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17 September, 2002During two weeks in June, the IMF's second Summer School took place in Chexbres and Geneva. 23 trade unionists from 17 countries briefed one another on their respective organisations; discussed globalisation and the challenges for the trade union movement and paid visits to Swiss metal industries.
Moreover, they discussed the work and policies of the World Trade Organisation, a workshop that concluded with a visit to the WTO in Geneva. They also observed the 90th Session of the International Labour Conference at the ILO, as well as learned about the work of the IMF.
The programme was carried out in cooperation with the Université Ouvrière de Genève (Geneva Workers' University).
JESPER NILSSON
Wiwat Pantsra - TEAM, Thailand:
The Summer School was really an experience for me. Before, I didn't know much about international trade union work and the different cultures in which we are acting. Irina Kirillova - Miners' and Metallurgical Workers' Union of Russia:
The best thing about the Summer School? Hard to say. The knowledge you acquire, the visit to the ILO and the WTO... Personally, I think that the contacts are the most important thing. Gopal Kishnam Nadesan - National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers, Malaysia:
This education is a very good experience for new trade union leaders. The school also helped us create relationships that I hope will stay active. These relations are also most important when it comes to tackling the transnational companies - our most important task! Dianne Köster - IG Metall, Germany:
The most important outcome is the personal contacts you establish. Talking and listening to people gives you new ideas, many of the problems encountered are similar, but you address them in different ways. The seminar on globalisation and the visit to the WTO were also most interesting. Aliaksandr Ivanou - Automobile & Agricultural Machinery Workers' Union, Belarus:
It's a very good idea of the IMF to organise this school. I liked the presentations of participating organisations, but of course also the ILO visit and the WTO workshop and visit. It was also nice to learn to know colleagues, for example the Russians.
The Summer School was really an experience for me. Before, I didn't know much about international trade union work and the different cultures in which we are acting. Irina Kirillova - Miners' and Metallurgical Workers' Union of Russia:
The best thing about the Summer School? Hard to say. The knowledge you acquire, the visit to the ILO and the WTO... Personally, I think that the contacts are the most important thing. Gopal Kishnam Nadesan - National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers, Malaysia:
This education is a very good experience for new trade union leaders. The school also helped us create relationships that I hope will stay active. These relations are also most important when it comes to tackling the transnational companies - our most important task! Dianne Köster - IG Metall, Germany:
The most important outcome is the personal contacts you establish. Talking and listening to people gives you new ideas, many of the problems encountered are similar, but you address them in different ways. The seminar on globalisation and the visit to the WTO were also most interesting. Aliaksandr Ivanou - Automobile & Agricultural Machinery Workers' Union, Belarus:
It's a very good idea of the IMF to organise this school. I liked the presentations of participating organisations, but of course also the ILO visit and the WTO workshop and visit. It was also nice to learn to know colleagues, for example the Russians.