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Prensa

<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="7" WIDTH="460">
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
Date</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
Rebar</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
Merchant bar</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
Wire Rod</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
Heavy Plate</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
HRC</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
CRC</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
April 3</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
270</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
228</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
360</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
335</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
415</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
May 1</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
270</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
228</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
360</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
335</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
415</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
June 5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
270</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
228</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
360</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
335</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
425</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
July 3</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
270</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
228</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
360</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
315</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
415</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
August 7</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
260</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
223</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
360</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
315</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
415</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
Sept. 4</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
253</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
223</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
380</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
293</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
415</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
Oct. 5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
255</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
223</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
375</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
250</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
375</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
Nov. 6</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
258</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
205</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
368</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
205</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
310</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
Dec. 11</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
225</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
205</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
368</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
205</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
310</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
Jan. 8</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
235</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
205</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
368</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
215</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
310</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
Feb. 5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
233</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
200</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
368</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
205</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
310</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
March 8</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
233</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
195</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
368</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
205</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
310</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
April 9</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
230</TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP">
233</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
195</TD>
<TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP">
368</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
215</TD>
<TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">
310</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


Source MB

Western European Steel Prices For Export ($/tonne)

<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="4" WIDTH="307">
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Country</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
IMF Affiliates</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Belgium</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
CMB, CCMB</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Canada&#009;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
USWA</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Czech Republic</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
MFCR</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Denmark&#009;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
Dansk Metall</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Finland</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
ML, STL</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
France</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
FGMM, FO</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Germany</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
IG Metall</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Greece</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
PMF</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Hong Kong</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
HKTUC, CMIU</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Ireland</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
SIPTU</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Netherlands</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
FNV, CNV</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
New Zealand&#009;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
NZEUI</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Norway</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
Fellesforbundet, HKN</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Poland</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
NSZZ</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Portugal&#009;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
SIMA</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Spain</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
ELA-STV, MCA-UGT, CCOO</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Switzerland</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
SMUV, SYNA</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
Turkey</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
BMI, TMS, Ozcelik-Is</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
United Kingdom</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
ISTC,T&amp;G, GMB, AEEU</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
United States</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP">
USWA</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

Corus Subsidiaries

KOREA, REP: The head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), Dan Byung-ho, and other leaders in the organisation have been accused of using violence and firebombs in the June 2 activities. The KCTU commented that the protest was not violent compared to previous protests and that the police overreacted. 
Some 10,000 members of the KCTU rallied in Seoul to protest against government-initiated economic restructuring, which is resulting in massive layoffs. 
Separately, about 700 workers from the country's metal industry union protested at the General Motors' branch building in Korea, shouting their opposition to the sale of Daewoo Motor to GM. On May 30, GM submitted a takeover proposal for the Korean automaker, but Daewoo's labour union fears that any takeover will lead to mass layoffs. 
KCTU leaders have reiterated their pledge to organise a nationwide solidarity strike on June 12 to put pressure on the government to stop its restructuring drive.

The Seoul police announced on Sunday, June 3, that it will arrest the KCTU president, Dan Byung-ho.

Interview with Dan Byung-ho about his years in prison

Police to arrest KCTU leaders

It was a good discussion that the Executive Committee of the IMF held last week on one of the most important issues that it has ever discussed. 

The millennium review, which should look at the next few decades rather than thousand years, aims at strengthening the trade union movement at all levels. 

The debate, which was initiated by the ICFTU at its last Congress, in April 2000 in Durban, is an ongoing process. It is structured around five main topics: 

- strengthening national trade unions, with the priority to organise; 
- tackling transnational companies (TNCs); 
- transforming the global economy; 
- ICFTU regional structures and constitution; 
- campaigns and communications. 

Each one of these topics deserves and needs discussion and deep analysis. The first report will be given to the ICFTU Executive Committee in November this year. 

At our meeting last week, the IMF Executive Committee focused on two aspects: 

- organising and 
- transnational companies. 

Organising workers, both traditional blue- and white-collar, in democratic, representative and independent trade unions remains our priority NUMBER ONE. Where trade unions do not exist, we have to take care to build up new ones. Where they do exist, we will have to strengthen their position. 

By building unity among unions which are divided, but also by giving national trade unions collective bargaining strength at national level, we can contribute to laying the groundwork for strong and democratic organisations. 

