English

Español

Français

Aerospace

Automotive

Base metals

Chemical, pharmaceutical and bio-science

Energy

Glass, cement, ceramic and associated industries

ICT, electrical and electronics

Mechanical Engineering

Mining and DGOJP

Pulp and paper

Rubber

Shipbuilding and shipbreaking

Textile, garment, shoes, leather and textile services

Sectors

Action Plan 2025-2029

Action on textile and garment industry

Clean up shipbreaking

Ratify ILO C176

United for a just future - time to pay up!

Disinvest from Myanmar

Campaigns

Global Framework Agreements

Union building

White-collar workers

Health & safety

Industry 4.0

Women

Youth

LGBTQI+

Gender, equality, diversity and inclusion (GEDI)

Just Transition

Organizing with industriALL

What we do

Affiliates

Statutes

Elected Officials

Executive Committee

Geneva head office

South East Asia

Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus

Latin America and the Caribbean

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional offices

About us

Global worker No1 2022

Global worker No2 2022

Publications

Resources

Press

Workers in the world&#039;s iron and steel industry are severely affected by the cyclical nature of this sector. Through trade union strength at national and international levels this department advances workers' rights. In order to do this we facilitate meetings, undertake research and challenge companies who fail to recognise that trade unions often hold the solution to workplace problems. Rob Johnston, <a href="mailto:rjohnston@imfmetal.org">rjohnston@imfmetal.org</a>, is director for this sector.

Iron, steel and non-ferrous metals

MEXICO: The IMF calls on Mexican authorities to urgently investigate the assassination of a well-known workers' rights advocate, Dr. Manual Arroyo Galván in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, on May 29.Dr. Arroyo cooperated with the IMF on a range of worker rights projects and research on working conditions in the maquiladoras. Dr. Arroyo was a professor of sociology at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez and had been involved for many years with different social justice organizations, including the &quot; Organización Popular Independiente&quot; which he formed.He was  currently writing a book to call on the social movements to join forces to improve human rights and working conditions in the maquiladoras and was a long time advocate and coordinator for the campaign to defend freedom of association and labour rights in Ciudad Juárez.Dr. Arroyo was 44 years old and was shot six times in the head on the open streets in Ciudad Juárez, but so far no perpetrator has been arrested. According to the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Mexico D.F (FESMEX), Dr. Arroyo is the seventh university professor killed in the last two years. All of those killed have been involved in non-government organization activity or human and labour rights projects. Ciudad Juárez is one of the most violent cities in Mexico. In the last year around 1600 people have been victims of violence and in most cases these crimes have not been investigated and have gone unpunished, despite the fact that some 8500 soldiers are stationed in the city.The IMF joins the international labour movement in mourning Dr. Manuel Arroyo Galvan's death and  demands  that the State of Chihuahua and the Federal Government  take urgent action to identify and punish those guilty of his murder, and to guarantee the right to life and physical integrity of human rights defenders and the population in Ciudad  Juárez.

The international labour community mourns the death of labour and human rights defender, Dr. Manual Arroyo Galván, and calls for an immediate and transparent investigation.

Renowned social activist assassinated in Mexico

GLOBAL: On the third day of the IMF World Congress, delegates debated and adopted section 3.4 and section 3.5, thereby adopting the IMF Action Programme 2009-2013 in its entirety unanimously.Speaking in support of section 3.4 Build a counterweight to the power of transnational corporations Bernardo Rangel Sergio (SITIMM, Mexico) said, &quot;We need a global policy to counter the power of TNCs with increased cooperation between unions to ensure greater equity.&quot;Bob King (UAW, USA) pledged his personal commitment and urged others to join him in engaging and involving members in direct action in the fight to build union power.Valter Sanches (CNM-CUT, Brazil) introduced section 3.5 Fight for sustainable trade, development and employment and argued that while countries have the right to protect themselves during this time of crisis, indiscriminate protectionism was not the answer.Wolfgang Rhode (IG Metall, Germany) supported section 3.5 and the work of the IMF on this topic and stated that, &quot;For weaker countries we need exceptions, developing countries need enough room to develop.&quot;Upon adoption of these two sections, the IMF World Congress thereby unanimously adopted an action programme focused on building strong national unions, strengthening collective bargaining, defending workers' rights, building a counterweight to the power of transnational corporations and fighting for sustainable trade, development and employment.As first introduced by Julius Roe (AMWU, Australia), the chair person of the Action Programme Committee, during the Congress on the second day, &quot;the things that unite us are much greater than the things that divide us. This is an action program which can lead to more effective solidarity, better rights for workers, growing union power and a real challenge to neo-liberalism.&quot;

