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25 September, 2000Trade unions in the auto industry must tighten their international cooperation, says the IMF's president, Klaus Zwickel.
GERMANY: At the 10th IMF World Auto Council, currently meeting in Wolfsburg, Germany, Klaus Zwickel, president of the German metalworkers' union IG Metall and the International Metalworkers' Federation, proposed a new way of dealing with the global auto industry within the IMF.
"Multinational companies are increasing their power and numbers, and they need an international counterpower," declared Zwickel. "Therefore, we must develop structures that promote the exchange of information and knit networks for cooperation," he continued. "In order to achieve this, the IMF should set up a working group, with its objective to improve cooperation between trade unions worldwide in the period between the Auto Councils."
The objective for the working group is to present an action programme for the auto sector as soon as possible.
Zwickel also criticised the overheated expectations of shareholders, whom he described as "the greatest problem within the auto industry worldwide. It is finally time to find a balance between the interests of the shareholders, the employees and the customers."
The theme of the 2-day IMF World Auto Council is "Building global solidarity in a global industry."
"Multinational companies are increasing their power and numbers, and they need an international counterpower," declared Zwickel. "Therefore, we must develop structures that promote the exchange of information and knit networks for cooperation," he continued. "In order to achieve this, the IMF should set up a working group, with its objective to improve cooperation between trade unions worldwide in the period between the Auto Councils."
The objective for the working group is to present an action programme for the auto sector as soon as possible.
Zwickel also criticised the overheated expectations of shareholders, whom he described as "the greatest problem within the auto industry worldwide. It is finally time to find a balance between the interests of the shareholders, the employees and the customers."
The theme of the 2-day IMF World Auto Council is "Building global solidarity in a global industry."