English

Español

Français

Русский

Aerospace

Automotive

Base metals

Chemical, pharmaceutical and bio-science

Energy

Glass, cement, ceramic and associated industries

ICT, electrical and electronics

Mechanical Engineering

Mining and DGOJP

Pulp and paper

Rubber

Shipbuilding and shipbreaking

Textile, garment, shoes, leather and textile services

Sectors

Action on textile and garment industry

Clean up shipbreaking

Ratify ILO C176

United for a just future - time to pay up!

Disinvest from Myanmar

Action Plan 2021-2025

Global Framework Agreements

Union building

Women

Youth

White-collar workers

Health & safety

Industry 4.0

Just Transition

Organizing with industriALL

What we do

Affiliates

Statutes

Elected Officials

Executive Committee

Geneva head office

South East Asia

Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus

Latin America and the Caribbean

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Regional offices

About us

Global worker No1 2022

Global worker No2 2022

Publications

Resources

Press

ITALY:  Metalworker unions in Italy are divided over the recent signing of a national agreement for the renewal of the national contract set to expire at the end of 2011. The draft agreement, signed by IMF affiliates FIM-CISL and UILM-UIL on October 15, is now being discussed by workers at the local level and will be considered by the National Assembly of workers' representatives of FIM-CISL and UILM-UIL in Bergamo on November 6. A referendum by all FIM-CISL and UILM-UIL members is taking place from November 25 to 27, 2009.The scope of the agreement includes minimum wage increases, income support fund, training, health and safety initiatives and new rules on collective bargaining, subcontracted labour and part-time work.The agreement is not supported by IMF affiliate FIOM-CGIL, arguing that the agreement should be submitted to all workers who will be covered by the agreement.The division between the unions stems from a disagreement on the rules for collective bargaining for a national agreement and on rules for the submission of the agreement reached with the employers to all the workers it will apply to.As FIM General Secretary Giuseppe Farina explains in an interview with the press, this negotiation is being carried out under the new collective bargaining rules set by the agreement signed at the national level by the national trade union centres CISL and UIL and not by CGIL. It is the first time in Italy that a separate agreement provides the collective bargaining structure for workers.FIM General Secretary Farina indicated that FIOM were encouraged to be part of the negotiation, but FIOM refused. FIOM states that before the signature, it requested a stop to the negotiations, with the aim of achieving mediation between the two platforms and to decide together the ballot among workers. Earlier, FIOM and 250,000 metalworkers went on strike in defence of maintaining a jointly negotiated national collective agreement, see previous IMF news item <a href="../index.cfm?id=622&amp;l=2&amp;cid=20956">here</a>.

Italian metalworkers divided over the signing of a national agreement.

Italian unions divided over agreement

GLOBAL: The newly founded International Center for Development and Decent Work, which was established in cooperation with the Global Labour University <a href="http://www.global-labour-university.org/">www.global-labour-university.org </a>and the International Labour Organization, is offering 20 PhD Scholarships.ICDD is an interdisciplinary and international scientific network of excellence with the head office located at the University of Kassel, Germany and partner universities in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The PhD school is organised around three research clusters: <ul><li>Sustainable Value Creation for Decent Work</li><li>Instruments for Promoting Decent Work</li><li>Strategies of Empowerment for Decent Work</li></ul>The course will commence on March 1, 2010 and the deadline for applications is November 15, 2009.For details and an application form see:<a href="http://www.global-labour-university.org/fileadmin/download/ICDD_Graduate_School_Call_for_Applications.pdf">http://www.global-labour-university.org/fileadmin/download/ICDD_Graduate_School_Call_for_Applications.pdf</a>

November 15, 2009 is the deadline to apply for a PhD scholarship at the ICDD.

