GroupWatch: Profiles of U.S. Private Organizations and Churches, was compiled
by the Interhemispheric
Resource Center, Box 2178, Somerville, MA 88062. Check when each article
was last updated as much material is no longer current. This material is provided
as a source for historical research.
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Free Trade Union
Institute
Acronym/Code: FTUI
Updated: 9/89
Categories:
Labor
Background:
The Free Trade Union Institute (FTUI) was
created in 1977 when the AFL-CIO resurrected and renamed the moribund Free
Trade Union Committee (FTUC). The purpose was to increase U.S. influence
with European trade unions, especially in Spain and Portugal. (16) It was
almost defunct in 1983 when Congress began funding the newly-created National
Endowment for Democracy (NED), and FTUI has been the largest grantee ever
since. (3) NED's purpose is "to encourage the establishment and growth
of democratic development in a manner consistent both with the broad concerns
of United States national interests and with the specific requirements of
the democratic groups in other countries which are aided by the endowment."(14) FTUI is one of four core grantees of NED. The other three are the
Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), National Republican Institute
for International Affairs, and the National Democratic Institute for International
Affairs. In 1988 NED received over $20 million from the U.S. taxpayers. (15)
Congress authorizes U.S. Information Agency (USIA) funds for NED which in
turn gives money to FTUI and other grantees. FTUI then funds overseas projects
which are usually managed by AFL-CIO's three regional labor institutes: American
Institute for Free Labor Development (AIFLD), Asian-American Free Labor Institute
(AAFLI), and the African-American Labor Center (AALC). (2)
FTUI says it "supports programs that
provide assistance for democratic education, training in basic union skills,
and organizing assistance... sponsors exchanges between trade unionists... and supports research on labor rights and human rights..."(4)
Both NED and FTUI have received widespread
support from both U.S. political parties, the business community, and even
the right wing, as can be seen by supporter Senator Orrin Hatch (Utah)--a
labor opponent in the domestic sphere. A Hatch aide explained why his boss
decided to back the AFL-CIO's intl operations, saying the AFL-CIO worldwide
"has tremendous leverage for political activity compared to say, CIA
covert operations, which often fail."(5) In congressional hearings,
Senator Hatch stated "I have seen the excellent work of the labor institute
over the last several years, and frankly, they have carried a large share
of the burden in sowing the seeds of democracy abroad."(6)
In an undated memorandum from the early days
of NED's operations, FTUI executive director, Eugenia Kemble, instructed NED
executive director, Carl Gershman to "avoid advertising" projects
in certain countries where recipients would "either be endangered or
embarrassed if specific budgets were published or announced."(7)
NED was embarrassed in November 1985 when
one of these FTUI projects was disclosed. FTUI had awarded $1. 4 million to
two right-wing groups in France. It is still not clear why NED thought democracy
was in trouble in France. More than half a million dollars had gone to a student
group that had fewer than 1,000 members and was an offshoot of an organization
known for its violent and criminal predilections. (9)
Funding:
FTUI is the largest grantee of NED receiving
$24. 6 million from 1985-1988. (8) A very small portion of FTUI's funding
comes from the AFL-CIO. (2)
Activities:
Philippines: The largest recipient of FTUI
funds between 1983-1988 was the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP),
which historically was tied to the Marcos government. (8) NED states that
FTUI is helping "to strengthen the TUCP" and that "the TUCP
supports a media relations and communications program, voter awareness and
civic action campaigns on topical issues and training in democratic ideology
and technical organizatioal skills for workers."(15) After the assassination
of opposition Senator Benigno Aquino in 1983, TUCP received a $3 million grant.
According to Bud Phillips, AAFLI administrator in the Philippines,"Our
help saved the free trade union movement... . Imagine if you have US$100,000
to give out to families in US$500 chunks. Your stock goes way up, faster than
the stock of any of the militant labour groups." [Average annual income
in the Philippines: $790. ] When Joseph Lee, U.S. labor attache in Manila
asked about NED programs in the Philippines, the late Irving Brown (AFL-CIO
Intl Affairs Dept) blocked Lee's inquiries and threatened to have him fired.
State Dept officials told Lee to "lay off, it's none of your business."(8)
Poland: The largest recipient of FTUI grants
from 1985-1989 is the Solidarnosc. (8) With its funding Solidarnosc was to
disseminate information, sustain union ativists, maintain its adminstrative
infrastructure, and through its Brussels-based office disseminate information
to the West on worker rights violations in Poland. (15) Jerry Milewski, director
of Solidarnosc's Brussels bureau said the grants were used for a social fund
for Solicarnosc members, and for printing and communications equipment. Radical
factions within Solicarnosc criticise the tight hold on funds by Lech Walesa
and the union leadership. (8)
Portugal: Established in 1979 by the Social
Party and the Social Democratic Party as a counterweight to the communistoriented
CGTP, the UGT union federation has received 7 percent of all FTUI grants from
1985-1988. After the 1974 revolution, takeover by the Portugese Communist
Party was seen by the U.S. to be a major threat. Portugal is regarded by
the U.S. as the weakest link in the chain of West European democracies. It
is also of strategic importance to the U.S. because of its nuclear bases
on the Azores in the North Atlantic. (8)
Spain: FTUI grant recipient ELA-STV, the major
trade union in the Basque region, is linked to the conservative Basque Natl
Party. The separatist ETA movement is active in the Basque region and seen
as a threat to liberal democracy in Spain. FTUI hopes the ELA-STV will serve
as a moderating force in the region against the radical Basque trade unions
and the communistoriented CCOO union which is active throughout the country.
