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GLOBAL:  The new IMF website, at <a href="..//">http://www.imfmetal.org</a>, leads with regular news reports on issues affecting metalworkers and their unions around the world and features <a href="../index.cfm?n=618&amp;l=2">solidarity issues</a>.  The site opens on a world map illustrating ´hot spots´ where continuing repression of workers´ rights are taking place in the metal sector.The new structure of the website is easy to navigate and includes sections on IMF <a href="../index.cfm?n=619&amp;l=2">industrial departments</a> and <a href="../index.cfm?n=620&amp;l=2">regional offices</a>. <a href="../index.cfm?n=621&amp;l=2">IMF Global</a> reports on key areas of work including <a href="../index.cfm?n=653&amp;l=2">export processing zones</a>, <a href="../index.cfm?n=656&amp;l=2">non-manual workers</a> and <a href="../index.cfm?n=655&amp;l=2">trade, employment and development</a>.IMF <a href="../index.cfm?n=635&amp;l=2">publications</a>, such as the Auto Report and the quarterly journal <a href="../index.cfm?n=634&amp;l=2">Metal World</a>, are available for download on the website. Users can also find information about the IMF, its <a href="../index.cfm?n=674&amp;l=2">history</a>, structure and contact details for the <a href="../index.cfm?n=630&amp;l=2">head office</a> and <a href="../index.cfm?n=631&amp;l=2">regional offices</a>.The website is published in English, French, Spanish and Russian, with some sections also available in German, Swedish and Italian.

On the eve of its 32nd world congress, the International Metalworkers´ Federation launches a new website at <a href="http://www.imfmetal.org">www.imfmetal.org</a>

IMF launches new website

In recent times the world's shipbuilding industry has faced many challenges, which have impacted on workers' rights. The challenges include health and safety, outsourcing, subsidies and the use of contract labour. This department adresses these problems by promoting a unified trade union view that puts workers' rights first.Kan Matsuzaki, <a href="mailto:kmatsuzaki@imfmetal.org">kmatsuzaki@imfmetal.org</a>, is director for shipbuilding.

Shipbuilding, Shipbreaking

Engineering covers many sectors, including the manufacturing of jet engines and tooling machinery and the production of machines for the recycling sector. IMF activities in this sector aim to bring trade unions in these areas together to improve the exchange of information and to develop common positions and strategies. Anne-Marie Mureau, <a href="mailto:ammureau@imfmetal.org">ammureau@imfmetal.org</a>, is director for this sector.

Mechanical engineering

The structural and technological transformation of metal industries has brought about profound changes in the occupational pattern of the workforce. Non-manual workers are growing in number but are poorly organised or not organised at all.  Like those on the shop-floor they are drawn into the race to the bottom in the global economy. The IMF and its affiliates need to engage and mobilise these workers around labour and professional issues to build greater solidarity and bargaining strength.

Non-Manual

Bad working conditions are experienced on a daily basis by workers. Even small improvements in occupational health and safety are well received by the most vulnerable groups of workers. Through education, IMF is assisting affiliates in setting up effective health and safety committees in all workplaces. IMF is working with affiliates in order to achieve an international ban on the production, import, export and use of asbestos, responsible for more than 100,000 deaths yearly.

Health and Safety

Building strong national trade unions is crucial. The strong unions which are in a permanent democratic relationship with workers, are capable of achieving real gains through collective bargaining, by organizing the unorganized, striving for trade union unity at the national level and building unions through training, education and effective exchange of information.To learn more about the IMF union building philosophy please click <a href="../index.cfm?c=21980&amp;l=2">here</a>.

In December 2008, Sinter Metal, a Turkish company that supplies components to major auto manufacturers, fired 350 workers for their union activity. Sinter Metal workers are fighting for their jobs and the fundamental right to join unions and bargain collectively. The International Metalworkers' Federation and European Metalworkers' Federation are calling on Sinter Metal Imalat Sanayi A.Ş to immediately reinstate unjustly dismissed workers, stop violations of rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and start negotiations with the union, Birlesik Metal-IS, leading to a fair and just resolution.

Tell Sinter Metal to reinstate all unjustly dismissed workers and respect Turkish labour law and basic trade union rights now.

Demand Justice for Sinter Metal Workers in Turkey

Thank you for taking ACTION!Visit the IMF website for regular updates on the Sinter Metal campaign or sign up for IMF Action Alerts to be notified of urgent solidarity requests and campaign developments immediately when they arise.<h3>This page will reload to the protest letter again in 5 seconds</h3>

Visit the IMF website for regular updates on the Sinter Metal campaign.

Thank you for taking ACTION!

Dear Mr. Tanberk,I join with the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation, European Metalworkers&#039; Federation and Birlesik Metal-IS in demanding that Sinter Metal immediately stops and remedies violations of worker and trade union rights at its operations located in the Dudullu Organized Industrial Zone in Turkey. I am increasingly alarmed that such violations continue to undermine workers&#039; rights to form and join a union and to collectively bargain, enshrined in ILO conventions 98 and 87, to which Turkey is a signatory. I demand that Sinter Metal management immediately reinstates the dismissed workers, stops violations of fundamental worker and trade union rights, and in good faith considers the workers&#039; demands and starts negotiations to reach a fair and just settlement with the union.Sincerely,

protest letter to send

GLOBAL: &quot;This Congress of the International Metalworkers' Federation in Gothenburg is not a normal Congress taking place in normal times,&quot; said Berthold Huber, who was elected by the delegates to the Congress as the new IMF President on Monday.In his statement Huber referred to the devastating effects of finance capitalism in almost every country: &quot;Millions of workers fear for their very existence, and millions have been plunged into dire poverty,&quot; he said. The way to the future must therefore be taken together, with genuine international solidarity. &quot;The international community has the obligation to help build decent social safety nets in countries where they are lacking,&quot; said Huber in reference to the increasing unemployment in countries where there is no support for the unemployed. Huber, who is also the President of IG Metall in Germany, called upon political leaders to rein in the financial markets. &quot;They must be democratically regulated and monitored. The gambling casino must be closed!&quot;he said. In addition the IMF President wants to combine the existing regulations of international organizations into a new legal instrument. &quot;If we succeed, the rules of the market will finally take the concerns of labor into account: secure employment, International Labor Organization (ILO) core labor standards, social protection, regulated working conditions and industrial relations, in short: decent work.&quot;The IMF is for solidarity in the fight for prosperity, justice and social security for everyone in this world, not just for the wealthy. The first requirement for that, in Huber's view, is open information among the member organizations. &quot;The IMF is only as strong as we make it,&quot; stressed the IMF President, who intends to make a substantial contribution to strengthening the IMF. To confront the challenges of the future, more global union networks and more effective international framework agreements are urgently needed. With united forces precarious employment must be fought and union rights in every country must be realized. As Huber said, it is also important to strengthen the IMF's regional work and to ensure greater involvement of the unions in countries of the South. As IMF President Berthold Huber put it in his statement on Tuesday, &quot;strength lies in unity, not in division.&quot;Part 1 <object></object>Part 2 <object></object>Part 3 <object></object>

On Tuesday morning the newly elected IMF President Berthold Huber addressed the delegates to the 32nd IMF World Congress and thanked them for their confidence in him.  He also made it clear that what was needed now was to unite forces to meet the challenges confronting unions.

&quot;Strength lies in unity, not division&quot;

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