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Global worker No1 2022

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AUSTRALIA: Building on the recently adopted steel climate change policy (Tokyo 2008) the International Metalworkers' Federation's steel department held its second climate change meeting on March 24-25 in the lead up to Copenhagen 2009. The most widely known global agreement trying to cut global emissions, Kyoto is approaching the end of its life and in Copenhagen, Denmark, governments will try to make a new deal on emission cuts between 2012 and 2020. An international approach to tackling climate change is essential and steel unions have called for an international response that avoids unfair trade conditions and guarantees a level playing field. The argument that the world faces a serious threat from environmental degradation is no longer open to serious challenge. At the IMF meeting in Australia, steel unions from 5 regions held discussions with business leaders, governmental ministers, trade union partners, think tanks and environmental NGO's in order to build partnerships and further develop the IMF's approach on this vitally important issue. Representatives from the Chinese All Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) were also invited to attend but unfortunately were unable to participate. The outcomes of the meeting were as follows:<ul><li>IMF will promote a metalworkers' position in the International arena including Copenhagen 2009.</li><li>IMF will produce some practical materials for distribution amongst affiliates.</li><li>The IMF Steel section will present a resolution on this issue to the IMF Congress in May 2009.</li><li>IMF will continue to build relationships with other interested parties.</li><li>IMF will develop strategies to engage with national and international agencies such as UNFCCC, OECD, ILO, etc.</li></ul>

Metal unions meet in Australia to craft strategy for enhanced engagement in the climate change debate in preparation for Copenhagen 2009.

Climate Change- Taking the power back

Congress is the highest decision-making body of the IMF and all affiliates hold membership. Congress meets every four years to establish the priorities and actions of the IMF including the <a href="../index.cfm?c=20018&amp;ol=2">Rules</a> that we are governed by. Congress also elects the <a href="../index.cfm?n=732&amp;l=2">President</a> and <a href="index.cfm?n=676">General Secretary</a> and members of the <a href="index.cfm?n=677">Executive Committee</a><h3>IMF World Congress 2009</h3>The 32nd IMF Congress took place in May 2009 in Gothenburg, Sweden  and adopted a new Action Programme for 2009-2013 calling for secure jobs for a secure future in response to the global economic crisis. The Congress also elected a new President, Vice President and General Secretary of the IMF.<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="318"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../congress2009" title="32nd IMF World Congress 2009"><img src="" border="0" alt="Gothenburg, Sweden" width="317" height="61" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>IMF World Congress 2005</h3>Held in Vienna, the Congress discussed the various ways in which international solidarity can advance workers' rights. Congress adopted changes to the IMF Rules, increasing the participation of women in IMF structures and updated the IMF Action Programme for 2005 to 2009.<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="318"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../congress2005/index.cfm?l=2" title="Congress"><img src="" border="0" alt="" width="318" height="57" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>IMF World Congress 2001</h3>The 30th IMF Congress was held in Sydney, Australia, when a new Action Programme was adopted for 2002-2005.

Congress

The IMF has affiliates in 100 countries. Click on any country below to learn about affiliated organisations.

IMF Affiliates

In 1957, the IMF opened an office in Tokyo for the Japanese metalworkers' unions. In 1960 the IMF opened its Latin America office, now in Montevideo, Uruguay.In 1966, the first meeting of the World Company Councils for the automobile industry was held in Detroit, USA. Today, Company Council meetings are held as the need arises. In 1969, the first IMF regional office opened in New Delhi, India. In 1982, two white South African affiliates were expelled. The IMF was fully committed to supporting the new independent trade unions in South Africa. This support was strengthened with the opening of a new IMF office in Johannesburg in 1984. In 1991, the IMF Central Committee decided to admit trade unions from Central and Eastern Europe as affiliates. In 1993, a 100-point Action Programme was adopted at the IMF Centenary Congress in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1998 the IMF opened a regional office for Southeast Asia in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaIn 2001, the 30th IMF Congress was held in Sydney, Australia. A new Action Programme for 2002-2005 was adopted. In 2002, the IMF signed its first International Framework Agreement in the auto industry with Volkswagen. In 2005, the IMF Congress adopted changes to the IMF Rules, increasing the participation of women in IMF structures, and updating the Action Programme. In 2002-2003, the IMF and its affiliates successfully campaigned for the release of imprisoned Korean trade unionists.In 2006, the IMF launched an international solidarity campaign in support of the Mexican miners' union.

