CONFLICT WITHIN THE ICFTU - ANTI-COMMUNISM AND ANTICOLONIALISM IN THE1950S

Formed as an anti-communist labour international, the International Co nfederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) nevertheless experienced inte rnal conflict over the appropriate approach to communism. The differen t perspectives of the two largest affiliates, the British TUC and the American AFL-CIO, caused disharmony and ultimately near organizational paralysis until it forced a change of leadership. Caught between thes e rival positions, the ICFTU secretariat's relations with the AFL-CIO were initially the most strained, but as the International extended it s activity in Africa, in a bid to outflank communist organization amon g labour, relations with the TUC also deteriorated over the correct st ance on nationalism and colonialism.