In 2002, metalworkers around the world took part in two coordinated global days of action calling for the release of more than fifty imprisoned Korean trade unionists, including Korean Metal Workers' Federation (KMWF) President Mun Sung-hyan and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) President and former metalworkers' leader, Dan Byung-ho.

Arrested for union activities

In November 2001, Mun Sung-hyan took part in the International Metalworkers' Federation's World Congress in Sydney, Australia. Soon after his return to Seoul he was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison. His alleged crime was that he had organised strikes and taken part in other trade union activities. Other Korean trade unionists were also jailed during the government crackdown.

Together with its Korean affiliates, the IMF organised two days of action calling for the release of all trade unionists from Korean prisons.

IMF affiliates unite around the globe

An unprecedented level of action was taken by IMF affiliates around the globe including Seoul, Mumbai, Berlin, Washington, Pretoria, Sydney, Tokyo, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro and Bangkok. In total, metalworkers in 65 countries participated.

Nine weeks after the first global day of action, Mun Sung-hyan was released from prison. One week after the second day of action the president of the Korean Daewoo autoworkers' union, Kim Il-sup, and vice-president, Kim Sung-gap, were also set free.

Early the following year Dan Byung-ho was also finally set free.

The release of these trade unionists was a victory for workers around the world who took part in solidarity actions in support of Korean trade unions. Those who were freed went back to work, planning important actions to further the rights of Korean metalworkers.

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' are usually beached at ports in Asia and Turkey, ready for scrapping.

In 2003 the International Metalworkers' 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 & 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.

Improving worker conditions

At the same time, the International Metalworkers' 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.

http://www.imfmetal.org/shipbreaking

In Mexico, the country'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' and Metalworkers' Union of Mexico (SNTMMSRM).

Union secretary forcefully removed

In February 2006, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, the democratically-elected general secretary of the Mexican miners' 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' in which workers were forced and coerced to join its ranks.

Unions protest globally

The IMF strongly objected to this abuse of workers' 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'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' rights.

http://www.imfmetal.org/mexico

If you have questions about the International Metalworkers’ Federation or require information about unions or metalworkers, please write to us. We strive to answer enquiries promptly.

International Metalworkers' Federation
54bis, route des Acacias
Case Postale 1516
CH-1227 Geneva
Switzerland
Telephone: + 41 22 308 5050
Fax: + 41 22 308 5055
E-mail: [email protected]

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SOUTH ASIA

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: [email protected]
Website: http://www.imfmetal.org/asiapacific

Regional representative: Sudharshan Rao
Research and communications officer: Gopalakrishnan Manicandan
Support Staff: M. Balasubramaniyan

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

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: [email protected]

Regional representative: P. Arunasalam

Website: http://www.imfmetal.org/asiapacific

LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

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: [email protected]
Website: www.imfmetal.org/lacro

Regional representative: Jorge Almeida
Education officer: Marino Vani
Administrative Assistant: Fernanda Gastellù
Finance Depatement: Lorena Gallego

AFRICA

IMF Africa Regional Office
156 Gerard Seketo
(corner Gwigwi Mrwebi)
Newtown
JOHANNESBURG 2001
REP. of SOUTH AFRICA

Postal 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: [email protected]
Website: www.imfmetal.org/africa

Regional representative: Herman Lekubu Nlatleng
Support Staff: Kamla Naidoo

CIS COUNTRIES

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: [email protected]
Website: http://www.imfmetal.org/cisro

Regional representative: Vadim Borisov
Assistant regional representative: Natalia Afonina
Communications officer:  Ilya matveev

54 bis, route des Acacias Case postale 1516 CH-1227 Geneva Switzerland Tel: tel. +41 22 308 5050 Fax: tel. +41 22 308 5055 E-mail: [email protected]

Getting to the IMF Head Office by Google maps

General Secretary: Jyrki Raina tel. +41 22 308 5060 [email protected]
Assistant General Secretary: Fernando Lopes tel. +41 22 308 5038 [email protected]

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

Héctor Mareque Assistant to General Secretary tel. +41 22 308 5037 [email protected]
Margrit Reichlin Administrative Coordinator tel. +41 22 308 5024 [email protected]
Daniel Godel Finance Officer tel. +41 22 308 5069 [email protected]
Daniela Truchot Finance Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5061 [email protected]
Andrea Kay  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 3085022 [email protected]
Joséphine Malentacchi IT Coordinator tel. +41 22 308 5035 [email protected]
Delphine Moeckli Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5025 [email protected]
Antonio Barea  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5067 [email protected]

