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GLOBAL: On the third day of the IMF World Congress, delegates debated and adopted section 3.4 and section 3.5, thereby adopting the IMF Action Programme 2009-2013 in its entirety unanimously.Speaking in support of section 3.4 Build a counterweight to the power of transnational corporations Bernardo Rangel Sergio (SITIMM, Mexico) said, &quot;We need a global policy to counter the power of TNCs with increased cooperation between unions to ensure greater equity.&quot;Bob King (UAW, USA) pledged his personal commitment and urged others to join him in engaging and involving members in direct action in the fight to build union power.Valter Sanches (CNM-CUT, Brazil) introduced section 3.5 Fight for sustainable trade, development and employment and argued that while countries have the right to protect themselves during this time of crisis, indiscriminate protectionism was not the answer.Wolfgang Rhode (IG Metall, Germany) supported section 3.5 and the work of the IMF on this topic and stated that, &quot;For weaker countries we need exceptions, developing countries need enough room to develop.&quot;Upon adoption of these two sections, the IMF World Congress thereby unanimously adopted an action programme focused on building strong national unions, strengthening collective bargaining, defending workers' rights, building a counterweight to the power of transnational corporations and fighting for sustainable trade, development and employment.As first introduced by Julius Roe (AMWU, Australia), the chair person of the Action Programme Committee, during the Congress on the second day, &quot;the things that unite us are much greater than the things that divide us. This is an action program which can lead to more effective solidarity, better rights for workers, growing union power and a real challenge to neo-liberalism.&quot;

Building strong national unions, strengthening collective bargaining, defending workers' rights, building a counterweight to the power of transnational corporations and fighting for sustainable trade, development and employment will be at the heart of IMF's work over the next four years.

&quot;A real challenge to neo-liberalism&quot;

GLOBAL: Delegates urged real implementation and unity of action during debate of the IMF Action Programme today.Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 were all unanimously endorsed by the IMF World Congress, but not without strong debate.&quot;Solidarity is not just a word,&quot; said Horacio Fuentes (CONSTRAMET, Chile) speaking on section 3.1, Build Strong National Unions. The need for regional approaches was emphasized by IMF-JC President Koichira Nishihara, and Alexei Etmanov from ITUA in Russia where attacks on unions are an increasing challenge. &quot;Without collective bargaining, there would be no union,&quot; said Antonino Regazzi (FLM, Italy) for section 3.2 Bargain CollectivelyIMF affiliates were called on to share their experience in national collective bargaining by delegate Aparecido Sérgio Nobre from CNM-CUT in Brazil, where workers from different regions are paid radically different wages. USW delegate, Carol Landry emphasized inequality in wages and working conditions for women, who are bearing the brunt of the global economic crisis. Delegates reported that the crisis is worsening trade union rights abuses in Russia, Belarus, Chile, Columbia and elsewhere during debate for section 3.3, Defend and protect workers' rights.John Vinesh Mudaliar (NUFCW, Fiji) summed up debate for section 3.3 and the day: &quot;We come from many parts of the world, but we have one common task, and that is to fight for the workers.&quot;

Affiliates debate IMF Action Programme 2009-2013 in day two of IMF World Congress.

Solidarity is not just a word

GLOBAL: &quot;My style of leadership is based on openness, democracy, consultation and involvement of the whole IMF family,&quot; said Jyrki Raina in his first official speech as General Secretary to the more than 800 delegates attending the IMF World Congress.Raina stated that the IMF will have one policy, &quot;the IMF Action Programme 2009-2013, that you, the Congress delegates will debate and adopt in the course of today and tomorrow.&quot; He added that the IMF must fortify its action, build strong unions, organise the unorganised, defend workers' rights with innovative campaigns and promote greater equality and decent work.The new General Secretary spoke about the economic crisis and the need to move to a sustainable future with unions participating in the change. &quot;Now we have a historic opportunity to change this model to another one with a real development agenda for social justice, eradication of poverty, fair rules for trade and investment, and for fighting precarious employment,&quot; he said.Raina identified the issue of precarious work as a key priority for the IMF. Raina noted 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. &quot;We need an effective, comprehensive global campaign against precarious employment making it possible to involve people in joint action using the full capacity of the IMF and Global Union family,&quot; he said.To organise the unorganised was another key point raised by Jyrki Raina. &quot;Our strength now and in the future depends on our ability to organise workers, to negotiate collective agreements and to unite our forces in times of trouble.&quot;Raina emphasised his commitment to maintain regional balance and actively inform and involve affiliates around the world in the work of the IMF.Part 1<object></object> Part 2<object></object> Part 3<object></object> Part 4<object></object>

The new IMF General Secretary, Jyrki Raina, states that the International Metalworkers' Federation will have one policy - the IMF Action Programme for 2009 to 2013.