The international trade union movement can only be strong if it is based on strong national unions. 

On this aspect of the debate, provoked by the excellent introduction of Bob Kyloh, from the ILO's ACTRAV, it was clear which way IMF affiliates want to go. 

On the question of transnational companies, IMF affiliates say that tackling and targeting TNCs with codes of conduct and worldwide agreements is important. 

On the other hand, it is equally important that we do not let TNCs use company-level negotiations to destroy national agreement systems. 

Furthermore, the IMF Executive Committee is strongly supporting the initiative taken by the Secretariat with respect to a conference that global trade unions (the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, international trade secretariats, Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD) should organise to decide the strategy to be adopted by all of us before deciding our participation in the Economic Forum in Davos or the Social Forum of Porto Alegre. 

If the ICFTU will not take the initiative, the IMF together with other ITSs and with its own affiliates will have to look for alternatives.

The millennium review

INDONESIA: Major trade unions have threatened to continue encouraging mass strikes until the government cancels the review of a ministerial decree on severance payments. 
The All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI) has insisted it will never agree to a compromise with the employers' association and the government over the ruling and that it would remain on strike until the now-defunct decree on severance and service payments is reinstated. 
The FSPSI will stage another strike on June 11 to put pressure on the government to revive the decree issued last year which guaranteed the rights of resigning and retiring workers to receive severance and service payments. A new decree issued in late April by the minister of manpower annulled the old regulation.

Workers are not seeking financial advantages from the decree on severance payment, but worker protection.

Unions continue rallies in Indonesia

FINLAND: The president of Finland has conferred on Per-Erik Lundh, the retired president of the Finnish Metalworkers' Union and a former member of IMF Executive Committee, the right to use the honorary title of "Minister". In Finland, this is a highly prestigious title, usually granted only to eminent politicians. 
Lundh, the first Finnish trade unionist to have received this title, was president of the Finnish Metalworkers from 1983 to 2000, and also president of the Nordic Metalworkers. Before becoming leader of the metalworkers' union, he was general secretary of the SAK national trade union centre.

Former president of the Finnish metalworkers receives distinguished title in acknowledgement of his contributions to society.

Lundh gets high recognition

GENEVA: In an urgent letter to IMF affiliates, its general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, is strongly urging them to make donations to the people suffering from the recent natural catastrophes in India and El Salvador. 
Malentacchi says that the tragedies which have devastated Central America and India, with thousands of casualties and huge losses of property for people who were already living in poor conditions, cannot be overlooked. Hundreds of thousands of people in El Salvador and India have lost everything they own. 
In his letter, Malentacchi appeals to "all metalworkers in the world to make donations to the people suffering from such tragedies. Help can be channelled through humanitarian organisations which are already operating in the regions concerned, such as the Red Cross, Caritas, Medicins Sans Frontières." 
Malentacchi's letter to IMF affiliates ends with an IMF message of solidarity to all the people hit by these tragedies.

The International Metalworkers' Federation calls on its affiliates to help the victims of the earthquakes in India and El Salvador.

IMF appeals for help for victims of the earthquakes

GREAT BRITAIN: Over 10,000 people took part in a mass demonstration at the General Motors Vauxhall plant in Luton on Saturday, January 20, in protest over the unilateral decision taken by GM to close its Luton plant in 2002. The company did not consult the plant's workers or their unions over its plan, resulting in workers learning about their job loss through the mass media. 
Taking part in the march in addition to the 2,000-plus Vauxhall employees and their families were many others who will be affected by the cost-cutting measures drawn up by GM's U.S. management. There were workers from GM parts suppliers, and workers from other GM plants in the UK and the European mainland which will be affected by the GM decision. Among those supporting their British colleagues were workers from Spain, Belgium and Germany, as well as representatives from the European Trade Union Confederation and the IMF. 
During the protest rally, trade union leaders and members of Parliament voiced strong demands for GM to reverse its decision, which, they said, not only ignores GM's obligations under European law but is also contrary to the commitment given for the Luton plant two years ago when the UK government provided some £40 million to reequip the plant and secure its future. One of the speakers at the rally, the general secretary of the Transport &amp; General Workers' Union, Bill Morris, demanded of GM a "change of mind and a change of policy." He added that "the argument is not just about economics, but it is also about morality. We signed an agreement, we have delivered the productivity targets the company set, we have good industrial relations, produce cars of excellent quality, and what's more, the plant is profitable. But the 'reward' for the town, for the community and the workers is closure." 
A message sent to the rally on behalf of the United Auto Workers' GM Department in the U.S. pledged solidarity in opposing GM's efforts to downsize their operations and stated that GM decisions "seem to be made without regard to the effects on the communities of which they are a part or the families of our members who are affected. As you are aware, General Motors has closed or sold off over 40 major manufacturing operations affecting large numbers of our members... In the United States the downsizing came about because of faulty and short-term corporate decisions that cost General Motors marketshare and customers... We understand the concerns that you are facing and wish you well in your efforts to protect your members." 
A Europe-wide day of action on January 25 will see the participation of employees and their unions from all GM's European locations. They reject plant closures due to bad management and are demanding job guarantees for Luton, Ellesmere Port and other locations, plus future job guarantees.

