European Trades Union Confederation (ETUC)
The ETUC was established in 1973 to provide a trade union counterbalance to the economic forces of European integration. At present, the ETUC has in its membership 74 National Trade Union Confederations from a total of 34 European countries, as well as 11 European industry federations, making a total of 60 million members. In addition, the ETUC coordinates the activities of the 39 ITUCs (Interregional Trade Union Councils), which organise trade union cooperation at a cross-border level. The ETUC is recognised by the European Union, by the Council of Europe and by EFTA as the only representative cross-sectoral trade union organisation at European level.

Willy Buschak is Confederal Secretary for the ETUC and also author of numerous books on the history of trade unions, the workers' movement, and resistance against National Socialism in Germany.
Career:

• 1982 Member of OTV
• 1983 National officer of the Food, Beverage and Restaurant Worker's Union of Germany.
• 1983/4 Research for the NGG
• 1985 Research for the Hans-Bockler-Stifftung
• 1986 Research for the Leoplod Kostal
• 1987 Department head in the administration department of NGG in charge of company co-determination and foreign workers.
• 1991 Confederal Secretary of the ETUC, responsible for Health and Safety and for European Works Councils; Spokesman for Workers' Group of the Advisory Committee on Health and Safety in Luxembourg.
• 1995- Responsible for European Works Councils; Environment; Industrial Policy and Research.

ETUC
John Atkins
WEA/ABF Brussels Office
Rue Royale 207
BRUSSELS 1210
BELGIUM
Tel +32 2 2235552
Fax +32 2 2235555

Institut de Formation Syndicale Internationale ASBL (IFSI)

Institut de Formation Syndicale International ASBL (IFSI) of the Belgian trade union confederation FGTB. Established in Belgium as a non-profit organization. IFSI is involved in workers education activities including courses, seminars and study visits by foreign trade unionists. IFSI is also engaged in social and economic research activities and some members of the IFSI staff are specialists in fields such as teleworking, distance learning, relocations, technology assessment, social and work organization.

Gitta Vanpeborgh
Birthdate: 20/03/1967
Nationality: belgium
Qualifications: university degree social sciences (Free University of Brussels)
Professional experience: Assistent Free University of Brussels department of social sciences, teacher in a high school, from august 1994 working as an adviser in the industrial relations department of the FGTB.