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<p>The International Metalworkers' Federation boasts more than 200 affiliated unions in 100 countries and represents the interests of 25 million metalworkers worldwide.</p><h3>Congress</h3><p>Our key decision-making body is <strong>Congress,</strong> which meets once every four years and agrees to an <u><a href="index.cfm?n=673"><strong>action programme</strong></a></u> which sets out the long-term aims and goals of our work. All affiliates have the right to send delegates to Congress.</p><p>Congress also determines the <strong><a href="../index.cfm?c=20018&amp;ol=2">Rules</a></strong> of the organisation, indicating how the IMF is run.</p><h3>Committees</h3><p>The <strong>Central Committee</strong> meets once every two years and is responsible for all decisions made between Congresses.</p><p>The Congress elects the <strong>President</strong> and the <strong>General Secretary</strong> of the IMF and the <strong>Executive Committee</strong>. 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.</p><p>The <strong>Finance Committee</strong> 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.</p><p>The<strong> Secretariat</strong> carries out the decisions made by Congress and the Central Committee. It is managed by the General Secretary. </p><p>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>.</p><p>IMF activities are primarily financed by affiliation fees from its member organisations. </p>

Governing bodies

<p>At our 2005 Congress, we adopted an Action Programme setting out four main areas for action, which include:</p><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><p><em>In our commitment to creating <strong>global structures to meet global challenges</strong>, the IMF will: </em></p><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><p><em>As we develop strategies to <strong>engage transnational companies</strong>, the IMF will:</em></p><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><p><em>As we <strong>strengthen solidarity</strong> and capacity to organise, the IMF will: </em></p><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><p><em>To promote a <strong>social dimension to economic globalisation</strong>, the IMF will:</em></p><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

Useful links to organisations, media outlets, etc.

External contacts

<p>INDIA: More than 1300 workers went on indefinite strike on April 20 after management at Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), located in Chennai, India, refused to negotiate contract demands with the Hyundai Motor India Employees&#039; Union (HMIEU). </p><p>The company has taken a firm position that it will not negotiate with HMIEU, the sole registered union at the plant, and instead is pressing to enter into agreement with a company-appointed Works Committee. Workers downed tools after three rounds of mediation by the Deputy Labour Commissioner (DLC), during which HMIL expressed its refusal to negotiate with the union, failed to bring results. </p><p>Hyundai Motor India, which employees some 3000 precarious workers, has a history of rights abuses in the plant. The company recently terminated the contracts of some 600 workers, some who had worked at the plant for almost 4 years, just prior to them receiving permanent status. </p><p>Since July 2007, in response to the formation of the HMIEU, trade union leaders, members and supporters have suffered from dismissals, suspensions and transfers and workers have faced management&#039;s widespread use of threats, harassment and intimidation for joining a union. Currently 65 workers have been fired for their union activities and 34 more are in the process of being dismissed. </p><p>Approximately 1200 permanent workers, out of a total of 1500 permanent employees, and a large number of precarious workers are supporting the strike.</p><p>Among the charter of demands, workers are calling for:</p><ul><li>Union recognition and a collective bargaining agreement;</li><li>Equal treatment of all workers; </li><li>Reinstatement of all precarious workers fired as a result of the company&#039;s response to the economic crisis or those fired in an effort to deny them permanent status;</li><li>Reinstatement of union members and officers unfairly fired, transferred or suspended and the withdrawal of all charges pending against them.</li></ul><p>In March 2009, the International Hyundai-Kia Workers&#039; Network meeting hosted by the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation and the Korean Metal Workers&#039; Union passed a resolution in support of HMIEU efforts and calling for an end to violations of trade union rights at HMIL. To see resolution text, <a href="../main/files/09042709334884/Hyundai%20Kia%20Network%20Resolution%20MARCH%202009.pdf">click here</a>.</p>

Workers at Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) have entered the fourth day of strike action in protest of gross trade union rights violations and the company's refusal to enter collective bargaining with the union.

Hyundai-Kia Network meeting resolution

Indian autoworkers strike Hyundai

<p>Welcome to the IMF, the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation. Our organisation represents the collective interests of 25 million metalworkers in more than 200 unions in 100 countries. The IMF is a federation of national unions - a union of unions - in the metal industry at world level. The IMF head office is in Geneva, Switzerland, where worldwide activities are coordinated with a network of regional offices. </p><p>&#160;</p>

About The IMF

<p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p><strong>By working with other organisations, the IMF aims to</strong></p><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><p>See our <a href="../index.cfm?n=673">2009-2013 Action Programme</a> for full details.</p>

Improving workers&#039; wages, conditions and rights

<p>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. </p><p>The IMF aims to improve metalworkers' wages, working and living conditions and defends the rights of metalworkers at a global level.</p><p>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.</p><p>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>.</p><h3>Solidarity in action</h3><p>Read about the work of the IMF in action, as showcased in our case studies: </p><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.

