Universal Alliance of Diamond Workers

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Universal Alliance of Diamond Workers
Alliance Universelle des Ouvriers Diamantaires
Merged into International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions
Founded1905
Dissolved2000
Headquarters66-68 Plantin-en-Moretuslei, Antwerp
Members10,100 (1982)
Publication
Bulletin
Affiliations ICFTU

The Universal Alliance of Diamond Workers (UADW) was a small global union federation bringing together workers in the diamond industry.

Contents

History

The federation was founded in Antwerp, Belgium, on 23 May 1905 by the General Diamond Workers' Union of the Netherlands (ANDB) and the General Diamond Workers' Association of Belgium (ADB), after a strike for the 9-hour working day in 1904, which demonstrated that international cooperation and solidarity were necessary. [1] [2] Its aims were to provide information on the industrial and social situations relevant to its members, and to conduct its own research. [3]

In its early years, the federation grew, representing 22,700 workers by 1913. [2] 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. [3]

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). [2] [4] This was successful, and by 2006 had members in Africa, Asia and Latin America. [5]

In September 2000, the federation merged into the much larger International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions. [5] At the time of the merger, the UADW had roughly 100,000 members, and one of its final actions was to charge the diamond industry with funding wars in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. [2]

Affiliates

In 1960, the following unions were affiliated to the federation: [6]

UnionCountryAffiliated membership
General Diamond Workers' Association of Belgium Belgium7,000
General Dutch Industrial Union for the Metal and Electrical Industries Netherlands800
National Federation of French Diamond Workers' UnionsFrance400
National Union of Diamond WorkersIsrael2,000
Society of Goldsmiths, Jewellers and Kindred Trades United Kingdom260

Leadership

General Secretaries

1905: Jef Groesser [7]
1910: J. Jans [7]
1912: Louis van Berckelaer (nl) [7]
1936: Alf Daems [7]
1946: Franz Schoeters [7]
1980s: Constant Denisse
1990s: Jef Hoymans

Presidents

1905: Henri Polak [7]
1946: Pieter Van Muijden [7]
1950: Ies Mug [7]
1958: H. Van Eerde

References

  1. ↑ "The ANDB and the ADB". International Institute of Social History (IISH). Retrieved 16 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 Docherty & van der Velden 2012, pp.  285-286.
  3. 1 2 Marsh 1984, pp.  93-94.
  4. ↑ Farrell-Robert 2007, pp.  58-59.
  5. 1 2 "Diamond and Allied Workers Join ICEM". ICEM News release No. 84/2000. IndustriALL. 7 August 2005. Retrieved 16 December 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ Goldberg, Arthur (1960). Directory of International Trade Union Organizations. Washington DC: United States Department of Labour. pp. 3.1 –3.7.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Yearbook of the International Free Trade Union Movement. London: Lincolns-Prager. 1957–1958. p. 520.

Sources

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