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90th anniversary of LDF

2009-10-09
 
A week ago Lithuanian Labour Federation celebrated its 90th anniversary.

Principles of the Lithuanian Labour Federation are based on the Christian social doctrine, declaring social justice and responding to the needs of people facing sensitive social problems. Lithuanian Labour Federation followed the ideas of encyclical Rerum Novarum announced on 15 May 1891 by Pope Leo XIII.
The first Statute of the Lithuanian Labor Federation stated: "Lithuanian Labor Federation brings together all the Christian workers' organizations and trade unions to fight against common effort of exploitation, to improve economic conditions of life and to raise the level of culture."

Already then the resolutions requested 8-hour working day for urban workers, minimum subsistence rate, social security, medical care insurance, creation of labour inspections, etc.
 
Celebration began with national anthem. Guests from various foreign organizations, Lithuanian colleagues, former LDF leaders Kazimieras Kuzminskas and Lionginas Radzevicius, the Prime Minister's Adviser Skirma Kondratas, Government Chancellor Deividas Matulionis, Social Security and Labor Minister Donatas Jankauskas, Vilnius city representatives and others came to the celebration to give their  honor and to wish at least other 90 years of work. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite sent a congratulatory letter.

The history of Lithuanian Labour Federation is long and complicated; it was established during the congress of the representatives of Christian workers which was held on September 27-28, 1919 in Kaunas, in 1934 04 15 during another Congress (XI) of the Lithuanian Labour Federation  the Charter of the LDF was replaced into Lithuanian Christian Workers' Union (LKDS)
 
On 28 June 1940, the decree issued by the Minister of the Interior of the Soviet Lithuania banned the activity of LKDS.
Young members of LDF - LKDS got involved into resistance movement and took part in the uprising of June 1941. In 1942, the organization returned to the old LDF name. Next year it joined the Supreme Lithuanian Liberation Committee (VLIK’as). During the occupation LDF continued its activities in the conditions of exile. LDF Congress in exile was held in 1948 in Germany (Fellbach). Later LDF activity was concentrated in the United States. LDF belonged to Christian Trade Union Federation of Central Europe. Following the establishment of Lithuania’s independence, a restorative Congress of Lithuanian Labour Federation was held on December 28, 1991 in Vilnius which approved the Charter of the LDF.
 
LDF made another important step in its life on May 30, 1992, when Supreme Lithuanian Liberation Committee organized a formal meeting in the Lithuanian Parliament. LDF President in exile Ignas Petrauskas, Secretary General dr. Joana Danilevičienė (from Chicago) and President of LDF in Lithuania dr. Lionginas Radzevičius signed the declaration regarding the continuation of the representation of the Christian workers and the maintaining of the tradition of LDF in Lithuania.
 
Today LDF unites 10 industrial associations - Federation of Water Suppliers of the Republic of Lithuania, Lithuanian Transport Federation, Lithuanian Journalists’ Society, Christian Farmers' Trade Union "Ploughman", Christian Education Workers Trade Union, Metal Processing Industry Federation, LDF Medical Workers Federation, Civil Servants Trade Union, Art Workers Trade Union, LDF Youth Organization, and Trade Union of Postal Employees. LDF units operate in 9 regions of Lithuania. The number of LDF members is constantly growing.

In order to repeat, remember and never to forget the history of the oldest Lithuanian trade union was published the book about Lithuanian Labour Federation.
 
 
 
 
LDF info