Brussels, 31 March 2008: The new ITUC Regional Organisation for the Americas has been created at its founding Congress in Panama, from 27 – 29 March. The Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA), has 68 affiliated organisations from 26 countries throughout the region, with a total membership of more than 50 million workers.
The founding Congress, which was addressed by Panamanian President Martin Torrijos, elected Linda Chavez Thompson as President, Julio Roberto as Deputy President and Victor Baez as General Secretary. Rafael Freire, Laerte Teixeira and Amanda Villatoro were elected as TUCA Secretaries.
“The creation of the TUCA is a historic step from the trade union movement in the region and will ensure a strong, unified presence of the trade union movement, promoting and defending the interests of working people throughout the Americas. It is the final step in the process of unification of the international trade union movement, which began with the foundation of the ITUC in Vienna in November 2006”, said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.
The ITUC Regional Organisation for Asia-Pacific was founded in Bangalooru, India in September 2007, and for Africa in Accra, Ghana in November of the same year.
The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates.
For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018