Export Processing Zones

<p>GENEVA: The <a href="../congress2009/files/09042021363279/Report-secretariat-2009-english-FINAL.pdf" title="Report of the Secretariat 2009">Report of the Secretariat</a> report details IMF work against the 2005-2009 Action Programme.</p><p>Including an introduction from outgoing IMF General Secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, the report provides analysis on successes, and remaining challenges to improving metalworkers&#039; wages, working and living conditions. </p><p>As well as providing an evaluation of different strategies, the report makes recommendations on future actions required by the IMF and affiliates in order to achieve our goals.</p><p>Compiling country by country reports in alphabetical order, the <a href="../congress2009/files/09042223270179/Reports_of_Affiliates_2009-EN.pdf" title="Reports of Affiliates">Reports of Affiliates</a> provides a snapshot on the circumstances for metalworkers globally. </p><p>For the first time IMF affiliates were asked to specifically report on the situation for precarious workers and how unions are responding. </p><p>Both reports provide crucial information for delegates&#039; preparation for the IMF World Congress. </p><p>All Congress delegates will receive a printed copy of both reports in their Congress kit when they arrive in Gothenburg and electronic copies have already been circulated. </p><p>To download copies please visit <a href="../Congress2009">www.imfmetal.org/Congress2009</a> </p>

New reports covering the activities of the IMF Secretariat and affiliates over the last four years are now available to download on the IMF World Congress Website.

New Congress reports now available

<h3>AFRICA</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">South Africa</td><td width="35%">Christina Olivier</td><td width="38%">NUMSA</td></tr><tr><td>South Africa</td><td>Irvin Jim</td><td>NUMSA</td></tr><tr><td>Kenya</td><td>Maero Tindi </td><td>AUKM</td></tr><tr><td>Tunisia</td><td>Tahar Berberi</td><td>FGME-UGTT</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>ASIA AND THE PACIFIC</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">Indonesia</td><td width="35%">Darmawati Djunaedi Natakusumah</td><td width="38%">FSPMI</td></tr><tr><td>Japan</td><td>Koichiro Nishihara</td><td>IMF-JC</td></tr><tr><td>Australia</td><td>Paul Howes</td><td>AWU</td></tr><tr><td>India</td><td>G. Sanjeeva Reddy<br />(May 09 - May11)<br />Sanjay S. Vadhavkar<br />(Nov. 11 - May 13)</td><td>INMF<br /><br />SMEWFI<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">Argentina</td><td width="35%">Luis García Ortiz <br />(may 09 - may 10)<br /><br />Hector Laplace<br />(nov 10 - nov 11)<br /><br />Francisco Gutierrez<br />(may 12 - may 13)</td><td width="38%">ASIMRA<br /><br /><br />AOMA<br /><br /><br />UOM</td></tr><tr><td>Colombia<br /><br /><br />Brazil</td><td><p align="left">Nohora Estela Tovar<br />(May 09 - May 11)<br /><br />Valter Sanches<br />(Nov 11 - May 13)</p></td><td>FETRAMECOL<br /><br /><br />CNM/CUT</td></tr><tr><td>Brazil</td><td>Monica de Oliveira Lourenço Velozo</td><td>CNTM</td></tr><tr><td>Mexico</td><td>Napoleón Gómez</td><td>SNTMMS</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>NORTH AMERICA</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">Canada</td><td width="35%">Carol Landry</td><td width="38%">USW</td></tr><tr><td>USA</td><td>Bob King</td><td>UAW</td></tr><tr><td>USA</td><td>Tom Buffenbarger</td><td>IAMAW</td></tr><tr><td>USA</td><td>Leo Gerard</td><td>USW</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>WESTERN EUROPE</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Germany</td><td>Berthold Huber </td><td>IG Metall </td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Sweden</td><td width="35%">Stefan Löfven</td><td width="38%">IF Metall </td></tr><tr><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Len McCluskey</td><td>British Section</td></tr><tr><td>Italy</td><td>Giuseppe Farina</td><td>FLM</td></tr><tr><td>France</td><td>Blandine Landas</td><td>FGMM-CFDT</td></tr><tr><td>Spain</td><td>Javier Urbina </td><td>MCA-UGT</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>CENTRAL &amp; EASTERN EUROPE</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">Russia</td><td width="35%">Michael Tarassenko </td><td width="38%">MMWU</td></tr><tr><td>Czech Rep.</td><td>Josef Stredula </td><td>OS KOVO</td></tr><tr><td>Macedonia</td><td>Mare Anceva </td><td>SIER</td></tr></tbody></table>

IMF Executive Committee (2009-2013)

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