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<h3>AFRICA</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">South Africa</td><td width="35%">Christina Olivier</td><td width="38%">NUMSA</td></tr><tr><td>South Africa</td><td>Irvin Jim</td><td>NUMSA</td></tr><tr><td>Kenya</td><td>Maero Tindi </td><td>AUKM</td></tr><tr><td>Tunisia</td><td>Tahar Berberi</td><td>FGME-UGTT</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>ASIA AND THE PACIFIC</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">Indonesia</td><td width="35%">Darmawati Djunaedi Natakusumah</td><td width="38%">FSPMI</td></tr><tr><td>Japan</td><td>Koichiro Nishihara</td><td>IMF-JC</td></tr><tr><td>Australia</td><td>Paul Howes</td><td>AWU</td></tr><tr><td>India</td><td>G. Sanjeeva Reddy<br />(May 09 - May11)<br />Sanjay S. Vadhavkar<br />(Nov. 11 - May 13)</td><td>INMF<br /><br />SMEWFI<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">Argentina</td><td width="35%">Luis García Ortiz <br />(may 09 - may 10)<br /><br />Hector Laplace<br />(nov 10 - nov 11)<br /><br />Francisco Gutierrez<br />(may 12 - may 13)</td><td width="38%">ASIMRA<br /><br /><br />AOMA<br /><br /><br />UOM</td></tr><tr><td>Colombia<br /><br /><br />Brazil</td><td><p align="left">Nohora Estela Tovar<br />(May 09 - May 11)<br /><br />Valter Sanches<br />(Nov 11 - May 13)</p></td><td>FETRAMECOL<br /><br /><br />CNM/CUT</td></tr><tr><td>Brazil</td><td>Monica de Oliveira Lourenço Velozo</td><td>CNTM</td></tr><tr><td>Mexico</td><td>Napoleón Gómez</td><td>SNTMMS</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>NORTH AMERICA</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">Canada</td><td width="35%">Carol Landry</td><td width="38%">USW</td></tr><tr><td>USA</td><td>Bob King</td><td>UAW</td></tr><tr><td>USA</td><td>Tom Buffenbarger</td><td>IAMAW</td></tr><tr><td>USA</td><td>Leo Gerard</td><td>USW</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>WESTERN EUROPE</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Germany</td><td>Berthold Huber </td><td>IG Metall </td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Sweden</td><td width="35%">Stefan Löfven</td><td width="38%">IF Metall </td></tr><tr><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Len McCluskey</td><td>British Section</td></tr><tr><td>Italy</td><td>Giuseppe Farina</td><td>FLM</td></tr><tr><td>France</td><td>Blandine Landas</td><td>FGMM-CFDT</td></tr><tr><td>Spain</td><td>Javier Urbina </td><td>MCA-UGT</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>CENTRAL &amp; EASTERN EUROPE</h3><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">Russia</td><td width="35%">Michael Tarassenko </td><td width="38%">MMWU</td></tr><tr><td>Czech Rep.</td><td>Josef Stredula </td><td>OS KOVO</td></tr><tr><td>Macedonia</td><td>Mare Anceva </td><td>SIER</td></tr></tbody></table>

IMF Executive Committee (2009-2013)

