New trade union chooses leaders

Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - Guy Ryder has been elected General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on the 3rd and final day of its Founding Congress.

The Congress also elected a 70-person Governing Council, with an additional Eight seats being reserved for youth and women's representatives, a statement from the ITUC received in Accra on Friday said.

Commenting on his election and with the leadership team in place, Guy Ryder said today:

"I am honoured by the confidence placed in me by the delegates of the Congress in entrusting me with this position. Tomorrow we start the work of the new international with a renewed optimism and hope, knowing that we are stronger, not just in numbers but in the diversity that that we bring together".

"In founding the ITUC we have recognized that if we are to fulfil the promise of improving people's lives, we have no choice but to change. The word solidarity has never had as much meaning and importance as now. And practical solidarity, in the form of international campaigning and organizing is what we intend to deliver."

"The challenges are many but we will not shirk from them. We will tackle those employers who exploit workers, those governments who deny their people the right to organize and we will take action to bring about a world in which decent work is not just a distant dream, but the reality of people's lives." 03 Nov. 06