Beyond the numbers game
by Peter Hall-Jones
 We've said it before and we'll say it again... the trade union movement is no longer in decline! Earlier we reported that from 1997 to 2003 it grew in more countries than not*. Since discovering this we have been collecting further data (see below) and measuring the trend and extent of change. Thanks to ongoing help from our readers, we can now update our report of 2007.
Below you will find post-2000 information relating to 444 national federations. Of these, we have found comparative data for 228 (51%). This includes almost all of the large ones, and so the data set represents by far the majority of the world's unionised workforce. Of these, 49% have grown, 35% have declined, and 17% report no significant change.
The graph below presents this information in more detail.
Change in national union federation membership
numbers between 2000-2007**
The data from which this graph was derived is set out in a table below . You can also download a spreadsheet containing hyperlinks to the sources used here. A similar graph showing trends in union membership by country is available here.
It shows the power of the media massage that this information should be so hard to believe. The global union movement is in a much stronger position than many are prepared to accept. When looked at internationally (as one must, in a global labour market) unions have played the numbers game and won. Of course the struggle to build and maintain membership must continue, however it would appear that the time has come for a shift away from "business unionism". People do not join unions to help protect unionism as an industry. Beyond numbers lies the task of rebuilding influence.
| Country |
National federation name |
Most recent membership
|
Year
|
First post-2000 data
|
Year
|
% change
|
Albania |
BSPSH - the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania |
85,000 |
2007 |
83,847 |
2006 |
1.38% |
| Albania |
KSSH - the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania |
105,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Algeria |
UGTA - the General Union of Algerian Workers |
1,532,968 |
2006 |
1,350,000 |
2005 |
13.55% |
| Angola |
CGSILA - the General Centre of Independent and Free Unions |
51,000 |
2006 |
51,000 |
2005 |
0.00% |
| Angola |
FENSTACH - the National Federation of Unions of Food Industry, Commerce and Hotels |
25,000 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Angola |
UNTA - the National Union of Angolan Workers |
159,012 |
2006 |
400,000 |
2000 |
-60.25% |
| Antigua and Barbuda |
ABWU - the Antigua Workers' Union |
3,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Argentina |
CGT - General Confederation of Labor |
4,401,023 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Argentina |
CTA - the Argentine Workers' Center |
1,104,712 |
2008 |
1,127,000 |
2006 |
-2.02% |
| Australia |
ACTU - the Australian Council of Trade Unions |
2,000,000 |
2007 |
1,800,000 |
2003 |
11.11% |
| Austria |
OGB - the Austrian Trade Union Federation |
1,061,912 |
2006 |
1,407,000 |
2002 |
-32.50% |
| Azerbaijan |
AHIK - the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation |
735,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bahrain |
GFBTU - the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions |
25,000 |
2007 |
10,000 |
2006 |
250.00% |
| Bangladesh |
BFTUC - the Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress |
85,000 |
2006 |
97,540 |
2005 |
-14.75% |
| Bangladesh |
BJSD - Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal |
180,000 |
2006 |
247,454 |
2005 |
-37.47% |
| Bangladesh |
BLF - the Bangladesh Labour Federation |
102,000 |
2006 |
100,844 |
2005 |
1.15% |
| Bangladesh |
BMSF - Bangladesh Mukta Sramik Federation |
40,000 |
2006 |
132,301 |
2005 |
-69.77% |
| Bangladesh |
BSSF - Bangladesh Sangjukta Sramik Federation |
101,500 |
2006 |
119,996 |
2005 |
-18.22% |
| Bangladesh |
BTUF - the Bangladesh Trade Union Federation |
1,648 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bangladesh |
BTUS - Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha |
19,303 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bangladesh |
JSFB - Jatiyo Sramik Federation Bangladesh |
15,881 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bangladesh |
JSJ - Jatiyo Sramik Jote |
2,260 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bangladesh |
JSL - the Jatiyo Sramik League |
101,500 |
2006 |
227,800 |
2005 |
-55.44% |
| Bangladesh |
NTUF - the National Trade Union Federation |
1,798 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bangladesh |
NWF - the National Workers' Federation |
