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Second ICC conference: “Combining our Efforts”
By Pat Horn, Co-ordinator StreetNet International

The second international conference on organising in the informal economy, was held in Accra, Ghana, in September 2006 under the theme “Combining our efforts”. This was a follow-up to the first conference held in Ahmedabad in India in December 2003. The conference was attended by 65 delegates from 23 countries and 55 organisations (including global union federations and support organisations).

There was general agreement that organising workers in the informal economy posed difficulties, and lack of national policies on the informal economy is a problem in most countries. Class relations are blurred in many informal economy enterprises, so organisations have had to develop strategies to accommodate informal operators as well as people who work for them (including casual and unpaid family labour). 

Women form the majority of informal economy workers and should play more prominent leadership roles. Trade unions could increase their membership by organising more women in the informal economy - as seen in Guinea when market women’s role in a general strike in 2006 was decisive in the demands being won.

Relationship with Trade Unions and National Trade Union Centres 

Association with trade unions often gives informal economy organisations more credibility and protection. However, this depends on the trade unions’ strength. Trade union plurality in some countries exacerbates the problems, and competition between national centres for informal affiliates creates confusion.

The challenge for trade unions is how to structure their relationship with informal workers’ organisations. Some possibilities are:

· terms of reference determined in agreements such as a Memo of Understanding;
· associate membership;
· affiliated sectoral or trade organisations, or federations bringing together different informal workers’ organisations, or general informal workers’ unions.

Other forms of networking and alliances were also discussed. Relationships which result in political interfer-ence are common. Nevertheless, networking is essential to organising. Alliances with social movements are often useful. Eight of the participant organisations were StreetNet affiliates - giving them access to international solidarity. Direct linkages with the ILO and regional trade union centres provide access to valuable technical resources. 

Conclusions

The conference recommended that the new international trade union confederation to be formed in Vienna from 1 - 3 November 2006, should address the organisation of workers in the informal economy by establishing a department for the informal economy.

A third international conference on organising workers in the informal economy under the theme “Combining our Efforts”, will be convened in 2009, to be hosted in Mexico by CROC (Confederacion Revolucionario de Obreros y Campesinos) and its affiliate FNOTNA (Federacion Nacional de Organizaciones de Trabajadores No Asalaria-dos). The ICC will endeavour to organise further regional seminars prior to this. How many should be convened, and when, will depend on how much funding can be raised.

A manual will be produced during 2007 as an organising guide to be used by organisers organising workers in the informal economy. A forum for trade union educators on organising in the informal economy will be convened at the next international congress of IFWEA (International Federation of Workers’ Education Associations) in November 2007 in Ahmedabad, India. 

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