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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:

International Federation of Trade Unions Membership Chart

Sources: Edo Fimmen, 'The International Federation of Trade Unions: Development and Aims' (Amsterdam: International Federation of Trade Unions, 1922); HIO.