10,467 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bangladesh |
SSF - Samajtantrik Sramik Front |
2,285 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bangladesh |
TUK - the Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra |
50,180 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Belarus |
BKDP - the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions |
9,000 |
2006 |
15,000 |
2001 |
-66.67% |
| Belarus |
FPB - the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus |
4,032,156 |
2007 |
4,000,000 |
2003 |
0.80% |
| Belgium |
CGSLB - the General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium |
230,000 |
2007 |
223,000 |
2000 |
3.14% |
| Belgium |
CSC-ACV - the General Union of Belgian Liberal Trade Unions |
1,736,000 |
2007 |
1,637,000 |
2000 |
6.05% |
| Benin |
CGTB - the General Confederation of the Workers |
51,525 |
2006 |
8,650 |
2005 |
595.66% |
| Benin |
COSI - the Centre for Independent Union Organisations of Benin |
37,860 |
2006 |
7,624 |
2005 |
496.59% |
| Benin |
CSA - the Autonomous Trade Unions Centre |
53,000 |
2006 |
51,000 |
2000 |
3.92% |
| Benin |
UNSTB - the National Union of the Unions of the Workers of Benin |
36,000 |
2006 |
42,000 |
2005 |
-16.67% |
| Bermuda |
BTUC - the Bermuda Trade Union Congress |
5,000 |
2007 |
4,995 |
2006 |
0.10% |
| Bolivia |
COB - the Bolivian Workers' Center |
2,000,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
KSBIH - the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
428,163 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
SSRS - the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Republika Srpska |
190,000 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Botswana |
BFTU - the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions |
18,000 |
2005 |
100,000 |
2003 |
-82.00% |
| Brazil |
CAT - Central Autonoma de Trabalhadores |
700,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Brazil |
CGT - the General Confederation of Workers |
600,000 |
2006 |
2,200,000 |
2000 |
-72.73% |
| Brazil |
CNPL - Confederacao Nacional das Profisoes Liberais |
260,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Brazil |
CUT - the Unique Workers' Center of Brazil |
7,690,598 |
2007 |
4,570,000 |
2000 |
68.28% |
| Brazil |
FS - Força Sindical |
2,100,000 |
2006 |
2,100,000 |
2000 |
0.00% |
| Brazil |
SDS - the Social Democratic Union |
50,200 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bulgaria |
ADS - the Association of Democratic Trade Unions |
4,000 |
2003 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Bulgaria |
KNSB - the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria |
350,000 |
2007 |
390,000 |
2003 |
-11.43% |
| Bulgaria |
PODKREPA - the Confederation of Labour |
150,000 |
2007 |
109,000 |
2003 |
37.61% |
| Bulgaria |
PTU - the Promyana Trade Union |
50,000 |
2007 |
5,000 |
2003 |
1000.00% |
| Burkina Faso |
CNTB - the National Confederation of Workers |
10,500 |
2006 |
8,000 |
2005 |
31.25% |
| Burkina Faso |
CSB - the Confederation Syndicale Burkina Faso |
16,977 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Burkina Faso |
ONSL - the National Organisations of Free Trade Unions |
42,500 |
2006 |
42,500 |
2005 |
0.00% |
| Burkina Faso |
UGTB - Union Generale des Travailleurs du Burkina Faso |
6,000 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Burkina Faso |
USTB - Burkina Faso Workers' Union |
8,700 |
2006 |
6,000 |
2005 |
45.00% |
| Burundi |
COSYBU - the Confederation of Burundi Unions |
12,000 |
2006 |
12,079 |
2005 |
-0.66% |
| Burundi |
CSB - Confederation Syndicale du Burundi |
5,500 |
2006 |
5,500 |
2005 |
0.00% |
| Cambodia |
FTUWKC - the Free Trade Union of Workers |
60,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Cameroon |
CSTC - Confederation Syndicale des Travailleurs du Cameroun |
200,000 |
2006 |
385,000 |
2001 |
-92.50% |
| Cameroon |
USLC - the Union of Free Trade Unions of Cameroon |
50,000 |
2006 |
12,000 |
2005 |
416.67% |
| Canada |
CLAC - the Christian Labour Association of Canada |
43,000 |
2007 |
38,000 |
2006 |
13.16% |
| Canada |
CLC-CTC - the Canadian Labour Congress |
3,197,600 |
2005 |
3,156,560 |
2004 |
1.30% |
| Canada |
CSD - Centrale des Syndicats Démocratiques |
70,000 |
2007 |
70,000 |
2006 |
0.00% |
| Canada |
CSN - Confédération des Syndicats Nationaux |
300,000 |
2007 |
300,000 |
2006 |
0.00% |
| Canada |
CSQ - Centrale des Syndicats du Québec |
180,000 |
2008 |
172,000 |
2007 |
4.65% |
| Canada |
CTF - the Canadian Teachers' Federation |
215,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Canada |
FNEEQ-CSN - Fédération Nationale des Enseignantes et Enseignants du Québec |
25,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Canada |
