The International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW) was a global union federation of

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

s in the

building A building, or edifice, is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory (although there's also portable buildings). Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and fun ...

, building materials,

wood Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin ...

forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. Th ...

and allied industries.

History

The federation was established in 1934 by a merger of the

International Federation of Building Workers The International Federation of Building Workers (IFBW) was a global union federation bringing together unions representing masons. History The German Central Union of Masons gradually built up international contacts in the late 19th-century. In ...

and

International Federation of Wood Workers The International Union of Woodworkers (IUW) was a global union federation bringing together unions representing wood carvers, carpenters and joiners. History In 1891, the Belgian union of woodworkers organised the First International Wood Workers' ...

. The International Secretariat of Stone Masons and the

International Secretariat of Painters and Allied Trades The International Secretariat of Painters and Allied Trades, also known as the International Secretariat of Painters and Kindred Trades, was a global union federation bringing together trade unions representing painters and decorators. History The ...

later joined the organisation. , it had 287 member organisations in 124 countries, representing a combined membership of more than 10 million workers. The IFBWW was based in

Geneva Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...

and had a network of regional offices. The organisation worked closely with the

International Trade Union Confederation The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); german: Internationaler Gewerkschaftsbund (IGB), link=no; es, Confederación Sindical Internacional (CSI), link=no. is the world's largest trade union federation. History The federation w ...

(ITUC) and the other global union federations, and had Special Consultative Status at the

Economic and Social Committee The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is a consultative body of the European Union (EU) established in 1958. It is an advisory assembly composed of "social partners", namely: employers ( employers' organisations), employees (trade ...

of the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

. The IFBWW held a congress every four years, consisting of delegates from the member organisations. The congress established priorities and strategy for the organisation, and elected the Executive Committee. which met immediately before and after the congress, and at the midpoint of the congress period. As supreme governing body during the intercongress period, it was responsible for all policies and operations of the IFBWW. The Executive Committee appointed a Management Committee, which was responsible for the administration of the IFBWW and for the implementation of its policies. At its congress in Buenos Aires on 9 December 2005 the IFBWW merged with the

World Federation of Building and Wood Workers The World Federation of Building and Woodworkers' Unions (french: Fédération Mondiale des Organisations de la Construction et du Bois, FMCB) was an International Trade Federation affiliated to the World Confederation of Labour (WCL). History The ...

(WFBW) to create a new joint global union federation, the

Building and Wood Workers' International The Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) is the global union federation of democratic and free trade unions in the building industry, building, building materials, wood industry, wood, forestry and allied industries. History The feder ...

Affiliates

As of 2005, the following unions were affiliated to the federation:

Leadership

General Secretaries

:1934:

Jaap van Achterbergh Jacob Willem van Achterbergh (15 November 1882 – 15 September 1948) was a Dutch trade union leader. Born in Amersfoort, Achterbergh was a founding member of the Central Union of Building Workers. In 1920, it merged into the new General Dutc ...

:1948: Jan Leliveld :1951: Arne Hagen :1966: John Löfblad :nl:John Löfblad :1989: Ulf Asp :2001: Anita Normark

Presidents

:1934:

Richard Coppock Sir Richard Coppock (21 February 1885 – 7 September 1971) was a British trade unionist and politician. Born in Cheetham in Manchester, Coppock left school at eleven and followed his father in becoming an apprentice bricklayer two years lat ...

:1960:

Dore Smets Isidore Albert Maria Smets (6 June 1901 – 31 May 1976) was a Belgian trade union leader and politician. Born in Mechelen, Smets began working for the Union of Factory Workers when he was just sixteen years old, as secretary of its branch in ...

:1966: James H. Mills :1969: Bram Buijs :1985:

Konrad Carl Konrad Carl (born 20 January 1930) is a German former trade union leader. Born in Fürth, Carl completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and joined both the Social Democratic Party and the Building and Construction Union (IG BSE). With the enc ...

:1993:

Bruno Köbele Bruno Köbele (born 10 August 1934) is a former German trade unionist. Born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Köbele worked as a bricklayer. He joined the Building and Construction Union (IG BSE) in 1950, and joined the Social Democratic Party of Germa ...

:1997: Roel De Vries

References

External links

Building and Wood Workers' International
{{Authority control Building and Wood Workers' International Woodworking Trade unions established in 1934 Trade unions disestablished in 2005