9 December, 2011In a unanimous vote, IMF Central Committee decides to convene an extraordinary Congress in June 2012 to create a new global union for industrial workers.
INDONESIA: On the second day of IMF's Central Committee meeting on December 8, 2011 in Jakarta, the 300 delegates unanimously voted to convene an extraordinary Congress to dissolve the International Metalworkers' Federation and to found a new global union organization, which will unite the workers of metal, mining, chemical, energy and textile industries. The new global union, which will represent 50 million workers in 140 countries, will be launched on June 18-20, 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."
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 per cent minimum share of women.
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.
The Central Committee adopted a resolution on solidarity support and assistance to the members of PT Freeport Indonesia Workers' Union who have been on strike since September 15, 2011. The workers are fighting for decent wages at multinational Freeport-McMoRan. The strike has been declared until December 15, and if the conflict is not resolved, it will be extended till January 15, 2012. A collection of money was organized among the participants to the Central Committee to provide food supplies to the striking workers at Freeport.