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Italy's three national metalworkers' unions - the FIM, FIOM and UILM, also representing the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) - signed an International Framework Agreement with Merloni Elettrodomestici S.p.A. in December 2001. With its signature, Merloni, Europe's third largest producer of domestic appliances, with subsidiaries across the globe, has undertaken to comply with and promote the fundamental principles and rights at work established in <a href="index.cfm?n=47&amp;l=2&amp;c=7799">conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)</a>. To supervise compliance with the Code, the agreement provides for the establishment of monitoring not only of the company's own production units and activities, but its suppliers as well, which risk having their contracts cancelled in cases of grave violations. The company must report on the implementation and status of the agreement at the annual meeting of the European Works Council (EWC) and at the national information meeting provided for by the national collective contract. For countries which are not members of the EWC, representatives of the workers and trade unions at individual plants must receive this information from the local management.

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List of Merloni plants and brands

IFA: Merloni

In September 2002, a &quot;Social Responsibility Principles of Daimler&quot; was signed by Daimler and the Daimler World Employee Committee, on behalf of the International Metalworkers' Federation. In the agreement, Daimler acknowledges its social responsibility and supports the principles on human and workers' rights and the environment which form the basis for the United Nations' Global Compact initiative. The framework agreement also states that Daimler supports and encourages its suppliers to introduce and implement &quot;equivalent principles&quot; in their own companies and expects its suppliers to incorporate these principles as &quot;a basis for relations with Daimler.&quot;

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List of Daimler plants and brands

International Framework Agreements: A background

IFA: Daimler

BELARUS: The IMF's two Belarus affiliates, the Automobile &amp; Agricultural Machinery Workers' Union (AAM) and the Radio &amp; Electronics Industry Workers' Union (REI), held a protest action on May 22 against "the impoverishment of the people."

If the number of participants -- 1,000 -- may seem modest, under the conditions existing in Belarus this was really an achievement. Government authorities tried to prevent the action, and even the management of one of the companies involved informed its workers their wages would be paid during the time the action was taking place. Others were told they would lose their jobs if they participated in the protest. 

Challenging the conditions of general silence and submissiveness in the country, people attended the meeting to express their distrust of the government.

Participants challenge the conditions of general silence and submissiveness in the country.

Belarus affiliates hold protest

GREAT BRITAIN: Although the British government has presented a long-awaited draft Bill on corporate manslaughter to legislate for victims of corporate killing, the IMF-affiliated GMB union says the proposed legislation does not go far enough.

The union welcomes the tightening of law regarding workplace health and safety but underlines the weakness of the draft legislation as it will only target companies themselves for failure to set or maintain standards leading to death. The law will not be directed towards the criminal liability of individual directors.

A GMB spokesperson stated that "failure to target individual directors or others responsible for running companies will constitute a weakness in the legislation. Nothing will focus the mind of company directors more than the threat of imprisonment. This must be explicit within the legislation. We await the details with interest and will respond fully."

Worldwide, union pressure continues to mount in the campaign to improve health and safety at work, and being able to punish corporate criminals is part of this struggle.

The GMB says the UK government's proposed legislation doesn't go far enough.

New law on corporate killing

ARGENTINA/GENEVA: A variety of investigations are trying to shed light upon the Argentinean military regime of 1976-1983. Some of these investigations focus on the disappearances of trade unionists. One case regards the Mercedes Benz plant in Argentina, where 14 people disappeared in the years 1976-1977.

In this connection, individual journalists and surviving relatives have raised allegations against José Rodriguez, president of the IMF-affiliated Argentinean trade union SMATA, claiming that he played a role in the disappearances.

José Rodriguez, who has been an IMF Executive Committee member since 1973, strongly denies the allegations.

The allegations and resulting debate are provoking reports about the issue in a vast number of public media outlets. Following this, not only José Rodriguez, but also the International Metalworkers' Federation and IMF affiliates are being implicated in the different allegations. 

Subsequently, the Executive Committee, which met in Geneva on May 14, 2003, decided to suspend José Rodriguez from his post on the Executive, pending the outcome of the allegations against him. 

