AMERICAN LABOUR’S COLD WAR ABROAD A M E R I C A N L A B O U R ’ S C O L D W A R A B R O A D From Deep Freeze to Détente, 1945–1970 ANTHO NY CARE W Copyright © 2018 Anthony Carew Published by AU Press, Athabasca University 1200, 10011 – 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8 ISBN 978-1-77199-211-4 (cloth) 978-1-77199-212-1 (PDF) 978-1-77199-213-8 (epub) doi: 10.15215/aupress/9781771992114.01 Cover design by Marvin Harder Interior design by Sergiy Kozakov Printed and bound in Canada by Friesens Cover image: Irving Brown (second from the left), with Greek trade union leader Fotis Makris (left), during a visit to Athens in January 1950 [detail]. Courtesy of the Special Collections Department, University of Maryland. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Carew, Anthony, 1943–, author American labour’s Cold War abroad : from deep freeze to détente, 1945–1970 / Anthony Carew. Includes bibliographical references and index. Issued in print and electronic formats. 1. AFL-CIO—History—20th century. 2. Labor unions—Political activity—United States—History—20th century. 3. Labor unions—Europe—History—20th century. 4. Labor movement—United States—History—20th century. 5. Anti-communist movements—United States—History—20th century. 6. Anti-communist movements— Europe—History—20th century. 7. International labor activities—History—20th century. 8. Cold War. 9. United States—Foreign relations—1945–1989. I. Title. HD8072.5.C37 2018 331.880973’09045 C2018-902151-9 C2018-902152-7 We acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Government of Alberta through the Alberta Media Fund. This publication is licensed under a Creative Commons License, Attribution– Noncommercial–NoDerivative Works 4.0 International: see www.creativecommons.org. The text may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes, provided that credit is given to the original author. To obtain permission for uses beyond those outlined in the Creative Commons license, please contact AU Press, Athabasca University, at [email protected]. For Marilyn Contents LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IX ◆ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS XI ◆ ABBREVIATIONS XV ◆ INTRODUCTION 3 1 Facing the Future—Labour’s World in 1945 9 2 Building Labour’s Anti-Communist Opposition in Europe 29 3 For Multilateralism or “Independent Activities”? 67 4 The AFL and CIO Abroad: From Rivalry to Merger 107 5 A Wedding Without a Honeymoon 149 6 Into the 1960s: Claiming a Second ICFTU Scalp 191 7 Who Speaks for American Labour? 237 8 Toward an Independent Role 277 9 Au Revoir Becomes Adieu 323 10 Conclusion: The “Cold War” Within the Cold War 341 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN NOTES 355 ◆ NOTES 359 ◆ BIBLIOGRAPHY 479 ◆ INDEX 495 Illustrations Figure 1 Irving Brown, with Greek trade union leader Fotis Makris, during a visit to Athens in January 1950 Figure 2 Vincent Tewson, general secretary of the TUC, 1946–60, delivering his opening address at the ICFTU’s Stockholm congress in July 1953 Figure 3 Walter Reuther, Vincent Tewson, and George Meany, at the December 1952 meeting of the ICFTU executive board Figure 4 Victor Reuther, the key figure in the CIO’s overseas operations Figure 5 AFL representative Phil Delaney and Jay Lovestone in July 1953, at the ICFTU congress in Stockholm Figure 6 Relaxing over a hand of gin rummy, David Dubinsky and George Meany Figure 7 AFL-CIO Vice President Jim Carey, Victor Reuther, and Irving Brown, at the ICFTU congress in Tunis, July 1957 Figure 8 Mike Ross, director of International Affairs for the CIO, 1945–55, and for the AFL-CIO, 1957–63 Figure 9 Jaap Oldenbroek, general secretary of the ICFTU, 1949–60, in July 1953, at the ICFTU congress in Stockholm Figure 10 Walter Reuther and George Meany, at the June 1960 meeting of the ICFTU executive board, in Geneva Figure 11 George Woodcock, the TUC’s general secretary, 1960–69, at a reception in London in 1963 Figure 12 Ludwig Rosenberg, DGB president, 1962–69, with Henry Rutz and Irving Brown Figure 13 Omer Becu, the ICFTU’s general secretary, 1960–67 Figure 14 Walter Reuther and Arne Geijer, ICFTU president, 1957–65 Figure 15 Jef Rens, with Ludwig Rosenberg, in 1951 ix doi: 10.15215/aupress/9781771992114.01 Figure 16 Bruno Storti, general secretary of CISL, 1958–76, and ICFTU president, 1965–72 Figure 17 Harm Buiter, general secretary of the ICFTU, 1967–71, at a January 1961 conference of the European Trade Union Secretariat Figure 18 Vic Feather, TUC general secretary, 1969–73, and Heinz-Oskar Vetter, DGB chairman, 1969–82 x doi: 10.15215/aupress/9781771992114.01