PhD Scholarships at International Centre for Development and Decent Work

GERMANY: Around 50 union representatives from IMF affiliates in Australia, Europe, Japan, North America and Singapore met at IG Metall headquarters on October 29-30, 2009 to discuss organising tools and strategies for non-manual workers against the backdrop of the global crisis.  In a key note presentation on structural developments in the metal industry, Professor Volker Wittke from the University of Göttingen highlighted the continuous shift from manual to non-manual work taking place within industry driven by automation, technological innovation, the demand for new products and services, and globalization.  All these changes have a major impact on the composition of the workforce in core sectors of the metal industry, on skill requirements, work organisation and working conditions, in particular a significant increase in workload and work intensification.   Although the crisis alone was not a sufficient reason for non-manual workers to join a union, Dr. Heiner Dribbusch from the Hans-Böckler Foundation pointed out that unions could take advantage of opportunities to demonstrate their relevance, their effectiveness and the benefits of collective action at this time.   Helga Schwitzer, IG Metall Executive Board, noted that this year 13,000 non-manual workers had joined IG Metall , representing a 2.4 per cent increase over the preceding year whereas overall membership had dropped by about one per cent.  Representatives from other countries reported similar developments in their own organisations, arguing that these workers no longer felt immune from restructuring and cost-cutting plans and they were mobilising for the defence of their rights more and more.   The seminar was structured around four panel discussions:  reaching out to young people; organising ICT workers and self-employed; organising engineers and professionals; and building solidarity between manual and non-manual workers.  The presentations on organising strategies in various countries gave rise to lively discussions and an in-depth exchange of views and experience on the problems and challenges facing affiliates in organising non-manual workers.   The main points of the discussions, as summarised by IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina, provided some ideas about future work:<ul><li>Mainstream non-manual workers' issues in all IMF activities and union-building projects</li><li>Update and build content to non-manual section on IMF web site</li><li>Networking and promoting exchange of information, material and ideas</li><li>Communications and visibility: articles on IMF web site, IMF NewsBriefs and Metal World</li><li>Union rights: action on countries with legal restrictions on organising non-manual workers</li></ul>Key topics highlighted by the meeting for ongoing exchange include:<ul><li>Innovative organising methods and cases</li><li>Union rights</li><li>Collective bargaining questions</li><li>Communications and services</li><li>Equal rights</li><li>Young workers</li></ul>Copies of presentations delivered at the meeting will be published on the IMF website.

With continuous shift from manual to non-manual work, unions should look to organizing non-manual workers more effectively.

Programme English

Programme French

DRIBBUSCH Heiner (Eng)

DRIBBUSCH Heiner (Ger)

WITTKE Volker (Ger)

MUREAU Anne-Marie

KOH Chia Ling

LIU Anna

LEVIN Rickard

LAIR Annie France (Fre)

BENNER Christiane (Eng)

BENNER Christiane (Ger)

SELS Werner

SLEVEN Renier (Ger)

JEARY Roger

NICOLAIDES Mike

IMF to mainstream organizing non-manual workers

USA: Two French trade unionists from the Fédération des Travailleurs de la Métallurgie (CGT), an affiliate of the International Metalworkers' Federation, were held by U.S. immigration officers at Chicago's O'Hare airport on October 29 and questioned about their involvement in a protest at the French operations of U.S.-based company, Molex Incorporated.The two unionists, who were detained for four hours, were part of a delegation of CGT members who travelled to Chicago to take part in an action at the company's shareholder meeting on October 30. Chicago unions contacted local U.S. Congressional offices calling for their release.Molex, an electronics parts manufacturer which supplies products to major car manufacturing companies, announced on October 23, 2008 that it would close its Villemur plant and lay off 283 workers. The company has repeatedly refused to disclose financial information to worker representatives, a violation of French labour law, and has illegally locked-out workers and refused to pay employees' wages and bonuses owed since August 6, 2009.The CGT, who represents Molex workers in France, is calling on the company to adhere to French law and keep its commitment to work with the trade union to preserve jobs and respect basic labour rights and worker protections.The French metalworkers were joined by some 80 trade unionists from Chicago-area unions including the United Steelworkers (USW), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), Workers United/SEIU, United Electrical Workers (UE), AFL-CIO, and Jobs with Justice. Despite having valid proxies, CGT members and a representative from the AFL-CIO were denied access to the shareholders' meeting.In a letter sent to Molex management in France prior to the shareholders' action, IMF general secretary Jyrki Raina urged the company to respect rule of law and its commitments to French workers. &quot;Should Molex Incorporated continue to blatantly violate French labour law, undermine the rights of its workers and fail to work with the French government and French unions to reach a fair and just resolution, the IMF will pursue global action and use our influence with Molex customers to refuse your products,&quot; he warned.

Members of the CGT were held for four hours by U.S. immigration officials for taking part in protesting the closure of a Molex plant in Villemur-sur-Tarn, France.