FTQ - Federation des Travailleurs du Quebec |
500,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Cape Verde |
CCSL - Confederation Capverdienne des Syndicats Libres |
18,000 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Cape Verde |
CFLU - the Council of Free Labour Unions |
18,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Cape Verde |
UNTC-CS - the Trade Unions of Cape Verde Unity Centre |
15,000 |
15000 |
15,000 |
2005 |
0.00% |
| Central African Republic |
CSTC - Confederation Syndicale des Travailleurs de Centrafrique |
11,124 |
2006 |
6,146 |
2005 |
81.00% |
| Central African Republic |
UCAW - the Union of Central African Workers |
15,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Central African Republic |
USTC - Union Syndicale des Travailleurs de Centrafrique |
15,000 |
2006 |
15,000 |
2005 |
0.00% |
| Chad |
CLTT - the Free Confederation of Chadian Workers |
42,000 |
2006 |
1,000 |
2005 |
4200.00% |
| Chad |
UST - the Union of Trade Unions of Chad |
55,000 |
2006 |
30,000 |
2005 |
83.33% |
| Chile |
CAT - Central Autónoma de Trabajadores |
107,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Chile |
CUT - the Workers' United Center of Chile |
400,000 |
2006 |
475,000 |
2001 |
-18.75% |
| China, People's Republic of |
ACFRWU - the All-China Federation of Railway Workers' Unions |
3,100,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| China, People's Republic of |
ACFTU - the All-China Federation of Trade Unions |
169,940,000 |
2007 |
130,000,000 |
2002 |
30.72% |
| China, People's Republic of |
CFL - the Chinese Federation of Labour (Taiwan) |
500,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| China, People's Republic of |
HKCTU - the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions |
180,000 |
2007 |
164,300 |
2005 |
9.56% |
| China, People's Republic of |
HKFLU - the Hong Kong and Kowloon Federation of Labour Unions |
40,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| China, People's Republic of |
HKFTU - the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions |
310,000 |
2007 |
290,000 |
2006 |
6.90% |
| China, People's Republic of |
HKTUC - the Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council |
5,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| China, People's Republic of |
JOU - the Joint Organization of Unions (Hong Kong) |
3,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Colombia |
CGT - Confederacion General de Trabajadores |
700,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Colombia |
CTC - the Confederation of Workers |
400,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Colombia |
CUT - the Central Union of Workers |
860,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Comoros |
CTTC - Confédération des Travailleuses et Travailleurs des Comores |
4,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Congo |
COSYLAC - the Confederation of Free and Autonomous Unions |
18,735 |
2006 |
13,000 |
2005 |
44.12% |
| Congo |
CSC - the Congolese Trade Union Confederation |
25,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Congo |
CSTC - Confederation Syndicale des Travailleurs du Congo |
68,500 |
2006 |
67,841 |
2005 |
0.97% |
| Cook Islands |
CIWA - the Cook Islands Workers' Association |
1,200 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Costa Rica |
CMTC - the Central del Movimiento de Trabajadores Costarricenses |
108,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Costa Rica |
CRCW - the Costa Rican Confederation of Workers |
90,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Costa Rica |
CTRN - Confederación du Trabajadores Rerum Novarum |
30,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Cote d'Ivoire |
Dignite - Centrale des Syndicats Libres de Cote d'Ivoire |
100,000 |
2006 |
50,000 |
2005 |
200.00% |
| Cote d'Ivoire |
UGTCI - the General Workers' Union |
208,129 |
2006 |
120,000 |
2005 |
73.44% |
| Croatia |
CTUA - the Croatian Trade Union Association |
2,007 |
40000 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Croatia |
NHS - Independent Trade Unions of Croatia |
87,313 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Croatia |
UATUC - the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia |
211,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Cuba |
CTC - the Workers' Central Union |
3,000,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Cyprus |
CUBE - the Cyprus Union of Bank Employees |
10,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Cyprus |
DEOK - Democratic Labour Federation of Cyprus |
7,500 |
2007 |
7,000 |
2001 |
7.14% |
| Cyprus |
DEV-IS - the Revolutionary Trade Unions Federation |