Milestones in IMF history

The International Metalworkers&#039; Federation is one of the largest and oldest Global Union Federations. The IMF was created in August 1893 when thirty members from metalworkers unions in eight countries met in a small hotel in Zurich with the aim of creating an International Bureau, thus founding the IMF. These early members laid the foundations for international cooperation between all metalworkers&#039; unions of the world.<h3>Organising workers</h3>Data collected by the Bureau at the time showed that social and economic conditions for metalworkers were extremely difficult. Working hours in Europe ranged from 11.5 to 15 hours a day and wages were very low. Only a small number of metalworkers were organised and the structure of unions at the national level was highly fragmented.From the beginning, solidarity between unions extended further than simply exchanging information and was focused on offering mutual support:<ul><li>Within the first three years, British metalworkers contributed 1,000 marks to the Solingen cutlery-makers out on a protracted strike.  </li><li>Swiss metalworkers contributed 100 Swiss francs to moulders engaged in a harsh struggle in Nuremberg. </li><li>German metalworkers later reciprocated in 1897 when British engineering workers were fighting for the eight-hour day and foundry workers in Denmark demanding higher wages were locked out. </li><li>Everywhere, especially in Germany, funds were raised, establishing a tradition of international solidarity that has significantly strengthened metalworkers&#039; unions to this day.</li></ul><h3>Eight hours work, leisure and sleep</h3>The early 1900&#039;s were characterised by rapid economic growth in international trade and investments. Metalworkers understood the important strategic role that the IMF could play in protecting human and trade union rights. In 1893 the first Congress wrote:<blockquote>&quot;Our endeavour must be to fulfil the slogan of the May Day celebrations: eight hours&#039; work, eight hours&#039; leisure, eight hours&#039; sleep.&quot;</blockquote> In 1904, the different unions, which now included representatives from 11 countries, decided to create the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation (IMF). <h3>The goals of the Federation have always been to:</h3><ul><li>encourage metalworkers&#039; organisations to co-operate on trade union matters; </li><li>support unionisation efforts in countries where trade unions are weak; and </li><li>establish guidelines for effectively implementing solidarity actions during labour disputes.</li></ul>

A tradition of solidarity

The International Metalworkers' Federation boasts more than 200 affiliated unions in 100 countries and represents the interests of 25 million metalworkers worldwide.<h3>Congress</h3>Our key decision-making body is Congress, which meets once every four years and agrees to an <a href="index.cfm?n=673">action programme</a> which sets out the long-term aims and goals of our work. All affiliates have the right to send delegates to Congress.Congress also determines the <a href="../index.cfm?c=20018&amp;ol=2">Rules</a> of the organisation, indicating how the IMF is run.<h3>Committees</h3>The Central Committee meets once every two years and is responsible for all decisions made between Congresses.The Congress elects the President and the General Secretary of the IMF and the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee consists of 25 members, including at least six women, and meets twice a year. All regions in the world are represented in the ExComm.The Finance Committee consists of six members from the Executive Committee, plus the IMF President, Vice President and General Secretary. This Committee makes recommendations about financial planning and examines the IMF annual budget.The Secretariat carries out the decisions made by Congress and the Central Committee. It is managed by the General Secretary. The <a href="index.cfm?n=630">IMF headquarters</a> is located in Geneva, Switzerland, where the activities of the organisation are coordinated through a network of <a href="index.cfm?n=631">regional offices</a>.IMF activities are primarily financed by affiliation fees from its member organisations.

