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Global worker No1 2022

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<ol><li>Overall Structure The official structure of the International Metalworkers' Federation consists of: <ol type="A"><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20022&amp;l=2">the Congress</a></li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20023&amp;l=2">the Central Committee</a>,</li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20024&amp;l=2">the Executive Committee</a>,</li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20025&amp;l=2">the Finance Committee</a>,</li><li><a href="../index.cfm?c=20026&amp;l=2">the Auditing Committee</a>. </li></ol></li></ol>

ARTICLE 1 - PURPOSE OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 2 - MISSION OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 3 - STRUCTURE OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 4 -- EXECUTING BODIES OF THE FEDERATION

ARTICLE 5 - DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

ARTICLE 6 - NATIONAL SECTIONS AND COMMITTEES

ARTICLE 7 - ADMISSION

ARTICLE 8 - FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

ARTICLE 9 - SUBSCRIPTIONS IN ARREARS AND EXONERATIONS

ARTICLE 10 - REVISION OF RULES

ARTICLE 11 - IMF HEADQUARTERS

<ol><li>In order to achieve these objectives, the IMF works to build a strong international trade union movement capable of effectively representing and promoting workers' interests, in the face of an ever-expanding global economy -- a global economy that has yet to embrace, let alone recognise, adopt and enforce workers' rights.</li><li>The IMF affirms that only through trade unions and the practice of collective bargaining the goals of attaining social security and constant progress for workers can be achieved. The IMF therefore fights for all workers in their desire for freedom of association to form their own trade unions, the right to collective bargaining, the right to enter into collective agreements and the right to strike to achieve their demands.</li><li>The IMF also supports all its affiliated unions, particularly in developing countries, in their efforts to achieve higher living standards for workers and to promote democratic, economic and social development.</li><li>The IMF also fights for all other related internationally recognised labour standards, such as the right to a livable wage, safe and healthy working conditions, prohibitions against discrimination, and prohibitions against child labour or compulsory forced labour.</li><li>The IMF stands ready to make common cause with other independent, autonomous, and democratic trade union organisations, notably the International Trade Union Confederation and other Global Union Federations in pursuing international trade union objectives. It seeks to work with non-governmental organisations which share a commitment to promote trade union and other human rights.</li><li>Specific IMF activities which support these objectives include: <ol type="A"><li>Supporting the organisational efforts of metalworkers everywhere, particularly in developing countries and in all countries where freedom of association and the existence of free trade unions are threatened.</li><li>Actively voicing metalworkers' positions on potential international trade union, political, social, and economic issues concerning metalworkers throughout the world. Such participation includes appearances and submissions with respect to relevant international forums such as the World Trade Organisation, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Trade Union Confederations, etc.</li><li>Serving as a catalyst, depository and exchange of information and material for affiliates needed in accomplishing these objectives.</li><li>Providing moral and practical support and leading in the development of creative and innovative strategies to assist in economic, political and social conflicts.</li></ol></li></ol>

<ol><li>The International Metalworkers' Federation (hereafter called IMF or Federation) is an international association of metalworkers' trade unions fighting to promote respect for trade union and other basic human freedoms, democracy, and social justice throughout the world.</li><li>The IMF provides means for trade unions of men and women in all facets of the metals and related industries - hereafter called metalworkers - to cooperate in pursuing common economic, social, labour and political objectives internationally.</li><li>The IMF works to achieve the recognition and effective enforcement of all international labour standards as specified by the International Labour Organisation's Conventions and Recommendations.  These standards include safe and healthy working conditions, elimination of all forms of discrimination, freedom of association, freedom to engage in collective bargaining, and prohibitions on child labour and forced labour.  In addition, the IMF works to improve job security.</li><li>The IMF also works for peace, freedom and self-determination for all people in the struggle for social progress of workers throughout the world, including the elimination of the social and economic differences between industrialised and developing countries, as well as all types of exploitation perpetrated by various nations and transnational corporations. </li><li>The trade unions affiliated to the IMF - while retaining their autonomy - accept its basic purposes and work for the practical achievement through a diversity of structures and means which contribute to the richness and strength of the Federation.</li></ol>

Congress adopted changes to the IMF Rules to create two new elected positions. Previously filled by appointment, the IMF Vice President and Assistant General Secretary roles will now be elected every four years, along with the General Secretary and President positions. Incumbents Tom Buffenbarger, Fernando Lopes and Hiroshi Kamada were elected Vice President and Assistant General Secretaries respectively on the first official day of Congress. The elections of President and General Secretary however brought two new leaders to the head of the IMF. IG Metall President Berthold Huber, a former toolmaker, was elected President of the IMF, taking over from outgoing President Jürgen Peters. Nordic IN General Secretary Jyrki Raina was elected General Secretary, replacing Marcello Malentacchi, who retired after 20 years as IMF General Secretary. Raina pledged to make the Action Programme the central policy of the IMF.Raina identified the issue of precarious work as a key priority for the IMF, noting that in developing countries typically 50 to 80 per cent of employment is informal and elsewhere atypical work is exploding. Raina warned of the risk that during economic recovery good jobs that have been lost will be replaced by precarious jobs. <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../index.cfm?c=20057&amp;mwId=20047&amp;l=2">&lt;&lt; back</a></td><td> </td><td><a href="../index.cfm?c=20056&amp;mwId=20047&amp;l=2">beginning</a></td><td> </td><td align="center" valign="middle"><a href="../index.cfm?c=20059&amp;mwId=20047&amp;l=2">forward &gt;&gt;</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