IMF letter to Molex OCT 09

French metalworkers detained at U.S. airport for union activity

ITALY: The Tenaris Workers' World Council met in Bergamo, Italy from October 28 to 30. Union representatives from six countries took part and recommitted themselves to their struggle to get the council recognized by company management. During the meeting the council took the decision to show solidarity to the Tenaris workers in Italy that are confronted by management plans to shed 1,024 jobs and close plants. With this in mind the council took the decision to deliver a letter to Tenaris management at the Dalmine plant. However the company refused to accept the letter from the council, provoking an in situ demonstration by the members of the council, an event which was widely covered by local media (the meeting and demonstration was held in front of the local plant).In addition to the protest the council held a discussion and approved a 2009-2010 action plan. The plan will start with an international day of action in all plants during the week of November 23, 2009. The plan of action also includes a delegation to Colombia to show support to SINTRATUCAR and to ensure the safety of its leaders. Rob Johnston, IMF Executive Director of Industrial and TNC Policies said at the conclusion of the meeting, &quot;We will not allow this company to continue to trample on workers and their aspirations. We are resolved to negotiate an International Framework Agreement and work to improve health and safety and working conditions in this company. Senior management seems to believe if they hide we will go away, but every time the council meets it gets stronger and so do our demands.&quot;

Tenaris Workers' World Council seeks recognition from management and plans a global week of action in the week of November 23, 2009.

Tenaris workers getting stronger

VIETNAM: The International Metalworkers' Federation's Shipbuilding Action Group met in Hanoi on November 11 and 12 to develop a global strategy for the shipbuilding industry in light of the current global economic and financial crisis. Unions from two regions took part in the meeting and considered a wide range of issues currently impacting on the global industry.The unions present recommitted themselves to playing an active role in trying to stop the industry from falling into a situation of overcapacity and unfair trade practices such as subsidies. The Shipbuilding Action Group agreed to continue to develop a global response to the problems faced by workers in the industry by developing a union position on both overcapacity and unfair trade.Rob Johnston IMF Executive Director commented that, &quot;workers have so far been the victims of the economic crisis and it now falls on our shoulders to ensure that they are not also the victims of protectionist measures that put workers in one country at a disadvantage to another country because of unfair subsidies.&quot; &quot;We have consistently argued that it's possible to maintain jobs in the industry, develop new technologies and skills by developing sustainable trade polices. However, this can only happen by taking a long-term view for the industry and not a short-term quick fix.&quot;The Action Group committed to developing a policy position that can be presented to the OECD WP6 (Shipbuilding). The Shipbuilding Action Group will be carrying out a consultation process before a final paper is produced.

Shipbuilding industry needs an even keel in trade.

IMF Shipbuilding Action Group meets

Whatever happens in Copenhagen climate change will remain at the top of the political agenda. If an agreement is concluded, which looks unlikely, then unions will have a key role to ensure that the burden of such an agreement does not fall on the shoulders of workers. We will also have a key role to play in the implementation of any agreement. Education of workers on climate issues is also a significant challenge in the future for unions, one that we can not ignore if we want to play an active role.If an agreement is not reached or agreed only in principle then we must continue to demand action in order to save our planet. As the debate on how best to respond to climate change continues, we must ensure that we present our views to the highest levels of government for an alternative world economy: A green economy which is based on the principles of social justice for all.The following websites offer additional information about climate change and trade union responses to this issue:<a href="http://www.unfccc.int/">http://www.unfccc.int/</a> <a href="http://www.climate.ituc-csi.org/">http://www.climate.ituc-csi.org/</a> <a href="../climatechange">www.imfmetal.org/climatechange</a> <a href="http://www.hazards.org/greenjobs">www.hazards.org/greenjobs</a> <a href="http://www.sustainlabour.org/">http://www.sustainlabour.org/</a> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../index.cfm?c=21579&amp;mwId=21566&amp;l=2">&lt;&lt; back</a></td><td> </td><td><a href="../index.cfm?c=21574&amp;mwId=21566&amp;l=2">beginning</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

Influencing the climate debate

How it all started

What is COP 15

Sustainable job creation

Special report Download the pdf file with illustrations >>

After Copenhagen?

