Alliance Universelle des Ouvriers Diamantaires | |
Merged into | International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions |
---|---|
Founded | 1905 |
Dissolved | 2000 |
Headquarters | 66-68 Plantin-en-Moretuslei, Antwerp |
Members | 10,100 (1982) |
Publication | Bulletin |
Affiliations | ICFTU |
The Universal Alliance of Diamond Workers (UADW) was a small global union federation bringing together workers in the diamond polishing and jewellery making.
The federation was founded in Antwerp in 1905. [1] Its aims were to provide information on the industrial and social situations relevant to its members, and to conduct its own research. [2]
In its early years, the federation grew, representing 22,700 workers by 1913. [1] But this gradually declined; by 1982, the federation had affiliates in Belgium, France, Israel, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, but they represented a total of only 10,100 members, making it by far the smallest global union federation. [2]
The federation remained at around 10,000 workers until 1993, when member unions in the Belgium, Israel and the Netherlands decided to relaunch it, with a focus on attracting unions outside Europe. It began campaigning against poor labour practices in diamond mining, including a call for children under 14 being banned from working in the industry, and a ban on dangerous cobalt " scaifes" (polishing wheels). [1] [3] This was successful, and by 2006 had members in Africa, Asia and Latin America. [4]
In September 2000, the federation merged into the much larger International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions. [4]
In 1960, the following unions were affiliated to the federation: [5]
Union | Country | Affiliated membership |
---|---|---|
General Diamond Workers' Association of Belgium | Belgium | 7,000 |
General Dutch Industrial Union for the Metal and Electrical Industries | Netherlands | 800 |
National Federation of French Diamond Workers' Unions | France | 400 |
National Union of Diamond Workers | Israel | 2,000 |
Society of Goldsmiths, Jewellers and Kindred Trades | United Kingdom | 260 |