GM's Vauxhall workers are fighting to keep their jobs.

Resistance grows over Vauxhall Luton plant

10,000 attend protest rally

GENEVA: Marcello Malentacchi, IMF general secretary, has welcomed the new Porto Alegre initiative as an alternative to the World Economic Forum in Davos. He has for some time proposed establishing an alternative, that is a labour movement alternative, to the Davos forum. 
Trade unions, he says, with all their experience and pragmatism, provide the only realistic counterweight to unfettered capitalism. Consequently, the initiative for the World Social Forum, taking place in Porto Alegre, Brazil, during the same period as the World Economic Forum, January 25-30, 2001, can provide a new international arena for opening up a debate about globalisation from a social perspective. 
Read the entire opinion by clicking on the first associated link.

In his new opinion column, the IMF general secretary welcomes the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as a labour movement alternative to Davos.

Marcello Malentacchi's opinion column

Davos or Porto Alegre?

Every year trade union leaders discuss the question of whether or not we should go to Davos. It is always exciting to have access to the "crème de la crème" of the capitalist system which rules the entire world. 
In the past, some trade union leaders have decided to participate in the World Economic Forum, while others found it more interesting and useful to give priority to other activities. This, I should point out, has nothing to do with ideology. It is simply a question of how we allocate our resources. 
The IMF has never participated in Davos. Nevertheless, many presidents and general secretaries of IMF-affiliated unions have done so and have provided some positive contributions to the debates which have taken place. So, also, have leaders of other international trade secretariats (ITSs) and the ICFTU. 
I am afraid, however, that the results are not as good as we would have hoped. For some time, I have proposed establishing an alternative to Davos -- not just an alternative, but a labour movement alternative to Davos. 
It is somewhat disappointing that we, in the trade union and wider labour movement, have been unable to agree to take such an initiative. Global unions -- that is the ICFTU, the ITSs and TUAC -- attempted to raise this issue at the Socialist International, to initiate a dialogue that could have resulted in such a gathering, but sadly, the Socialist International has not awakened to our call and not even had the courtesy to reply to our letters. 
Trade unions, with all their experience and pragmatism, provide the only realistic counterweight to unfettered capitalism. Consequently, I welcome the Porto Alegre initiative -- the alternative to the Davos World Economic Forum which is called the World Social Forum -- to open up a debate about globalisation from a social perspective, but this cannot and must not be restricted to just the Third World. Trade unions from every continent must participate and contribute to the conference in Brazil. 
The major force behind this initiative is the local government of the Rio Grande do Sul. But local government cannot by itself successfully carry on the struggle against the enormous power that the decision-makers in the capitalist system can bring to bear, who will do whatever is necessary to destroy this attempt to coordinate opposition to their freedom to exploit the world's natural and human resources. We, in the trade union movement, must lend our support. 
Trade unions have much more in common with the organisers of the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre than those who organise the World Economic Forum, or even those who coordinate the demonstrations outside the congress hall in Davos. 
And while the ticket to travel to Brazil might be more expensive than the one to Switzerland, you will not have to pay an exorbitant fee just to listen to all the nonsense and economic dogma that will be produced in Davos. 
There can only be one sensible conclusion: go to Porto Alegre.

An alternative to the World Economic Forum is the World Social Forum.