In most countries during the first part of the war the growth of trade unionism was checked. The decline was substantial in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy and Czechoslovakia, but in these countries the numbers began to increase in 1917. After the end of the war numbers increased rapidly, especially in the Central European States.
In Europe the total membership at the end of 1919 was at least 26,000,000 as against about 8,500,000 at the end of 191o.
In the 3o countries of the world for which information is available the total membership in 1919 was 42,040,00o, and in 192o, 48,029,000. If we take the figures for 1919, no less than 8o% of the trade union membership belonged to European countries. Of the remaining 7,979,000 members outside Europe, 5,985,00o belonged to the North American continent. Six coun tries--Germany, Britain, the United States, Russia, France and Italy accounted in 1919 for 33,500,000 members, whilst the remaining 24 countries accounted for only 8,750,00o. Two-thirds of the total trade union membership was concentrated in four western countries—Great Britain, the United States, France and Germany.
Membership of the International Federation.—This, broadly, represents the position up to date. The total figures have, however, fallen practically everywhere, as will be seen from the typical figures given below, showing the membership of the International Federation of Trade Unions in recent years.
The history of trade union efforts at international organisation has been a history of struggle against the difficulties inherent in any attempt at international organisation and of conflicts of prin ciple. The conflict between Marxian Socialism and Anarchism which split the First International has had its counterpart since the war in the clash between Social Democracy and Communism. Prior to the war there were two international Labour organisa tions—the Second International which was political in its aims, but which admitted trade unions into affiliation, and the Inter national Federation of Trade Unions which received that title in 1913 superseding the International Trade Union Secretariat founded in 1901. (See INTERNATIONAL.) When the World War broke out in 1914, both the Internationals broke under the strain. In order to maintain some sort of con
nection between the trade unions of the belligerent countries a temporary bureau of the International Federation of Trade Unions was established at Amsterdam, and unsuccessful attempts were made to convene international conferences of trade union repre sentatives of all belligerent countries. A conference of trade union representatives from the allied countries was, however, held in Leeds in July 1916. It was decided to open an inter national correspondence office at Paris for the duration of the war, and a peace programme was formulated. In October 1917, a Conference convened by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions was held at Berne, which was attended by representatives from the neutral States and the Central Powers.
The International Federation of Trade Unions (the I.F.T.U.) was reconstituted in 1919 following a Congress held at Amsterdam. It consists of the various national central trades union organisa tions affiliated, but the General Council includes three delegates from the "international trade secretariats," (i.e., representatives of the "trade internationals" such as the International Miners' Federation). The management of the I.F.T.U. is vested in the executive committee, the General Council and the Congress. The Executive Committee (or the Bureau, as it is often called) con sists of the officers (i.e., the president, vice-presidents and secre taries) and meets six times a year. The General Council (often referred to as the Management Committee) is a larger and more representative body. The supreme governing authority is the Con gress which consists of the General Council and the representatives of the affiliated national centres (e.g., the British Trades Union Congress).
The membership of the International Trade Secretariats is as follows : The International Trade Secretariats on December 31st, 1925, and 1926 In 1924 the I.F.T.U. created an International Committee of trade union women which held its first meeting in November, 1925, and international conferences are held on questions specially affecting women workers.