The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-03-02
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS

\ cheering report on the progress of
organized labor in the Middle East and
the liberated territories was recently
made by Omer Becu, American repre-
sentative of the International Trans
port Workers Federation after Il trip
to the Middle East, North Africa and
Italy. His trip was made to establish
contact with trade union organizations
in these countries.
Becu reports that trade unions have
been established in Egypt since 1912,
when trade union act issued in Oc
tdber permitted the setting up of work
erS organizations. Before that act.
trade unioniStS were permanently per-
secuted and unable to have more than
loose and therefore Intellectual groups.
Now more than 100000 workers are
organized in Egypt with especially
strong transport workers unions in
Cairo, Alexandria and Port Said.
All railway men are organized in II
societies acting as bargaining agencies.
thus assuring at least Il minimum Of
protection for their members.
Judging from the situation in North
Africa. especially in AlgierS, the trade
union movement will gain in strength
and therefore in power after the war.
In fact, already the trade union mem
bership in Algeria exceeds the preWar
figure of $4,000 Transport workers
(seamen and railway mem number o.,
OOO. headquarters of the French Con-
federation Generate du Travail and the
French Transport workers are estab
liShed in Algiers.
As for Italy, the situation is also
most encouraging, Becu reported. 1t is
indeed remarkable that since the first
of this year two trade union confer
ences have met in Bari. The fact is
important for union history. since it is
the first time in more than 20 years
that trade unioniSts have met freely
to discuss their problems.
The first Congress of the free Italian
RailmCn'S Union met Jan. 9. Among
the speakers were the general secre-
tary of the Bari Railmen's Union,
Botti, and representative of the In
ternational Transport Workers Fed
GRAFTON, sent from headquarters i'll
London to help reeStabliSh the union.
breaking away from all Fascist, or
state control, the raimen'S congress
called for trade unions entirely indie
pendent of the state or of any political
party, for voluntary membership and
for the transfer of all funds cOntiS-
Gated from the dissolved Fascist rail
way mems organization to the new
free union.
The congress also called for the i'm
mediate removal of all FasciStS from
railway administration and from ali
state undertakings and simultaneously,
the reinstatement of all anti-FaSciStS
who were dismissed.
On Jan 20, bonafidc trade uni0mistS
met also in Bari 10 discuss the pos
Sibiity Of reconStttUting the Italian
ConrederaZione Generate del LaNoro
which ceased its functions after Mus
SoIiui came to power.
In Southern Italy bnnalide trade
unions of rHilmen, lockers, utilities
workers and poStmen have been con
stituucd. Unfortunately the Amgot gave
them only defacto recognition. while
in Sicily the unions are formally
recognized and functi0ning as bargain
in@ agents. II is To be hoped that tn"
efforts made by the trade unioniStS in
Southern Italy To gain formal recog-
milton will be successful in the very
near future. Strong unions can give the
conlrihuto effectively to the 0r@aniZa-
tion and reconstruction of Italy.