Building strong national unions, strengthening collective bargaining, defending workers' rights, building a counterweight to the power of transnational corporations and fighting for sustainable trade, development and employment will be at the heart of IMF's work over the next four years.

&quot;A real challenge to neo-liberalism&quot;

This department deals with a wide range of companies, for example producers of consumer electronics and computer hardware and software. Companies include GE, Philips, Siemens, Infineon and Intel. The department aims to develop trade union strategies for the sector and improving and strengthening the information exchange in transnational companies. Jenny Holdcroft, <a href="mailto:jholdcroft@imfmetal.org">jholdcroft@imfmetal.org</a>, is director for this sector.

Electrical and electronics

The Aerospace department aims to coordinate affiliates' policy in the sector and to develop a common strategy for unions to address developments and challenges in the industry. The work is carried out through a Steering Committee. There is also close cooperation with the European Metalworkers' Federation and its Aerospace working group.Jenny Holdcroft, <a href="mailto:jholdcroft@imfmetal.org">jholdcroft@imfmetal.org</a>, is director for aerospace.

The IMF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean has been located in Montevideo, Uruguay, since March 2008. It represents trade unions in many Latin American countries in the metalworking, mining, automotive, steel, electrical and electronics, aerospace, shipbuilding, mechanical engineering sectors. The IMF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean represents affiliates in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Curaçao,  Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. The regional office team provides advice and education services on trade union issues and organises sector activities and meetings for members of affiliated unions in the metalworking and related industries with a view to contributing to the development of international trade union policy and international solidarity, promoting the involvement of unions in trade agreements and analysing trade union structures in order to improve them so they are able to meet the challenges they face today.In addition, the office channel&#039;s international experience on labour and trade union rights to trade union leaders during disputes with multinational companies and governments.The regional office also implements projects and activities in cooperation with trade unions, especially in the automotive, mining and metalworking sectors.The regional office has staff for financial administration, education and projects, the organisation of conferences and meetings and communications and press. The regional office has been previously located in Caracas, Venezuela; San Jose, Costa Rica; Mexico City and Santiago, Chile.The Regional Officer is Jorge Almeida, an Argentinean national, a trade union leader in the automotive industry from a young age and specialist in the area of trade union education.The regional office has a quarterly publication called Mundo Metal, which reports on the activities, programmes and projects of the IMF and its affiliates and discusses issues of regional importance.

text This page will reload to the protest letter again in 5 seconds

PROTEST LETTER (thanks)

text

PROTEST LETTER (to send)

Visit the IMF website for regular updates on the IMF campaign to end labour rights abuses in Korea or sign up for <a href="../index.cfm?n=669">IMF Action Alerts</a> to be notified of urgent solidarity requests and campaign developments immediately when they arise.This page will reload to the protest letter again in 5 seconds

Thank you for taking ACTION!

Dear President Lee Myung-bak, I am writing to express my deep concern over the mass arrests of workers and members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union who took part in a sit-in strike at the Ssangyong Motor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi province.I have been shocked to witness your government's brutal response to this legitimate industrial dispute, specifically, the dropping of corrosive chemicals from helicopters, brutal attacks from taser guns that have inflicted life threatening injuries and the denial of access to food, water and even basic medical treatment for the injured. Violating human rights by denying their citizens food, water, medicine is unacceptable behavior from the state in any situation.  I strongly urge you to: immediately release all imprisoned union leaders and Ssangyong workers; drop all charges (criminal and civil) against individuals and organisations involved in the strike; and take a role in ensuring good faith, genuine negotiations towards guaranteeing the KMWU Ssangyong Motor members employment security.Sincerely,

Release all jailed Ssangyong strikers immediately!

PROTEST LETTER TEXT (to send)

Archive

About IndustriALL

Follow us

Contact us