Governing bodies

At our 2005 Congress, we adopted an Action Programme setting out four main areas for action, which include:<ul><li>global structures to meet global challenges</li><li>strategies to engage transnational companies</li><li>solidarity and organising</li><li>a social dimension to economic globalisation</li></ul>In our commitment to creating global structures to meet global challenges, the IMF will: <ul><li>continue to build a global union able to co-ordinate and implement actions at all levels, wherever and whenever they are required;</li><li>continue to work with other Global Union Federations and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD to pursue the interests of its affiliates;</li><li>encourage cooperation and build unity between unions; and</li><li>begin building information networks between affiliates and maintain and effective communications system.</li></ul>As we develop strategies to engage transnational companies, the IMF will:<ul><li><div>continue to focus on building and maintaining solidarity among trade unions and workers across the global production chains of metalworking companies and industries;</div></li><li>strengthen links between unions that represent workers across production chains in transnational corporations through the IMF World Company Councils and sector-based networks and action groups;</li><li>negotiate and implement international framework agreements with transnational corporations;</li><li>find and support other mechanisms that engage transnational corporations.</li></ul>As we strengthen solidarity and capacity to organise, the IMF will: <ul><li>defend and promote collective bargaining, assisting affiliates in bargaining on wages and working conditions, and on outsourcing, job security and other issues associated with corporate restructuring;</li><li>promote union building by co-ordinating and supporting projects as well as providing advice to its affiliates on issues such as organising strategies, unions structures and equal rights;</li><li>promote equal rights, including improving the representation of women in IMF structures;</li><li>protect and promote health and safety at work, including campaigning for a ban on asbestos;</li><li>take international solidarity actions in support of social achievements, workers&#039; rights, organising and collective bargaining; and</li><li>organise the unorganised, particularly of women, young workers and non-manual workers and in export processing zones and small- and medium-sized enterprises.</li></ul>To promote a social dimension to economic globalisation, the IMF will:<ul><li>cooperate with and be part of the social movement against globalisation that favours only the transnational corporations;</li><li>demand that all national governments implement internationally recognised Core Labour Standards, including the right to organise and bargain collectively, and that these rights are included in all trade agreements; and</li><li>fight for sustainable economic development and growth as described in the document Strategies for an alternative economic programme, based on the following four pillars: <ul><li>job creation and purchasing power</li><li>debt cancellation and development assistance</li><li>regulations capital movements</li><li>reform of the global institutions of governance</li></ul></li></ul>

Solidarity and organisation: the foundation of our work

The core mission of the International Metalworkers' Federation is to improve workers' wages, working and living conditions, and to ensure that workers' rights are respected, particularly in the metal industry. The IMF represents blue- and white-collar workers in industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals and ore mining, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, automobile, aerospace, electrical and electronics.The IMF brings together metalworker trade unions at national and international level to help members challenge the neo-liberal agenda of corporations and conservative governments and to ensure all share in the wealth generated through sustainable economic growth.By working with other organisations, the IMF aims to<ul><li>Build a global metalworkers' movement.</li><li>Organise the unorganised.</li><li>Strengthen international solidarity.</li><li>Engage with trans-national corporations.</li><li>Negotiate international framework agreements.</li><li>Secure workers' rights, including the rights of women workers.</li><li>Fight for sustainable economic development, and</li><li>Promote fair trade, social justice and the elimination of poverty.</li></ul>See our <a href="../index.cfm?n=673">2009-2013 Action Programme</a> for full details.

Improving workers&#039; wages, conditions and rights

The International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) represents the collective interests of 25 million metalworkers from more than 200 unions in 100 countries. The IMF is a federation of national metalworkers' unions - a 'union of unions' at world level, and one of the oldest Global Union Federations. The IMF aims to improve metalworkers' wages, working and living conditions and defends the rights of metalworkers at a global level.To achieve this, we work with <a href="index.cfm?n=628">national affiliates</a> with the aim of building a strong international labour movement.Worldwide activities of the IMF are co-ordinated from our <a href="index.cfm?n=630">headquarters</a> in Geneva, Switzerland together with our network of <a href="index.cfm?n=631">regional offices</a>.<h3>Solidarity in action</h3>Read about the work of the IMF in action, as showcased in our case studies: <ul><li><a href="index.cfm?c=17919">Global action against precarious work</a></li><li><a href="index.cfm?c=19354">Asking for justice in Mexico!</a></li><li><a href="index.cfm?c=19355">Reducing shipbreaking hazards in India</a></li><li><a href="index.cfm?c=19356">Release Korean Unionists!</a></li><li><a href="index.cfm?c=19357">Organizing women workers in Indonesia</a></li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20712">Building sustainable unions in Africa</a></li></ul>

For a strong international labour movement

Millions of workers throughout the world work in Export Processing Zones or EPZs. Most of them are young women, who may have migrated to find work but are only offered temporary contracts with low levels of pay and substandard working conditions.  Precarious work is endemic in EPZs. Electronics is the principal IMF industry found in EPZs and IMF is working with its affiliates to encourage organising efforts. An important factor in successful organising is to ensure that women are adequately represented in the trade union and play a central role in EPZ organising.

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