GB 0101 ICS 146 - Commonwealth Trade Union Council

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0101 ICS 146

Title

Commonwealth Trade Union Council

Date(s)

  • 1979-2004 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

25 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

At the International Labour Conference, 1978, it was agreed that a Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC) should be established. A special working party was set up to decide the form the body should take. Their proposals were agreed by the Commonwealth Unions, Nov 1979 and the CTUC was established in Mar 1980. Dennis McDermott, President of the Canadian Labour Congress was elected President and Carl Wright was appointed Director. Patrick Quinn took over as Director of the CTUC, Aug 1988 and Arthur Johnstone became Director in 1994. The executive body of the CTUC was its Steering Subcommittee, on which sat trade union leaders from the UK and Mediterranean, Canada, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Australasia and the Pacific. A general session was held annually to maintain contacts between member countries.

The CTUC aimed to strengthen links between trade unions in the Commonwealth and to provide practical assistance to trade unions in developing countries. It also undertook a programme of Development Education with Trade Unionists in developed countries, aiming to raise awareness of international issues.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions withdrew funding for the CTUC in Jan 2003 and the Canadian Labour Congress reduced its contribution in 2002, halved it for 2003, and made no commitment beyond 2003. The UK TUC agreed to raise their contribution to compensate for reductions, but this payment was to end at start of 2005. A decision was taken in Jun 2004 to wind up CTUC at end of 2004 and it was closed Jan 2005.

Archival history

GB 0101 ICS 146 1979-2004 Collection (fonds) 25 boxes Commonwealth Trade Union Council

At the International Labour Conference, 1978, it was agreed that a Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC) should be established. A special working party was set up to decide the form the body should take. Their proposals were agreed by the Commonwealth Unions, Nov 1979 and the CTUC was established in Mar 1980. Dennis McDermott, President of the Canadian Labour Congress was elected President and Carl Wright was appointed Director. Patrick Quinn took over as Director of the CTUC, Aug 1988 and Arthur Johnstone became Director in 1994. The executive body of the CTUC was its Steering Subcommittee, on which sat trade union leaders from the UK and Mediterranean, Canada, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Australasia and the Pacific. A general session was held annually to maintain contacts between member countries.

The CTUC aimed to strengthen links between trade unions in the Commonwealth and to provide practical assistance to trade unions in developing countries. It also undertook a programme of Development Education with Trade Unionists in developed countries, aiming to raise awareness of international issues.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions withdrew funding for the CTUC in Jan 2003 and the Canadian Labour Congress reduced its contribution in 2002, halved it for 2003, and made no commitment beyond 2003. The UK TUC agreed to raise their contribution to compensate for reductions, but this payment was to end at start of 2005. A decision was taken in Jun 2004 to wind up CTUC at end of 2004 and it was closed Jan 2005.

Received by the Institute, 2005.

Papers of the Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC), 1979-2004, including papers relating to the setting up of the CTUC from the Commonwealth Trade Union Conference Jun 1979 and report of the meeting of the Steering Subcommittee of the conference on Commonwealth trade union co-operation, 19 Nov 1979. Agenda, minutes and associated documents relating to Steering Sub Committee meetings, 1980-1981; minutes, agenda and papers for Special Meetings of the Steering Committee, 1981-1989; Steering Committee minutes, 1982-2004; minutes, correspondence and other papers of the CTUC Charitable Trust Committee, 1981-2004 and CTUC General Session Minutes, 1980-1997; Subject files arranged alphabetically on related organisations and Commonwealth nations, 1980-2004; Project files containing photographs and papers relating to projects undertaken by CTUC including in the Caribbean, Southern Africa, India, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone; East Africa and West Africa, [1981]-2003; papers from project workers meetings reporting the work done by project workers in various Commonwealth countries, 1991-1997 and agendas, debriefings and memoranda from Project Committee meetings, 1986-1990; CTUC annual reports and related documents, 1996-2001; papers relating to the CTUC 20th Birthday Appeal, launched 29 Mar 1999; CTUC circulars and attachments,1982-2004, including announcement of Patrick Quinn as new Director, 1988 and papers relating to CTUC conferences, 1980-1999.

Original order

Advanced notice should be given. Some items are closed under the Data Protection Act. Enquiries about access should be made to the Library staff.

A photocopying and digitisation service is available, at the discretion of the Library staff. Copies are supplied solely for research or private study. Requests to publish, or to quote from original material should be submitted to the Information Resources Manager.
English

A partial box list is available at the Library.

Entry compiled by Sarah Drewery.  Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.  Feb 2008 Africa Australian Council of Trade Unions Bangladesh Canadian Labour Congress Caribbean Commonwealth countries Commonwealth Trade Union Council Developing countries East Africa Economic relations Europe India Interdependence International cooperation International economic relations International politics Labour relations Political systems Sierra Leone South Asia Southern Africa Trade unions UK West Africa Western Europe London England

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Received by the Institute, 2005.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of the Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC), 1979-2004, including papers relating to the setting up of the CTUC from the Commonwealth Trade Union Conference Jun 1979 and report of the meeting of the Steering Subcommittee of the conference on Commonwealth trade union co-operation, 19 Nov 1979. Agenda, minutes and associated documents relating to Steering Sub Committee meetings, 1980-1981; minutes, agenda and papers for Special Meetings of the Steering Committee, 1981-1989; Steering Committee minutes, 1982-2004; minutes, correspondence and other papers of the CTUC Charitable Trust Committee, 1981-2004 and CTUC General Session Minutes, 1980-1997; Subject files arranged alphabetically on related organisations and Commonwealth nations, 1980-2004; Project files containing photographs and papers relating to projects undertaken by CTUC including in the Caribbean, Southern Africa, India, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone; East Africa and West Africa, [1981]-2003; papers from project workers meetings reporting the work done by project workers in various Commonwealth countries, 1991-1997 and agendas, debriefings and memoranda from Project Committee meetings, 1986-1990; CTUC annual reports and related documents, 1996-2001; papers relating to the CTUC 20th Birthday Appeal, launched 29 Mar 1999; CTUC circulars and attachments,1982-2004, including announcement of Patrick Quinn as new Director, 1988 and papers relating to CTUC conferences, 1980-1999.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Original order

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Advanced notice should be given. Some items are closed under the Data Protection Act. Enquiries about access should be made to the Library staff.

Conditions governing reproduction

A photocopying and digitisation service is available, at the discretion of the Library staff. Copies are supplied solely for research or private study. Requests to publish, or to quote from original material should be submitted to the Information Resources Manager.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

A partial box list is available at the Library.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area