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Scrapping ships is one of the most dangerous jobs on earth, yet most workers in this industry have little or no protection from the risks involved. Toxic-laden 'ghost ships&#039; are usually beached at ports in Asia and Turkey, ready for scrapping.In 2003 the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation started a pilot project in Mumbai, India, where some 6,000 shipbreaking workers earn less than one US dollar a day.Working with a local trade union, the Mumbai Port, Dock &amp; General Employees Union, the project began by providing workers with clean drinking water, safety advice, and first-aid training and equipment.  Project organisers also taught workers about their rights and encouraged them to form a union.<h3>Improving worker conditions</h3>At the same time, the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation worked with the International Labour Organisation to establish new guidelines to help improve the safety and health of these workers. The guidelines were approved in March 2004.In 2006, the project extended to organising the shipbreaking yards further north in Alang. Early in 2008, some 250 workers organized a strike under the banner of the Alang Sosiya Ship Recycling and General Workers Association, the trade union established as a result of the project, after learning that their employer had arbitrarily cut wage rates. The 24-hour strike proved successful. The employer met with union officials and conceded to pay wages at the former rate, a significant step towards building a strong union and defending the rights of shipbreaking workers.<a href="../shipbreaking">http://www.imfmetal.org/shipbreaking</a>

Reducing Shipbreaking Hazards in India

In Mexico, the country&#039;s largest mining company, Grupo México, and the Mexican government were both found to have violated Mexican law and international standards when they attempted to crush the IMF-affiliated National Miners&#039; and Metalworkers&#039; Union of Mexico (SNTMMSRM). <h3>Union secretary forcefully removed</h3>In February 2006, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, the democratically-elected general secretary of the Mexican miners&#039; union was forcefully removed from his position after speaking out against the government and Grupo Mexico in response to a tragic mining accident in Pasta de Conchos that left 65 miners dead. The government appointed a new general secretary - who was not a member of the union - and seized all assets of the SNTMMSRM and Mr.Gomez.Inquiries into theses actions revealed that the government had used falsified documents, concealed evidence, and coerced officials to issue baseless arrest warrants against the union leader. Grupo México and the government then tried to divide the union, granting overnight recognition to a pro-company union and holding 'elections&#039; in which workers were forced and coerced to join its ranks.<h3>Unions protest globally</h3>The IMF strongly objected to this abuse of workers&#039; rights and urged the Mexican government to end its attack on the SNTMMSRM. Unions from around the world held protests at Mexican embassies and consulates denouncing the government&#039;s interference in the legal functioning of a union. The IMF launched a complaint with the International Labour Organisation against the Mexican government citing violations of ILO convention 87. The IMF Executive Committee decided to investigate both the circumstances surrounding the accident at the mine and the interference of the government in union affairs.Gómez was officially reinstated as general secretary on April 11, 2007, after a federal court ruled the Labour Ministry had overstepped its authority and failed to comply with established procedures. However, Gómez remains in exile due to unfounded pending charges and intense safety and security threats against him and his family.The IMF and its affiliates continue to provide solidarity support to the Mexican union in their struggle for independence and recognition of workers&#039; rights. <a href="../mexico">http://www.imfmetal.org/mexico</a>

