The United Steelworkers (USW) congratulated the newly elected leadership of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the main coordinating body of the global trade union movement representing 170 million working people worldwide. General Secretary Sharan Burrow was re-elected by the delegates to the ITUC Congress in Berlin. The delegates elected João Antonio Felicio from the Unified Workers’ Central (CUT) of Brazil as president of the organisation.
USW International President Leo W. Gerard stated, “We congratulate Sharan Burrow on her resounding electoral victory, which reaffirms the support of the global workers’ movement for her strong leadership in the fight against inequality and suppression of workers’ rights by repressive regimes and multinational corporations.
“We are thrilled that João Felicio is the new president of the ITUC. This is an important recognition of the leadership role of the CUT, the Brazilian labour movement and the Global South in the fight for justice and equality.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors.