<p>Congress is the highest decision-making body of the IMF and all affiliates hold membership. Congress meets every four years to establish the priorities and actions of the IMF including the <a href="../index.cfm?c=20018&amp;ol=2">Rules</a> that we are governed by. Congress also elects the <a href="../index.cfm?n=732&amp;l=2">President</a> and <a href="index.cfm?n=676">General Secretary</a> and members of the <a href="index.cfm?n=677">Executive Committee</a></p><h3>IMF World Congress 2009</h3><p dir="ltr" align="left">The 32nd IMF Congress took place in May 2009 in Gothenburg, Sweden  and adopted a new Action Programme for 2009-2013 calling for secure jobs for a secure future in response to the global economic crisis. The Congress also elected a new President, Vice President and General Secretary of the IMF.</p><p><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="318"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../congress2009" title="32nd IMF World Congress 2009"><img src="" border="0" alt="Gothenburg, Sweden" width="317" height="61" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><h3>IMF World Congress 2005</h3><p>Held in Vienna, the Congress discussed the various ways in which international solidarity can advance workers' rights. Congress adopted changes to the IMF Rules, increasing the participation of women in IMF structures and updated the IMF Action Programme for 2005 to 2009.</p><p><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="318"><tbody><tr><td><a href="../congress2005/index.cfm?l=2" title="Congress"><img src="" border="0" alt="" width="318" height="57" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><h3>IMF World Congress 2001</h3><p>The 30th IMF Congress was held in Sydney, Australia, when a new Action Programme was adopted for 2002-2005.</p>

Congress

<p>The IMF has affiliates in 100 countries. Click on any country below to learn about affiliated organisations. </p>

IMF Affiliates

<p>In 1957, the IMF opened an office in Tokyo for the Japanese metalworkers' unions. </p><p>In 1960 the IMF opened its Latin America office, now in Montevideo, Uruguay.</p><p>In 1966, the first meeting of the World Company Councils for the automobile industry was held in Detroit, USA. Today, Company Council meetings are held as the need arises. </p><p>In 1969, the first IMF regional office opened in New Delhi, India. </p><p>In 1982, two white South African affiliates were expelled. The IMF was fully committed to supporting the new independent trade unions in South Africa. This support was strengthened with the opening of a new IMF office in Johannesburg in 1984. </p><p>In 1991, the IMF Central Committee decided to admit trade unions from Central and Eastern Europe as affiliates. </p><p>In 1993, a 100-point Action Programme was adopted at the IMF Centenary Congress in Zurich, Switzerland. </p><p>In 1998 the IMF opened a regional office for Southeast Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia</p><p>In 2001, the 30th IMF Congress was held in Sydney, Australia. A new Action Programme for 2002-2005 was adopted. </p><p>In 2002, the IMF signed its first International Framework Agreement in the auto industry with Volkswagen. </p><p>In 2005, the IMF Congress adopted changes to the IMF Rules, increasing the participation of women in IMF structures, and updating the Action Programme. </p><p>In 2002-2003, the IMF and its affiliates successfully campaigned for the release of imprisoned Korean trade unionists.</p><p>In 2006, the IMF launched an international solidarity campaign in support of the Mexican miners' union.</p>

Milestones in IMF history

<p>The International Metalworkers&#039; Federation is one of the largest and oldest Global Union Federations. </p><p>The IMF was created in August 1893 when thirty members from metalworkers unions in eight countries met in a small hotel in Zurich with the aim of creating an International Bureau, thus founding the IMF. These early members laid the foundations for international cooperation between all metalworkers&#039; unions of the world.</p><h3>Organising workers</h3><p>Data collected by the Bureau at the time showed that social and economic conditions for metalworkers were extremely difficult. Working hours in Europe ranged from 11.5 to 15 hours a day and wages were very low. Only a small number of metalworkers were organised and the structure of unions at the national level was highly fragmented.</p><p>From the beginning, solidarity between unions extended further than simply exchanging information and was focused on offering mutual support:</p><ul><li>Within the first three years, British metalworkers contributed 1,000 marks to the Solingen cutlery-makers out on a protracted strike.  </li><li>Swiss metalworkers contributed 100 Swiss francs to moulders engaged in a harsh struggle in Nuremberg. </li><li>German metalworkers later reciprocated in 1897 when British engineering workers were fighting for the eight-hour day and foundry workers in Denmark demanding higher wages were locked out. </li><li>Everywhere, especially in Germany, funds were raised, establishing a tradition of international solidarity that has significantly strengthened metalworkers&#039; unions to this day.</li></ul><h3>Eight hours work, leisure and sleep</h3><p>The early 1900&#039;s were characterised by rapid economic growth in international trade and investments. Metalworkers understood the important strategic role that the IMF could play in protecting human and trade union rights. In 1893 the first Congress wrote:</p><blockquote>&quot;Our endeavour must be to fulfil the slogan of the May Day celebrations: eight hours&#039; work, eight hours&#039; leisure, eight hours&#039; sleep.&quot;</blockquote><br /><p>In 1904, the different unions, which now included representatives from 11 countries, decided to create the International Metalworkers&#039; Federation (IMF). </p><h3>The goals of the Federation have always been to:</h3><ul><li>encourage metalworkers&#039; organisations to co-operate on trade union matters; </li><li>support unionisation efforts in countries where trade unions are weak; and </li><li>establish guidelines for effectively implementing solidarity actions during labour disputes.</li></ul>