Openness, democracy and participation of all

GENEVA: Union Roadshow: Organisning EPZ workers in Indonesia hit the big screen this year at the third annual Geneva Labour Film Shorts Festival. The film, produced by the International Metalworkers' Federation, was one of fourteen films selected to be shown.&quot;It has always been extremely difficult for unions to organise EPZ workers, with employers and even governments crushing unionisation attempts,&quot; said Jenny Holdcroft, IMF's Director of Equal Rights and EPZs and one of the film's producers. &quot;But in Indonesia, unions are helping workers to move from temporary contracts to permanent employment. Wages are increasing and so is union membership.&quot;The video showcases the successful organising strategies that Indonesian unions are using to organise EPZ workers. The IMF is hoping that the lessons learned in Indonesia may inspire unions in other parts of the world to intensify their efforts to organise EPZ workers.Other films screened at the festival include a Bollywood meets 1970s horror flick health and safety training video for Indian mine workers; a satire on U.S. immigration policy; the story of Palestinian migrant workers living in an abandoned mall outside of Tel Aviv; and the festival's winner for Best Labour Film Short, Abandoned, not forgotten: the plight of Burma's migrant fishers which exposes the brutal treatment of migrants working in Thailand's billion dollar export fishing industry. The event took place on June 16 and was hosted by all global union federations, the ITUC and TUAC. For more information visit the festival website at: <a href="http://www.labourfilmshorts.org/">http://www.labourfilmshorts.org/</a>.Union Roadshow can be viewed online here.<object></object>

The third annual Geneva Labour Film Shorts Festival debuted fourteen films made by, for and about unions.

IMF&#039;s Union Roadshow screened at film festival

<img src="" alt="" title="Berthold Huber" width="120" height="134" align="right" />Berthold Huber was elected President of the International Metalworkers' Federation in May 2009, at the 32nd World Congress in Gothenburg.Born in February 15, 1950, in Ulm/Donau Germany, Berthold Huber has been a member of IG Metall since 1971. He completed his apprenticeship as a toolmaker and was employed at Kässbohrer (now Evo-Bus) in Ulm. In 1978 he became head of the Kässbohrer works council and general works council. In 1990 he became a full-time officer for IG Metall in East Germany and in 1991 the Director of President's Office. In 1998 Mr. Huber became Regional Director for Baden-Wuerttemberg before becoming Vice President of IG Metall in 2003. He has been President of IG Metall since 2007.

Berthold Huber, IMF President

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PROTEST LETTER (thanks)

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PROTEST LETTER (to send)

Visit the IMF website for regular updates on the IMF campaign to end labour rights abuses in Korea or sign up for <a href="../index.cfm?n=669">IMF Action Alerts</a> to be notified of urgent solidarity requests and campaign developments immediately when they arise.This page will reload to the protest letter again in 5 seconds

Thank you for taking ACTION!

Dear President Lee Myung-bak, I am writing to express my deep concern over the mass arrests of workers and members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union who took part in a sit-in strike at the Ssangyong Motor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi province.I have been shocked to witness your government's brutal response to this legitimate industrial dispute, specifically, the dropping of corrosive chemicals from helicopters, brutal attacks from taser guns that have inflicted life threatening injuries and the denial of access to food, water and even basic medical treatment for the injured. Violating human rights by denying their citizens food, water, medicine is unacceptable behavior from the state in any situation.  I strongly urge you to: immediately release all imprisoned union leaders and Ssangyong workers; drop all charges (criminal and civil) against individuals and organisations involved in the strike; and take a role in ensuring good faith, genuine negotiations towards guaranteeing the KMWU Ssangyong Motor members employment security.Sincerely,

Release all jailed Ssangyong strikers immediately!

PROTEST LETTER TEXT (to send)

Alexei Etmanov, the leader of the Ford-Vsevelozhsk trade union and co-chairman of the Interregional Trade Union of Autoworkers (ITUA) has been the target of two brutal attacks on November 8 and 13, 2008. An anonymous caller following the first assault contacted the union and warned Etmanov to stop his union activities or &quot;we will take away your life,&quot; the caller said. No one has been charged for the crimes. Other members of the ITUA have been assaulted, including the leaders of the local ITUA of Taganrog automobile plant, Alexei Gramm and Sergei Brizgalov. Those incidents were not investigated either. The International Metalworkers´ Federation is carrying out a campaign to protect the leaders of ITUA, demanding that the Russian authorities conduct a complete investigation of all cases of the assaults and to punish the guilty ones - both those that took part and those who ordered the crimes to be committed.

Demand authorities conduct a complete investigation into all cases of violence and threats of violence against trade unionists in Russia.

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