World Trade Union Conference

The World Trade Union Conference between 6–17 February 1945 was participated in by countries from all around the world, at County Hall, London.[1] Regarded as a significant moment within the international labour movement as it was the first time that workers from around the world came together to influence international politics.[2] It was a product of the wave of popular internationalism and union self-confidence following the defeat of fascism in World War II.[3]

Both Clement Attlee and King George VI spoke to the audience at the conference.[1] 204 representatives from 63 Unions around the world attended the conference including those from the Soviet Union, in an attempt to have representation within the United Nations and Security Council.[4] The conference, which was organised in the vein of the anti-fascist movement being much inspired by both union and state notions of a new world order plus influenced by the interests of the allied nations.[3][1] Anti-war, post war reconstruction post-war and Trade Union were on the agenda.[5]

The conference resulted in the Declarations of the World Trade Union Conference, which were published in San Francisco by the Trade Union Council in 1945[6] and inspired the Fifth Pan-African Congress to beheld later the same year in Manchester.[2]

One of the purposes of the conference was to create a draft constitution for the World Federation of Trade Unions which was established at the first World Trades Union Congress which convened in Paris in October 1945.[5][7]