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<ol><li><div>The Congress alone may amend these Rules by a two-thirds majority.</div></li><li><div>Proposals concerning the revision of the Rules are to be submitted in accordance with IMF procedures outlined in Article 3.2. K., L., M. and N. of this document.</div></li></ol>

ARTICLE 1 - PURPOSE OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 2 - MISSION OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 3 - STRUCTURE OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 4 -- EXECUTING BODIES OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 5 - DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

ARTICLE 6 - NATIONAL SECTIONS AND COMMITTEES

ARTICLE 7 - ADMISSION

ARTICLE 8 - FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

ARTICLE 9 - SUBSCRIPTIONS IN ARREARS AND EXONERATIONS

ARTICLE 10 - REVISION OF RULES

ARTICLE 11 - IMF HEADQUARTERS

<ol><li>The General Secretary shall notify all organisations which are in arrears in their contributions.</li><li>An organisation in arrears in the payment of subscriptions loses speaking and voting rights at all IMF meetings, including the Executive Committee, Central Committee and the Congress.</li><li>Exoneration from the payment of subscriptions must be asked for in writing in the first half of the year for which the exoneration is required.</li><li>Exoneration from the payment of annual subscriptions shall only be granted by the Executive Committee in extraordinary cases such as civil war and repression of workers' rights. </li></ol>

<ol><li>Admission <ol type="A"><li>Admission of a metalworkers' union to the IMF is acted upon based on a written application.</li><li>Such an application must contain the name of the applicant, number and nature of membership seeking application.</li><li>Applicants shall express their willingness to abide by all rules and policies of the Federation.</li><li>If an applicant is from a country where one or more IMF affiliates exist, the General Secretary must inform the affiliates about the application and request for their comments concerning the application.</li><li>Requests for affiliation, together with all relevant accompanying documents must be submitted with a recommendation by the Secretariat to the Executive Committee.</li><li>Admission requires a unanimous decision by the Executive Committee.</li><li>If objections are raised by any Executive Committee member the first time an affiliation is requested, the affiliation will be referred to the IMF Secretariat for response to the specific objection(s).</li><li>The affiliation request concerned will then be reconsidered by the Executive Committee.</li><li>If unanimous decision is not reached by the Executive  Committee at this time, the affiliation request will then be forwarded to the next meeting of the Central Committee, which  in turn will decide by a majority vote.</li><li>Affiliation of a new union is effective when the subscription has been paid in accordance with the Rules.</li></ol></li><li>Suspension and Expulsion <ol type="A"><li>Expulsion from the Federation shall take place on the decision of the Central Committee under the following conditions: <ol type="i"><li>Affiliate acts against the interest of the IMF, and/or</li><li>Affiliate is in arrears with two annual subscriptions, which are not paid after notices have been given.</li></ol></li><li>The Executive Committee is authorised to suspend the affiliation of any union prior to the Central Committee.</li><li>An appeal against the decision of expulsion can be made at the succeeding IMF Congress.</li></ol></li><li>Resignation <ol type="A"><li>An affiliate may resign by giving written notice to the General Secretary six months before the end of the calendar year.</li></ol></li></ol>

ARTICLE 7 - ADMISSION, RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION

<ol><li>Federation's Secretariat <ol type="A"><li>The Secretariat shall be composed of the General Secretary, the Assistant General Secretaries, departmental heads, representatives of regional and project offices, and other staff engaged by the General Secretary.</li><li>The General Secretary, in consultation with the President and the Finance Committee and subject to approval by the Executive Committee, shall establish working conditions through negotiations with the staff.</li></ol></li><li>Industrial and Organisational Departments <ol type="A"><li>In order to promote the interests of workers in specific sectors, those who work for various multinational companies and those for specific groups of workers, the Central Committee shall have the authority to create Industrial and Organisational Departments.</li><li>The Industrial and Organisational Departments develop, coordinate and assist in implementing activities with affiliates related to the mission of the Federation and its Action Programme. The President of each Industrial and Organisational Department, elected by the Central Committee, shall work with the Executive Committee and respective departmental head at the Secretariat to carry out these duties.</li></ol></li><li>Regional Structures <ol type="A"><li>A regional structure can be established where appropriate in order to discuss and act on matters specific to a region and to assist in the implementation of the activities related to the IMF Action Programme decided by the Executive Committee.</li><li>The regional structures function within the policy guidelines decided by the IMF governing bodies.</li></ol></li></ol>