The IMF Executive Committee also clearly stated that José Rodriguez has the right to be considered innocent until the opposite has been proven.

José Rodriguez, a vice-president of the IMF, has been suspended from his Executive Committee post.

IMF EC member suspended

AUSTRIA: The IMF's Austrian affiliate, Gewerkschaft Metall-Textil (GMT), will join the national trade union confederation ÖGB in country-wide protests and strikes today (May 6) over government plans to increase the national retirement age. A massive demonstration is also being organised for May 13. 

Some 1.4 million ÖGB members are mobilising -- from public transport, to metal and other industries, teachers, the medical profession, printing press, etc. -- for what is expected to be the country's biggest industrial action in over half a century. 

Although the trade unions and their social partners had tried to defer changes in the proposed legislation so that a solution of mutual consent might have been found, the government rejected any delay and introduced a draft law to Parliament on April 29.

If passed, the legislation will prolong by five years the period for pension contributions -- from 40 to 45 years. The president of the Austrian metalworkers' union, Rudolf Nürnberger, says "the government draft means extensive cuts in future pensions of up to minus 41 per cent."

Over one million trade union members strike over government attempts to increase retirement age.

Workers mobilise in Austria

GENEVA/GLOBAL: In this year's IMF message for the First of May, the IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, stresses the importance of global trade union solidarity. With the many forces which are dividing the world now more than ever, all trade unions have a responsibility, he insists, to build up links so that nations are helped in working towards a sustainable peace.

"The international trade union movement must mobilise all its forces worldwide because workers everywhere are in great difficulty, and struggling hard," says Malentacchi. "In light of the economic crisis, some must fight to keep already achieved rights. Some continue their fight to acquire fundamental rights, such as to belong to a union or to bargain collectively. Many are fighting to build up democracy in their own countries."

On May 1st, all trade union members -- wherever they live and whatever they do, no matter their colour or creed -- have a responsibility to march in the streets to proclaim their universal values. "Let us seize the day," declared Marcello Malentacchi, "to show that we are a great movement, across all boundaries."

For the full text of the general secretary's First of May Message, go to the IMF website Opinion Column on www.imfmetal.org.

All trade unionists everywhere have a responsibility in strengthening international solidarity, and helping to work towards a sustainable peace.

May 1st message by Marcello Malentacchi

Celebrating May 1st

Every year, for more than 100 years, the trade union movement worldwide -- with few exceptions -- has celebrated the First of May.

We will commemorate this day again next week.

It is a day to be devoted especially to international solidarity, and it is as important as ever before, now when so many forces are trying to divide us.

This is especially true after the recent war in Iraq, with tensions so high -- not only between some Arabic and Western countries, but also between "coalition" and "non-coalition" countries, and within countries. We all have a responsibility to work together to build up links to make it easier for nations to work together for sustainable peace.

Peace can only be built up if sustainable economic programmes, aimed at raising the standard of living of workers and their families, are introduced and practiced in the regions and countries where the need is greatest.

The international trade union movement must mobilise all its forces worldwide because workers everywhere are in great difficulty, and struggling hard.

In light of the economic crisis, some must fight to keep already achieved rights. Some continue their fight to acquire fundamental rights, such as to belong to a union or to bargain collectively. Many are fighting to build up democracy in their own countries.

Let's not forget the migrant workers and refugees. Some have been forced to leave their countries in search of safety. Others have left their homes to find a place to start a new life for themselves and their families.

May 1st is the day all of us must march in the streets to shout that we have the same values. No matter where we live or what we do. No matter our colour or creed.

Let us seize the day to show that we are a great movement, across all boundaries.

Long live the First of May!

