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29 August, 2002New IMF country councils established in Argentina, Chile and Mexico.
LATIN AMERICA: IMF affiliates in Latin America have set up country councils - cooperation bodies for IMF affiliates within one country.
In Argentina, in August, the IMF's affiliates Aoma, Smata, Asimra and Uom constituted a "National Council of the IMF for Affiliates in the Republic of Argentina".
In Mexico, affiliates have established a "National Council of Metalworkers of the IMF-Mexico".
Also, in Chile, affiliates have formed a National Council.
"This process is very encouraging," says IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi. "And the process has gone much faster than we thought."
One reason for this swift course of action, says Malentacchi, is the difficult situation trade unions in Latin America are facing.
"Take Argentina, where the dire economic and political situation is putting the trade unions under pressure. The trade unions must simply cooperate more closely in order to keep and enhance their influence. The role of the Councils is to initiate and support this process."
The IMF Action Programme for 2002-2005 refers to the need for trade unions to set forth new and adequate structures appropriate for global challenges. It proposes the establishment of IMF country councils, to:
- encourage cooperation between the unions;
- mediate on disputes and inter-union rivalries;
- build unity between unions in the core areas of collective bargaining, education and organising the unorganised.