Calling for justice in Mexico

PhotosVideoAwaiting text

Global action against precarious work

<h3>SOUTH ASIA</h3>IMF South Asia Office Linz House 159-A Gautam Nagar NEW DELHI 110 049 INDIA Tel: (91/11) 2653 7125 - 5184 1138 - 2651 4283 Fax: (91/11) 2685 2813 E-mail: <a href="mailto:sao@imfmetal.org">sao@imfmetal.org</a> Website: <a href="../asiapacific">http://www.imfmetal.org/asiapacific</a><table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: Sudharshan Rao </td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Research and communications officer:Gopalakrishnan Manicandan</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Support Staff:M. Balasubramaniyan</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3> SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC</h3>IMF Southeast Asia and Pacific Office No. 10-3, Jalan PJS 8/4 Dataran Mentari, Bandar Sunway 46150 PETALING JAYA Selangor Darul Ehsan MALAYSIA Tel: (60/3) 5638 7904 Fax: (60/3) 5638 7902 E-mail: <a href="mailto:seao@imfmetal.org">seao@imfmetal.org</a> <table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: P. Arunasalam</td><td><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /> </td></tr></tbody></table>Website: <a href="../asiapacific">http://www.imfmetal.org/asiapacific</a> <h3> LATIN AMERICA &amp; THE CARIBBEAN</h3>IMF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean Avenida 18 de Julio Nº1528 Piso 12 unidad 1202 Montevideo URUGUAY Tel: +59 82 408 0813 Fax: +59 82 408 0813 E-mail: <a href="mailto:fitimalc@imfmetal.org">fitimalc@imfmetal.org</a> Website: <a href="../lacro">www.imfmetal.org/lacro</a><table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: Jorge Almeida</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Education officer: Marino Vani</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="112" /></td></tr><tr><td>  Administrative Assistant:Fernanda Gastellù </td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>  Finance Depatement:Lorena Gallego</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3> AFRICA</h3>IMF Africa Regional Office 156 Gerard Seketo (corner Gwigwi Mrwebi) Newtown JOHANNESBURG 2001 REP. of SOUTH AFRICAPostal address: IMF Africa Regional Office P.O. Box 31016 BRAAMFONTEIN 2017 REP. of SOUTH AFRICA Tel: ((27/11) 492 0301 - 492 0302 - 492 0303 - 492 0304 - 492 0294 Fax: (27/11) 492 0293 E-mail: <a href="mailto:aro@imfmetal.org">aro@imfmetal.org</a> Website: <a href="../africa">www.imfmetal.org/africa</a><table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: Herman Lekubu Nlatleng </td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Support Staff:Kamla Naidoo</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>CIS COUNTRIES</h3>IMF Regional Office for the Commonwealth of Independent States Str.2, d.13, Grokholsky per., Room 203 12090 MOSCOW RUSSIA Tel: (7/495) 974 6111 Fax: (7/495) 974 1622 E-mail: <a href="mailto:cisro@imfmetal.org">cisro@imfmetal.org</a> Website: <a href="../cisro">http://www.imfmetal.org/cisro</a> <table border="0" class="no-border"><tbody><tr><td>Regional representative: Vadim Borisov </td><td><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="108" /> </td></tr><tr><td>Assistant regional representative: Natalia Afonina </td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Communications officer: Ilya matveev</td><td> <img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 400px;height: 161px"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"><td align="left" valign="middle">54 bis, route des Acacias Case postale 1516 CH-1227 Geneva SwitzerlandTel: tel. +41 22 308 5050 Fax: tel. +41 22 308 5055 E-mail: <a href="mailto:info@imfmetal.org">info@imfmetal.org</a> </td><td align="left" valign="top"><img src="" alt="Main entrance to the IMF building" title="Main entrance to the IMF building" width="200" height="161" align="right" /></td></tr></tbody></table>Getting to the IMF Head Office by <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=International+Metalworkers'+Federation&amp;hl=en&amp;cd=1&amp;ei=YapiS9yGBdLD_gbUrvwE&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;view=map&amp;cid=3418484417903310879&amp;ved=0CBwQpQY&amp;hq=International+Metalworkers'+Federation&amp;hnear=&amp;t=h&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A">Google maps </a><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 350px;border: medium none"><tbody><tr><td>General Secretary: Jyrki Raina tel. +41 22 308 5060 <a href="mailto:jraina@imfmetal.org">jraina@imfmetal.org</a> </td><td align="left"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="109" /> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Assistant General Secretary: Fernando Lopes tel. +41 22 308 5038 <a href="mailto:flopes@imfmetal.org">flopes@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="left"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr></tbody></table>ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 