The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation - ITUC-Africa salutes the Confederation of Ethiopian Trades Unions (CETU) on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee celebration. The 50th Anniversary of the founding of CETU is a milestone that the workers of Ethiopia should be proud of. At the same time it provides occasion for reflection on the many struggles waged by selfless working men and women in pursuit of social justice in Ethiopia in particular and elsewhere in Africa and the world. These past fifty years have seen many struggles, marking great strides and achievements, but also enduring enormous sacrifices for the working people and their organization.
We congratulate the leadership and members of CETU for the tireless work being undertaken to strengthen the trade union movement. On this occasion, we also pay tribute to all those countless activists who gave their all to the building of the trade union movement and to the construction of a better Ethiopia and Africa.
We must also remember that this is also the occasion to look to the future with confidence. As we face the future in a globalised economy and world, we shall stand together to fight and defend the rights of
working people in Ethiopia, in Africa and wherever these rights are violated or denied.
The working people of ETHIOPIA toil endlessly with dedication to find their rightful place in society. In this forward march CETU should remain resolute and authentic in the defence and promotion of trade union rights and also ensure that in the highest representative bodies in the country, the voice of workers is heard loudly, clearly and penetratingly. The interests and concerns of union members must exhibit itself in the active participation of CETU in structures and processes that provide the framework and occasion for social dialogue.
With confidence in the ability of CETU to keep its affiliates united as well as increase the overall membership of your national trade union centre, we hope that the years ahead will see the consolidation of CETU as an indispensable tool of the working people for securing development and decent work for a decent life.
We wish you a happy 50th Birthday.
