01/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - A new International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) body for the Americas was set up at a founding conference in Panama City on 27-29 March 2008, attended by the President of Panama, Martin Torrijos. Known at the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA), the new organisation has 68 affiliated organisations from 26 countries in the region, with a total membership of more than 50 million workers. The congress elected Linda Chavez Thompson as President, Julio Roberto as Deputy President and Victor Baez as General Secretary. “The creation of the TUCA is… the final step in the process of unification of the international trade union movement, which began with the foundation of the ITUC in Vienna in November 2006”, commented ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder. The ITUC Regional Organisation for Asia-Pacific was founded in Bangalore, India, in September 2007, and for Africa in Accra, Ghana, in November 2007. (G.B.)