350px;border: medium none"><tbody><tr><td>Héctor Mareque Assistant to General Secretary tel. +41 22 308 5037 <a href="mailto:hmareque@imfmetal.org">hmareque@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Margrit Reichlin Administrative Coordinator tel. +41 22 308 5024 <a href="mailto:mreichlin@imfmetal.org">mreichlin@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Daniel Godel Finance Officer tel. +41 22 308 5069 <a href="mailto:dgodel@imfmetal.org">dgodel@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Daniela Truchot Finance Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5061 <a href="mailto:dtruchot@imfmetal.org">dtruchot@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="103" /></td></tr><tr><td>Andrea Kay  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 3085022 <a href="mailto:eakay@imfmetal.org">eakay@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="mailto:mreichlin@imfmetal.org"></a></td><td align="right"> </td></tr><tr><td>Joséphine Malentacchi IT Coordinator tel. +41 22 308 5035 <a href="mailto:jmalentacchi@imfmetal.org">jmalentacchi@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Delphine Moeckli Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5025 <a href="mailto:dmoeckli@imfmetal.org">dmoeckli@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Antonio Barea  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5067 <a href="mailto:abarea@imfmetal.org">abarea@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table>RIGHTS AND CAMPAIGNS, UNION BUILDING, COMMUNICATIONS <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 350px;border: medium none"><tbody><tr><td>Fernando Lopes Assistant General Secretary tel. +41 22 308 5038 <a href="mailto:flopes@imfmetal.org">flopes@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Kristyne Peter Director of Trade union rights and campaigns tel. +41 22 308 5031 <a href="mailto:kpeter@imfmetal.org">kpeter@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="111" /></td></tr><tr><td>Carla Coletti Director of Trade &amp; Development, OECD, North Africa and Middle East tel. +41 22 308 5045 <a href="mailto:ccoletti@imfmetal.org">ccoletti@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Suzana Miller Project Officer tel. +41 22 308 5030 <a href="mailto:smiller@imfmetal.org">smiller@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="105" /></td></tr><tr><td>Anita Gardner Communications Director tel. +41 22 308 5032 <a href="mailto:agardner@imfmetal.org">agardner@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="107" /></td></tr><tr><td>Alexander Ivanou Communications Officer tel. +41 22 308 5033 <a href="mailto:aivanou@imfmetal.org">aivanou@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Cherisse Fredricks  Comm's and campaigns assistant tel. +41 22 308 5023 <a href="mailto:cfredricks@imfmetal.org">cfredricks@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Sarah Flores  Administrative Assistant  tel. +41 22 308 5029 <a href="mailto:eantoniades@imfmetal.org">mailto:eantoniades@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr></tbody></table>INDUSTRIAL AND TNC POLICIES <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="no-border" style="width: 350px;border: medium none"><tbody><tr><td>Rob Johnston Executive Director for Industrial and TNC policies steel tel. +41 22 308 5028 <a href="mailto:rjohnston@imfmetal.org">rjohnston@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="106" /> </td></tr><tr><td>Jenny Holdcroft Director of ICT, Aerospace, tel. +41 22 308 5034 <a href="mailto:jholdcroft@imfmetal.org">jholdcroft@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="110" /></td></tr><tr><td>Anne-Marie Mureau Mechanical Engineering and Research Director South East Europe tel. +41 22 308 5041 <a href="mailto:ammureau@imfmetal.org">ammureau@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="115" /></td></tr><tr><td>Helmut Lense Automotive Director tel. +41 22 308 5027 <a href="mailto:hlense@imfmetal.org">hlense@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Kan Matsuzaki  Director of Shipbuilding and Non-Manual workers tel. +41 22 308 5016 <a href="mailto:kmatsuzaki@imfmetal.org">kmatsuzaki@imfmetal.org</a></td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Amandine Iwachow  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5042 <a href="mailto:aiwachow@imfmetal.org">aiwachow@imfmetal.org</a><a href="mailto:dmoeckli@imfmetal.org"></a> </td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="113" /></td></tr><tr><td>Janire Escubi  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5036 <a href="mailto:aiwachow@imfmetal.org">mailto:aiwachow@imfmetal.org</a><a href="mailto:dmoeckli@imfmetal.org"></a> </td><td align="right"><img src="" alt="" width="75" height="107" /></td></tr></tbody></table>