4,500 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Cyprus |
PEO - the Pancyprian Federation of Labour |
70,000 |
2007 |
64,000 |
2001 |
9.38% |
| Cyprus |
SEK - the Cyprus Workers' Confederation |
70,000 |
2007 |
65,000 |
2001 |
7.69% |
| Cyprus |
TURK-SEN - the Cyprus Turkish Unions Federation |
3,005 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Czech Republic |
ASO - the Association of Autonomous Trade Unions |
170,000 |
2004 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Czech Republic |
CMKOS - the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions |
772,000 |
2007 |
1,200,000 |
2000 |
-55.44% |
| Czech Republic |
KUK - the Confederation of Art and Culture |
59,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Czech Republic |
OSCMS - the Trade Union Federation of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia |
16,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo |
CDT - the Democratic Confederation of Labour |
51,000 |
2006 |
200,000 |
2005 |
-74.50% |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo |
CSC - Confederation Syndicale du Congo |
100,000 |
2006 |
10,000 |
2005 |
1000.00% |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo |
UNTC - the National Union of Congolese Workers |
51,000 |
2006 |
326,452 |
2005 |
-84.38% |
| Denmark |
3F - the General Workers' Union |
352,588 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Denmark |
AC - the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations |
256,000 |
2006 |
255,000 |
2005 |
0.39% |
| Denmark |
FTF - the Salaried Employees' and Civil Servants' Confederation |
450,000 |
2005 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Denmark |
LH - Ledernes Hovedorganisation |
85,000 |
2007 |
76,000 |
2002 |
11.84% |
| Denmark |
LO - the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions |
1,300,000 |
2007 |
1,433,000 |
2002 |
-10.23% |
| Djibouti |
UDT - the Union of Djibouti Workers |
13,000 |
2006 |
15,000 |
2005 |
-15.38% |
| Dominica |
DAWU - the Dominica Amalgamated Workers' Union |
2,500 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Dominica |
DTU - the Dominica Trade Union |
820 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Dominican Republic |
CASC - Confederacion Autonoma Sindical Clasista |
172,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Dominican Republic |
CNTD - the National Confederation of Dominican Workers |
143,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| East Timor |
ETTUC - the East Timor Trade Union Confederation |
4,700 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Ecuador |
CEDOC - Central Ecuatoriana de Organizaciones Clasistas |
62,500 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Ecuador |
CEOSL - the Ecuador Confederation of Free Trade Union Organizations |
110,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Egypt |
ETUF - the Egyptian Trade Union Federation |
2,500,000 |
2007 |
3,500,000 |
2005 |
-40.00% |
| El Salvador |
CATS - Central Autónoma de Trabajadores Salvadoreños |
30,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| El Salvador |
CTD - Central de Trabajadores Democráticos |
50,000 |
2006 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| El Salvador |
FENASTRAS - Federación Nacional Sindical de Trabajadores Salvadoreños |
36,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Eritrea |
NCEW - the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers |
26,000 |
2006 |
26,000 |
2005 |
0.00% |
| Estonia |
EAKL - the Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions |
47,500 |
2007 |
48,000 |
2002 |
-1.05% |
| Estonia |
ETMK - the Confederation of Estonian Food and Landworkers' Unions |
4,286 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| Estonia |
TALO - the Estonian Employees' Unions' Confederation |
37,000 |
2007 |
35,000 |
2002 |
5.71% |
| Ethiopia |
CETU - the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions |
203,560 |
2006 |
400,000 |
2001 |
-96.50% |
| Fiji |
FTUC - the Fiji Trades Union Congress |
33,000 |
2007 |
33,000 |
2006 |
0.00% |
| Finland |
AKAVA - the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals |
461,000 |
2007 |
424,000 |
2003 |
8.73% |
| Finland |
SAK - the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions |
1,046,000 |
2006 |
1,062,000 |
2003 |
-1.53% |
| Finland |
STTK - the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees |
650,000 |
2007 |
634,000 |
2003 |
2.52% |
| France |
CFDT - the French Democratic Confederation of Labour |
875,000 |
2007 |
889,000 |
2002 |
-1.60% |
| France |
CFECGC - the French Confederation of Management - General Confederation of Executives |
160,000 |
2007 |
|
|
Insufficient data |
| | |
