6 October, 2006
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As you may be aware at the May meeting of our Executive Committee, I announced my decision to retire from my position as General Secretary of the ICEM as of the end of December 2006. This decision was taken on health grounds.
In response the Executive Committee mandated the Presidium to appoint an Acting General Secretary to cover this position from January 1st 2007 up to our Congress in November 2007. At yesterday’s meeting of the Presidium, Manfred Warda was unanimously appointed to fill this position of Acting General Secretary.
From left to right: Manfred Warda, ICEM President Senzeni Zokwana and Fred Higgs
Manfred is currently the International Officer of IGBCE, our German affiliate, and has had extensive involvement with the ICEM Executive and Presidium activities since our merger Congress in1995. Prior to this, for many years Manfred was deeply involved with the work of the Miners International Federation. Clearly Manfred’s experience in the international trade union movement makes him an ideal candidate to fulfil the demanding role he will be undertaking as Acting General Secretary of the ICEM.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the support, comradeship and assistance given to me during my period as General Secretary. I am sure this support will continued to be provided to Manfred.
I would like to end by saying how proud I am to have been a leader of this great federation and to wish each of you, and the ICEM, every success for the future.
Yours fraternally,
Fred Higgs
General Secretary