Where to find us

In recent times the world's shipbuilding industry has faced many challenges, which have impacted on workers' rights. The challenges include health and safety, outsourcing, subsidies and the use of contract labour. This department adresses these problems by promoting a unified trade union view that puts workers' rights first.Kan Matsuzaki, <a href="mailto:kmatsuzaki@imfmetal.org">kmatsuzaki@imfmetal.org</a>, is director for shipbuilding.

Shipbuilding, Shipbreaking

Engineering covers many sectors, including the manufacturing of jet engines and tooling machinery and the production of machines for the recycling sector. IMF activities in this sector aim to bring trade unions in these areas together to improve the exchange of information and to develop common positions and strategies. Anne-Marie Mureau, <a href="mailto:ammureau@imfmetal.org">ammureau@imfmetal.org</a>, is director for this sector.

Mechanical engineering

In the year 2000, a year after the first seven unions from the former Soviet Union joined the IMF, the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation decided to open an IMF project office in Moscow for the CIS countries.  That decision was a logical extension of the work the IMF and its affiliates had begun in the post-soviet area to help unions of the region strengthen and reform their organisations in order to more effectively represent the interests of metalworkers in the context of the increasing importance of the post-soviet countries in the world system of industrial production and trade.  The IMF presently has 17 member unions in the CIS countries: eight in Russia, six in Ukraine, and one each in Armenia, Belarus and Moldova; their number may increase in the near future.  The IMF also maintains partnerships with a number of organisations in the region.  The processes of union modernisation, exchange of information and experience, elaborating a common discourse, developing systems of union training and contacts among workers&#039; organisations in various parts of the world - these are the main issues which are dealt with by the IMF regional office in Moscow.  Recently the office has been giving priority to such questions as protecting workers in the context of the spread of precarious employment, assistance to sectoral unions in developing their organisations and attracting new members, including at enterprises of transnationaL corporations, whose importance in the metalworking sector of the region has been constantly increasing.  The IMF office conducts informational and consultative activities, and carries out union research and training programs.  In 2006, Russian became one of the official languages of the IMF.  Since then the office has been translating all the main documents of the Federation into Russian, as well as IMF publications and documents from the IMF official website.  The IMF&#039;s quarterly magazine Metal World is published in Russian.  Vadim Borisov (<a href="mailto:vborisov@imfmetal.org">vborisov@imfmetal.org</a>) heads the small team at the IMF Moscow.  He is assisted by Natalia Afonina (<a href="mailto:nafonina@imfmetal.org">nafonina@imfmetal.org</a>).

IMF Regional Office for the CIS countries

GLOBAL: May Day is not just a day off. Its meaning has deep roots for all workers.For young people it is worth reminding them that workers celebrate May Day in commemoration of the 11 American workers killed in Chicago on May 1, 1886 who together with thousands of other workers went out to the streets demanding an eight hour working day. This happened to be on the first day of May which today is celebrated as the Worker&#039;s Day or Labour Day.It is important to remember this each year when on May Day all workers walk hand in hand to make their voice heard in every city of the globe.&quot;The IMF is fighting for the respect of workers&#039; rights in many countries of the world. And today on May Day we send the message of solidarity to all our brothers and sisters, but especially to Indian autoworkers fighting for union recognition and a collective bargaining agreement at Hyundai; Indonesian workers facing intense union busting from the company Toshiba; Korean workers who are fighting to block new legislation extending the period for precarious workers to become permanent from 2 to 4 years; Mexican miners who have been on strike for 21 months and are being threatened with termination only to be rehired on a non-union basis; workers in Turkey at Sinter Metal fighting for the reinstatement of more than 300 workers dismissed for union activities; Steelworkers in Bulgaria who are fighting for their jobs and unpaid wages and many others who are fighting for their right to decent and respectful workers&#039; lives,&quot; said Marcello Malentacchi IMF general secretary in his May Day address to metalworkers.&quot;This is a good reason to go to the streets and demonstrate on May Day and fight for those who are not allowed to join us. So let us celebrate May Day and wherever you are, join the demonstration and make your voice heard!&quot;

In spite of the unfolding global economic crisis and all the other problems workers and their families are facing, nowadays celebration of May Day remains the major event for the working class.

May Day celebration is important!

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