Celebrating international solidarity

<TABLE cellSpacing="1" cellPadding="3" width="439" border="1">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign="top" width="24%" bgColor="#336699">
Company </TD>
<TD vAlign="top" width="21%" bgColor="#336699" colSpan="2">
Home country </TD>
<TD vAlign="top" width="55%" bgColor="#336699">
</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign="top" width="24%">
Leoni </TD>
<TD vAlign="top" width="21%" colSpan="2">
Germany </TD>
<TD vAlign="top" width="55%">
</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign="top" width="24%" bgColor="#c0c0c0">
Present in </TD>
<TD vAlign="top" width="76%" colSpan="3"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign="top" colSpan="4">
Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, China (People's Rep.), India </TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign="top" width="24%" bgColor="#c0c0c0">
Main plants </TD>
<TD vAlign="top" width="76%" colSpan="3"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign="top" colSpan="4">
Nürnberg, Weissenburg, Kötzting, Roth, Lilienthal, Friesoythe, Brake/Unterwese, Georgensgmünd, Schmalkalden, Neuhaus-Schierschnitz, Würzburg, Kitzingen and Neuburg/Donau in Germany; Codogno in Italy; Hasselt in Belgium; Gellainville and Burnhaupt Le Haut in France; Cinderford, Harlescott, Newcastle-under-Lyme in the United Kingdom; Birr in Ireland; Guimaraes in Portugal; Frydlant in Czech Republic; Kobierzyce and Ostrzeszow in Poland; Stará Turá, Nova Dubnica and Trencin in Slovakia; Hatvan and Eger in Hungary, Arad in Romania; Mudanya-Bursa in Turkey; Chicopee (MA), Tucson (AZ), Troy (MI) and Columbus (IN) in the USA; Kitchener (ON) in Canada; Chihuahua and Hermosillo in Mexico; Barueri and Itu in Brazil; Cairo in Egypt; Sousse in Tunisia; Uitenhage and East London in South Africa; Changzhou and Xiamen in China (People's Rep.); Pune in India.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Note: The table does not necessarily display all countries where the company is present or all the manufacturing plants. Suppliers and subcontractors are not listed.
Source: Company website

IFA: Leoni

GREAT BRITAIN/USA: Two IMF affiliates -- the UK's Iron and Steel Trades Confederation and the Communications Workers of America -- are publicly calling for votes against the executive remuneration policies of two UK companies: the ISTC with regard to the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus, and the CWA for the global information company Reuters.

Trade unions are showing increasing interest in shareholder voting on executive pay, and in the UK, where all listed companies must now put pay policies to an advisory shareholder vote, executive pay has become a major focus for investor discontent at annual general meetings.

Reacting to proposals revealed in the just-published annual report of Corus, to change the bonus scheme for directors so that it is no longer linked to profitability and the maximum payable would be increased from 50% to 60% of salary, Michael Leahy, ISTC general secretary, said that directors wanted to be insulated from failure. "At a time when Corus has lost its chief executive, has recorded another loss, warned of capacity and plant reductions and staff morale is at an all time low, what type of example is this to set?" asked Leahy. He is urging shareholders to reject these proposals at the annual general meeting scheduled for April 29.

Prior to that, on April 14, the ISTC is organising a "Red Card Day" to protest against Corus management and demand the resignation of Corus chairman, Sir Brian Moffat. In a message of solidarity to the union, IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi said the IMF fully supported the call for Sir Moffat to resign: "His resignation -- together with an urgently needed management change to ensure that proper consultation and constructive partnership are the order of the day -- would be in the fullest interest of Corus workers, their families and communities."

In a letter to Reuters shareholders, who will meet on April 17, Morton Bahr, CWA president, has also called for opposition to approval of the directors' remuneration report. Executive pay, says Bahr, is "not simply a cost issue, but also an issue of corporate performance." But performance targets, he stated, had to be well balanced -- not rewarding under performance, and not providing incentives to executives to take undue risks or make short-term decisions. There was particular concern about the potential for excessive executive pay in light of major recent layoffs, corporate restructuring and the related impacts on working conditions.


Note: On April 23, Corus announced the appointment of Philippe Varin as chief executive and Jim Leng as chairman, respectively, of the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker. Commenting on this news, the ISTC general secretary, Michael Leahy, said that the "unique red card protest staged by Corus' employees last week has clearly been listened to and Moffat has, in effect, gone."

The ISTC and CWA are publicly calling for shareholders to vote against the executive remuneration policies of two UK companies.

Unions urge votes against executive pay schemes

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