1 December, 2008Six executives from the Italian unit of German steel maker ThyssenKrupp were indicted on charges ranging from manslaughter to murder for their involvement in the December 2007 steel plant fire that killed seven workers.

19 November, 2008Executive Committee adopts concrete proposals to address global financial crisis and its impact on metalworkers and their families.

27 January, 2009KMWU's "one union, one worksite" initiative to organise the precariously employed proves positive for migrant workers threatened with job dismissals.

22 January, 2009Labour leaders meet with Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to urge immediate action in wake of increasing violence and repression against miners' union in Mexico.

12 December, 2008At least nine FSPMI members were injured and three detained by the police during a demonstration for increase of minimum wages.

10 December, 2008After completing the age of 62 brother Dyvadheenam, former IMF representative for South Asia, passed away in India.

5 December, 2008Juan Linares Montufar and Carlos Pavon Campos have been arrested but no reason has been given for their arrest.

14 January, 2009The International Metalworkers' Federation welcomes the Resolution of the UN Security Council calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza

14 January, 2009No satisfactory solution has yet been found to the situation of the Siderperu workers sacked at the end of last year, despite the efforts of the union, the IMF's Gerdau Group Global Committee and other sister organisations.

14 January, 2009Around 3,000 miners have been sacked. The unions have been organising their response and demanding a solution to the situation.