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26 March, 2000The IMF-GE World Council strengthens cross-border trade union coordination and pledges full support to the CBC.
USA/GLOBAL: The recurring theme throughout the discussions at the IMF-GE World Council Meeting on March 22-23 in Washington, D.C. was the growing importance and necessity of international trade union solidarity, coordination and communication amongst all GE unions, to counter the effects of GE's global strategy on its workforce.
Addressing the 120 conference participants from 17 countries where General Electric Company has operations, the IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, spoke of the strong resolve of GE unions to act globally in face of the company's increasing globalised appetite for profit.
GE's philosophy of ruthless cost-cutting has led to thousands of job losses in the U.S. and abroad. In countries where internationally accepted labour standards are neither recognised nor enforced, workers are being shamefully exploited. Malentacchi said that "the struggle is not only for jobs but also to bring about sustainable development, respect of basic human rights and decent living and working conditions for all. Acting together in a global context is our best weapon."
As Ed Fire, chair of the Coordinated Bargaining Committee of GE unions and IUE president, put it, "The time has come to employ the tactics which proved successful in America all around the world. GE speaks with one voice... the organised labour movement must speak with one voice as well." Fire was referring to the 14 American unions which bargain together as the CBC for 40,000 GE workers, and said that the challenge was to bring GE to the bargaining table on a worldwide basis.
To achieve concrete results in intensifying international trade union cooperation, delegates agreed to:
- organise a systematic exchange of continuously updated information;
- seek to build strong unions in all GE plant locations worldwide;
- ensure respect for fundamental union rights in GE operations and their suppliers worldwide;
- include GE in the IMF company database to provide information on, amongst others, industrial relations systems, working conditions and new investment.
Although in 1999 GE had $10.7 billion in net profits, with $5 billion going to stockholders and $164 million in total compensation to company chairman and CEO Jack Welsh, the company is subjecting the U.S. unions and workers to intimidation before collective bargaining begins on May 30, 2000.
In a conference statement, the IMF-GE World Council pledged full international support for the upcoming CBC negotiations, the outcome of which will have consequences for all GE workers worldwide. Contracts between GE and the CBC expire on June 25.
Addressing the 120 conference participants from 17 countries where General Electric Company has operations, the IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, spoke of the strong resolve of GE unions to act globally in face of the company's increasing globalised appetite for profit.
GE's philosophy of ruthless cost-cutting has led to thousands of job losses in the U.S. and abroad. In countries where internationally accepted labour standards are neither recognised nor enforced, workers are being shamefully exploited. Malentacchi said that "the struggle is not only for jobs but also to bring about sustainable development, respect of basic human rights and decent living and working conditions for all. Acting together in a global context is our best weapon."
As Ed Fire, chair of the Coordinated Bargaining Committee of GE unions and IUE president, put it, "The time has come to employ the tactics which proved successful in America all around the world. GE speaks with one voice... the organised labour movement must speak with one voice as well." Fire was referring to the 14 American unions which bargain together as the CBC for 40,000 GE workers, and said that the challenge was to bring GE to the bargaining table on a worldwide basis.
To achieve concrete results in intensifying international trade union cooperation, delegates agreed to:
- organise a systematic exchange of continuously updated information;
- seek to build strong unions in all GE plant locations worldwide;
- ensure respect for fundamental union rights in GE operations and their suppliers worldwide;
- include GE in the IMF company database to provide information on, amongst others, industrial relations systems, working conditions and new investment.
Although in 1999 GE had $10.7 billion in net profits, with $5 billion going to stockholders and $164 million in total compensation to company chairman and CEO Jack Welsh, the company is subjecting the U.S. unions and workers to intimidation before collective bargaining begins on May 30, 2000.
In a conference statement, the IMF-GE World Council pledged full international support for the upcoming CBC negotiations, the outcome of which will have consequences for all GE workers worldwide. Contracts between GE and the CBC expire on June 25.