Feature: Download pdf file with illustrations >>

New leadership team

At Congress, metalworkers overwhelmingly endorsed a four year action programme that seeks to lead to more effective solidarity, better rights for workers, growing union power and a real challenge to neo-liberalism.The IMF Action Programme 2009 - 2013, adopted in its entirety by Congress, puts greater emphasis on action and what IMF affiliates can accomplish together through global solidarity. Although there had been vigorous debate among Action Programme Committee representatives in the months leading towards Congress, all sections of the Action Programme were adopted unanimously.  Each section of the Action Programme debate was introduced by a different Committee member and in some cases a short video illustrating IMF's work in the related area, reflecting the diversity of experience and background of IMF affiliates.Specific issues of concern for metalworkers were also picked up in the 12 Resolutions adopted by Congress. Resolutions were on topics ranging from improving workers' health and safety, preserving permanent jobs, tackling climate change and xenophobia, and removing barriers to organising in the U.S. Solidarity with Mexican miners, workers in Belarus and Toshiba workers in Indonesia were also the subjects of the Congress Resolutions.<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../index.cfm?c=20056&amp;mwId=20047&amp;l=2">&lt;&lt; back</a></td><td> </td><td align="center" valign="middle"><a href="../index.cfm?c=20058&amp;mwId=20047&amp;l=2">forward &gt;&gt;</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

IMF Action Programme

SARAJEVO, BOSNIA &amp; HERZEGOVINA: The International Metalworkers' Federation implemented the second phase of its occupational health and safety project for affiliates in the countries of the former Yugoslavia from June 23 to June 26. The project, which is carried out in close cooperation with the IMF Spanish affiliate MCA-UGT and the Spanish Trade Union Institute of Cooperation for Development, was launched in April 2008 in Belgrade and will continue until 2010. It targets the steel and non-ferrous sectors and aims at training health and safety shop-stewards and improving health and safety at the workplace.       Prevention was the main theme of this second seminar. Earlier this year the IMF had conducted a survey on health and safety standards in these sectors that had revealed a high level of accidents often due to lack of proper training and awareness on OHS hazards, and low trade union involvement in prevention planning and evaluation.   Health and safety experts from MCA-UGT and the Spanish steel companies association UNESID participated in the seminar and gave enlightening presentations on risk analysis and prevention techniques, using visual aids such as videos with subtitles in the local language. Strong emphasis was put on the fact that commitment to OHS could only be generated by involving everybody in the process - trade unions as well as management. Participants also discussed organizing prevention campaigns and the cost of non-prevention, and were able to interact during the group work activities arranged as part of the curriculum.     All the material used is being translated and will be made available to the participants and their unions for further use as an information and educational tool. As an outcome of the seminar, the participants committed themselves to start developing OHS programs locally and/or nationally and mainstreaming OHS in trade union work.  The last step of the project will deal with collective bargaining and social dialogue, and OHS as leverage for union building. This project is carried out with the support of the Spanish agency for Development Cooperation.

Promoting a culture of prevention was the theme of a recent IMF occupational heath and safety seminar in the Balkans.

Improving occupational health and safety in the Balkans

<ol><li>The location of the Federation's Headquarters shall be determined by the Congress.</li></ol>

<ol><li>The International Metalworkers' Federation can be dissolved only by a two-thirds majority of the Congress.  In such a case, the last Congress shall decide on the use of any remaining funds.</li></ol>

ARTICLE 12 - DISSOLUTION OF THE FEDERATION

<ol><li><div>The Congress alone may amend these Rules by a two-thirds majority.</div></li><li><div>Proposals concerning the revision of the Rules are to be submitted in accordance with IMF procedures outlined in Article 3.2. K., L., M. and N. of this document.</div></li></ol>

<ol><li>The General Secretary shall notify all organisations which are in arrears in their contributions.</li><li>An organisation in arrears in the payment of subscriptions loses speaking and voting rights at all IMF meetings, including the Executive Committee, Central Committee and the Congress.</li><li>Exoneration from the payment of subscriptions must be asked for in writing in the first half of the year for which the exoneration is required.</li><li>Exoneration from the payment of annual subscriptions shall only be granted by the Executive Committee in extraordinary cases such as civil war and repression of workers' rights. </li></ol>

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