an international level, within the international trade union network. Why do I think it is so important to invest in European and international transport federations? Why do I maintain so many contacts with unions in other countries? And hence why do I spend so much time abroad?

People ask me that because they face problems on a daily basis in the workplace right here in Belgium. Their problems. And these problems are issues that they have, for example, in order to work safely, to make ends meet financially every month or to keep up with the hellish pace of work – coupled with the high degree of flexibility in their jobs they have to contend with today. They want the support of their union in doing so. And they will get it, at least they will from our union, the Belgian Transport Union BTB, which I chair.

My answer to the question? Because many problems facing working men and women can only be solved through international trade union commitment and international trade union action. I truly believe that as a trade union you have no choice but to be active internationally.

Truck and bus drivers know that truckers’ driving and rest times can only be modified by changing the rules on a European basis.

And seafarers know that their status and working conditions are largely determined at an international level. Because the Maritime Labour Convention defines the situation of sailors worldwide.

Dockworkers will no doubt realise that decisions taken about the port terminal where they work are often made in Singapore or Denmark. And while Antwerp may be Europe’s second-largest port, the same Europe is also being used and abused to call the status of Antwerp dockers into question.

Handlers at the airport, meanwhile, were shocked to find out that Swissport International has ceased operations in Zaventem because of a decision taken in Zurich.

Trade union work is by definition international

That’s why I want to put a number of things in perspective through this book. To convince working people – and especially union members. To get them excited about what is being decided in Europe (the European Union) or in Geneva (the International Labour Organisation) or anywhere else in the world. So that they can understand that decisions taken about them are often made on the other side of the world. To explain to them that a cooperation project with – say – Kenyan trade unions, can be a good investment. To motivate them to look beyond the borders of their own company – and beyond national borders, too. And, if necessary, to take action and to get behind the decisions taken elsewhere. In the end, it’s all about us: our work circumstances, our employment conditions, our safety, our pay.

Here in Belgium, working people have never been given – and still don’t get – anything for free. We have always had to fight for better pay and working conditions. We have had to campaign for paid leave and fight for a safe workplace. Today, what may be a given for us is still not a reality in many places around the world. And even internationally, we will not be able to achieve any improvement to our situation simply by asking nicely.

If unions want to improve the lot of the ‘ordinary’ man and woman; if we want to fight inequality and if we want better distribution of wealth, we cannot afford to sit on our lazy backsides. We will have to put pressure on political leaders, multinational companies, international bodies and so on.

It’s a difficult and uncomfortable task – and one that requires a lot of time and energy. But it is necessary if we are to succeed. In that sense, there is no alternative. In fact the only way to do it is our way!

I’m also seeing other unions downsizing their international engagement. They’re becoming less active or reduce their financial contribution to the international umbrella organisations they are part of. There can be two reasons for this. Either these international union structures are less relevant to the unions themselves, in which case those umbrella organisations should do some serious research into why that is happening and make adjustments where necessary. Or national or sector-specific unions have fewer people and resources. That, too, should make us think. Because if national unions become weakened, the impact we can have internationally also weakens.

Just as the world is becoming more global, just as the economy is becoming more international, and just as multinational companies are weighing in increasingly on political decisions as well, unions do not have the luxury of dropping the ball internationally.

I am well aware that many of the examples I give in this book come from my own Belgian and European trade union practice. After all, that is my living environment. Nevertheless, I have tried to look beyond the borders of Europe. And while Europe is covered extensively in this work, any trade union militant, anywhere in the world, will recognise a great deal of what it contains. Because that’s just what the union movement is all about: what happens in Brussels also happens in Montreal, Rio de Janeiro, Abidjan, Singapore and so on.

This book is based on my own experiences and union practices and I take full responsibility for it. But I am also glad that friends, colleagues, union comrades and others have wanted to state their views on what I have written. A number of guest writers have also been kind enough to give their views and comments on one of the chapters in this book. This makes me happy, because it enriches what I have written myself.

You can’t start a fire without a spark

European elections are coming up in June 2024. And our global trade union federation, the International Transport Workers’ Federation, will have its own congress in October 2024. These are two good reasons to put forward a few ideas, analyse one or two of them in depth and also make some proposals – thereby making my contribution to the upcoming debates. Perhaps it will motivate young people to make their own contributions. Bruce Springsteen sings: You can’t start a fire without a spark. Change doesn’t just happen. Someone has to start it. So let us be the spark that fans the flame of change.