RIGHTS AND CAMPAIGNS, UNION BUILDING, COMMUNICATIONS

Fernando Lopes Assistant General Secretary tel. +41 22 308 5038 [email protected]
Kristyne Peter Director of Trade union rights and campaigns tel. +41 22 308 5031 [email protected]
Carla Coletti Director of Trade & Development, OECD, North Africa and Middle East tel. +41 22 308 5045 [email protected]
Suzana Miller Project Officer tel. +41 22 308 5030 [email protected]
Anita Gardner Communications Director tel. +41 22 308 5032 [email protected]
Alexander Ivanou Communications Officer tel. +41 22 308 5033 [email protected]
Cherisse Fredricks  Comm’s and campaigns assistant tel. +41 22 308 5023 [email protected]
Sarah Flores  Administrative Assistant  tel. +41 22 308 5029 mailto:[email protected]

INDUSTRIAL AND TNC POLICIES

Rob Johnston Executive Director for Industrial and TNC policies steel tel. +41 22 308 5028 [email protected]
Jenny Holdcroft Director of ICT, Aerospace, tel. +41 22 308 5034 [email protected]
Anne-Marie Mureau Mechanical Engineering and Research Director South East Europe tel. +41 22 308 5041 [email protected]
Helmut Lense Automotive Director tel. +41 22 308 5027 [email protected]
Kan Matsuzaki  Director of Shipbuilding and Non-Manual workers tel. +41 22 308 5016 [email protected]
Amandine Iwachow  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5042 [email protected]
Janire Escubi  Administrative Assistant tel. +41 22 308 5036 mailto:[email protected]

AFRICA

South Africa	Christina Olivier	NUMSA
South Africa	Irvin Jim	NUMSA
Kenya	Maero Tindi	AUKM
Tunisia	Tahar Berberi	FGME-UGTT

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Indonesia	Darmawati Djunaedi Natakusumah	FSPMI
Japan	Koichiro Nishihara	IMF-JC
Australia	Paul Howes	AWU
India	G. Sanjeeva Reddy (May 09 – May11) Sanjay S. Vadhavkar (Nov. 11 – May 13)	INMF SMEWFI

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Argentina	Luis García Ortiz (may 09 – may 10) Hector Laplace (nov 10 – nov 11) Francisco Gutierrez (may 12 – may 13)	ASIMRA AOMA UOM
Colombia Brazil	Nohora Estela Tovar (May 09 – May 11) Valter Sanches (Nov 11 – May 13)	FETRAMECOL CNM/CUT
Brazil	Monica de Oliveira Lourenço Velozo	CNTM
Mexico	Napoleón Gómez	SNTMMS

NORTH AMERICA

Canada	Carol Landry	USW
USA	Bob King	UAW
USA	Tom Buffenbarger	IAMAW
USA	Leo Gerard	USW

WESTERN EUROPE

Germany	Berthold Huber	IG Metall
Sweden	Stefan Löfven	IF Metall
United Kingdom	Len McCluskey	British Section
Italy	Giuseppe Farina	FLM
France	Blandine Landas	FGMM-CFDT
Spain	Javier Urbina	MCA-UGT

CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE

Russia	Michael Tarassenko	MMWU
Czech Rep.	Josef Stredula	OS KOVO
Macedonia	Mare Anceva	SIER

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 Rules that we are governed by. Congress also elects the President and General Secretary and members of the Executive Committee

IMF World Congress 2009

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.

IMF World Congress 2005

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.

IMF World Congress 2001

The 30th IMF Congress was held in Sydney, Australia, when a new Action Programme was adopted for 2002-2005.

In 1957, the IMF opened an office in Tokyo for the Japanese metalworkers’ unions.

In 1960 the IMF opened its Latin America office, now in Montevideo, Uruguay.

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.

In 1969, the first IMF regional office opened in New Delhi, India.

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.

In 1991, the IMF Central Committee decided to admit trade unions from Central and Eastern Europe as affiliates.

In 1993, a 100-point Action Programme was adopted at the IMF Centenary Congress in Zurich, Switzerland.

In 1998 the IMF opened a regional office for Southeast Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In 2001, the 30th IMF Congress was held in Sydney, Australia. A new Action Programme for 2002-2005 was adopted.

In 2002, the IMF signed its first International Framework Agreement in the auto industry with Volkswagen.

In 2005, the IMF Congress adopted changes to the IMF Rules, increasing the participation of women in IMF structures, and updating the Action Programme.

In 2002-2003, the IMF and its affiliates successfully campaigned for the release of imprisoned Korean trade unionists.

In 2006, the IMF launched an international solidarity campaign in support of the Mexican miners’ union.