BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 19, 1948.

On the middle of February the general secretary of the General Labor Federation of Belgium (FGTB/ABVV), Monsieur Paul Finet, has decided that he had to act. Since 1945, the FGTB had been steadily growing – and competing – with other trade unions such as the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (CSC/ACV) and the General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (CGSLB/ACLVB). The harsh competition, combined with the postwar reconstruction, has prompted the FGTB to reinvent itself as a trade union and mobilize its workers. A spike in membership was first seen in late 1947 with the Spaak Plan and general secretary Paul Finet has decided to capitalize on this spike by launching a new recruitment campaign and a whole series of reforms to the FGTB, including:

• A new educational program for workers;
• The creation of a new center for recruitment and propaganda;
• Implementation of a weekly magazine for the propagation of FGTB policies, views, and objectives.

All of these measures were further elaborated throughout the year of 1948, and strongly contributed to what has been deemed in an internal report to be an ‘impressive, unprecedented rise in membership’.

BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 25, 1948.

The Workers’ Advancement Initiative

In order to increase their political support, their membership, and the qualification of their members, the FGTB has decided to implement, beginning in early June, 1948, a new training and education program developed by the General Union). This program, called the Workers’ Advancement Initiative (IAT/IBA), will be developed as an institutional branch of the FGTB, as part of its governing body. It will be paid for through donations and fundraising campaigns, as well as collaboration through other labor unions.

It has been developed with a series of objectives. The main ones include empowering Belgian workers by increasing their technical qualifications, as well as increasing their political awareness through historical knowledge, through yearly education campaigns with courses that go from a total of four to six months in duration, with certifications and award ceremonies as well.

The IAT will work through a combination of two main courses: technical courses and political courses. The technical courses will be based on training that is sponsored by the members of the federation that last from four to six months. Members of the FGTB can enroll in workshops, classes, and lectures with the general objective of improving their knowledge, qualification, efficiency and talent. The political courses include courses on political ideologies, sociology, history, and labor laws. The general purpose of the political courses is to provide education on the history of labor movements, including the FGTB, as well as social struggles and worker’s rights. It is the hope of the FGTB that these courses will increase the potential loyalty of workers to the movement, as well as increase their participation in strikes, mobilizations, and other militant actions.

BRUSSELS, APRIL 11, 1948.

The Secretariat of Mobilization, Recruitment and Public Engagement

In order to further press forward in their engagement, the FGTB has decided to create an organ of the federation that is subject to the national secretariat – the Secretariat of Mobilization, Recruitment, and Public Engagement (SMREP/SMWPB). The SMREP, which is to be elected by the members of the federation in a wide election, has the objective of expanding the ability of the federation to communicate with the wider public. It will begin operations in August of 1948, while the election will occur in July.

The FGTB has established a work group within the secretariat to draft plans for a nationwide recruitment campaign to take place in September and October of this year with the objective of turning it into the largest trade union federation in Belgium.

BRUSSELS, APRIL 30, 1948.

The Voice of the Worker

In order to broaden its reach, its capacity for communication, and its overall membership, the FGTB has also voted to approve a new, weekly magazine, that will be distributed through local union chapters and events – as well as a subscription service to non-union members – with the objective of espousing its views and objectives.

The magazine, called the Voice of the Worker (VT/SVA), will be funded through donations, fundraising, and voluntary member contributions. It will include articles on workers’ rights, recent pieces of legislation, labor history, current labor struggles, technical insights and political analyses.

The magazine will be developed with the intention of being highly participatory. Members of a more creative or scholarly persuasion will be invited to participate in the writings of articles and opinion pieces, while an ombudsman will be responsible for receiving and addressing issues and suggestions of the members of the FGTB regarding the magazine.

SUMMARY

• The General Labor Federation of Belgium (FGTB) has decided to implement a series of new measures to increase membership and popularity, with the objective of becoming the largest and most influential trade union federation in the entire country. To achieve this objective, the FGTB has implemented: (1) a new educational program for workers; (2) a new secretariat responsible for engagement with the public, recruitment and propaganda; and, (3) a weekly magazine dedicated to the propagation of FGTB policies and objectives.

• The educational program, called the Workers’ Advancement Initiative (IAT/IBA) will be composed of courses that last four to six months, with certifications and award ceremonies. These courses will be divided into technical courses, where workers can develop new skills or reinforce the ones that they already possess, and political courses, including political ideologies, sociology, history, and labor laws. The objective is to increase the skills, knowledge, competence, and political awareness of Belgian workers.

• The secretariat, called the Secretariat of Mobilization, Recruitment and Public Engagement (SMREP/SMWPB) will be an elected body with the objective of launching important recruitment campaigns for the FGTB.

• The Voice of the Worker, a weekly magazine made by the FGTB, will have the objective of expanding the views of the organization to all Belgian workers. It includes articles on workers’ rights, opinion pieces on new laws, labor history, current labor struggles, technical insights and political analyses.