Unions recognize that industrial change is happening. Workers must be prepared and protected. However, clear distinctions between the 'green' and traditional economy are impossible. There are vital economic and industrial links between sectors. 'Greening' skills in all sectors and worker participation are key. To be sustainable, future 'greener' jobs must be decent and unionized.The IMF supports the International Trade Union Confederation's position on Just Transition. Our present jobs can, in many cases, be sustainable, but changes will come. We believe that the costs and benefits of protecting the environment should be shared fairly. Just Transition is a message of hope: decent work and social justice can co-exist with environmental protection. However, this will only happen if the world plans for it, and makes it happen through public policies that are in the public interest.<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../index.cfm?c=21576&amp;mwId=21566&amp;l=2">&lt;&lt; back</a></td><td> </td><td><a href="../index.cfm?c=21574&amp;mwId=21566&amp;l=2">beginning</a></td><td> </td><td align="center" valign="middle"><a href="../index.cfm?c=21580&amp;mwId=21566&amp;l=2">forward &gt;&gt;</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

In a series of fact sheets about the COP 15, the UNFCCC states that the following four issues on the table at Copenhagen are essential to reaching a deal.1. Emission reduction targets for developed countriesDeveloped countries must accept the need to continue to take the lead in reducing global GHG emissions. In order to do so an agreement must be reached on an ambitious mid-term target for the group of developed countries as a whole, with each one making an effort of comparable scale in line with their historical responsibility and current capabilities.To date most developed countries have announced their mid-term target for emission reductions for 2020. However despite the fact that key developed country forums such as the G8 have recognized a 2°C limit, pledges for mid-term woefully short of the IPCC range (25 to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020). Negotiations could raise the current level of ambition.What are our key demands and what would we like to see included?•    A strong legally-binding, comprehensive global agreement ensuring ambitious reduction of green house gas emissions;•    Social justice and long-term employment policies as an integral element of climate policy;•    Environmental protection through reduced emissions (a social cost) whilst increasing employment (a social benefit) and largest emitters should lead;•    Sectoral concerns addressed, including a fair global carbon trading regime - climate change legislation should ensure a level playing field and eliminate the possibility of carbon leakage; and•    Insurance that any agreement includes international competitiveness provisions that do not disadvantage those companies and nations that are first to adopt carbon pricing schemes.2. Nationally appropriate mitigation actions of developing countries.The biggest contribution to the global emissions increase over the next decades is projected to come from developing countries; though their per capita C02 emissions will remain substantially lower than those in developed country regions. In previous meetings developing countries have indicated a willingness to undertake nationally appropriate mitigation actions, provided that they receive support for such actions.A major concern for developing countries is that mitigation could distract resources away from their overriding policies, which are poverty eradication and economic growth. The Copenhagen deal could build on domestic mitigation actions underway or planned in developing countries, and identify how they can be enhanced with international support.What are our key demands and what would we like to see included?•    Sustainability which integrates environmental, social and economic concerns. For labour the social dimension is crucial and must promote trade union values of economic development, a fair distribution of wealth, social welfare, equity, peace and human rights, thereby creating a complete framework for sustainability;•    Technology transfer that allows for a fair regime for the transfer of advanced technologies for materials and processes, and use of an international fund for research and development and largest emitters should lead; and•    Developing programmes which ensure a requirement that companies and corporations use best available technologies when they move production.3. Scaling up financial and technological support for both adaptation and mitigationAdequate financial, technological and capacity-building support is the engine for advancing international cooperation on climate change as well as national action. An essential part of a comprehensive deal at Copenhagen is identifying how to generate new, additional and predictable financial resources and technology. Resources that are needed for both adaptation and mitigation have been estimated to up to USD250 billion per annum in 2020.Start up funding is essential and the financial challenge is unique and stark. At the moment adaptation costs are primarily borne by the affected countries, including poor vulnerable communities which have no responsibility for emissions. Kick starting the action initiated in Copenhagen requires start up funding in the order of USD10 billion.What are our key demands and what would we like to see included?•    Modification of WTO rules to ensure that trade rules including those governing intellectual property do not undermine environmental objectives;•    Sharing science which allows developing countries to effectively measure emissions;•    Ensuring significant public and private investment in education and training, as well as research and development innovation; and•    Worker participation in the formulation and implementation of these programmes, as well as information and consultation rights on the sustainable development of companies.4. An effective institutional framework with governance structures that address the needs of developing countries Copenhagen needs to deliver on an efficient mix of financial instruments with effective means for disbursement and for measurement, reporting and verification. Much of the available funding has not reached developing countries in a way that is regarded as efficient or beneficial. It is critical that the funds are agreed as part of the Copenhagen outcome. In addition, governance principles must be founded on equity, respecting the interests and needs of developing countries, and that includes them as equal decision-making partners.What are our key demands and what would we like to see included?•    Recognition that although all countries have a responsibility to mitigate climate change, it is clear that the greatest responsibility lies with the largest industrial nations;•    Financial and environmental crisis must not be used as an excuse for cost and job cutting or delaying action on environmental protection. The so-called &quot;free market&quot; will not create solutions by itself; and·    Emissions-trading is insufficient in isolation from other policies.Jargon Busting for Copenhagen:Green house gases The atmospheric gases responsible for causing global warming and climate change. The major GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20). Less prevalent, but very powerful, greenhouse gases are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). Climate change The United Nations Convention on Climate Change defines climate change as &quot;a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.&quot;Carbon Footprint A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the amount of green house gases produced as a result of particular human activities.Carbon Leakage Carbon leakage refers to the part of emissions reductions that are made in one of the countries bound to reduce emissions, which are offset by an increase in emissions in a country that is not bound to reduce emissions. For example this can occur through relocation of energy-intensive production from a country that controls emissions to a country that does not.Carbon Offsetting The idea is to reduce the impact of carbon dioxide emissions from everyday activities such as driving cars, heating homes and flying. The emissions from such activity are calculated by a carbon offsetting provider and then paid for through a donation to a project that reduces carbon by the equivalent amount.Jargon Busting for Copenhagen:Emissions trading scheme (ETS) The ETS is a &quot;cap and trade system&quot;. Countries are given a national allocation of how much carbon dioxide they can emit, which is then divided up among the companies covered by the scheme. If companies emit more than they are allowed they must purchase permits to make up for the excess. If they emit less, they can sell their unused allocations.Border adjustment Border adjustments, also known as Border Tax Adjustments or Border Tax Assessments, are import fees levied by carbon-taxing countries on goods manufactured in non-carbon-taxing countries. For example a product manufactured in a country that adopts an ETS scheme should not be cheaper in a non-ETS country as a result of the extra costs for emissions trading. A tax would be applied to level the playing field.Green Jobs According to the International Labour Organization green jobs reduce the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors, ultimately to levels that are sustainable. However many traditional jobs such as steelworkers could also be considered green as alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and wave all have major steel components.In October 2009, the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF) and the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers' Federation (EMCEF) organized a conference in Germany entitled &quot;Cutting Emissions, Transforming Jobs&quot;. The meeting discussed the position industrial workers will take at the upcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference in Copenhagen Denmark. Photo: Anita Gardner/IMFUnited Steelworkers joined with other unions and environmental groups in a nationwide Made in America jobs tour in 2009, highlighting the benefits to American workers and businesses of transitioning to a clean energy economy that will create millions of jobs. Photo: Steven Dietz/USW

