U.S. may quit labour group

Press, 2 June 1977, Page 6

U.S. may quit labour group

NZPA-Reuter Geneva The International Labour Organisation was due to open its annual conference late yesterday (N.Z. time) with attention concentrated on the United States, which has threatened to quit the 135-nation body. Observers believe that the course of the three-week gathering could well influence President Carter’s Administration in making up its mind whether to abide by the decision of President Ford’s Government to walk out Of the United Nations specialised agency next November. The Ford Administration's reasons for this step were that the 1.L.0. had become excessively involved in political issues, applied double standards in its concern for human rights, disregarded > its own constitutional proce-i dures, and had allowed itsi tripartite structure — bringing together governments,' workers, and employers — to be eroded. At the same time, the United States, which contributes one-quarter of the LL.O.’s total budget funds, said it did not want to leave the organisation, and would remain a member if the 1.L.0 mended its ways. Observers consider that;

i the United States would probably be encouraged to r stay if the conference were >to approve an Americanj sponsored proposal to pre- ) vent unduly political resolu--1 tions reaching the debating i floor through advance 5 screening. The 1.L.0.’s 56-member ! governing body endorsed c this move last March. But I some delegates were doubt- ; ful whether it would be > adopted by 1400 representar tives at the conference. t An alliance of developing : countries supported by com- ; munist States, which has . ensured passage in the past of so-called “political” reso- ■ lutions which the United , States found objectionable, . may reject the proposal. Observers noted that with one exception the 13 draft resolutions submitted to the conference this year avoided! [political issues. For the first I time for some years there was no text attacking Is-1 [rael. Most drafts dealt with! trade union rights, and curbing multi-national companies. The exception was a resolution submitted by a Panamanian trade unionist, Mr Angel Gomez, which wants the conference to condemn the United States for “racial discrimination and colonialism” in the United Statesadministered Canal Zone. .