<ol type="A"><li>The Finance Committee shall be composed of six (6) members of the Executive Committee plus the President, the Vice President and the General Secretary.</li><li>The Finance Committee members shall designate in writing to the General Secretary their substitutes within 60 days after the conclusion of the Congress. The substitutes are to be confirmed by the Executive Committee. If a Finance Committee member is unable to attend a meeting, the officially designated substitute shall attend the meeting.</li><li>Two members of the Auditing Committee shall attend the Finance Committee meetings as observers.</li><li>The Finance Committee shall discuss and make recommendations to the Executive Committee on the following: <ol type="i"><li>Long-term financial planning.</li><li>Analysis of IMF income needs.</li><li>Review annual budgets.</li><li>Establish terms of reference for collective bargaining negotiations with staff in Geneva.</li></ol></li><li>The Finance Committee shall meet as often as needed, but at least once a year.</li></ol>

5.     The Finance Committee

<ol type="A"><li>The Congress shall elect from among its ranks twenty five members, of whom a minimum of six are to be women, who, together with the President of the Federation, shall constitute the Executive Committee, for the purpose of assisting the Federation's Secretariat in its work and making decisions between meetings of the Congress. Seats shall be distributed as follows: Africa: 4  representatives, including at least 1 woman; Asia &amp; the Pacific: 4 representatives, including at least 1 woman; Latin America &amp; Caribbean: 4  representatives, including at least 1 woman; North America: 4  representatives, including at least 1 woman; Western Europe: 6  representatives, including at least 1 woman; and Central &amp; Eastern Europe: 3 representatives, including at least 1 woman. However, should vacancies on the Executive Committee occur between Congresses, the Central Committee retains its authority to elect new members.</li><li>If an Executive Committee member is unable to attend a meeting, the substitute designated by the Executive Committee member shall attend the meeting. The Executive Committee members shall designate in writing to the General Secretary their substitutes within 60 days after the conclusion of the Congress.  The substitutes are to be confirmed by the Executive Committee.</li><li>The Executive Committee shall determine its own rules. In doing so, the Executive Committee may hold its meetings and conduct its business by utilising new technologies.</li><li>The Executive Committee has the authority to establish special committees for specific work on areas of important concern.</li><li>The Vice President shall  conduct proceedings in the President's absence.</li><li>Presidents of Industrial and Organisational Departments shall participate in Executive Committee meetings as observers.</li><li>The Executive Committee shall appoint a certified public accountant to audit the books and accounts of the Federation.</li><li>The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year and, subject to the requirement to act consistently with the decisions of Congress and the Central Committee, is responsible for all policies and activities between meetings of the Central Committee.</li><li>The General Secretary and the Assistant General Secretaries shall take part in meetings in a consultative capacity.</li><li>The salaries of the General Secretary, the Assistant General Secretaries, the Department Heads and the Representatives of the Regional &amp; Project Offices, as well as their conditions of employment shall be determined by the Executive Committee as proposed by the President.</li></ol>

4.     The Executive Committee

GERMANY: On June 12-13, 2007 union representatives from Rheinmetall facilities and union officials from Austria, Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland met in Neckarsulm, Germany, to discuss implementation of the Principles of Social Responsibility (International Framework Agreement) agreed between Rheinmetall, the IMF and the European Works Council. 