(8) NED says the FTUI funding is so that "trade union staff and shop
stewards will receive intensive training in basic union skills and democratic
values."(15)
Panama: In 1984 FTUI funded the (Republic
of) Panamanian Confederation of Workers (CTRP) for use in the country's presidential
election campaign, in support of Nicolas Barletta, the military-backed candidate.
The U.S. Ambassador in Panama called it a "hare-brained" project.
(10)
Mozambique: In September 1984 three high-level
representatives of the MNR met with Eugenia Kemble and Nana Mahoma, FTUI coordinator
of South Africa programs. According to a confidential memo, the MNR representatives
were searching for support and training."They are anxious to make a
start in the labor field by training some of the people now who will take
leadership positions in the future labor movement," the memo said. (11)
They established a new organization, Friends of Mozambique, which according
to NED annual reports has not yet received FTUI funding.
France: Also in 1984, FTUI channeled $1. 4
million to two center-right groups in France (Force Ouvriere, an anticommunist
trade union, and Inter-University Union, an anticommunist student federation
with reputed ties to the Service d'Action Civique, an extreme-right paramilitary
group) that opposed the policies of President Francois Mitterand's Socialist
Party. These grants were never publicly reported because FTUI promised the
French recipients it would keep the agreement secret. (12) These grants have
been discontinued but NED continues to fund the Force Ouvriere's affiliates
in Africa and the Caribbean using FTUI as a pass-through. (15)
South Africa: In early 1985 Black union leaders
from South Africa visited Washington to attend a labor conference. As the
conference proceeded, the South Africans saw that FTUI was supporting their
struggle for its use in Cold War politics. By early 1986, the Congress of
South African Trade Unions decided to forgo any formal ties with FTUI or NED.
(9)
Government
Connections:
As noted above, FTUI is almost completely
funded through the U.S. Information Agency. Congressional oversight is required
of NED--and presumably of NED projects-and documents are supposed to remain
open to the public.
Private Connections:
(13)
Thomas R. Donahue, Board of Trustees Hudson
Inst and AIFLD. James E. Hatfield, Board of Trustees AIFLD.
John T. Joyce, Board of Directors Natl Democratic
Inst, A. Philip Randolph Inst and League for Industrial Democracy, Board of
Trustees AIFLD.
Tom Kahn, Board of Directors A. Philip Randolph
Inst, and League for Industrial Democracy, Natl Comt of Social Democracts
USA.
Lane Kirkland, Board of Directors NED and
AIFLD. Jay Mazur, Board of Directors League for Industrial Democracy and Council
for a Democractic Majority, Board of Trustees AIFLD, and Natl Advisory Council
of Social Democrats USA.
Albert Shanker, Board of Directors NED, A.
Philip Randolph Inst, Council for a Democratic Majority, and League for Industrial
Democracy, Board of Trustees Freedom House and AIFLD, Natl Advisory Council
of Social Democrats USA.
John J. Sweeney, Board of Directors League
for Industrial Democracy.
Lynn R. Williams Board of Directors League
for Industrial Democracy, Board of Trustees AIFLD, Natl Advisory Council of
Social Democrats USA.
Misc:
Comments:
U.S. Address: Suite 705, 815 16th Street
NW, Washington, DC 20006
(202-637-5060).
Principals:
Board of Directors: Marvin J. Boede, United
Assn of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industries;
John DeConcini, Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers Intl Union; Thomas
R. Donahue, AFL-CIO; James E. Hatfield, Glass Bottle Blowers' Assn; John T.
Joyce, Bricklayers; Tom Kahn, AFL-CIO; Lane Kirkland, AFL-CIO; Jay Mazur,
Intl Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; Albert Shanker, American Federation of
Teachers; John J. Sweeney, Service Employees Intl; Lynn R. Williams, United
Steelworkers of America. (1) Eugenia Kemble, exec dir.
Sources:
1. Phone interview by the Resource Center,
7-18-89.
2. AIFLD in Central America: Agents as Organizers,
Tom Barry and Deb Preusch, Resource Center, 1987.
3. NED Annual Report, 1986, 1987, 1988; "Grants
Awarded Fiscal Year 1985"; and "Grants Awarded Fiscal Year 1984."
4. FTUI,"The Free Trade Union Institute,"
brochure, no date. 5. Washington Post, November 19, 1986.
6. Foreign Relations Authorizations FY1986
and 1987, Committee on Foreign Relations, p. 544.
7. Undated memo from Eugenia Kemble to Carl
Gershman.
8. International Labour Reports, May/June
1989.
9. Jefferson Morley,"Better NED Than
Dead?" Dissent, Spring 1986.
10. Washington Post, June 28, 1984.
11."Free Trade Union Institute,"
factsheet produced by the National Committee on Religion and Labor, 1987.
12. Congressional Record, December 4, 1985,
Vol. 131, No. 166, p. E5430.
13. 1988 and 1989 publications from AIFLD,
NED, Natl Democratic Inst, A. Philip Randolph Inst, League for Industrial
Democracy, Social Democrats USA, Hudson Inst, Council for a Democratic Majority,
and Freedom House.
14."National Endowment for Democracy,"
factsheet produced by the National Committee on Religion and Labor, 1987.
15. NED, Annual Report, 1988.
16. 30th Anniversary Report of the AFL-CIO
Executive Council, AFL-CIO, Oct 28, 1985.
The underlying cites for this profile are
now kept at Political Research Associates, (617) 666-5300. www.irc-online.org.
