Confédération africaine des syndicats libres
Encyclopedia
Confédération africaine des syndicats libres (CASL, 'African Confederation of Free Trade Unions'), initially 'Confédération africaine des syndicats libres-Force ouvrière (CASL-FO, 'African Confederation of Free Trade Unions-Workers Power'), was an Africa
confederation of trade union
s. CASL-FO was founded in February 1958 as the African sections of the French trade union centre CGT-Force Ouvrière separated themselves from their mother organization. The new union confederation was founed at a conference in Abidjan
February 8-9, 1958, with participation of the CGT-FO branches of Senegal
, French Soudan, Upper Volta
, Niger
, Ivory Coast, Cameroon
, Moyen-Congo and Ubangui-Shari. At the time of the founding of CASL-FO, the relationship of the new structure with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
(ICFTU) and CGT-FO, was debated. In the end the conference resolved that CASL-FO and CGT-FO should have membership of ICFTU on equal footing.
The launching of CASL-FO followed the creation of two other pan-African trade union bodies in French Africa, UGTAN and CATC. CGT-FO had opposed the formation of independent African unions, reluctantly accepting this development by 1958. However, it was stated that although CASL-FO would not be organizationally dependent on CGT-FO it would retain links to the French body. A coordination committee with three representatives of CGT-FO and three representatives of CASL-FO was to oversee the liaisons between the two bodies.
A provisional bureau for CASL-FO was formed, with one representative of French Equatorial Africa
, one from French West Africa
(Diadié Coulibaly from French Soudan) and one from Cameroon. Antoine Ambili, of French Equatorial Africa, was the general secretary of CASL-FO. Ambili also served as joint secretary of the African Socialist Movement
.
CASL-FO was founded on three principles; defense of African personality, the ideals of the free trade union movement and the principles of the French trade union movement (Charter of Amiens
). It claimed to be strictly independent of any philosophy or religion.
In 1958 CASL-FO openly called for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum on the French Community
.
Shortly afterwards, at the first congress of CASL-FO in September 1959, 'FO' was removed from the name of the organization as it aspired to become the regional organization of ICFTU in sub-Saharan Africa. CGT-FO also rejected these ambitions.
In Senegal CASL-FO was led by Alassane Sow and Sijh Sar. In Cameroon, CASL-FO provided nominal support to the dominant Union Camerounaise. In Upper Volta the CASL section formed the Union nationale des travailleurs de la Haute-Volta, which in 1964 evolved into the Organisation voltaïque des syndicats libres
. The Ivorian section of CASL became the Union national de la CASL in 1959.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
confederation of trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s. CASL-FO was founded in February 1958 as the African sections of the French trade union centre CGT-Force Ouvrière separated themselves from their mother organization. The new union confederation was founed at a conference in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
February 8-9, 1958, with participation of the CGT-FO branches of Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, French Soudan, Upper Volta
Upper Volta
Upper Volta may refer to:*French Upper Volta **a territory in French West Africa **a territory of the French Union *Republic of Upper Volta...
, Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, Ivory Coast, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, Moyen-Congo and Ubangui-Shari. At the time of the founding of CASL-FO, the relationship of the new structure with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was an international trade union. It came into being on 7 December 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions , and was dissolved on 31 October 2006 when it merged with the World Confederation of Labour to form the...
(ICFTU) and CGT-FO, was debated. In the end the conference resolved that CASL-FO and CGT-FO should have membership of ICFTU on equal footing.
The launching of CASL-FO followed the creation of two other pan-African trade union bodies in French Africa, UGTAN and CATC. CGT-FO had opposed the formation of independent African unions, reluctantly accepting this development by 1958. However, it was stated that although CASL-FO would not be organizationally dependent on CGT-FO it would retain links to the French body. A coordination committee with three representatives of CGT-FO and three representatives of CASL-FO was to oversee the liaisons between the two bodies.
A provisional bureau for CASL-FO was formed, with one representative of French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa or the AEF was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River to the Sahara Desert.-History:...
, one from French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
(Diadié Coulibaly from French Soudan) and one from Cameroon. Antoine Ambili, of French Equatorial Africa, was the general secretary of CASL-FO. Ambili also served as joint secretary of the African Socialist Movement
African Socialist Movement
African Socialist Movement was a political party in French West Africa. The MSA was formed following a meeting of the Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière federations of Cameroon, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, French Sudan , Gabon, Guinea, Niger, Oubangui-Chari , and Senegal; the...
.
CASL-FO was founded on three principles; defense of African personality, the ideals of the free trade union movement and the principles of the French trade union movement (Charter of Amiens
Charter of Amiens
The Charter of Amiens was adopted at the 9th Congress of the Confédération générale du travail French trade-union, which took place in Amiens in October 1906. Its main proposal was the separation between the union movement and the political parties...
). It claimed to be strictly independent of any philosophy or religion.
In 1958 CASL-FO openly called for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum on the French Community
French Community
The French Community was an association of states known in French simply as La Communauté. In 1958 it replaced the French Union, which had itself succeeded the French colonial empire in 1946....
.
Shortly afterwards, at the first congress of CASL-FO in September 1959, 'FO' was removed from the name of the organization as it aspired to become the regional organization of ICFTU in sub-Saharan Africa. CGT-FO also rejected these ambitions.
In Senegal CASL-FO was led by Alassane Sow and Sijh Sar. In Cameroon, CASL-FO provided nominal support to the dominant Union Camerounaise. In Upper Volta the CASL section formed the Union nationale des travailleurs de la Haute-Volta, which in 1964 evolved into the Organisation voltaïque des syndicats libres
National Organisations of Free Trade Unions
The National Organisations of Free Trade Unions is a trade union centre in Burkina Faso. It was founded in 1960, evolving out of the Confédération africaine des syndicats libres...
. The Ivorian section of CASL became the Union national de la CASL in 1959.