In spite of the IMF's and IG Metall's endeavours to open a dialogue in good faith with the company on IFA's implementation, management refused to support the IMF and IG Metall in organising this meeting and addressing the participants. 

In an article published by the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau, Jürgen Peters, President of the IMF and IG Metall criticized this lack of support as "a breach of the agreement concluded". He considered that management had violated democratic rules of the game and showed itself to be "contemptible". A copy of the article (in German) can be seen at this link:
<a href="http://www.fr-online.de/in_und_ausland/wirtschaft/aktuell/?em_cnt=1155542&amp;">http://www.fr-online.de/in_und_ausland/wirtschaft/aktuell/?em_cnt=1155542&amp;</a>

The meeting provided an opportunity for an exchange of information on the current situation at several locations of the corporation and for establishing an international network and a global communication platform for workers and unions within Rheinmetall. The Brazilian representatives reported in particular serious breaches concerning health and safety standards at the Rheinmetall plant in Nova Odessa, São Paulo and urged IMF to intervene with management. It was agreed that the IMF jointly with IG Metall and the EWC would seek to approach management again in an effort to initiate a constructive dialogue on implementation of the Agreement at the company's facilities and its supply chain throughout the world. 

Rheinmetall is a German-based a manufacturer of automotive components, weapons equipment and electronics. The framework agreement was signed in late 2003 and covers about 25,000 employees at more than 20 production facilities around the world. More information on the IFA can been seen here: 
<a href="http://www.imfmetal.org/main/index.cfm?n=47&amp;l=2&amp;c=8837">http://www.imfmetal.org/main/index.cfm?n=47&amp;l=2&amp;c=8837</a>

Rheinmetall management refuses to meet with the International Metalworkers' Federation on the implementation of the international framework agreement.

Rheinmetall IFA stalls

THAILAND: Delegates from trade union organizations affiliated with International Metalworkers&rsquo; Federation from ten countries in which Toyota has major production facilities met on June 4-6 in Bangkok to share and exchange information on wages, working conditions and organizing, to identify common challenges and mutually supportive ways to respond. The meeting took place during a period of widespread change and restructuring in the global automotive sector, during which Toyota has achieved significant growth to become among the largest and most profitable transnational companies in the industry. The company&rsquo;s long established path to boost volume and profitability has led to new employment opportunities in communities where the company invests and operates. At the same time, discussions focused on how the use by Toyota and other transnational auto companies of sub-contacting, outsourcing and precarious employment practices increasingly have created irregular forms of work with weaker protections and lower compensation in place of permanent jobs. Demands for higher output and new product development have created added pressures for enhanced productivity of workers at Toyota and its suppliers and union delegates voiced a demand for strong health and safety protections, calling on the company and suppliers to commit resources necessary to prevent occupational injuries such as muscular-skeletal disorders resulting from repetitive stress, and for statutory and collectively negotiated protections that effectively safeguard all workers. Toyota has well established industrial relations with trade unions at many operations around the world, though not all, and delegates voiced unequivocal and basic support for the free exercise by workers of their fundamental rights to form and join unions of their choice and engage in collective bargaining without government or employer interference. Concerns were expressed regarding company conduct and disputes involving unjust dismissals in a number of countries including the Philippines, with a call for fair and prompt resolutions.

Employment practices, working conditions and respect for worker rights are key concerns.

Unions address global challenges at Toyota

SOUTH AFRICA: After eight months of negotiations between unions and government without reaching any agreement on demands, public service unions went on strike on June 13.

The strike involved municipal workers, taxi and bus drivers, and electricity and cleaning staff, officials from border posts and airports, teachers, nurses and other court servants.

Workers demands included: 
<ul><li>12 per cent wage increase 
<li>Reform of pay structures 
<li>Medical Aid increase 
<li>Better recognition of their upgrading of qualifications 
<li>General review of condition of services </ul>

According to the Public Service Administration Department, the government put on the table an immediate 7.21 per cent increase and a rise next year. In addition the government offer included increases to bring salaries of nurses and professionals closer to those of their private sector counterparts. Nurses and lawyers would see this increase under the current proposals from July 1. School teachers and principals salaries would be adjusted from January 1 next year and other education workers from April next year. Some categories of workers will get this additional increase from July 1 next year and other in 2009. 

