EUROPE: As most readers will know, parts of central and eastern Europe have been hit by torrential rains and some of the worst flooding in living memory. The IMF's Czech metalworkers' affiliate, OS KOVO, has written to say that the Czech Republic is suffering from the most serious floods in more than one hundred years. Thousands of the union's members have been directly hit by the situation, and other tens of thousands have been affected indirectly. The president of the metalworkers' union, Jan Uhlir, has stated that OS KOVO is providing financial means to assist its members, but in addition to this the union has established a special "flood" account for eventual assistance from others. Any help of this kind would be very welcomed. For more information, contact OS KOVO as follows:
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: (420/2) 2446-2483 or (420/2) 2254-0307
Fax: (420/2) 2446-2265 or (420/2) 2254-0278
Websites of metal unions in affected countries which are providing information as well as legal advice to their members are as follows:

• Austria - Gewerkschaft Metall- Textil: www.metaller.at
  
• Germany - IG Metall: www.igmetall.de