19 December, 2011
From the International Metalworkers’ Federation
In a unanimous vote, the 300-member Central Committee of the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) moved to convene an extraordinary Congress in June 2012 to create a new global union for industrial workers. The action occurred on the second day of the Central Committee’s meeting in Jakarta on 8 December.
The new global union organization will unite workers of metal, mining, chemicals, energy and textile industries, and will bring the IMF together with the ICEM and the International Textile, Garment, Leathers Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF). The new global union, which will represent 50 million workers in 140 countries, will be launched on 18-20 June 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Introducing the discussion on creation of the new global union, IMF President Berthold Huber said: “Many of our members are working in companies that cut across different industrial sectors. We need to bundle up our forces to speak with a single voice of workers in the manufacturing industries.”
Berthold Huber
In a lively debate, delegates expressed hope about building a stronger counter-power to transnational corporations, and more focus and resources for organizing, fighting precarious work and defending trade union rights. Speakers emphasized the need to further improve gender balance in the different structures, including a 30% minimum share of women on statutory bodies and other forums.
The Central Committee returned the proposal on presidents of IMF’s industrial departments back to the Executive Committee in order to find a better gender and north-south balance.