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) supported the strike. A special Central Committee appealed to its members working night and afternoon shifts to participate in the march. This was in spite of labour legislation restrictions on secondary strike action. The union also urged members who were not forbidden from participating in the strike to hold protests at lunch time. The media reported on violence and intimidation during the strike and unions complained about the harsh treatment by police during picketing.

The public service strike mainly affected the education and health sectors leading to the closure of most schools and obliging the army to provide emergency cover in hospitals.

A national public service strike of around one million public service workers took place in South Africa, June 13.

Public Service Workers Strike in South Africa

JAKARTA INDONESIA When Aghni Dhamayanti first started working at the Toshiba plant in Bekasi, outside Jakarta in Indonesia, there was no union. Yet she and her workmates were experiencing many problems so together with a friend they decided to form a union, affiliating it first to SPSI Indonesia, then eventually to the SPMI. As Aghni points out, many women are forbidden by their husbands or other family members from becoming active in the union. As a result, women&#039;s participation in SPMI was extremely low.In 2003, IMF launched a project with SPMI, funded by the Swedish trade union centre LO-TCO, that aimed to organise more women workers and increase their role in the union. As a result, the union managed to increase the number of women members from 29,780 in 2003 to 42,272 in 2006. SPMI also focused on changing its union structures to enable increased participation of women. At its Congress in December 2006, SPMI adopted rule changes for a minimum of 30 per cent representation of women at all levels and elected women, including Aghni, onto its National Board for the first time. The number of women leaders at the branch level also increased from 18 per cent in 2003 to 25 per cent in 2006.Aghni compares the initial impact of the project on the women of SPMI to entering kindergarten for the first time. &quot;Before the project, I only looked at issues at the plant level. The project enabled me to share information with women from other plants and regions and for us to encourage each other. By 2004,&quot; she says, &quot;we felt that we had progressed to elementary school as we began to learn how to be leaders.&quot; When speaking of the four women now on the union executive, Aghni stresses that it is &lsquo;us&#039; not &lsquo;me&#039; - she sees the women&#039;s struggles and achievements as collective, not individual. While Aghni holds the position of women and youth empowerment on SPMI&#039;s National Board, the other women are responsible for finance, international relations and education, enabling the women to get involved in broader policy issues affecting the union.Aghni says that thanks to the higher profile of women in the union, many women leaders are now emerging at branch and sectoral level. &quot;In general there is a much greater awareness of women&#039;s issues in the union. For example, women usually only work in assembly line positions, although they would have the ability to progress further if they were given access to skills training, but they are not. In Indonesia, married women pay more tax and medical insurance than married men - after marriage men expect women to take care of the children so usually they resign from work.&quot; Despite the problems, achievements are being made. For example, in Aghni&#039;s plant, pregnant women were accumulating poor absenteeism records as they were forced to skip work to attend medical appointments. The plant union was able to negotiate paid leave for pregnancy medical checks and thus keep women&#039;s absenteeism records low.Aghni describes her journey through the union as a gradual opening of her mind to issues beyond her plant to first the national and then the international trade union movement, and a recognition of the issues that unite women. &quot;The most important thing for me is to create new women leaders who can work together and change things for the better.&quot;Aghni Dhamayanti Country: Indonesia Position: Vice President, Women and Youth Empowerment Union: SPMI Interests: Reading, listening to music, tennis &nbsp;...Download the pdf-file (right hand column) to access the full story with illustrations.

Aghni Dhamayanti was recently elected to the National Board of the IMF-affi liated trade union Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (SPMI). This election result happened after increased numbers of women began solving problems in their workplaces and also became more involved in the union.

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