A tradition of solidarity

<p>The International Metalworkers' Federation boasts more than 200 affiliated unions in 100 countries and represents the interests of 25 million metalworkers worldwide.</p><h3>Congress</h3><p>Our key decision-making body is <strong>Congress,</strong> which meets once every four years and agrees to an <u><a href="index.cfm?n=673"><strong>action programme</strong></a></u> which sets out the long-term aims and goals of our work. All affiliates have the right to send delegates to Congress.</p><p>Congress also determines the <strong><a href="../index.cfm?c=20018&amp;ol=2">Rules</a></strong> of the organisation, indicating how the IMF is run.</p><h3>Committees</h3><p>The <strong>Central Committee</strong> meets once every two years and is responsible for all decisions made between Congresses.</p><p>The Congress elects the <strong>President</strong> and the <strong>General Secretary</strong> of the IMF and the <strong>Executive Committee</strong>. The Executive Committee consists of 25 members, including at least six women, and meets twice a year. All regions in the world are represented in the ExComm.</p><p>The <strong>Finance Committee</strong> consists of six members from the Executive Committee, plus the IMF President, Vice President and General Secretary. This Committee makes recommendations about financial planning and examines the IMF annual budget.</p><p>The<strong> Secretariat</strong> carries out the decisions made by Congress and the Central Committee. It is managed by the General Secretary. </p><p>The <a href="index.cfm?n=630">IMF headquarters</a> is located in Geneva, Switzerland, where the activities of the organisation are coordinated through a network of <a href="index.cfm?n=631">regional offices</a>.</p><p>IMF activities are primarily financed by affiliation fees from its member organisations. </p>

Governing bodies

<p>GENEVA: The <a href="../congress2009/files/09042021363279/Report-secretariat-2009-english-FINAL.pdf" title="Report of the Secretariat 2009">Report of the Secretariat</a> report details IMF work against the 2005-2009 Action Programme.</p><p>Including an introduction from outgoing IMF General Secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, the report provides analysis on successes, and remaining challenges to improving metalworkers&#039; wages, working and living conditions. </p><p>As well as providing an evaluation of different strategies, the report makes recommendations on future actions required by the IMF and affiliates in order to achieve our goals.</p><p>Compiling country by country reports in alphabetical order, the <a href="../congress2009/files/09042223270179/Reports_of_Affiliates_2009-EN.pdf" title="Reports of Affiliates">Reports of Affiliates</a> provides a snapshot on the circumstances for metalworkers globally. </p><p>For the first time IMF affiliates were asked to specifically report on the situation for precarious workers and how unions are responding. </p><p>Both reports provide crucial information for delegates&#039; preparation for the IMF World Congress. </p><p>All Congress delegates will receive a printed copy of both reports in their Congress kit when they arrive in Gothenburg and electronic copies have already been circulated. </p><p>To download copies please visit <a href="../Congress2009">www.imfmetal.org/Congress2009</a> </p>

New reports covering the activities of the IMF Secretariat and affiliates over the last four years are now available to download on the IMF World Congress Website.

New Congress reports now available

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