12 September, 2011The IMF's Communicators' Forum in Latin America was held in Brazil on 8-9 September. Delegates made progress in arranging the exchange of information between affiliates.
BRAZIL: An important debate on the role of communications in trade union activity was held at the Communicators' Forum organised by the IMF, 8-9 September, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The meeting was attended by Jorge Almeida, IMF Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Monica Veloso, President of the Confederación Nacional de Trabajadores Metalúrgicos (CNTM-FS), and Valter Sanches, of the Confederación Nacional Metalúrgicos (CNM-CUT), both affiliated to the IMF.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the communications departments of affiliates in Brazil as well as representatives of IMF affiliates in other Latin American countries: Asimra (Argentina), Fetramecol and Utrammicol (Colombia), FTC (Chile), Fenamepsicop (Peru) and Mexico.
Delegates reported on the information and communications work of their unions and IMF representatives outlined the federation's current channels of communication and plans for the new global union federation in this area.
Valter Sanches opened the meeting by saying it was important for workers to have their own media, because national media is dominated by the elite, the government and employers. "The dominant media are like opposition parties to us", he said. Mónica Veloso said that unions must realise the potential of communications and "strengthen strategies, struggles and the communications media of each affiliate."
Delegates agreed the forum's meetings were important for rising to the challenge of making their leaders aware of the importance of communications and their role in trade union action. Delegates also decided to establish a network to facilitate the exchange of information and to promote the use of communications in trade union action.
On the second day of the forum, a delegation visited a workers' television channel (TVT) in Sao Bernardo do Campo. The TVT team showed delegates round the installations and studios and explained the way the channel works.
The IMF's assessment is that the Communicators' Forum promoted an enriching and professional debate, which opened further channels of communication and awakened union leaders' interest in communications and information work. The IMF hopes that this will help to reduce the gap that exists between unions in the region regarding the use of the media and the way in which they communicate with their members.