UNFCCC four focus issues

COP 15 refers to the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP), which this year takes place in Copenhagen. The negotiating process on climate change revolves around the sessions of the UNFCCC, which meets every year to review the implementation of the convention. The COP adopts decisions and resolutions, published in reports of the COP. The COP also serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) which also adopts decisions and resolutions on the implementation of its provisions. Participation in COP15 and CMP 5 is restricted to duly nominated representatives of the parties, observer states, accredited observer organisations and accredited press/media.Thousands of participants including government representatives and observer organizations have attended previous climate change conferences. The sessions in Bali, Indonesia (COP13) attracted over 10,000 participants, including 3,500 government officials, over 5,800 representatives of UN bodies and agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and nearly 1,500 accredited members of the media. This year in Copenhagen the figure may be even higher with 20,000 people expected and at least half of them will be from civil society.More than 180 trade unionists have already registered to attend the meeting and the union delegation is being coordinated by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in close cooperation with LO-Denmark. In addition to the negotiations, a number of major trade union activities have been planned, the largest of which is the World of Work Pavilion (WOW) in the LO-Denmark building on December 14 to 16. During this activity a whole series of events will take place to promote the views of trade unions and what we believe any future agreement should contain.<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../index.cfm?c=21575&amp;mwId=21566&amp;l=2">&lt;&lt; back</a></td><td> </td><td><a href="../index.cfm?c=21574&amp;mwId=21566&amp;l=2">beginning</a></td><td> </td><td align="center" valign="middle"><a href="../index.cfm?c=21579&amp;mwId=21566&amp;l=2">forward &gt;&gt;</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

Archive

About IndustriALL

Follow us

Contact us